Page 55 of Touch the Stars
“If there is anything you need, I will be outside the door.”
“You don’t have to stand guard.”
He stroked the backs of his fingers along her jaw.“Even the greatest warrior needs back-up.”
She opened her mouth and shut it again.Pink bloomed on her cheeks, and then she blessed him with a small, pleased smile.“Thanks, Baatar.”
She rose onto her toes, and he bent to brush his lips over her softer ones.That was good enough for now.They would talk later.In the meantime, he would make sure the sisters remained safe and undisturbed.Even from the last Ancient One, if need be.
He pulled the door closed, then took up his sentry position in front of the door.
“Your weapons, being brought from the docking bay, they are.”Nak moved to stand his own watchful post at his left.
The Kavian—or someone—must have decided that protecting the future grand empress was an acceptable reason to relax the ‘no weapons in the imperial complex’ rule.
“Thank you, friend.”Whatever had transpired, it would be good to have them back in his care on the unlikely event that he must defend Kaitlyn and her sister.
Kaitlyn is free now.
She had no imperial appointment after all, and would be able to make her own choices about where to go and who to share her journey with.All he could do now was to wait, watch, and keep her safe.
Epilogue
Baatar.
Two days later.
Hesatsidewaysona cushioned window seat and gazed through the diamond-shaped windowpanes, one leg bent and resting on the soft padding, the other foot on the warm wooden floor of the new imperial audience chamber.He let his gaze wander over what the soon-to-be-crowned grand empress called an English garden.It was by far one of the most peaceful, beautiful gardens he had ever seen.
Except for the roses.
Those evil plants lured in the unsuspecting with heavenly scents, then stabbed and tore skin with their hidden thorns when touched.Still, they were preferable to thesidabushes.Somewhatpreferable.Now, the rosemaryplants were far friendlier, as were the lavender, and both smelled at least as nice as the roses.
Overall, Kristyn’s version of the imperial complex was in harmony with the beauty of Ghara.Adding to that, the handful of imperial attendants who had opposed her appointment were now on their way to their respective home-worlds.Replacements would be chosen as word of the new grand empress spread.Soon after that, Kristyn must travel to each of the imperial planets for her citizenship ceremonies.
Kaitlyn would go with her, of course.He suppressed a grimace.The status of their relationship would be easier to understand if she stopped long enough to speak with him.Yet, every time he attempted to steal a private moment with her, she flitted away to tend to her sister.
“A penny for your thoughts.”
A smile crept across his lips at the sound of her soft voice behind him.She had finally come to him of her own accord.He turned his head to face her.Radiant.That was the ideal word to describe how she appeared.Her cleavage peeked above the scooped neck of the pale lavender dress she wore, and a hint of that same color stained her cheeks.But, it was her smile that drew him.By the Ancients, her smile could bring him to his knees.
He tipped his head to one side.“What does that mean?”
She shrugged and came to stand in front of him.“Some Earthlings ask that when they’re interested in what someone else is thinking about.”
“Ah.”He leaned his left shoulder against the whitewashed wall of the window seat.“In that case, my thoughts are with our new grand empress as she faces this transition in her life.”
Kaitlyn’s smile faltered and uncertainty dimmed the light in her eyes.“Oh.”
“And how blessed she is that my Kaitlyn can remain at her side to give her the support and counsel she needs at this time.”Because that meant she would be with him too, by default.
The light returned to her smile.“I can’t believe those Ancient Ones of yours knew all along what was going to happen.It was also pretty ballsy of the Ragatians to think they could just take over like that.”
She shook her head as if trying to comprehend the enormity of the plot.
“True.”By choosing a Ragatian to be the grand emperor, the Ancient Ones had covertly managed to flush out the rot that had taken root on that planet.“The wisdom of the Ancient Ones has always been uncontested.”
She huff-laughed.“Apparently.”
