A Royal Clutch

She entered the room silently, head down and hands clasped in front of her.

"Look at me."

She looks up and see him sitting back non-chalantly in his chair.

"Your name?"

"Cieseli Sutcre."

"That's funny," his modulated voice angrily sneers at her, "Because your 'father' just sent me a message, informing me of your untimely elopement with a simple merchant. But then again this sure doesn't look like you either, does it?"

A tablet slides across the table and there's a picture on it showing the real Princess Cieseli. She's been caught...and by the Manda'lor himself. Dread fills her.

"What's your name? Your real name this time."

"Yuli Velera."

"Tell me, Yuli Velera, just what did you have planned? Did anyone send you here?"

Yuli shakes her head, "No plans. Nothing! I swear it!"

"Then why are you here? Really here? Or should I just call the guards right now?"

Her shoulders drop in defeat, and she sighs heavily. "I-I took my friend's place."

He snorts, stalking closer to her and she panics, speaking in a rush.

"She asked me to! So she could run away with her lover. She didn't want to be forced into an arranged marriage."

"Being royalty herself, she knew that sometimes sacrifices are to be made and yet she still chose to be selfish. To run off with the first man to bow to her will. And you, what would have happened if I had chosen you? How would you have been able to lie through that one?"

She's crying now, she can feel the tears inching down her cheeks.

"I had thought with so many other women here more beautiful than I that I wouldn't make it very far in the choosing. I-I did lie, yes. To you..to everyone so if you need to punish someone...let it be me, my Manda'lor. Don't rip from my friend her happiness after she's just found it."

He tilts his head at her, eyes studying her closely behind his helmet.

"You are silver-tongued, aruetii. You lie to government officials! To the very ruler of Mandalore! To his face none the less! An offense that is punishable by death. All because your friend asked you to? And you would still take the punishment in her place? Because of your un-yielding loyalty? Perhaps I should just punish both of you and her lover too."

There is a tone to his voice that causes something to snap inside her and she's suddenly angry. Squaring her shoulders she shoves him...hard, and he stumbles back a step. He looks at her in shock and he smiles under his helmet.

'About damn time.'

"Just because you can't find happiness doesn't mean you have to be an ass and ruin it for others. Some ruler you are. The Manda'lor I heard of was supposed to be kind, merciful, just. Not this...this...heartless..."

And he's silent, just staring at her, grinning wide behind his helmet

"Bug-headed?" He offered.

"Yes, thank you."

"Your welcome."

"This heartless, bug-headed nerfherder who's only...pre-tending...to be..." She looks at him in growing horror, taking a step back from him.

but he just chuckles at her, leaning back against the table with his ankles crossed. He motions her with a hand to continue. "Oh please go on. I want to hear this."

At her confused look, he laughs and she blushes, finally realizing what she had just done and she giggled softly.

"Finally! Someone speaks their mind to me. It seems like everyone's always stepping on shells around me. Like they are afraid of upsetting me. It's-"

"Frustrating?"

"Yes. Not you, though. You almost knocked me over. You've got some strength to you, mesh'la."

"W-what?"

"Don't worry, I'm not going to punish you...or your friend."

Her cheeks grew dark and she curtsied, "Thank you, my Manda'lor."

He's leans over her and just bops her on the nose gently and it leaves her stunned silent. "Enough with all that. That's fine for out there. In here you can just call me Din. Now go get some sleep. Its getting late."

He opens the door and Talur is standing just outside, waiting.

"Talur, see that the 'princess' here is escorted safely back to her rooms. And you, princess..."

He sweeps into a low bow before reaching over and bopping her nose again.

"I'll see you tomorrow."

/ - / - / - /

That night when she laid down in bed, she sighed, draping an arm over her face and she smiles widely, rubbing at her nose.

'Mesh'la.'

"Din called me beautiful..."

She sighs again before turning her lights out, pulling her sheet up over her shoulders. Sleep comes easily to her that night as she dreams of a smooth, low voice encased in shiny pure Beskar. Of a laugh that sent a delicious shiver down her spine.

Not knowing that in the shadows, a figure was watching her slumber peacefully. He had wanted to make sure himself that she had gotten back safely.

He of course trusted Talur with the princesses' lives but this one? Yuli Velera?

