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Chapter 58: The Declaration
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2021-02-17 23:37:30Laurel spent the night on the bed beside Ellis. Ellis knew for a fact that she didn’t get any sleep because Ellis woke up several times to check on the babies and Logan and found Laurel sniffling each time. She laid back down in the bed and stayed away from Laurel, giving her friend the privacy to cry, be angry, and grieve.
She knew how Laurel felt, especially having run away from her mate herself. It would be hell and everyone would judge her. Not Ellis, though. Not Ellis.
“Laurel,” she shook her awake. “Let’s go take a bath,” she hissed. How the roles had reversed.
“Oh, go away!” Laurel groaned. She had gone to sleep in the early morning, so she was beyond tired.
“Get up! I’m taking revenge for all the times you dragged me out of bed. Moreover, don’t you want to see the royal bath?” She tried her hand at enticing.
“When you put it like that…” she grumbled.<
Bab terkait
The King's Brightest Star Chapter 59: Choosing to be Evil
“I have nothing to say,” Mitch responded to the question being asked by the reporters that surrounded him. “The human whore is determined to destroy our culture and societal rules. What she did not count on was the loyalty the Kolns have for us. They were a part of our family and loved us. So, do not fear any uprisings and disregard rumors you hear about Kolns running away,” he said. His tone was deeply sarcastic as if the idea of the Kolns would willingly leave their slavery was too ridiculous to even consider.“One has to be impressed with a guy who can lie so well,” Ellis said, clicking off the tab. “His background could have plumes of smoke rising or bombs dropping and he could still make people think there was nothing worth seeing.” She shook her head. “And he can lie with a straight face, too.”Laurel, Isabella, and Ellis were in the storage rooms, packing up boxes of Logan’s father’s clothin
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2021-02-18The King's Brightest Star Chapter 60: Safety or Whim
Ellis shook her head. “It does me no good to go on a show right now. I don’t know what I would say either.”They gathered the clothing and Ellis and Laurel set off for the Koln shelter. Some of her own clothes were in the bags, as well. A handful of women had come with some of the Kolns. Some were widows who had fallen in love with the Kolns who served them. A few had left behind husbands, a dangerous situation which would require palace guards to be present.When they arrived at the shelter, Ellis was swarmed. Nin hadn’t exaggerated when she said the Kolns loved Ellis. They wanted to touch the hem of her clothes and Ellis had to bear stoically. Nin, too, was surprisingly gentle as she moved the crowd back a few feet away from the Empress.Ellis and Laurel were passing out the clothing. A man and a woman knelt in front of her and Ellis automatically held out a woman’s tunic to her. Ellis was surprised to see a face she knew…a
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2021-02-18The King's Brightest Star Chapter 61: And Excellent Idea
As Laurel was otherwise occupied, Ellis stayed with the children. She sent a message to Logan that she wanted to speak to him when he could spare a moment and then flopped down next to the babies.She gently nudged Little Isabella’s tail out of her mouth and made a mental note to tell Logan that the chip insertion appointment had been made. She must have dozed off because she awoke to Logan settled behind her, nuzzling her neck.She put out a hand and it met with empty pillows. She jolted up, only to be pulled down. “They’re will Laurel and Dorian,” Logan said quickly.“Are Dorian and Laurel doing okay?”“They appeared to be deep in conversation and Laurel wasn’t leaking. So, that is a positive sign.”“Crying,” she corrected, hiding her smile.“I got your message. Sorry it took so long for me to return. There were forms and meetings I needed to tend to…” he
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2021-02-19The King's Brightest Star Chapter 62: The Interview
