first.” Ador walked in, wearing an ornate robe, trousers, and some sandals.
The queen looked at him. “She must have deceived you.”
Ador walked past his parent, and he protectively cuddled Tydella against him. “She didn’t. Mother, you can go now.”
“But...”
He turned, and his fangs flashed. “Go!”
His mother blinked, and she left quickly, closing the door behind her.
Tydella was mashed against him. “So, how was your meeting?”
He leaned back. “She didn’t upset you?”
“No. I am covered no matter what your mother tries to do.” She grinned. “I hear you are about to be drowning in princesses.”
He groaned. “They don’t mean anything to me.”
“You might find the woman that you want in that batch.” She was stroking his chest. He was tense, and gently stroking his sternum was one of the sure ways to calm a Kiidar. Well, that and stroking him behind the ears, but he would notice that.
He narrowed his eyes, and he snorted. “Are you trying to fob me off on other women?”
She blinked. “Um, isn’t that the idea? We are together for a finite period of time, and then we go our separate ways. Right?”
He looked at her, and she could see a strange kind of irritation take him over. He didn’t say anything but threaded his fingers through her hair as he kissed her while his hands opened her robe. What followed was four hours of brain-burning sex that left Tydella dazed and curled against him, her body throbbing in random places that seemed to contain the secret response to his mouth that took her to the edge of insanity. It was exhausting, and she had no idea why he had gone that particular brand of crazy.
Time was slipping from her, and she had a funny feeling that her four days were being circumvented somewhere in space.
* * * *
Amerald Belldella growled at the guards, “My daughter did what?”
Abra spoke to the outraged imperial consort. “She disabled our ship and hitched a ride on another vessel.”
Amerald looked at the embarrassed guard on the other end of the com. “Where is she headed?”
“Deskor. She attached her ship to one of the Deskor royal fleet. From the security vids, she and the prince had a moment before she bolted and headed for her ship. They didn’t say much, but there was a trace of him left in the air when we headed to the port. She would have been interested.”
“Rasha Kiidar are not something she has experience with.” Amerald covered her face with her hand. She was both proud of her daughter for finally running and furious that she had done it without letting her mother know.
Amerald looked at the guards. “Can you move your ship?”
“Yes, it has been completed.”
“Good. I am going to be there later today. If I can keep her father from finding out, we will all be better off.”
She disconnected the call and had a sinking feeling when she slowly turned around. Tyadino was leaning in the doorway, and his brows were raised. “What has our little cub done now?”
Amerald walked up to him and placed her hand against his chest. “Do you want the long version or the short version.”
He narrowed his eyes. “Short.”
“I think that Tydella is involved with a Rasha Kiidar in rut.” She felt the tension in the emperor’s body.
His voice was a growl. “Where and who?”
“Deskor and the crown prince.”
“Ador? Hm. She could do worse.” He looked at her. “You were going to keep this from me?”
“Just until I retrieved her.”
He sighed and put his hand over hers on his chest. “Use her beacon. If you get a response from Deskor, we will be on our way within the hour.”
“We?”
He smiled slowly. “Oh, yes. I am not letting some twit of a prince try and put a claim on my daughter and any heir she may be carrying. If he wants her, he is going to negotiate for the privilege.”
Amerald winced. “So, what should we pack?”
“Full regalia for all of us. The king and queen are easily impressed. We are going to be as impressive as hell.”
He kissed her quickly and gave her a swat on her backside. “That is for trying to hide something from me.”
She winked. “Don’t start if you don’t want to finish.” She laughed and dodged out of his grasp to get the wardrobe keepers into gear and activate her daughter’s tracking signal. It was going to be a busy hour.
* * * *
Tydella’s eyes opened wide as the distinctive burn in her back started up. Her