Page 93 of The Pleasure Contract

Glex scoffs. “The whole reason Pax was able to get to your Permissions in the first place was because you two-” he wags his fingers at Lois and I, “-were up to something illegal. What makes you think you have the upper hand?”

“Did you not hear how the whole arena cheered for them?”

This time, it was Rykor who had spoken. He steps out from behind me and gestures to the screen replaying the highlights of the game – just like all the entertainment screens in this healing center seem to be doing. Over and over again. Scenes of me losing myself, and finding myself again when I have Lois in my arms, her kiss on my lips.

“The general population loved seeing their prince overcome with emotion for his female,” he continues. “They loved how free he could be with her. I believe it reminds them of our true natures when it comes to matehood.”

Glex frowns. “What has that got to do with anything?”

I step closer and put an arm around my female. “Let me put it this way, Glex,” I drawl. “Do you really think the people will care that I helped my beloved mate to do something so innocent as contacting her own mother? I’ll happily pay any penalties such a little infraction might incur.”

I can see Glex weighing up the situation behind his calculating eyes – all possible paths laid out before him while he decides which one to tread.

And it is true, the Authorities will decide what mine and Lois’ punishment should be for contacting Earth. And I will simply tell them it was all me. Any punishment they try to push upon her, I will absorb. That is not up for discussion.

But public opinion?

Apparently, they love us together.

Glex would be unwise to be on the wrong side of that.

That could be catastrophic for him.

It only takes a few Lords to notice his dive in popularity with the common folk and refuse to do business with him.

It only takes enough people to stop using the companies he invests in.

It only takes my father noticing and deciding to replace him on his court, and therefore, the board of the Intergalactic Peacetime Authority.

There are too many variables for Glex to fumble this.

It would be wisest for him to-

“Alright,” he relents, huffing. “I will formally back your campaign for the humans.”

Lois beams up at me before turning back to probe further. “And?”

Glex’s twitchy eyes bounce from her to me, to his son and back again. “And I will bring the issue of rights for humans to the Intergalactic Peacetime Authorities,” he sighs, conceding, before his whole demeanor switches up, right before our eyes. “You know, because it really is high time someone did something about this,” he says, somehow now sounding so concerned and invested. “And that someone should be me… After all… our little stunt at the game today could go a long way to highlight just how little rights perfectly sentient beings such as humans really have.”

I can practically see the synapses firing in that manipulative little brain of his. Glex really is going to turn this all around so that he comes out looking like some kind of Goddess-damned hero.

“I need to talk to the Healers about the Arena Master,” he mutters to himself, hurrying over to the doorway – the doorway still occupied by my teammates. “Move, move, move!” Glex demands, flapping his hands.

Ral and Varrex look to me.

I shrug and look to Lois.

She nods, signaling for them to step aside.

Tutting, Glex leaves, apparently sure that he can spin this all to his own advantage. “Zyre! Come!” he calls from halfway down the hallway.

When I look at the male in question, Zyre’s eyes are closed, and his jaw is tight. He is not the type to go running when talked to like some kind of companion animal, answering to his master’s call. He shakes his head and looks directly at Lois, and then to me. “I am truly sorry for my part in this,” he says, bowing. “I hope you can forgive me.”

My stubborn little firebomb of a female lifts her chin. “I hope we can, too,” she says, staying strong.

Nodding to himself, I see that the huge, inked male cannot help but respect her all the more for it.

“Zyre!”