Laurel pulled Ellis's hair back from her face and clipped it at the back of her head, and then applied Ellis's makeup with a light, deft touch.Logan hated it. He peered at her face curiously and then rubbed his finger on her cheek, examining the smudge of makeup. “Why do you have paint on your face?”Laurel dabbed the spot he had touched. “To counteract the strong lights,” she explained."Her lips are not normally that color," Logan said. "It is deceptive to paint her different colors than she really is." He tilted his head, his brow furrowing. "What did you do to her eyelids?"“Trust me on this,” Laurel insisted.They had set rules for the interview. It was to be conducted in the Palace with Logan and Nin in attendance. (Logan still didn't trust the man completely, despite his apparent conversion.) There were to be no questions regarding religion, or miracles, or Ellis's deification.At breakfast, Ellis
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2021-02-20The King's Brightest Star Chapter 63: Babies Say Their First Words
The interview had been a lot easier than Ellis had expected. She rose from her seat and went over to where Logan and Nin stood. She melted into his arms, laying her head against him.Together, they walked the short distance to the temple, Logan, and Ellis hand-in-hand. They went through the side door and Ellis hoped the President wouldn’t be too disappointed at being robbed of his place in the spotlight.Micheal waited inside, right on tow with the high priest. The bride and groom were already kneeling in front of him. The female gave Ellis a happy, excited smile and a little wave.The temple was packed with Kolns. As Ellis and Logan entered, they all sank to their knees. In a large group setting, etiquette didn’t require they all kneel; they just chose to do so as a touching tribute.Ellis’s voice cracked as she told them to rise.The ceremony began, the priest's voice rising and falling in the familiar cadence of the vows. Logan
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2021-02-21The King's Brightest Star Chapter 64: Break the Internet
"She took a jumper on an unauthorized trip to 21st century Earth. When they questioned her about it, she said that with the mate retrievals halted, she was afraid she'd never get the chance to see it again."Ellis frowned.“Can they tell by the jumper’s log where she actually went?”Leo nodded. “I asked and it does appear she went to Earth.”Ellis shook her head. “I doubt it was nostalgia that drove her.” She wondered what it could be. There was no doubt the woman was up to something. She had the urge to go against her ethics and ask the guards to do something about Nadia. Maybe have her home searched or even slap her around until she confessed.She glanced over to Laurel to see if she had any input and found that Laurel hadn't been listening. She and Dorian were involved in a quiet conversation. It was the first time Ellis had been around Dorian since Laurel and he reconciled and she noticed a difference i
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2021-02-21The King's Brightest Star Chapter 65: Facing Danger Together
“The situation in the second planet is deteriorating fast,” Dorian exclaimed over breakfast the next morning. “The senators introduced a secession legislation last night,” he huffed.Logan looked shocked. He hadn’t thought his authority would be disputed. “That is treason! How was it received?”Dorian hung his head. “They didn’t reject it if that’s what you wanted to know. Not immediately,” his tone was grim. “I thought Ellis’s video would help…”Logan shook his head. “It’s not about the emancipation of the Kolns, Dorian. It is an excuse to revolt. They had been unhappy with the Empire since my father’s reign. Perhaps resentment has turned them into this.”“The sponsors of the bill have made a statement that they don’t want to join the rebels, but they don’t want to be part of the Empire, either.”“Claimin
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2021-02-22The King's Brightest Star Chapter 66: A Whole New World
The technical noises started and everyone apart from her seemed unfazed. The engine roared and the ship shook and rattled. Ellis watched Nin in amazement as she swayed with the motion of the ship to stay upright, as perfectly balanced as she was on the ground.And then Ellis could feel the lift-off. She slammed back against the seat, a giant, invisible force pinning her down. She tried to lift one of her fingers but didn’t have enough strength.And then the rattling stopped. The roar of the engine died down to a soft hum. Logan clicked open parts of Ellis’s harness so she could move her heads and hands. She relaxed a little. “You won’t want to get up. The weightlessness can make you feel disoriented.”“Is there a window?” Ellis asked.Logan reached down and pushed a panel. Beneath it was a tiny porthole, Ellis peered out into the empty blackness, littered with glittering stars. She saw Zothea and was staggered by
