want that for her, even if he didn’t believe she was compatible to be at his side either.
He signaled the navigator to take them back and then opened a communications channel to his mother.
“I take it things didn’t go well,” she said, appearing on the hologram before him.
Akkadi sat back, studying her. Despite her insistence earlier, she didn’t seem as if she’d ever been as undisciplined as Mandy. His mother was respectful and dutiful, even if she lowered her guard in private with him.
“It didn’t,” he confirmed. “The human woman might do well for Subakki. She’s older than even him, but he can have her, if he wants her.”
“She may be too old for children, then,” his mother said, considering. “But I will tell him. I’d rather your cousins marry humans that can’t bear them children than let the last of my kind be tortured by the monsters on the planet.”
“Father may not agree,” Akkadi warned. “A wife’s duty is to produce an heir.”
“I have ten children, son. As long as a couple of them find companions to produce heirs, your father will be flexible with the others.”
Akkadi didn’t openly disagree. War took a toll on families. They’d been fortunate that none of their family had been killed, but there was always the chance, which was why his father demanded heirs from all his children.
He drew a deep breath. He’d dreaded this moment for years but understood that their need for energy was reaching a crisis stage. The star gate had been opened and a potential mate had come through. Her eyes could stop his thoughts, but she was otherwise not suitable to be a mate. Speculation on who he would choose had been rampant since his twenty-first birthday, the age at which most Naki became betrothed. His father was not going to be pleased if he returned from his journey and Akkadi had neither a betrothal nor secured another source of energy.
“Mother, will you contact Hishele’s mother and arrange the agreement?” he asked. He had a feeling his father wouldn’t be too pleased with him; however, the Naki-king had four daughters and numerous nephews to marry the humans off to. As the only male heir to his father, Akkadi was entitled to first choice of any human women, even if he was the last born of the children in his extended family.
“Of course, son. You don’t want to give the human in your quarters a chance?”
“No, mother.”
“What flaw did you find with her?” His mother pushed.
“Only one,” he replied. “She’s too human.”
Faint pink crossed his mother’s features and her blue eyes sparked with fire.
“Very well. I’ll contact Hichele’s family immediately. Travel safe, son,” she replied in a clipped tone. She disappeared from the screen.
Akkadi considered contacting her again to ensure she understood he was not offended by her humanity but by that of the woman in his quarters. Unwilling to start an argument with his mother, he let it go. He had only spoken the truth. He didn’t want a human mate. He didn’t need the complication. He also didn’t want the inevitable reminder that he, too, was almost a purebred human after tens of generations of Naki kings and queens taking human mates. His mother was certain to bring it up again, if he chose to argue.
He tapped his fingers on the communications station, recalling the feel of Mandy’s soft skin and loose curls. Naki women wore their hair up or short, and it ranged in colors all across the rainbow, depending on what planet their families were stationed on. The Naki Empire extended across the galaxy, built after thousands of years of colonization efforts. Inter-breeding with the populations already on the planets had given the race a diverse outward appearance while also allowing the genetic plague to take hold.
Mandy’s hair was a captivating shade of honey, long with wild curls. He’d touched her hair more out of instinct than will before noticing the peachy glow of her skin and her full
He signaled the navigator to take them back and then opened a communications channel to his mother.
“I take it things didn’t go well,” she said, appearing on the hologram before him.
Akkadi sat back, studying her. Despite her insistence earlier, she didn’t seem as if she’d ever been as undisciplined as Mandy. His mother was respectful and dutiful, even if she lowered her guard in private with him.
“It didn’t,” he confirmed. “The human woman might do well for Subakki. She’s older than even him, but he can have her, if he wants her.”
“She may be too old for children, then,” his mother said, considering. “But I will tell him. I’d rather your cousins marry humans that can’t bear them children than let the last of my kind be tortured by the monsters on the planet.”
“Father may not agree,” Akkadi warned. “A wife’s duty is to produce an heir.”
“I have ten children, son. As long as a couple of them find companions to produce heirs, your father will be flexible with the others.”
Akkadi didn’t openly disagree. War took a toll on families. They’d been fortunate that none of their family had been killed, but there was always the chance, which was why his father demanded heirs from all his children.
He drew a deep breath. He’d dreaded this moment for years but understood that their need for energy was reaching a crisis stage. The star gate had been opened and a potential mate had come through. Her eyes could stop his thoughts, but she was otherwise not suitable to be a mate. Speculation on who he would choose had been rampant since his twenty-first birthday, the age at which most Naki became betrothed. His father was not going to be pleased if he returned from his journey and Akkadi had neither a betrothal nor secured another source of energy.
“Mother, will you contact Hishele’s mother and arrange the agreement?” he asked. He had a feeling his father wouldn’t be too pleased with him; however, the Naki-king had four daughters and numerous nephews to marry the humans off to. As the only male heir to his father, Akkadi was entitled to first choice of any human women, even if he was the last born of the children in his extended family.
“Of course, son. You don’t want to give the human in your quarters a chance?”
“No, mother.”
“What flaw did you find with her?” His mother pushed.
“Only one,” he replied. “She’s too human.”
Faint pink crossed his mother’s features and her blue eyes sparked with fire.
“Very well. I’ll contact Hichele’s family immediately. Travel safe, son,” she replied in a clipped tone. She disappeared from the screen.
Akkadi considered contacting her again to ensure she understood he was not offended by her humanity but by that of the woman in his quarters. Unwilling to start an argument with his mother, he let it go. He had only spoken the truth. He didn’t want a human mate. He didn’t need the complication. He also didn’t want the inevitable reminder that he, too, was almost a purebred human after tens of generations of Naki kings and queens taking human mates. His mother was certain to bring it up again, if he chose to argue.
He tapped his fingers on the communications station, recalling the feel of Mandy’s soft skin and loose curls. Naki women wore their hair up or short, and it ranged in colors all across the rainbow, depending on what planet their families were stationed on. The Naki Empire extended across the galaxy, built after thousands of years of colonization efforts. Inter-breeding with the populations already on the planets had given the race a diverse outward appearance while also allowing the genetic plague to take hold.
Mandy’s hair was a captivating shade of honey, long with wild curls. He’d touched her hair more out of instinct than will before noticing the peachy glow of her skin and her full
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