His ruby a scifi romance.., p.1
His Ruby: a Scifi Romance (RavenStar Book 1), page 1
HIS RUBY
A SCIFI ROMANCE
RAVENSTAR
BOOK ONE
EDEN EMBER
Copyright © 2023 by Eden Ember
All rights reserved.
No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without written permission from the author, except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.
CONTENTS
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
CHAPTER 1
Ruby
Two years old. That’s how old I was when Mother Jewel found me, living in a colony with twenty-three other children aged two and under. She chose fourteen of us, all girls. Mother Jewel adopted us. It was a generous gesture on her part. There were those on Earth who invited her, knowing that she sought children to raise as her own. Some Ithacarians had altruistic qualities, their purpose in life to nurture and raise others’ children. Mother Jewel was of this mind.
Ithacarians are raven shifters. They’re not actually ravens, but they look similar to giant ravens on Earth when in their animal form. Fourteen daughters from age two to birth became the responsibility of Mother Jewel, and she took this responsibility seriously. Our parents, or more specifically the biological donors, were a part of the Peregrinus Cult. They believed they’d receive immortality from aliens if they sacrificed their children to them. It was a dark and dangerous place for us, yet so many babies grew up in colonies like the one Mother Jewel rescued me from. The biological donors, brainwashed by the cultic alien leader, were sent to a prison island after sterilization. Earth didn’t need more orphans and the atrocity of sacrificing babies had to be stopped. If Earth Services hadn’t stepped in and created the colony, the babies would have all died. These would have been horrible deaths, the babies crying nonstop for attention until starvation finally took them. Cold and alone. The colony wasn’t a much better place for orphans, though. It was a good thing that Mother Jewel decided to take us in as her own. For twenty-four toddlers and babies in that particular colony, there were just three nursemaids and an overseer. At least until ES brought in others to adopt and foster those of us there.
Ah, Mother Jewel. She’s a beautiful creature in her own right. Standing taller than most humans, her pale skin is graced with feather-like markings on her face. Her dark eyes appear to be lined with thick eyeliner, with the feather markings slanting down at the nose and up at the cheeks. Her feather-like ebony hair flows back from her face and long talons grow at the tips of her fingers instead of fingernails, each of them a shiny black. She doesn’t look evil at all, but like an Ithicarian in human-like form. In her raven-like form, she stands several times larger than an Earth raven, her dark eyes keen and sharp, and her glossy black feathers able to send her soaring to great heights. Her sharp talons are able to easily carry four times her own weight over long distances.
She had thirteen nursemaids for the young ones, known as Bouldins, to care for each of her adopted daughters. The Bouldin females are plump with long gray cords for hair. Their large faces have permanent smiles upon them, their mouths with plump lips. They also have large blue and gray eyes that see as easily in the dark of night as they do in the middle of the day. Their soft bodies provide extra thickness in which to coddle a child. The thirteen had one to themselves except for one. Me. I’m not certain if it was because I was a more difficult child or that I simply had the privilege of being Mother Jewel’s one. She raised me, she cared for me. My room sat amongst her grand rooms, a tiny place where my safe bed bedecked in rubies stayed. No one was jealous of me, nor were we of each other. One thing about Mother Jewel, she treated us fairly at all times.
RavenStar is her pride. A place she created in which to raise her family. Rotating around the giant Jovian planet, Miticalia, the floating space station became a speculator village, a luxury spot for people to vacation, to visit.
We grew up there, the others and I. Each of us was given a name by Mother Jewel. Since her name was Jewel, she chose the most fitting of names for each of us. We are jewels in her crown, precious beyond measure.
Ruby, Amethyst, Diamond, Pearl, Sapphire, Opal, Zircon, Jade, Amber, Onyx, Alexandra, Beryl, Crystal, and Topaz. That’s the order of our births as well, with me being the oldest, and Topaz being the youngest. We’re all twenty to twenty-two years old now. We’ve blossomed into young ladies, finely groomed with the best of everything. We make the trek to our birth planet every five years to get to know more about our own kind. Yet, Mother Jewel says we’re all special, too good for the likes of Earth, set apart as citizens of Ravenstar. We’re destined to do great things, much greater than if we’d stayed on Earth, absorbed by the foster system. I feel sorry for the one girl and the nine boys that didn’t make the cut to be with Mother Jewel. I’ve heard the girl was adopted by one of the three nursemaids from the colony. As far as I know, the nine boys all went into the foster system and stayed there.
“There you are,” Mother Jewel says as she waltzes into the dining hall, where I’ve popped in for a quick snack.
I smile as I step forward to embrace her. The ruby red gown hugs my body and swishes as I walk. I’m the guest liaison for RavenStar and as such, I dress as if I mean business. The aptitude tests we took at the age of eighteen showed my disposition for friendliness and hosting. Of all things! I think Mother Jewel may have weighed in on the test results, though. I have wanderlust, but I keep it buried deep inside myself. The every-five-year treks to Earth ignited something within me. Mother Jewel never took us anywhere else, though. We often begged as children to see her birth planet, Corvus, but she was never pleased with the idea.
