Chapter 22

After the last chapter…

Kim locked herself in Katel's room and Katel refused to leave the now barricaded Trophy room. No one cared that Damon was allowed to stay with Terre in her room and they didn't want to bring attention to that little fact, as they were discussing 'phase three'.

"My Queen. Why not do the opposite? Make them fight and work it out that way. They will not stay near one another when calm, so get them angry enough to want to have a go at each other, and."

"No, I can't get them angry with each other or it won't work. We need to get them back together again, not further apart. I fear that Kim is one who will not change her mind willingly, and she will not go to Katel willingly either." Terre paced the room and Damon sat on the bed. After no ideas, they swapped and Damon walked on his back legs, like Terre, pacing back and forth as Terre laid on her back on the bed. She stared at the ceiling and squinted her eyes, as if the answer she was looking for was somewhere on the ceiling, and she just couldn't see it. "Oh Damon. All we need is a way to get them together. Everything else is sorted, just a reason, just one, and we have them."

"What about if I were to start a fight with one of them, you the other, and lead them into the training hall. Then, lock them in together and force them to talk if they want to get out?"

"With a few alterations…that would work! You are a genius!" Terre jumped off the bed, kissed Damon on the forehead and began franticly brushing her hair. "You get Katel to follow you and I will get Km to follow me. but no fighting, got it?"

"Yes my Queen." Damon lowered to all fours and bowed his head. "As you wish."

"Ok. But we have to time it perfectly or one will either catch on, or escape. Kim is closer so you go first, to the trophy room. After five minuets I will lure Kim into the trophy room. But you have to have Katel already in there. If Kim is there first, he will smell her a mile off and refuse to go in…unless he thought she was in danger! New idea!" Terre's eyes went wide and her grin grew larger. "First we get Kim into the training hall, then lock her in there. Then we go to the trophy room and get him to follow us."

"How my Queen?" Terre put the brush down and placed her hand on his head. He purred into her palm and rubbed his mouth against it. She smiled and felt, slightly fuzzy. Especially in her now painless abdomen. In fact, the very same place, started to warm and burn for some reason. But she hadn't done anything but stroke Damon's face.

Damon cocked his head to one side when Terre closed her eyes, lowered to her knees and touched his face, more intimately then before. She seemed to be tracing every feature of his mouth, his cheeks and his fangs. When she seemed to lean closer to him, he pulled away. "How my Queen?" He repeated. He didn't want her to lose it…before she was ready to…

"What?" she shuck her head, like she had just woken up from a dream and stood up. "What was I saying…oh yes. We go to the trophy room. I scream like Kim and you snarl after me. Katel will run after us and see the end of your tail lead into the Training hall. He will follow; we go round him and lock them together. We tell them to work it out or sleep it out and leave them for a while. Because it will definitely take a while." Damon watched carefully as she walked over to the bed. He jolted towards her and stood on his hind legs ready. He had read her body language perfectly. She stopped, faltered and swooned to the side. Damon caught her and cradled her in his arms.

"My Queen? Are you alright? Are you harmed? What can I do?"

"I am alright Damon. I just had a dizzy spell…but you could put me on the bed." He nodded and crawled into the centre of the bed. For a brief moment after he laid her there, he stopped and gazed down at her face. Terre felt that warm, fuzzy feeling again and whimpered as he drew closer. Perhaps…she is ready…

For a moment, only a moment, Damon's lips brushed with hers. She closed her eyes and her hands reached up until they ensnared his large neck…and pulled him down. Damon purred and began to press his lips against Terre's harder, feeling her knees raise against his sides…but it was only a moment.

"Terre?" Kim called through the door and heard loud hissing and snarling. "Terre? You ok in there?" the door opened and Terre seemed, flushed.

"Damon, wait five minuets. I will come back for you before we go to get Katel."

"Yes my Queen." Kim raised a brow as Terre put her collar on.

"Hi. Perfect timing. I was just about to get you."

"You were? I just wanted to see if you were hungry or anything. I have eaten, but you haven't eaten since you got here."

"Oh, I haven't have I…" she lingered on the thought for a moment, but she returned to the task at hand. "But I need your help."

"You do? What with?" Kim raised a brow, again. Terre was acting rather…oddly. Like she wanted to get out her room desperately. But why?

"I need to talk to you alone. In the Training hall perhaps?"

"Well…"

"Excellent. After you." Terre grabbed her hand and just about dragged her down the corridor and to the training hall.

