Page 29 of The Bride Contract (Princes of Xaavia #1)

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Chapter 29 - Niska

I have been strapped to that breeding bench so many times over the past couple of weeks, that even stepping foot over the threshold into that room gets me wet. And don’t get me started on what happens to my body when I hear sounds that are faintly similar to Kiahn fastening my restraints. Just the other day, right before he was about to present me to his people as his breeding bride, Kiahn fixed the golden buckle of this beautiful cape-like coat he’d gifted me, and the noise of the clip at my throat set off some kind of Pavlovian response in my brain where all I could think about was getting railed by that huge, Adonis of an alien.

Of course, it didn’t really help that he was going to be presenting me to his people while we were standing on the very balcony where he made his guards wait while he made me come all over his fingers.

The roar of the Xavianns below had somewhat sobered me, though, and my cheeks started to burn for a different reason. I’ve never experienced stage fright per-se, but I’ve also never been in front of a crowd like this before. A sea of smiling faces in various shades of gray, topped with an array of horns all cheered for Kiahn and I. I’m not quite sure what I’d expected, but being literally applauded for agreeing to fuck their prince hadn’t really entered my mind.

As soon as we stepped away from the balcony, Kiahn had presented me with yet another gift. It was a pair of stunning golden drop earrings, their opulence matching my collar. The stones used were those pretty opals that glow when you touch them, as well as tiny little golden bells. “I want to hear them jingle when I have you on the bench next,” Kiahn had leaned down to husk into my ear before he put them on me.

And so he did - three times that day.

It seems I’m not the only one suffering from a Pavlovian response of the x-rated kind when Kiahn’s eyes flare when he sees me wearing the earrings for tonight. I smile up at him and give my head a little jiggle, causing the tiny bells to gently tinkle on my ears. Kiahn’s big chest expands and he readjusts himself in his pants with the heel of his hand.

“Perhaps we have time to-” he starts to murmur, leaning down to clearly suggest we slink off and use the bench before tonight’s party starts.

“Oh, no you don’t, mister,” I protest, pushing my pointer finger into his big, hard chest. “I’m already nervous about this party, I don’t need to show up with my face all flustered because of what you’ve just done to me.”

Kiahn places his palm over my hand, flattening it to his chest as he steps forward. “That is strange, because I am sure it would cause me to show up with the widest smile on my face because of what you allow me to do to you.” I can’t help but smirk up at him for that. But then his other hand snakes down and presses to my stomach. “I know it is early, but do you think that maybe my seed grows?”

My smile slides right off my face and I straighten. “I… I don’t think humans can tell that early.” I am suddenly so very uncomfortable. Not just because Lady Zalora assured me that it would be virtually impossible to fall pregnant while taking those contraceptives, but because it’s also a reminder that this is all I am to Kiahn in the end; an incubator for his baby.

He grunts a response, his gaze still dipped down to where he now caresses my lower belly back and forth, almost in a trance. The soft longing in his expression almost winds me. Could that longing include me also? “Is there any way to safely up the dosage of your human fertility medication?” he asks, his green gaze flicking up to meet mine. “You know, to… increase our possibility of being successful?” I can’t help but suck in a breath at that as I step away from his touch.

“Maybe we can discuss this later. Let’s get tonight over with first.”

He steps closer, seeming to sense my frayed nerves - even if he’s not aware of everything that’s causing them. Raising one of his big, strong hands Kiahn cups the side of my neck, his thumb sweeping across my jaw as his fingers curl around to my nape, sending a cascade of goosebumps down my spine. “Do not fret, my Niska,” he tells me, eyes shining with something I cannot decipher. “Everyone will love you tonight.”

He waits to see my mouth pull up into a smile before he brushes the crown on my head with his lips. “Because if they do not, I will charge them with treason, and have them thrown into a pit of hungry yizzian desert fanglets.”

I playfully slap his chest. “For not liking me? That sounds harsh… and I don’t even know what a fanglet is!”

Kiahn grins down at me. “Savage little fuzzy creatures that hunt in packs,” he tells me, his thumb still gently stroking my jaw. “They actually look pretty cute. But they could strip a Xaviann down to his bones in seconds if given the chance.”

“That doesn’t sound very cute.”

Kiahn dips his head again, resting his forehead against mine. “Well, then they had better all treat you like the little Goddess you are, hadn’t they?” We stand there together for a moment, and I can’t help feel entrapped by those beautiful bright eyes of his as we gently sway on the spot. Kiahn’s hand slips from my neck to twirl a small section of my hair with his fingers. “You will tell me if anyone makes you feel uneasy or is anything other than friendly, Niska.”

When I pull away looking at him, it’s clear by his expression that he means what he says, so I nod my head and continue to get ready for the party tonight - the one meant to welcome me as the prince’s bride.

