Stardancer (Tellaran Series) (27 page)

“I didn’t know where else we could go.”

Kinara turned her head and saw Lianna, her hands clasped shyly in front of her. “Greetings to you, Lady of the Az’anti.”

“Greetings to you, Lianna,” Kinara responded warmly then blinked. “I didn’t know you spoke Tellaran.”

Lianna turned her eyes to Tedah. “I practice much these days.”

Tedah gave Lianna a lopsided grin and she blushed. “She’s even teaching me Az-kye, if you can imagine that.”

“What do you here, Tedah?”

Kinara’s breath drew in.
Aidar’d spoken in Tellaran!
She’d always assumed he’d used a translator unit to talk to Tedah. He met her eyes and she flushed, remembering the fights with Kyndan she thought he hadn’t understood.

“You should have told me you speak Tellaran,” she said.

He raised an eyebrow. “Did you think I did not?”

“You know very well I did!”

“What have you been saying, Kinara?” Tedah asked.

Kinara scowled at Tedah. “What are you doing here anyway?”

Tedah and Lianna exchanged a glance and then he took the girl’s hand. “Baruta doesn’t want her daughter hanging around Tellarans.”

“We ran away today,” Lianna said.

“You did what?” Kinara gasped.

“Mother would never agree to a marriage.”

“A
marriage
?” Kinara nearly dropped her fan. “Are you kidding?”

“She told me this morning she was going to sell Tedah,” Lianna explained. “We had to run away.”

“You have to go back before you’re found out!” Kinara cried, shaking her head. “You can’t do this.”

“You took Aidar as bound mate,” Lianna objected. 

“Well, yes! But I didn’t disobey the clan leader to do it!”

“
Cy’atta
.” Aidar touched her shoulder. “We must think of what to do.”

A clan heiress running away with a Tellaran slave? Lianna would be dragged home, her name and status so damaged she might never set foot in Az-kye society again.

Kinara didn’t even want to think about what Lianna’s mother would do to Tedah.

“I have thought!” Kinara retorted. “They’re going back before anyone discovers they’re missing.”

“We will not!” 

Kinara turned on the girl. “Do you have any idea how much trouble you’re in?  Your mother might even disown you, Lianna!” 

Lianna set her jaw and Kinara realized that this girl was, for all her youth, every inch an Az-kye, right down to their starblasted, boneheaded stubbornness. 

Tedah looked steadily at Kinara. “Would you give Aidar up?”

Kinara blushed. “That’s not the issue.”

“Kinara is my bound mate,” Aidar said. 

“And Lianna is mine,” Tedah replied.

At that Kinara had to sit down. “Oh, Tedah, are you crazy? Baruta will be out for your blood.”

He gave her a crooked grin. “Yeah, well, I’m kind of getting used to it.”

“Damn it, this is
serious
, Tedah! Oh, stars,” she groaned, dropping her head into her hands. “What are we going to do?”

“We must help them,” Aidar said. “We must hide them.”

“And just how long do you think it will be until Lianna’s mother figures out where they are?” Kinara demanded. “Do you want a clan war here?”

“Is he not your friend?”

Kinara threw her hands wide. “Yes, of course he is! But —”

Tedah pulled Lianna closer. 

Az-kye, Tellaran, clanless. It doesn’t even matter. They love each other. 

She glanced at Aidar.
How can I tell them to give up?
Tell them that the one you love isn’t worth fighting for?

She couldn’t betray them to Baruta. She couldn’t throw them out.  She couldn’t risk letting them be seen in the city so she couldn’t smuggle them off-world yet.

So there was nothing else to do right now, except . . .

“Damn it!” She rubbed her forehead, feeling the headache starting to form already. 

“Well, go tell Laric to clear the way,” she said to Aidar. “We’ll hide them in one of the back suites.”

Afternoon light streamed into the front sitting room. It was a formal space, filled with brocades, tapestries, and elaborately carved furniture, all meant to impress guests. The day was warm for autumn, the windows thrown open to allow the sweet breeze in, and Kinara could hear the faint bustle of the Empress’ city outside the front gate as she signaled for Nathe to pour. She fiddled with her fan, hoping the action would hide that her hands were trembling.

Pellena sipped her tea. “I received six requests from merchants yesterday. Two more sent gifts just as I was leaving the house this afternoon.” 

Kinara nodded. “I have received tokens also. Tell me the offers you have had so that I do not work against you.”

Pellena eagerly made a list of them but Kinara was hardly listening. In the two days since she’d been hiding Tedah and Lianna in her house, she’d been constantly on edge. 

Baruta was savvy enough not to make her daughter’s disappearance public knowledge yet but Kinara knew her clanhouse was being watched. Except to Laric, she was very careful never to discuss the pair even before any of her own maids or guards. 