He had needed to see her again.

She had been honest and forthright with him then she had outright shoved him, insulting him as well...with his help, of course. He shook his head chuckling, going silent when she turned onto her side away from him and the sheet slide down off her shoulders, pooling in the curve of her waist, exposing the tanned, unmarred flesh of her back and he can barely see the curve of a breast at this angle and he swallowed thickly, turning away. He had never seen such skin in his life.

Mesh'la.

"Oh, I hope you stick around, pretty thing."

/ - / - / - /

In the week that followed, he found his eye landing on her more than once and Talur noticed.

"Princess Cieseli or should I say Yuli? has caught your eye, has she?"

Din snorts, "Of course you would know. Before me?"

"What do I look like? You?"

"Careful, Talur."

"Have you approached her with it yet?"

"Not one to beat around the bush, are you?"

"It's one of the many reasons I've lasted the longest in the position of your consul. You like when people are direct, to the point, honest able to call you on your bullshit. Which is why I'm going to ask again if you've approached her yet."

"Two have withdrawn because I broached the subject too soon and it frightened them. I will not approach her...not yet at least."

"I would be remiss in my duties if I didn't remind you of your 'condition' at this time. You don't have much long left. You going to have to choose soon if you want the council to back off."

"I know."

"Maybe you should trust your instincts and not focus on your fear. Fear is-"

"The mind-killer, yes. I know."

"Why not choose her though? She's not afraid to speak her mind. She's selfless, going out of her way to help her friend, even going so far as to lie to you..to your face. And she had been willing to face her punishment for it."

"I've already chosen her, Talur."

"Then why?"

"I want this to go right. Too many times have I rushed into something and ruined it before it even started. This...this feels different. She feels different. You know?"

The man's hand is warm and comforting on his shoulder and Din looks up at him. Talur grins.

"Trust me, Din. Let me bring her to you tonight. She might just surprise you."

He sighs, then nods. Talur grin widens.

"I will make the necessary preparations. Do you need the 'nest' prepared?"

"Not tonight. I will only be speaking with her."

"But-"

"Tomorrow will only be the second day."

"Which leaves you only four more days. And it always gets the worst on the second day."

"Talur...will you stop? This isn't a condition that will kill me."

"But it sure will take you out for the rest of the week if you don't take care of it."

"..." His silence was Talur's signal not to push any further so he bowed respectfully.

"Very well, sire. I just hope you know what you're doing."

And he leaves, mentally planning to prepare the rooms. He had a feeling that Din wasn't going to last another day.

Din slumps back into his chair when Talur leaves the room. The pressure that was already built up was starting to make his head dizzy. It was near to the point of being unbearable but he needed to play this carefully...slowly. He wanted Yuli so much but he would not force her into this situation blindly. And the way they twitched, he was quite sure they did too.

He rubbed against the mass writhing just below his belt, a primal growl rumbling in his chest as it twitched violently and he's undoing his belt quickly, yanking his pants open to reveal his slit, tendrils lazily trying to escape and he presses his thighs together tightly as he tugs his gloves free, hand scrambling between his thighs, plying his slit open and just letting the mass of tentacles tumble free with the lewdest sound before gathering them together with both hands and he squeezes around their base almost painfully hard, sliding down to the tips and they ooze with their own slick.

They pulse and begin to squirm, trying to wrap around his hands. He's trailing his fingers through the small tentacles while his other hand is scrambling for his desk, pulling a device free and he's shoving it into the mass and flipping it on. The sudden jolt of electricity sends the mass shuddering viciously and he bucks into it, moaning loudly. He does this again and again before he's working the device deep into his slit, hitting another, harder mass inside and he suddenly shouts, the mass twitching violently before their slick sprays out, splattering all over his desk and his lower half. He slumps back, exhausted as the mass writhes slowly, sluggishly.

Fuck, that was the fourth time this week. What was it about her? About Yuli that was driving them wild like this?

The mass twitches again but he ignores it this time pushing them back into his slit with a frustrated grunt. "Patience. You'll have your time soon."

/ - / - / - /

"Now you understand what this entails right? If he's pleased with you, you'll be moved to a special residence only for the Manda'lor's chosen. Or if you do well enough...into his very own rooms."

