Caitir’s head shot up and her eyes flew to the Emperor not only because he had thanked her, which was unheard of but because of his question.
“I… no sire… since Lady Estee left. We only work on male coverings now.”
“Would you like to become the Empress’ clothier?”
“What!” Caitir took a stumbling step back, unable to hide her shock.
“Along with Jael of course." Wray quickly reassured her. "You both are talented clothiers and…” Wray looked at Kim’s beaming face and knew he was making the right choice. “My Kim enjoys spending time with you. Her species is very social and I know how hard it has been for her to have no females to talk to.”
“I…” Caitir couldn’t believe it. Everything she thought would upset the Emperor, her speaking to the Empress, her sitting next to her and talking to her are what he wanted her to do?
“Sire.” Veron stepped into the room. “Clothier Jael has returned for Caitir.”
“Show him in, Captain.” Wray ordered.
“Yes, majesty.” Bowing Veron backed out of the room.
∞ ∞ ∞ ∞ ∞
Jael tried to conceal his worry when he didn't find Caitir in the outer chamber. Where could she be? Why wasn't she here?
“The Emperor wishes for you to join him in the resting chamber.” Veron informed Jael, his expression revealing nothing.
Nodding jerkily, Jail followed the Emperor’s Captain into the resting chamber concerned at what he was about to find.
“Clothier Jael, please, come in.” The Emperor gestured to a chair as he entered but Jael's eyes immediately went to Caitir who was sitting on the couch next to the Empress. “Sit.” The Emperor ordered.
Slowly Jael did as the Emperor commanded, but his eyes remained on Caitir searching for the slightest sign that she had been harmed. What he found confused him. Caitir’s eyes were full of tears… but threw them shined… hope.
“Clothier Jael, I would like you and…” Wray paused, wondering what he should call Caitir.
“Lady Caitir.” Kim supplied for him.
“What?” Wray turned shocked eyes to her.
“On Earth a female who serves a Queen is called a Lady in Waiting."
“Kim, here, a Lady is always the female Joined with a Lord.” Wray informed her.
“And who’s to say Caitir won’t one day be?” Kim argued back.
“That would never happen, Empress, for no worthy male would Join with me.” Caitir said quietly.
“Then they are fools, Caitir." Kim snapped. "For you are more than worthy.”
“You don’t understand majesty…” Caitir started.
“Yes, I do, Lady Caitir, and the ability for a female to produce offspring should never be the deciding factor in her worthiness. Should it, Wray?” Kim questioned, turning hard eyes to him.
“No, my Kim, it should never be.” He agreed shocking the other two males in the room. “So, Clothier Jael.” Wray eyes returned to Jael and the subject at hand. “Would you and Lady Caitir be willing to travel to Tornian as the Empress’ personal clothier?”
“I… Majesty, I would be in your debt!” Jael stuttered his mind whirling. To be the clothier to the Empress! Such an honor had never been given to an Auyangian before.
“No, Jael, it is I who am in your debt” Wray looked the male in the eye and Jael saw he spoke the truth. “Empress Kim is the most important thing in the universe to me, but she is new to our ways and anyone that can help her with this transition has my gratitude. Lady Caitir has already shown her ability in doing this and it is my hope that you will too.”
“It would be our honor to serve both of you, Majesty.”
“Good. Veron, " Wray looked to his Captain who gave no hint of the surprise his Emperor had just thrown him. "make the arrangements.”
“Of course, Majesty.” Veron replied, bowing slightly.
“This is so wonderful!” Kim didn’t try to contain her excitement as she leaned over to hug Caitir. She was going to have someone else to talk to, a female, someone that would help her understand Tornian life as only a female could.
Caitir found herself hugging the Empress back. How had the universe, so drastically changed, in such a short time? All because of one small female?”
∞ ∞ ∞ ∞ ∞
“Thank you, Wray.” Resting her hands on his chest Kim stretched up on her toes to kiss him.
“For what, my Kim?” Wray asked, gripping her waist to keep her lips against his.