In theory, Az-kye loyalty was absolute but she had learned by her experience with Unata that vassal clan members could be bribed.   It was for this reason that Nathe served them now.  She was putting on a show of confident leadership today as much for her maid to report back to Unata as she was for her guest. 

Kinara resisted the urge to rub her temples.  

Above all, she must appear as if she were in complete control. As if she hadn’t shocked the Imperial world with her audacity by taking the Council seat. As if she’d
expected
to turn the Empire’s economy upside down with her Council’s grab for power. As if she didn’t have two fugitives hiding in the rooms above her head and a scattered Tellaran crew that she was desperately trying to get home.

“My Lady!” Laric cried, throwing open the sitting room door with a bang. The teacup in Kinara’s hand rattled as she twisted to look at her maid.

The maid’s face was ashen. Kinara stood, her heart hammering as she shoved the cup into Nathe’s hands. 

Was Baruta here? Did she know they were hiding her daughter and the Tellaran slave she’d run away with?

Her panic jumped up another notch when Aidar entered. For the first time ever she saw real fear in his eyes.

Aidar glanced back through the doorway. The instant she saw who followed, Kinara’s knees went weak.

Dressed in the resplendent gold and black garb of the Imperial honor guard, the man placed himself directly before Kinara.

An Imperial messenger?

What in the names of all gods would the Empress want with
me
?
 

In her few weeks of being
Ti’antah
, could she really have angered someone that powerful?

It came like a punch in the stomach that she had indeed done more than enough to bring the Empress’s wrath down on her clan. 

In Aidar’s dark eyes she saw he knew it too.

“
Ti’antah
of the Az’anti!”

Kinara made a deep bow before the Empress’ messenger, hiding her trembling as best she could. “I am
Ti’antah
of the Az’anti.”

“Present yourself before the Empress at the Imperial Palace tomorrow at midday.”

Even a clan leader could not refuse or delay such an audience and Kinara bowed again to the man. “The Az’anti obey,” she said shakily.

He nodded once then turned on his heel and left them staring speechlessly behind him.

She couldn’t remember later how she begged off Pellena’s visit.  It wouldn’t have needed to be a great excuse. Pellena was plainly eager to distance herself from any association with Kinara. 

The shock reverberated throughout the Az’anti’s vassal clans and there wasn’t a member from great-grandmother to little child who didn’t know within the hour she had been summoned. Laric worked furiously to gather what information, conjecture, or gossip she could get. She ran in and out of Kinara’s apartments to report as Kinara oversaw the necessary details of her visit to the Imperial Palace.

“Well, can’t you just—I don’t know—
fix
it?” Kinara demanded, looking over her shoulder at her reflection to see the back of the black dress she wore.

Three of her maids were racing around the Empress’ city purchasing dresses and sending them back to the clanhouse trying to procure a suitable one for her meeting with the Empress.

“Oh, no, my lady,” Metha answered worriedly, tugging at the black dress Kinara modeled. “The neckline is so low and the sleeves too short.  I do not know why Lybet purchased it.”

Why did Az-kye women have to be so starblasted short?
None of the already made court gowns were long enough on her and now they were just trying to find one they could alter to suit overnight.

Sella hurried in with another armful of and Kinara scowled, rubbing her forehead.

Kinara pushed her hair back. “All right, get me the—”

“Lady, is the Empress angry with us? Did she—”

“Bebti, not now! Shouldn’t you be at practice or something?” Kinara asked impatiently. “Metha, get the next one. Are those the shoes, Metari?” Kinara asked, seeing the woman come in. “Let me—”

“Lady, is the Empress angry? Why does she—”

“Damn it, Bebti, go away!” Kinara snapped. “I don’t have time for you right now!”

The boy caught his breath and the women stopped short at her sharpness. Bebti’s dark eyes filled with tears.

Kinara put her hand to her mouth. “Oh, Bebti, I’m sorry.” Kinara knelt to hug him, careless of the gown she wore. “I didn’t mean it.”

He shook with sobs.

“I didn’t mean it,”
Kinara whispered, rocking him.

She rested her cheek against the soft curls of his tousled hair and swallowed hard.

I’m scared too, kid.

After hours of searching only one dress was suitable in cut and fit. Her maids would be working through the night to embellish it and prepare the rest of her court ensemble. Her warriors were busy polishing ceremonial armor and weapons.   

Kinara stole a few moments that evening to speak to Tedah and Lianna.

“But you don’t know why she wants to see you,” Tedah said.

Kinara shook her head. “There isn’t a lack of reasons, Tedah.”

His lopsided grin was sad. “You mean us, don’t you?”

Kinara wanted to deny it but she couldn’t. “That may be why, yes.”

