Carefully, Roke parted the plump outer lips with his thumbs, revealing her slick inner petals, already pink and swollen with need and so fucking wet, just as he’d known she would be.
“Gods,” he groaned, his mouth watering as it always did to taste her sweet juices. “Didn’t I tell you, sweetheart? Your soft little pussy is already wet and swollen with need. And I bet you’re aching already, aren’t you?”
“I…I shouldn’t be,” Ellilah whispered. “We…we haven’t even had to do any Mirroring yet.”
“That doesn’t matter,” Roke growled. “Let me just give you a few licks and spread some of my healing Essence over your inner folds. That should make you feel better before we go to Supper.”
“All…all right,” she whispered, running her fingers through his hair again. “If you really think I need healing…”
“I do,” Roke assured her hoarsely. “I really do, sweetheart.”
And then he was pressing his mouth between her thighs to take a long, loving lick. As her secret flavor exploded across his tongue and he felt her fingers tighten in his hair, he thought that there was no place he would rather be than down on his knees before her, tonguing her sweet pussy until she came for him, came all over his face…
But just at that moment, a loud rapping sounded at the door of their room.
“Oh!” Elli gasped, bucking away from him. “Who could that be?”
“No one,” Roke growled. Hands on her hips, he pulled her back into position and prepared to lap her thoroughly until she came on his tongue. But the loud banging sounded again and a voice outside shouted,
“Open in the name of His Majesty, the Crown Prince!”
Thirty-Six
“Oh!” Elli exclaimed, pushing Roke away more firmly this time. “We have to go, Roke—it’s the Prince!”
Pulling down her see-through dress with its pattern of red lace patches shaped like flowers, she ran to the door of the room. Roke followed a bit more slowly behind her still licking his lips and looking irritated at having been interrupted in the middle of healing her.
When Elli pulled open the door, she saw that, sure enough, the Crown Prince was standing there. He was surrounded by his usual coterie of favored nobles and royal guards, dressed in gilded armor. He himself was wearing his usual golden velvet with silver lace at his throat and cuffs.
“Your Majesty!” Elli bowed low to the squat monarch and Roke did the same. “To what do we owe this honor?” she asked, when she finally came up from her bow.
“My dear, I’m in a mood to favor you tonight,” the Crown Prince announced with a magnanimous smile. “I’ve made so much progress in my training of Demon—with your assistance of course—that it puts me in quite a good humor.”
“That’s very kind of you to say, Your Majesty,” Elli murmured. Her heart was beating—was he about to give her the piece of Healing Lattice she needed to fulfill her quest?
“It is very kind of me, isn’t it?” The Crown Prince nodded with satisfaction. “You have quite a way with zorels, my dear. In fact, I have half a mind to make you my Bride of the Night at Supper tonight,” he went on musingly, his bulging eyes running over Elli’s nearly nude body beneath the see-through dress.
“Oh, uh…” Elli’s stomach clenched into a sudden fist. “Your Majesty, that is so very kind of you but—”
“But we are a monogamous race,” Roke growled behind her. “Strictly monogamous.”
Elli didn’t have to look at the big warrior to know that his eyes were glowing a dangerous red. His menace radiated like heat up and down her spine. The Crown Prince—who was often oblivious to everyone but himself—must have taken notice of Roke’s impending Rage as well, because he blanched, his pale blue skin going lily-white, and cleared his throat.
“However, I do not know if giving you Bride of the Night status would be appropriate,” he said hurriedly, his voice even higher than usual. “So instead, I believe I will give you a tour of the Inner Sanctum, where the Healing Lattice grows.”
“Oh, that would be just perfect, Your Majesty!” Elli clasped her hands between her breasts in excitement. Finally she would get to see the thing she had come to get! And maybe if the Crown Prince was feeling extra generous, he would give her a piece of the Lattice tonight!
“Yes, well—as I said, I’m in a mood to honor you, my dear.” The Crown Prince nodded regally. “So if you’d like to accompany me?” He held out one arm to her courteously.
