Chapter 8

When I first rounded the bend and saw Heather with Sir Vodin, the ever-present fire inside my stomach reared to a full blaze and I forced myself to stop before I pounced on the hapless male in a rage that would have put this morning’s temper tantrum to shame.

Two things stopped me, one was my inherent self-control telling me Sir Vodin hadn’t done anything to deserve my wrath, and two: her. Even from where I stood, I felt her calming presence, quelling the fire in my stomach.

From between the trees I watched Sir Vodin taking his leave while I admired Heather’s slender form and natural grace before I approached her. Overhearing their dinner plans only enhanced my foul mood when I spoke to her, and I knew I was scowling, but couldn’t help myself. The image of her and Sir Vodin out on a dinner date sat as ill with me as the notion of her with any other male.

Then she did it again. She made me laugh so unexpectedly, I nearly choked.

“Would you rather have dinner with me?” I heard myself offer.

Incredulously, she looked up at me with her deep, sapphire eyes. She opened her mouth to retort, but no words came out, so she tried again. “I don’t think I can… I already promised I would go out to dinner with him. It would be rude not to now.”

“For you, vra,” I agreed. “But I’m the emperor, I can do as I please. That wasn’t what I asked though. I asked if you would rather go out with me tonight.”

I didn’t think she would say vra, and prepared myself to be shot down, which would have been a first for me. So I called myself a fool and contemplated if I should force the issue, when she surprised me yet again and said, “Yes.”

“Vra?” I checked.

She nodded. “Yes, I would rather eat dinner with you… Your Imperial Highness.”

“Well, I will make the necessary arrangements then and send Sir Vodin a formal apology.”

Her eyes kept me captivated as I searched them, before mine traveled to her lips and I would have loved nothing more than to kiss her right then. But I managed to resist, for her. I wasn’t about to create a spectacle right inside my park, which I had once again failed to have emptied of people in the hopes of running into her. Undoubtedly, the kiss would have been observed by the many people who already pretended not to stare at us, and gossip would have spread even more like wildfire.

I had no scruples about Sir Vodin finding out. The sooner he learned who his competition was… Wait, what? I did a mental double take. Had I really just called myself a competitor for Heather’s attention?

You have, my mind informed me gleefully.

I didn’t like that thought, not at all. I couldn’t afford to bind myself to a human, not after Garth and Xandros already had. And yet… just being in her presence for a few ticks made me feel so much calmer and relaxed. The way I usually only felt after a good night’s rest before the day’s events took over.

Either way, it was too late now. I wouldn’t back out of this commitment no matter what. I told myself that I was only being selfish, that I only sought her out for the peace she gave me, but that was a lie. I enjoyed her company immensely. I liked being with her and I had damn little I liked.

When I returned to my quarters, I found Lady Madeema already hanging out in the antechamber, waiting for me.

“Lady Madeema.” I inclined my head, not really in the mood to deal with her, but affairs of the universe did hardly ever wait until I was in the mood to deal with them.

Heather’s soothing presence still surrounded me, like alcohol lingered in one’s system long after you took your last sip.

“A word, Your Imperial Highness.” She curtsied.

I waved her up and through the entrance that the guards opened for us. We were barely inside, the door hadn’t even clicked shut yet, when she got to the reason for her visit. “I was told you had dinner with a human merrily last night.”

I didn’t respond, walked to my desk, already feeling Heather’s absence and all the soothing emotions she had left behind evaporating like smoke.

“I don’t think I have to tell you what a bad idea that is,” Lady Madeema continued when I didn’t reply.

“Nocc, but since you’re here, why don’t you fill me in,” I baited her sarcastically.

She must not have noticed my sarcasm, or she didn’t care, because she dove right in. “You… affiliating yourself with one of them will reflect badly on us. It’s damning enough that both a lord protector and your supreme commander have already mated themselves to humans. You doing so, too, is out of the question.”

“Is that so?” I asked dangerously low.

Again, she willfully ignored the change in my mood and the slow flaring of my temper. Nobody told me what to do. Nobody! Not even her, one of my closest advisors.

“You know it’s so!” She doubled down, her eyes sparkled with her own anger.

She picked up a crystal decanter, turned it to catch the light, and put it back down. When she looked up, her eyes were softer and she walked over to me, placing her palm on my chest. “Daryus.”

I stared down at her. Once upon a time, we had been lovers. A long time ago. Before she became my master of intelligence. It was for that old time’s sake that I didn’t take her hand off my chest, a touch that didn’t bring out any feelings in me. My cock remained flaccid, there was no desire in me for her. Despite the memories of what an excellent lover she was.

Once upon a time, I had entertained the idea of making her my empress, but that notion had been short-lived. Even then I knew how ambitious she was, how ruthless she could be. That, coupled with my flaring temper, would not have made a good match. I was certain sooner rather than later we would have eaten each other alive. Not to mention how bad of an empress she would have made for the empire. Lady Madeema had only one goal in mind, well, two: power and making herself happy.

She noticed my lack of response. With a small huff she removed her hand from my chest. “What is it with these humans that makes you males go crazy?”

“I wouldn’t exactly say she makes me crazy,” I said, thinking it was the opposite. She calmed me. But I wasn’t about to admit that to Lady Madeema. She was too dangerous to give that kind of information to.

“Then fine. Go ahead, fuck your little human, get it out of your system. But please, please, do it quietly and discreetly.”

Her only saving grace was that she said please this time. My blood was already simmering inside my veins and my patience was about to run out.

“I will do as I damn well please, Lady Madeema.” I allowed the edge that wanted to break free into my voice.

“Of course, Your Imperial Highness,” she acquiesced.

“Was there anything else?” I demanded. “Anything actually useful? Like any reports on the Cryons’ little experiments?”

“I’m afraid not yet,” she admitted.

“Then find me the proof you need, instead of berating me about who I can and cannot spend my time with.”

“Vra, Your Imperial Highness.” She curtsied and thankfully had the good sense to leave.

With a deep sigh, I waited until the doors shut behind her, picking up the decanter she lifted earlier. I was about to fling it against the door she had vanished behind, but stopped myself. With effort I placed it back down, only to pace the room agitatedly. Lady Madeema hadn’t said anything I hadn’t thought myself. Still, hearing it from her was unnerving, to say the least. Most of all, because it was true.

Any time I spent with Heather would reflect negatively on me and the Pandraxian Empire. The Cryons had their spies here at court, just like Lady Madeema’s and mine extracted information at Colynth for us. Every tick I spent with Heather would be brought up at the GTU hearing and diminish our case. Not that Earth’s fate mattered that much to me beyond finding mekarry bonds for my subjects, but they were intelligent beings and didn’t deserve what the Cryons were doing to them. The only power that could stop them was the GTU, and they would only step in if the Pandraxian Empire insisted. Nobody else would.

I eyed the decanter, pondering how good the sound of shattering glass against the door or wall would feel. The sound would still the raging in my blood for a while. Only for a while though. What I really yearned for was Heather’s soothing company, to shut all these voices and raging emotions up. Peace. That’s what Heather brought me. That’s what I craved.