Delivered by the Defender (Kindred Tales)

“Are you certain you don’t want to go back to the Mother Ship on the next available shuttle?” Valen asked, arching an eyebrow at her. “You seem very uncomfortable showing your breasts, and I’m afraid you won’t be allowed to cover yourself in any way once we leave the privacy bubble.”

“I won’t? Why not?” Selena asked, feeling slightly panicked.

“You could incur a fine for immodest non-exposure and be sentenced to serious jail time,” he told her. “That happens quite often to females from different cultures who are visiting Ma’shorka Centra. And believe me, you do not want to spend time in the Ma’shorkan prison system—it’s a brutal environment. So, before we leave this bubble, you need to be really certain of what you want to do. If you would rather stay here until the next shuttle back to the Mother Ship, I can arrange to keep this couch for however long you need to wait.”

For a moment, Selena was really tempted to take him up on his generous offer. She could stay here, inside the privacy shield, and just run across the corridor once it was time to board her flight, thereby avoiding some really embarrassing exposure.

But then she thought of how worried Jess had been and all the stress her friend was currently going through. She was worried about her little sister being seriously injured—she didn’t need to have the extra anxiety of wondering if her husband’s job had been jeopardized by Selena pulling a no-show on top of that. No, there was no two ways about it—she had to fulfill this obligation, no matter how embarrassing it was.

Taking a deep breath, she lifted her chin.

“Thank you for your offer, but I’m going to the palace,” she said, putting her arms down by her sides and baring her breasts. “I…I’m just going to have to get over my modesty and just…just do it.”

Valen gave her a look that seemed to be half admiration, half reluctant respect. And to his credit, his gaze stayed on her face instead of dipping down to her breasts, Selena saw.

“You’re a plucky little Elite, aren’t you?” he murmured. “Very well, let’s go. Oh, but first…” He had been turning towards the glass bubble, but now he turned back to look at her. “There’s something I need to ask you.”

“What is it?” Selena felt a stab of apprehension.

“Your name,” Valen said simply. “If I’m going to pretend to be your Master in public, I’ll need to know what to call you, little one.”

“Oh my God—I can’t believe I never introduced myself!” Selena exclaimed. “I’m so sorry—my name is Selena Bates. And I know you’re ‘Valen’ because I heard you say it earlier.”

“Selena Bates.” He held out a hand. “I’m pleased to make your acquaintance.”

Selena held out her own hand, and he took it in his much larger one and bowed low to kiss her fingers courteously. She watched, bemused by his old-world courtliness, while at the same time her heart was pounding and her nipples felt tight and exposed.

She couldn’t believe she was standing here, practically topless with her bare breasts sticking out, while a handsome vampire Kindred bowed over her hand. It was all so strange it almost felt like a dream.

I’ll wake up at any time, she told herself. This is all just too weird to be true.

But she showed no signs of waking and the big Kindred showed no signs of fading away, the way her dreams almost always did the moment she opened her eyes. Instead, they stood there for a long time before Valen at last released her hand and picked up her carry-all cube and violin case.

“Let me get these for you,” he said. “We still have to take them through the weigh station.”

“Oh no, really—I don’t mind. They’re not heavy,” Selena protested.

“Yes, but thieves are much less likely to try and snatch them from my hands than yours,” he pointed out.

“Oh, er…okay.” She had to admit he had a point. He looked like a much more difficult target than she did—being seven feet tall and made of muscle must deter a lot of would-be thieves.

“Good. Then let’s go.”

Valen nodded and turned back to tap at the smoked glass in order to open a door for them. As she followed him out of the privacy bubble, Selena had to fight the urge to cover her breasts. Instead, she kept her head high and tried to look straight ahead.

I’m dressed—or rather, undressed—like everybody else, she told herself. I am not the only one who’s exposed. Lots of women are! In fact, most of them are.

But it was hard to remember that when all she could think about was her large breasts—which looked even larger, thanks to the float dots—bobbing like balloons in front of her chest.

14

You shouldn’t have asked for her name—you know you shouldn’t, whispered a little voice in Valen’s head as he ushered the curvy little Elite through the private lounge. What in the Seven Hells do you think you’re playing at?