Page 71 of Warrior's Reign
So she poured the worth of her friend’s life into the kiss, felt his body respond in the slant of his lips over hers, the tightening of his hands, the hardening against her pelvis.
Her body began to warm—Reign tore away. “Enough.”
“How eagerly you respond. How is it possible if Vykhan has supped on you, and you on him?” His eyes gleamed.
Her gaze went flat. “The information.”
“I could make you weep for wanting me,” he murmured. “Does your Silent one offer you what you crave? Is his restrained embrace enough for you? I don’t taste him on your lips.”
“The information.” He was trying to distract her, draw her out. Oh, yeah, there was a game being played between these two males and next time she wouldn’t allow Vickie to evade her questions.
But Loka turned and began to walk away. “I’ve sent the information to your console.”
Vakshit.She lunged after him, grabbing his arm. He moved, reminding her why it was a shit idea to grab an Aeddannar. Pain burst momentarily when he slammed her against the building wall. His eyes iced her temper.
“Never attack me again unless you’re accepting an invitation to my bed.” He held her wrists pinned against the wall a moment longer, then released her.
“You’re playing games,” she growled.
Loka laughed. “I’malwaysplaying games,yadoana.Play them better. And give my love to Vykhan’ashara tonight.”
* * *
She returned to her palace quarters in barely enough time to meet the attendant Ibukay sent. Reign stared at the female, whose arms were full of cloth. “I don’t need help getting dressed.”
The attendant gave her a look. “We all serve theBdakhun.And you need all the help you can get.” She strode past Reign and began draping the cloth over the couch.
Reign turned on her heels. “What does that mean?”
She snapped her fingers. “Go bathe, quickly. And wash your hair. I’ll be set up by the time you’re done.”
Reign wanted to kick the female out, but gave in with a grimace. Some uncomfortable kernel of desire deep in her dark soul urged her to look her best tonight. Icolo would certainly say she should cultivate her future in laws’ good opinion.
She showered and washed her hair quickly, taking time to lotion her skin and rebrush her teeth. When she emerged, a portable cosmetics station was set up. The attendant gestured impatiently, and Reign sat. The next thirty minutes were spent tugging and pulling her hair into a style other than her usual mass of curls or tight braid. Then came the cosmetics, applied by hand. Completely unnecessary, but fine. She assumed Ibukay had ordered this indignity.
Then Reign stood, and the attendant helped her into the layers of formal robes, the colors sapphire and gold and white, edged in deep pink.
Definitely not her grays.
Reign stared in the mirror when the ensemble was done. “I don’t look ridiculous.”
The attendant rolled her eyes and began packing up the station. “High praise from a warrior. I’ll tell theBdakhunyou were pleased.”
Reign stepped out of her quarters a few minutes later, having spent a quick thirty seconds testing the movability of the garments. The satin like material slithered over her skin, and the skirt under her outer robes was actually wide legged pants.
“Adejahna.”
Vykhan stepped out of the lift opposite her door and halted, examining her. “You look lovely.”
She blinked. That kind of sentiment still held the power to surprise her, considering whose mouth it came from. Eredan hadn’t spoken ever, after all. Vykhan waited until a group of people passed, then crossed the hallway, stopping in front of her.
She tilted her head back to meet his gaze, an expression that she couldn’t quite read on his face. So she watched his shoulders, the line of his body, the tilt of his head. Facial expressions, tone of voice—that was all still as new to her as Vykhan himself.
“Your comm went dark earlier when you left the palace,” he said.
Ah. “I met with Loka Vohn.”
His fingertips caressed the line of her jaw. “What did he want, Reign?”
