Queen of the Savages - Complete (11 page)

They were shaping blocks for the new walls of the palace.

"These are older workrooms from before the palace was expanded. They may be old, but they still exist and are serviceable. We've moved the craftspeople here until the palace is rebuilt." said Sali.

They continued in silence until they reached the last building on the right and entered. A group of green-skinned Kerdos women from young to old at tables and chairs stitching fabric. Surprised to see Tracy, they looked up from their work.

"Lady Tracy," announced Sali.

Immediately the women rose and bowed.

"This is Ea-Tamin and her seamstresses," Sali said, motioning to the oldest woman. "She is in charge of all the sewing for the palace, especially for the royal family."

"Please do not let me disturb you," said Tracy. "I only wish to thank you for the beautiful clothes you made."

Ea-Tamin came forward and bowed. "We are honored to serve the house of Reven." The woman looked pleased.

"Show her the dress for tonight," said a younger woman.

"Hush," said the older woman.

"I would like to see it."

Tamin smiled. "If you insist, perhaps you can try it on, and we'll see if we have the fit right."

"I'd love to!"

The woman opened a panel in the wall behind her and pulled out a dress in dark royal blue. This one was different from the robes worn by Kerdos women. Sali unbuttoned Tracy's robe and drew it off her. Between Sali and Tamin, the dress wafted over Tracy's head and floated around her to the floor.

The dress was made of the same kind of soft fabric as her bed sheets, only thicker. The dress had a tight, low v-neck that showed her bra, while the skirt swirled straight down around her ankles. A train fell off the back of her shoulders, gathering and pooling at the floor.

Tracy never had anything this nice or beautiful in her closet back home.

"It's amazing," she said.

Tamin smiled. "Thank you. There are some adjustments we can do, and of course, that is not the undergarment you'd wear. "Saru, get the undergarments." Tamin quickly started pinning different places in the dress to adjust the fit.

"Yes, mistress," said the younger woman. Saru opened a drawer behind her and walked to Tracy. She shyly held out a wide band embroidered in gold thread which was worked with small blue beads.

"This is a more traditional undergarment for your dress. I hope you don't mind."

"Everything is gorgeous. Much more than I deserve."

"The lady of our prince deserves every good thing," said Tamin.

Tracy was overwhelmed. Everyone she met here was kind and generous. Maybe they did it because of her 'station', but it was clear to her these people put their soul into their work.

"Mistress Tamin, I don't know what to say. Nothing I could say or do can match the beauty of your work. Thank you. Thank you for everything."

Tamin smiled. "We appreciate your visit to our humble craft house."

"Wait," said Saru. "Ask her."

"Hush, child," said Tamin.

"Ask whatever you like," said Tracy.

"May we use the design of your undergarments for our own? They are very beautiful, and the younger women like the style very much."

Tracy was shocked. "Well, they aren't my designs, not really. Rev was overly impressed with my undergarments when he first encountered them."

The women laughed.

"They are standard patterns on my planet. Feel free to make use of them."

"Thank you for your indulgence," said Tamin. "And for coming here for a fitting. Next time, simply call us, and we'll come to your apartments."

Tracy felt annoyed at Sali. She had insisted that the seamstresses didn't need to fit the garments because they were so skilled. Tracy hid her emotions and gave Tamin a big smile.

"You can come by anytime. No need to wait for me to call you," said Tracy.

"I am honored."

Sali put on Tracy's tunic robe with a sour look on her face.

"We should go and not keep the seamstresses from their work."

Tracy waved a hearty good-bye to the seamstresses, thanking them again for all their hard work. Sali led her away, keeping her back to Tracy. She moved very stiffly.

Tracy realized that there was no way that Sali was going to become her friend.

In fact, Tracy suspected Sali just might be her enemy.

The exercise floor was where Rev and his brother worked out the tension of from their meetings with the High Council of Kerdos. Each brother wrestled with the ferocity they couldn't take out on the Council members.

Currently, Tev had Rev pinned to the floor, and Rev struggled to break free.

"I think," said Tev, "that your little mate is wearing you out."