“For understanding.” She said, sliding her hands around his neck as she kissed him again.
“What did I understand, Kim?” Wray ran his hands down her sides to grasp her ass and lift her against his growing shaft.
“That…” Kim lost her train of thought as Wray’s tongue slid along her lower lip. Groaning, she wrapped her lips around it and sucked it into her mouth.
Wray fingers sunk into Kim’s lush ass, lifting her off the floor, his mouth attacking hers. Goddess, she was so soft. Growling Wray moved towards their bed intent on satisfying both their needs.
“Manno!”
Wray froze at the sound of Tora’s voice echoing through the open door of their resting chamber. He’d forgotten Tora would be joining them for a last meal and by the way Kim was stiffening in his arms, she apparently had too.
“Wray…” she whispered, aghast at the thought of Tora walking in on them and buried her face in his chest. How could she have forgotten Tora was coming?
“We will be out in a minute, Tora!” Wray called out as he slowly lowered Kim’s feet to the floor. “It will be fine, my Kim.” He said running a reassuring knuckle along her cheek.
∞ ∞ ∞ ∞ ∞
“We?” Tora thought to himself pausing in the outer chamber confused. He had been on the other side of Vesta when he’d received word that his manno had arrived and wanted to see him. He immediately boarded a shuttle because when the Emperor summoned you, you went, manno or not. Now he had him waiting in the outer chamber. Why? He has never done that before. Especially not when it has been just them… but he said ‘We’. Could it be Veron? If so, why couldn’t he join them?
He walked towards the window and looked out over the darkening grounds of House Reeve. He had only been here three months, but knew because of Vesta’s importance he would need to stay longer than he had with the other Lords. He wasn’t happy about that. He didn’t like it here. Didn’t like the way Reeve’s Warriors treated those who weren't warriors, but it was not his place to correct it. Not yet. His purpose here was to learn, and he was, he was learning what he didn’t want to be.
He hoped, that after his year of training was finished here, he could travel to Luda and complete his training with Grim. He knew there, his manno’s blood brother, would give him no concessions for who he was and neither would his warriors.
Grim would demand he train harder than any other male there and Tora welcomed it, for only on Betelgeuse with Lord Oryon of House Rigel had he been given no special treatment. Lord Oryon had made him earn every word of praise he received. He hadn’t wanted to leave.
“Tora!”
His manno’s voice had Tora turning from the window, a smile breaking out across his face as his manno moved towards him, giving him a quick hug.
“Manno.” Tora responded hugging him back.
“You look well, Tora. Are you?” Wray’s eyes scrutinized his offspring. He remembered what it was like to be sent to the Houses, to be treated differently, to never be seen as one of them. As a true Tornian Warrior.
“I am well, manno.” Tora told him, refusing to share his troubles. He would one day be Emperor and that meant he would need to handle his problems alone, for to be Emperor was to be alone, especially for him, since Van was gone.
“You appear so.” Wray’s eyes continued to assess him. It had been nearly six months since he had seen Tora. He had been on Betelgeuse then and had seemed more… content there. “You would tell me if there were problems?”
??
?Of course, manno.” Tora easily lied to him, knowing any interference by his manno would make him appear weak and many already considered him that. Thanks to his failure to save Van.
“Good. Your training is going well then.” Wray questioned.
“I am learning a great deal here on Vesta.” Tora said evasively.
“Good.”
“May I ask manno? Why are you here?”
“It appears there is some problem with the food supplies leaving Vesta for the Kaliszian Empire.”
“What?!!” Tora couldn’t hide his shock. Those supplies were vital for the Kaliszians.
“Have you seen anything unusual?”
“No, but I haven’t been involved with the loading of shipments. I've just been overseeing the harvests.”
“Lord Reeve claims the supplies are going missing after the Kaliszian ships leave Vesta.”
“It is possible, but why would their Warriors do that?”
“Reeve claims they would be able to resell them for extreme credits.”
“No fit male would do such a thing!”
