Chapter 78
(Tana's POV)
One of my first tasks is recording all of the secret knowledge I have so it can be shared with the public. I was hoping I would finish this step quickly but each time I feel as though I'm almost done writing, I recall something else that needed to be written down.
"Hey there... what are you up to, my queen?" Insinz asked, entering the room.
"I'm doing my job, what about you?" I replied teasingly. He chuckled and then pulled the tablet I was saving all my information, out of my hands. "Hey!" He skimmed the pages, before saving it and turning the tablet off.
"It's time for bed," Insinz announced while yawning and walking away.
"I'm not tired yet! I can keep writing." I argued.
"My wife has been working 3 days straight without rest. You haven't even eaten or showered..." I felt a bit ashamed when he brought this up so I followed him this time without argument. A few of the concubine rooms had been remodeled and redecorated for us to sleep in, of course, all the old beds were destroyed. If not by us, by Vetro. We also had our own personal bathroom. "Go wash up first." He usually talks to me so gently... I must have worried him a lot lately. I'll make it up to him tomorrow. I made sure my bath water was perfect and then settled in, that's when Insinz entered the room.
"What are you doing in here?" I asked, trying but failing to keep my eyes off of him.
"I need to take a bath too." He answered while undressing. I slipped down in the tub and blew bubbles, unable to take my eyes away, as he pulled the shower head over and washed off before entering the other side of the tub.
"If I knew you were coming I would've dressed for the occasion." I joked. Insinz satisfied me by laughing, The tab was large enough for us to both have plenty of space, but I wish it was smaller.
"After all this is over, where do you want to live? Want to buy a house on an island, back on Earth?" Living alone on an Island with Insinz and my daughter, away from all these duties. Just imagining that makes me happy.
"Yeah... I would love to see the ocean every day, catch fish, and grow fruits. Also when our daughter is old enough she can decide if she wants to return here or not." His foot tickled mine, and then she got up and walked onto my side of the tub.
"Sounds fair..." He then began kissing me while stroking his hand between my legs.
"You... I thought you told me to rest." I chastened, after escaping from his kisses for only a moment.
"I'm just trying to help you get clean..."
"Were you always this naughty?" I teased. He blew a raspberry on my neck causing me to giggle and splash water onto the floor.
"Yes... I was born this way." Insinz stopped playing around and started washing me seriously which was unnerving.
"Why are you doing this?" I thought I had whispered it too quietly for him to hear but then he leaned to my ear and whispered,
"Because I missed you... I need to quiet my Tana withdrawals." I gritted my teeth and let him continue. After a while, he let the water out, washed, blowdried, and brushed my hair. Then carried me back to our bedroom. Insinz laid me on the bed, and I thanked him with a swift peck.
"You're ridiculous." His reaction to my chastising was to kiss my neck and lay down next to me. "What... do you do today?"
"Hmm... I thought about you." I scoffed.
"Stop it, I'm serious!" He rolled his eyes, before pulling me into an embrace and saying,
"I had to talk to the leaders of Infaniya that we haven't met yet, they're still apprehensive about the peace treaty, a lot of prejudices to work through... Also, I assisted Zai and Raijian in appointing 3 new representatives in the faraway cities. We sorted through hundreds of people with bad intentions... but it looks like we've made good progress. I'm glad because I'm in a rush to move away with you... I also looked into some real estate with Valin... he set up something called the internet, and I could use it to view houses without even stepping foot on Earth." I gasped,
"They have technology like that now?! That's amazing!" He nodded, finding my lips and kissing me deeply. After parting his face from mine he said,
"I'm glad, I was feeling stressed because I wanted to actively look for a home for us... and he made it possible." It's just hit me how much things are changing. If this planet was so engrained with dark memories, I would want to stay and see how it evolves. Insinz stroked my arm, and looked into my eyes, making my heart melt instantly, but at that same moment, I heard our daughter's cry from the next room. So I put on a robe and then rushed over to check on her. After feeding her, one of the servants offered to rock her to sleep for me. My first instinct was to say no but then I remembered my husband was waiting for me in bed. I accepted her offer and rushed to return to him. Insinz was sprawled out on the bed asleep. It was so funny looking. I got my fill of staring at him, still naked, and pulled the comforter up over him, before sliding in beside him to cuddle as I fell asleep too.
(Snowe's POV)
Zai wasn't exaggerating and spent the entire night entangled in pleasure with me. Until one of the staff knocked on the door informing him that his presence was needed. Even at that moment he was inside of me and yelled,
"I'll be there momentarily!" Just so the attendant would leave. He lifted my left leg up onto his shoulder and continued until he reached climax. Then Zai leaned down to kiss me and whisper goodbye, before finally pulling himself away from me and taking a shower. It took me longer to regain my strength but by the time he was done washing off I asked,
"Would it be okay... if I join you today?" Zai and Rai were tasked with the important role of selecting the most trustworthy officials to give titles and power because of their supernatural levels of discernment. Many people from all over the world have traveled to be interviewed and given governance over different territories in Afaria.