Elli knew that Roke wouldn’t like it, but she took the Tenebrian Monarch’s arm anyway. After all, she couldn’t snub him and still expect him to give her a piece of the Lattice. She heard a low growl from behind her but it was a growl of irritation, not possessive Rage, so she considered it safe.
“Almost no one gets to see the Healing Lattice,” the Crown Prince remarked as they strolled down the broad hallways to the center of the Palace. “It comes directly from the Mother Lattice on our home planet and so it must be kept in the same planetary conditions to keep it healthy.”
“How fascinating!” Elli widened her eyes at him, hanging on his words as she had seen all the Tenebrian nobles do. During their time here at the palace, it had become abundantly clear to her that the more one flattered and fawned on the Tenebrian monarch, the more likely he was to give you what you wanted. It was ridiculous but necessary and she couldn’t help thinking that she would be glad when her quest was over so she wouldn’t have to do it anymore.
“Yes, yes—most fascinating indeed,” the Crown Prince remarked, in his fruity voice. “And in fact, here we are!”
They had come to a stop outside the inner sanctum—an octagonal room at the very heart of the place. Though there was only one doorway in, the sanctum had a guard at every one of its eight walls—and four more guarding the door itself.
The guards all stepped aside and bowed low when they saw the Crown Prince.
“Your Majesty! How may we serve you?” the head guard asked.
“Just open the door to the inner sanctum, there’s a good fellow,” the Crown Prince said loftily. “I have guests here who wish to view the Healing Lattice.”
“But Your Highness—the Lattice has never been viewed by non-Tenebrian eyes!” the head guard protested.
“Well, it will be now!” the Crown Prince snapped, his pale eyes bulging in sudden fury. “And how dare you speak back to me? Give me the key to the sanctum at once!”
“Yes, Your Majesty! Forgive me, Your Majesty!”
The head guard bowed low and drew a golden key on a silver chain from around his neck. With trembling hands, he presented it to the Crown Prince.
“Good!” The Crown Prince snatched it away and glared at the hapless guard. “Who is your second in command here?”
“I…I am, Your Highness,” quavered the Tenebrian soldier standing next to the head guard.
“Rejoice,” the Crown Prince said dryly, handing him the golden key on its silver necklace. “You are now the Head Guard in charge of guarding the inner sanctum of the Healing Lattice. And you,” he continued, turning to the former head guard, “May go out to the royal stables where I believe, there is an opening for a dung shoveler.”
The former head guard paled.
“B-but Your Majesty, I have served you well for over twenty cycles—” he began.
“Go!” the Crown Prince snapped. “Unless you prefer the executioner’s block to shoveling dung?” he asked, glaring at the hapless man.
“N-no, Your Majesty,” the demoted guard gasped. He made a low bow and then scrambled away as quickly as possible.
“Good.” The Crown Prince gave a long-suffering sigh and turned to the new head guard. “Now open the door for me.” He motioned imperiously at the golden door in the octagonal stone room.
“Yes, Your Majesty! At once!” The new head guard hastened to obey, fitting the golden key into the lock and opening the heavy golden door. It swung inward silently on well-oiled hinges.
The Crown Prince beckoned to Elli and Roke.<
br />
“Come, my friends. You and you alone shall accompany me into the inner sanctum.”
The new head guard, as well as some of the nobles, looked like they wanted to protest this. But after the petulant and capricious display with the former head guard, no one seemed willing to risk their position—or their head—to do so. So Elli and Roke followed the Crown Prince into the inner sanctum and His Majesty shut the door behind them.
“This way,” he said to Elli when the door was firmly shut. He led her and Roke through a short, twisting hallway that felt almost like a tunnel. After several sharp twists and turns, it opened out into a high, airy room with a huge structure right in the center.
No, not a structure—a growth, Elli thought, gazing in rapt amazement at the giant thing in the middle of the room.
The center of the inner sanctum was like a solarium with a high, arching ceiling that was made of frosted glass, which let a gentle glow of sunlight in. Just as in the Supper room, there was a milky blue stream winding its way through the room and in the center, growing up through the glittering sparkle-stone flagstones, was the most marvelous thing Elli had ever seen.
