In Enemy Hands Chapter 7.1

In Enemy Hands Chapter 7.1
Adlar stood to the side and watched the two males size each other up. Varo was edgy—Adlar could all but smell the nerves pumping off him. He was unsure as to why. Varo was a prince, so being around others such as himself shouldn’t trigger such a reaction.
“Well, come.” King Omori gestured to a table near the sitting area that held food. “I had refreshments brought for us. Please, help yourself. I thought we could share a meal together.”
“Thank you, your Majesty.” Varo edged closer to Adlar, and then flashed a brief glance at Adlar. “Um, that would be nice?”
Adlar heard the question. He let his hand rest at the small of Varo’s back and felt the other male trembled under his touch.                                                 “Indeed, it is.” Unless he was very much mistaken, Varo wasn’t just nervous—he was intimidated by Omori. He immediately set about to dispel such an unnecessary emotion. “It’s always an adventure eating here, believe me. You just never know what the male has in store for us.”
“Ha!” Omori punched Adlar in the arm. “Don’t let this one fool you. He’s tried to bribe my chef away more than once.”
Adar allowed the hit with a smirk. “Someone hasn’t been working out lately I see.”
Varo gasped.
“Ohhhh, fighting word.” Omori returned the smirk. “Well then, meet me in the morning, brother, and we’ll see how much I’ve not been working out.”
Varo’s head whipped around.
Adlar gently urged Varo along, ignoring the stunned look. He left his hand at the small of Varo’s back. “You’re on. Two hours before first meal, your lordship. Should give you plenty of time to recover after the ass kicking I plan for you.”
Varo goggled at the both of them.
“Big words, Adlar, big words. And I got your ‘lordship’,” Omori growled playfully as he grasped his cock. “I look forward to it.”
“As do I.” Goddess, Varo looked like he was about to have a stroke right there. Did he not know they were only playing? Did Varo and his brothers’ never play like this? How sad.
Adlar made a point of leaving his hand where it was in an effort to comfort Varo. He sighed silently at how invested he’d become in the other male… but he sure as frack didn’t move his hand either. Varo slowly relaxed, the tension leaving his body.
He studied his brother as they moved across the room, not sure what prompted Varo to be intimidation. Omori was a little taller than him. Maybe a bit bulkier too, but not much. All Helkans had a long and lean build. He wasn’t even that dressed up since they were meeting in his private chambers.
As they reached the table, Omori moved to one side so Varo could serve himself first, and Adlar saw the problem. There was a cold, calculating look in Omori’s eyes—a sternness to his face that suggested a devious mind lay behind those intense amber eyes. It was the price of being king.
But it was the power in that lean face he often didn’t notice that intimidate others. Omori was a very driven, strong-willed male who held some very precise beliefs and didn’t back down. He wasn’t afraid of violence if it was needed. And he didn’t care what others outside of his own race thought of him.
It was one reason he’d kept their planet safe for as long as he had. The male fought for his beliefs and would not hesitate to destroy any and all who tried to stand in his way. Adlar laughed silently. And people thought he was the dangerous one.
They were wrong.
After fixing their plates, they sat. Omori sat at the head. Adlar was to the right, and Varo to the left. The meal progressed without mention of Varo’s shuttle getting through the Satellite Surveillance Network. There was no mention of the fact his starship had been monitoring the planet in the first place.
Nothing was said about the Yesris ever-present demand for Black Phospolrock… or how the Yesri felt they have a right to just take the crystal. Even the old standby—the weather—was a useless topic. You had a choice on Helkan—dark days or darker days, and that was it.
“Oh, don’t know if you heard, but I’ve been working on a new battle bot,” Omori said as they ate.
“Really? What have you done?” Adlar asked.
“Nothing much. I thought it would be nice if it had the capability to fire a net at us while training. Another bot would have the ability to work a ball and chain system. The ball would be spiked, of course.”