She grips his arm, concern flooding her features. "What if he...what if he's not pleased with me?"

"He'd be a fool not to be. Now go in. He's waiting for you. Just be yourself, Yuli and everything will fall into place naturally."

She nods again. She still couldn't believe that she was here. Her hands smoothed down her silver dress. She was no one special. She was from a clan of little importance. Hell, she hasn't even seen the new ruler of Mandalore before that night one week ago as she wasn't allowed in the throne room due to her low status. And now? She was here, standing in front that that same door yet again. Meeting the Manda'lor here at night...at his request.

'In here you can call me Din.'

Oh, she hoped that her feeling was correct about this. She had thought of him nearly every day and it seemed like his eyes followed her at times. Her face flushed and she felt hot remembering how she would sigh his name at night, her fingers working at her core furiously.

The clan elders had been pushing rather hard for him to choose a wife and to secure his throne...by gaining an heir and she hoped, pleaded with the gods above that he would choose her.

She takes a deep breath and walks through the doorway, and moves to what she believes is the center of the room. The door slides shut behind her quietly and the lock sliding into place echoes in the air harshly around her.

It's pitch black and she can't see, shadows swirl but then there's a voice, gruff and low and it cuts through the dark, sending a shiver down her spine.

"What's your name?"

His voice sounded different, richer...smoother. She was confused. Why was he asking her name? He already knew it.

She gave it anyways. "Y-Yuli."

"Do you know why you're here?"

She shivers but keeps it from her voice as she answers, a soft smile playing at her lips.

"Yes."

"Tell me."

"T-the Manda'lor has been searching for a wife...someone to bear him an heir."

"Did they mention how you'll be bearing my heirs?"

She shook her head, heat flashing through her at the plural.

"No."

A frustrated grunt is all she hears but then a finger is tracing over her collarbone and she jumps.

"Maker, you make it so hard to stay indifferent, mesh'la. Easy there, I'm not going to hurt you. Breathe. I guess I will just have to tell you since they sure in the hell won't. I want you to listen to me carefully, ask me questions if you need to. But please listen."

"Okay."

He sighs heavily, "I'm not human like you. I mean I look like a human but there are some...vast differences. One such difference is that once a year my body goes through what's known as a 'rut' or a heat. Its...its a mating cycle, Yuli. My kind are...built...differently from human males. If you do agree there will be no backing out. There will be no changing your mind. All or none."

"How different from other males are you?"

"How many partners have you had?"

"I asked first."

He chuckles, brushing her bangs from her face.

"There's that spine." Then his breath is in her ear.

"Good girl. Alright I'll answer your question first. I...my kind are oviparous."

She was confused, "what is that?"

He snorts, "it means we lay eggs."

'Oh.' That explained the secrecy.

"So you need someone to take care of the eggs?"

"No, its...mmm...the volunteer will do more than care for them...they will carry my eggs. Gestate them. And the person in question will be very well cared for...and by my own hand. I will not breed you full and then shove you into a room never to be seen again. No, you will be honored and respected...adored as my carrier."

Heat flashes through her body and her stomach flutters at the word 'breed'.

"Oh."

"Oh? Is that all you can say? I am trying to help you make an informed decision and you just say, 'oh'?"

That makes her do a double take. "Wait. Your giving me a choice? Not just...going at it?"

He groans in frustration, "I will not take a woman against her will. Not ever...And most definitely not you. Whoever does this must be willing to do it...there is a lot involved with carrying and I will not chance something going wrong as the clutch could fail or the carrier could get eggbound."

"Just how long would this be for?"

It's a heartbeat before he's speaking again and it sounds almost clinical the way he describes it. "It will be one hour of prep, if your body takes to it well enough, more if not. Then I will lay the eggs into your womb and fertilize them. That leads to five days of gestation and then 30 minutes maybe more of laying the eggs. It will be...exhausting for both halves.

"Well, how big are the eggs? And how many?"

He pleased that she's asking so many questions. Its a good sign. Perhaps Talur was right after all. He grabs her hand, curls it into a fist and she gasps.

"That is the size they will be when they come out. Half that size when I'm laying them. There will only be five eggs this time."

'Five eggs seems doable....wait.'

"This time?"

