Ovation (Galaxy Circus #9)

Chapter 14

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

Saxon

T he trip to Vilax passes quickly. Rehearsals are in full swing, and Lila is very happy with the new acts and how the show is looking. With the Aquilians back on the program, albeit with a reworked show, and the new acts, it’s a longer and more exciting show than we had previously. The only act that hasn’t rehearsed yet is mine. Although Thorn and Titus offered to help out, we’re still short a couple of fliers. Both Susie and Magenta have offered their assistance, but I will wait to see what happens at home before I give them an answer.

We are docking at the spaceport that sits above Vilax, where they house their own battleships. The main ship is too big to land on the surface, so we will teleport down for the tribunal. I’m staring out the window of my room as the ship maneuvers into position, both my hearts beating faster than normal with my nerves. It’s weird. I can go into battle, and my heart rates don’t change, but the thought of anything upsetting my blood rose is enough to send my hearts into palpitations.

I haven’t been completely honest with Lila. I told her I wasn’t worried about this tribunal and that it should just be a formality. Finding a blood rose is one of the only surefire ways of dissolving a clan and really shouldn’t have required a tribunal, so then why have we been called for one? My aunt should have sent Estrella and Radella packing. It isn’t like we were kicking them out of the circus. They could have stayed with Hale and Velorina and continued performing. They just had to stop their possessive crap. I was never theirs to begin with, and I am most definitely Lila’s now.

I sigh and push off the cold frame, heading to my wardrobe. Appearing in front of the Vilaxian queen requires formal attire. I advised the others, and they were sourcing an outfit for Lila to wear, one that is Vilaxian in nature. Xavier assured me that Tinka at one of the ship’s boutiques was more than capable of producing something fit for a princess. After all, I am a prince of Vilax, even if I go by my general title.

My parents’ clan are advisors to the queen, and I can’t wait to see them and my extended family. Although my mother and father may be gone, and I miss them with all my heart, my family clan still considers me one of their own. Xenos is my twin, and we have five more clan brothers and sisters, as well as my aunt’s daughters whom we are all close to. They are dying to meet my blood rose, and they should all be in attendance for the tribunal. It is a formal affair and not one that is taken lightly amongst sanguinistas.

I pull out my uniform and dress, making sure my medals are all in place before strapping my sword scabbard to my back. I study myself in the mirror and finger comb my hair. I’m sure Auntie will complain, but I’ve let my hair grow out slightly since I left military service, and I know Lila loves running her hands through it.

Happy with how I look, I head out into the living area of the suite. The tribunal is an evening affair, and our children are already in bed. We made the decision that only Lila and I would attend the tribunal, and the rest of her mates kicked up a fuss, but I argued it was a Vilaxian legal proceeding and not something that would normally include guests. It would have been different if it was a political dinner or a ball. They all eventually conceded on the promise that if anything went sideways, Lila would teleport us to safety. She can’t go as far as the ship in space, but she could get us out of immediate harm, and I could take over from there and find us a place to hole up until we could be beamed back aboard.

The rest of Lila’s mates are all lounging around our living area to wish us good luck.

“How do you think this will go?” Brannock asks, taking in my military uniform with wide eyes. “Hell, I haven’t seen a Vilaxian in uniform since the war. You scrub up well, General.” He tips his bottle of beer at me in a salute, and I nod my thanks.

“I’d like to say it will go smoothly, but I think that’s wishful thinking. Estrella and Radella are known for their dramatics. I tried to contact Hale to see if he had any information for me, but he is dodging my calls… as is my brother.” I frown. This is what has me the most worried. None of my family are accepting my calls. I haven’t been able to reach any of them since I got word of the tribunal. Not even the queen or her staff are responding to my messages. It’s radio silent.

“Maybe you should reconsider taking some of us along,” Silac suggests, his tongue flicking in and out in agitation. “Xavier could glamour us as Vilaxians.”

“That still wouldn’t help. You need special clearance to attend a tribunal. Only the queen, her council members, which are my family clan, and the offending parties are permitted.” Then an idea comes to me. “And any witnesses if needed.”

