All the while, I could feel Atlanta’s glare grinding into the back of my neck. On one hand, it was an annoying that she still felt so much hatred for me. On the other, as long as she was focusing that hate towards me and not Lieja, we had a better chance of earning her a little more freedom tonight.
“How are politics on Lunaria, Apex?” Queen Lieja asked over a second glass of wine. “Have your rebel forces been slaughtered yet?”
“Alas, not yet, Your Highness.” I did not wish to discuss the Lunarian rebels too deeply, given that Atlanta’s sister was among them, but given the limited amounts of information Lady Idria fed Lieja, at least it seemed unlikely that Savannah’s name would come up. “King Brixta, Lady Idria’s brother, has claimed the throne for himself, but is still unwilling to send troops to the mountains when there are so many other matters to attend to, while he ensures that the first shipment of slaves from Earth to Lunaria are arranged without issue.”
“I always knew he was a coward.” Lieja sniffed haughtily. “I suppose Lady Idria will have him killed soon. Once she marries the new Rutharian king, she will surely want both thrones for herself.”
“I cannot say, Your Highness,” I replied carefully. Of course, Lieja was right. She was petty and cruel, but not stupid. If Idria wished to unite the Rutharian peoples with Lunaria, she would not be able to settle for anything less than claiming both thrones for herself—through any means necessary. When that happened, I knew, the rebels hiding out in the mountains would be dealt with swiftly and bloodily. Again, not something I wished to speak about in front of Atlanta. “My lady works in mysterious ways.”
“I think she sounds like a crotchety old nag,” Atlanta piped up—unhelpfully.
Lieja and I both turned slowly. Behind us, Atlanta looked incredibly pleased with herself—almost as displeased as Lieja looked.
“Atlanta, my dear, you do not know what you are saying.” Lieja spoke the words through a tense, toothy smile that looked incredibly forced. “In the future, you would do well to keep your mouth shut.”
“I will when you will,” Atlanta shot back at her. “You chew with your mouth open, you know. Not very good manners. Or is it customary here to show all of your friends what your food looks like before you wash it down with, what is this—your sixth glass of wine?”
Lieja’s cheeks flushed a deep pink. Her smile quickly turned to a snarl. “Why, you insolent little—”
“Your Highness,” I said quickly, seeing an opportunity. Perhaps Atlanta’s insubordination would actually prove useful to us tonight. “Might I make a suggestion?”
“Perhaps. Are you going to suggest we cut out her tongue? If so, by all means.” Lieja selected a dull-looking knife from the array of eating utensils before her and offered it to me. “Use this. I’ll have the cooks fry it up in the kitchens, then we can feed it to her.”
“Actually, I was about to remark on how poorly trained Atlanta is. Without the benefits of Jeorkania’s excellent slave trainers, it seems that she is prone to forgetting herself.”
“Yes…I do miss having access to my trainers back home.” Lieja turned to Razael, stroking him beneath his pink goatee. “Razael nearly bit me when we were in bed together the other day. Can you imagine? Perhaps everyone could use a little training.”
Razael turned a shade paler at Lieja’s words. Lucky for both of us, I had no interest in seeing to his training. Atlanta’s, on the other hand…
“I am familiar with how these humans behave, Your Highness. Aboard the Avant Lupinia, the Lunarian rescue ship, I interacted with many of them. They are an arrogant species, but quick learners.” My eyes flashed toward Atlanta with a warning: do not ruin this for us. I am trying to help. “If you would allow it, I would be happy to work with her in an attempt to curb her defiant attitude and unruly mouth.”
Atlanta gave me a murderous look in return, but Lieja let out a loud, trilling laugh and clapped her hands together in delight.
“Oh, that would be marvelous, wouldn’t it? I have so missed the enjoyment of her exotic little Earthan dances, I must admit. And of course, Idria will want the girl well-trained—both in Lunarian customs and in general politeness, which she seems to lack.”
“Please,” Atlanta spat at her. “Like you weren’t adjusting your tits in your dress five minutes ago when you didn’t think anyone was looking. Where I come from, I’d be mortified to have to do that in the middle of an event. Maybe you need a better bra?”
“And maybe you need a muzzle.” Lieja rolled her eyes, then reached over to my hand and patted it. “Yes, Apex, I fear you must be right. A little training is exactly what Atlanta needs—though, I do not envy you for having to put her through her paces. She is a murderous little wretch, you know. You will have to be careful. Use as much force as you must.”
“I am certain that I will manage,” I assured her.
“Um, yeah. Earth to alien weirdos? I don’t think so.” Atlanta was putting on her little act again, pretending that she was not afraid. It was almost believable. Almost. “I’m not getting trained by anyone. Absolutely not.”
“Oh, Atlanta, you ridiculous little thing.” Lieja waved Atlanta’s protests away, then beckoned a servant for more wine. “How adorable. You still believe you get to decide what you will and will not do here. Let me put that notion to rest here and now. You will be trained by Apex, or I will throw you to the Rutharians without another thought.”
When Atlanta’s cage
