by Lace, Lisa
They walked from the intact part of the palace to the devastated region. Workmen there were clearing debris and rebuilding crumbled walls. Tracy glanced at the blue-skinned Staukub, the secondary sentient species on Kerdos, as she walked by them.
At first, she’d been surprised when she saw the Staukub on Kerdos. She didn’t know they lived anywhere but on the mining planet. She soon learned that the Staukub were the worker class of Kerdos. Their origins went back to the same point in time as the Kerdim, but they had not evolved at the same cultural or intellectual pace. Early on the Staukub were relegated to the work of laborers, farmers, and miners.
"Such a shame," said Tracy, watching the blue-skinned workers rebuild crumbled walls.
Sali turned and gave her a cold look. "Yes, it is, my lady."
Did Sali blame her for the destruction of the palace, the death of the royal family, and the subsequent upheaval in their government? It wasn't Tracy's fault that the pirates let loose a rain of destruction on the Kerdos capital, was it? Tracy supposed it was easier to blame an offworlder than their princes for this tragedy.
They walked down a flagstone path that veered off to the left. There was a series of smaller, worn-stone buildings that looked older than the palace. People walked actively in and out of the buildings, and workmen huddled in the front, tapping chisels into stone. It looked like they were shaping blocks for the new walls of the palace.
Sali noticed Tracy looking at the outbuildings. "These are older workrooms from before the palace was expanded. They may be old, but they still exist and are serviceable. We've moved the craftspeople here until the palace is rebuilt."
No more was said until they reached the last building on the right and entered. A group of green-skinned Kerdim women of all ages sat at tables and in chairs stitching fabric. They looked up from their work, initially annoyed at the interruption.
"Lady Tracy," announced Sali.
Immediately, the women set aside their work as they rose then bowed.
"This is Ea-Tamin and her seamstresses," Sali said, motioning to the oldest woman. "She is in charge of all the sewing for the palace, especially for the royal family."
"Please do not let me disturb you," said Tracy. "I only wish to thank you for the beautiful clothes you made."
Ea-Tamin came forward and bowed deeply, looking pleased. "We are honored to serve the House of Reven."
"Show her the dress for tonight," said a younger woman, a girl, really.
"Hush," said Tamin.
"I would like to see it," Tracy said brightly.
Tamin smiled. "As you wish. Perhaps you can try it on, and we'll see if we have the fit right."
"I'd love to!"
The old seamstress opened a panel in the wall behind her and pulled out a dress in royal blue. This one was different from the robes worn by Kerdim women. Sali unbuttoned Tracy's robe and drew it off her. Between Sali and Tamin, the new garment wafted over Tracy's head and floated around her to the floor. The dress was made of the same soft fabric as her bedsheets, only thicker. The dress had a tight, low V-neck that showed her bra, while the skirt swirled around her ankles. A train fell off the back of her shoulders, gathering and pooling on the floor. Tracy had never had anything this beautiful or finely made in her closet back home.
"It's amazing," she said.
Tamin smiled. "Thank you. There are some adjustments we can do, and of course, that is not the undergarment you'd wear.” She called over her shoulder, "Saru, get the undergarments." Tamin quickly started pinning different places in the dress to adjust the fit.
"Yes, mistress." Saru retrieved something from a drawer behind her and walked to Tracy with outstretched arms. She shyly held out a wide band embroidered in gold thread and decorated with small blue beads.
"This is a more traditional undergarment for your dress,” Tamin said. “I hope you don't mind."
"Everything is gorgeous. Much more than I deserve."
"The lady of our prince deserves every good thing," the head seamstress said and bowed once more.
Tracy was overwhelmed. Everyone she’d met was kind and generous. Maybe they did it because of her “station,” but it was clear to her these people put their souls into their work.
"Mistress Tamin, I don't know what to say. Nothing I could say or do can match the beauty of your work. Thank you. Thank you for everything."
Tamin smiled. "We appreciate your visit to our humble craft house."
"Wait," said Saru. "Ask her."
