Page 23 of Scales of Time

He was less tense as they spoke.

He took her back to the lab where she had been the first time and settled her in a machine she wasn’t familiar with. Her arms were in a cradle, and the machine was small by stellar standards. It felt a lot like a custom machine. The cuffs wrapped around her arm, and a hiss let her know that something was being pumped into her, but it was the sudden rush of saliva that let her know she was getting some saline. It was a hydration pod, and as far as she knew, she was the only person who needed it.

He had bought her a present.

It only took thirty minutes for the unit to finish its task. A female in a palace uniform smiled and held out peach-coloured, folded fabric. “Mistress, this is for you.”

Kris took the bundle and said, “Thanks.” It unfolded into the standard front and back panel. “No body suit?”

“He said if you asked that, it wasn’t necessary.”

Kris got dressed and wound the sash around her. She looked nearly naked, and she needed sandals.

The woman turned and handed her the flat shoes in the same peach as the dress. It completed the look. She started braiding the hair along her scalp, but the attendant stopped her with a gentle hand.

“The overlord would prefer to see it loose.”

“It gets in the way, and I eat a lot of it in high winds.”

The woman with crimson scales smiled. “Of course. I am to escort you to the main hall.”

“Oh. Yay. Well, lead the way.”

The woman nodded and led the way out of the lab, through the front entryway, and into the wide hallway past the guards.

Kris hated running around without a bodysuit. Her breasts were taking to being out on their own, and it made Kris a little self-conscious. Walking on a hard surface reminded her of why she liked them restricted.

They got several curious glances, but no one interfered with their progress. When they passed more guards and entered the main hall, Kris blinked as she ended up being walked past about two hundred Kifessan to the throne that Essan was seated on. The place was opulent. No part of the walls was undecorated, and even the floor had extravagant patterns. Essan was speaking with Yorness, and they both looked up as she walked toward them. Yorness looked relieved, and she quickly moved to Kris.

Kris was caught in a hug, and Yorness muttered, “You nearly sent me to the afterlife when the drone saw you. You were putting out so much heat, you were melting wood.”

“Why is Essan so cranky?”

Yorness leaned back and burst out laughing. “He just dismissed his harem. All of them. And notified the other worlds that more would not be needed.”

“What?”

“Apparently, you were putting out so much power, he is topped up for the rest of the year.”

“I thought they only ate pleasure or pain.”

Essan’s voice murmured, “That is because ferocious desperation is harder to quantify.”

Kris looked at him over Yorness’s shoulder. “So, I am a snack?”

He laughed. He eased his descendant aside and took Kris by the hand. “You, my lady, are the entire meal with no room for anything else.”

She blinked. “Wait. Have you been sampling without me noticing?”

He pulled her along at a slow pace and walked to the throne. “Your skin is exceptionally soft.”

“Wait. How do you know?”

“I would not let anyone else undress you before settling you in the green space. Yorness knows much about your pyro aftercare.”

“Well, she paid for a toy that kept losing power, so we both learned how I work.”

He smiled. “It is a very good thing.”

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