Empress Hiding

by Y. M. Roger

  But before Unisha completely processed that shared thought, Yearlan removed his foot, grabbed her hand, and roughly yanked her to her feet – appearing to the entire arena that still watched intently to end their “match” on a friendly note.

  Unisha had just managed to take her first full breath after the whole interaction when Yearlan began to speak as he properly stowed Shelvana’a zipkin.

  “You know,” he paused only long enough to try to calm his voice once again although his jaw remained quite tight, “Those mandated classifications – predator, non-predator, and the like – only apply to our altres, hanfendi,” his voice was purposefully low and matter-of-fact – quite empty of the anger that showed on his face and radiated from every cell of his being. The monotone was just enough, however, that everyone else had shrugged off the apparent altercation per se and had already turned back to their own activities when he faced her again.

  This time he walked up to her and purposefully placed his right shoulder just against her right one and whispered threateningly down into her ear – eyes focused over and beyond her head – his breath pouring heatedly down her neck and chest.

  “Keep your distance from us, Guard,” Unisha heard the warning growl that was the male only – she could not sense the lechtneu at all – would expect nothing less as they were such docile creatures, “And keep your kahrolasi predator the godsfall away from my Shadow.”

  Yearlan aggressively shoved his shoulder against hers as he strode away.

  Unisha did not move – no, that was wrong, she could not move at first. She simply stood, staring at the wall mounts where Yearlan had just stored the Somdech’s weapon.

  As Unisha slowly willed herself to retrieve her own zipkin, she heard the almost ominous approach of very deep-throated and even derisive chuckling that she knew was directed at her.

  Unisha rolled her eyes and only slightly tensed as she methodically stowed the zipkin – trying the whole time to swallow the need to scream at any one who would listen.

  “Not this morning, Ornico,” the warning was clear in her voice to the over-sized mechanic – clothed only in sweaty workout bottoms – his magnificent upper body on full display as he folded his arms across that broad chest. It was too bad he was happily mated – although for the life of her, Unisha had yet to figure out how Verisse put up with the ornery ahmak.

  Because just look at that delectable flesh, sevgilim.

  Unisha huffed aggravatedly at both Ornico and Tempt.

  “I am not one to judge sparring competitions, female,” Ornico’s voice and words were just as confrontational as always – Unisha had never really figured out if the chief mechanic actually meant to be that way or if it was just in his nature, “But I would say you just got your ass handed to you, heh?”

  “Siktir git, esholeshek,” Unisha slammed the storage locker door and re-keyed the cipher lock before turning to leave.

  “There is a reason, you know,” Ornico stated calmly as Unisha turned her back and took her first step away from him.

  Unisha froze and spun back around to find the large male still leaned against the storage unit – his body language telegraphing calm while Unisha knew he would try to wipe the floor with her at any moment. Both her and Tempt were aware and on guard the entire time – Ornico’s beast was not known for its tranquil disposition.

  “A reason for what?” She looked dubiously at him – Ornico was certainly known for stirring up his share of trouble.

  His eyes narrowed and his nostrils flared just before the loud snort of his fedai reached her and Tempt’s sensitive hearing – but, from what both of them could decipher, the snort was not one of derisiveness at all.

  Nor was it one of provocation.

  “You care about him,” Ornico continued to eye her intently as if to read any nuances in her expression – and Tempt was quite aware of the fedai’s examination, “Both of you do.”

  Not one to ever give anything away in a confrontation, Unisha shrugged slightly, always keeping her eye contact with him a constant.

  “Maybe,” she sighed and finally looked away, “Females do like to look at a tight ass, you know?”

  She was pretty sure that was quite unconvincing.

  Ornico chuffed again – this time it was definitely both him and his fedai – as a small, knowing grin pulled across his large almost hard face.

  “That uniform you wear,” Ornico’s only indication that he spoke directly to her was a quick directional nod toward her, “It comes in other colors, yes?”

  Unisha looked down at herself and frowned at his statement as she felt Tempt rise from his defensive stance to full attention inside of her. She cocked her head at him as if to invite him to continue, but Ornico only shrugged as a more threatening growl rose up from his fedai.

  “So damn young,” that part was almost under his breath and quite animalistic, but before Unisha had a chance to protest it, Ornico raised his voice back to conversational levels to continue, “Prince Hondo’s Red Guard command everything that is good about this Empire and its beings, Teyman,” Ornico stepped forward and began to walk away, “But some of us have lived long enough that red is not the only color under which we have served.”

  Unisha, although stunned at first because this was so much to take in, spun around to holler at the departing mechanic – there was still that little part of her that doubted Ornico’s sincerity based on his track record. But there was an even larger part of her – her heart and soul and her Tempt, to be sure – that wanted to be with Yearlan.

  With my Shadow.

  Even after that humiliating display a few moments ago.

  “And why, exactly, would you share this with me?”

  It was now Ornico’s turn to pause, but he only managed to partially face her as he spoke – a far off look creeping into his face.

  “Because a mate can heal us in here,” Ornico pointed to the place between his hearts, “Even the parts we did not know were hurt.”