"Hush, child," said Tamin.
"Ask whatever you like," Tracy said.
"May we use the design of your undergarments for our own? They are very beautiful, and the younger women like the style very much."
Tracy was shocked. "Well, they aren't my designs. Rev was overly impressed with my undergarments when he first encountered them."
The women laughed.
"They are standard patterns on my planet. Feel free to make use of them."
"Thank you for your indulgence," said Tamin. "And for coming here for a fitting. Next time, simply call us, and we'll come to your apartments."
Tracy was annoyed at Sali. The woman had insisted that the seamstresses didn't need to fit the garments because they were so skilled. Tracy hid her emotions and gave Tamin a big smile. "You can come by anytime. No need to wait for me to call you."
"I am honored."
Sali helped Tracy on with her tunic robe wearing a sour look. "We should go and not keep the seamstresses from their work."
Tracy waved a hearty good-bye to the seamstresses, thanking them again for all their hard work. Sali led her away, keeping her back to Tracy. She moved very stiffly.
Tracy realized there was no way Sali was going to become her friend.
In fact, Tracy suspected Sali just might be her enemy.
Chapter Forty-Two
The exercise floor was where Rev and Tev worked out the tension from their meetings with the High Council of Kerdos. The brothers wrestled with the ferocity they couldn't take out on the council members.
Currently, Tev had Rev pinned to the floor, and Rev struggled to break free.
"I think," said Tev, "that your little mate is wearing you out."
At the mention of Tracy, Rev felt a surge of energy. Maybe he didn't want her to hear about his brother thrashing him on the exercise floor. Or maybe the reminder of how powerful he felt with her in his arms stirred him. He grabbed his brother around the back and pushed with his torso and his legs, rolling them over so he was on top. He did not make the same mistake his brother made; Rev held Tev's arms firmly to the mat.
"Hah!" he said.
Tev tried to move, but Rev had him thoroughly pinned.
"Yield?"
Tev relaxed. "Yes, yes, this match goes to you."
"Good, let's get a shower. We will have to get ready for the dinner tonight."
Tev groaned. "Why are we having a state dinner so soon after we buried our family? It feels wrong."
"I agree," said Rev. He stood and held out his hand to help Tev up. "But Pa-Kregan organized it, and it's best we keep him on our side until the council selects an emperor."
"I don't see why. It's either you or me, and you have the edge there."
"I don't want it."
Tev shot him a look of disbelief.
"Tracy has a suggestion for you. Pick a nice woman and get her pregnant. You can do that faster than us because apparently Earth women can take up to a year to get pregnant."
"With the myths and legends of your prowess in the bedchamber growing each day? I hardly think so," Tev said with a laugh.
"I tell you, brother, the right mate makes all the difference."
"I wish people would stop trying to force a mate on me! The reason I dread going to this dinner is that Pa-Kregan included many of Kerdos's high-born women in the invitations."
"You could do worse."
Rev walked off to the showers with Tev right behind. The brothers stripped off their sweaty clothes and ha
nded them to the shower attendants. The attendants rubbed soap on their skin before the two men stepped into an enclosure of rough red stone and under the water cascading like a waterfall.
Rev caught Tev looking at his crotch. "Like what you see?" he quipped.
Tev snorted. "So it's true about the mating ridges. I thought they were supposed to subside after sex."
"Mine don't."
"So many things are different about you. You aren't the little brother I used to know."
"We've been apart for a couple years. People change."
"It's more than that. Before, all you cared about was doing your duty. Now, you've thrown all that away for a woman from another planet, a nonaligned one at that."
"Hey," growled Rev, "that's my mate."
"And should she be? Even now, Ja-Idin Du is filing papers to remove the Kerdos Empire from the Aligned Worlds because you will not give up the Earth woman."
Rev huffed and faced his brother. "There is no giving her up."
"What will that matter when the Aligned Worlds shut off trade to us? They will make Aligned Worlds space forbidden to our people. They will deny us protection from encroaching species."
