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Jack grinned widely and knelt to hug the boy who was showing more energy and… happiness than he ever had. Jack looked to Eve in delighted confusion.
“Your friends the Shreen sent us a bottle of Skrahak oil. Jinnae analysed it and said it was safe for Joseph so I’ve been giving him a drop in each ear before bed. The difference has been miraculous. I’m so grateful to them!” Eve explained.
Jack gave the boy’s cheeks a kiss and he giggled then rushed off to play. Emily was next in his arms and got a kiss before chasing Joseph back to the toy bin.
From his position down on the floor Jack saw the eyes of Zaina peering out from behind the couch. Waiting to pounce. Without turning his head he spoke quietly to Eve who left and returned with the package he requested. Grinning Jack took the toy from the box. It looked like a simple white ball. He pushed his thumb against the soft rubber of its side, pressing hard as he’d been instructed by the store clerk. He felt the ball vibrate as it… awoke.
From the corner of his eye he caught Adina sneaking closer. He turned his head away from the twins giving them their chance to attack. He tossed the ball in their direction a split second later. He heard thumps and oofs from Zaina and Adina who’d collided with each other when the ball distracted them in their charge. He grinned at them. They looked at the ball which was gently pulsing with light from within and chittering angrily. Zaina boldly picked it up and it popped from her grip and bounced away in a random pattern.
The twins grinned at Jack and scrambled to untangle their limbs to chase after the fleeing ball.
“What is that?” SennLann gasped as she watched the orb bouncing rapidly this way and that avoiding capture by the twins.
Jack could see SennLann was struggling to keep herself from joining in on the chase, her wide eyes locked on the orb.
Adina dove and caught it between her outstretched paws. It flashed brightly dazzling her and she dropped it when she landed. It bounced quickly between the legs of Zaina who was almost on it when she was dazed by her sister’s input. She flipped completely over onto her back. The ball skittered away down the hall and its chittering sounded smug now.
“A pursuit orb. That’s what the Shreen call them. Fun, right?” Jack grinned. “I’m hoping it will help train them how to filter each other’s sensory data while it’s letting them play.”
SennLann kissed Jack’s cheek and chased after her girls in their hunt for the orb. Eve snorted in amusement.
Jack stood up and went to get the rest of his gifts which he handed out to the ladies. They were very pleased by his thoughtfulness and he got many kisses in return.
When they were sitting on the couch watching Joseph and Emily happily playing with the new toys Jack had picked up for them as well, Jack felt the warm glow of being surrounded by his family and sighed happily.
“You seem… more relaxed than before. More at peace,” Eve noted looking close at his face.
He smiled at her and nodded. “I do feel a lot more relaxed.” He looked at the two ladies with him and looked over the back of the couch to see SennLann. She was stretched out on the floor panting and smiling at him as she took a break from hunting the orb which still eluded capture.
He looked back at Eve. “I’m home with my family. The Shreen hold family as the most important element of their society. They have it right.”
“Speaking of the Shreen and family, Queen Elissa would like you to visit her when you feel up to it,” Diana said.
“Ahhh… right,” Jack sighed. His assignment. Right. “Tomorrow. Today I’m with you guys.”
Zaina and Adina jumped up on the back of the couch and each grabbed one of Jack’s horns to steady themselves as they leaned over to give him simultaneous kisses on both cheeks. He felt them panting, out of breath.
“So… this means you like the present?” he asked and they hugged him tight before they scrambled away to continue the hunt with their mother.
Jack hugged Diana and Eve to his sides and settled back against the couch. This was his day.
The Queen’s office was buzzing with activity as Jack sat in the waiting room with Elissa’s assistant. Several delegates from different races had gone in to speak with Elissa and each had given Jack’s new headgear a good stare before they were admitted. The most disturbing had been the Wuu. The tiny ball of fur had come to a complete stop before Jack and with no discernable eyes Jack had no way of knowing if it was staring at his ankles or his horns.
Unable or unwilling to learn the universal language the Wuu finally blurted something in its native tongue which its translation device said aloud.
“The bone caps. Skrahak?”Owned by NôvelDrama.Org.
Jack looked at it in surprise. How could it tell what kind of bones the caps were made of?!? Still, he answered. “Yes. My kill.” Take that!
