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“You will study what human females require so they may be better integrated into our culture with minimal distress,” Yas’kihn commanded. “Bring your recommendations to the empress consort within forty days for discussion.”
Louella suspected the focus of such study would be on reproduction, but felt gratitude for her mate’s support. She took another deep breath and remembered another important facet of the committee’s mission. “We also need to figure out why eight times as many males as females are born.”
A priest paused and looked down his long nose at her. “Males fight and die.”
Louella opened her mouth then closed it without saying anything.I guess I know what he means.
“Return to your posts,” Yas’kihn ordered as his tail slid around Louella’s waist. “We will reconvene in sixty days after the empress consort has reviewed your recommendations.”
So let it be written, so let it be done. Louella stifled a snicker.
As the priests filed out of the room, Yas’kihn lifted her and settled her on his lap, making sure her legs straddled his heavily muscled thighs. Louella could not help the loud moan that spewed from her mouth as she sank onto his cock and the gasp as his tail dove beneath her skirt to stroke her belly while his lesser cock penetrated her anus. She felt the slick gush of arousal from her core and slid down his cock. In moments, she was crying out as an orgasm swept through her body. She wasn’t sure how much more time passed before Yas’kihn finally emptied his seed into her, but by that time she’d become a boneless jelly after three more orgasms.
Chapter23
Louella wasn’t sure if she should have expected to get a throne, but she privately admitted disappointment when she didn’t. Instead of sitting beside the emperor in her own stately seat, she received a large cushion that reminded her more than not of a particularly fine dog bed. The golden collar and leash did nothing to dispel that feeling of being considered little more than a prized pet rather than Yas’kihn’s wife and partner.
“It’s demeaning,” she complained over supper.
He gave her that look of bewilderment that never failed to remind her she was going against an entire cultural tradition.Now I know how Sisyphus felt.
“Never before has an empress consort enjoyed seating in the imperial audience room,” he pointed out, hoping she’d understand that he was going against tradition and doing her an honor.
She pouted. “I’d hoped for something a bit more equal to you as a partner, not something like what you’d do for a favorite pet.”
He frowned as he mulled over the concept of a pet. “Ah, like the small, furred predator Lady Evangeline keeps.”
Louella refused to let that distract her. “I’m supposed to be yourpartner, not just decoration or breeding stock.”
Again he looked puzzled as he chomped down a chunk of meat and swallowed. “Do I not seek your insight? Have I not supported your effort to set standards for health care?”
Louella sighed. “You do, Jax, and I really appreciate it. I am proud you value my opinion. What I’d like is for other Ahn’hudins to see that you value my opinion.”
“What does it matter how they see you? You are mine.”
Louella clenched her jaws and rubbed her temples. After a moment, she said, “If I’m to make real change to Ahn’hudin, then I need to be treated with respect and be seen by the people as worthy of respect.”
He fixed her with a hard glare. “Why do you think you have the right and duty to change my people’s culture?”
Louella’s eyes widened. “I’m just trying to get respect for women … er … females. We’re just as deserving of rights as any male.”
“Why do you think I do not respect you?”
She tugged at the collar still circling her throat. “Where I come from, pets wear collars. Pets are chattel and have no rights.”
“Is that so?” he countered. “Are there no consequences for treating a pet poorly or neglecting it?”
“Well, no. If someone abuses animals, he can be arrested and punished.”
“Do you have any complaints about how I treat you?”
“Um, no.”
He pressed his point. “You have remained in contact with Ladies Evangeline and Elodie. You have even contacted your friend from Earth, Marisol. Are they ill-treated?”
Louella shook her head, because none of them complained to her about being either neglected or abused. None of them looked as if she were suffering. Marisol had admitted her mate was strict, but he was also generous to a fault and seemingly terrified of her tears. She already knew Evangeline’s and Elodie’s mates doted on them.
“I have no complaints about how you treat me, nor do my friends have any complaints about how their husbands … er … mates treat them,” she admitted.