"Yes," said Rev angrily, "like they protected us from Quargan's pirate fleet."
"Ja-Idin Du says—"
"Why are you listening to anything Ja-Idin Du says? Do you not realize that the man attacked my mate, threatening to bite her with his fangs and releasing his venom into her? Remember that Du venom kills, Tev. He tried to kill her, and he followed us to Kerdos with the intention of killing us."
"Brother, I do believe that mating this woman has erased all reason from your mind. Ja-Idin Du is a counselor, a trained pacifist. He couldn't harm her or us if he tried. He had nothing to do with those pirates."
"Who has lost all reason?" said Rev. "I can't believe you don’t see what is in front of your face."
With that, Rev grabbed dry towels from an attendant and quickly left the exercise area.
Rev prowled the sitting room of Tracy's apartment restlessly. Did every woman keep a man waiting while she dressed? His father had made complaints like that about Rev's mother, but it was always with a half-smile on his lips.
He hated the idea of this state dinner. Tev was right. It was too soon after the deaths. Rev could barely believe his father was gone forever, let alone process that the bodies at the funeral were forever in the ground. It tugged at his heart, this incipient grief denied by the rush of his daily schedule. Always, always, there was someone begging for him to listen to some problem or receive some well-meaning advice. The daily meeting with the council was taking its toll on his patience. He wanted time apart from his duties and responsibilities.
But Pa-Kregan insisted on the importance of this event. It was the duty of the princes to attend. "You must show the people, Your Highnesses, that the empire goes forward regardless of this horrible tragedy."
Must. His life was filled with musts now. Rev now understood why his father was happy to play the part of the shadow prince. He came forward only when needed, and then he faded into the background.
Rev may have shared Tev's attitude about this banquet, but he objected to his brother's opinions about Tracy. Tev's refusal to respect their mating chafed Rev's nerves. Tev taking Ja-Idin Du's side irritated him more. Rev detested this disagreement between them. Tracy was his mate. That was that. The Aligned Worlds could go to hell for all he cared. It wasn't a very princely attitude, but then again, Rev was never meant to be a prince.
Finally, the door to Tracy's bedroom opened and she emerged.
All thoughts of imperial politics were forgotten as Rev drank in the vision that was his mate. The royal blue gown of mrina cloth flowed around her like a waterfall. Her face was as pale as the moon Endra, and it was framed by her dark hair fashioned in the style favored by Kerdim women. She looked every inch a queen.
He wanted her then and there.
Out of the corner of his eye he spotted Tracy's attendant, As-Sali, bow and then exit Tracy's suite. Good, they were alone.
"Well, what do you think?" she said, twirling. The delicate cloth fluttered around her alluring frame.
"You look like a princess," he said.
"I was going for drop-dead sexy."
"That too. We might not make it out of these rooms tonight."
"Promises, promises," she teased.
Rev advanced and caught her around her waist. "Are you implying I haven't performed my duties as your mate."
"No," she breathed, her heart beating hard against his chest.
"Because, if you feel in any way deprived, I will send my regrets to Pa-Kregan, letting him know I have other duties to perform."
Tracy laughed. "You aren't getting out of the dinner that easily."
"No?" he said huskily. Rev kissed the space behind her ear; a spot he’d learned drove her passions. She made a noise that filled him with delight.
"And that's another thing," said Tracy, her breath hitching. "You need to do better than send me a message two hours before an event."
"What?" he groaned, pulling her tighter to him. The sensuous feel of her soft skin and the mrina cloth sparked thoughts of the heat and softness waiting for him. "I thought you'd like the surprise of the new clothes."
"I always love a good present," she said. A small noise that Rev associated with her begging for more escaped her mouth as he worked her neck with nibbles and kisses. "But we promised to be honest in…our…communications.…fuck." These last words came out as Rev swirled his tongue in her ear, another thing that excited her beyond reason.
"Yes," said Rev. At that moment he didn't care that they were scheduled to arrive in twenty minutes. She always did this to him. Always. His cock pressed between them, urgent and ready.