“They would not be fit males now would they?” Wray said, raising an eyebrow.
“Wray?” The hesitant question had him turning to find Kim watching them with a nervous smile on her lips.
“Kim… I am sorry.” Wray quickly moved to her side.
“There’s nothing to be sorry for, Wray. You were talking to your son… offspring.” Kim gave him a self-deprecating smile. “Eventually I’ll get the hang of all these differences.”
“You are doing fine, my Kim.” Wray told her, rubbing reassuring hands up and down her arms. “My world is strange to you and you have already learned a great deal in a very short time.”
“I know I just hate being stupid.”
“Do not say that!” Wray gave her an angry little shake. “You are not stupid and I will tolerate no one saying you are. Not even you.”
Kim reached up and put a calming hand on his cheek. “I didn’t mean it exactly that way, Wray. I just meant that sometimes I make mistakes I feel I shouldn’t make.”
“They are not mistakes, my Kim, they are just the words from your world. They mean the same and I find them warmer, more caring, than our words.”
Tora stood frozen in shock as his manno spoke to the small strange looking female. Where had she come from? Why was she here? More importantly, why was his manno touching her with such familiarity? Why was she allowing it?
He was even more shocked when green eyes suddenly turned and looked directly at him. There was a warmth in them that he has never seen before in a female’s eye.
“Will you introduce me to your offspring?” she asked, looking back to his manno.
“Of course.” Wray said, turning so they both faced Tora. “Kim, I present to you my first male offspring and future Emperor, Tora Vasteri.”
“It’s very nice to finally meet you, Tora.” Kim said still smiling.
“Tora, this is Kim Teel, from the planet Earth. She is your Empress.”
“What?” The words exploded from Tora as his eyes flew to his manno. “What did you say?”
“I have taken Kim as my Empress and she has accepted.” Wray said, ignoring Kim’s small snort and continued to stare at Tora, his eyes turning hard. “You will show her your respect.”
Kim’s smile began to fade at Wray’s words and Tora’s continued silence.
“Wray…” Kim began.
“Tora!” Wray roared.
Finally, Tora put an arm across his chest and bowed. "Empress.” he said stiffly.
Kim didn’t miss how Tora called her Empress when she had called him Tora. Apparently, he didn’t want to be friends. Could she really blame him? This had to come as a shock.
Wray didn’t miss it either by the way his chest started to rumble.
A knock on the outer door stopped anything from erupting.
“Enter!” Wray ordered, his eyes still glaring at Tora.
At his order, the doors opened and Veron escorted several servants into the room carrying trays of food.
“On the table over there, please.” Kim ordered, gesturing to the large table as Wray and Tora continued to glare at each other.
“Yes, majesty.” Veron motioned to the servants, but his eyes moved from his Emperor to his Prince. Veron has never seen them glare at each other like that.
“That will be all, Captain.” Kim said, ignoring his surprised look as she dismissed him.
“Do as your Empress has ordered, Captain.” Wray told him, his eyes still on Tora.
“Yes, majesty.” Veron quickly replied and with a deep bow, he quickly followed the servants out of the room, closing the doors.
Chapter Twenty-One
“Alright boys, that’s enough.” Kim said as Wray and Tora continued to glare at each other. No one would ever doubt that they were manno and offspring. They stood the same way, frowned the same way, set their jaw the same stubborn way. They even crossed their arms over their chests the same way. The only difference between them was that Wray was larger, his chest more massive than Tora’s but she didn’t think it would be true for much longer. Especially when two sets of eyes turned to her with the same disbelief in them.
“Don’t give me that look." She told them. "The food is getting cold and I for one am hungry.” Turning her back on them Kim walked over to the table and sat down. This wasn't how she had wanted her first meeting with Tora to go, but what had gone the way she wanted since her parents’ deaths?
Looking at the overflowing platters, she realized that they were once again filled with foods she didn't recognize. Stopping the heavy sigh that wanted to escape, she reached out for what looked to be a meat filled pastry.
