Page 50

He nodded and turned to leave. She smacked him on the ass. He whirled with his eyes wide.

She held up a hand to stop him. “Parliament!”

He kissed her hand. “Later, we are going to discuss your flippant treatment of the owner of this world.”

Riley grinned. “I look forward to it. Hurry home.”

He flared his wings and flew off to his offices.

When he was gone, she settled back at the table and looked at Ranna. “So, did you think I pulled that off, or is he going to storm back in here and plow me against that statuary?”

Ranna swallowed. “You and my father seem to complement each other.”

Riley laughed, and Lagolian came into the room with eyes wide. “Holy hells. Were you showing off or...”

“No, Rath actually likes it when I stand up for myself and demand his attentions. It makes him feel less like a bully. The slap on the ass was just to see what he would do. Normally, I wouldn’t have done that while you were here, but I think that is what stopped me from being flipped to my belly on the table. We traumatized the warship crew.”

Ranna smiled. “I think I know why. My mother was always angry when he came to her, but you are laughing and holding your arms out, not negotiating for money for each encounter.”

“Ouch. That’s rough. No, I let him know that I just want him for him because I do. I also want this little whatever it will be. I know it will be strong, it will have wings, and it will be loved.”

Ranna blinked. “I am jealous.”

“You are loved, Ranna, but if you try and climb into my uterus, we are going to have a fight on our hands.”

Ranna laughed. “Right. Now to the serious matter of clothing.”

Lagolian nodded. “I didn’t bring my assistant this time. I think she would weep at what has become of you.”

“What? Six foot one and addicted to sex with a winged warlord?” She smiled.

Lagolian laughed. “Yes. That.”

They got together, and Ranna helped with the measurements. When they got around to discussing fashions, Riley got an impish grin. “I have an idea for a theatre outfit. I can only wear it for another month or two, so it would have to be first on the formal wear.”

Lagolian grinned, and Ranna sat astonished as Riley described what she wanted.

The seamstress said, “Give me three days.”

“Excellent. Ranna, you may not want to come out with us for this one.”

“Are you kidding? I wouldn’t miss it for the world.” Ranna opened her tablet and got looking. “Ah, I have just the performance here. I will tell them to ready our boxes.”

Riley chuckled and sighed. “I am pretty sure I will need to get to the theatre first or wear a cloak or something.”

“I will have one made up.”

Ranna grinned. “I think you are going to be good for him.”

“That, or I am going to be the first woman to give a Hmrain a heart attack. Either way, things ought to be fun.”

Riley was nervous, and Rath kept looking at her curiously. He was meeting with some governors and magistrates when she stepped into an open space and removed the cloak. The soft slither of silk rang like a gunshot. Rath’s head whipped toward her, and the light in his eyes could have illuminated a dark night.

Her corset was black leather, exposing the bites and puncture wounds on her neck and shoulders.

Golden chains wrapped one wrist around her arm, across her back, and around the other arm. It was the skirt that was tricky. Light panels of silk that moved when she did showed the gold chain swagging around her hips and barely keeping them in place. There was enough fullness in the panels to cover her but not if she moved with any kind of speed.

Ranna was nearby and watching them. Rath moved rapidly and pulled her against him. He lowered his head next to her ear. “Whatever you want, you can have it, just keep this dress.”