Empress Hiding

by Y. M. Roger

  When she had recovered from the shock of his actions and was able to gain a footing as well as a focus, Chiyoto attempted to push herself away from Rafal with both hands flat against his chest – a small, sexy growl pouring forth from her beautiful lips in the process. In fact, Rafal could see just the barest hint of a magenta whisp escape one of the precious nostrils as he held her firmly and let her stinging needles dance along his skin.

  And, instead of scaring him, it drew his desire out even more – his stubborn and, yes, dangerous female.

  “Prime Ma-a-a…”

  Rafal chuckled that deep, masculine chuckle that never failed to steal her thought processes as he fisted his hand in her mane and pressed her stomach against his very noticeable and very stiff member – his hand firmly gripping her sizeable buttocks that he craved more than anything at the moment.

  “I am your Prince, remember?” His lips closed in on hers, and she was captivated, “Your Rafal. And it is your struggles that bring attention, my shioliah,” she gazed into dark emerald eyes that had melted her resolve from their first encounter on the ICT as her hands ceased their pushing and slowly gripped his shirt where they were firmly planted. Within moments, she had melted into him, both he and his beast rumbling with satisfaction as the musky scent of her arousal silently inter-laced itself with her creamy peppermint.

  Chiyoto let a mischievous smile grace her lips as she dug a few talons into his chest – both Rafal and his beast loving every painful heartbeat of it.

  Of her.

  Of their mate.

  She looked at him with a gaze that contained a bit of anger mixed with more trepidation spiked with her playfulness and, yes, happiness as she bit her bottom lip in thought. She took a deep breath and Rafal watched as the trepidation seemed to almost vanish as she processed his aroused scent within her.

  “This is much more than talking, my Rafal,” she let her lips begin to curve further upwards in a welcoming smile as she swallowed hard, “I thought y-…”

  Suddenly, Rafal’s entire body tensed and his beast growled low in warning of an unknown threat. Rafal’s head turned almost violently in the direction of the beings Chiyoto had sensed exit the doorway that led down into the residence on which she assumed the transport had landed – and Rafal’s grip on her lost everything except its enclosure of her in his arms. His hold had almost instantaneously gone from one of desire to one of complete protectiveness as Rafal stood to full height – still pressing his Chiyoto firmly against him.

  Neither he nor his beast recognized the being that accompanied their Hondo.

  His eyes never leaving the two approaching males, Rafal called to them.

  “That is far enough, Hondo,” his beast was so very close to the surface with its protectiveness of their mate that he found speech difficult, but his embrace never loosened around her.

  Hondo heard the threat of the beast’s presence in Rafal’s voice and halted immediately – motioning for Guy to do so as well.

  Chiyoto heard the name that Rafal called and tried to relax into him and rub her face in his freshwater-scented chest as she whispered to him.

  “It is alright, my Rafal, Hondo is your bro …”

  Rafal cut her off with a sharp snarl as she watched a muscle in his jaw tick with his tense stance – and a firm one-two shake of his head containing eyes of flaming green had her holding her tongue.

  He senses something, my Treasure. Let him protect you.

  “Sil-,” – the words from Rafal were terse and biting – “Captain Didas” – Sila was in front of his Prime Magistrate before Rafal had completed his pointed demand of his Black Guard’s presence.

  “My lord.”

  Sila stood at full attention.

  “Show her to the rec area so that she may take a swim.”

  Chiyoto tensed against Rafal and began to voice her protest when his three fingers pressed firmly against her mouth and simultaneously raised her face toward his.

  I do not sense anything, but he must. Both his and his animal’s posture are completely defensive.

  “You like to swim, shioliah,” he offered in consolation, but then he grinned almost evilly, “Tell Runa to get used to it.”

  The magenta flashed across Chiyoto’s eyes as Runa growled at Rafal’s challenge to her – the dragoness sharpening her talons against themselves in irritation.

  And to think she had just defended him and his disrespectful …

  But Chiyoto could feel that Rafal was completely faking the relaxed attitude – he was still consumed with apprehension and stood on the verge of attack. She reached up to try to smooth his chest to, perhaps, bring a bit of relief as she glanced over at Hondo and the other male clothed in a red uniform that somewhat matched what Hondo was wearing. Hondo had just greeted Dalis who was now entering through the same door which Jaylis and the other Black Guards had passed.

  Rafal quickly yanked her face away from that direction.

  “We will talk later, shioliah,” his tone, though a forced gentle, brokered no argument as he glanced back up at Sila – his voice becoming quickly laced with a threat of violence again, “No one but me.”

  Sila acknowledged respectfully, “Yes, my lord.”

  Sila supposed the questions regarding his sudden promotion would have to wait until another time, and he let Hiroto watch their backs as they exited the roof landing area through the side emergency exit.

  Something had definitely affected the Prime Magistrate.

  And not in a good way.

  Hondo stood tensed in a ready stance as he tried to fathom what had gotten into Rafal – just moments prior, he had felt his wartrige practically giddy with anticipation of being with their brother again.

  And now this.

