by Viola Grace
Tydella crossed her arms. “It wasn’t his arms I was interested in. I am twenty-five! You had already had me by my age, Mom. I was zipping around the palace on a scooter when you turned twenty-five.”
Amerald chuckled. “You are not wrong. Well, where is this suitor that you have decided on?”
Tydella turned her head, and the royal family of Deskor was on their way across the tarmac. “Here they are. He’s the one wearing gold on the left of the king.”
Amerald snorted. “Thanks for that. Form up.”
Tydella straightened her posture and prepared to properly meet the royal family of Deskor. It was finally time for formal introductions.
Chapter Seven
The king, queen, and prince bowed low when introduced to the emperor and his consort. The queen paused when she was introduced to Tydella, but she curtsied to the imperial princess, along with her husband and son.
When Ador stood from his graceful bow, he looked at her parents then at her, and he nodded as if things finally made sense.
When she was next to her parents, the similarities were visible. Separately, no one would have a clue—genetics in action.
The emperor spoke. “I have been given to understand that you are seeking a princess for your son.”
The king blinked, and he nodded. “Yes. My wife has some restrictions for eligibility, but we are actively seeking a match for him, Your Imperial Majesty.”
The queen’s cheeks got hot, but she made herself add, “We require purity, and I mean no insult, but your daughter does not qualify.”
Ador cleared his throat. “She did qualify. The med scans prove it. The doctor just didn’t know what to look for until it was mentioned that she was part Kiidar.”
Tydella winced, and a quick glance confirmed that her father’s gaze was trying to scorch Ador into ash.
The queen paled. “Ah, I see.”
There was an uncomfortable silence, and then, the king said, “Please, come with us. We are rude to keep you waiting. Do you plan on remaining long?”
“A few things need to be confirmed, but a few days should suffice.”
The queen smiled, and there was a cruel twist to her lips. “Excellent. The princesses are arriving today, and perhaps Your Majesty could choose one of them to produce a legitimate heir.”
“If you speak ill of my consort or my daughter again, you will find yourself stripped of titles and queen of a mining colony. Are we clear?” He held out his hands to his mate and daughter, and Tydella and her mother took his arms and walked with him toward the conveyance provided by the palace.
Tydella muttered, “There isn’t enough room there for all of us.”
Her father paused and whistled sharply.
The shuttle opened, and a ramp lowered. The thundering of hooves made her grin. “You brought them?”
She turned and greeted the small herd of Kai-len. The queen was astonished, Ador was bemused, and the king was smiling.
The charcoal black creatures with white-hot eyes and wings made of strong and flexible skin came barreling toward them. Tydella opened her arms, and when one of the creatures stopped in front of her with its split hooves stamping, she threw her arms around his neck. “Brekker. I am so happy to see you.”
He seemed to feel her stress, and he nudged her with his head. She sighed and inhaled the scent of his hide. Her guards were already on their mounts, her parents were on theirs, and the queen seemed to realize that these creatures could fly. Protocol demanded that she meet them at her gates.
Tydella smiled and held her hand out. “Ador, you can represent your family, yes?”
He nodded and came toward her. He helped her up and climbed up behind her, wrapping his arms around her. “What is this?”
“Kai-len. They can carry four warriors and still fly. They are made entirely of muscle and mean. Hold tight.”
The herd galloped down the tarmac, turned, and thundered back down the path with their wings exposed. A few strong flaps of the wings and they were up and clearing the top of the buildings.
Ador’s body was tense, and she respected the tension and didn’t coax Brekker into any strange moves. Her father and mother were riding in front, and the four beasts carrying her guards brought up the rear. Darmon had taken the transport with the king and queen; he did not care for the Kai-len.
“Do you ride these often?” Ador spoke in her ear as they headed for the palace.
“Whenever I am home. Brekker and I have been friends for nearly a decade.” She patted his neck, and he shook his head.
“Does your father always look so angry?”
She laughed. “Stop discussing my virginity, and things will go a lot smoother.”
Ador pressed his forehead to her shoulder. “That was a reflex to my mother’s accusation. I felt it necessary to stipulate it quickly.”
“Yes, but my father and I have a standard father-daughter relationship. No matter how old or how much training I go through, I am still the little monster that broke my arm climbing on the throne.”
Ador sighed. “Wonderful.”
She laughed. “Don’t blame him. I am going to have to go through princess tests for the next few days to prove that I am worthy of you.”
“I will help you when I can.”
She watched the palace they were approaching, and she frowned. “This place is weirdly familiar.”
“Have you been here before?”
“I don’t think so, but then, when I was little, my parents just hauled me around to get me away from the assassins in court. My mom got tired.”
“Why?”
“She had to kill the killers. Sure it is what she is good at, but running after a toddler during the day and defending one at night was rough on her.”
“She is an assassin?”
“She is a Kaduran Of course, she is.” Tydella urged Brekker down to the palace grounds, and he landed with tremendous grace.
