An aerial transport arrived. They were met by a few guards who silently whisked them away to the capitol complex. They entered the royal palace and made the trip down the long corridor to the queen's reception hall. Greyla kept Valorah close to her side and walked several yards ahead of Bethon, who paused to look at a hanging tapestry allowing them to meet Etaine ahead of him.

"Sister dear," Etaine was in semi-reptilian form. She had changed from the waist down into her serpent body. "How nice of you to come again."

"This is quite a contrast," Greyla said. "No party?" She noted there were only a half dozen attendants scampering about.

"Oh, I suppose you think life here is just one big party, but I have other things to do. We weren't expecting you so soon."

"I'm here for this assignment, not pleasure. Don't go to any trouble, Etaine." Greyla said.

"All business for you perhaps, but I have feelings and refuse to ignore them. We're different in that way aren't we?" Etaine was staring at the girl who had held back a respectful distance.

Greyla decided it was best not to ignore Etaine's curiosity. "We are different. I don't deny my feelings, Etaine. I simply know when and where it is appropriate to indulge in them. May I introduce my assistant, Valorah," Greyla said.

Valorah took a few hurried steps forward and curtsied.

"She can't speak," Greyla said.

"How lovely to meet you, dear," Etaine said. She glided closer to Valorah, her serpentine body frightening the girl. "How sad. I'll get my best practitioners to work on your vocal affliction."

"That would be a great kindness," Greyla said. If the girl were busy with the medics, it would mean less contact with Etaine.

"I wouldn't want to deprive you of her full abilities... Oh, there you are, Admiral."

"I'll just give Valorah a little tour while you two get reacquainted," Greyla said. If Etaine objected to them leaving, there was no indication. The moment Bethon had arrived. Etaine was fixated on him alone.

***

"Hello, Etaine." Bethon He entered the room as Greyla and Valorah were leaving.

"I was afraid you wouldn't come." Etaine said. She glistened, ripe with her emotion, as though she could exude them though her skin. Her scent changed from acrid to nectarous as they spoke.

"I'm sorry you doubted me, my dear," Bethon said. "Of course, I would come."

"I hope you're not all business like my sister."

"Not at all. I want to pick up where we left off, as though nothing ever happened," Bethon moved close to Etaine to take in her perfume. It wafted all about causing him to recall memories of their time together. "Is that possible?"

"Not really darling. I'm a lot different. But I'm sure we can find a common ground again," She engaged him with a serpentine look. "You haven't changed then?"

"I'm exactly as you left me," Bethon assured her. He watched to see if his answer was pleasing her. "But then, I'm always willing to try new things."

"Mmm. I can tell you don't like me in this body." Etaine flicked her tongue. She had left a small fork in the end of it. "You even put your tusks away for me." She transformed her body back to human.

"I prefer you in human form but accept that you're BakoNaat now. You must understand what a shock it was when you left me so suddenly."

"I was shocked to find you murdered my Lotee," Etaine said. Her eyes flashed red for a moment and a single snake tattoo came to life. It moved up and down her bare arm in an undulating dance.

"I do so regret that, Etaine. I was impaled with jealousy. Truth, I overheard you invite Lotee to accompany you to Erizza," Bethon said, letting the painful feeling wash over him knowing Etaine would sense the truth in his words. "It hurt me so to think you would leave me. I went out of my mind and destroyed Lotee out of spite. Let me make it up to you."

"I have Kage now. He's perfect and far more worldly than Lotee, more experienced," Etaine let her words roll off her forked tongue, dripping with sensual meaning. "If you know what I mean."

"I'm glad you like him." Bethon backed away from the tantalizing scent of her body. "I even heard you're engaged."

"We are. But the date's not been set yet," Etaine reached out and briefly touched his hand. "I don't think you should attend the wedding. No hard feelings."

"None at all. I'm happy for you," Bethon lied. He knew Etaine would pick up on any hint of deception and prepared to pivot.

"You're not telling me everything. What is it?"

"I was trying to avoid discussing business since you don't care for it."

"Let's get it over with," Etaine said. “You may come back in, Sister. I know you’re there.”

Greyla came back into the room, leaving Valorah in the hallway. She moved between Bethon and Etaine. "Yes, let's finish up with business. Valorah and I would like to retire early. She's mortal with needs of nourishment and rest."

Etaine eyed the girl standing outside the door with suspicion. "Go ahead then. Let's do business, Sister."

"We are weaponizing a planetoid to throw at the demon," Greyla explained. "We were hoping the BakoNaat could set up a mining colony to help build some rocket propulsion units."

"You're planning to throw a planetoid at him? How innovative. Won't he see it coming?"

"We're working on that too. Shielding."

"What sort of shielding?" Etaine asked. She moved around me to stand nearer to Bethon. Her perfume had changed to a thick mixture of spice and incense.

"We were using a prototype on the Lady Devora previously. It's an enhanced cloaking device. Widhbo borrowed a little technology from the ancients."

"That might cause you a lot of trouble, but none of my concern. I will provide the mining colony," Etaine said. "We BakoNaat simply love to make things."

"Good. You should be able to take enough raw ore home to offset your expenses," Greyla said.

Etaine smiled and shrugged. "I'm not worried about compensation. We'll give our support freely."

"It's a deal then," Bethon said. "Splendid."

Etaine furned to Greyla. "You look exhausted, dear. I've agreed to it. Leave the details until morning. My guards will escort you and your pretty assistant to the guest area."

Etaine took a closer look at Valorah and smiled sweetly at Greyla. "Admiral Bethon and I have other things to discuss in private."

***

Once Greyla and Valorah had left, Etaine turned to Bethon. Her eyes had taken on a bloodshot appearance and her skin became a dark green. A few scales appeared. "Why do you insist upon insulting me?"

