Page 23 of Drawn into Oblivion

“Mai, you are enchanting,” she gushed as Mai self-consciously walked toward her. “All the men in attendance will be moon-eyed when they see you.” Kumi guffawed at the empress’s joke.

“I sincerely hope not,” Mai answered. Shumei’s smile faltered, and Mai immediately regretted her thoughtless statement. Today was not the day for cold, cutting words. “They should be looking at you, Empress. It is your joining day, after all.”

Shumei nodded, her smile returning. “The only man I want looking at me is Vallen. I can’t wait to see him in his formal uniform.” Mai gave her a tight-lipped smile, genuinely happy for her. The empress loved the high general deeply.

Having four attendants meant Shumei was dressed in only a moment. After one last check of her hair and cosmetics, Kumi declared the empress ready for her joining day. The two Summer ladies continued to pick at the dress, though, tugging at it without seeming to change anything about how it hung.

“Let’s take one more look in the mirror, Mai,” the empress suggested. “I want to remember everything about today.” She stepped away from the Summer ladies, escaping their nitpicking hands without offending them.

Mai and Shumei stood before the vanity’s mirror, their backs to the door, and the collective sigh of the five women behind them seemed strong enough to create a breeze. They looked like opposing deities—one the goddess of a summer night, and the other of a winter’s day.

Then a sharp knock drew their attention, and everyone glanced over their shoulders as the bedroom door swung open. Rosuke stepped inside and scanned the gaggle of attendants.

“Ladies, I’m here to see if all is ready for the cere—” His eyes widened and his mouth fell open as he stared at Mai. “Utsukushii,” he breathed, and Mai was surprised to have understood the word for “beautiful” in Mahou. Apparently, her visits from the Divine One had a pleasant side effect.

She wondered if there was any way Rosuke could look more handsome. His hair was tied back in a low ponytail, and two thin braids hung from his temples. His formal uniform was similar to his everyday uniform, but made of a thicker material that held straighter lines, and all the stitching and embellishments were bright gold. He also wore a gold sash across his chest, and his sword hung at his side in a special, formal sheath.

“As you can see, Rosuke, we are ready,” Shumei broke in, a perceptive smile on her face. “Is Oka with Vallen?”

“He is, and he’s not very happy this morning,” Rosuke said, still staring at Mai while fidgeting with impatience.

“I see. Ladies, thank you for your assistance. I shall see you in the ceremony hall,” she said, dismissing the women, who were eyeing the distracted commander. They whispered among themselves as they left, and Mai vaguely heard Kyoko bid her goodbye.

The way Rosuke stared at her had her rooted to the spot. Only a week had passed since that late night in the north wing’s unused changing room, but they hadn’t touched or even spoken in all that time. The most she had seen of him had been across the Green Room at the evening meal two days ago. She had arrived with the other Spring elders, and he had just returned his tray, most assuredly on his way to his next meeting. Having spotted her, he had started across the room, but his fellow officers had herded him out before he could even come halfway.

“I need to wash my hands before we leave,” Shumei said, walking toward her private bath. “I shall be but a moment.” Mai could hear the smile in her voice, and her heart pounded at the realization of what Shumei implied.

Before the empress had even shut the door, Rosuke was rapidly crossing the room. He engulfed Mai in his arms, and she sighed with relief. Some part of her had been hurting, and she almost sagged against him.

“Rosuke,” she breathed, sliding her hands beneath his sash.

“You are a vision,” he avowed. “One I fiercely wish could remain mine and mine alone. Gods, if only I could kiss you. The night we shared together fills my dreams, and I ache at all times to be near you.” He stroked her curves with splayed fingers, and his soft words carried only as far as she needed to hear them. The passion in his voice sent shivers all the way from her blushing ears down to the juncture of her thighs, reminding her of his husky whispers in her ear telling her to moan when he’d made her feel good.

“I missed you as well—very much,” she said, wishing she could tuck her face against his neck without smearing her cosmetics.

“Whenever I thought I’d have a free moment, someone needed me. I apologize for how poorly I’ve been courting you—that is to say, not at all, I’m afraid.”

She looked up at him and shook her head. The movement made her hair ornament tinkle. “Don’t apologize. We’ve both been busy.”

“I’ll be there when you cast the spell the Divine One gifted you. I wouldn’t let anyone distract me on such an important day.”

“Oh, kiss me, please. Anywhere,” she begged.

He growled her name as he slid his hand beneath her jaw, groaned as he tilted her head back. Then he leaned down and laid an openmouthed kiss over the pulse in her throat. Heat washed over her, followed by a shiver as he strung warm, lingering kisses down her neck. On his way back up to her ear, he confessed in a harsh whisper his destructive urge to kiss her and smear her lip stain, marking both of them with proof he’d taken possession of her mouth. She nearly begged him to do it.

The door to the private bath rattled uncharacteristically as the empress noisily announced her return, and they reluctantly drew apart. When the door slid open, she and Rosuke stood apart, but Mai doubted the empress would mistake the reason for the flush on his face.

“Are you ready, Empress?” he asked, bowing.

“Yes,” she said with a breathless smile. “I’m sure Vallen is getting impatient.”

Rosuke gallantly swept his arm toward the hall. “Then let us not keep him waiting.”

Chapter Eight

The ceremony hall had been built to receive and impress visitors. A permanent dais at the head of the room could seat an entire royal entourage. Stone columns along the sides, massive as tree trunks, stretched high to support a paneled ceiling featuring clouds and flower petals. Large banners that had been finished only that morning hung from the walls and rafters—white for Shumei and black and gold for Vallen. Joining-ceremony trappings typically matched the traditional colors of the participants’ seasons, but this one joined the empress and her soon-to-be consort, making it unique.

Though cavernous, the ceremony hall could not fit all of the thousands of followers who wished to attend. The audience therefore consisted of high-ranking military officers, the thirteen major house elders, and a dozen members from each house, chosen either by lottery or special invitation.