Page 7 of The Royal’s Bumblebee (Operation Colonise #2)
Challenge
Izule
I am pleased. Billie has chosen me as her sponsor and is settled in the coil of my tail. The moment the hall is clear, I will take her back to my nest for her to rest.
In my sponsorship training, I was taught that humans are quite fatigued when they first ‘wake up’ from their frozen sleep, and require much rest.
In my mind, I am excitedly going over all the things I want to talk to her about first, when a bloody human staggers before me. It’s Billie’s sister, and she appears to be injured.
“Give…me…my…sister…”
She defiantly looks me in the eye again, blood trickling down the side of her face and her stance unsteady. She’s in pain, but she is steadfast. I respect that.
“I don’t like your smell…but I respect your display of spirit.”
I chuckle at her sneer. If she get’s much closer I will strike. Every muscle in my body is tightening in preparation.
“Listen you mother f—”
Billie popped her head slowly from the safety of my coil. I tense, ready to protect my charge. “Billie.”
I hiss when Hannah tries to enter striking distance. “Billie I’m right here.”
“You need medical attention.”
Billie’s voice is soft and draws me closer to her. “Prince Izule says I have to have a sponsor. It’s in my contract. He’s going to take care of me. You need medical attention.”
“Billie?! You can’t be serious?!”
“I am. All the others were loud. He isn’t. He’s promised not to touch me if he can help it. And his scales don’t hurt my eyes. He’s easy to look at. He says where he lives we’d be alone, so I wouldn’t have to worry about other people. I can work quietly.”
“And once she and you have passed your sponsorship periods, you can see each other as often as you like.”
I decree firmly. I do not like that her sister does not wish for her to be my charge, but I also don’t want her to think I intend to prevent them from staying in touch.
“You have no idea how to take care of her.”
She challenges me with bloody lips and I rise a little higher on my tail at her tone. “Look how easily one of your politicians hurt me? He is nowhere near as big as you, and Billie has specific needs.”
“I will learn.”
I puff out my chest and widen my hood. I do not appreciate this woman doubting my ability to care for Billie.
She isn’t even giving me a chance, and I have waited years to be seen as worthy. To have a real purpose outside of being the youngest Royal in the clutch.
“Learn? You’ll learn? Billie isn’t a book or a new toy you can read an instruction manual for. You can’t just learn how to take care of her.”
“Of course I can. You did, didn’t you?”
“No, you can’t do this.”
She stomps one of her feet at me like a Gissok about to charge an opponent. “I am her older sister, her next of kin, and I do not give my consent for her to be transferred into your custody.”
“Yes you do.”
Alaric walked up to her side and put his hand on her back, though she shoved him off her.
“Hannah, you and Billie both signed a contract to follow the rules agreed to in the event an alliance was made with an indigenous race. As long as Billie agrees, you can’t stop her from becoming sponsored by Prince Izule.”
“No. Billie is a special case. You can’t give her to this m—”
“Prince Izule is a high profile member of Ucfeni society, and therefore, is under a lot of scrutiny.”
Alaric is arguing with her but I care only for my charge. She still peers over the edge of my coil. What is she thinking right now? Of her sister’s rejection of me?
She isn’t agreeing with her, which must be a good sign. At the first request to leave, I’ll scoop her up and we shall go.
She has not asked to depart yet, so I wait patiently for her. I will not ruin this chance to be a good sponsor.
“It would be in his best interests to treat Billie very well.”
“You need medical attention.”
Billie called out timidly. “I-I need you to have medical attention.”
I turn my menacing scowl on Hannah. She is unduly worrying my charge. Billie is in no danger in my care, and I am insulted by this performance.
Not only that, but she is standing there and bleeding, risking infection, like that is a lesser risk than leaving Billie with me. It’s an insult I will not suffer.
If she continues to insult my honour like this and cast doubt on me, I will bare my fangs at her.
“You can talk to her through the Communication Gems you are wearing.”
Alaric speaks softly to the woman like one would a youngling you’re trying to stop having a tantrum in the middle of the jungle before a predator hears them.
“…every day?”
Billie timidly asks, and I swear if her sister does any less, I’ll snarl in her face and command her to. The ambrosia of her scent is making me numb to my usual reluctance to get involved with the affairs of others.
“Yes. You call me whenever you want to. As often as you want to.”
I relax a tad. Good. She’s seeing reason.
“You need medical attention.”
Billie repeats.
“I do, Bumblebee. I do, but are you sure you’re okay with this?”
I fold my arms over my wide chest and do not like the way she is regarding me. Like I am not suited to this task. She would deny me this honour?
It is not her place to do so. Billie has chosen me, and that is all that matters.
“Yes. You need medical attention.”
“I’ll see you soon Billie.”
Still, Hannah lingers, and I’m about to lose my patience with her. I have to remind myself that this is an alien. She does not know our ways.
She is also the sister of my new charge, and I shouldn’t bare my fangs at her…if I can help it…and the scent of her blood is pungent across my scent pits.
“You are strong.”
I nod curtly at her. “I will respect that strength and give you one last opportunity to go willingly to have medical attention. If you continue to refuse, I will have you carried to the nearest medical professional.”
“No one is fucking carrying me.”
I was about to take her up on that challenge, but she finally relents. “Call me, daily, or I’m coming to find you. I love you Billie.”
Finally. She leaves and I relax. My sponsorship of Billie is assured, and now I can just focus on getting to know my sweet smelling, delicate charge.