Empress Hiding

  Hyndaus has prepared you three minced and ground meals in liquid form for the time you are immobile. And then only limited chewing for the remainder of the quiet days – Hyndaus has said she will make sure you are well-fed even with the restrictions.

  Kilgar looked as though he had been wounded, but Hondo was not finished with the wounding.

  And no females during that time – no kızışma, no making out, no jacking off. Too much increase in blood pressure for the delicate healing tissues to handle.

  Kilgar’s entire jaw went slack and his expression was, well, it was priceless. His lower jaw almost rested on his upper chest, and his eyes glowered with resentment. Hondo could almost see the profanity that wanted to fall from his best friend’s mouth. The Prince put a firm and calming hand on Kilgar’s shoulder – although he knew the next news would not be received well.

  And no water on your head at all until those three days are up. Guyanni says you can actually stay in his quarters and use his Havuz to bathe while we are gone.

  Kilgar’s reaction was immediate – he clinched his teeth in a stifled growl, pulling at his restraints, and thrashing his legs as Hondo dropped the device and planted his full upper body weight on Kilgar’s legs and chest to prevent any further movement. He glared at Kilgar who glared right back – although there was no beast in his glare – it was all Kilgar.

  And Hondo’s wartrige whined internally for their companion.

  Hondo reached up and caressed Kilgar’s cheek just as his sons had done, only this time it was a heartfelt pain that ran between two life-long brothers that were about to be separated for the first time with tensions running higher than they had ever run in Hondo’s family.

  Without removing his weight from Kilgar’s chest, Hondo managed to recapture the VTS mic – his gaze locked with Kilgar’s – his words practically ground out over his and his beast’s emotions.

  I must go and arrange things with Rafal, you know that, birader. It CAN NOT wait until you are healed and. We. Need. You. Healed.

  Hondo pounded his fist into his own chest with the halting words and paused purposefully following their emphasis – moving his hand back to grip Kilgar’s shirt – his eyes carrying both his and his wartrige pain at their parting.

  Kilgar managed to un-clinch his jaw only enough to whisper, “Take Balstir.”

  Hondo shook his head and then spoke into the VTS, his hand still holding tight to Kilgar’s shirt as he felt Kilgar’s body slowly relax beneath him. Hondo cautiously raised his weight from his friend’s torso.

  I thought of that, but he is your second and knows best how to handle all of the palace workings. I have to know my family including you are safe while I am gone.

  Kilgar relaxed further as he spoke although both Hondo and his wartrige still felt the longing from their wounded companion. Hondo raised himself back to full height, allowing his hand to move from Kilgar’s chest to regain a tight grip on his shoulder.

  And Guyanni will be able to help us know who to trust – if there is anyone besides Dalis and Rafal in that kahrolasd household to trust – and, as my Guard Captain is fond of saying, knowing takes out at least half of the obstacles.

  Kilgar tried to smile, but it looked more like an aggravated snarl as he stewed in silence – his beast whining at a very low volume inside of him that ‘half’ was not enough for their comfort right now – not when they would not be there with their life-long companion as they should be.

  Finally, Kilgar asked in a whisper, “When?”

  In a few hurs, Balstir and Guyanni are making all the final preps now.

  Kilgar’s eyes snapped up to glare at Hondo, his eyebrow raised again in question.

  You have been out for over nineteen hurs, birader.

  Kilgar looked despondent, and his beast tried to rub against his mind for self-comfort. Nothing was right with this situation.

  Nothing.

  Hondo squeezed his shoulder tighter.

  Yearlan and Shelvana will look in on you periodically. This fixed yellow button here will call the posted guard outside – by the way, it is Verisse, and she said she would be happy to sit and play games or whatever so you will not feel the need to sulk.

  Kilgar and his beast growled low and threateningly – Hondo smiled knowingly.

  And this blue one will call both Hyndaus and Shelvana any time you need anything. And down here

  Hondo reached down and adjusted a board with much larger and spaced apart buttons to within reach of Kilgar’s feet.