"Alright. What's happened?"

"Happened?" Terre made sure to stand between Kim and the door.

"Yes, happened. What do you want to talk to me about?"

"Well…noting. But talking is needed. BYE!" She turned and ran faster than she knew she was capable of. With a loud clank, Terre shut the large doors together and locked them with the outer bolt. Terre sighed as many cursing screams came through the door with banging. "You will talk to him!" she shouted, and returned to her room. But when she got to the door, she paused.

Something had come over her in there, before Kim came. She had kissed Damon. She had kissed him! And it felt so…right. Terre pushed it aside and opened the door. There were more important things to sort out first. She could wait later.

Damon was seething in the corner closest to the door and looked like he could just about kill anything right now. "Damon? Ready to go?" her voice gave away nothing, but her averting eyes did. Had he been that muscular before?

"Yes my Queen. I am ready to vent some of this…tension." Terre expected him to lower to all fours and follow her like he usually did. But he didn't.

No, Damon walked like he had walked on two legs all his life and towered at least a foot over her. "Are you ready?"

"Yes." She mumbled and turned away from him.

In that brief moment, everything had changed. Damon wasn't her little dog anymore. He wasn't a drone or her obedient servant. He was…so much more. But how could that have all changed, how could it be near impossible to look at him, from one kiss? And it wasn't even a real kiss, only a sweet kiss on the lips. That could have been so much more…darn I have to watch myself…

They walked, side by side in silence until they faced the large red door of the training room. Damon came right up behind her and blew on her neck. There's that feeling again…

"My Queen." He hissed like a whisper. "I will have to make it convincing. So if I appear to be hunting you…"

"I know. You won't be." She turned to face him, but the toothy grin he wore said something other than what she was hoping. Damon placed a clawed hand on each of her shoulders gently, and then shoved her hard against the door. She yelped and felt him rub his teeth against her bare neck.

"But my Queen. I will be hunting you. And if I were you…I would run." He screeched a loud and blood curdling roar that sent Terre screaming and scampering towards the training hall…Damon in more than eager pursuit…

Earlier with Katel.

So that was it. He was right all along.

When he had told his brother that she would make his life a living misery, he was right. Because his life couldn't get any worse than it was right now.

He had a Hard Meat Queen and drone onboard, his ship on course to a new moon in the outer sector of the Milky Way galaxy, his command overlooked…and the woman of his life had refused his mating proposal. She refused him. That was it. He would be doomed to think of what could have been, of the children he could have had, of the love he could have had. Was his sex inadequate? Did he appear weak and dishonourable? Had he dishonoured her?

Yes, he had dishonoured her. And without realising it…until it was too late…

Katel threw his spear across the room and extended his wrist blades with a clenched fist. He had slept in the trophy room that night and wished he could have felt a warm, feminine body next to him all the time. But not just any body, Kim's body. He wanted to smell the scent of her hair. He wanted to brush his mandibles over her neck and trail kisses over every inch of her. He wanted to burst through the door and beg at her feet for her to take him back. And yet, at the same time, he wanted to drag her by her braided hair in the control room, and demand that she apologise for her actions against him. He wanted to cry, he wanted to roar, he wanted to hold her, and he wanted to kill something. His mind and heart were spilt in two. His heart as it was braking under his emotionless exterior, and his mind on what he would do next.

But for now, he would wait. He was good at waiting. Katel would let her make the next move and until then, he would not go near her under any circumstances…or so he thought.

In his full armour, he had been training when a loud bang made the large reinforced door vibrate. What could have made it shudder so? His questions were answered as a loud hissing and soul chilling roar met his ears.

The drone.

But what made his heart stop…was a woman's scream. KIM!

He wasn't stupid; he knew it had to be Kim. The drone would not hurt its Queen, so it had to be the only other female on the ship.

Kim.

He picked up his Naginata and kicked the door down. All he saw was the end of the long, black, skeletal tail whipping behind its owner as his new pray clawed at the walls and round the corner. But he could still hear the screaming. So she was still alive. For now.

He made fast work of closing the distance between them and saw the end of the tail once again, entering the training room.

From Terre's POV

As soon as Damon roared, Terre was off like a shot. She scrambled, her blood rushing and her heart beat racing. She had never been as scared in her life…other than in the cage with the other warrior. But this was different. Damon was hunting her, and she couldn't let him catch her. They were the thoughts that imprinted into her mind as she ran. Terre had forgotten all about the plan and just went on autopilot towards the nearest door. Only luck would have it that the nearest door was locked…and the Training room.

