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you have to take a vow to work with your colleagues in Anasta’s governing body. This will also serve to show the people who have read your articles that we mean to consider the changes you suggest.”
    It made sense, but the opportunity had come to him so unexpectedly, all Damon could think of to say was, “The Queen and my father will never agree.”
    “I’m the consort of Anasta, and with Minoa’s support, I think they will be persuaded.”
    Jayla.
    Damon narrowed his eyes and wished he could stifle the hoarseness in his voice. “You are already consort? Just this morning, Jay…I mean, the Princess, said nothing about it.”
    “Rather hard for her to speak with your tongue in her mouth,” Kartel drawled dryly, his gaze direct. “Besides, we didn’t agree to the alliance until after that public kiss between the two of you. We hadn’t met yet.”
    It wasn’t as if he hadn’t known this would one day come, but it was more difficult than he imagined, especially after that devastating kiss. Damon did his best to look bland, but inside him something tore apart. “I suppose I should congratulate you.”
    “But you’d rather rip my beating heart out instead.”
    “Yes,” Damon admitted.
    “I think you’re looking at this the wrong way, Le Clerc.”
    There didn’t seem to be any way to look at it except a straightforward recognition that this male now had sexual rights to Jayla. Maybe they even had already mated. It was part of the process, after all.
    “Yes, we have mated. She isn’t just beautiful, but passionate also.”
    Damon just stared at him, since he hadn’t spoken out loud. He knew Ran Kartel was supposed to have a strong ability to read the emotions and thoughts of others. Apparently this had passed on in some measure to his son.
    “It was a natural assumption you were wondering from both the look on your face and the direction of our conversation.” Kartel shrugged, his smile negligent. “I would ask myself at once if I knew the female I loved had agreed to life partner with another male if he’d fucked her yet.”
    “Not the word I would have chosen, Kartel,” Damon said bitterly. He wanted to pace, but the room was too small, so instead he just knotted his hands into fists and took a deep breath. “I hope you…that is, Jayla is sensitive and looks so delicate…”
    A glimmer of respect showed in Kartel’s blue-green eyes. “You do love her if you hoped she enjoyed mating with another male. And like I said, you are looking at this the wrong way. The Princess is much more free now than she was before our alliance. You know the law. She can have a second mate.”
    It was true. With the ratio of male to females almost three to one, it was considered acceptable—encouraged even—for a female to have more than one male in her bed. The enhanced sex drive of S-species males meant for greater aggression if they were sexually deprived for long periods of time. Multiple mates took care of that problem. “Are you telling me you’d agree?” Damon asked.
    “Why not? Your affection for one another is obvious enough. I have no desire to make her unhappy, and I’m sure you’ll be more useful if you are not consumed with jealousy, which by the way, Le Clerc, is an irrational and archaic human emotion.”
    Since most of the day he’d spent in gloomy contemplation of his less than appealing future, with this reverse of fortune he didn’t even mind the slight condescending edge of amusement in the other male’s voice. Damon said, “My mother was full human, not S-species. I’m half-bred.”
    “Mine as well. I suppose we have that in common besides Jayla. Now then, are you interested in my proposal?”
    “I’d crawl naked through a nest of Mantuian fire ants for her. Yes, of course I’m interested.”
    “I wasn’t talking about Jayla. I guessed easily enough that was a given. I meant the position on the Ruling Council.”
    At least Kartel was astute enough to know it wouldn’t be easy.