  Is a control board that Ornico threw together for you that will allow you to use this screen for watching vids with close-captioning or communicating with others via digital or meander the data feeds or play vidcompetitions or whatever. He set the volume max to quite a low setting so, if you cannot hear it, then you are not healed enough yet.

  Kilgar lifted a lip in a snarled defiance – Hondo simply smiled back.

  You operate it with your feet. You can even set it to have screen inset comm with your usual wrist comm code. I will let you figure out what combination does what – it will give you something to occupy your mind other than worrying.

  Hondo put down the mic and knelt beside the bed, placing his face next to Kilgar’s restrained hand and nuzzled into it. He felt Kilgar’s hand fist tightly in his hair. Hondo held his position until Kilgar’s hand loosed its grip. Then the Prince stood and grasped Kilgar’s hair tightly as he lay his forehead upon his Captain’s – both of their eyes closed tightly as they inhaled each other’s scent – their beasts growling low in parting.

  “No adventures without us, birader,” Kilgar whispered low and filled with emotion as Hondo rubbed their foreheads together, “Stay connected.”

  Hondo chuckled such that Kilgar felt his breath across his face. The Prince moved only slightly to lick Kilgar’s hairline just before releasing his handful of the Captain’s hair and raising his other hand, clearly displaying two fingers.

  “Two days,” Hondo mouthed clearly as he then motioned from his ear to his wrist comm and, finally, poked Kilgar in his chest lightly, “Always.”

  Hondo turned and walked away without looking back even though he paused in the doorway to bare his beast’s claws and scratch the doorway to indicate his state of unhappiness with the departure. And, as his brother disappeared through the door, Kilgar felt as though the entire world had been ripped from them.

  His beast needed to run.

  Kilgar needed to be inside a female or to beat the living godsfall out of someone or something.

  We need to be on that kahrolasi transport!

  A heavy sigh of resignation escaped them both.

  Kilgar felt his beast claw at him – agitated and hungry, and Kilgar pressed the yellow button to get some food as he proceeded to kick the control board to turn on the data feeds. He would start with finding the hangar vids of the sircakerkele battle and make sure they would know exactly what worked against it next time.

  Because being best friend to and Guard Captain for Prince Hondo had taught them one thing well: there would always be a next time with respect to the Sadids.

  The problem only arose in not being able to predict exactly when that next time would be.

  They just had to always be ready.

  Chiyoto turned from giving orders to the two males that were assisting her in aiding the Blood-bornes – in fact, there were many beings that had begun helping, both Crimson and Blood-borne, when they had realized she had “taken charge.” And, yes, she was not Royalty – at least none of which they were aware – but her presence and command were enough. She reached forward to pull a large piece of twisted metal and plastercrete to begin another excavation to reach bodies – no breathing beings – that she knew were under there when some one grabbed her wrist and jerked her around unexpectedly.

  She found herself nose-to-chest with Sila, who almost immed
iately dropped her wrist with the angry look that spread across her countenance as her face angled upward – the Guard’s eyes quickly averted downward, his neck bared sideways in a submissive posture.

  Chiyoto instantly recognized him as the male whom Rafal had dismissed from watching her, and Runa’s eyes flashed angrily at the fact that he must have ordered the same again. But Chiyoto smiled inwardly at his presence, and Runa immediately rolled her eyes.

  The dragoness was not sure how long she could tolerate her Treasure being fully besotted with the challenging and possessive and, yes, completely defiant Rafal Sadid.

  But Chiyoto did not let her inward smile be anything but that: inward. Her gaze continued to harden as she spoke authoritatively yet in a hushed tone to the reverential Black Guard.

  “The fact that you provided nourishment to us gives you no right to lay a hand …”

  Hiroto sounded forth a definitely submissive whine and Sila had to fight his own knees not to bend in reverence to her tone – it would reveal too much – create too many questions among those around them.