"... I thought I was the clingy one." I blushed and pouted,
"Just forget it then!" He laughed,
"Why are you mad? I'm happy... I want you to cling to me..." I turned to him and his silver eyes shimmered, sending sparkles all over the room.
"Well... okay then I'll come to the meeting room after I get dressed and cleaned up." He tapped his chin,
"Yes, my queen. I'll eagerly await your company." I looked away from him to hide my blushing.
"I mean it... cling to me more. I want to feel like you couldn't live without me, that you're addicted to my very presence, and that you'd die without my touch... because that is how I feel about you." Before I could utter a reply he left me alone... I was once afraid that my love would become obsessive or dangerous, like my mother's but it seems like Zai would enjoy it even if I did allow myself to go completely insane over him.
Valin is working hard on improving the technology so he can handle his duties remotely and return to Earth ASAP. He might leave before us. I can only afford to take one month max off from my career so Zai and I have been rushing to get our tasks done as well. I wore a long dress, and red jewelry that matched my wedding ring and the custom-made crown Zai had ordered for me, then I made my way to the meeting.
"How dare you! The people of my city love me! I've done so much for my community."
"Those people are idiots that you've won over with cheap gifts and lies. We don't need someone like you to gain any more power than you already have. You are dismissed... and I will overlook it this once but if you yell at me again, I'll... oh welcome my Queen." Zai stated, taking notice of me. Effectively, causing everyone else's eyes to turn toward me as I walked to my husband's side and sat on the arm of his chair.
"You're making a mistake, I don't know what evidence you've dug up to make you think I'm not sincere or would be an unfair ruler but..."
"I don't need evidence," Zai said in a chilling voice, his eyes gleamed brightly and he wore a crooked smile as he continued speaking. "I know you Faldosh.... I know you told me ten lies, just today. I know you had people killed on your command and when asked why, you justified it by framing them crimes. I know you plan to continue human-sacrificing rituals, even though I clearly stated all practices like that are to be abolished henceforth. I know you think I am a fool, like the people who follow you. You think you can fool me with a clear record and a smile, and a charity that you used as a front to garner support... I bet you were pocketing most of the charity funds and only using a small amount to keep up appearances." I could see Faldosh starting to sweat,
"Of c-course not." He stammered over his words.
"Oh, so you did do that... It's a pity... because if you just left when I told you to, I wouldn't have to kill you." The man stood up hurriedly from his seat and said,
"Please forgive me your excellence... I was wrong f-for raising my voice ... and I will leave now." He then rushed out the door. Zai sighed then he kissed my shoulder and his smile returned.
"I'm glad you're here." I smiled back at him, Zai then turned to the other 10 men in the room and said, "Who is next to state their case?" 2 men nervously left the room, while one stepped forward.
"My name is Cari... I have lived in Zarosa... a city near the southern border for 50 years... I... was chosen by my fellow citizens to be here, they made a vote and decided they would all be happy if I was their leader. It's all too much for me, I've never taken a leadership role... but I care deeply for everyone there and I will do my best to not disappoint them and make Zaraosa as prosperous as possible in your honor, sire." Zai stared him down for several seconds before saying,
"What about Muertario... are you comfortable ending its celebration?" He hung his head,
"I never enjoyed the celebration myself sire... I expect some backlash by its abolishment, but I swear to enforce the new laws and imprison anyone who continues to keep that tradition. It should have never become a holiday." There was a heavy silence and then Zai laughed saying,
"I like you! You pass, bring me your paperwork so I may give it my seal of approval." Cari blushed as he stepped forward to have his documents signed and stamped by Zai, "Your people chose well... I believe you will be a fantastic ruler."
"Thank you King Zaikel, that means so much to me."
"My soon-to-be sister-in-law is a human. It would be pretty insensitive to continue a holiday that kills her kind for sport." Cari nodded,
"You are right, I believe she'd find that unsettling." Zai sorted the papers and used an engraving on the table to teleport the ones he needed to keep into his office.
"What is your last name?" He asked.
"It... It's Hyderion." Capri answered, and then Zai smiled and said,
"You are now Duke Hyderion, your territories include Zarosa, Tila, and Yunvic. Feel free to appoint officials you trust to help you manage things and if any of those people prove untrustworthy or try to take advantage of you... please bring them to me." Cari's face grew even more red, and then he bowed, accepting his new status and power, before being escorted out to work out the next steps he needed to take. "Who is next?"