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2021-02-22
Bab terbaru
The King's Brightest Star Short Scene: Solace
Technology had advanced, but Ellis and Cristine still waited for the day when they could travel to their timelines and see their parents for one last time. To ensure them that they weren’t in a hopeless state, dead or have run away from home.But the technology never allowed it. There were basic rules of the planet that couldn’t be breached.So, they plotted.Cristine had used all her free time to learn how to operate Zothean ships. She was adept at aeronautics and engineering and negotiation, so Ellis and Logan had leaned heavily on her in their negotiations. It could be said that the Empire was in a time of peace under their rule.One day, Cristine came up with the idea.“These jumpers travel to the universes all the time without breaking the fragment of the universe. The only rule is to not meet yourself or members of your own family after you have been pronounced dead, right?” she asked.Ellis nodded. “Yes,
The King's Brightest Star The Lesson Logan Must Learn [Part 4]
He hadn't seen her again until it was over until the city was in ruins and the palace itself was leveled to the ground. The underground city had been hit; Mitch must have known that Logan would try to send his family there. As he made his way to the ruins of the temple, he hoped and prayed that Ellis had disregarded his directions.So many had perished. So much had been lost.The Goddess lay back and propped her head on her hands as she looked up at the stars. "Perhaps someday, I'll show you Ellis's memories of it. She never told you the entire story of what she went through that day. I'll just say that she made me proud again for being so brave and resourceful."His mind was drawn back to the moment he had found Ellis in the rubble of the temple, his relief at finding her safe so deep and intense that he couldn't even form a proper prayer of gratitude.He had wanted to give her a shake when she told him of sending Laurel and the babies away in the escape
The King's Brightest Star The Lesson Logan Must Learn [Part 3]
Isabella drove out the Council members and the cameras, her manner so brisk and officious that no one dared question her, and shut the door firmly. She sat down beside Logan and drew him into her arms, just as she had done when he was a little boy and hurting from his parents' neglect. He was too large now to snuggle into her as he once had done, so he laid his head on top of hers and wrapped his tail around her arm."It can't have been him," he said. "It can't."She pulled back to look up into his face. Her eyes were soft with compassion. She said nothing. She didn't have to.Logan buried his hands in his hair and tugged. The pain was the only thing that felt real. But Isabella gently reached up and tugged his hands away. He wanted to scream, to attack something with his claws and shred it to bits. The pain was swelling within him to the point where he thought he might burst if he couldn't let it out in some way.Isabella pulled him back into her arms an
The King's Brightest Star The Lesson Logan Must Learn [Part 2]
He was twelve and Isabella had taken him to the market with her to buy herbs. Logan wandered over to the next stall, which sold jewelry. There was a set of jewels that his eyes kept being drawn back to as he examined the merchant's wares. It was a headband of red-black stones with a matching bracelet and ring.He imagined giving that set to his mate. Would she squeal in delight the way his mother did when his father presented her with jewels? Would she throw her arms around him and press her mouth to his? (The latter Logan thought was a bit disgusting, but Micheal had said humans liked "kissing.")Last night, he'd asked Micheal, his voice low and shy, for this question meant much to him: "Micheal, what will my mate be like?" He knew she'd likely be human. Though Earth had been one of the later additions to the database, the majority of their matches now came from its people."She will be the most beautiful creature you've ever seen," Micheal said, and his eyes t
The King's Brightest Star The Lessons Logan Must Learn [Part 1]
