Chapter 189: Fulfilling Promises
Ruby didn’t leave Kalon’s room long after what they had done. After all, night was starting to arrive, and both of them had places they had to be.
Ruby was tired, and not just her jaw.
She was also happy, and walked back to her own room with a smile on her face.
She did not get the quiet return she wanted.
Richard was in the shared common area of their housing block when she came through the door. He had his arms crossed and his phone in one hand, clearly waiting. The moment he saw her, his expression hardened.
"Where were you?"
Ruby stopped.
"Kalon’s place." She responded bluntly.
Richard stared at her with widening eyes.
"W-what?"
"I said I was at Kalon’s house." She kept her voice blunt again on purpose. "Don’t make a scene in the hallway."
"Why the hell would you be at his place?" Richard’s volume rose immediately. "After everything? After the tournament? After he embarrassed us? After he made you beg?"
"Don’t worry about it."
"Don’t worry about it?" He stepped closer. "Ruby, that guy is a fucking loser. He—"
He stopped mid-sentence.
Up close, her appearance was harder to ignore.
Her lips looked slightly swollen. Her ginger hair was not as neat as when she left. There was a faint redness around her eyes and mouth.
Richard’s face twisted.
"What happened to you?"
"Nothing you need to know," Ruby said. She moved past him toward her room. "I told you. Don’t worry about it."
"Ruby."
She shut her door before he could push further.
Richard stood in the hallway alone, jaw tight, staring at the door.
He blinked a few times, struggling to believe what his mind was telling him.
At that moment, he wished that Kalon was still someone weak enough for him to bully.
...
On the other side of campus, Kalon sat on the edge of his bed after Ruby left.
The room still smelt like her natural scent.
He could still picture her on her knees, chest painted white, eyes watery, trying so hard to prove she was more than a former bully with a guilty conscience.
Stage One had climbed fast. Faster than he expected from a human virgin with a marriage rule still stuck in her head. She was already close to stage three.
And Kalon was now interested in her.
He had a slight concern as to what Thea might think of it, but she already knew that he was somewhat of a player.
When they were on Venduros, Josinia had already make it clear that Kalon was well known for being able to seduce women, no matter what species they were.
Thea’s response was nothing but a shrug of the shoulder, and she didn’t seem surprised at all. She mentioned that a woman that is interested in a man with such great powers should only expect that other women would interested too.
She also knew that there was ways for Kalon to grow strength through interacting with women this way, even if she didn’t know all the details.
Kalon rubbed a hand over his face and pushed the thought aside for now.
He still had a week on the Atlas contract, unfinished business on other planets, and a promise sitting unresolved on Cupid. Poppy had frozen the invasion and opened the door for cooperation. He had told them they would get knowledge. Leaving that hanging too long would make him look unreliable to them.
Kalon stood, changed into clean clothes, and left for the rooftop.
...
[Initiating Travel Sequence...]
[Adapting body to suit conditions...]
[...]
[You have arrived!]
[Welcome to Cupid!]
He appeared in a restricted upper corridor of the central citadel of Cupid, the same pale stone and crystal-lit architecture as before.
A pair of armoured guards stiffened when they saw him, then clearly recognised his face from the earlier incidents.
One of them spoke quietly into a communication band.
Less than two minutes later, Daisy arrived.
War Commander Daisy looked composed in full black armour again, pink across her scalp. Her posture was straight, professional, and formal. If Kalon had never seen her naked and dominated in a tent bed, he might have believed the act completely.
"Kalon Manchester," she said. "Supreme Leader Poppy instructed me to escort you to the high council chamber. The science heads and ranking officers are already assembled."
"Lead the way."
They started walking.
For a stretch of corridor, Daisy remained quiet and professional. She did not look at him more than necessary.
Kalon glanced sideways at her.
"You’re very formal today."
"This is an official matter," Daisy replied at once. "You are here to do business with the supreme leader. There is no reason for anything else."
"No reason," Kalon repeated. "So we’re pretending the tent never happened?"
Daisy’s jaw tightened.
"We are conducting ourselves correctly."
"You were less correct with my hand around your throat."
Her pure black eyes cut toward him for half a second, then snapped forward again.
Her pale cheeks blushed.
"That was a separate incident."
"And the full nelson bondage?"
Daisy’s armour creaked faintly as her shoulders tensed.
"P-please do not bring up such matters in public. If you wish to speak, then speak about something else."
Kalon smiled to himself.
"Alright. How is the planet reacting to Poppy’s decision to work with me?"
Daisy exhaled through her nose.
"Good enough. Some generals disliked the decision. None of them disliked it enough to challenge it after what you did in the Supreme Leader’s chambers. That is all I will say on internal matters before we reach the table."
"Professional," Kalon said. "Good. I almost believed it."
Daisy stopped at a wide set of crystal doors and finally looked at him fully.
"When we enter," she said, low and controlled, "you will address the council, not me. Whatever games you enjoy in private, leave them outside this room."
Kalon met her stare without concern.
"After you, War Commander."
Daisy held his gaze one second longer, then turned and pushed the doors open.
The high council chamber spread out in front of them with many seats. Science officers in formal crystal-marked coats sat on some. Generals in armour sat on others.
Poppy sat at the centre of the far table, crystal hair bright, and black eyes already locked on Kalon as he entered beside Daisy.
They had arrived at the council table.