"Open up you darn thing!" Terre beat on the door and used all her strength to try and lift it…only to fail. "No!" she yelled as she heard Damon getting closer. Her adrenaline, even if now alien, pumped through her as she tried again…and still failed. She gasped as two clawed hands came from behind her and clamped onto the bolt. Damon lifted it with ease and placed it onto the floor. He then roared in her face and whipped his tongue out like he would have done if he still had an inner mouth. Terre ran inside and bumped right into Kim. Damon then pounced on them both, stuffed Terre behind a pillar and held Kim in front of him. One claw on Terre's mouth, one claw over Kim's.

Katel came whirling inside with his Naginata at the ready…and stopped as he saw Kim in harms way. Katel threw his head back, arched his back and roared with all his mandibles spread wide open. He then saw Damon throw Kim to the side, and he ran to her. Kim was conscious, rubbing her shoulder and looking to Terre. She was about to yell, but Terre shuck her head and mouthed 'no'. Damon bolted into the shadows, Terre in his arms and doubled back round Katel and out the training hall. He set Terre down, closed the doors and replaced the bolt in place.

As Damon turned to Terre, she cowered away from him and trembled against the wall.

"My Queen…" he whimpered and slowly walked towards her. To see his queen in such a state disturbed him. He rubbed his face in the crook of her neck and rested his hands on her shoulders. "Your plan has succeeded. Phase three was a success. And yet…you still act like you fear me. You do not fear me…do you?" The despair in his voice reassured her that it was just an act.

"You kinda scared me back there. You were hunting me…weren't you?" She pulled away from the wall and let him just bask in the scent of her hair. Her blonde hair was still tucked behind her ears, but her black bangs hung forward, just near her obsidian eyes.

"I apologise my Queen. Please forgive me."

"I do Damon." She placed her hands on his chest and hugged him tightly. He smiled and held her back, just as tightly.

But Terre wasn't finished with Kim and Katel just yet. She walked over to the door and knocked to get their attention. "You two, it's me, Terre. This was a little act by the way, Damon is not evil. And we aren't going to try and take over the ship or anything like that. We just want you two to talk over obvious things and well, this was the only way you two would be in the same room together. Kim wants to talk to Katel, but feels she can't. Katel wants to talk to Kim, but wont. So this way, you have no choice. So no one backed down and pride doesn't come into it. Have fun. See you in a few, bye!"

Terre smiled as she heard a mixture of hissing and yelling. "At least they are both on the same page." She chuckled and turned back to Damon. She pulled off her collar and unknowingly sashayed towards him. "Time for bed?"

"……" Damon's jaw unhinged and he almost fell over. He swerved, but caught his balance at the same time. Her raised eyebrow told him she didn't mean that in the way he assumed. Or he wished…

"Damon?"

"Yes my Queen. I feel rest is in order. Do you feel…different my Queen?"

"A little…maybe I am coming down with something. First pains and now hot. I think I am getting ill." Terre slowly walked back to her room with Damon in tow, as usual.

"Or perhaps at last you are feeling…" Terre turned to listen to the end of the sentence, but he bottled it. "Maybe rest will allow us to determine if you are indeed ill…or not…"

"Ok I guess." Damon lifted her from her feet, and noted the slight whimper as it escaped her lips before entering the room with her.

"My Queen. Am I permitted to…sleep with you tonight?"

"WHAT?" her eyes went large and her body ridged. Her mouth made a perfect O and she stared straight at him.

"I said, am I permitted to sleep with you tonight. May I?" Terre was speechless as he laid her on her back for the second time that day. He crawled over her very suggestively and slowly lowered onto her.

"Damon…" she closed her eyes, willing to do anything he wanted, her breaths becoming heavier as she felt his own breath beat down on her chest.

But he laid next to her and pulled her into a familiar embrace, like when they were on Earth. His arms encircled her and spooned her into his body, his front against her back, and his tail draped over her legs. She sighed and released a breath that she didn't know she had been holding and relaxed. Just what exactly did she expect him to do? Why exactly…was she disappointed? Why were her cheeks flushed and why did he seem…different. Why did his skin feel warmer to her touch? Why did he seem to appear manlier than before? And why, when he appeared to be trying to kill her, did she feel a rush? Not a frightened or a scared rush, a very different one. But she couldn't quite put her finger on it.

