Chapter 12 The Child Marks Her Territory

Groaning I sat up, still half asleep, rubbing my eyes, I tossed the blanket off me, and swung my legs out of bed, man I really had to pee. I groped around in the darkness toward the door. If I hurried back, then I would have a few more minutes to sleep before I had to take FIFI out for a walk. I found the door, and holding onto the wall I headed down the hall. Man the bathroom seemed farther away than I thought. I finally found the door and made my way in. When I sat down I almost fell backwards, ugh Uncle Marvin must have left the toilet seat lid up again. Finishing my business I headed back to my room. "Slam," a door slammed closed down the hall, crap my Aunt is awake, time to take FIFI out, grumbling I stumbled into my room and flipped on the light.

It took a second before my eyes finally adjusted to the brightness. When I could see, I blinked looking around, wait this isn't my room. Where am I?! I stepped further into the room, looking around I was throughly confused. What happened to my room? Who's room was I in? When I walked in front of the mirror on the wall I did a double take, glancing at my reflection, I saw that I was completely naked, what the heck why was I naked? What happened to my clothes?!! Trembling I ran and grabbed the blanket off the bed and covered my body, letting out the loudest scream of my life I huddled in the corner of the room scared to death on what had happened to me.

"Please let this be a nightmare, please let this be a nightmare," I cried rocking myself in the corner.

"We will be arriving in Kosea soon, we need your advice on where we should dock the ship, in order to safely deliver the resources that were collected on Earth,"

the captain asked as soon as the King arrived at the helm.

"Since we have the Queen on board we didn't know if you would like us to dock closer to the castle, or on the east side of Kosea closer to level one. We would like to keep her comfort in mind."

"We should dock closer to the castle, my Queen isn't used to a lot of the hustle and bustle, I am afraid, seeing all the males working at the east dock would frighten her."

The captain nodded, as he waved his hand sending off notes to the crew down below.

"How is she doing? We heard she has suffered an injury when she awoke, I am trying to make headway as fast as possible, so we can get her back to Kosea to be treated."

"She's doing ok for now, it pains me to see her arm. She hasn't complained about any pain yet, I wish I can read her thoughts, I feel like she's holding back and won't tell me how much pain she's really in," his eyes narrowed as he spoke.

"The poor child, rumors about how she was treated are spreading among the crew, every male on board, is seething with rage. It has been hard trying to keep them under control these last few months. It doesn't help, having the scent of a young female on board either, I've had to punish many males from attempting to steal a glance into her room when she was in the medical wing, rumors about her beauty became a legend around here."

"You're too harsh captain, it would be a shame if at least one of them doesn't succeed in stealing a glance. How can they prove her beauty of no one sees her?"

The two of them chuckled at the thought. Their laughter was suddenly cut short ,hearing a blood curling scream coming from the King's chambers. The King stared at the captain in apology before flying off to his Queen's side.

Bursting through the door of his chambers he scanned the room for the child, worried that something had happened to her. He finally spotted her huddled in the corner of the room with a sheet draped over her clutching her head in her hands, rocking in the corner, with tears streaming down her face. She was whispering,

"it's just a dream wake up, it's just a dream."

The captain, soon caught up to the King and stood in the doorway, horrified at the child's expression on her face. He had followed the King thinking one of the crew members was trying to see the child again and had accidentally frightened her.

"Chelsey are you ok? What happened? It's alright I'm here, don't cry."

He reached out his arms and pick her up, carrying her over to the bed. He sat down pulling her onto his lap.

"Shh shh it's ok my little one, I'm here now, do not be afraid."

It took her a few minutes before she finally settled down. Only a few more sobs escaped her before she fell silent, trembling in his arms.

"Please tell me what happened, what frightened you so?"

I looked up at Helios, memories from yesterday and from the past year came flooding back to me, my face ran red at the thoughts,

"I...I forgot where I was, I woke up and I was...wasn't in my room. I didn't recognize this room. I got scared, I forgot about you, an...and everything that happened yesterday. I felt like I was still stuck in a night..." she trailed off not finishing her sentence.