  Hondo watched in almost spellbound wonder at his brother’s handling of the dark-haired female whose head only reached the lower portion of his chest – even his beast could sense from this distance that Rafal’s reaction had been out of protectiveness of that diminutive being in his arms.

  Okay, so maybe her actual build was not so diminutive, but still, Rafal was so obviously into her.

  Had the prophecies been wrong? Had Rafal truly found a mate?

  The breeze carried no trace of a female scent even though the currents definitely carried signs of the two males surrounding her – one was unquestionably his Rafal whereas the other was a mixed-blood with an unexpected familiarity to it. It was a familiarity that harkened his beast’s thoughts back to Tristanin – to the Royal Palace, perhaps – but neither of them could be quite sure. Hondo made a mental note to ask Rafal about it later – after this apparent misunderstanding blew over.

  Hondo watched the female exit with the Black Guard whose hair formed a long, midnight braid down the back of his uniform – that particular Guard certainly had a completely different air about him than the four that he and Guy had passed just before Dalis had greeted them.

  His beast growled low and affectionately at the thought of Dalis – the being that had stood with his brother from the times before they had been separated with Rafal’s coming of age and exodus from Tristanin. Rafal had left in acceptance of his position as Prime Magistrate – it was supposed to be his ‘training’ for the day he would bear the title of Khedive.

  Which, if conversations went well on this visit, would be sooner rather than later.

  His beast pawed angrily at the thought of their sire – the sudden emotion making it difficult to remain still as his brother turned his massive frame to face him and Guy. Hondo could feel the tempered aggression roll toward him as Rafal methodically approached, but Hondo did not flinch or look away – that would show only weakness or apology when there was no reason for either.

  But, as Rafal drew closer, Hondo realized that his brother’s murderous stare was fixed on Guy and not on himself, and Hondo and his wartrige relaxed completely. />
  Hondo even stepped into Rafal’s path, interrupting his much larger brother and placing a firm hand on his chest to get his attention – Hondo knew of no one that could actually halt Rafal if he did not wish to be halted – before he even had a chance to speak.

  “They are genrathe, brother,” Hondo firmed his words as Rafal stopped, his body still completely tense, “And I trust them with my life.”

  Hondo waited a few moments until he sensed a relaxation of sorts in Rafal’s stance and then stepped to the side and motioned to Guy and to Rafal.

  A genrathe. I only know them from legend – but that would explain this uneasiness we feel.

  Rafal found himself internally questioning his beast to elaborate.

  “Teyman Guyanni Faulcorn, tracker for my Red Guard, I present to you the Prime Magistrate of the Bohrean Empire, my elder brother, Crowned Prince Rafal Sadid.”

  As Hondo spoke, Guy’s beast stirred restlessly as the tracker lowered himself to one knee and raised his head up toward Rafal to clearly allow his beast to be seen by the Crowned Prince.

  Touch him and see.

  “Denka,” Guy stated calmly as Rafal reached out to touch the side of the male’s head, but in the instant that Rafal’s hand had only slightly brushed Guy’s thick almost nappy hair, the Teyman inhaled sharply, and the genrathe inside of him fell backward in shock – its large head moving to seemingly shake something off of itself as Guy struggled to maintain his balance.

  I thought as much. He is good.

  Rafal’s beast’s comment was followed by a low chuckle from deep inside of the Crowned Prince.

  But Rafal withdrew his hand immediately and looked distressedly between Hondo and the apparently physically unstable being as he spoke to his brother.

  “Thank you, Teyman Faulcorn,” Rafal still seemed just the slightest bit unsure.

  But before Hondo could comment, Guy had stood – a look of near reverence painted across his face. So, Rafal finished his statement and turned to hug his brother properly.

  “If my brother vouches for you, you are welcome in this compound.”

  Guy immediately snapped to full attention.

  “My life and that of my beast are yours to command,” he paused, almost as if not quite sure what title to use, “Crowned Prince.”

  Both Hondo and Rafal paused briefly from their long-awaited embrace and re-acclimating of their beasts to glance questioningly at Guy’s sudden serious demeanor.

  “Teşekkür ederim, Teyman,” Rafal added formally as he glanced at Hondo who simply shrugged, “And Prime Magistrate will do.”

  Rafal and Hondo fell back into their hearty embrace – Rafal taking the time to rub and growl against his Hondo’s forehead in a loving welcome.

  It is good to have them near again.

  Rafal could not agree more heartily with his beast.

  But, as the two princes turned to walk toward the exit, Hondo grabbed Rafal’s hand and held it up so that the back of it faced them – it was the same hand with which Rafal had used to touch Guy as he viewed what a genrathe actually looked like.

  “So, what have you done to actually put a mark on that well-developed, never-ill body of yours?”

  Rafal felt his beast respond to the question with a low, satisfied rumble, but outwardly the Crowned Prince chuckled and shrugged as the two continued arm and arm.

  “Who in the realm of godsfall knows?” Rafal reflected briefly, “It has been a long few days.”

  Hondo shoved Rafal almost like they used to when they were younger.

  “You have no kahrolasi idea, oh brother with your secret lover!”

  Rafal growled and shoved Hondo back at his teasing implication about Chiyoto, but he did not reply, and Hondo sensed the female was indeed someone very special to his usually solitary brother. Rafal shot him that look that said they would talk when they were alone.

