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  “So, my family just agreed to send me?”

  He chuckled. “No, this has been negotiated for the last six months. Your family is very protective.”

  Padana chuckled. “My father is very possessive. I think it was a deep relief to him that my brothers arrived before I did. He got a chance to ease into fatherhood.”

  He chuckled. “Not a bad situation. You received the benefit of his patience.”

  “I received the benefit of him wanting to dress me up like a princess.”

  Yomin laughed. “You look lovely.”

  “Um, thanks, but don’t the women in your courts have to wear masks?”

  “Traditionally, yes. The countryside does not bear the same restrictions.”

  She moved easily with him and spun out and came back, “And yet, I will be in the court or near the emperor, which necessitates my wearing of the mask. I guess it is fine. I have something to wear that is suitable.”

  He was surprised. “You do?”

  Padana nodded. “I do. Every member of the household has a negotiating outfit. We are trained to wear it and move around in it when we gain our full height.”

  “Why is height an issue?”

  She chuckled. “If your negotiations are successful, you will understand.”

  “My negotiations have concluded. I am here to collect you. The emperor would not part with you unless you travelled under guardian escort.”

  “Your Azon companion?”

  He grinned. “No, me. The imperial line has always had an elemental talent. My father protected the Hredu during his reign, and I will do so in mine.”

  She blinked in surprise. “And they let you leave?”

  “We really need a negotiator, so I had to come and obtain the best.”

  “Flattering and not accurate. My mother is the best.”

  He pressed his hand to her back and pulled her against him. “Do you feel your father would part with her?”

  She laughed, and the bright sound made several heads turn. The music subsided for a moment; she stepped back, curtsied, and slipped through the crowd.

  She sprinted toward the doors and the open gardens. Padana knew she was supposed to be inside and working her way through the nobles, but she just needed some fresh air. She headed for one of the marble benches and flopped down in relief.

  Leaving Torgny was what she dreamed of. Helping her mother negotiate minute details of contracts over the last few decades was fun, but she wanted to see other skies and stars. She must have gotten it from her mother.

  Her armour had just been repaired after an attempt on her life, so she was ready to travel. Working for the Hredu imperial family was going to be a welcome distraction, but the crown prince was going to be torture.

  Just looking at Yomin, her palms itched to touch him and stroke skin the colour of gems in shadow. She groaned and covered her face. She could do this. Hell, her mother had even arranged her father’s lovers’ time in his bed before she had completed her term as his negotiator. That had taken nerves of steel to remain professional while her father was sleeping around. Wait, was she going to be in the same position? She really didn’t think she could manage it.

  She had plucked a rose, and she sniffed at the flower that her father had imported from her mother’s home world for their ten-year anniversary.

  “Your mother is going to let me hear about that missing flower. I swear she takes an inventory.” Palden VII sat next to her, and she snorted.

  “Hello, Father.”

  “You can call me Dad, as you did when you were little.”

  She chuckled and leaned against his shoulder. “The corset makes it difficult to shake formality.”

  He laughed. “So, you took off to the station?”

  “There is a Terran baker up there who knew what a Jamaican patty was. They can’t get clearance to run around on Torgny for a day, so I had to go to her.”

  “And protocol meant that when Crown Prince Yomin needed your shuttle, you had to give it up?”

  “Yeah. It’s fine. I offered my services as a pilot.”

  “What would you have done if he hadn’t taken you up on it?”

  “Hired a drop shuttle and been late to the party.” She chuckled.

  “What do you think of him?”

  She shrugged. “He’s a good dancer, a good conversationalist, and he wants what is best for his world. So, you agreed to send me?”

  She stared at her father, and he coloured. “Your mother made me agree. She said I can’t keep you here indefinitely and that she would kick my ass if I tried.”

  “Well, most royals of my age and development are already wed or at least engaged. I don’t mind starting a career out there.”

  “They are a more stringent court.”

  “It’s fine. I guess I am using the armour on duty.”

  “We are also getting you a placement as an ambassador. You can negotiate on our behalf as well.”

  “Only when it isn’t a conflict of interest. The Hredu are able to enact instant justice. He might be charming now, but he isn’t at home and wrapped in his power. I will be on guard.”

  He kissed her forehead. “Good girl. You have made me and your mother very proud. Terrified on many occasions but proud.”

  “Thanks, Dad.”

  He chuckled. “You know that I have already vetted Yomin in every way possible?”

  “Yes.”

  “And that if you get along, we have agreed to an engagement?”

  She cleared her throat. “I guessed at that part. You haven’t let anyone speak to me in the last ten years, so sending me to an alien world to work in the court had a certain matchmaker sense about it.”

  “If he doesn’t suit you when you see him in action, you can come home, Padana. No one is making you wed him.”

  She laughed. “No, not making me leave isn’t going to work for me. There are other issues that we are not going to discuss, but it would be best if I indulged them while away from home where you can’t have anyone arrested or tortured.”

