Page 37 of Regal Rising

“I know, but now it is my position, and as long as you come with me, I will be a good emperor and take care of my people.”

She licked her lips. “If I don’t?”

He pulled her in close. “If you run again, dove, I will pull worlds apart to find you.”

She nodded and pressed one hand to his jewelled breastplate. “I am done running. I just need to see them every now and then. I have an interest in their survival.”

“You are proud of them.”

“I am so proud of them. The omegas fought so hard for survival and independence. One of the elves is about to start to push for a change in policy so that the omegas can be their own people or at least own their own assets.”

“That really bothered you, dove?”

“It is frustrating. I can smell gemstones beneath the soil; I can carve them out of rock with my bare hands, but I don’t own anything that I have. I can’t grow my hoard, and it is so frustrating.”

He leaned in and whispered in her ear. “You will have your treasures. I am changing the laws.”

Kay rubbed her cheek along his. “You are?”

“I am removing the death sentence from golden dragonesses as long as they register and are restricted. If there is an instance of them seeding a world not designated for it, they will be punished.”

“Got it. I did the one, and I am done.”

He paused. “I think I found the family you have been taking care of. It seems to have been curated.”

She smiled. “You found the Rathmussens. I missed your face, so I took care of them. No one here thinks it is weird that they are dark blue.”

He stroked her neck slowly. “You missed me?”

“I did, Vaayu. Oh, can I use your name?”

He chuckled. “You and only you can speak my name. The women’s quarters are empty, and my chamber has been renovated to accommodate room for a little dove that needs a nest.”

“I am afraid I gave my tendency to need a safe space to our female descendants, but since the males are also branches of our tree, they understood on a basic level and compensated for them.”

He moved his hand from around her throat and hugged her. “You took good care of our children.”

She sniffled and said, “I tried.”

He held her as the tears coursed down her cheeks, and she felt him watching the steady influx of the local detachment of their lineage. His presence had pulled them together.

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