  Hondo nodded his understanding as he turned back toward Guy.

  “Come, Teyman! Fermentis are waiting!”

  Rafal held the door for Hondo as Guy jogged to catch up – both the Red Tracker and his beast knowing that this was not simply a Prime Magistrate before them, and that they had meant every word of their previous pledge.

  Although they hoped their Prince Hondo would not see the full truth behind the words – because Guyanni and his beast now knew they would die to save their Emperor, Rafal Sadid, and his Empress whom they hoped to meet soon.

  Even if that meant sacrificing Hondo Sadid in the process.

  Dalis confirmed that Eieshen was indeed already busy at his station in the kitchen as the elder steward hurried to his chambers reserved solely for him in the Magistrate’s residence – they could smell their Margreet’s fresh citrus scent hanging heavy in the air signaling their mate must be somewhere close. As Dalis stepped through the doorway and turned to quietly latch his private chamber door, he felt his passion rise and his member harden at the over-whelming cloud of perfumed arousal that identified their beautiful felnoturnian like nothing else ever could.

  And an insistent growl rolled up from both he and Mischief as they felt the weight of their mate shove their torso almost violently against the door – one demanding yet feminine hand grasping their heated package through their pants while the other ripped their shirt far enough down from the neck that they felt her wonderfully arousing fangs pierce their skin just to the center of their shoulder blades as she whimpered in need and began to draw blood from the wound.

  Dalis groaned in burning need as Margreet’s hand had found its way into his pants to work him firmly as she continued to whimper and suck, her hips’ actions working against his buttocks driving him almost blind with lust.

  But, even as his smile of satisfaction drew across his face, Dalis knew not to turn and take his beautiful Margreet.

  Not yet.

  He would wait for her invitation – if he could make it that long this time – his absence had been longer than expected and his need for satiation was much more than usual.

  And the stress he had been harboring this day did not help with the urgency he felt to be inside of her.

  “I need everything, my Dalis,” Margreet’s genteel voice was gone, replaced with that of husky desire and need – demanding in its intensity, “We will give you whatever you ask, but I must have it all now,” she paused to swallow and lick to seal the wound as she wrapped an arm around her Dalis pulling her breasts into his back, “We hurt with need for your penetration.”

  Dalis could smell the thick volume of her wetness as he slowly lowered his hands from where they had pressed against the wall above his head, giving his Margreet full access to his body.

  And a smug chuckle rolled up from the older steward.

  “Now, my Margreet?” Dalis gritted his teeth in restraint, “Have you drunk your fill, my wanton female?”

  Dalis reached behind him, somewhat over his shoulder, and roughly grasped a handful of her shimmering blue hair – she gasped at his touch, but he only tightened his grip on the silken handful and leaned a smiling face’s forehead against the wall as her hips continued to thrust against his backside.

  “Have you?!” Dalis voice was loud and rough and demanding as he pulled backward on her hair – pulling her just slightly away from him – and began to slowly rotate toward her – Margreet’s hand slowly loosening its grip on him to allow the turn.

  Her answer was muffled and incoherent, almost as if she were drugged, but even with his hold tightly on her, she managed to nod just in the slightest. And, as her hands fell almost limply at her sides and Dalis turned her face to his, a teasing grin spread across her mouth that bore the ring of Dalis’ blood from her feasting.

  Dalis’ body shook with desire he could barely control, “Answer me!”

  Margreet sighed as his loud voice and hot breath poured across her face.

  “W
e can never have our fill of you, my Dalis,” her voice was low and measured but it was just enough to break Dalis’ leash he had managed to keep on his desires until then.

  Invitation offered and accepted.

  Dalis growlingly pulled her mouth roughly to his as his other hand located the flood of slickness between her legs and methodically began to spread it over all of her openings down there – because they would all shortly be his.

  “Whatever I ask, Wanton?” Dalis spoke against her mouth that tasted of him as he shoved a finger into each of the aching holes between her legs.

  He bit her lip hard enough to draw blood as soon as he had completed the question as he released her hair and drew her up hard against his body.

  Margreet’s relaxed control snapped as the pleasurable pain hit her from both ends, and she screamed, “Yes, my Dalis!” into his mouth as he continued pumping into her with his fingers and drawing nourishment from her swollen lip.

  “Ride them, Wanton, ride them until this wave passes,” Dalis supported her thin and beautiful frame as her legs gave out under her with her violent orgasm – he swallowed hard the delicious blood he took from her surrendered mouth, “Because the next wave approaches.”

  Dalis chuckled as he lifted his heavy-lidded Margreet and carried her to the bed – placing her gently there as he roughly yet thoughtfully stripped them both.

  Rising over her, his unusually large erection hanging between them, Dalis reached back to caress her slick folds once again. Margreet instantly responded with a moan as her eyes fixated on his swollen member and her hips began to rise and fall in rhythm to the motions of his hand.

  “Do you see what you want all of, Wanton?” Dalis sank his thumb into her rear as his words fell across her neck – his fingers continuing to massage and stimulate her front, “Tell me what it is.”