Helios's grip tightened around the child, he knew what she was about to say, he clutched her tight rocking her in his arms trying to sooth her, so his thoughts about her suffering while she was asleep for the last few months were correct. She really was holding back her pain from him. Looking over Helios's shoulder I noticed there was another male standing in the doorway, I blushed turning my face into Helios's robes, I felt stupid for screaming just now, and that I told Helios I was scared and had forgotten about him.

The poor child she was so young she could barely remember anything that had happened from a few hours ago. He sniffed the air, the child had no scent of estrous anywhere on her. This was the first time he had laid eyes on the child throughout this trip. Under her tear soaked face, she was absolutely beautiful, so the legends of her beauty were true.

"May I,"

the captain eyed the inside of the King's chambers wanting to come into his territory. The King nodded, stepping inside the room he bent down in front of the child in the King's arms.

"How would you like to see the helm, where we navigate the ship?"

He asked trying to cheer the child up. She stared wide eyed at him and nodded with a small smile. He sucked in his breath, her eyes, he had never seen eyes like hers. They were green like emeralds dripping with liquid gold streaks. They were the most beautiful eyes he had ever seen.

Standing up the King followed the captain to the helm with the child in his arms. I took every detail in, as we walked down the corridor toward the helm of the ship. I was mesmerized by all of the commotion happening around me, males were running to and fro, checking gauges, and pushing buttons left and right, papers rustling in the distance as notes were passed from person to person. The further down the hall we went the stranger I felt, something was off but I couldn't quite put my finger on it. It wasn't until we reached the helm that I realized that I didn't see a single girl on the ship. Was I the only girl on board? I shivered at the thought of all the males that were around me.

"Are you cold? I can send for someone to fetch you a warmer blanket,"

Helios asked with concern in his eyes.

"No, I'm ok, just something that crossed my mind was all."

"And what would that be my little one?"

I was momentarily dazed by the gentle look in Helios's eyes as he stared deep into mine wanting to know what I was thinking about.

"I...I'm the only girl here on this ship," I mumbled blushing from his staring. The King was confused by the world girl, it didn't exist in his vocabulary, but if he had to guess when she said the only one she probably meant female since she was the only female on board. The captain froze hearing this coming from the child, his insides burned with desire, wanting to hold the child for himself. These past few months have been driving him and his crew mad with lust knowing that a single female child was on board. He stepped up to the child and patted her on the head,

"don't worry little one, as captain of this ship it is my honor to punish all of those males who would dare steal a glance of you. I am here to protect you."

I smiled shyly at the captain secretly thanking him. I don't know if I could handle all the males here looking at me. Once at the helm Helios set me on my feet, I gawked staring at the sheer mass of the control panel in the control room. It reminded me of a picture I saw of a Boeing 737 cockpit with all the dials, buttons, and switches with blinking lights everywhere only this panel was much much bigger. There was a giant window in front of me but it looked like it was covered up because I couldn't see anything out the giant windshield.

Along the dash there were two small silver metal helms or wheels that resembled the stirring wheels of a pirate ship. Seeing that the child was preoccupied with exploring the control room the King and the Captain went back to discussing the plans for the delivery of the resources. I walked around looking at all the buttons and switches wondering what each ones purpose was, then I opened the closets seeing cloaks, hats, and boots stashed away.

Looking back at the windshield I was confused as to how the ship was being steered if no one could see out the window. I walked over to the captain and tugged on his robes,

"how is the ship being steered if you can't see out the window, all I see is pitch black," I said pointing to the black screen.

"Aren't you afraid of running into space rocks or other planets?"

The captain smiled bending down and picked the child up in his arms, the poor child her eye sight must be poor if she can't see through the dimmed screen. He grabbed a pair of eye protectors and put them on her and flipped a switch, a moment later the black screen disappeared and I was taken aback, planets, stars, asteroids, and supernova's whizzed by us faster than I could see. To put it bluntly it looked like driving in the snow at night with your high beams on going one hundred miles per hour. The back of my head pressed into the captains chest as I tried to take in the sight of the new galaxy in front of me.