"I... I don't know what you mean, dearest," Bethon began then decided it was merely a game she wanted "How have I offended you, that I may beg your forgiveness?"

"Do you pretend not to know that girl? Valorah is not Greyla's assistant." Etaine spat her words at Bethon. "My sister has never had an assistant. You dare to bring a concubine and put her on display in front of me?"

"She's not a concubine... Oh, I can't deceive you. Yes, I admit it. I had to have a little companionship, Etaine. Surely you understand how devastated I was."

"So devastated that you immediately replaced me. How long did you mourn our parting? A few hours? A day?" Etaine pressed closer to Bethon. The tattoos on her body were coiled to strike.

"I'd lost all hope of ever getting you back," Bethon said with sincerity. "It was for my sanity, that's all. I don't care for any of those girls the way I care for you."

"Girls? How many do you have?" She backed away from him to gasp in pain.

Bethon thought the truth would be safer. "Three."

"Three? Three! I should think it a complement that you had to have three girls to replace one Etaine. Amazing, but I don't feel flattered at all." She turned a dark purple with agitation. "How can you pretend to miss me while ravishing three other women?" Anger over came her and caused Etaine to begin morphing back into her snake form, with dark purple scales covering her skin.

"What was I to do? You told me I would never see you again.," Bethon protested. "I believed you. I thought you could never forgive me."

"I said you'd never see that Etaine again. And you won't. I've grown far more than you can understand."

"You do exceed my wildest imagination in both power and beauty." Bethon hoped his words would soften her anger and fell to his knees in attempt to placate her. "But after that one, unthinking act of jealousy, I was certain I had doomed myself to eternal misery. In any event, the girls aren’t mine. Anakron took pity on me and loaned them to me so I could stay sober and functional.”

"To keep you from preying on others more likely. Your depravity is predictable if nothing else," Etaine said. "Not that I don't find depravity appealing at times." A hunger began to show in her eyes as she coiled her body around him. Only her face remained predominately human.

"I've turned the Moz Lidule over to Anakron. I have no intention of leaving you unless you order me to go."

Etaine's countenance brightened. "Really? You planned to stay with me?" She softened her expression and her green color returned.

"My fondest hope is that you will invite me to stay. I came prepared."

"But you still brought this concubine, Valorah?"

"No. No, you misunderstand." Bethon decided lying wasn't completely off the table. "She smuggled aboard the transport. The other two are back on the Moz Lidule. I'll send her back right away."

"But she can't bear to be away from you can she? She's in love with you."

"I doubt that. Her sort of training dulls the affections." Another lie to soften the truth. Valorah was in fact smitten by him. "I will admit my techniques can be addictive, but that's all it is."

Bethon ran his fingers through Etaine's hair which was coiling in a synchronized manner. He spoke softly into one ear." I would hope your feelings for me are deeper than mere physical gratification."

"You think I am addicted to you? Well, I'm not," Etaine said in a sharp voice. "We fill one another's needs and that is all. I was in love with Lotee, not you."

"I can see you are jealous of Valorah. I'll make her leave immediately. Anakron will be furious with her for coming against his specific orders. He's still her master, not I."

"I'll have her cured first." Etaine said. Her upper body shifted back to human and a lighter shade of green.

"Cured?"

"Her speech."

"Oh, I don't think that's necessary. We got along fine without talking." Bethon breathed in the scent of Etaine's body and entwined his fingers in her hair.

"Still, I want Valorah to talk. I must hear every detail about your time together."

"Etaine, please. There's no reason to be jealous," Bethon continued. "She's only a mortal and a silly one at that. Not even worth your time."

"Apparently you found her interesting enough. Did you plan to watch her grow old and die? Upload?"

"I told you she belongs to Anakron. It's for him to decide if she's uploaded or cured for that matter. He might prefer her mute."

"Once she steps foot on my planet, it's my decision. She'll be part of our bargain," Etaine said. She licked out her tongue and toyed with Bethon's ear. "I might want a mortal human assistant. How quaint would that be?"

"Am I not sufficient?" His mind was clouded with desire.

"I am sufficient for you." Etaine replied. "My needs, however, are always expanding,"

"I'll do my best to keep up, my love." Bethon caressed her and rested one hand about her serpentine waist. He was letting his eagerness show in spite of his resolution not to be putty in her hands this time. He brought his lips close enough to kiss her, but she pulled away."

"I want you to serve me for the same length of time that Lotee served you. How long would you say that was?"

"Only a little more than a century or so and he was shut down most of the time. Surely you don't want me to hibernate for centuries."

Etaine ran a single finger from his cheek to his neck and back, dragging her nail lightly across his skin. "You'll do whatever I say, or no deal."

"Whatever makes you happy, Etaine."

"I will assign you endless and boring tasks suitable for an appliance," She said, opening his shirt one button at a time, then entwining her fingers in his thick chest hair.

"That's so cruel of you, but I'll gladly endure it."

"I might even turn you into a hologram." Etaine said running her hands over his arms and chest.

"I would gratefully be your hologram for centuries upon centuries." Bethon said. He was lost in Etaine's beauty and enjoying the devotion of those familiar hands on his body.

Her eyes chilled with displeasure. "Stop appeasing me!"

Bethon laughed. "What do really want me to do?"

"I would prefer you be more contentious. I have enough creatures groveling about me already."

"Look how spoiled you've become, Etaine," Bethon said changing his approach. "Do you think you can have everything you want all the time?"

"As queen that is what I expect. It can be rather tiresome."

"Well, as my lover you should finish changing back into human form, complete with buttocks. I think you might need a good spanking."

"And I still have a voldarkan to tame."