  “Ah, sweetie, you know me so well. You are going to have to communicate with your mother at least once every fortnight while you are gone, or she is going to take your brothers and come for a visit. You can imagine how impressed that will make me.”

  She chuckled as she imagined how enraged her father would be to have his beloved friend, companion, and lover out of his reach. “I will try to observe all protocols, Father. Thanks for letting me go.”

  He sighed. “I really didn’t have a choice.”

  She kissed his cheek. “You didn’t. Now give this flower to Mum and tell her that it is in honour of the day the flowers first arrived and the day she stopped aging.”

  He grinned. “You are very sly.”

  She shrugged. “I get it from my father.”

  He left to go and seduce his wife for probably the third time that day, and she grinned and slowly returned to the party. She needed to be packing, but her mother had probably ordered it taken care of. She danced with a few members of the Haldis Imperial Council, and when she had exhausted herself, she wandered to the buffet table.

  The guards nodded to her as she took a few tidbits and nibbled as she watched the party from the safety of the heavily guarded snacks. She eased to the side so she could get a good look at the dance floor, and in the rainbow of alien dignitaries, she was focused on finding one in particular.

  She heard a whisper. “Looking for anyone specifically?”

  She yelped and had to calm her guards as she turned to Yomin.

  He had managed to appear at her side without making a sound.

  “I was watching my parents. They look so happy, but then, they normally look happy.” She grinned. “When they aren’t trying to kill each other.”

  He blinked. “What?”

  “Well, my mother has more of a tendency to attack my father. She lets him get away with nothing. It is an interesting dynami
c.”

  He chuckled. “My parents are ridiculously in love with each other as well, but then, she was hired as a scribe and was wedded to my father shortly after that.”

  “A scribe?”

  “Yes, she prizes handwriting over everything.” He chuckled.

  “She is still alive?”

  He laughed. “Of course. My father is a guardian as I am. He would not let her feel a whisper of danger.”

  “I am sure that it worked out well for him.”

  He chuckled. “Not really. There were a dozen attempts on her life before I appeared. For each one, my father was off on a mission and my mother’s guards took care of things.”

  “What happened when you were born?”

  “Once it was proved that I was pure Hredu, my mother was celebrated as the mother of the future emperor.”

  “So, it is a hostile place then?”

  He shrugged. “In your circumstances, it certainly will be. You will be assigned your guards, and they will keep you alive while you are with us as negotiator and ambassador.”

  “How is that going to work? I have a suit for my negotiator work, but being there as an ambassador is going to involve a little exposure.”

  He looked down at her. “What you are wearing now is quite acceptable.”

  She chuckled. “Thank you, but I dress a little more casually when I am at other courts unless I am in the imperial presence.”

  He grinned. “You plan to run loose in the Hredu court?”

  She shook her head, “No, I plan to run loose in the Hredu countryside. If you want to see a world, look at its land, its people, and its weather.”

  Yomin murmured, “Please save the excursions until I can accompany you.”

  She smiled brightly. “I make no promises. My days off might not coincide with your schedule.”

  He muttered something in a hissing tone that she could barely understand. Something about headstrong women carrying all the beauty.

  Chapter Three

  The trip in the Haldis Imperium transport took four days. They followed the Hredu ship at a safe distance and docked on the station in orbit around the planet.

  “Halu, are you excited to be travelling?” Padana asked her the same question she had asked four times already.

  “I am. With all of my siblings either married or guardians, I am the odd one out.” Halu grinned. “It’s nice to get out and about.” She chuckled and finished her cake. “Plus, landing on Hredu is not something that most folks are authorized for. Thanks for pushing the paperwork through.”

  “No problem. Thanks for using the term paperwork.” Padana grinned.

  “My mom mentions it often. My dad just humours her.” Halu smiled.

  “Well, I could hope for no one better to be my personal guard. You have experience with peacekeepers, enforcers, and guardians. I think I am covered.”

  “So, why are you all the way out here? I mean, Hredu is interesting, but you are going to be in a bio-suit the whole time that you are visiting the world. That isn’t fun and doesn’t leave much chance for you to seduce the heir to the throne.”

  “I am used to it. I have been on a few missions for the family over the last eight years. The suit isn’t quite negotiator armour, but it does stop me from getting stabbed in the back, front, or wherever.” Padana smiled.

  “What did your guard do?”

  “Killed them and then checked my suit for leaks. Six attacks and no damage.”

  “Ah. Good, standard procedure.” Halu sat there and said, “So, the first thing I am going to have to do is get authorization to defend you as a member of your household and then another writ that will let me defend you when you leave the palace.”

  “You are going to do this nice and legally?”

  Halu snorted. “Do you know how annoying it is to be taken into custody while I am a bodyguard? I have been arrested twice, and now, I always register.”

  They grabbed their bags, and Padana supervised her bio-suit going through the customs exam, and when it was done, she surrendered her luggage.

  Her face went pink as the men drew out a case that was definitely not for public exposure.

  The men looked at each other and then at her. “What is this object?”

  “It is a medically related device for relieving tension.” Halu spoke from the other station, calmly putting her cuffs back on. “It isn’t appropriate for a lady to seek out contact.”