His current one, anyway.

I shush my own internal voice as I fasten my golden bridal collar around my neck. Maybe all this with Kiahn is only temporary. But that’s his culture. It wouldn’t be fair for me to demand more, even if I thought he wanted the same.

No, I just need to pull up my big girl panties and do what I can always count on myself to do - get through everything my weird life has thrown at me.

* * *

I enter the huge ballroom on Kiahn’s arm to more fanfare than I’d expected. A room this large almost packed with bodies - bodies of Xaviann proportions - is like a sensory overload.

Up until now, Kiahn, Zalora and Vel had done a good job of keeping us humans away from a lot of the other Xavianns. Even the palace staff that attended to our needs were reduced down to the same few every day.

The cavernous ballroom is decorated in duck-egg with accents of gold, and if it weren’t for the floating orbs of light dotted around the place, you’d be forgiven for thinking we were on set for a period drama.

I find myself squeezing Kiahn’s arm a little too tightly when all the faces are turned toward us, their smiles and glittering eyes directed right at me. A large, warm hand covers mine, and Kiahn leans down to murmur, “if you wish, we can make excuses after only a short while and leave.”

No, I can do this. It’s only a party. I’m just not used to being the center of attention is all.

Shaking my head and forcing a smile, I tell him that I’ll be fine.

Soon, Vel comes to link her arm in mine, attempting to tug me away so she can introduce me to others. But Kiahn’s grip on my other arm grows tighter as he throws his cousin a glare over my head.

“You gonna play tug of war with her?” Lois chuckles as she approaches, her arm linked through Jaya’s. They’re both wearing gorgeous silk dresses in deep jewel colors. Lois in an emerald green, and Jaya in ruby red, both of them wearing thick choker-like bands of leather around their necks to cover their throats. The dress Kiahn had gifted me to wear tonight is practically virginal white in comparison to every other attendee here tonight. And now that I see it, I can tell the contrast was deliberate to make me stand out. I’m not sure if that’s standard when having these kinds of parties for their brides, but I’m sure the intention was to make me feel special.

But instead, it makes me feel like I’m about to be a sacrificial offering.

In the end, Jaya, Lois, and Vel manage to wrestle me out of Kiahn’s grasp. Only after I’d assured him that I’d be fine without him, though. As soon as I leave his side, Kiahn is quickly swallowed up by well-wishers for his contract, and other males wanting to get in his ear about their own interests. I crane my neck trying to take in the opulence of the event as Vel ushers Lois, Jaya and I over to a particular group of Xavianns. I recognize some of them from the little welcome party of ‘Earthophiles’ that had greeted us when we’d arrived on this planet, and I’m soon knee-deep into a conversation where us human girls are explaining that yes, Earth women really are convinced to spend most of their money and energy on patriarchal beauty standards, and yes, it’s a form of control.

“But, I don’t understand,” one male Xaviann says, rubbing at his horn, “I have been a fan of your species for a long time, and have seen images of many of the color forms, body shapes and facial features of your females. You are all aesthetically pleasing, why would-”

“To control them, Keveen,” Vel interrupts, rolling her eyes. “It’s a trap. Keep up .”

While the discussion continues around me, I find my eyes drifting back across the ballroom toward Kiahn. He cuts such an impressive figure in here. Even in amongst all these Xavianns who are all much taller than us humans, his stature and the way he holds himself sets him apart. And the thing that thrills me the most, is that when I look over at him from across the room, he’s already staring right back at me. It’s like he hadn’t taken his eyes off me this whole time - even while important-looking Xaviann males are chatting away to him, trying to gain his favor.

“Niska, dear,” a voice breaks its way through the stupor I find myself in over the intense eye-fucking Kiahn is giving me from several feet away. Blinking, I see that Lady Zalora has joined the small group. “This is Gibbi,” she says, indicating to the beautiful Xaviann female standing beside her. She is tall and lean, and her shining black horns are topped by bands of gold that match the earrings that run along her elfin ears. The dress she wears is simple, yet stylish in a deep teal color that sets off the blue of her eyes.

Gibbi’s smile is wide as she offers her hand. “Hello, Niska. It is wonderful to meet you.” For a second or two I seem to have forgotten what a handshake is until Gibbi’s eyes dip down to her own offered hand. “Am I doing it wrong? I wanted to learn how to properly greet a human. I was told this the correct way?”

Stumbling over myself with embarrassment, I grab her hand and shake it - perhaps too thoroughly. “Yes! Sorry, I wasn’t really-”

“Gibbi would like to ask a few questions about what Prince Kiahn likes,” Lady Zalora says, completely derailing my already jumbled mind.

“What?”

