lady?” The foremost servant, her revealing outfit a coral pink, stepped forward. “Is there anything we can do?”
Take me away from here. Take me back to Earth . The words hung in her mind, and she pressed her lips closed to keep herself from issuing the orders. They would obey. Aidan would obey, she knew, but she couldn’t tear herself from here. Not until she’d seen him fight. “No,” she replied softly, her heart clenching on the traitorous words. I don’t know what I’ll do if I’m given to Jodarin. I’ll ask to go back to Earth, but not if there’s a chance that I can keep Aidan in my life. This is my chance. Ebony had always said she thought I was meant for better things. Maybe this is it.
Jacey stepped forward. The grass cushioned her feet in the thin-soled slippers. The heavy gems made her feel as if she wore chunky combat boots instead of dainty treasures. Few men practiced on the field. She searched for Aidan, her heart falling when she realized she didn’t see him among those currently on the field.
Already, the stands began to fill. The spectators looked like the peasants who had met her and Aidan when they’d landed. Women dressed in bright colors sat next to strong-looking men in vests and breeches. Children ran rag-tag around the outskirts of the field, and the harried shouts of mothers carried up the hill.
Jacey pressed a hand to her stomach. I’ll never be a mother . She’d never given it much thought until now, but watching the children playing reminded her that Aidan was an android. He’d told her his seed was simulated, not real. If he dies, I won’t even have a part of him to keep with me . She forced her steps not to falter as she made her way down to the covered awning she assumed was her seat.
Heads began to turn as she descended the grassy knoll. Closer now, she heard the hushed whispers though couldn’t make out the words. They’re speaking about me . She still saw no sign of Aidan, and she tried to will her heart to behave. Her main servant led her past the bleachers that towered over her head, toward the raised platform. The spectators followed her progress, and when she reached the dais, trumpets blared.
Jacey forced herself not to jump at the sudden noise, to act as if she’d been the center of fanfare all her life. Taking a deep breath, she allowed the woman to lead her to a posh, cushioned chair, then let the servants fuss over her train until she could sit. She eased herself into the chair, allowing for more pampering; then the women disappeared to sit behind her, leaving her all alone on the platform.
She pasted a smile on her face. Her stomach flip-flopped, and although the awning kept the sun directly off her, she felt the stuffy warmth. She hoped she didn’t puke in front of the crowd.
“You look lovely, my love,” a familiar masculine voice said in her ear. “Don’t turn your head. I am merely to be your adornment, not eclipse your attention.” Aidan brushed his lips across the nape of her neck, then rose to his feet and circled behind her chair. He seated himself next to her, again whispering to her not to look at him.
Jacey ached with not being able to see her lover. Out of the corner of her eye, she tried to glimpse his outfit, but the sun glinted off shiny silver. Armor? Another shiver, this one of desire, wound its way down her spine. To see Aidan in full armor, just like a knight, made her pussy weep. Back on Earth she’d had a weakness for medieval films, and seeing Aidan dressed in armor would only fulfill once-held fantasies.
An announcer stepped onto the field. Accompanying him, a trumpeter brought a long instrument to his lips and blew three short notes. A hush settled over the crowd. “We come here for the time-honored tradition of the Dajarka,” the announcer said. “Today, our Lord Aidan Starsek will fight Jodarin Holaisett for the honor of Lady Jacey.”
It sounded like something out of a fairy tale. Fight for her honor, harrumph!
Take me away from here. Take me back to Earth . The words hung in her mind, and she pressed her lips closed to keep herself from issuing the orders. They would obey. Aidan would obey, she knew, but she couldn’t tear herself from here. Not until she’d seen him fight. “No,” she replied softly, her heart clenching on the traitorous words. I don’t know what I’ll do if I’m given to Jodarin. I’ll ask to go back to Earth, but not if there’s a chance that I can keep Aidan in my life. This is my chance. Ebony had always said she thought I was meant for better things. Maybe this is it.
Jacey stepped forward. The grass cushioned her feet in the thin-soled slippers. The heavy gems made her feel as if she wore chunky combat boots instead of dainty treasures. Few men practiced on the field. She searched for Aidan, her heart falling when she realized she didn’t see him among those currently on the field.
Already, the stands began to fill. The spectators looked like the peasants who had met her and Aidan when they’d landed. Women dressed in bright colors sat next to strong-looking men in vests and breeches. Children ran rag-tag around the outskirts of the field, and the harried shouts of mothers carried up the hill.
Jacey pressed a hand to her stomach. I’ll never be a mother . She’d never given it much thought until now, but watching the children playing reminded her that Aidan was an android. He’d told her his seed was simulated, not real. If he dies, I won’t even have a part of him to keep with me . She forced her steps not to falter as she made her way down to the covered awning she assumed was her seat.
Heads began to turn as she descended the grassy knoll. Closer now, she heard the hushed whispers though couldn’t make out the words. They’re speaking about me . She still saw no sign of Aidan, and she tried to will her heart to behave. Her main servant led her past the bleachers that towered over her head, toward the raised platform. The spectators followed her progress, and when she reached the dais, trumpets blared.
Jacey forced herself not to jump at the sudden noise, to act as if she’d been the center of fanfare all her life. Taking a deep breath, she allowed the woman to lead her to a posh, cushioned chair, then let the servants fuss over her train until she could sit. She eased herself into the chair, allowing for more pampering; then the women disappeared to sit behind her, leaving her all alone on the platform.
She pasted a smile on her face. Her stomach flip-flopped, and although the awning kept the sun directly off her, she felt the stuffy warmth. She hoped she didn’t puke in front of the crowd.
“You look lovely, my love,” a familiar masculine voice said in her ear. “Don’t turn your head. I am merely to be your adornment, not eclipse your attention.” Aidan brushed his lips across the nape of her neck, then rose to his feet and circled behind her chair. He seated himself next to her, again whispering to her not to look at him.
Jacey ached with not being able to see her lover. Out of the corner of her eye, she tried to glimpse his outfit, but the sun glinted off shiny silver. Armor? Another shiver, this one of desire, wound its way down her spine. To see Aidan in full armor, just like a knight, made her pussy weep. Back on Earth she’d had a weakness for medieval films, and seeing Aidan dressed in armor would only fulfill once-held fantasies.
An announcer stepped onto the field. Accompanying him, a trumpeter brought a long instrument to his lips and blew three short notes. A hush settled over the crowd. “We come here for the time-honored tradition of the Dajarka,” the announcer said. “Today, our Lord Aidan Starsek will fight Jodarin Holaisett for the honor of Lady Jacey.”
It sounded like something out of a fairy tale. Fight for her honor, harrumph!
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