"She's not from your world," sputtered the King of Kallutan as, for the first time since he entered the pool area, he looked at the males holding his treasure. "She is called a human, from some weird planet, I don't remember the name of. But the point is that she isn't whatever you think she is, and she isn't from your planet. You have no right to take away my Treasure."
"She is dying," hissed He'dtaalh, pulling his mate closer to his chest. Even just holding her slight weight was giving him a sense of comfort, but he knew he wasn't about to calm down until he managed to see her eyes again. "How is she your Treasure?"
"She is red, inside and out!" explained the King, going back to ignoring everyone but his Treasure. He knew very little about her. Just her species name and the fact that she bled red, but that really didn't matter to him.
He killed the old king because of the good luck she bestowed upon him. She was going to give him red babies that would rule after him, and the luck of his family assured for eons because of that one female.
He narrowed his eyes, contemplating what the primitive being was saying. Was his treasure really dying?
He took a step forward, only to be stopped by a blade at his throat the size of his forearm. "My liege!" shouted one of the soldiers behind the king. Rushing forward, he tried to place himself between his new king and the Nycteromys in front of him.
However, he was quickly stopped by a hand around his throat. "I wouldn't if I were you," suggested Ba'dqeel, squeezing the Kallutan's throat until the smaller male started to struggle. He wasn't one for getting his hands dirty, but that didn't mean he couldn't.
After all, he was the only surviving brother of the Rein for a reason, and it wasn't because the Rein didn't count him as a threat.
"Give us a reason why she is your Treasure, and I'll let you keep her," said Vi'dta, stepping out of the shadows with Nai'dqa at his back.
Ba'dqeel and He'dtaalh both stiffened at their prince's words, the two fighting back a roar of challenge at the very idea they were leaving the hirini behind.
Sorry… human.
"I don't need to give you a fucking reason," hissed the King, the fur all over his body coming to attention as he narrowed his eyes on the prince. "This is my palace, my kingdom, my Treasure. You are the guests who went some place where you weren't supposed to go. What were you doing here? Maybe you are the ones wanting to start a war…"
He let the last word trail off. They weren't the only ones who could use the possibility of a conflict against the other species.
However, he greatly misjudged the Nycteromys' desire for peace.
"That sounded like a threat," muttered He'dtaalh, his eyes never wavering from the being in his arms. He didn't care what she was called. The only thing that mattered was that she was his.
There was silence as the king sputtered, He'dtaalh's 'pocketknife' still at his throat. "There was no threat," he said after a moment.
"No, it definitely sounded like a threat to me," agreed Ba'dqeel, nodding his head and pulling out a small device from his pants pocket. "My Rein," he said when the call connected. "I have it on good authority that the Kallutan are planning to start a war against the Empire. They have threatened the heir and have things found on our planet in their palace."
It didn't take long for the Rein to reply. "If it is a war that they want, then show them what it means to be a true enemy of the Nycteromys," he said right before cutting off the call.
"You heard him," Ba'dqeel shrugged as he returned the communication device. "The Kallutans are now an enemy of our people."
"Understood, Ambassador," nodded He'dtaalh, and with a flick of his wrist, he separated the king's head from his body.
"Now, I understand that the people are innocent, that they are the ones who are most affected by war," started Ba'dqeel, still holding the man in his grip. "You can appoint a new king and maybe send some gifts to the Rein in order to appease his temper. Maybe then we can call off the war."
The soldier, wearing a bright red cape, nodded his head frantically. He slowly backed away, giving the four males room. "We will do as you suggested," he continued, his head bowed. "Please feel free to take your time; you can depart from the planet whenever it is convenient for you."
Spinning around on his feet, the General took off to the door of the cage; his men fast on his heels.
"Is someone going to tell me what is going on?" asked Vi'dta from where he stood. He had watched his uncle and guard, and their reactions to everything that was going on weren't like them. It was like they were possessed or something.
"Nothing you need to know," grunted He'dtaalh, spinning around and walking into the water. The female was in one arm, and his weapon in the other. He didn't care if it soaked through his pants and favorite boots. He needed to look after his mate, and bringing her back into the water was the only thing he could think of to do for her.
Getting to almost the center, the upper half of his chest still exposed, he looked down at the water lapping at the female's body. He didn't know what he thought would happen, but he still couldn't hold back his disappointment when, instead of her looking healthier in the water, her skin was just turning a lighter shade of blue.
Or was that her natural color?
"Why isn't she getting better?" he asked Ba'dqeel, who had entered the water after him. "Her breathing is struggling again, and I can only hear one heart working in her chest."
"I don't know," admitted Ba'dqeel, reaching over to brush a red strand of hair away from her eyes. "Maybe we should take her to the ship. The med bay should know how to fix her."
"Are you sure?" asked He'dtaalh, a tinge of uncertainty in his voice as he looked at the older man.
"No," admitted Ba'dqeel. "But it's better than doing nothing."