“So, the emperor’s consort is a Kaduran assassin.” Ador slid to the ground, and then, he lifted her and set her on her feet.
“Sure. There’s a funny story behind it, too.”
He took her hand and kissed it. “I would like to hear that story.”
His tone indicated that she would be telling him the tale as they were twined together. He turned her hand and kissed the palm. She blushed, and her father cleared his throat.
She didn’t pull her hand back. He pressed another kiss to her palm and slowly lowered her hand, kissing her on the cheek. She blinked and smiled at him as he backed up and started giving orders to the gathered and astonished staff. Her parents were assigned to the golden suite, and she was given the rosewood suite. Her guards were in the rooms next to hers.
She smiled when he turned to her. “What do the Kai-len eat?”
“They are omnivorous, but they can be fed on grain until they are able to hunt. Grain, hay, fruit, vegetables. It will be fine.”
“Do they need to be confined?”
“Oh, no. They will roam on their own and come back when we call for them.”
Ador nodded. “Good. I will have staff put out food for them on the grounds.”
“Thank you. Do you know what kind of tests your mother has planned?”
His lips tightened. “I do. They usually involve deportment, historical knowledge, and physical grace.”
“Ah. Right.” She smiled slightly. “I think I have blown the first one out of the water.”
He smiled. “It is a good thing that testing only begins tomorrow.”
The staff was waiting, and she nodded. “Right. Tomorrow then.”
She got a maid for her, and her crew, her parents were escorted by a male member of the household who seemed to manage to walk and bow every few steps. Impressive.
The maid was flustered. “Your Highness, we weren’t expecting you until later and certainly were not expecting your entourage.”
Tydella nodded. “My appeara
nce in the palace was a bit of a surprise to me as well, but my father will not be gainsaid. He decided this is where he wants me to be, and this is where I shall be.”
“Who was that woman with him?”
Tydella smiled. “The imperial consort.”
“Oh, one of the harem?”
Kimal coughed, and Tydella gave him a glare to stop the laughter.
“No. She is the only consort and grandmother of the next imperial heir. When the emperor realized that she could never be empress, he swore to never marry. They have worked well together for a few decades.”
“That is so romantic.” The maid gushed.
They arrived at the rosewood suite, and Tydella was settled in and left alone. Her guards were going to be situated around her.
She lay down on the bed and sighed as she relaxed. A wardrobe that her mother had had packed was arriving in a slow parade of wide-eyed servants. Lithia arrived and took charge of the clothing, organizing and sorting the clothing for everything from combat practice to a platinum-and-gemstone encrusted gown. The second room of the suite was taken up with her wardrobe.
Lithia smiled. “Do you really want him?”
“I am willing to dress up like an imperial princess for him, so yes.” She sighed and stood in the room with her horribly expensive clothing and accessories surrounding her. “Are there any comfortable shoes in here?”
Lithia laughed.
Tydella smiled, and the smile faded when Lithia tested the food that had been brought to her. Oh. Right. People were trying to kill her. She had had her time off. It was time to go back to being her father’s daughter.
Chapter Eight
There was a soft noise in the corner of the room, and Tydella woke and slithered out of her bedding with her dagger in her hand.
The panel in the corner of the room opened, and she caught his scent before she saw him. “Ador, what the actual fuck?”
He walked to her, pressed his fingers to her lips, and then replaced his touch with his mouth. She let the hand with the dagger droop, and she lifted her arm and held the back of his neck with her free hand.
He grabbed her waist and pressed her against the wall. “Don’t make a sound.”
She blinked and inhaled sharply as he lifted her, pinning her in place while he pulled her nightdress up and curled his fingers into her. He shuddered and pulled her gown off her shoulder, exposing her breast, and she tensed as he held her in place with his hips while he woke her body in a distracting array of caresses and kisses. When he pushed into her, she let a soft squeak out into his mouth.
He slid in to the hilt and then retreated until she drew her nails carefully down his shoulders as her body shook and gripped him. He bit down on her exposed shoulder and shuddered as he held himself tight against her. The feeling of him pulsing inside her in the silence and the dark caused another wave of aftershocks to ripple through her. Tydella hung on until her body stopped twitching.
He whispered in her ear, “Two more nights.”
She eased her legs down, and he helped her stand. She knew what he meant; she just had no idea that he knew about that ancient edict. It hadn’t been applied in two centuries. She wanted to ask him if he was insane, but he kissed her softly and disappeared the same way he had arrived.
She opened the window and let the heavy scent out of the room. She moved quietly to the bathroom and cleaned up as best she was able to without running a bath.
What the hell was he thinking? She was going to have to deny that he had been with her that night in order to bring his little project to fruition. She pulled off her nightgown and took it with her into the shower. The guards came in, but she had already gotten rid of the physical traces of Ador.
Abra asked, “Was there someone here, Your Highness?”
“Of course not. That would be highly inappropriate, right?”
Abra smiled and nodded. “It certainly would be. You appear to be a slow healer.”