  His stride told her he would not be answering any more of her questions – he had said his piece about the matter. Unisha stood, once again, staring in silence as the sounds of the arena surrounded them. So many thoughts raced through her, but she kept coming back to the important one: they both knew Yearlan and Shadow belonged to them.

  And she was ready to do something about it.

  Unisha sighed, “Well, esholeshek? What do you think?”

  Esholeshek is it? Does this mean you are through ignoring me, sevgilim?

  Unisha began walking toward their quarters.

  “It means that you can start a probationary period with my attentions if you can keep from being an egotistical safdil,” but a grin was slowly gracing her lips.

  Tempt’s rumbling laughter tickled her to the point of increasing her smile as her stride increased with her mood.

  It is time we found out all about our mate’s past, sevgilim, so that they can be ours from now on.

  Unisha took the stairs two-by-two.

  “It might be a long process, but we did not earn this position by backing down, right, handsome?”

  Tempt only sighed with relief and rubbed his Unisha from the inside – at least he had graduated away from being a complete esholeshek or even a safdil.

  Unisha laughed out loud at her Tempt’s thoughts.

  “No, you are still a safdil,” she bounded up the last stair and leapt high enough to slap the ceiling high above the doorframe of the entry passageway, “But you are definitely a handsome one.”

  I love you, my sevgilim.

  Unisha internally caressed her Tempt as much as possible.

  “And I, you, my Tempt,” Unisha paused as they keyed the code on their quarters, “But we need to be with our mate.”

  Tempt could not agree more.

  Kilgar slowly pulled out of the unconscious fog that still wanted to
drag him back down – the last time he had awakened in this extremely drugged state, his nephews had been on top of him.

  Literally.

  And then Hondo’s leaving … Kilgar took a deep emotional breath to brush it all away.

  And a huge grin pulled across his face as his olefactory was greeted by those wonderful peppers and spices … her peppers.

  His Mysstree.

  A low growl rolled up from his throat – the noise all him this time as he found his demercriere still unresponsive with the strong healing liquid their mate had placed in his ears before telling him she would be sleeping under the bed if he needed anything.

  Mate? What the … Holy Gods! Kilgar’s blood pressure and adrenaline levels spiked for the first time in days – Mysstree was his mate! No wonder his beast had been so impatient with him … but, wait, the brain damage! What if he … no, … what if they …

  You are such an esholeshek – his beast growled sleepily having been awakened with Kilgar’s adrenaline rush – we are not brain damaged – a rumble that must have been a chuckle vibrated against Kilgar deep inside – At least I am not.

  Kilgar growled but then smiled. Even if he did have brain damage, he was quite happy with his damaged state – especially given the vivid dream he had just been having. Kilgar could now hardly wait to claim her in reality! He felt the blood begin to flow to his rod, and he reached down to adjust himself.

  Odd. The covers were pulled down and he was completely unharnessed from the restraints.

  Kilgar reached over to knock gently on the bed railing as his Mysstree had instructed him do if he needed her.

  Because he definitely needed her – his hand massaged his engorged package again. Oh, yeah, he needed her.

  I was beginning to think I would have to take control …

  Kilgar huffed – like that would ever happen. But there was no response to his knocking from inside the room.

  Do not doubt an outcome you know is simple mathematics – I am much larger and a godsfall more ornery.

  The beast chuckled – this time, almost godsfallenly.

  Another growl from Kilgar – now that he was feeling better, he would be quite happy if the demercriere decided to go back to being unnoticed. There used to be no one to disagree with him and …

  If we are to have a mate, then we need to communicate more – you know this, my cognate.

  Yeah, Kilgar got that. Still …

  “Why did you not just come out and say something about them?”

  A deep, rumbling chuckle rolled inside of Kilgar as his beast also tried to shake off the effects of the healing liquids as well. Kilgar very slowly sat up in the bed – he still could not get past the fact that his pants as well as the covers had been down …

  The only thing I did not say was the word mate – you were just not ready to hear me.

  Kilgar was about to disagree, but stopped short. Perhaps the beast was right.

  Of course I am right. Now, where are they?

  Kilgar looked around – she had been such a constant here in the room with them, it just did not seem right without her presence. There on the bedside table, his earband he was supposed to wear – he remembered her placing it there last night before she had carefully examined his ears with the scope and then gently dripped the strong, disorienting and, basically, coma-inducing liquid in each one. Kilgar sighed – he missed her slightly hairy hands with those intriguing little claws – they had felt so very comforting.

  Kilgar actually grinned as he remembered that he was supposed to put the earband on, and she was going to walk them around this morning … hmmmm. It would be good to have her near again.

  He slipped the band over his head and fitted it carefully over his ears as he stood slowly – pulling his pants up even slower. He found that he was still in a bit of a quandary over the position of his clothing and the sheets. Maybe he had done it – maybe he had handled himself during that delectable dream of his Mysstree; afterall, his hands had been free of the restraints …

  Kilgar looked around for any sign of her belongings as he brought his hands up to run his hands through his quite nappy hair. He paused preternaturally when he discovered a braid there on his brow-line. Huh, Mysstree had not taken any interest in his hair before now …

  A low rumbling and almost challenging growl rolled up from his now-not-so-drowsy beast.