"This," she breathed, "will not get you out of the conversation."
"I'm not looking to get out of something. Just in." Rev slid the ultra-thin fabric of her dress up her thighs and placed one hand on each, pulling her against his hardness.
"The dinner…" she said.
"Can wait," he said. Rev peeled the delicate panties from her. They were beautiful and sexy, made just as he’d described to the blushing seamstresses, but they were not as enticing as the treasure within. He pressed a finger against her folds, finding them slick with her arousal. Yes, Tracy, his mate, was always ready for him.
What man could ask for more?
They'd barely finished before there were insistent knocks at Tracy's door. Tracy rolled her eyes as she stretched her arms above her, grabbing the headboard. "I suppose we should get dressed."
"My lady." A voice came through the door to her bedroom.
"As-Sali.” Tracy sighed. “That woman is becoming a pain."
"My lady!" said Sali more insistently.
Tracy got out of bed. Shaking her head, she threw a sheet over Rev and slipped a robe on before she unlocked the door. The door swung open suddenly.
"Yes, Sali?" said Tracy.
Sali's eyes grew wide when she saw Rev in the bed. His muscled body was barely covered by the silky sheets.
"I'm sorry. Forgive the intrusion, Your Highness. Pa-Kregan says they are waiting for you."
"As well they should," said Rev. "Send a message that we'll be there shortly."
"Yes, my lord."
"And then help my mate freshen up."
"Yes, my lord."
By the time Sali returned to help Tracy, Rev had dressed. Urging them to hurry, Rev waited in the sitting room. It didn't take long, though Tracy looked distressed. Sali bowed and left them once more.
"What’s wrong?" Rev asked.
"She wouldn't let me wash. I smell like sex."
"Yes," said Rev. "I like it."
"Well, you smell like sex too."
"I do?"
"And if I can smell it, every Kerdim woman there will smell it too."
"Then I'll just have to keep you close to protect me from their ravenous hunger."
Rev held Tracy's
arm tightly as they entered the banquet hall. The official dining room of the palace had been demolished, but the throne room, in a separate wing, was unscathed. Tables were set up in a large U shape. Small lights were strung along the walls. The centerpieces were arrangements of rocks and flowers inset with candles. The actual dais where the Kerdos throne sat was curtained off in deference to the deceased Emperor.
All eyes were on Rev and Tracy when they entered the room. People rose and bowed as Rev escorted his mate to her seat next to him at the head table. Tracy was overwhelmed at the number of people there. They were all staring at her!
Not one to let a situation get the better of her, she stood even straighter and held up her chin. Rev nodded to several people seated at the tables.
When they got closer to the head table, Tev stood. "You're late!" he said loudly.
"You'd be late too, if you had a mate like mine," said Rev with a smile.
Immediately, everyone laughed. Almost everyone.
Tracy was shocked to see Ja-Idin Du sitting next to Tev.
"What is he doing here?" she said.
Rev got a sheepish look on his face. "He's the Aligned Worlds Representative. We had to invite him."
"This is why you didn't tell me about the dinner!" she hissed.
"Yes," said Rev under his breath. He smiled at the people who bowed when they passed by. "You would have asked questions, and I didn’t want to lie to you."
"We'll discuss this later," said Tracy tightly through her smile.
"I'm sure," said Rev.
Rev guided Tracy to her seat and whispered for her to remain standing. He stood very straight and called for the attention of the assembled guests.
"Advisors, ministers, lords and ladies, it is my pleasure to present to you my mate, Lady Tracy Walsh. She is anxious to get to know all of you."
Tracy's gaze swept around the large table, taking in the faces of the people who held power of varying degrees on Kerdos. Some smiles were warm. Others were not as welcoming. For the first time since she’d reached this warm planet, she felt a chill. It was one thing to share the bed of a prince of Kerdos, it was quite another to face his people as their potential queen. She was sure many of those in attendance had preconceived notions about her.
