Burning for Love (Kindred Tales)

“I…am not certain I understand,” Rissa said, frowning. “He doesn’t seem to speak about female Royals at all.”

“No, most of the book is about male Royals,” James admitted. “But read that last sentence again.” The sentence on the wall was suddenly highlighted in yellow and James read it aloud for her. “…the Heat Cycle is inextricably linked to the Sex Cycle and one may, in fact, control the other.”

“I still don’t see how you got the idea that I must touch my forbidden area just from reading this,” Rissa objected.

“I was afraid it would be hard to convince you.” James sighed deeply and rubbed his temples. It was a very human gesture, Rissa thought—not robotic at all.

“To convince me to do something I have been taught is wrong and reprehensible all my life?” she said indignantly. “Yes, James, I fear it will be very difficult for you indeed!”

“Please turn your attention to the wall again,” he said, frowning. “And read this passage from a book called, A Royal Husband’s Guide to Slaking Heat. It was written by King Randolph the Thoughtful, one of your ancestors.”

“All right.” Crossing her arms over her chest, Rissa focused on the wall again. But she was determined that no matter what she read, she wouldn’t be swayed into committing the heinous act as the big Kindred was advocating.

“A Royal wife from the Very First Family is a delicate creature,” her ancestor had written. “She must be treated gently and her Heat slaked regularly. In this pursuit, pleasure is your best friend—specifically, her pleasure.”

“Pleasure?” Rissa exclaimed, looking up at James, who was standing beside her as he projected the pages he had scanned onto the blank wall. “How would I derive pleasure from touching my forbidden area?”

“Just keep reading, Princess,” he rumbled. “And you’ll see.”

Rissa did read on, but what she read was rather shocking.

“Between the Royal Female’s nether lips resides a precious pearl,” her ancestor had written. “This may be manipulated with fingers or tongue—if you are so inclined as to taste your lady’s sweet juices—to bring her to the pinnacle of pleasure.”

“Oh, my!” Rissa couldn’t help feeling scandalized at this frank discussion of female anatomy and what a male might do to it. But she found she was also just a tiny bit curious. Was there a “pearl” down there, between her nether lips? And what kind of peak was her ancestor talking about? And would a man really want to put his fingers—or even his tongue—down there?

It seemed hard to believe. From the age of ten, Lady Mildew had taught her that the area was dirty and disgusting—that Rissa should never, ever touch herself between her belly button and her mid-thighs. But if the area was so dirty and horrible, why was King Randolph the Thoughtful saying that a Royal husband must touch—or even lick—his wife there?

“Am I shocking you, Princess?”

James’s deep, rumbling voice brought her back to herself and she realized that she had been sitting there, staring at the page he was projecting with an open mouth.

“Oh, um…” Rissa wasn’t sure what to say.

“I know how innocent you are,” James continued. “And I’m sorry to destroy any of that innocence, but you need to know how to control your Heat Cycle and I believe this is the way.”

Rissa shook her head.

“I…I am still not convinced.”

James nodded.

“I’m not surprised. Please have a look at this page from Queen Lola the Outspoken’s diary. Incidentally, Queen Lola was the wife of King Randolph, from the last book I showed you,” he added.

The projection on the wall changed and this time the page revealed was handwritten. Luckily, Queen Lola had had very neat handwriting, so it was easy to read.

“I miss my beloved Randolph more than I can say, but the Council of Wisdom has said that I must be married again. They fear I will not be able to control my Heat Cycle without a man’s help. That is what they claim, anyway—in truth, I think what they fear is that I cannot rule without a man’s help.

Ha! The fools—I need no man’s help! I know exactly how to rule and what to do to control my Cycle and I do it every chance I get! Each night, when I am finally in the secret confines of my own bedchamber, I put my hand betwixt my legs and manipulate myself to the pinnacle, just as my darling Randolph used to do for me. The release I find in this way keeps my blood from overheating nicely.

I will give each suitor the Council sends me the requisite month, and then send them all packing. Eventually they shall see that I can rule quite well without a man at my side, for none ever could or ever shall replace my sweet Randolph.”

“My goodness!” Rissa murmured, as she finished reading this passage. “She was certainly very opinionated!”