“Ah. Stress.” Tydella wrapped a towel around herself and headed back to her bed. She flopped down and just yanked her bedding over her.
Abra snickered. “Rest while you can. Your mother wants to spar with you at dawn.”
Tydella sighed. “Fabulous. Make sure to wake me so I can put some clothing on.”
Abra laughed and exited her suite.
Tydella was exhausted. It seemed no one wanted her to sleep.
She had no sooner closed her eyes than Sashen was waking her and urging her into the lav while her workout outfit was prepared. Tydella wrestled her hair into a braid and then took the outfit and pulled on the leggings and tight vest that kept everything snug against her. She walked out and pulled on her boots, lacing them up to the top of her knee.
Tydella looked tiredly at Sashen. “Do I get to eat first?”
A sharp whistle and a tea tray was brought in.
Sashen smiled. “You have ten minutes, make it count.”
Tydella looked at the tray and went for the small sandwiches first, then the tea, then the fruit slices.
Her tongue was slightly scalded, but she felt more alert when she left her suite with her guards on either side.
They walked her down to the gardens, and her parents were standing there as if they hadn’t been having sex all over their room all night. Tydella didn’t know how they did it, but they wrecked the bed in every place they had ever been like it was a sport.
Her father grinned. “Morning, bright star. You look exhausted.”
She bowed before coming in for a hug. “Morning, Dad. It has been an eventful few days. Not sleeping that well here.”
“Why? Just because the queen wants you on the first shuttle off-world?” He chucked her under the chin. “You have withstood folks declaring war at the very sight of you.”
“I know. I think this is just different.”
“Ah, because of the boy.”
She snorted. “Keep calling him that. It will make things so much better.”
He kissed the top of her head. She felt him inhale.
“Did you run into him this morning?”
She shook her head. “Nope, just out of bed and into the new clothing.”
“Hm, did you have your food checked?”
She nodded. “Uren did it before I got my tray.”
“Good. This is a dangerous place for you right now. I saw the guest list, and there are three princesses that do not particularly care for you.”
“Oh. Great. Well, that is good to know.”
Amerald chuckled. “And that is why we are practicing. Oh, good morning, Prince Ador.”
It took all of her self-control not to spin around and stare at Ador. She turned calmly, and she inclined her head. “Your Highness.”
He smiled and bowed. “Your Highness.”
She turned toward her mom and smiled. “Whenever you are ready.”
Two practice blades came flying at her, and she circled her shoulders and grinned at her mother. “Bring it on, old lady.”
Her mother grinned, baring her teeth. The flurry of attacks was easy to parry, but they were supposed to be. Tydella choked up next to her mother and grinned. “Thanks for this. I have been going nuts.”
“No problem. Prepare to have your ass kicked.” Her mom shoved her back, and they met, collided, kicked, and spun.
* * * *
Ador watched the adorable creature that he had fallen for attack her mother with the ferocity of a trained assassin.
The emperor looked at the ladies. “Impressive, aren’t they?”
“Very.”
“Are you scared?”
Ador remembered the blade that had been coming for him before she recognized him the night before. “Intermittently.”
The emperor looked startled, and then, he belted out a loud laugh. His consort looked over in surprise, and Tydella swept her leg to the side, resting her blade against her mother’s throat.
Ador got a hand slammed o
nto his shoulder.
“That is a wise response. Now that the ladies are done, shall we?”
Ador blinked and shrugged. “Certainly.”
Tydella was helping her mother to her feet, and she looked at her mom. “Why did you throw the fight?”
Amerald chuckled. “I didn’t. Your father hasn’t been laughing much since you left. It caught me by surprise.”
Ador smiled slightly and picked a practice sword from the rack. He was going to spar with the emperor, possibly the most dangerous Kiidar in the current generation. It was not what he had been expecting.
The consort pulled her daughter to the side, and they settled in to watch.
The emperor grinned. “Don’t worry. You are allowed to kick my ass.”
Ador looked at the massive shoulders and the gleaming eyes of the older man. “I think you are going to make me work for it.”
“You are correct.”
They faced off, and Ador was suddenly in a fight for his life. He gritted his teeth and fought back.
* * * *
Tydella watched her father’s attack, and she nodded. “You have been working with him.”
“Well, he is trying to keep fit in case we have grandchildren. He will need to train his heir, and he takes that very seriously.” Amerald chuckled. “So, are you actually pregnant?”
She shrugged. “It is likely. I haven’t gotten to a medic yet.”
Amerald chuckled. “How convenient. Here comes one with what looks like a portable scanner.”
Doctor Hymorin was the imperial physician, and he had been checking up on Tydella since she was an infant. He nodded to her, and she walked over to where he set up the scanner.
“So, Your Highness, how have you been keeping?” He set the scanner up on its tripod and aimed it at her low abdomen.
“Keeping busy.”
He quirked his lips. “So I see. Which one of you was in heat?”