  “Mistress, we meant no disrespect,” his voice an obvious mixture of both his and Hiroto’s unmistakable apologetic tones, “But another female your size would not be able to …”

  Chiyoto reached out a hand to grip his shoulder and let out a long, cleansing breath as Runa growled low and threateningly inside of her. No, they were certainly not accustomed to touch from another – Rafal having been the only one to actually handle them since their departure from Haven. Before that, it had been decades since Junko had held them …

  “No, faithful one,” her voice was low, “You and Hiroto are correct – we should be more careful.”

  He called us Mistress, my Treasure.

  Chiyoto’s grip on his shoulder tightened as reality dawned. A low growl was borne in her throat, but she tried to suppress it.

  “Regard us, Sila.”

  Sila obediently tracked his eyes to meet Chiyoto’s as he purposefully relaxed his stance in front of her.

  “How is it that you …?” Chiyoto’s voice was low and measured – this was, after all, one of Rafal’s Black Guards.

  And neither she nor Runa particularly liked the Captain of such. Runa growled over that thought – the truth was that they could not stand that male, Jaylis, and his snorting and, yes, annoyingly nasal monsecrit.

  Sila looked around them nervously as he leaned slightly closer to Chiyoto. Suddenly, the Heiress was brushed by a placid wave of invisible power that rippled gently across her skin.

  She nodded her head at him knowingly – his gift of vision obvious to both her and Runa.

  “I see, and you did not tell …”

  “It is not our secret to tell, Mistress, but your own,” he paused only slightly before continuing, “I am sworn before the Gods to protect Prime Magistrate Rafal and before the Makers to protect you and no one else,” a slight grin tried to breach his lips as Hiroto preened his feathers with a knowing attitude – the combined actions making both Chiyoto and Runa almost wish to smile themselves, “And the two of you are definitely not a threat to each other.”

  But just as she was about to lower her hand and dismiss their visual contact, another recognition hit Chiyoto even before it hit Runa – his eyes and the nuances in their scent spoke clearly of …

  “Does Rafal know of …,” she had tightened her grip again as she cocked her head and her eyes narrowed in their visual contact with the male – unsure of the words to use, “. . . of you, Sila?”

  Instead of tensing at her knowledge as Chiyoto would have expected, Sila’s shoulders actually slumped somewhat. She could sense that his gaze wanted to fall away as he almost unnoticeably shook his head in the negative, but he held their visions locked as he sucked in a troubled breath.

  “Would you …?”

  Both his and Hiroto’s eyes and stance begged for their Empress’ mercy – for her understanding in their secrecy – and Chiyoto sensed the Auger Guard bore no star for a reason. Runa perceived only pure truth and submission about him – this male, regardless of bloodline, would not betray them.

  Chiyoto was in full agreement with her usually over-protective altre as she released Sila’s shoulder and smiled gently.

  “They are not our secrets to tell, Teyman Didas, but your own,” she motioned to the large mass of metal, “Now, could you please remove th …”

  A loud cry of anguish rang out through open air, and both Chiyoto and Runa were moved on a level they had trouble comprehending – Chiyoto’s breath catching in her throat as she turned back to stare at Sila as the voice cried out again.

  “But he is not dead!”

  The tortured voice of a male drew Chiyoto’s attention beyond Sila’s position – there, clear to her and Runa’s vision – and everyone else’s in the area for that matter – a strong Blood-borne male tugged on the arm of a medium-build Crimson male in formal dress uniform of some kind complete with purple sash – the insistence and, yes, devastation, the Blood-borne felt obvious in both his voice and actions. Two security personnel – also Crimsons – flanked the formally uniformed male, their stances becoming more and more threatening toward the pleading Blood-borne.

  And Chiyoto stepped around Sila – the spectacle too much from which to tear her eyes.