“Why…it’s a tree,” she murmured, looking up at the sparkling branches which reached for the light above. Indeed, the Healing Lattice did look remarkably like a tree from the Sacred Grove, except it seemed to be made of shining crystal instead of bark and wood. The branches spread wide and grew high. There were no leaves but none were needed, for even the tiniest twig glimmered in the muted sunlight like a rainbow come to life.
“It is much more than a tree,” the Crown Prince lectured. “This is the Heart of the Palace—the place that makes our colony here on Pok possible. For from the Healing Lattice flows the water that we need for life—since the disgusting stuff which spits from the sky on this world is poison to us.”
Looking at the base of the shimmering crystal trunk, Elli saw that the stream did, indeed, have its origins at the base of the Healing Lattice. So this was where the chemically altered milky blue water came from. She’d had the idea that the Tenebrians were taking regular water from Pok and then treating it with chemicals, but apparently she had been wrong—all their water flowed from here—from the center of the palace and the Healing Lattice.
“I have heard much of the Lattice’s magical healing properties,” she said reverently, looking up at the gleaming crystal tree. “I am most hopeful that a tiny bit of it will heal my old Priestess Superior and restore her to health.”
“Ah yes, I did promise you a chance to earn a piece of the Lattice, did I not?” the Crown Prince mused.
“You did indeed,” Elli said carefully. “And I have been hopeful that you might consider the piece you promised me earned very soon—since Demon’s training is coming on so well,” she added quickly at his petulant frown.
“Well, yes, as to that…” The Crown Prince cleared his throat. “I’m afraid that just training the great brute isn’t enough to earn you a precious piece of the Lattice.”
“Ellilah is out there risking her life with that dangerous creature every damn day,” Roke growled. He had been standing under the lowest branches of the Lattice, looking up to study it but now he turned to glare at the Tenebrian monarch. “What more do you want of her?”
“Well…” The Crown Prince cleared his throat and frowned at Roke. “Step back from the Lattice if you please, Sir. No one who is not of royal blood is allowed to touch it.”
“Of course.” Roke took a step back. “But please answer the question—what more do you expect Ellilah to do in order to earn a piece of the Lattice?”
The Crown Prince frowned at being spoken to in a less than fawning tone but instead of answering Roke, he turned to Elli.
“I dare say, my dear, that it hasn’t escaped you that Demon and I don’t get along…quite as well as one might wish.”
“Demon is a difficult zorel to get to know, Your Majesty,” Elli said carefully. “But I’m sure with just a little more training, the two of you will become great friends.”
“Well, I don’t wish to be friends with the great brute!” the Crown Prince snapped, glaring at her. “In fact, I’m bloody sorry I ever bought him in the first place! But I can’t give him up now without at least riding him in public once.”
“I understand.” Elli nodded. “You made a big deal over buying him and now you need your nobles to see you ride him.”
“Of course I do!” the Crown Prince exclaimed. “Why, I would be the laughingstock of my own Court if it became known that I’m not able—that is…if it became know that Demon is unable to be ridden.”
Elli nodded again, as sympathetically as she could.
“What would you like me to do, Your Majesty?” she asked.
“We’ve a parade planned for tomorrow,” the Crown Prince said. He ran a hand through his hair, took a deep breath, and seemed to calm himself. “The Grand Parade, which will mark the anniversary of our arrival on Pok,” he went on. “I, of course, must ride at the head of the procession. And I wish to confer a singular honor on you, my dear.” He looked at Elli earnestly with his bulging eyes. “I shall allow you to lead my mount—Demon—through the streets of Capital City for the full parade.”
“Meaning you think he’ll behave if Ellilah is holding his reins and you’re afraid he’ll throw you or flame you if she’s not,” Roke said dryly.
The Crown Prince flushed an ugly purple and glared up at the big warrior.
“Of course not! I am proposing to confer a great honor on your Heart’s Companion, Sir! And to give her a chance to earn a piece of our precious Healing Lattice in the offing.”
