Kozantei, Fourth Quarter, Andromeda Galaxy.

Mya sighed as she walked into the cool hallway of the palace, wiping away the sweat that streaked down her forehead. The suns outside were literally going to melt her one day. She walked leisurely towards the eating area. Her stomach growled as she thought about all the squashi she was going to devour. The purple dish that reminded her of noodles from earth had quickly become her favorite, it was seasoned with herbs and littered with roots and meat. She absolutely loved it.

She'd just finished her flight training sequence and had been thrilled by the experience. Her heart always soared whenever she was able to get her hands on machinery, the feeling was magnified now by the fact that she'd controlled a flying warship, she'd picked up the mechanics pretty well too. It was as if she'd been meant to be a flight warrior all her life. She smiled, her booted feet taking her through the many naturally lit hallways, Artemisia, close at her side, was ambling along. She absently ran her hand along her scaled companion's side, thinking back to the crazy things that had happened within the very same halls a few weeks ago at her and Zogan's post mating celebration.

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The day after the mating ceremony was the day that the whole palace and citizens who wished to attend swarmed into the surrounding environs to celebrate the new mating. Mya had dressed in a long silver airy gown, sleeveless and strappy at the shoulders and down the back. Around the waist was cut out where the same straps tied around her flat stomach holding the dress in place. She glittered with every movement, a beautifully embroidered cape hung from her shoulders and the dress swished around her feet as she walked. Her sandaled feet moved soundlessly towards a roofless hovercraft waiting.

Zogan had been at her side, dressed impeccably in a silver tunic with matching pants. He wore a deep blue sash draped diagonally across his chest. They hopped into the hovercraft and Nezerra came running up to them.

"You...forgot...your crown!" she said, hunched over from her running at full speed, she was dressed in a stunning blue dress that clung to her, a small diadem on her wrapped up hair. She handed Zogan and glared at him for forgetting it, his expression turned sheepish, and with that satisfaction Nezerra turned and ran back to her waiting Hovercraft where she sat with the King and Queen.

They were to ride through the pathways of the city in motorcade style and then return to the palace gardens and forests for the celebration at sunset. The king and queen's hovercraft were first, followed by Azazel and Mara; both wearing small crowns and then Zogan and Mya, with security detail taking up anterior and posterior positions. He placed the glittering crown on her head, it was dripping with black and crystal-clear stones that glittered in the suns. They reached upward like daggers, both beautiful and dangerous at the same time. The larger stones were interspersed with gleaming smaller rocks that held a pearlescent shine, some tear drop shaped and others more rounded. It was truly a work of art. It contrasted with Mya's wrapped up red curls beautifully. He smiled down at her, teeth glinting in the suns.

"You are breathtaking, a true goddess."

She blushed remembering his marking for her and reached up to run her fingers over his cheek, leaning in, she brushed her pink tinted lips onto his.

There was a loud clap, "No messing up her face!" Nezerra shouted from her position before them.

Mya laughed and rolled her eyes while Zogan cut his eyes at her.

They began their rounds through the marked pathways of Kozantei's capital city and Mya was glad that it had been scheduled in the afternoon when the two suns' rays had lessened even if it was only a slight difference. The compartment before them blew cool air at both her and Zogan and she'd had to lean into the airflow many times.

There were crowds of Kozan and other species lining the streets. Their skins in many different colors, some even shimmering and changing shades. Mya gasped. They were ululating and chanting, throwing flowers and seeds through the air towards them. The atmosphere was that of joy. Some shouted out her name, her neck almost twisted off as she spun around to wave at the ones screaming it and they bowed as she waved to them.

The buildings in the city were magnificent with artistic arches, colorful walls and packed together. Large trees shaded them, and they seemed to be built into the trees, meshing seamlessly with nature. Mya gazed around her in awe, her eyes flitting from the people to the buildings and back, this was her first time out of the palace and in the surroundings with the citizens. She smiled broadly, swept up in the music of the pulsating drums and other melodies that she couldn't name. Zogan's arm was draped around the back of the seat, and he held her close as he bowed and smiled to his people, most of them shouting his name and wishing him well on his new mating and soon to be Kingship.

When they returned to the palace Mya let out a relieved breath, her butt cheeks had become sore from sitting for so long. She wanted – no – needed leevine, desperately. They strode hand in hand into the gardens, the king and Queen leading, and were met with rounds of cheering and ululating. There was music pounding and the low hum of chatter. The palace was full of citizens and well-wishers. Azazel and Ravanna bared fangs at Zogan and Mya as they walked over to join them.

"So, you've finally become a male!" said Azazel clapping Zogan on the shoulder.

"I'm more of a male than you'd ever be." He sniped back.

Mya saw a waiter moving through the crowd and grabbed two long stemmed flute cups filled with leevine from her tray with a thank you. She handed one to Zogan and swiftly downed the contents, beginning to feel nervous from the big crowd energy.

Ravanna eyed her, "A little eager, are we?"

She looked down at her now empty cup, "I don't like big crowds."

"Me neither."

He called over another waiter and took the whole tray from his outstretched hands, including the bottles and grinned at Mya. She plopped into a long, curved seat settling beside him. She looked around at the dancing forms, some grinding against each other and others dancing by themselves, arms and legs moving fluidly in the air around them. The king and queen were moving saucily to the music, smiling at each other, Mya's heart warmed. She hoped that that would also be her and Zogan in the far future when they were older, more in love than they ever were.