Her thoughts were interrupted as Damon pulled her closer to him and nuzzled his face in her neck. She drifted off to sleep in sync with Damon and both were purring melodically….

With Katel and Kim

She wanted to cry. Kim just wanted to be alone and cry her eyes out.

She was tricked, trapped, and with the last person she wanted to be held hostage with.

Katel.

He still held her close to him, and both looked to the door.

"for someone who is meant to be harmless, she is certainly crafty. Perfect to be a Queen."

"She isn't just crafty. She is sweet and kind too. You just refuse to get to know her." Kim frowned and looked away. "You can let go of me now. You can clearly see I am not in danger."

"What if I simply wanted to hold you?..." she looked up into his masked face, and reached up. She pulled the face guard away and held it to her chest. The hurt in those eyes was heart breaking, as they reflected a broken heart.

"We are here to talk." She said softly. "So let's talk." She pulled out of his grasp and led him further into the hall. She sat down, and he sat directly behind her. For quite a while they sat in silence, neither of them knowing what to say. "So…you slept in the trophy room…"

"Indeed."

"Comfy?"

"Oh, yes."

"And um, were you training before you got here?"

"Yes I was. But I heard the drone chase you. So I came after it…"

"He didn't chase me." she raised an eyebrow. "Terre locked me in here."

"But I distinctly heard the drone chasing you. I heard you screaming and running for your life and…crafty Pauk!" He threw a fist at the floor. "She made me think she was you. She must have."

"I think I need to have words with here. She is getting a little mischievous. A little too mischievous."

"Better than having a ravenous Queen. I prefer the mischievous ones, easier to k…" Kim frowned and turned away. "I didn't mean. Well I did but I wouldn't."

"I know. You said you wouldn't try and kill her anymore last time remember? I do…I remember last time we talked…"

"As do I." Katel leaned back against a pillar and folded his arms. He clicked his mandibles nervously and drummed his talons on his arms. "I hate to pry, but I have been informed that…well the Queen said that…never mind."

"No please!" she crawled forwards slightly, so that she sat directly before him.

"Well. I have been acting rather rash and well, you deserve an apology. So I am sorry for the way I treated you and for my harsh behaviour." He knelt up and looked down on her. "You do mean a lot to me, and I do love you…"

"But you can't ask me to be your mate again, can you?" she whimpered. "I am so sorry. I should have."

"I was the one who acted wrongly. And no…I can not." he stood up and began to walk towards the door.

"You thought I was in danger…and you came running. Didn't you?"

"Yes…" he turned slowly, to find Kin standing right there, eyes watery and her hands over her chest.

"Tell me why you came."

"Because you were in danger." He held her shoulders and had to stop himself from pulling her closer.

"And why was that?" if he said it, now when she needed him to say it, she would forgive him.

"Because…" he faltered, but held her close, tightly. "Because I love you more than I could ever express with words." She started to cry, but Katel was confused. Why was she smiling?

"I love you too. And I never said I didn't want to be your mate." she hugged him and kissed his chest. "But if you would, I would like you to be my mate."

"What…"

"Well you took your proposal back, so now I am asking you. Will you be my mate Katel?" before she could prepare herself, Katel lifted her into the air, held her hips and span her around in furious circles.

"YES!" he dropped her to the floor and jumped ontop of her. Kim laughed loudly as his mandibles tickled her face and neck with eager kisses. "I was a fool to treat you the way I did, to let you leave me. But now I will never let that happen again."

"Good. Because now you've said yes, you're stuck with me. And I promise not to try and take charge. Or take over your ship. Or undermine your authority. Or disrespect your."

"Hush." He silenced her with his talon. "I am grateful for your apologies, and I am not silencing your feelings. But perhaps, now is one of those times where words are not needed." He gently pulled her to her feet after him and cradled her in his arms. "I am just glad to have you back in my arms."

"To think, we would have gotten to this conclusion if only we would have spoken sooner." Katel clattered a chuckle and lifted her chin.

"I will give you one thing; you know how to choose your friends."

"So you like her?"

"…I like that she was able to bring us together again."

"…so you kind of like her?" Kim bit her lip and held a pleading look.

"She is tolerable. But I still can't let her breed with the drone under any circumstances."

"Oh, you don't have to worry about that. I've already asked her what their relationship is. She isn't attracted to him in the slightest."