"You will not like that, my Kim." Wray said, stopping her hand as he sat down next to her. "The meat is heavily seasoned with an herb that most find extremely strong."
"Then why is it on the platter?" She asked, frowning.
"Because Lord Reeve's cook discovered I liked it." Tora replied slowly sitting down across from her.
"I see." Kim said looking at the other items on the platter. "So that would mean these are all your favorites." She said, circling her finger at all the items on the platter.
"Yes." Tora agreed.
"Then here you go, enjoy." Kim slid the platter towards him, then looked at the second platter, it was also filled with strange concoctions and she slid it towards Wray. "So these must be your favorites. And this," she reached for the third platter that held a simple array of fruits, vegetables and some meat. The same things that had been served to them the night before. "Must be for the Emperor's ‘strange’ new female."
Kim didn't know why she was suddenly so upset, but she was. She had known this wasn't going to be easy. She should have been more prepared for Tora not immediately accepting her. She wouldn't have, if the situation had been reversed, but she had hoped. She was tired of everyone looking at her as if she had two heads and had secretly hoped Tora would be more like Wray than like the other males she'd met. She was wrong.
"You are not strange, my Kim." Wray immediately denied and gently cupped her cheek so she had to look at him.
"In your world I am." She whispered, rapidly blinking back the tears that filled her eyes.
"Then it's my world that is at fault Kim, for you are absolutely perfect."
"No one is perfect, Wray." She argued gently.
"You are." He argued back defending her even against herself. "You are perfect for me."
"So we'll be strange together?" She asked, a small smile twitching at her lips.
"Yes, because that's what we are, Kim. Together. My most solemn vow. I will let nothing and no one separate us." Leaning over he captured her lips, sealing his words.
Tora stared at his manno in disbelief. What was he saying? What sort of power did this female have over him that he would give her his most solemn vow? That vow reserved for only the most dire or important occasions. It meant the Emperor would do whatever it took to
keep it, even forfeit his own life if necessary. It was never given to a female. Especially not a non-Tornian female. And why was his manno pressing his mouth against the female's like that?
Kim sunk into Wray's kiss and let it ease the hurt Tora had unknowingly caused... Tora... Pulling back, her gaze flew to Wray's offspring and saw a very confused young man... male staring at them.
Wray didn't like Kim pulling away from him. He especially didn't like the way her gaze immediately went to Tora. He knew it wasn't because she was interested in his offspring, but Tora didn't.
"Tora..." He began, only to be cut off by a knocking on the door. "Enter!" he ordered impatiently.
"I'm sorry to interrupt, majesty, but King Grim is on the comm and is requesting to speak with you."
"Tell him I will contact him later." Wray told Veron.
"He says it is urgent, sire." Veron pressed.
"Manno... it is Grim." Tora couldn't hide his disbelief that his manno didn’t immediately rise to see what Grim wanted. If Grim thought it were urgent then it must be.
"Wray." Kim puts a hand on Wray's arm. "It's your brother. It must be important for him to say it’s urgent.” She gave his arm a reassuring squeeze. “Go. Find out what he needs. I'll be fine here with Tora." She turned her gaze to the younger male whose shock was evident. "Won't I, Tora." she challenged.
"I..." Tora stuttered, his eyes flying to his manno for guidance. He has never been allowed to be with a female alone. "Yes, of course, but..."
"You will protect her with your life, Tora." Wray ordered, rising from his chair. "She is your Empress!"
"Yes, manno." Tora immediately replied. Of course he would protect the female. All worthy males protected females.
With a stiff nod to Tora, Wray ran a last gentle finger along her cheek, then forced himself to follow Veron from the room.
Kim's eyes followed Wray as he left and knew it was something she was going to have to get used to. Wray's back. With a heavy sigh, she turned her attention back to the platter in front of her and found her appetite had left with Wray. She was actually feeling a little nauseous from all the strange smells. Pushing the platter away, she closed her eyes and leaned back in her chair.