“That might lead to a few broken ankles or gaping wounds,” Adlar pointed out.
“For training purposes it would be made with less dangerous materials and no spikes. The last thing I want is for a warrior to get hurt. I know we have the medical equipment to heal broke bones, but that still requires seventy-two unit hours mandatory recuperation. We’ll introduce it and let them practice until they adjust, and then change it out to something more threatening.”
“I want to try it first,” Adlar said.
“Of course.” Omori nodded. “I assumed such.”
“The real thing too, Omori. No fracking watered-down version neither.”
“Of course. Again, I expected no less.”
Varo was mostly quiet through the meal leaving Omori and Adlar to carry the conversation, but now he spoke up. “Wait. Wouldn’t it be safer to use the more ‘watered-down version’ as you called it first? I mean, you don’t know how the battle bot will respond with such a weapon.”
“Worried about me, princeling?” Adlar asked, eyebrow raised.
“More worried about who’s going to care for you if you get hurt.” Varo fired back.
After startled silence, Omori suddenly laughed loudly. “Be afraid. Be very afraid, Varo. The last time he broke his leg I had to care for him. Good gods, a more demanding male you’ll never meet. By the time he was completely healed I needed a vacation. Frack, running a kingdom was easier than dealing with Adlar.”
“He threatened to put a pillow over my face.” Adlar snorted. “ That’s the quality of care I got from my loving brother.” Adlar threw his napkin at Omori.
“Indeed I did. You were a colossal ass.”
Varo snorted, gasped, and then coughed loudly. “Sorry, sorry. Swallowed wrong.”
“Right. It had nothing to do with not trying to laugh.” Adlar grinned at Varo to show he was kidding.
“Nope, nothing at all.” Varo grabbed the glass of water next to him and sipped. He set it down once he got his coughing under control. “Goddess. Colossal, huh?” He looked at Omori.
“You have no idea, Varo.” Omori threw the napkin back Adlar. “Besides, threatening and doing are two different things I might remind you, Adlar. Anyway, it’s not like I could’ve gotten within a foot of you and you not know it.”
“He does seem to sleep lightly,” Varo said.
“Assassins better sleep light or they sleep forever,” Adlar said. Just as he finished speaking, a gong sound in Omori’s quarters.
The king checked his wrist com, a slight smile coming to his face. He tapped a few buttons, and then looked at Adlar. “Deep, brother. That was very deep.” Omori added in dreadfully serious tone, his face solemn as if Adlar had just imparted the universe’s secrets at the table.
Adlar glared at Omori… then threw his head back and laughed. “Bite me, Omori.”
“I’d rather he’d bite me.” Heads swiveled. Coming toward the table was Maylar, one of the A’moor. “Greetings, my King.”
Maylar stopped by Omori’s chair and bowed deeply. “You called for me, Sire?”
“Indeed I did,” Omori said. “Thank you for coming so soon. Would you care to join us?”
“I’d be honored.” Maylar bowed slightly to Adlar and nodded to Varo. “Greetings to the both of you too.”
“Maylar,” Adlar nodded.
He noticed Maylar hair was a mass of elaborate coils of braids that cascaded down his back. Several strands had escaped and framed his face, giving him even more of an ethereal appearance. Adlar was beginning to think Maylar did this on purpose.
It emphasized his sensual androgynous appearance. This time he wore a nearly sheer black sarong with an equally sheer thong underneath. Cream-colored scrollwork wound around the bottom of the sarong. On his feet he wore delicate black sandals.  The male was dressed for seduction.
Varo didn’t say anything, but Adlar noticed the tight-lipped glare aimed at Maylar he quickly masked. Interesting. Could that be jealousy I see there?  
“Excellent,” Omori said. “Food is on the table. Help yourself.”
Maylar glided across the room to the serving table. Oh yes, the final meal suddenly got much more interesting.
TBC next Thursday :) Keep an eye out for an new thing I'm doing on Fridays too! ~M