"How...how fast are we going?" I asked the captain.

"We are traveling faster than the speed of light." My jaw dropped open,

"Aren't we going to crash into something going that fast," I stuttered nervously.

I was scared, how can we be flying this fast and not run into a black hole or something huge like another planet!!! The captain chuckled seeing her scared expression,

"I promise you we will not crash, our ships were built for this kind of speed, our technology far surpasses human technology, by billions of years. That and our eye sight works much faster than yours so we can see the space rocks flying at us at the speed of a turtle hence we can easily maneuver through the asteroid belts safely with no damage."

I was throughly shocked, just how advanced was their technology?!

"Would you like to steer the ship?"

I looked up excitedly shaking my head yes. The captain set me down in front of one of the wheels and flipped a switch.

He frowned seeing that the child was too short to see over the wheel, he walked to one of the closets and pulled out a crate and sat it down in front of the wheel, then he picked the child up and stood her up on the crate, standing behind her so she wouldn't fall off, he encircled his arms around her and took each of her hands in his and placed them on the wheel,

"alright little one brace yourself," he bellowed, pressing his chest against her back and holding her tight to the wheel with her hands in his. He was hoping she would ask him to steer the ship, this meant that he could get close to her without the King's suspicion, of foul play. The moment he saw her, he instantly noticed the King's seal burned onto the back of her neck, knowing that he never stood a chance of mating with her. So he had to settle for at least being able to feel her fragile body under his while at the wheel. She was absolutely adorable.

She held onto a blanket draped over her body that she drug around with her. This must be her comfort item for she was refusing to leave it behind. He was a little sad that this item covered up her beauty. He wasn't able to see her unmarked body underneath. Leaning over he shoulder he whispered into her ear,

"are you ready, hold on tight and don't let go,"

She nodded shivering under his breath. He took his foot and stomped on one of the pedals on the floor and the ship was kicked into high gear. This caused the ship to lurch forward, and the female child was thrown backward into his chest, but she clung onto the wheel for dear life. She shrieked with excitement, at the sudden speed of the ship, jumping up and down on the crate excitedly. He soaked in every minute of her adorable little smile, his heart was melting underneath her body that was pressed against his.

I have never felt such speed in my life. I felt like I was driving a roller coaster through a minefield. The sudden lurch of the ship tossed me back into the captains arms but I refused to let go of the wheel. I was afraid if I let go then I would accidentally steer us into an oncoming planet whizzing by us. But soon I was panting out of breath, it was so hard for me to keep holding on, I had to use all of my strength to hold the wheel steady. If the captain hadn't been holding on with me, I bet the wheel would have kept spinning flinging my body around and around if I didn't let go.

"I'm tired, I can't hold on anymore,"

I cried underneath the captain. The captain chuckled, as he reached over and flipped the switch back onto autopilot. The child barely lasted two minutes at the wheel, he was sad that he couldn't stand here a little longer with her. But then he remembered her injury and quickly got her away from the wheel.

"How is your arm? You didn't hurt it further did you?" He asked guiltily.

"No I'm fine my arms are just a little tired." He nodded,

"please forgive me, my Queen, I completely forgot about your injury. If you feel any pain let me know and I will find someone to punish me."

What the heck?! Was this some sort of sick twisted master versus, servant game. My stomach lurched,

"no...I'm fine really, please don't punish yourself, it would upset me greatly if you did."

The captain looked up shocked, this female was so compassionate, it made his heart swell. No female in all of Kosea had a heart like hers.

"Thank you, thank you my Queen, your heart is so pure. Thank you for sparing me. I will never forget your kindness."

The King watched this exchange between the child and the captain, he was becoming envious with jealousy, he could see how hard the captain was trying to win her favor.

"Alright Chelsey run along and play, the captain and I will be done here shortly and then I can take you back with me to my chambers."

Hearing this made me blush, what was he planning on doing in his chambers? I quickly turned away and went back to exploring. It wasn't long before my stomach started growling, I wanted to go find out where that delicious smell was coming from that we had passed earlier. Glancing over at Helios and the captain it looked like they were deep in conversation. I inched my way closer to the open door and silently slipped out into the corridor.