At the mention of Tracy's name, Rev felt a surge of energy. Maybe he didn't want her to hear about his brother thrashing him on the exercise floor. Or maybe the reminder of how powerful he felt with her in his arms stirred him. He grabbed his brother around his back and pushed with his torso and his legs, rolling Tev over on his back.

He did not make the same mistake his brother made. Rev held Tev's arms firmly to the mat.

"Hah!" he said triumphantly.

Tev tried to move, but Rev had him thoroughly pinned.

"Yield?"

Tev relaxed. "Yes, yes, this match goes to you."

"Good, let's get a shower. We will have to get ready for the dinner tonight."

Tev groaned. "Why are we having a state dinner so soon after we buried our family? It feels wrong."

"I agree," said Rev. He stood and held out his hand to help Tev up. "But Pa-Kregin organized it, and it's best we keep him on our side until the Council selects an emperor."

"I don't see why. It's either you or me, and you have the edge there."

"I don't want it."

Tev shot him a look of disbelief.

"Tracy has a suggestion for you. Pick a nice woman and get her pregnant. You can do that faster than us because apparently Earth women can take up to a year to get pregnant."

"With the myths and legends of your prowess in the bedchamber growing each day? I hardly think so." Tev said with a laugh.

"I tell you, brother. The right mate makes all the difference."

"I wish people would stop trying to force a mate on me! The reason I dread going to this dinner is that Pa-Kregin listed many of Kerdos' high born women in the invitations."

"You could do worse," said Rev. He walked away from Tev towards the showers, but Tev followed him there. Both brothers stripped their sweaty clothes. The shower attendants handed them towels and took the dirty clothes away. Attendants rubbed soaps into their skin, and when finished, the two men stepped under the shower. This area was made up of solid panels of rough red stone, and the water fell in a waterfall.

Rev caught Tev looking at his crotch.

"Like what you see?" he quipped.

Tev snorted. "So, it's true about the mating ridges. I thought they were supposed to subside after sex."

"Mine don't."

"So many things are different about you. You aren't the little brother I used to know."

"We've been apart for a couple years. People change."

"It's more than that. Before, all you cared about was doing your duty. Now, you've thrown all that away for a woman from another planet, a non-aligned one at that."

"Hey," growled Rev. "That's my mate."

"And should she be? Even now, Ja-Idin Du is filing papers to remove the Kerdos Empire from the Aligned Worlds because you will not give up the Earth woman."

Rev huffed and faced his brother. "There is no giving her up."

"What will that matter when the Aligned Worlds shuts off trade to us? They will make Aligned World's space forbidden to our people. They will deny us protection from encroaching species1"

"Yes," said Rev angrily. "Like they 'protected' us from Quargan's pirate fleet."

"Ja-Idin Du says-"

"Why are you listening to anything Ja-Idin Du says? Do you not realize that the man attacked my mate, threatening to bite her with his fangs and releasing his venom into her? Remember that Du venom kills, Tev. He tried to kill her, and he followed us to Kerdos with the intention of killing us."

"Brother, I do believe that mating this woman has erased all reason from your mind. Ja-Idin Du is a counselor: a trained pacifist. He couldn't harm her or us if he tried. He had nothing to do with those pirates."

"Who has erased all reason?" said Rev. "I can't believe you can't see what is in front of your face."

With that, Rev grabbed dry towels from an attendant and quickly left the exercise area.

Rev prowled the sitting room of Tracy's apartment restlessly. Did every woman keep a man waiting while she dressed? His father made complaints like that about Rev's mother, but it was always with a half-smile on his lips.

He hated this state dinner.

Tev was right. It was too soon after the deaths. Rev could barely believe his father was gone forever, let alone process that the bodies at the funeral were forever in the ground. It tugged at his heart, this incipient grief denied by the rush of his daily schedule.

Always, always, there was someone that begged for his attention to listen to some problem or well-meaning advice. The daily meeting with the council was taking its toll on his patience. He wanted time apart from his duties and responsibilities.

But Pa-Kregin insisted on the importance of this event. It was the duty of Rev and Tev to attend. "You must show the people, your Highnesses, that the empire goes forward regardless of this horrible tragedy."