“No, my loves. My people aren’t too keen on other alien races. Most of my kind think they’re too high minded for others. It makes for a volatile place for anyone but an Ithicarian to visit, unfortunately.”
“But, Mother Jewel, you don’t think that of us, do you?” Pearl always asked questions with her high pitched voice, though she was normally more demure and afraid to speak out when younger.
Mother Jewel gathered tiny Pearl into her arms. “No, my dear. I wouldn’t have adopted all of you if I did. You are my equals, destined for great things.”
What great things I didn’t know at the time and I’m still uncertain about. I’m a host, basically. A pretty one, I guess, who meets and greets and makes sure everything is as it should be for our guests. My heels click along the marbled halls of Ravenstar. There are different places in the space station for those who live or visit here. Some areas are for rest and relaxation. Some are for work. Some are for specific needs, such as the medical unit, the stores, and other places to purchase goods and services. Some hold agriculture facilities that grow both vegetation and animals for our dietary needs. We play host to many beings from all over the galaxy, and Mother Jewel tries to be as hospitable to the different appetites as possible.
A ship lands at RavenStar, a small one. The airlock clicks into place, apparently they have the code, and it’s someone Mother Jewel is expecting. After making certain the dignitaries' rooms are ready, I swing by the receiving room. At first glance, I see no one. A flicker catches my eyes. At the back of the room, on the white table sits a giant raven. It tilts its head back and blinks at me. I say it because I’m not certain whether it’s male or female.
“Well, hello there,” I say as I walk across the room.
He fluffs up as I approach. The telltale scarlet is missing from his throat as is seen on the females. He bobs up and down, excited.
“And who are you?”
He fluffs again, shaking. I can’t help it. His gorgeous sleek black feathers beckon to me. “May I?” He shimmies. My hand strokes his feathers, so soft and almost oily. His body bobs.
Suddenly, the door opens and Mother Jewel walks in. “Oh good, Ruby, come. There are more arrivals.” She looks at the raven behind me while lifting her brow and smiles while shaking her head.
I follow her and before I leave I turn back to the raven. “Nice to meet you. Perhaps next time I’ll get your name,” I say and wink before closing the door.
“Oh, Ruby, I want you to wear the silk gown, the one with the deep neckline,” Mother Jewels tells me.
I laugh. I’m wearing a red gown, but not the silk one. This is one of my casual gowns, if there can be such a thing. After going to my room and dressing in the long silk red gown, I enter the grand dining hall, the dignitaries are lined up with Mother Jewel in the middle. Onyx and Beryl stand on either side of her.
My eyes immediately go to the man standing behind her. He has the same markings on his masculine face, black feathery fingers framed with black feather-like hair. His dark eyes beam at me, I’ve met him before.
Mother Jewel introduces three of her daughters to the dignitaries. For my part, I commit the names of the dignitaries to memory. It’s part of my job and one of my best skills.
“And this is Ashon, my baby brother.”
Oh! Her brother! I know she has a few, none of whom I’ve ev
Ashon steps to me finally, my heart fluttering. He’s more handsome in his human form than he was before and he towers over me. He takes my hand and lightly kisses it, all the while gooseflesh flashing up my arm. Oh my.
“I believe we’ve met already,” he says with a deep rumbling voice.
“I believe so,” I say shyly.
“Would you like to pet me again?”
My face burns hot. Yes, I want to pet you. I’d like to explore you. “I’m good,” I answer while blushing.
Ashon follows me with his eyes as we sit at the grand tables, while Mother Jewel flits about talking to the other dignitaries.
“I’ve never seen her so nervous,” I muse more to myself, but Ashon hears me.
He takes a gulp of the morgan and nods. “Yeah, big day for her ahead. She finally received the go ahead to marry as well as the appointment for her regalia.”
I nearly drop my drink. “Say what?”
He peers at me, fine lines stretching from his eyes as he chuckles. “Oh, I see she keeps things from her Terran daughters.”
“Um, Uncle Ashon, please tell me what you know.”
He winces. “First, I am not your uncle.”
“Yes you are. If you are Mother Jewel’s brother then that makes you my uncle.”
“No. As far as Ithacarians are concerned, we only claim blood family in this way, save for our fated mate, or spouse.”
“Really? Wow. So the girls and I can only claim Mother Jewel as our relative?”
“More likely she can only claim you as her daughters, because of the official adoption that has taken place. Ithacarians are complex. I guess, as humans say, it’s complicated.” He laughs.
“I see you did your homework,” I reply dully.
“Sorry. I realize you are in the dark about some things. My sister likes the drama surrounding her. Wait until you see the ceremony,” he says with a whistle.
