"You wished to see me, Admiral?" Etaine asked in her honeyed voice. She had arrived in Bethon's private quarters precisely on schedule. She was followed by her reptilian servants who now accompanied her everywhere, carrying her throne along with them.

"I'm delighted you could find the time to leave your duties as queen to honor my request." Bethon greeted her. He had assumed his human form, minus the tusks this time.

"My pleasure is yours. I'm entirely at your disposal." Etaine said and settled on her throne.

"It would please me if your minions would leave us alone to discuss business,' Bethon said.

"I will be happy to ask them to leave, but you must know there are no secrets among the BakoNaat."

"Send them out."

"Leave us my darlings. I'll be fine," Etaine said. "The Admiral will attend to my needs in your absence."

"We all have needs don't we, Etaine?"

"I must confess that I do. But what could I possibly offer you that would be better than an alliance with the BakoNaat."

"I was hoping to clarify that in this little meeting," Bethon said. He moved closer, feasting his eyes over every inch of her body.

Etaine caused sweet scented vapors to arise from her skin, tantalizing him even more.

"I'm always available where you're concerned, Admiral. You took us in and treated us with such kindness. Well, most of the time."

"I was thinking of doing you another kindness," Bethon said. "I can relieve you of Lotee. I will simply return him to the archives and release you from our little agreement."

"What little agreement was that?"

"The one where you provide me with your empathic services in exchange for allowing him to remain in solid form," Bethon reminded her.

"Oh, that agreement. I admit I've neglected you."

"I can see how busy you are now and Greyla will suffice. She has agreed to meet all of my empathic needs."

"I'm sure Greyla will be more reliable in that regard," Etaine said, smoothing her dress to one side and exposing the slit in her gown.

"I'm more than willing to forgive you and find a way for you to repay me for lost services," Bethon offered.

"Mmm. I think Lotee would make a lovely present for me, Admiral," Etaine said. "Give me Lotee and I might be inclined to give you something more to your liking."

She extended one leg, almost touching him. "You're such a handsome man. I've often thought about you and wondered why you never returned my affection."

Bethon knelt down in front of her, then reached out and took the oil anointed foot in his hands. Little ankle bells tinkled as he stroked the inside of her arch and traced the lines of her foot.

"I could make that up to you right now," Bethon said, his voice hoarse with desire.

"It's a shame we have to be enemies isn't it?" Etaine asked pouting her lips.

"I don't see us as enemies, Etaine," Bethon replied. "In fact, I want to form an intimate alliance with you."

"Oh, I wasn't speaking of alliances. I was speaking of the incompatibility of our species," Etaine responded.

"I'm willing to overlook that."

"But your kind used to eat snakes did they not?"

"They did. That was a very long time ago."

"Yes, but they did, Admiral," Etaine continued. "And didn't those nasty snakes slip into your nests and suck the little voldarkan eggs dry?"

"What is your point my dear, if you even have one?" Bethon asked, his breath becoming more labored. He caressed her calf and let his hands slide further along to the knee.

"I wouldn't want to get carried away," Etaine said. "Who knows what I might do in a state of passion. I might revert to some primitive and rude behavior toward you."

"Let me worry about that," Bethon said.

"I've seen how you handle things, Admiral. It wasn't very pretty."

"You are so beautiful," Bethon said giving her a wanton look. "I would never damage a work of art such as you."

"I'm accustomed to being obeyed now. Could you do that for me?" Etaine asked. She pressed her foot against his body.

Bethon said nothing, but sighed as he savored the sensation.

"You may kiss my toes if you like." She raised her foot and drew it slowly across his chest, kneading him with her toes, then higher to stroke the side of his face, exposing her upper thigh.

He suckled her toes greedily before moving up to her calf, pressing his face against the tender skin and breathing in her scent. He traced her tattoos with his tongue and nibbled at her skin.

"No biting, Admiral."

He moved higher up her thigh until a sharp rap on his knuckles with her silver scepter stopped him.

"You don't have my permission to go there."

"But I want to solidify our alliance, Etaine."

"Make Lotee permanently mine and we will consummate our alliance. You won't be sorry," Etaine promised. She exuded more seductive vapors and let them pour over her body.

"How do I know you'll keep your end of the bargain?" Bethon asked in a husky voice.

"But can’t you see? I already am,” Etaine said. She smiled and let her foot move back down to explore his passion. "Give me Lotee. Say yes to Etaine, and make the BakoNaat happy. We don't want a war on our hands. I dare not think what might happen if you refuse me."

"I don't want Lotee to have you. You need more than he can offer." He squeezed her thigh in his hands and moved to her body.

She placed one of his eager fingers in her mouth and nibbled on it briefly before pushing him away. "I want both of you. If I can't have Lotee, you can't have Etaine."

"Alright then. Yes. You may have Lotee." Bethon said, his words halting between words. Lust was fast overcoming his senses. He grabbed her by both hips and pulled her close to him, pressing their bodies together, his meaning unmistakable. He buried his face in her bosom.

She grabbed a handful of hair and pulled his head up in a rough motion.

"Manners, Admiral. You should have asked my permission first," Etaine warned. She compelled him mentally, an ability she had recently learned from the BakoNaat. "Don't make me tell you again. Say you're sorry."

"I'm... I’m so sorry," he gasped. "You're stronger than I imagined possible, Etaine."

"I'm a queen now. You don't think I would come here unprepared," Etaine chided. "I won't tolerate bad behavior."

“It won’t happen again, my Queen," Bethon gasped.

"Good. Let's make sure it doesn’t,” Etaine replied. “Go fetch me some strong rope. I'll want to restrain you."

Bethon stood back and stared at her with greedy eyes, then laughed with understanding. “I see what you’re up to. You’re an evil temptress, my darling.”

Etaine laughed as well, then got up and playfully shoved him to the floor. He started to get up, but she placed her foot lightly on his chest and slowly drew it down to his groin.

“I didn't give you permission to get up. You always have to get my permission first,” she said and shook a bejeweled finger at him. “You are so bad. This is the sort of thing that will get you punished."

Bethon inhaled the seductive vapors pouring from her body, the lust in his eyes was transparent.

“Speak."

“I apologize, my Queen. It was wrong of me. I promise to always get permission in the future.”

“If you want any of this, you most certainly will.” She said running her hands across her body, tracing her curves. She stopped and waited for Bethon to make the next move, but he lay still. “Do you want me to leave now?” Etaine asked.

“No! No, I deserve to be punished at the very least.”

“For....”

“For any and every offense, my dear.”

“For not doing as I asked," Etaine said, enjoying his submission. "And what did I ask you to do?”

“I’m sorry, I don’t recall." Bethon replied, grasping for an answer in vain, "You're so enchanting. So lovely..."

“Rope. I asked you for some rope.”

“Yes, that’s it. I’ll get some right away."

“I’m told voldarkans take forever to tame, but I'm very patient. And we have an eternity," Etaine said. "You'll learn, won't you?"

“I'll do my best, but I’m forever back sliding. It's in my nature," Bethon replied.

"Discipline. That's what you need isn't it?"

"Yes, it is. I'm so awfully bad. But I know you can help me," Bethon replied. "I’ve needed a splendid woman like you in my life, Etaine.”

“I know, my darling. That’s why I came when you called for me," Etaine said She bent down and whispered in his ear. "In the future you are to come to me.”