“So Link could go as your witness. He was the one who had to restrain you, and he has the footage of the two females releasing him from his sedation,” Caspian suggests.

I purse my lips in thought. It is perfectly reasonable for me to insist on such a thing. “Yes. I think that would work.”

“And maybe you might want to mention that Lila will be taking on the mantle of goddess of death in the near future and, as one of their creations, it would behoove them not to get on her bad side.” Zeydan leans against the window frame, much like I had done in my room, his attention split between our conversation and the ship docking. Lila had kept it a secret for a day or two, but she eventually told us about becoming the goddess of death and how terrified she was of it.

“That is good thinking.” Ghosie points at the deity. “They can’t argue with that.”

“But that means admitting we plan on taking care of the current goddess of death, and if Vivax has her spies amongst your people, it could get back to her and mess up our plans.” Tirrian is keeping a cool head for a change, which is slightly surprising but not totally unexpected since he is military trained as well.

“Can’t we just pretend none of this is happening?” Echo whines, and Maxsim snuggles his pregnant mate closer to his body.

“Lila has been through so much shit. If your aunt refuses your clan dissolution, then I’m not sure she won’t go ballistic on them,” Maxsim growls. “Are you prepared to go against your family?” Maxsim asks, voicing something that has been plaguing me, but I can answer without hesitation.

“Absolutely. I’m ninety-nine percent sure it won’t come to that, but I would walk away from my family without hesitation,” I assure him, and a small sound behind me has us turning to look at the hallway to our bedrooms.

I just about swallow my tongue when I see Lila standing there. Her eyes are shiny, and she clutches a hand against her chest. “You would give up your family for me?” She sounds awed, and I use my speed to get to her.

I take her clasped hand and press a kiss against it. “I would do anything for you,” I tell her before running my eyes down her body. “You look incredible.”

I release her hand, and she uses it to tug at her outfit. “Nobody told me Vilaxian formal wear was synonymous with stripper chic or harem girl casual.”

She’s wearing my colors, silver and black, and they look gorgeous against her beautiful hair, which she has left long with a loose curl to it. Her skirt is a gauzy swath of material with slits up both thighs, allowing her legs to show every time she takes a step. The bodice is mostly just a bra with beading and a small amount of floaty gauze covering her stomach with a slit through the middle so you can see her belly button. She’s wearing a chain around her waist, and a jewel dangles enticingly over her crotch, drawing the eye to it.

My skin itches, and my fangs drop into place. Neither of us have fed from one another for a few days, and I feel the overwhelming urge to sink my fangs into her neck and my cock into her body. A rumbling growl reverberates through my chest, and Lila’s eyes widen before she smiles, showing her own fangs to me.

“We probably should have fed before we left,” she says, slapping a hand over her mouth. “They are a little hard to control.”

“That was deliberate,” Link says behind me, and Lila turns her attention to him. I don’t think I could form words at the moment to explain why, so stunned I am by her beauty.

“What do you mean?” she asks as I step out of the way and offer her my arm.

“An old Vilaxian tradition, one you may be asked to perform, will be proving to the council that Saxon’s blood rose, who was previously not Vilaxian, is capable of sustaining him,” Link explains, wincing slightly.

“What do you mean?” Lila asks sharply. She’s a smart girl, and I think she knows what he is going to say, but he explains anyway.

“You may be asked to feed him in front of the tribunal.”

“But feeding leads to fucking.” She looks from me to Link, and I’m still too fucking chicken to say anything. The great General Saxon of the Vilaxian army has been reduced to quivering in fear from his wife’s temper. Link glares at me before nodding his agreement to her words.

“Yes, it does.”

“I’ll have to fuck in front of the whole tribunal, witnesses and all?” Her eyes widen, and she looks at me for confirmation. I nod, resisting the urge to adjust my cock. I’m pretty sure she doesn’t want to know how much I like that idea.

“We will have to fuck in front of his family, clan, and aunt? Hell, his brothers and sisters and cousins too?” She sounds appalled. “I’ll never be able to look them in the eye again. Fuck it! Let’s blow this popsicle stand and take our chances as renegades.”