“Okay, wait. Back up a second. You lost me when you said she’s getting married. As far as I know she’s not even seeing anyone.”
Mother Jewel rings a little bell and demands our attention. Our conversation will have to wait.
“Thank you for coming to RavenStar. I hope you find the accommodations to your liking. If you have a need for anything, please see my lovely daughter, Ruby. Ruby, dear, stand and wave,” Mother Jewel says to me. I scoot back my chair and stand to wave as I smile, being the good little daughter I am.
The dinner of baked dalian and fresh steamed groids fills our guests. The food from our very own agriculture center appears to be a success with those in attendance. During the dinner, Mother Jewel is called away while the grand party continues.
Before I can talk to Ashon about the new revelations he’s brought to my attention, I’m whisked away to take care of other details for the guests. Across all beings, the males often seem incapable of dealing with the most domestic things. I’m grateful for the few who brought their mates and have no need to pester me, and in some way keeping me from Ashon.
Speaking of which, he’s nowhere around now. I assume he’ll be in Mother Jewel’s quarters by now. Since I’ve grown, I have my own room around the circle, no longer tethered to my adopted mother or to a nursemaid. It’s okay, as I rather enjoy the escape from my duties where I can wear comfortable clothes and lounge around barefoot.
CHAPTER 2
Ashon
“Why are you keeping the upcoming crowning a secret from your daughters?”
Jewel’s head jerks up from the pile of papers on her desk. “It’s none of their concern,” she snorts.
“You mean, you didn’t want to say anything until it was official?” I walk around the desk.
“The Doucon will arrive in a week. The ceremony, if he sees fit, will occur after that. He’s been before the Ithicarian Council, pleading his case to marry me. All has been finalized, brother dear. Why do you think I summoned you here?”
I laugh. “Because you wanted to gloat.”
“I’m not gloating. This has been a lifelong goal. I’ve proven my altruism with RavenStar, my fourteen daughters, thriving and growing and building.” She turns to me with a brilliant smile on her face.
“Well, sister, I am happy for you. However, I’m glad I took a different path. I’d hate to have gone through Ithicarias’ stringent royal academy and then told who I’d marry.” My head shakes.
“I plan to carry on the Ithicarian race, unlike the bulk of you who are watering down the bloodline,” she counters.
“Look at you! Adopting fourteen Terrans and talking about watering down the bloodline. Most think you’ll never have your own young.”
“Why do you think they’ve sent the Doucon? It’s my duty to provide a son, or a daughter, to carry on the bloodline. What have you done in this manner?”
“There have been no females on Ithicaria who have caught my eye,” I complain.
“And has any other non-Ithicarian caught your eye, brother?”
I smile and walk to the door. “Enjoyed the chat, sister. I’d like to explore RavenStar. I look forward to witnessing your crowning soon,” I add as I back out through the door before she says anything more to me.
Two of her daughters stand at the junction, smiling as I approach. I can’t remember who was who, except for one, and she’s not here.
“Ashon, do you need something?” the petite blond asks.
“No, I’m just out for a stroll. Ladies,” I say while nodding and passing them. They clamor for my attention, which of course, ruffles my feathers. I have no desire for a Terran mate, other than the one. Where is she?
Aw, Ruby, dressed casually today, wearing a pair of beige pants and a flowy silk yellow blouse, with her hair pulled back loosely in a ponytail.
“Ashon, how was your first night on RavenStar?” she asks.
I sidle up to her, happy to have her attention. “It was restful. I love how Jewel creates the illusion of night and day here.”
“Yeah, she’s thought of everything.” We walk along the corridor. Ruby is apparently making her rounds as the guest liaison for the space station.
“What are…”
“Ruby! There you are. Come quick,” Jewel calls out to her.
I scowl at my sister. “Jewel,” I mutter as we approach.
“Ashon.” She turns to Ruby. “Listen, another space colony has run into trouble in an asteroid storm. Their station has been damaged and the rescue teams are farming out the occupants. We’re taking on eighteen guests, indefinitely, I’m afraid.”
“Oh no. This will put RavenStar at full capacity.”
“Yes, it will. Hopefully they have skills we can use. We’ll accommodate as many of them as we can. Please ready their apartments and work with Onyx on finding jobs for them. They should arrive in a month or so, which means we have plenty of time to prepare,” Jewel adds.
“Right away, Mother Jewel,” Ruby answers her. She offers me a smile and rushes off in the opposite direction from which we were walking.
“What did you need?” Jewel asks.
“Why do you think I need something?”
Her brow lifts sharply. “Were you not speaking with the guest liaison?”
“I was speaking with Ruby, not to her in that job capacity.”
Jewel scowls at me. Another daughter, Opal I believe, comes along, seeking an audience with my sister. It’s a great excuse for me to bow away. I soon find Ruby on the guest ring, on the other side, dictating details to the work crew. She’s not even noticed I’ve walked up.
