Unbondable(Kindred Birthright #1) - Evangeline Anderson Page 0,45
became suddenly serious. “It’s an offense to the Kaji to show any part of yourself and the effects of the Palace of the Unseen don’t work if you’re wearing clothes.”
“The effects?” Kara asked frowning.
“You’ll see,” he promised her. “Or you won’t if you don’t take off your clothes. Of course, if you want, I can leave you out here and try to make the deal with Qi on your behalf.”
“You mean you’ll leave me here all alone?” Kara looked around at the rustling, reflective plant people that still surrounded them chanting,
“New,new,new,new,” in their soft, tinkling voices.
It was like being surrounded by a chorus of leafy wind chimes, she thought. Though she knew they meant her no harm, it was kind of creepy to think of being left alone with them.
Raak shrugged.
“Sure, if you want.”
“No, I’d rather go with you,” Kara said quickly.
“Well then, get naked, baby girl.” he motioned at her.
“All right.” Taking a deep breath to nerve herself up, Kara quickly slipped the silver uniform shirt over her head and dropped it on the pile of clothes Raak had already discarded. Then she stood there shivering, her arms wrapped around herself to hide her nakedness.
Raak’s dark eyes softened.
“Come on,” he told her, his voice dropping to a lower register, “You don’t have to hide yourself like that, Kara. You’re fucking gorgeous, you know?”
“Um, thanks,” Kara muttered. But his warm words and the honest and obvious admiration in his eyes made her stand up straighter and drop her arms to her sides. She could see her nude body reflected in the hundreds of mirrored leaves of the Xephronians around them, but somehow that didn’t seem to matter.
Raak thinks I’m beautiful, she told herself. And you know what—I am beautiful. I’m a strong, powerful female and I’m not afraid to show myself.
The words of self-affirmation helped and she lifted her chin, determined not to be ashamed of her nudity. After all, if Raak could be so comfortable and unconcerned about being naked, it hardly made any sense for her to be cringing and trying to cover herself all the time. Especially when, as he had pointed out, the Xephronians had no interest in her sexually.
“All right,” she said, lifting her chin and letting her arms hang free at her sides. “I’m ready to go.”
“And gorgeous too.” Raak’s dark eyes ran over her body, taking her in the same way she’d looked at him and Kara couldn’t help noticing that his shaft twitched and came to attention as he admired her. “Too bad I won’t get to see you once we get inside,” he added cryptically. “But of course, if I could, it would probably only distract me so much I couldn’t make a good trade with Qi.”
“What do you mean you won’t be able to see me?” Kara asked, frowning.
“You’ll see, baby girl.” Raak motioned to the plant-person who had led them here. “Okay, we’re ready. Open the door and let us into the Palace of the Unseen.”
“As you wish,” the Xephronian said in its high, tinkling voice.
With a rustle of its silvery leaves, it did something to the air in front of where they were standing and then made a motion with its remaining leaves that seemed to beckon to them.
“Enter, esteemed guests of the Kaji,” it said. “And remember, you must be unseen in order to be seen by Qi.”
Kara didn’t understand this at all, but Raak was already taking her by the hand and leading her through the invisible doorway.
“Come on, baby girl,” he murmured. “Let’s go see if Qi can help you with your fangs.”
And then they went through.
Twenty
They stepped into…nothing. The door slid shut behind them with a soft whooshing sound and then they were completely enclosed in what looked and felt like a box of empty air. Even the black dirt under the Palace of the Unseen had disappeared—there was literally nothing to see.
Not even herself.
“Oh!” Kara exclaimed, looking down and not seeing her feet or legs—or any of the rest of her body for that matter. “I’m invisible!” she exclaimed, dropping Raak’s hand to feel her own unseen body. To her relief, she was still there, even though she couldn’t see the body parts she was feeling.
“Uh-huh—that’s a feature of the Palace of the Unseen. Everything inside it disappears.” Raak sounded completely unconcerned so Kara tried to take her cue from him.
“It’s very…unusual,” she said, trying to keep her voice casual. “It, uh, sort of makes me feel like I’m going blind.”