Zalora smiles but pointedly drops her gaze to where I’m still gripping Gibbi’s elegant hand. I promptly let go and glance between the two Xaviann females. “Gibbi’s family are very well connected within the capital, particularly in the sphere of artificial womb technology. If she and Kiahn can agree on a contract, then perhaps our principality’s lab can get some much-needed updates.”

I try not to gape at her, and then at Gibbi.

“I’ve always admired Prince Kiahn,” Gibbi leans down to tell me conversationally. “He has a good head on his shoulders, and I think he would be a gentle mate when it comes to the bench… is that true?”

Ok, well, now I actually am gaping. I open my mouth as if I’m about to answer her, but images of how feral and forceful Kiahn’s thrusts get with me when we’re both about to finish together.

“I would very much like the opportunity to be his next contract now that he’s finally started breeding,” Gibbi continues, her tone completely conversational and oblivious to how uncomfortable I am right now. “We can’t thank you enough for that, by the way. I used to think he’d never take a bride.” She glances over at Kiahn, but I can’t bring myself to look at him. When she looks back at me, it’s with a wide, beautiful smile. “I’ve always wanted to settle in this Principality,” she tells me, grinning wistfully. “The art and culture of the region is a real draw.” Then, she leans down and murmurs, “not to mention the eateries. The dishes here are to die for compared to some of the other Principalities, let me tell you.”

Gibbi has a certain twinkle in her eye as if we’re talking to each other like we’re old girlfriends gossiping over the best places to go on dates or get our hair done. But we’re not. She’s talking about being next in line to take my man.

My stomach lurches, and it must show on my face, because Gibbi shows me an expression of concern and she asks if I’m well.

“I’m fine,” I say, nodding and smiling because I’m absolutely not fine.

From the corner of my eye I see a large Xaviann male approach our little group, and for a split second, I think it might be him - and I’m not sure if I want that right now.

It’s not Kiahn, however. It’s his brother, Az. I should have known he wouldn’t be able to keep away from Lois for long. He comes bearing two cut-crystal glasses filled with a deep purple liquid.

I swipe one before he can even offer it to Lois and down the thing, the overly sweetened alcohol going down far too quickly.

Az chuckles. “Having a good night, then, dear Niska?” he teases before offering up his remaining drink to Lois. She refuses with a shake of her head and a downturned frown. Az just grins at her and starts to sip the drink, watching her over the rim of the glass as he does.

The conversation carries on around me, with Gibbi sometimes pausing to ask me questions about how I’m finding my stay at the palace, what I think of Xaavia so far and how well I’m being treated.

Honestly, she seems like a really nice person.

But I can’t get away from the pit forming in my stomach that her presence causes. It’s like she showed up and started digging, and the longer and longer I stand here, the deeper the hole gets. But I know - I know - what’s at the bottom of that pit. It’s not the other side of the world, it’s not buried treasure, and it’s not ancient ruins. It’s reality. Gibbi showed up to shovel away all the confusion I have in my mind about what Kiahn and I are to each other.

“So,” Gibbi pauses, taking in a big inhale through her nose before continuing. “My father has been trying to get me to agree to my first contract for a while now, and I’d really like for it to be with Kiahn. I think he would be fair and kind, and like I said, I’d like to settle here. So… are there any tips you could give me about getting him to agree? Does he like females to be direct? Or does he enjoy the chase?”

Oh God, that pit is getting somehow deeper and wider. It’s like a sinkhole.

My breathing starts to speed up and I feel a little lightheaded. Lady Zalora’s gaze slices to me as she waits for me to answer these questions like this is any kind of normal conversation.

“Niska,” a deep, calming voice envelopes me, and I know it’s him before I turn to lay my eyes on him.

Everyone around us bows their head amongst murmurs of greeting for their prince, and people part to give him room.

Kiahn stands there like a life raft - a rope ladder thrown into that sinkhole, trying to pull me out. I feel myself sag a little at the sight of him. And I think he sees it. His gorgeous green eyes survey me up and down and he steps forward, offering his hand. “My bride is tired, and I would like to invite her for cuddles.”

The invitation snaps me right out of myself, my hand coming up to slap over my eyes.

“Cuddles? What is that?” I hear Az ask.

“It is a human custom where we share a bed, holding one another. We talk until we fall asleep in each other’s arms,” Kiahn answers like he’s describing the recipe for a new dish. “It is for comfort. Niska trusted me with the tradition on the ship.”

Sliding my hand from my eyes, I see Az’s light up. “We can do that?!” He turns, spinning on the spot. Lois and Jaya had slunk off only a few seconds ago to go and try the food on offer. Az wastes no time and starts weaving through the crowd, no doubt to try and find Lois to issue her an invitation to ‘cuddles’ with him.