Master Chief Leftclaw strode purposefully toward the royal lair. He had promised to check on the Queen, and he would do his duty. He really detested her, but Renten had chosen her, and Leftclaw had to respect that choice.
He slowed his steps and perked up his ears. Leftclaw heard feminine laughter and the playful growl of a male Rieyad. His eyes narrowed, and he unsheathed his claws. He stalked forward and froze in the doorway.
Queen Rialla sat nestled between the legs of King's Guardsman, Vin SenseAll, stroking his thigh and purring.
"You know, only a big, strong male can make me roar." She peered up into Vin's face. "I wonder if you can?"
"I believe I can, my Queen. No female should be neglected."
"I think so, too," Rialla simpered, her tail swishing back and forth.
"Let me prove it." Vin's paw slid seductively down her fur.
Leftclaw had seen enough. He let out a roar, startling the pair into scrambling apart. By the time they gained their feet, several guards had joined him. "Take that scum into custody and place the Queen in a comfortable confinement room. I will inform our King of these traitors."
Vin struggled, but the giant guards dwarfed him and held him fast.
Rialla sat on the floor and glared at Leftclaw. "How dare you?" she hissed. "I have needs."
"Which your mate should fill. As a royal, and as our Queen, you pledged yourself to our King, and him alone. No other male should take his place in your arms. You will be tried for your crime and punished accordingly. Take her away."
Rialla lunged at him, and the closest guard easily captured her and walked away with the struggling Queen.
Leftclaw shook his head at this unexpected turn of events. He would wait until after the Prince's trials to inform the King of his wife's infidelity. Unhappily, he left the royal lair and headed for the war room. He needed to check on the progress of their enemies.
He arrived and found the place in an uproar. Leftclaw waited to see if anyone noticed his presence. When none of his warriors paid attention to his entrance, he grinned. It was time to remind them that awareness of their surroundings was paramount to survival. Leftclaw straightened and bellowed, "What is going on here? You shame me by your lack of skill!"
Every warrior in the room froze and turned with identical expressions of disbelief. Hastily, they dropped to one knee in submission. "Master Chief!"
Leftclaw walked over to the Vasdji, Si Genhi. "Well?"
"Master Chief, we were about to contact you. Our three ships on the outer edges of this galaxy have reported that a fleet of Lupine ships is on there way here."
Leftclaw cursed. "How many?"
"Ten, Sir, all dreadnought class."
"We cannot hope to battle them. This is bad timing all around. I must return to Earth to inform our king and ask the humans for help. Keep me updated every hour. Even if nothing happens, I want to know. Si Genhi, you are my second-in-command. Make sure you keep everything at the ready. Notify all warriors to be on standby."
"Yes, Master Chief Leftclaw. For our King and our pride!" Si Genhi bowed. His words were echoed by the others in the room.
Leftclaw nodded and left. Time was running out. They had wanted to hide the secret of their enemy, and now they had no choice. They had to tell the humans. He only hoped they would be forgiving of the omission.
* * *
Jewels shook with exhaustion. The man called Adam sat before her. She looked in his eyes and shivered. She didn't like what she saw there. It made her want to hide. Jeremy shifted behind her.
::Jewels? What's wrong? Should we stop?::
::No, we can't. I'm just tired. We have the three Gatoans after this. I can't stop. Psi-Ops won't allow it. Please, lower the shield.::
::Jewels, just say the word, and I don't care what happens, I will stop this.::
::I know. It'll be okay. I'm ready.::
She felt Jeremy's concern, and then the shield was dropped. She was reaching the end of her endurance levels. Only a little more, and she could rest. Her mind was mostly numb to the pain from the constant barrage of thoughts.
"Hello, Adam. If you would please, attempt a shield."
"Of course." Adam smiled, and Jewels felt a twinge of misgiving. He continued to smile, and then she felt his mental touch. It was heat, it was smooth, it was...not the one she wanted!
"No!" she jumped to her feet, and her chair fell to the floor with a crash. "Get out! Leave me alone!" Jewels clutched at her head and stumbled backward toward Jeremy, who was beside her. His hand touched her shoulder, and she screamed as the two men fought to shield her mind.
"Release your shield! The test is over for you." Jeremy ordered coldly and glared at the smiling younger man.
Adam glanced at her, and she turned away and buried her face against Jeremy's chest.
"Now!" Jeremy thundered.
"Okay, okay. Sheesh, you people are an angry bunch," Adam grumped.
Jewels felt Adam's shield vanish, and the familiar warmth of Jeremy's shielding settled over her mind. ::Get him away from me!::
::Gladly!:: Jeremy snarled.
Adam was hauled to his feet and dragged away, still grinning.
::Jeremy, don't let him come back. There's something wrong with him. Trust me, he's not what we're looking for.::
::Don't worry. I didn't like his smile anyway.::
Jewels gave a weak laugh. "Let's finish this, please. I need to rest."
"Bring in the next candidate," Jeremy told the soldier. He righted the chair and helped Jewels sit.
The door opened, and one of the Gatoans glided in. Jewels noted that he kept his eyes on her. She shivered. The Onugra's intensity reminded her somewhat of Dex when his attention was completely on her. She collected her thoughts and gestured for the tall male to sit.
He seemed to melt into the seat. "I am Dipaw," he announced before she could ask his name.
"Thank you. I am Jewels. What we are doing is testing to see if you can shield my mind. My partner will lower the one he has around me, and you must take over and provide shielding."
"I understand. I am ready."
Jewels smiled in relief. Finally, a candidate who wasn't acting like a fool. She nodded to Jeremy. She felt his shield drop, and the barrage of thoughts hit her. She sucked in a breath and felt sweat run down her neck. "Proceed," she ground out.
Dipaw inclined his head, and she felt coolness first, then warmth, and then silence. "Oh! Thank you, Dipaw."
"You are welcome, my lady."
"Please, release your shield. We are finished for the moment." Jewels wondered why the Onugra's mental touch hadn't caused pain. She would think about it later. She felt his mind disconnect from hers, and Jeremy's shield slid into place. "Dipaw, can you please send in whoever is next?"
"Yes, my lady." He rose and quietly left.
A few seconds later, and a second Onugra appeared. "Greetings. I am Nipaw."
Jewels blinked. "Are you two twins?"
"Yes, my lady. We are. My brother was smiling, so I take it everything went well?"
"He did just fine. Now it is your turn. Please sit. Colonel Lingley will drop his telepathic shield, and it will be your job to replace his with yours to protect my mind. Are you ready?"
"Always," Nipaw grinned and settled himself in the chair.
They repeated the test, and, again, Jewels was surprised that there was no pain. She gratefully thanked Nipaw for his time and called for the next candidate to be brought out.
Her heart began to pound and, for one moment, she thought she caught a whiff of cinnamon and cocoa. She shook her head and sternly ordered herself to focus.
The door opened and Jewels knew who was coming even before he entered. The Prince had arrived.