Must. His life was filled with musts now. Rev now understood why his father was happy to play the part of the shadow prince. He came forward only when needed, and then he faded into the background.

Rev shared Tev's attitude about this banquet, but he objected to his brother's opinions about Tracy. Tev's refusal to respect their mating chafed Rev's nerves. Tev taking Ja-Idin Du's side irritated him more. Rev detested this disagreement between them.

Tracy was his mate. That was that. The Aligned Worlds could go to hell for all he cared.

It wasn't a very princely attitude, but then again, Rev was never meant to be a prince.

Finally, the door to Tracy's bedroom cracked open, and she emerged.

He caught his breath. The royal blue gown of mrina cloth flowed around her like a waterfall. Her face was as pale as the moon Endra, and it was framed by her dark hair fashioned in the style favored by Kerdos women.

She looked every inch a queen.

He wanted her then and there.

Out of the corner of his eye, he spotted Tracy's attendant, As-Sali, bow and then exit Tracy's suite. Good, they were alone.

"Well, what do you think?" she said twirling. The delicate cloth fluttered around her alluring frame.

"You look like a princess," he said.

"I was going for drop dead sexy."

"That too. We might not make it out of these rooms tonight."

"Promises, promises," she said with a lilt in her voice.

Rev advanced and caught her around her waist.

"Are you implying I haven't performed my duties as your mate."

"No," she breathed, her heart beating hard against his chest.

"Because, if you feel in any way deprived, I will send my regrets to Pa-Kregin, letting him know I have other duties to perform."

Tracy laughed. "You aren't getting out of the dinner that easily."

"No?" he said huskily. Rev kissed the space behind her ear; it was a place he learned drove her passions. She made a noise that filled him with delight.

"And that's another thing," said Tracy, her breath hitching. "You need to do better than send me a message two hours before an event."

"What?" he groaned, pulling her tighter to him. The sensuous feel of her soft skin and the mrina cloth sparked thoughts of the heat and softness waiting for him. "I thought you'd like the surprise of the new clothes."

"I always love a good present," she said. A small noise that Rev associated with her begging for more escaped her mouth as he worked her neck with nibbles and kisses. "But we promised to be honest in our communications. Fuck." These last words came out as Rev swirled his tongue in her ear, another thing that excited her beyond reason.

"Yes," said Rev. At that moment he didn't care that they were scheduled to arrive in twenty minutes. She always did this to him. Always. His cock pressed between both of them, urgent and ready.

"This," she breathed, "will not get you out of the conversation."

"I'm not looking to get out of something. Just in."

Rev slid the ultra thin fabric of her dress up her thighs and placed his hands on either one, pulling her against his hardness.

"The dinner," she said.

"Can wait," he replied. Rev peeled the delicate panties from her. They were beautiful and sexy, made just as he described to the blushing seamstresses, but they were not as alluring as the treasure within. He pressed a finger against her folds, finding them slick with her arousal. Yes, Tracy, his mate, was always ready for him.

What man could ask for more?

They'd barely finished before there were insistent knocks at Tracy's door.

Tracy rolled her eyes as she stretched her arms above her head grabbing the headboard.

"I suppose we should get dressed."

"My lady." A voice came through the door to her bedroom.

Tracy sighed. "As-Sali. That woman is becoming a pain."

"My lady!" said Sali more insistently.

Tracy got out of the bed. Shaking her head, she threw a sheet over Rev and slipped a robe on before she unlocked the door. The door swung open suddenly.

"Yes, Sali?" said Tracy.

Sali's eyes grew wide when she saw Rev in the bed. His muscled body was barely covered by the silky sheets.

"I'm sorry. Forgive the intrusion, your Highness. Pa-Kregin says they are waiting for you."

"As well he should," said Rev. "Send a message that we'll be there shortly."

"Yes, my lord."

"And then help my mate freshen up."

"Yes, my lord."

By the time Sali returned to help Tracy, Rev had dressed. Urging them to hurry, Rev waited in the sitting room. It didn't take them long, though Tracy looked distressed. Sali bowed and left them once more.