She whirls around, ready to hightail it back to our room, and my heart sinks. Although I said I would give it all up for her, I really don’t want to. I don’t think it will be a problem, but I want the chance to make sure.

“Lila.” Ghosie steps in front of her, not letting her pass, and she won’t risk touching him at the moment, so she stops in place.

“Ghosie…” She growls in a very bear-like way, and he just smirks at her.

“You know you aren’t going to run away. You are one of the bravest females I know, and if a little fucking in front of Saxon’s family is what it takes to prove that you are meant to be together, then I know you will do it.”

“But I’ll never be able to sit across the dinner table from them at Christmas and look them in the eye,” she whines and looks at him with pleading eyes.

“We don’t celebrate Christmas,” I add helpfully, but she whirls and glares at me.

“Not helping,” she snaps at me.

“Hell, if you’re that shy, throw up a distortion spell. They will get the gist of what’s happening but not be able to make out any details. I bet they aren’t really that keen on seeing it either,” Xavier says. “You should really talk to your aunt about abolishing that stupid law.”

“That’s a thing?” Lila asks the warlock, and I feel a prick of hope once more.

“Yeah, it’s easy. You just manifest it into being. Think that you want the image of you distorted and will it to happen.” Xavier shrugs like it’s no big deal.

“How will I know though?” she asks.

“I can give you a signal,” Link suggests.

“Or I can come too. After all, I am a witness and can testify to what my warlock harem members did,” Xavier says slyly, and I snort quietly with amusement.

The sneaky warlock worked out a way to come on this trip after all, and from Brannock’s and Tirrian’s amused smirks, they know it as well.

“Right, okay then. It will be the four of us then. Shall we get moving? The less time we spend here, the quicker we can get on the move again. Brannock has been so patient, but he must be frantic with worry about Chloe.” She moves over to him and gives him a kiss on the cheek.

“I’m okay, because I know it will all be over soon, but I have dibs on Smith’s head.”

“Head, entrails, testicles, whatever you’d like, my love,” Lila promises rather bloodthirstily, which is why we all love her so much.

She goes around and gives each of her mates who are staying behind a kiss, rubbing her hand over Echo’s belly before stopping in front of Nikos.

“Can you go down and check on your sister for me? I haven’t told Magenta that she returned. I swore the bridge crew to secrecy, but you know how things get out. I think Magenta needs to hear the story from Nixie, especially now that Nixie has a mate.”

“I’ll go now,” he promises and kisses her soundly before slapping her ass. “Your bosom is so bountiful in that top and would look wonderful bouncing up and down as I drive my cock into you,” he says with a wink.

She giggles and whispers something in his ear, which has him blushing and nodding before hurrying out of our home, adjusting his cock inside his pants.

“Such a naughty wife,” I tell her, and she gives me a wink. I wave my hand at Link and Xavier. “You need formal wear, and we don’t have any time.”

“It’s fine.” Xavier waves his hand, and he and Link are suddenly wearing formal attire. For Link, that involves a suit that fits his body like a glove and just about has Lila drooling. For Xavier, his outfit is slightly more exotic. He has on dark purple, wide-legged pants that are also split and show his legs when he walks, all of his purple swirls on display. As for his torso, he is wearing a long vest that is open and shows off all his delicious lavender skin. I growl at the thought of everyone seeing what he usually keeps hidden from everyone’s eyes but his family’s.

“You’re going like that?” I hear Lila ask, sounding almost as jealous as I feel.

He inclines his head. “Yes. Despite this being a private tribunal, I will be wearing my diplomatic hat as a witness. I will honor the Vilaxians with my countenance.”

“Do you even hear how arrogant you sound?” Caspian asks, bemused.

“Why is it arrogant when it is the truth?”

Lila shakes her head as Xavier slides an arm around her waist, drawing her close. He rubs his nose against hers. “You know it is the truth.” He releases her and shoves her at me. I grab her as she stumbles. “Now let the Vilaxians see how enamored you are with each other. Link and I will be your dutiful witnesses. Let us make our way to the transport room and beam to the surface. It’s time to put those two bitches in their place.”