Five sometimes 8. It varies from cycle to cycle."

"Now answer my question...How many partners have you had?"

"Only two."

"Same or?" She knew what he was really asking her. Were they human?

"Same."

"Then it will be quite the...experience for you. If you do agree that is."

"Why all the secrecy? Why not just tell the people outright?"

"Simple...security of my bloodline. if I were to tell everyone than lay my eggs, my enemies could use them against me. Even seek to kill them. And as I have been raised Mandalorian...I don't know exactly how many of my kind are left. All I know is what I have gained through trial and error on my own or with a doctor's help."

She's hesitant, wringing her hands until his fingers are tracing her jaw, "I'm not going to force you into this, Yuli. You can walk away right now and I won't be upset or angry. I do want you to be the one to carry my eggs...to carry my bloodline. But it is your choice...it will always be your choice. "

She would be lying if she said she wasn't interested in his proposition. Her previous partners hadn't lasted long in the heat of the moment and they both had left her wanting, yearning for more. But Din? She had a feeling that he would make sure that she was satisfied in more ways than one. She couldn't deny it...the more she thought of it, the more she wanted to do it. She wanted him. She wanted to please him.

She smiled softly, "Yes."

"What?"

"Yes, I'll do it."

"Really?"

She's nodding happily at his stunned tone. "Yes. I-I will admit that I...I care for you. I-"

And then he's kissing her and she's shocked at first but then she's melting into the kiss, throwing her arms around his shoulders and sighing into his mouth. He's moving his lips over hers, tongue darting out to lick at her lips, tracing them before he's pulling her bottom lip into his mouth, sucking on it hard. She's left breathless, gasping, arching up into him, softly moaning as he nudges her mouth open slowly with his tongue. He pushes in, dipping his tongue into her mouth, running it over her teeth before brushing it up across the roof of her mouth and she whimpers. He growls into her, his tongue wrapping around hers, sliding back and forth.

And then he's breaking away from her, cupping her cheeks as he presses their foreheads together. They are both breathing heavily. Her legs are wobbly and she's grabbing his arms to keep from swooning.

"That...that was...wow."

He chuckles, "Liked that?"

"Mmm-hmm. Again?"

"In a moment, mesh'la. I have to ask...are you absolutely sure you want to do this? Because once I start...I wont stop until your belly is full and rounded, heavy with my eggs. You'll be here for some time."

"For at least two hours, right?"

"What about forever?"

"What?"

"I want you. Not just to carry my eggs. I want you here with me...forever. Now come here. I want to see you, mesh'la. All of you."

"But, your face? Do you need your helmet?"

He shook his head. "If you are going to be carrying my eggs, than I am going to trust you with my face. I'm not going to treat you like a whore in the dark. Remember? You will be honored and respected...adored as my carrier. I meant it. I want to see your face, see the pleasure in your eyes as your body is prepped to take them, feel as they slip into your womb."

She blushed heavily at his words, feeling a rush of wetness between her legs.

Then the lights are flickering to life and her hands fly up to shield her eyes as she is suddenly blinded. She blinks wildly trying to force the bright spots to fade and when they do her gaze locks on him and she gasps, gaping open-mouthed.

He's handsome, younger than she thought, maybe in his late thirties. Still older than her twenty four years. His skin is lightly tanned and his hair is messy and brown, stray curls falling into his eyes.

He's standing in front of her smiling softly, brown eyes shining with something that made her heart beat fast and her pulls pound in her ears. And he's just standing there, holding a hand out her. "What do you say, Yuli? Will you be mine? My queen?"

She takes his hand and he pulls her into another kiss and this time she does swoon as his hands are running over her collarbones down her arms, thumbs rubbing back and forth, before his hands are sweeping up her ribs to cup her breasts. She arches into his touch and he groans, hands kneading her breasts as his lips are trailing down her throat. His voice is pitched low and gravely, rasping into her skin, sending a pleasant shudder down her spine.

"I had planned on sending you back to your room tonight. Calling for you tomorrow night if you had said yes, but...damn, I-I need to touch you. Can we...can I?"

The thought of being filled over and over for hours made her core quiver and clench and she moaned, swaying into him again, nails digging into his arms. "Maker yes...please, Din?"