  What scent is that on your hand, esholeshek?

  Kilgar brought his hand to cover his nose and mouth as he inhaled deeply. A horrible feeling formed in the pit of his stomach as his beast roared inside of him – the vibrations making the inside of his ears itch terribly.

  Cognate slut! Kilgar could almost feel a clawed swipe at his insides. Where is our female?

  His beast was livid – more so than Kilgar could ever remember. But could the dream have been more than … oh gods! He had to find her and find out what happened …

  Find her!

  The oversized beast continued to snarl as it pushed for presence, but Kilgar held. He took a big stride toward the door and faltered just a bit – the after-effects of the healing liquids still clinging to some of his balance receptors in his newly-healed inner ear.

  But his beast had no patience for such impediments.

  Now!

  Kilgar caught the door frame before stepping out into the passageway – his olfactory searching desperately for even a hint of his Mysstree.

  There was none.

  How long ago did you siktir the orosputa, and how did you not wake me?

  Kilgar turned toward the kitchen – teeth clinched as the beast’s ire ran through all that he was.

  “I do not remember a kahrolasi thing except waking this morning – I did have a kahrolasi great dream about her, but-” his words were seethed rather than spoken as the passageway seemed to waver in front of him – fighting both the effects of the meds and his beast was taking its toll on his already-weakened state, “I swear to all the gods, I did not …”

  He was cut off with an ardent growl and another push from his beast for presence – Kilgar knew there would be no calming the champion demercriere until he found the female. And he also knew damn good and well that he could not hold his own presence for an extended period like this – the two of them had not been at odds like this since just after the beast’s initial presence when he was an adolescent.

  Yet, even then, Kilgar knew the beast was not angry as he was now. No, then it was simply a settling of dominance and existence.

  But now? Now, there was no way this situation ended well if he could not locate her soon. Because his demercriere did one thing better than any other beast on Bohrea Prime – it fought and it subdued and even killed until it was satisfied.

  Or until another cognate was forced to put it down – something Kilgar had vowed he would never let happen.

  Kilgar tried unsuccessfully to calm his beast as he shakily turned the corner to the kitchen.

  The inconsolable beast roared and pushed again.

  Where in the kahrolasi godsfall was his Mysstree?

  Chapter 35

  “Allow no one entry, understood?” Rafal’s command to Guyanni was solid as his skin practically sizzled with the feel of her magic crawling along it, “No workers. No guards. No matter the excuse. No matter any disturbance you may hear behind this door.”

  “Understood, my lord!” Guy’s acknowledgement was crisp and alert although Rafal still could not figure the reverence the Red Guard seemed to hold toward him.

  I told you, Rafal, I believe our Teyman knows the meaning of the marks on your hands.

  Rafal simply grunted still not ready to fully acknowledge where this pursuit would lead – he simply wanted his shioliah with him.

  Forever.

  His beast chuckled low in approval.

  Hondo eyed Rafal suspiciously as his older
brother laid down his last concealed weapon leaving only the large visible fighting dagger strapped to his large thigh – Hondo followed suit as Rafal keyed the door code Commander Westrungis had provided.

  “Does your Chiyoto not approve of weapons, birader?” Hondo asked cleverly, “Is she one of those radical Yasaks calling for disarmament across the Empire?”

  Rafal chuckled at his brother’s question as did his beast.

  “Hardly,” Rafal stepped through the doorway into the cavernous cargo bay – her mostly peppermint with that slight hint of musk engulfing him as he did so, “And provoking my shioliah is not my concern here, birader. You will see.”

  Hondo frowned at him.

  That could be a matter of opinion, I believe.

  Rafal smiled inwardly at his beast’s comment, but his heart soared and his beast roared with the scent recognition of their mate as he stepped through and turned to seal the hatchway behind them. He turned and inhaled, standing still with his eyes closed in silent prayer – both he and his beast united in the knowledge that these next moments would determine the future course of the entire Empire.

  OUR Empire, Rafal – they and us.

  “Are you alright?” Hondo seemed concerned, “Should we, perhaps, have brought those weapons?”

  Rafal took his shoulder and grasped it tightly as a nervous snicker escaped him.

  “They would have been useless anyway,” he said more under his breath than out loud then raised his eyes to meet Hondo’s, “Stay behind me, and remember, birader – whatever happens remains between us until I say otherwise.”

  Hondo nodded in affirmation, although his frown deepened as Rafal took a deep breath.

  “Chiyoto!” Rafal paused as the tingling on his skin spiked as if in recognition, “I have come for you, shioliah!”

  A low, foreboding rumble echoed around the entire bay and practically through Rafal and Hondo – Rafal was pretty sure he heard the bustle and rousing of an extremely large creature. But, instead of backing away from the direction of the noises, he marched firmly toward them.

  “Rafal! What in the unholy realm of godsfall …?”