I turned and quickly made my way toward the smell of stew wafting in the air. It wasn't long before I finally found what I assumed was the kitchens on this ship. There in front of me was a pot big enough for me to swim in filled to the top with boiling stew, I licked my lips drool dripping down my chin. I surfed through the cupboards and found a bowl, I couldn't find any spoons so I made due with the bowl.

I pulled a stool over and climbed on top, taking the bowl I carefully dipped it into the pot and scooped out a bowl full of soup. I turned to jump down off the stool, but instead I slipped on my blanket and fell, I clutched my bowl of soup for dear life, refusing to let a single drop spill from my bowl. Instead my foot caught the side of the pot and accidentally knocked it over. Uh oh I'm in trouble, I quickly slurped my soup and licked my bowl clean, glancing around to make sure no one heard the commotion, I found a mop and tried to hide the mess.

I mopped the soup into the corner of the room where I saw a hole in the floor, maybe this was the spill drain since it was a kitchen after all, if I sweep it into this hole I can hide the evidence. I almost had all of the soup swept into the hole when I heard a voice shouting from below me,

"what the heck is this? Where did this soup come from?"

I froze oh no not again, someone saw my mess, I dropped the broom and ran from the kitchen. Maybe if I get away they wouldn't think it was me.

Rounding a couple of corners, I listened to see if anyone was following me. But I didn't hear any footsteps. I breathed a sigh of relief. At least no one came after me. After eating I had to pee again. As I scouted for a bathroom, I ended up getting lost, I couldn't remember if I had walked through this corridor or not, they were all beginning to look the same to me. The only indication I had was a number marked on each door that said F37, I wasn't sure what that meant.

After twenty minutes of searching I still had no luck on finding a bathroom. Instead I found a corridor full of sitting rooms? There where hundreds of sitting rooms, they all looked the same and there were no beds in sight, I was confused as to why there were so many sitting rooms. Entering one of the sitting rooms I spotted my first potted plant, there was soil in pot! Maybe I could use this since I couldn't find a bathroom. The dirt could hide the evidence. Glancing around to make sure no one was coming I quickly relieved myself in the pot.

"Ah now I feel much better," I whispered.

Darn I didn't have any toilet paper to wipe with. Who knew I would miss toilet paper so much. I wish I can wash up, I wasn't sure when I had a shower last. I sniffed my hair curiously, it smelled like my hair had been washed recently, but I couldn't identify the smell of what was used in my hair, at least it wasn't oily. Wait my hair had been washed?!! My face heated up thinking about Helios and who would have seen me naked when washing me up while I was in hyper sleep.

"Eeek I am so embarrassed," I cried silently.

I walked through a few more sitting rooms, when I happened upon a basin. Peeking into it, I sniffed, there was no smell, this must be water. I brought it up to my lips and tasted it. Yep it was water, my eyes glinted with excitement, now I can finally wash up. Searching through the drawer the basin was sitting on top of I quickly located a bar of what I assumed was soap. I poured a little of the water on the bar of soap and lathered up my body making sure to get all of my private parts.

I then took the basin and dumped the entire pot on top of me washing away the soap. I froze when I heard the water hitting the floor, oh no, this isn't a shower room, I looked down at the floor, the water spreading everywhere. Crap I made another mess. I took my blanket in my hand and sighed, I must clean this water up before someone finds out. Taking the blanket I mopped up the water. I left the sopping wet blanket in the corner of the room and went in search for another blanket.

I walked from room to room in search for something to cover me up but to no avail. All I could find were couches and arm chairs. Was there no beds on this ship? Where did everyone sleep. The longer I searched the more desperate I became, someone was bound to see me at some point and I was completely naked! "Swish," a door opened up to my right, Eeek, I shrieked ducking down behind a couch.

"Go away, I'm not dressed, don't look at me," I hollered at the male walking in.

The male stopped dead in his tracks, sniffing the air, there was a female in his room!!! His members stiffened as he inhaled her beautiful scent.

