Don’t Blame Me  

Ba'dqeel smirked at his nephew. "You would think that the next in line to be the Rein would know better than that," he sneered. Using his bigger body, he pushed the smaller male out of the way.

"Excuse me?" demanded Vi'dta, refusing to back down. "In what way am I wrong?"

"It is not illegal to bring females back to our planet. But it is understood that any male who cannot protect their female will meet the same fate that she does," explained Ba'dqeel.

"So, you finally admit that she is your mate?" sneered Vi'dta.

"I fully admit that she is my female. Try taking her from me, if you dare," challenged Ba'dqeel, a smile on his face as he looked down on the other male before walking out of the launch bay.

-----

It seemed like he hadn't been asleep for more than a catawr before there was someone urgently ringing for him. Ba'dqeel sat up in bed slowly, making sure that he didn't disturb Ariel at all.