Page 37 of Essa

His eyes keep straying back toward the doorway, agitation clear with how his body tenses. I commented on his nipple piercings earlier, asking if they hurt, but he only frowned at meand kept working, so I don't really care about what has him so on edge. It's probably just being in Haven space because we're not the most welcoming species.

There's a faint clicking sound as the central door to the ship begins to disengage and lower. I stand with my shoulders back, spine straight, and hands loose by my sides. My fangs have descended, but not by any more than socially acceptable when trying to be polite. I wonder what Seth and Adam look like behind me, but I don't dare look back at them. They're an extension of me now. However they act will be a reflection on me. They could do nothing to make me regret accepting them as concubines, but they aren't from Haven III. They weren't raised to know how to behave. Not that I think Adam would act any different, even if he did know.

The only thing I hope for is that he doesn't try to pick a fight with me before we've settled into our room in the palace—and yes, our room. I'm sure if Iddis is here already, he'll insist on preparing concubine quarters for them, but I don't want them out of my sight unless it's for them to use the restroom. Even then, I'll probably guard the door to ensure no one even thinks of hurting them.

I inhale deeply as the arid smell of desert sands hits my senses. It's been so long since I've smelled anywhere that resembles my home, and I hadn't realized how much I missed it.

I allow myself a brief pause to close my eyes to pretend I'm here for good reasons and happy to be back to show off my culture with others. When I open my eyes again, they fall on the small crowd outside. Various staff from my family's home and someone who takes all my good feelings and crushes them with his presence.

"Iddis," I scowl as I say his name, hating him as much now as I did when I was younger.

He was always in the palace when Niivi and I were growing up. We were friends for a long time until he started causing trouble. Acting superior in front of the staff by demanding they do things for him, picking fun at my sister until I got so angry I'd attack him, and then getting me in trouble. He was always around, though, and always doing his best to be an unholy terror to anyone who crossed his path, most of all my sweet, innocent sister, who didn't deserve the pranks he pulled on her.

"Essa." His lips twitch upward when my fangs descend another fraction. He steps to the right and allows the female behind him to step forward. Niivi's eyes are ablaze when she looks at me, her fangs long, her pupils constricted into thin slits. "I'm sure you remember my fiancée."

"What did you do to her?" I snarl, my attention moving to Iddis instead of staying on my sister.

I push Seth further behind me, knowing my sister's rage will cause his body to respond in fear. Adam, I don't even check on. If I know him, and I think I do, he's staring down each and every Haventh here and telling them all with his eyes that he doesn't care how strong they are. He isn't and will never be scared of them.

"I think we need to all go back to the palace, have a bite to eat, and catch up," Iddis says, twining his tail around my sister's ankle and squeezing it softly. Her snarl drops, and her anger seems to subside at the action. Her tail twines around his, and she closes her eyes tight.

"Yes, food and then discussions," Niivi says with an unsteady cadence.

She has to force the words to come out smooth and soft instead of melodic, as they would if she were as angry as she looks. She cocks her head to the side as her eyes dance between me and my concubines.

"We weren't expecting you to have brought guests."

"Not guests," Adam says from my side. Of course, he's standing next to me, body tense and eyes narrowed to compliment his normal scowl. He's already breaking many customs. But I told him he could do as he pleases. At least he isn't talking back to me right now. "We're her concubines. You know as well as I do that we're more than guests."

Niivi's eyes widen, but this time, Iddis gets upset on my sister's behalf. More constricted pupils, more snarling, more elongated fangs. At this rate, we're never getting back to the palace, and I'm never going to stop this wedding from happening.

The only thing that seems to have an impact on our neverending getting upset with one another is how Adam doesn't flinch as he stares down Iddis. I force myself not to smile even though this deserves a smile. I hope Iddis thinks he's so weak that even a human male isn't scared of him. That would be so beautiful. He doesn't need to know Adam doesn't fear me either. No, that can be something we keep to ourselves.

"Interesting," Iddis says, licking his fangs to pull his venom back in. "Niivi's lady, Ilyna, will accompany you in your transport. She missed you, and we thought she'd be a welcome face since you don't seem fond of any of ours."

I want to cringe at Iddis's words and at how they all seem to think I'm reacting to being back home. It's not that I'm not fond of all of them. I'm only not fond of him.

I keep my face stoic, though, not wanting to give anyone here any reason to think I've come with anything other than the correct intentions. I mean, I haven't come for the correct reasons. I don't care about my parents being cremated soon, the passing of powers, or coming to claim my rightful spot as head of the Bylath territories.

I came to save my sister, but that might be even more difficult than I thought because she seems more than upset with me. Nomatter. We can discuss it tonight when I sneak out of my room through the secret tunnels and into her room.

There are customs on things that can be shared amongst others, but those formalities mean nothing when two sisters are speaking in their rooms. At least, they used to mean nothing to us.

I keep my tail tight around Seth's ankle as we walk. Golden gazes watch as I descend the ship's entryway with my concubines. Seth's a step behind me on my right, and Adam walks beside me, staring everyone down like he's willing to fight them all right this second.

Thankfully, most seem amused and interested in my concubine's behavior instead of seeing it as disrespectful. It would be a shame for me to correct one of my kind so early into our being here.

Iddis flourishes his hand in the direction of the transports, his tail never leaving my sister's ankle, and it has me scrunching up my nose. I want to gnash my teeth at him, tell him to release her, to stop touching her, to stop demanding anything of her because I'm not going to force her the way my parents would've if they were still alive.

"The palace is only a short journey, but there are refreshments in the transport," Iddis says.

His smile grows exponentially when he notices Adam standing at the transport door, trying to figure out what to do with his arms since he can't cross them over his chest without smudging the paint. It doesn't stop him from staring everyone behind us down, though. He should be the first one sliding in due to how we're chained together, but of course, he wants to go in last.

I unclip Adam's leash from my belt and hand it to him. He takes it without looking. No, he's too busy staring at Iddis to register that I took his leash off.

Everyone else notices, though, and there's chatter all around. Yes, yes, so very taboo of me to unleash my concubine when in the presence of others who might be interested. They won't be. If anything, they should all steer very clear of my Adam and his difficultness.

I step into the transport first, giving a bright and very real smile to Ilyna when I see her sitting inside. I move quickly, dragging Seth a foot into the transport to the benches as I open my arms to embrace her.

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