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 onto 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?”
“He was.” She jerked her head toward Ador and her father in combat.
“Your parents obviously know, or they wouldn’t have ordered me here.”
She nodded. “They are aware.”
“So, they are going to be grandparents. You are now carrying the imperial heir. Congratulations.”
He looked toward her mother, and Amerald yelled, “Hey, Grandpa! Come here and look at the scan.”
Her father reacted as she thought he would—he ducked, elbowed Ador in the abdomen, and tossed him to the side before he was striding over to where Tydella was standing. He hugged her carefully. “Do you feel okay?”
Amerald was laughing. “She and I just attacked each other with practice weapons. She’s fine. Sorry, Tydella, should have warned you. He likes to fuss.”
He was grinning. “So, you got pregnant...”
Ador wandered up, dusting himself off. “Three days ago.”
She looked at him and smiled, but there was a blush on her cheeks. “It is too early for this much embarrassment.” She pressed her hands to her face.
Amerald cleared her throat. “Apologies, she gets her bashful nature from me. I know that Kiidar are more forthright about such things. Hell, even my people are. I just got used to being circumspect, and it has rubbed off on her.”
Ador smiled. “I enjoy her sensibilities.”
She blinked and looked around at the smug faces looking at her. “Right. I have to get ready for the testing. May I be dismissed?”
Her father scowled and tapped his cheek. She hopped up and pressed a kiss to his face.
She hugged her mother, and then, she went to pass Ador. He moved to block her. He tapped