"Is...is that you, your Highness?"

He called out to the female hidden in his room. Was she lost? Why was she so far away from the King? How did she even get here in his room?

"N...no, go away,"

she called out weakly, as he saw a tiny hand reaching over the arm of the couch and grabbed his couch cushion, and pulled it over the arm and behind the couch. He walked over to the couch and peered over the back,

"are you lost? Did you want me to take you back to the King?

She shrunk under the cusion and screamed at him,

"don't look at me I'm naked."

He froze, the female child was clearly distressed with his presence.

"I'm sorry your Highness I didn't mean to frighten you. Here let me help you, I'll take you back to the King. He came around the couch and pulled the cushion out of the female's hands.

He scooped the child up into his arms kicking and fussing. He had to take her back to the King as soon as possible before he was blamed for taking her. When she was in his arms he was shocked at how small and fragile she was. She barely weighed a feather, and her soft skin against his hands was so smooth and delicate. He knew that he would never get a chance to hold the unmarked female like this ever again for as long as he shall live. Just being able to help return her to the King's side was enough to make his heart swarm with love.

He frowned seeing the child cover up her most beautiful attributes. Her skin was turning hot under his arms. Oh no was she coming down sick? He stopped and placed his hand on her forehead,

"are you feeling ok your Highness, you feel like your running a fever." She swatted his hand away,

"I'm not sick, don't look at me,"

she glared at him. Was this why the captain always punished them for trying to steal a glance at her? She was scared to be looked at?

The male carried me in his arms with no shame at my nakedness. He wouldn't stop staring down at me and my body. Tears streamed down my face full of embarrassment. I tried to cover myself as best as I could under my current circumstance. How could I have been so stupid to use my blanket the only piece of clothing I had to cover up with, to clean up the water? Why didn't I just use his couch cushion? I glared up at him the whole way back to Helios. It wasn't until we neared the helm that I began to tremble in the young males arms. I was afraid that Helios would be mad at me for disappearing.

"Knock, knock, your Highness, I have brought the female child back, I found her in my room, I think she might be coming down with a fever."

The captain and the King stopped their conversation shocked at the child in the males arms. She had tears streaming down her face. The male sat her on her feet and she bolted to the King outstretched arms,

"Chelsey are you alright? Why are you crying? Are you hurt?" He asked bending down to embrace her. I shook my head,

"he saw me naked,"

I wailed dashing under Helios's cloak trying to conceal my body. Helios glanced over at the male frowning, he gulped under the King's gaze.

"You there cadet, go and fetch me the softest blanket you can find.

"Yes Sire right away." He saluted before running off, within minutes he returned with a blanket. Helios took the blanket from him and bent down,

"come on out and I'll wrap you up,"

I refused to move wrapping my arms around Helios's leg. He sighed holding the blanket close to me, my hand darted out from his cloak and I snatched the blanket out of his hand. I quickly wrapped myself up like a burrito before coming out from Helios's cloak.

"Here let me fix it,"

Helios bent down and he fixed the blanket so that I had arm holes and a hood and he took one of his brooches and clipped it holding the blanket around my neck so it looked like I had a makeshift cloak like his. I had to say I liked this way better. I spun around happy to finally be covered again. All the while the captain and the male watched in fascination. This female didn't like to show her body?! Helios scooped me up in his arms,

"we should head back, you must be exhausted from all of your exploring you did today."

I nodded not objecting. I wanted to get away from all the prying eyes. I waved goodbye to the captain and away we went back to Helios's chambers. Upon entering, Ihloi was standing there with a towel and soap in hand,

"hello your highness, I am here to help you with your bath. I have the water all set and ready for you." I held up my hand,

"no thanks I already took a bath today."

Helios and Ihloi stared at me frowning. Helios pulled me close and sniffed my neck, I froze in his arms, when his nose touched my neck.

"How did you take a bath and why do you smell like another males soap?"

I bit my lip contemplating on what I should tell him. I opened my mouth and tried to answer but no words came out, guilt was rising in my throat.