“I’m most gratified, Your Highness and very grateful for the honor you’re bestowing on me,” Elli said quickly. “I would be honored to lead Demon in the Grand Parade. And of course, if I hold the reins, that will leave your own hands free to wave to the adoring crowd,” she added, thinking that it was an especially clever touch.
She was right—the Crown Prince puffed up with pride at her words.
“Of course! I must have my hands free to wave—otherwise I would, of course, hold the reins and guide Demon myself.”
“Of course you would,” Elli said, smiling. “And, Your Highness…” She hesitated delicately, hoping he would be in a receptive mood now.
“Yes, my dear?” The Crown Prince smiled at her expansively.
“Might I suggest that after this Grand Parade, Demon should be put out to stud?” Elli asked. “It’s just that he’s really not well suited for riding. But I know if you bred him with some of your more docile does, he would sire fawns that would make wonderful mounts in the future,” she added quickly.
“Hmm…” The Crown Prince frowned thoughtfully, considering her words. “Is that your official advice as a Zorel Entrancer?”
“It is,” Elli said, nodding firmly. “And,” she added, having a sudden inspiration. “You can tell everyone in the Court that I said he’s too dangerous to ride and that only you have been able to mount him and tame him and no one else dares to try. That’s why he must go to stud after the Grand Parade.”
“My dear, you are simply full of good ideas!” The Crown Prince smiled at her and clapped his beringed hands together excitedly. “That is simply perfect.”
“I’m so glad you approve, Your Majesty,” Elli said, smiling. “So then…after the parade tomorrow…?” She let the sentence trail off hopefully.
“Yes, my dear—after a successful showing in the Grand Parade tomorrow, you will have earned the right to earn a piece of the Healing Lattice.” the Crown Prince nodded magnanimously, as though conferring an honor on her. “Oh, and in the meantime, you might start spreading the word that Demon is so dangerous that he will be retired to stud after the parade tomorrow—with me his one and only rider.”
“Of course, Your Highness.” Elli nodded graciously. Behind the Prince’s shoulder, she could see Roke making a sour face as though he wanted to say something. Quickly, she gave the big warrior a short, sh
arp shake of her head. There was no point in antagonizing the Crown Prince, especially when he was in such a good mood.
“Good! Then, it’s settled.” The Prince clapped his hands together once more and nodded. “Now, let us go to Supper together. And perhaps tonight, I shall honor you after all, my dear.”
At this, Roke uttered a low growl and came to stand possessively in front of Elli, so that she had to peek out from behind his side.
“Pray, don’t worry Sir Roke,” the Crown Prince said, frowning. “I have already promised that your Heart’s Companion will not serve as my Bride of the Night. There are other ways to honor those who deserve it, you know.”
“I’m sure there are, Your Majesty,” Elli said quickly, stepping out from behind Roke. “Forgive my, er, Heart’s Companion—he’s just very protective, that’s all.”
“Yes…” The Crown Prince looked at Roke speculatively. “So I’ve noticed. Well…” He clapped his hands together a third time. “Shall we go? Supper awaits and I find myself with a healthy appetite.” This time it was Elli his pale, bulging eyes ran over, which made her want to step behind Roke again.
“Of course, Your Majesty,” Roke said stiffly. He hooked his arm through Elli’s before the Prince could offer his own and nodded. “We would be honored to go with you to Supper.”
“Very good then.” The Prince gave them a slightly sour smile and then preceded them out of the inner sanctum.
As they left, Elli cast one last glance at the towering crystal tree and its glittering rainbow branches. Hopefully by this time tomorrow she would have a tiny piece of it in her possession and then she could go back to the Mother Ship and…
And what? whispered a little voice in her head. And go back to a life you don’t really like, let alone love? Go back to the dull existence of a priestess and never see Roke or ever train a single zorel again?
None of that matters, Elli told herself firmly. All that matters is getting a piece of the Lattice and healing the old Priestess Superior. I’ll worry about everything else after I accomplish that.
The Priestess and the Thief Page 19