Total pages in book: 107
Estimated words: 101280 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 506(@200wpm)___ 405(@250wpm)___ 338(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 101280 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 506(@200wpm)___ 405(@250wpm)___ 338(@300wpm)
At the same time, the Empress’s skin darkened to the same hue and her hair, which had been a rainbow of pastels, began to darken until it was more jewel tones—rich scarlet, deep emerald, intense cerulean, and vibrant umber replaced the baby-pink, powder blue, pale green, and peach that had been there a moment ago.
The Emperor’s hair and brows and lashes stayed black, but suddenly his eyes began to glow and a moment later I could see that they had changed from pure black to the same rainbow of swirling colors that the Empress had in her own eyes.
A collective, “Ohhhhh…” went up from the assembled crowd of guards and handmaidens and other servants and courtiers who were watching the transformation take place.
“I feel…different,” the Empress whispered. She was still staring into the Emperor’s face. “And you look different,” she added, speaking to him.
“So do you, my love. You are more beautiful than ever,” he rumbled, smiling at her. “And now that I hold your hands in mine and we are truly Joined, I feel myself whole for the first time.”
“I feel it too!” the Rainbow Empress breathed. “For now we are neither of us the Twenty-second and one half rulers of our world anymore.”
“Let us call ourselves. Shalaya and Shadout the Twenty-third—rulers of all Tangella Alpha-Prime together,” the Emperor suggested.
“Oh yes, my love!” the Empress exclaimed. And then she put her arms around him and dragged him down for a kiss.
Shadout didn’t seem to know what to do at first, but he figured it out pretty quickly. Taking the Empress in his arms, he kissed her back thoroughly and then, after a minute, when both of them started running their hands over each other’s bodies, it became clear that they were going to consummate their Joining right there.
Thallia, the Empress’s handmaiden, seemed to realize this pretty quickly.
“I must beg you all to clear the throne room and give their Majesties some privacy,” she said, shooing everyone out. “I am certain they wish to be alone for now.”
“I’m pretty fucking certain she’s right,” Vik’tor rumbled in my ear as he put an arm around me and we filed out of the throne room.
“The Empress is probably eager to put some of what we taught her into practice,” I murmured back and we both grinned at each other.
But inside, I was all tied in knots again. I had promised myself I would tell Vik’tor how I felt about him if I ever got to see him again. But I still wasn’t quite sure if he felt the same way about me. I mean, yes, he had said that he loved me, but maybe that was just for the Emperor’s benefit. Maybe he had just been acting. I just couldn’t be sure.
So I just smiled back at him and kept my mouth shut as I tried to think what to do and what to say.
FIFTY-FOUR
VIK’TOR
“Well, that was delicious,” Rylee remarked, pushing her plate away. “It’s been a while since I had Earth food.”
“I like this ‘peeza’,” Drace remarked, nodding in approval. “Your food repilcator is top-notch, Baron. Not even the one in our Imperial shuttle is as good.”
“Thank you.” I shrugged. “But I didn’t choose it—it came with the ship.”
“It is really good,” Lucian agreed and Natalie nodded as well, though I noticed she had barely touched her own Earth food.
For myself, I didn’t have much appetite either. Earlier, I had sworn to myself that I would never let Natalie go again. But back at the Court of the Female side of Tangella Alpha-Prime, I had told her I loved her…and I hadn’t gotten it back.
That made things fucking awkward, and now I wasn’t sure how she felt about me. Was she still planning on going home to Earth? If so, she could probably just hitch a ride with her cousin, Rylee, and her two mates. They had been discussing their intention to go back and visit Earth quite soon so that Rylee could see her relations, which were Natalie’s relations too. So maybe I would have some indication of how Natalie felt when they decided to leave.
Our two ships were in synchronous orbit, connected via a short umbilical passageway. If Natalie decided to go with her cousin when our meal together was over, I would have my answer and know that she had no interest in staying with me.
But I fucking hoped that wasn’t the case. If she left, it would be like ripping my heart out. I wanted her to stay with me desperately but I didn’t know how to say that without begging.
“Well…I think it’s time we got back to our own ship, right, boys?” Rylee said, interrupting my thoughts.
“I’d agree with that, sweetheart,” Drace growled, giving her a hungry look.
“I as well,” Lucian murmured. He wasn’t as obvious about it, but he had the same look in his eyes when he glanced at Rylee. And Rylee was giving it back to both her mates, full force.