The Priestess and the Thief Kindred Tales 30 - Evangeline Anderson Page 0,30

only shot a sidelong glance at Elli and she remembered that he had promised not to touch her again in any way unless she asked him to. But surely she couldn’t ask him to do this—could she?

“What if you don’t have a mate?” she asked the Duke. “What do single people do in this situation?”

“Single people?” The Duke’s frown deepened. “Why, no one is allowed to be without a Heart’s Companion in Tenebrian society, except the Crown Prince himself! There is my own dear mate as we speak, waving at me.”

He motioned to the right side of the ThRoke Room where a tall Tenebrian woman with milky white skin, wearing an elaborate pale blue dress which matched the Duke’s frock coat, was waving languidly with one slender hand.

“I see…” Elli murmured as the Duke waved back affectionately.

“No, I don’t think you do.” The Duke dragged his attention away from his wife and looked down at Elli. “Are you saying that this male—” He motioned to Roke. “Is not truly your Heart’s Companion? Because if he isn’t, then I’m afraid you shan’t be allowed through the Arch of Introduction to meet His Majesty, the Crown Prince.”

“Oh, uh, no! I mean yes—yes of course he is,” Elli said quickly. She looked up at Roke. “He’s my…my Heart’s Companion.”

“Of course I am!” Roke put an arm around her shoulders and drew her close to his side. “We’re just not used to such, ahem, public displays of affection. But we’ll manage, won’t we, sweetheart?” he asked, looking down at Elli searchingly.

As their eyes met, Elli knew what he was asking. Did she want to do this?

You shouldn’t—you know you shouldn’t! You’ll be breaking your vows all over again! whispered a guilty little voice in her head. But surely she was doing it for a worthy cause, Elli thought. Wasn’t saving the life of the sweet old Priestess Superior worth breaking some rules?

Yes, it is! she told herself. I’ve come this far and I’m not going to let anything stop me now. I’m going to do whatever I have to in order to get a piece of that Healing Lattice!

Lifting her chin, she nodded at Roke.

“Yes, darling,” she heard herself saying. “We…we’ll manage.”

“Good. I’m glad that’s all settled.” The Duke seemed to breathe a sigh of relief.

“Glad we could accommodate you,” Roke said dryly. “But if you don’t mind me asking, why doesn’t Tenebrian society allow anyone to be without a mate?”

“Well because one must have a Heart’s Companion! Otherwise one has no one to Mirror with around the Royals.” The Duke sounded exasperated. “My own mate and I have been together since the age of five cycles, when our parents betrothed us. Of course, we did not consummate our union until the age of approval,” he added.

“Of course,” Elli echoed faintly. She couldn’t imagine getting engaged to the man you would spend your life with at such an early age. Still, it was apparently the Tenebrian way and nobody here seemed to mind it.

“Your turn is next,” the Duke breathed as the couple in front of them stepped through the wooden archway and bowed low before the golden thRoke. “Remember, let me do the talking when you are presented to His Majesty.”

Roke and Elli nodded and then, before she knew it, the man in the feathered hat was speaking in low tones to the Duke.

“And who might these two foreigners be?” he demanded.

“These are Lady Ellilah and her Heart’s Companion, Roke,” the Duke told the Grand Vizier. “They are here because of a special accommodation I arranged with His Highness ahead of time.”

“Very well.” The Tenebrian Grand Vizier appeared to be very old to Elli. His pale blue face was wrinkled and his features sagged like dough. But his faded green eyes were sharp and watchful as he looked at her and Roke.

“Come with me through the arch,” he instructed them in a low voice. “Once I announce you to the Crown Prince, you must bow deeply and then you—” He pointed at Roke. “Must drop to your knees and kiss your lady’s breasts and sex before rising to kiss her lips.”

“Over my clothes, right?” Elli couldn’t help asking.

“I beg your pardon?” The Tenebrian Grand Vizier raised one snow-white eyebrow at her.

“I said, he has to kiss me over my clothes—correct?” she asked. “I mean, he’s not going to have to, er, open my dress and, uh—”

“Oh, of course not!” The Grand Vizier looked shocked. “This is the Formal Introduction, not Bathing Day, after