Despite Laurel's reassurances, Ellis didn’t leave Logan’s side until the doctor arrived. Laurel held her, gently stroking Ellis's back, murmuring soft, soothing nonsense."He has it, doesn't he?" Ellis asked the doctor after he'd run his reader over Logan's prone body. Logan's tail twitched at the sound of her voice, but he didn't react otherwise. He mumbled unintelligible words."Yes, Empress, he does," the doctor said. He looked exhausted, but his eyes were kind."Oh, my God," Ellis whispered. Hopelessness set in."There's no reason to panic," the doctor said firmly. "As long as we can keep his fever under control and keep him hydrated, he will be fine. Zotheans rarely die from this."It was all reassurance.Ellis nodded. She knew that. Logan had explained it to her when the outbreak first began, and the talk videos said the same. Just like the human common cold, there was no cure for it, and it simply had to run its course. Bu
The King's Brightest Star Izzy's Mating [Part 5]
The king brought Izzy breakfast in bed the next morning. She sat up groggily and accepted a cup of tea. She had to admit being impressed by his courtesy and thoughtfulness. She really needed the tea. She had stayed up late into the night and was no closer to an answer than she had been when she first lay down.She spent the day with the king, taking him to see some of Zothea's museums and cultural institutions. She was pretty sure that it was Drake who was following them all day. Once, she saw him duck behind a tree, and a tail with light hair poked out to the side. The bodyguard knew that Drake wasn't a threat and the king's bodyguard seemed to have decided to ignore him. The king, for his part, seemed to agree with them and didn't question the very large man trying to hide behind fence posts, but it made Izzy's heart ache. If the king was the one she chose, this would be Drake's life, lurking on the periphery of hers.The king was as he described himself: easy to get
The King's Brightest Star Izzy's Mating [Part 4]
Drake was already gone when Izzy and Ellis came back to the dining room and her heart ached that she wouldn't be able to say goodbye to him, but maybe Micheal and Isabella had decided that Izzy would only get more upset. She gnawed on her tail as they passed through the room to where the king was waiting for her in the hallway outside. He had been seated on a bench and he stood politely when she joined him. Another of his kind stood behind him, his skin as green as the forest leaves."This is my bodyguard," he offered. The bodyguard in question ignored Izzy, but sized up her female bodyguard and apparently wasn't impressed with what he saw."Follow me," Izzy directed. The king walked down the hall beside her and Izzy noticed that she was at least a foot taller than he was.She arrived at her nest room to find that all of Drake's things had been cleaned out already and she felt a piercing ache in her heart. She sat down on a cushion beside her table, despondent.
The King's Brightest Star Izzy's Mating [Part 3]
Logan put out an announcement that tonight would be a state dinner and so the temple dining room was packed with people, all of them speculating as to the cause. He and the empress rarely had them and when they did it was usually for a special announcement. The last had been to announce the empress was expecting Prince Edward and the one before that, to announce that Nessie was being appointed to the emperor's Council.Izzy ate mechanically. She wasn't hungry, but Aunt Cristine was right: she had to make sure the baby got what it needed. Drake was alight with excitement and impatient for the meal to end. The entire extended family was seated around the table, all of them wearing their finery. Her mother wore the glow stone tunic she'd worn to her own mating ceremony and Aunt Laurel was dressed in a purple tunic so bright that it hurt the eyes to look at it. Leo kept flirtatiously tickling Cristine's neck with his tail and then looking away innocently whenever she looked up fr
The King's Brightest Star Izzy's Mating [Part 2]
"I saw a doctor less than an hour ago." Izzy unwound her tail from her leg with effort and gnawed on the end of it anxiously.Her father stood and without a word, headed for the door."Daddy, wait, please!" Nessie pleaded. "I'm so sorry! Talk to me.""I can't." Logan's eyes were on the door and his tail lashed in either agitation or anger; she couldn't tell which."Please," Izzy pleaded. "I need to know what you're thinking. Do—do you still love me?""Of course, I do," Logan said tightly. He twisted the doorknob."Don't leave," Izzy begged."Sweetheart, your father just needs a little time," Ellis interjected. "Let him go, and we'll all talk over this later."Goddess, didn't her mother understand that her anxiety was increasing exponentially every moment? She wouldn't survive a wait of a few hours. "Daddy… please.""You want to know what I'm thinking?" Logan turned from the door and marched back to stand in