“Tedah and I have discussed it,” Lianna said. “We will return to my mother’s house.”

“No,” Kinara said firmly. “I don’t know why the Empress wants to see me and until I do we continue on as is. You two stay here, understand?”

“But, Kinna, we can’t let you—”

“Listen, Tedah!” she interrupted. “If the Empress knows about you two, then that’s that. But if you leave here and she doesn’t know, she’ll find out and that will be another strike against me. If you really want to help,
stay here
.”

Reluctantly they agreed. Kinara headed toward her own rooms nearly colliding with Aidar in the hallway.

They looked at one another for a long moment. 

“I had come to—” he broke off, with a gesture toward the room where Tedah and Lianna hid.

“I’ve taken care of it.”

He hesitated. “I have sent Bebti to bed.”

“Thank you,” she murmured, stepping past him.

He fell in behind her but didn’t speak as they made their way back to their apartments. Kinara was conscious of the glances she got. She read the fear even in the eyes of her warriors.

The rooms were empty and dark when they arrived. The fire had dwindled down and with winter approaching the room seemed cold and bleak.

Kinara stretched her hands toward the tiny bit of warmth. “I forgot to tell them to build it up before sending them to their other tasks.”

Aidar gathered an armful of firewood. It was far more than the fireplace could handle and she smiled as she watched him awkwardly turn his hand at the unwarriorlike task.

She put out a hand to stop him before he could add yet another piece of wood. 

“That’s plenty, Aidar.”

They stood together watching as the wood slowly caught fire, the logs hissing and spitting as they burned.

“I’m sorry,” she said quietly.

His head came up, his puzzled face lit by firelight. “For what do you apologize?”

“Because I—I
goofed
. I thought I knew exactly what I was doing. I thought it was a great idea to put myself on the Council. That I could raise up the Az’anti and open up trade between Tellarans and the Empire.” She gave a short, shaky laugh. “I thought I could get myself a good cup of caf again. I thought I could fix everything.” Her voice broke. “I was wrong.”

Her eyes stung with hot tears and she met his gaze. “I was wrong, Aidar, and you were right. I went too far. And now the Empress—” 

She turned, stumbling as she ran.

He caught her by the door. “What is this you do?” he demanded. “Why do you weep?”

“Are you kidding?” she cried, her vision blurring with tears. “Fucking hell, I’ve offended the
Empress
! I don’t even know if either of us will be coming back from the audience with her tomorrow — and she won’t stop with us, she’ll take it out on everyone, our whole clan! Don’t you understand? I failed! I failed
everyone
! I failed my crew and Kyndan and the clan and Tedah! I failed Bebti.” She pressed her hand to her throat and her voice dropped to a whisper. “I failed you.”

He caught her chin forcing her to look at him. “Think you I am not proud?”

“Proud?!” Tears overflowed to run down her cheeks. “What the hell have I done to make anyone proud?”

He cupped her cheek. “Truly I am so,
Cy’atta
. Never did I think that you would work so hard, care so much, for me and mine. I am proud you are my
Ti’antah
.” He bent his head touching his forehead to hers. “I am proud you are mine.”

She swallowed hard.
Proud of her?
Did he mean it? Gods, she’d give anything to have him mean it.

He kissed her. Kinara was afraid to move, afraid to break the spell as he gathered her close. It had been so long since he had touched her, and, although she had lovingly recalled every caress nightly, she soon realized that memory had failed her.

Nothing mattered save he not stop and her arms went around his neck, pulling him closer, a soft sound escaping her throat as his hands slid down her body.

He broke off suddenly and fearful to lose him again she held on tighter, only to find him swinging her into his arms. He crossed the room in a few strides and she was barely aware of the bed’s softness beneath her as she pulled him down beside her.

He kissed her cheeks, her eyelids, her hair. She laughed and cried as he fought his way through the layers of her clothing, tossing his own garments away with hers. When his skin touched hers, she struggled up.

“Let me,” she whispered, desperately wanting to give him pleasure, her fingers already running over his skin.

He caught her hands, his eyes hot, and pressed a kiss to each palm.

“No,
Cy’atta
. I have waited so long to love you again. Do not deny me this.”

Had he missed this, missed
her
, then? 

Kinara trembled as his lips pressed against her throat, her shaking increasing as his mouth trailed lower. He kissed her breasts. Lightly teasing, his tongue flicked over her belly and Kinara gasped as he parted her thighs, tasting her.

He closed his lips over her, gently suckling as his tongue moved against her. She arched back as his tongue moved against her center, and her fingers clenched, pulling at the covers as waves built within her. It had been so long and in moments she balanced just at the brink of release. He touched her inside where she was most sensitive and quickly brought her to the peak, and she cried out hoarsely as she came.