Delivered by the Defender (Kindred Tales)

“I’m really sorry I didn’t save you more,” she said quickly, looking down at the decimated tray. “I shouldn’t have eaten so much of it, but it had been a long time since lunch and I just—” She broke off because the big Kindred was staring at her in apparent confusion.

“Why do you think I’m upset with you for eating the food I ordered specifically for you to eat?” he asked, shaking his head. “It makes no logical sense.”

“Well, because I’m…I just don’t want you to think…I just feel bad about it,” Selena finished lamely.

“Well, don’t,” Valen said firmly. “You need to eat in order to keep your lovely full curves. If you starve yourself, you won’t be an Elite anymore, and that would be a great pity.”

Selena had heard this term several times from Kat, when her friend was trying to convince her that Kindred men really did like full-figured women. But this was the first time she’d actually heard a Kindred warrior talk about it.

“Elite, huh? Wow, so you like curvy girls?” she asked, before she could stop herself.

Valen’s piercing blue eyes went suddenly heavy-lidded and he gave her a look that made Selena’s heart start to pound.

“Oh yes, little one—I absolutely love Elites. “He shrugged. “But what Kindred male doesn’t?”

“Um…I don’t know,” Selena said weakly. He was still holding her eyes with his and she thought she had never seen a blue so intense—it seemed impossible to look away.

Am I actually having a moment with him, here? she asked herself, as her heart continued to pound crazily. Is there something between us?

Surely not—she was just fooling herself. Valen was built like a Greek god, yet he was looking at her like she was the sexy, desirable one. It was ridiculous, right?

Maybe he has a thing for big breasts, she thought, searching for some explanation as to why such a handsome man would be interested in a plus-sized woman. He had seen her mostly topless not that long ago.

But it wasn’t her breasts he was staring at—he was gazing directly into her eyes, and Selena couldn’t remember the last time she’d shared such a long, intimate look with anyone. She’d barely been able to get Gary to look up from a football game—let alone hold a soulful staring contest with her.

At last, her heart crashing in her ears, she managed to drag her eyes away from the intense blue of Valen’s.

“I…I have to figure out what to do,” she said, her voice coming out breathy and uncertain. “If I don’t get to the palace in time for my introduction to the Emperor, Jess and Tolern are going to be in big trouble.”

“If you’re serious about going, I suppose I must see you to the palace,” he growled softly.

“Oh, are you sure you don’t mind?” Selena asked.

He shook his head.

“No—I generally stay there myself, when I come to Ma’shorka Centra. Not the royal end, of course,” he added, when she gave him a surprised look. “But the palace is like a city unto itself—it has high-end residences for those who can afford them—mostly in the Ambassador’s Square.”

“But I don’t want to make you late for your court appearance,” Selena objected.

He shrugged.

“I don’t have to appear until Midnight—which is why the session is called ‘The Midnight Court.’ So I have time to escort you to the palace.”

“Really, you just have to take me to the end of the concourse—to the rotunda,” Selena told him. “Jess said she had one of the palace guards come to meet me with my name on a holo sign there.” She frowned. “I hope he hasn’t given up and gone away by now.”

“I doubt it—the Ma’shorkan guards take their duties very seriously,” Valen said. “Very well then—I’ll take you to meet the guard.” He frowned thoughtfully. “Perhaps once you get to the palace, you can plead your case with the Major Domo and see if he will issue you an emergency dispensation for a Seal.”

“Oh, do you think it’s possible he will?” Selena asked, clasping her hands to her chest.

“To be perfectly honest, I rather doubt it,” he said blandly. “But there is a slim chance, since you are a special guest of the Ambassador and his bride. Well…” He rose from the couch and held out a hand. “We’d better get going. Which means, I’m afraid I’ll have to ask you for my shirt back.”

“Oh, uh…of course. I guess…I guess you do.” Selena felt herself getting hot with embarrassment again. But she remembered what the front desk girl had said about it being a crime to have your breasts covered if you didn’t have the Independent Female Seal. Still, it was incredibly difficult to make herself pull the wine-red uniform shirt over her head and hand it back to him.

Once it was off, however, she couldn’t stop herself from covering her bare breasts with her arms. It was just so weird to be practically topless with the big Kindred.