The Wuu made a rude noise which the device didn’t translate but attitude needed no translation. It wasn’t impressed. It growled again.
“My pod kill four metre Skrahak with traditional bladed weapons.”
Jack nodded as if impressed and the Wuu purred.
“I killed a Dynast Class Skrahak, nine meters, with only these,” Jack said calmly pointing to his horns. He looked at the furry being, wondering once more where he should be looking to stare it in the eye.
The Wuu shrieked. “Lie!” bellowed out of the device.
Jack remained calm and smiled gently to the Wuu. “Ask Queen Elissa when you speak to her.”
The assistant ushered the Wuu into the office and returned to scowl at Jack. “Why do you taunt the Wuu?”
Jack shrugged with a smile. “Respect is earned.”
Ten minutes later the Wuu exited and once more stopped before Jack. It grumbled.
“You no lie.”
Jack nodded and leaned forward in his chair. “One more thing we can agree on. Skrahak flesh is delicious.” He smiled widely at the Wuu ensuring his ‘fangs’ were clearly visible.
The Wuu made an odd sound which could only be surprise then it purred loudly. It squawked once more.
“Have a profitable day Ambassador Danner.”
It rolled away and once it was gone Jack looked at Elissa’s assistant who was staring at Jack in shock.
“And that’s how you earn respect.”
He stood and walked into the Queen’s office closing the door behind him.
“Jack! Are you my next appointment?” Queen Elissa smiled.
He grinned. “I am now.” He walked over and sat in the chair before her desk as she looked at him with a raised eyebrow and the smallest of smiles on her lips.
His expression became serious. “I’m here to report on my failure to collect any information on the Shreen’s unrest. The Queen and King are happy. The executive class are happy and productive making the lives of their people easier. The working class seem especially happy. I don’t know… they’re a happy bunch! Are you sure there’s unrest there because I found no sign of it!” he said sagging back in his chair.
The Queen’s mouth burst into a broad smile. “Oh Jack! You silly man! You dealt with the unrest on the first night! The relationship between the young aristocrat Queen and her King, a man from the countryside was failing and that shook the confidence of the people of Chrystan. They saw it as a sign. You mended their relationship and the people are happy once more.”
Jack sat there stunned, looking at Elissa with his jaw hanging open.
She stood and came around her desk to walk to her door. She flipped the lock on it and walked back to Jack, her eyes on his horns. She took his hand and led him to her couch and sat with him holding his hands in hers.
“You mended the hearts of the Shreen. It seems that while this was happening you’ve been mended as well. I can see it in your eyes. My Jack is back. I’ve missed you.”
He felt his heart swell with love for this beautiful and wise female before him. Then he was kissing her and she was pulling him down over her on the couch.
Her tongue chased his and his need for her flared. Their kisses became hungry. Clothes were tugged free and soon their naked bodies were writhing against each other trying to get even closer, to feel that intimate touch right down to their very souls.
Elissa used her hooves to pull Jack’s ass closer and he felt himself sliding deep into her hot depths. She crooned happily and he moved his kisses to her jawline and nibbled down her neck causing shocks to jolt through her body.
“Oh! Oh! Oh Jack!” she moaned with need as his hips began to drive him forward again and again.
He was immersed in her spicy musk and his head spun with delicious pleasure as his need raced higher and higher. Soon his hips were pounding against hers and she was crooning loudly. The pace increased and they were both breathing hard from the effort.
He was so close but his strength was flagging and she needed release as well. Growling he dragged his teeth against her throat and she bleated as her body clamped down. He kissed her throat as his body fired up into hers in surge after surge while she floated on waves of bliss of her own.
Finally they both settled down back into their bodies and sighed in unison. This made them both laugh and Elissa smiled seeing the genuine happiness on his face as his laugh came from deep inside.
When she’d sent him on this mission she was hopeful the genuine kindness and warmth of the Shreen would reach that place in Jack’s heart which was still wounded so long after his captivity. She’d done all she could to bring him back and had been mostly successful but something still blocked him.
Knowing his loving nature, Jack was the perfect choice for the mission and her faith had been justified. He’d found their pain and he’d healed it for them. They in turn had healed his. Everyone was happy.
Elissa had the man she’d fallen in love with, all of him. She was happiest of all.