"Knock, knock," sounded at the door, I sighed with relief, saved by the knock at the door. Helios set me down and opened the door, the captain and several males were standing at the door looking confused.

"Sorry to interrupt you Sire, but we've all come here to court the female.

Wait what?!! Helios thought, did they not see his mark on her neck?!! Were they asking to die tonight? This female is not courting anyone, she is going to be my mate, what makes you think it's ok to ask me to court her? I was confused, why there were so many males at the door, why was the captain back here? All the males stood there awkwardly, until the captain spoke up,

"the female child has left her scent of favor in our rooms, she's marked her territorial claim to us."

They all held out a potted plant. I gulped seeing the plants in their hands, oh no those were the plants where I relieved myself. Helios and Ihloi were shocked, Helios went and sniffed the pots, sure enough her scent was all over them. Two more males stepped forward, the female was in the kitchens earlier she knocked over everyone's meal for tonight, and she was in my room, there is water all over the floor and a wet blanket thrown in the corner. Helios frowned turning in my direction,

"did you mark in another males territory? And make a mess?"

I gulped seeing his gaze, then without thinking I turned and ran to bedroom and locked the door. I bolted under the blanket in the room trying to hide. Helios was mad they found out I peed in their flower pots! Helios's jaw dropped, did she just admit to marking her territory and lock the door on him? All the males in the hall chuckled, she was so adorable.

"So does this mean she admits to marking her territory? Can we court her?" The young male in the back piped up excitedly.

"I'm sure this is all just a misunderstanding, let me go talk to her, she is too young to know about scent markings, and courting, she hasn't even been through estrous yet," he growled through his teeth.

Helios walked to the bedroom door and snapped his fingers, the door unlocked and he opened the door stepping inside. Crap I forgot Helios can do magic, this was how he was able to get into my room with my locked window. I heard his footsteps coming closer and then felt his weight on the bed.

Trembling under the blanket, I tried to back away from Helios, when I heard his fingers snap, the blanket flew off my head. My eyes widened completely terrified of Helios. He was frowning, this must mean he is mad at me. Helios reached his hand out toward me, I flinched grabbing a pillow and ducking behind it waiting for his strike.

"I...I'm sorry I didn't me...mean too. Please forgive m...me."

Seeing her staring at his hand with fright he paused, why was she so afraid of his hand? And then it hit him, a picture of her Uncle flashed in his mind, he was holding his fist at the child and hitting her. Sickened he withdrew his hand. She was thinking he was going to hit her as punishment. All the males were now standing at the doorway to the bedroom, they gasped seeing the terror in her eyes as she backed into the head board of the bed to get away from the King's hand. So the rumors were true, she really was abused and struck when she was on Earth. She was so afraid that she didn't even trust the King!

I waited but no strike came, I peeked over the pillow tears streaming down my face. That's when I saw a pair of hands coming toward me, I shrieked jumping backward so fast I hit my head on the headboard. The pair of arms grabbed me and pulled me close and rubbed my head. I stared up looking into Helios's eyes, confused.

"Chelsey do you want to court these males?"

Helios asked his voice full of sadness. Court? Why would Helios ask if I wanted to court someone? I thought he was mad at me for peeing in their plants because I couldn't find a bathroom? I stared up at him confused but didn't say anything.

"I don't mind if you love someone else, but please don't forget about me. I love you, I don't want to lose you," He said full of love as he wiped my hair back and cupping my face in his hands.

I was even more confused, I didn't like where this was going, I don't love anyone else but Helios, I thought.

Helios was desperate, he so badly wanted to hear what was running through her mind and why she was so silent. Did she really have feeling for someone else and was refusing to admit it? Please say it isn't so he thought.

"You can court anyone you want just please tell me you still love me?"

I frowned, "I don't want to love anyone else, I only love you," I whispered.

Helios froze hearing this from her,

"wait so you are saying you aren't going to court these males," he asked pointing to everyone standing at his door.

"I don't know what you are talking about, I only want you, what made you think I want to court someone else?"