  The men ran it through the scanner again, and then, they nodded. “It is inert, Ambassador. Please, enjoy your stay and use the device in good health.”

  Padana nodded and retrieved her bag, repacking the pleasure centre along with the compressed clothing made by her Aunty Krik.

  Halu joined her, and Padana murmured, “Thanks for the save.”

  “No problem. My mom keeps one packed for me as well. A medical device is the best and most truthful description.” Halu chuckled, and they made their way to the shuttle dock.

  The station was modestly busy, so when folks stopped in their tracks, it got Padana’s attention. She paused, “Please, tell me that we aren’t being escorted to the surface by guardians.”

  A team of four men in the armoured suits of the guardians was walking toward Padana and Halu with an even stride.

  Halu chuckled. “It seems you have earned an honour guard, Princess Padana.”

  She sighed and continued forward with one hand guiding her negotiator suit. The wall of men was suddenly in front of them, and Padana paused. “Guardians, greetings of the day to you.”

  Yomin inclined his head to her. “Ambassador Tyrell, it is an honour to have you within our territory.”

  He extended his hand to hers, and when she extended her hand to him, he pulled her against the body armour and kissed her.

  The texture of his armour was smooth, and she stood with wide eyes as his lips moved over hers with lazy exploration. The hard green surface of his mouth had the texture of slippery satin against her mouth. It came to her that they were in the middle of a concourse with plenty of vid cameras as well as witnesses. She pushed away from him, and he let her go. His eyes had a very smug expression.

  “Why did you do that? It is definitely not a standard Hredu greeting.”

  He slid his hand under her hair and stroked her cheek with his thumb. “It should be.”

  She gave him a businesslike nod. “Well, am I going to spend the next six months here, or is there somewhere else I can be?”

  He chuckled. “This is Spring, Winter, and Summer.”

  “So, you are Fall.”

  He inclined his head. “Correct.”

  The other men were grinning, and Halu was looking them over. She looked at Padana, “Your call.”

  Padana smiled. “Guardian, I would like to be delivered to my station in the imperial palace if it is not inconvenient.”

  He sighed. “Of course. This way, Ambassador.”

  She chuckled and put her hand on the case with her suit. The men formed a block around them and escorted them through the station and to the shuttle. Their cargo was stowed, and they were soon underway, descending with Winter at the helm.

  Halu kept herself between Padana and the imperial heir of the Hredu system. It took a lot of nerve to ignore the glare that she was getting, but Halu Douglas was made of stern stuff. Halu’s origin in the Nyal Imperium made her excellent for this kind of mission as she really didn’t give a fuck for other rulers.

  Padana smiled and kept her focus on her communication with the imperial house. They were preparing the temporary embassy and needed a few details for the guard placements and meal arrangements.

  Halu looked over and said, “You have to arrange your own meals?”

  “Sort of. I am in a strange position. I am half in the household and half outside it, so I am an independent situation.” She sighed. “This is going to be an expensive visit.”

  Yomin muttered, “It isn’t a visit; it is a tri
al.”

  She waved her hand. “Yes, Guardian Fall, I know, but I have to set everything up as if I am actually doing my job. You know, so I can do the job.”

  He mumbled something about his father having it easy.

  They landed, and Halu helped her to her feet.

  Padana got her stuff together and put her bag over her shoulder, steering her armour out of the storage area with one hand with the ease of practice. The guardians were surprisingly quiet on the trip, and as soon as they landed, Padana found out why.

  Half of the imperial court of Hredu was at the entry to the palace. The emperor and his empress were standing side by side and awaiting their arrival.

  Padana stepped forward, and at fifteen feet away, she went down on one knee with her travel cloak flared wide around her and her head down. She was wearing trousers, so a curtsy had been out of the question.

  The empress murmured, “That is impressive fabric control, Princess Padana.”

  The emperor muttered, “Rise, Ambassador Tyrell.”

  Padana got gracefully to her feet. “Thank you, Your Highness. My father sends his greetings.”

  “You are welcome, and we are in dire need of a negotiator. Your presence is appreciated. We have arranged your guards, and I see that you have a bodyguard with you?”

  “Halu Douglas of Jennila. She has all the training that anyone could wish for.” She inclined her head. “We apologize for our lack of mask. We were not anticipating running into the court.”

  “It seems that Fall has neglected to keep you informed during your transport.” The emperor looked at his son with narrowed eyes.

  “I was not anticipating the court to be here, Father. There was a bit of distraction on the station, and my wits scattered.”

  The emperor grinned. “I saw the footage from the station. Half the planet has seen the footage. Did you want to paint a target on her before she had even touched soil?”

  Yomin shrugged. “It will soon be immaterial.”

  She looked at him with surprise. “Says you, Your Imperial Highness.”

  He grinned. “Indeed. The kiss was proof enough for me.”

  She narrowed her eyes at him and walked up to him, prodding him in the chest with two fingers. “It. Was. Just. A. Kiss.”