AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“What did you say to him?” she asked as the crewman stationed himself on the other side of the room and Captain Ashtul entered with his modestly attired mate. The female wore the high-necked white tunic with floor-length blue stola and pale green palla. Louella tried not to stare.She’s a cat!
Instead of answering her question, Yas’kihn said, “Captain Ashtul, welcome.”
The captain bowed then turned to his mate. She glided gracefully forward and bowed. The Kaanian warrior replied, “We are honored, Your Majesty. Please welcome my mate, Kishah.”
The emperor murmured a polite greeting and introduced his mate, “This is the empress consort, Louella, my mate.”
Louella nodded and said, “It’s lovely to meet you, Kishah.”
Kishah bowed again and gave Louella a slow blink of her brilliant blue eyes.
“Please, be seated,” Yas’kihn bade them. She heard a low, low rumble, almost a purr, emanate from the depths of Jax’s throat. It felt almost like speech, but she could not distinguish the words. Frowning, she turned to face him as his tail wrapped around her abdomen to lock her in place on his lap.
“What were you saying?” she murmured.
Yas’kihn’s crest rose, then relaxed. “You could hear that?”
His murmured words recaptured her attention and brought her back to the earlier train of thought. “It’s almost like you were whispering, but you weren’t whispering.”
He said nothing. She pursed her lips, thinking. Captain Ashtul and his mate watched in silence, the former keeping his expression neutral. His mate gave a languid blink of her sapphire eyes.
“But youwerespeaking, weren’t you?”
“Yes.”
“Don’t keep secrets from me, Jax. I won’t have it.” She glanced at the crewman who maintained an impassive, inscrutable expression.
“We Ahn’hudin have the ability to speak at a low auditory register that most other species cannot hear. Warriors often communicate that way for privacy.”
“And what do you think you cannot say in front of me?”
He met her challenging gaze and answered, “I asked him if any of the emperor’s concubines were aboard the ship.”
Louella felt her eyebrows head skyward, except she didn’t have eyebrows anymore. “Concubines?”
“Gudren maintained a small stable of females whom he used for pleasure,” Jax replied with distaste. “He often brought along a favorite or two when he traveled.”
“And there are one or two on this ship?”
“Yes.”
“And what do you want with them?” The red-hot jealousy surging through her veins surprised her.
“I want nothing with them, pretty spark. I have you,” he replied and nuzzled her neck. “I will speak with them and offer them their freedom.”
“Meaning?”
“Meaning they may leave Ahn’hudin with my blessing. Ahn’hudin will provide each with severance and transportation to the destination of her choice.”
Louella blinked.That’s actually pretty generous. Aloud, she said, “That’s kind of you.” She smiled broadly. “I approve.”
Jax nuzzled her again, joy at her approval swirling through his body and mind like potent wine. A moment later the cabin door opened and two concubines entered. Both were garbed in filmy swaths of shimmering fabric pinned at the shoulders with golden fasteners. One of the two females wore a loose girdle that hung low on her narrow hips. To Louella’s astonishment, she was human. The other female was neither human nor Ahn’hudin. Louella didn’t know what species she was.
The crewman snapped out an order, “Introduce yourselves.”
The two females glared at him. The human female raised her nose and gave a haughty sniff. The other female stared at Louella for a moment. She spoke first and leveled a sultry glance at Yas’kihn. “I am Istolk, favorite of his majesty Emperor Gudren.”
Louella nodded and replied, “I’m Louella Cordelia Jefferson, Emperor Yas’kihn’smate.”