  “Only source nourishment can help him now,” the Crimson’s tone was so cold that Runa clawed at her Chiyoto’s insides – the dragoness wanted to bleed the Crimson for his lack of compassion toward the Blood-borne male, “And we have none.”

  Chiyoto’s feet were drawn toward the scene – perhaps she could bleed the Crimson for her Runa.

  Runa sharpened her talons and breathed heavily in anticipation of the slaughter.

  The cold Crimson tried to turn away, but the large male fell to his knees – his torment and heartbreak emanating from every pore of his body – and pulled the Crimson’s arm as he implored.

  “Please, please, he is my only son,” the male’s voice cracked and so did Chiyoto’s heart, “You must sa …”

  Before the male could finish speaking, one of the security personnel reached down to forcefully remove his hand from the hakim’s sleeve when, completely unexpectedly, the other guard reared back and knocked the pleading male across the face with a blunt object he had pulled from his utility belt.

  “I will send a bag for him and the others, Green Creature, so that the body can be disposed of properly,” the Crimson spat as he exited with the guards – leaving the grieving father crying in pain on the littered floor.

  The growl rose from somewhere so deep inside that Chiyoto had to fight both physically and mentally to contain the dragoness that she knew would not be contained had it not been for the Keeper. She stood so still and held her eyes so tightly closed that the ship and all else seemed to fade to nothing – nothing but her trying to calm the calling part of her that wanted justice for the grieved sire. Runa wanted the security personnel and the hakim and any other Crimson she could reach – she wanted them shredded so that she could feast on their blood.

  And Runa wanted it now.

  The entire ship began to shudder.

  Sila felt the wave of power roll off his Empress almost precisely at the moment the club impacted the male’s face … and he knew he had to do something to contain the situation.

  This is not the right time. Hiroto whispered to his Sila. Oh, by the Gods and Makers, my Sila, she is so much more than …

  Sila growled at his altre to shut its mouth and bow down in submission – to placate their Empress’ ire. He stepped ever so carefully around the diminutive Chiyoto – the female that was fighting to contain the anger of the most powerful being this realm had ever known.

  One that was not yet enthroned.

  His Hiroto was correct – none of their visions had foreseen this scenario – this was not the right time for her revelation
, but the future was always fleeting, was it not?

  Always changing.

  All he ever had to work with was what pathway seemed strongest at the moment of the vision … but this? The Empress Heir’s power was incomprehensible …

  Another wave rolled past him as the ship quaked once again. Chiyoto trembled, and the ship’s warning claxons began to sound again.

  “Ple-e-e-e-ease!” The sire’s physical and emotional cries echoed throughout the chamber and his agony was palpable to all – every cognate and every alter-being – Crimson and Blood-borne alike – that had been helping with the rescue efforts. All simply stood in awe and disgust at the display they had just witnessed as the male pulled himself to all fours – obviously fighting his altre that wanted to be present.

  Besides the anguished sire, fear permeated the room – with each renewed lurch of the ship, the level of that fear rose. Both Sila and Hiroto could sense it.

  They are her people, my Sila. All of them.

  Yes, thought Sila to his Hiroto. That would be their angle to try to calm her – to turn his Empress’ attention to action rather than retribution … at least for the present.

  Sila stepped closer – he did not want to touch Chiyoto given her adverse reaction to his contact a few moments ago – no, that would only hinder the situation.

  “Mistress,” his voice was calm yet firm, “Your people are scared and need direction.”

  Sila stepped as close as he dared as another wave of a power he could not see and could never hope to understand rolled past him, but he held firm his position behind and just off to the side of her.

  Another tremor ran through the entire shuttle.

  “Mistress, you must save the son – you can end their pain.”

  Chiyoto’s face jerked toward him as she slowly opened a pair of eyes that belied the conflict within while giving only a hint of the dragoness that lurked beneath. The waves ceased, but her small frame still radiated a great deal of heat.

  Sila immediately displayed his neck as he lowered his head sideways in another show of submission.