The Blood Empress Read Online Free Page A

were not completely black, but had a light wash of brown in them. It was endlessly fascinating to her. She could just stare into them for hours and be perfectly content.
    She paused in mid stride as she thought how strange that was to be so obsessed with a boy's eyes. A knocking came from her door and startled her.
    "Enter," she commanded in her Empress tone.
    The large wooden door creaked open and the young girl attendant entered. Her eyes were large again. Like a scared animal.
    "My Empress, I present to you, Lord Ketar, of Vicar."
    Nykostra waved impatiently at the pretense of a formal introduction. The girl moved aside and in strode a man wearing the blue and black colors of his Kastra. It was Ketar.
    Nykostra waved for the attendant to leave and the girl pulled her big eyes away from the warrior long enough to bow and leave.
    Ketar looked directly at her and her heart melted inside. He was the same old Ketar she had always talked to but now he was here in the flesh and standing before her in her bed chamber.
    "This is not at all how I pictured us meeting someday, Kaleen."
    She smiled weakly and tried to keep her heart inside her chest. He had called her by her assumed name and not by her title. She was impressed by that.
    He no longer wore his formal body armor, just the quilted garments worn underneath the armor.
    "I had to see you alone Ketar," she said. She took a step closer to him and he matched her until they were toe to toe in the dim light of her room.
    He looked down at her with a childish look on his face.
    "I never thought I'd ever meet the Empress. You are far prettier in person that you ever were on the view screen."
    Nykostra blushed, her cheeks slightly bluer than before.
    She ran a hand across his chest, stroking him. "I never imagined I would see you in person. It's wonderful."
    He nodded and then sighed. "What's wrong," she asked.
    "I dare not touch you or risk death. You're the Empress, Kaleen. Just being this close to you violates a half dozen rules."
    "Forget the rules, Ketar and just hold me tight."
    She wrapped her arms around his chest and hugged him. He was hesitant to do the same but eventually gave in. They stood in a hug each of them thankful to be with the other.
    Nykostra looked up and licked her dark blue lips. Ketar could not stop himself. He kissed her gently and was surprised by the passion she returned. When they finally parted, he pushed her away slowly.
    "We can't do this. I can't be here, with you like this."
    She wrinkled a brow and said, "You don't like me then?"
    He shook his head curtly. "No your highness, far from it. I love you more than anything else in the universe. But you and I are from different worlds."
    "If you win the contest, we can be together forever."
    He frowned and turned away, taking in her huge bed, wondering how anyone could sleep in such a vast area. All his life he slept in a small, rectangular area slightly larger than his own height.
    "I'm the youngest contestant. I have the least experience and I have never been to battle. You would be a fool to pick me over the any one of the other warriors."
    She slipped her cool hands into his.
    "But I don't know them and besides I love only you."
    He smiled at her and kissed her again. "I have wanted to be with you ever since we first met on the tiny screen, so long ago. I can't believe this is who you are. my Empress, my leader and my love."
    She stared up into his brown eyes and sighed.
    A knock at her door made them both look up in fear. "Enter," Nykostra said in her command tone.
    The door opened and the girl attendant stuck her head in.
    "My Empress, the boy must leave now."
    Nykostra held onto him a moment longer and they kissed again before parting. Then he slipped out the door and was gone.
    Nykostra became weak. She fell to her knees on the stone floor and put her head in her hands to weep. Tears flowed freely from her hands to the floor.
    ***
    Later that evening, Nykostra lay on top of her bed fully clothed.