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“Like a broodmare,” I blurted out before I could stop myself, slapping my hand in front of my mouth.
Daryus stared at me for a few seconds before he erupted in bellowing laughter. “An apt description.”
“I’m glad that amuses you,” I snapped, forgetting once again whom I was talking to. It was strange, he made it easy to forget that he was the emperor, despite the power oozing out of every single one of his pores.
“I beg your pardon,” he snorted.
I rolled my eyes.
“I forgot how delightfully honest you are.” His features lost their scowling lines. Instead, he grinned down at me like the handsome devil he was while his eyes sparkled with merriment.
When I first rounded the bend and saw Heather with Sir Vodin, the ever-present fire inside my stomach reared to a full blaze and I forced myself to stop before I pounced on the hapless male in a rage that would have put this morning’s temper tantrum to shame.
Two things stopped me, one was my inherent self-control telling me Sir Vodin hadn’t done anything to deserve my wrath, and two: her. Even from where I stood, I felt her calming presence, quelling the fire in my stomach.
From between the trees I watched Sir Vodin taking his leave while I admired Heather’s slender form and natural grace before I approached her. Overhearing their dinner plans only enhanced my foul mood when I spoke to her, and I knew I was scowling, but couldn’t help myself. The image of her and Sir Vodin out on a dinner date sat as ill with me as the notion of her with any other male.
Then she did it again. She made me laugh so unexpectedly, I nearly choked.
“Would you rather have dinner with me?” I heard myself offer.
Incredulously, she looked up at me with her deep, sapphire eyes. She opened her mouth to retort, but no words came out, so she tried again. “I don’t think I can… I already promised I would go out to dinner with him. It would be rude not to now.”
“For you, vra,” I agreed. “But I’m the emperor, I can do as I please. That wasn’t what I asked though. I asked if you would rather go out with me tonight.”
I didn’t think she would say vra, and prepared myself to be shot down, which would have been a first for me. So I called myself a fool and contemplated if I should force the issue, when she surprised me yet again and said, “Yes.”
“Vra?” I checked.
She nodded. “Yes, I would rather eat dinner with you… Your Imperial Highness.”
“Well, I will make the necessary arrangements then and send Sir Vodin a formal apology.”
Her eyes kept me captivated as I searched them, before mine traveled to her lips and I would have loved nothing more than to kiss her right then. But I managed to resist, for her. I wasn’t about to create a spectacle right inside my park, which I had once again failed to have emptied of people in the hopes of running into her. Undoubtedly, the kiss would have been observed by the many people who already pretended not to stare at us, and gossip would have spread even more like wildfire.
I had no scruples about Sir Vodin finding out. The sooner he learned who his competition was… Wait, what? I did a mental double take. Had I really just called myself a competitor for Heather’s attention?
You have, my mind informed me gleefully.
I didn’t like that thought, not at all. I couldn’t afford to bind myself to a human, not after Garth and Xandros already had. And yet… just being in her presence for a few ticks made me feel so much calmer and relaxed. The way I usually only felt after a good night’s rest before the day’s events took over.
Either way, it was too late now. I wouldn’t back out of this commitment no matter what. I told myself that I was only being selfish, that I only sought her out for the peace she gave me, but that was a lie. I enjoyed her company immensely. I liked being with her and I had damn little I liked.
When I returned to my quarters, I found Lady Madeema already hanging out in the antechamber, waiting for me.
“Lady Madeema.” I inclined my head, not really in the mood to deal with her, but affairs of the universe did hardly ever wait until I was in the mood to deal with them.
Heather’s soothing presence still surrounded me, like alcohol lingered in one’s system long after you took your last sip.
“A word, Your Imperial Highness.” She curtsied.
I waved her up and through the entrance that the guards opened for us. We were barely inside, the door hadn’t even clicked shut yet, when she got to the reason for her visit. “I was told you had dinner with a human merrily last night.”
I didn’t respond, walked to my desk, already feeling Heather’s absence and all the soothing emotions she had left behind evaporating like smoke.
“I don’t think I have to tell you what a bad idea that is,” Lady Madeema continued when I didn’t reply.
“Nocc, but since you’re here, why don’t you fill me in,” I baited her sarcastically.