Helios heaved a huge sigh of relief, so her marking her territory in their rooms really was just a huge misunderstanding, she had no idea what he was talking about. She didn't understand about scent markings. The males at the door frowned hearing this, so the child didn't have feelings for them? Then why would she leave her scent in their rooms? Helios smiled, he bent down and whispered in the child's ear,

"when you left your scent in their flower pots it means you had marked your territory and told them you wanted to court them."

My jaw dropped, I was stunned. I had no words to say to this. My face blushed as I ducked and hid my face in Helios's chest.

"Send them away, I don't want to court them."

"You heard my Queen, she doesn't want to court you, now scram get out of my territory," Helios growled.

The males sulked as they left. They were so close to being able to court the female and she turned them away just like that. She was too young to understand about scent markings and had marked their territories by mistake.

"You little one are taking another bath, I must wash their scent off of you this instant or it will drive me crazy,"

he said tapping my nose. I was still confused,

"are...are you no...not mad at me?"

"No my little one, a male will never get upset at a female here. You did nothing wrong, today was just a big misunderstanding."

"but I made a mess, and ruined everyone's dinner?"

"They'll live, I'm sure the cook has already prepared more food by now. As for them getting upset, a male is never allowed to yell at a female, if they even hurt your feelings I'll kill them myself."

I shuttered at the thought,

"please don't kill anyone, I can't bare to see anyone die."

His eyes softened at my plea. I can't promise it but I'll never kill in front of you, does that sound fair?"

I shook my head, there was no way we were ever going to see eye to eye on this matter.

"Now about that bath?"

Helios asked sniffing my neck. I giggled pushing his face back.

"There's that smile I've been waiting for," he said teasing his nose against mine.

I froze my heart beating wildly in my chest. I stared up at his lips blushing, I wanted to kiss him again. Helios lifted his hand and caressed my cheeks,

"I love it when you blush, your cheeks turn a rosy pink and I can feel the heat radiating from them."

I couldn't stop myself, I leaned over him and crushed my lips against his. His eyes widened in surprise, this was the first time she had showed intimacy toward him on her own accord. His members stiffened under her, it was going to be almost impossible to hold back from mating with her like this until her estrous came. He entwined his fingers through her hair and inhaling her breath he used his tongue to part her lips tasting her sweet delectable saliva.

"Ah hem," Ihloi coughed, standing in the doorway leaning against the door jam. "Sire need I remind you the rules? No fraternizing with a female who hasn't had her estrous yet."

The King pulled away from her lips reluctantly, glaring at Ihloi for interrupting their sweet moment. "You know I should have killed you a long time ago right?"

"And then where would you be today without me? Need I remind you it was my idea to visit Earth?"

Helios growled, knowing Ihloi was right as always. He waved Ihloi away turning his attention back on the child in his arms, she wasn't even paying attention, she had become dazed under his kiss fully intoxicated by him. He chuckled at her adorable expression, he blew his cool breath in her face to snap her out of her daze. She blinked confused before pouting with her cute little lip sticking out.

"I wasn't finished yet," she muttered.

"Don't worry little one, soon we will become mates and I will be all yours," his husky voice whispered in my ear.

He scooped me up and carried me back out to the sitting room, there was a giant wash tub filled with water. Helios checked the temperature before setting me in the water. Ihloi stepped up and helped me wash my back and lathered my hair with a fragrant soap. It was a scent I have never smelled before, it was absolutely beautiful, much better than the soap I used earlier. Shortly after sitting in the water to rinse, the steam from the water began to make me sleepy. I was soon being carried to bed, as I drifted in and out of sleep.

Helios laid the child down in his bed and tucked her in, brushing her wet hair out of her face. Ihloi was right female children were going to be a handful. But he was going to enjoy taking care of this small bundle of handful.

For the first time, I didn't have a single nightmare, Helios had cast his starry night sky charm above me so I fell asleep under a beautiful night sky, with my soulmate sitting beside me watching over me as I slept soundly for the first time in my life, a huge smile spread across my face, as a sense of peace, protection, and comfort filled my chest.