Azazel laughed heartily at something Zogan said. He was clearly already intoxicated, and the night had just begun. Ravanna and Mya exchanged amused glances. Mya spent the time catching up to Azazel with her drinks and laughing at Ravanna's impressions of those who were dancing horribly.

Both Mara and Nezerra joined them eventually, Mara was radiant, dressed head to toe in glittering black. She looked stunning.

Azazel definitely thought so, he grinned and crowed, "Here comes my mate!"

Mara laughed. Laughed. Mya stared in shock. She'd never seen a full-blown smile grace her lips before.

"I think you've had enough my love." Her voice was husky, and she grabbed the almost empty bottle and passed it to a waiter.

Azazel flopped back into his seat, ready to throw a tantrum, "Is this not the time to have more than enough?"

Mara just patted his now bare chest, placating him. "Come dance with me."

"You rule me female, I am yours to command." Azazel got up and stumbled on unsteady feet.

Mara snorted and held him up, "Males... they can never hold their leevine."

She led him into the crowd of dancing bodies. Nezerra sat across from them deep in conversation with a male Mya had never seen before. He was not Kozan, he was in fact, a species that was completely unknown to her.

"He's a Vorreth, another one of our allies." Ravanna offered when he followed her gaze.

He was hulking, with smooth skin a deep brown. He had four arms ending with four digits and two legs that were bent backward under the knee as he sat – he was a digitigrade. His feet were hooved. Sprouting from his head were branch like growths that reached upwards, his eyes glowed a light blue and were fixed on Nezerra who spoke animatedly with him. He dwarfed Nezerra even though he was seated. His features reminded Mya of a fox. "His name is Quang."

"Seems like he's a fan of Nezze." She whispered.

Ravanna shrugged, always oblivious to such things. Mya snorted and shook her head, taking a deep swig from her drink. Thinking of romance, she looked around for Yavik, "where was he?'

She cleared her throat and turned back to Ravanna, "Where's Yavik?"

She was careful to keep her face neutral. Zogan across from them speaking to an official from another world, flicked his eyes to her and away again. He was obviously listening in on their conversation. Ravanna shifted in his seat, and it was an effort for Mya to keep the smirk off her face.

"I have no idea." He said looking away and drinking his leevine.

She leaned into him, her crown shifting forward. "Are you sureeeee?"

"He might be recovering." He offered; eyes fixed onto his drink.

Mya frowned, that was not the response she was expecting, she knew Zogan and Azazel had told him of Yavik's affections. What the hell did he do that Yavik had to recover from?

"What did you do? What is he recovering from?"

"I took him on an outing..." he almost mumbled the words.

"Ravanna! What did you do?" she hit him, and he pretended to wince.

"I simply wanted to get to know him better, I did not know he was allergic to baski."

Mya let out an exasperated sigh. Baski was a fruit that grew on one of the many trees in the sacred forest. Its flesh was white and succulent, but its taste was something one had to grow accustomed too, Mya still couldn't stomach it.

"Maybe next time, you should ask him!" she shout-whispered into his ear.

He looked down, sheepish, "I have learned that."

"Take him to the ocean next time, he loves it and pack some food... not baski!" she rubbed his arm seeing that he was troubled that he'd caused Yavik pain, "I promise he'd like it a lot better."

Ravanna nodded and started to pour out some more Leevine but then got up abruptly, "I'm going to visit him."

He turned and left them, winding through the crowd and disappearing the moment Mya's eyes flicked away and back. The official speaking to Zogan turned to her and wished her well on the mating and queen ship, offering his help should she ever need it. She nodded and thanked him, not hearing half of the words that left his mouth. She hoped it hadn't been a question; he inclined his head and walked away. Phew!

Zogan stood and extended his arm to her, "Shall we dance, my mate?"

She pursed her lips and slowly shook off her cape, her dragon mark showed through the ties of her dress. Taking his hand, she let him lead the way into the crowd. The beats pulsed around her, and she swayed her hips getting into the rhythm. Zogan moved around her in the dance that was popular among their people. It was primal, like a beast stalking its prey. He moved about her, grinding on her, and pulling away, moving back and forth while she twisted and writhed losing herself to the bass lines that thrummed through the garden. The moons shone brightly overhead.

They bumped into Mara and Azazel who danced like they were crazed and ready to mate. They did not care that there were persons nearby, but Mya remembered that the Kozan did not care about nudity or sex, accepting it as a part of life and completely natural. She watched them mesmerized by the contortions of their bodies, and Zogan came up behind her, moving against her. Sweat slithered down her neck, travelling down between her breasts, over her stomach and lower. Her curls clung to her forehead. Still, she danced writhing against her mate, whose gaze devoured her movements.

He bent to lick her neck and she reached up to hold him there as she pushed back on him and rolled her hips to the beat. He bit her - hard enough for it to hurt and her core pulsed. Zogan hissed in her ear, he could smell her arousal. They stayed on the dancefloor moving for a long time lost in each other, it was only when the tempo slowed that he held her hand and led her to the refreshments table.

Her steps were unsteady from her rounds of leevine, but she didn't care. Zogan would take care of her. She looked up at him and giggled, giddy from the dancing and the heat that flushed her. Swiping at her hair to neaten it, she saw Zogan reach down and start to full a dish with various foods. The table was filled with things Mya couldn't name but her eyes immediately zoomed in on the squashi. She squealed and clapped her hands together, bouncing up and down, "I need some squashi... like now!" He laughed and picked up another dish and piled the squashi into it.