Chapter 29
Atem
A gathering of domini was beautiful to witness.
The constant shifting of colors as people stood in front of different fabrics, backgrounds, and even other people was entrancing and hypnotic.
Long skirts and flowing pants with bare chests, simple bandeaus, or even simpler chest straps left a lot of skin bare to enhance the effect.
The sparkle of jewelry was the only thing that really broke up smoothly transitioning field of color, but those stable shining sparkles only made it more glorious.
Atem stood on a high balcony, looking out over the grand room with his hands resting on the thin, filigree silver railing. He waved in greeting to a few people, but he wasn't going down yet. Not until his females joined him.
Like the others, he had left his chest bare except for the loops of silver chains around his neck matching the elaborately carved bands around his arms and tail.
His long, flowing pants shifted in color from dark to light green depending on how the light hit it, but his upper body was currently a pale gold from the gleam of light bouncing off the cream wall with golden accents behind him.
He was looking forward to seeing Peony. He had sent Quvi to help them dress and she was known as one of the most fashionable females in the city.
His human females had no camouflage ability, so they would be points of constant color when they mingled among his people.
He was looking forward to seeing how Peony, with her unchanging coloring, would look upon his arm.
Slow steps approached. Atem didn't turn to meet his companion. He knew Tuvo's footsteps.
“Third Guardian is on her way with the humans,” he said, his deep voice rumbling as he came to a halt beside Atem.
Though Atem wasn't a small male at all, he managed to look almost juvenile beside him.
Tuvo was the biggest domini Atem had ever seen, by a vast margin.
Both in height, and in musculature. As First Warrior, he kept his hair short and trimmed with hard lines.
His three, glowing green eyes were always moving, constantly checking for some kind of threat.
He was one of the few domini in attendance to be fully dressed.
Though he wasn't trying to cover his skin; he was covering the mess of scars that covered his body with his military dress camocloth.
Though, he could do nothing to hide the long scar that crossed his harshly angled face from his forehead down to the opposite jaw.
Scarred skin did not camouflage properly and, though there was only beauty to be found in marred skin, Tuvo found them annoying for how they reduced his ability to blend into his surroundings.
But the scars were tokens of his many victories in battle. Each one had a story and Atem was proud to say he knew every one. Even his tail was kinked at the end. It was highly attractive among the domini, even if it annoyed Tuvo. He cared nothing for how he looked aesthetically.
A hard, stone-cold vaska from every angle. Harsh with each snapped word. Ruthless in combat and merciless in his job.
The only person in the universe that Atem trusted completely.
“Have you met them yet?” Atem asked, resisting the urge to check the door leading into the balcony where they would soon appear.
“I have not. I've been trying to learn as much as I can about the ratchi that captured you.”
Atem couldn’t quite fight back a growl. At this point, he knew that someone had to have betrayed him for that ambush to have been so successful.
And how else would a group of random, young ratchi have even been able to find him?
Much less pass by all the security measures that normally followed him because of his position.
Tuvo told him not to immediately assume that it was betrayal without proof, but Atem could think of no other scenario that made sense.
“Any news?” He asked, calming his temper. That’s not how he wanted to meet his Peony tonight.
Tuvo waved his hand with a short, abrupt movement. “Their ship is completely unremarkable. Their logs exactly what I would expect from young ratchi on their coming-of-age mission.”
Atem growled. “I was captured by ratchi not even yet considered full males?”
“Even the most skilled warrior can fumble his sword.” Tuvo shrugged, repeating the old philosophy without inflection. “It’s embarrassing, but it happens.”
“No. It's concerning.” Atem's hands clenched on the rail so hard, he was surprised it maintained its shape. “I am not careless, Tuvo. I am not so easily tricked. How did this happen?”
“It smells like a trap.” Tuvo agreed reluctantly. “But it could mean nothing. You’ve no proof.”
“How else could it have happened? I was drawn away from the safety of Turv for a trade meeting-”
“Which, First Voice should have been able to handle,” Tuvo interjected. “If it is a trap, it could have been meant for him. More likely, despite your paranoid delusions, it was random, and you happened to mess up. It happens, Atem. Not everything is some secret plot against you.
Atem's tail flicked in annoyance, but he said nothing as Tuvo fixed him with a look.
“Atem, you did not need to go to that meeting, and you know it. That should have been First Voice's job.”
“I just wanted to make sure it was done right.”
“No. You refused to trust him to do it.” Tuvo faced his Dominani fully, though Atem didn't look at him.
“Atem, you have to trust your Council. Let us do our jobs.
This wouldn't have happened if you had allowed First Voice to attend the meeting, as he should have.
Or if you had allowed me to accompany you.
Or oversee the meeting myself if all they really wanted was someone to be intimidating in the corner.
You don't have to, nor can you, do all this on your own.”
“I trust you,” Atem said, but the words rang hollow as Tuvo scowled at him.
“You trust me, yes. And I value that, Atem, but you have to trust others as well. Not everyone is going to lie or betray you. Not everyone is going to put a knife in your back.”
Atem's expression darkened at the hard reminder. “It only takes one.”
“Atem-”
“Ah! My sisters!” His voice infused with new cheer, Atem deliberately turned away from Tuvo as Scarlet led the females onto his balcony.
The blood haired female had chosen a slim, simple, black dress that clung to every subtle curve of her body.
Black wasn't a popular color, as it was the hardest color to camouflage to and most couldn't achieve a true black so they would never match their clothing, but Scarlet looked stunning with it contrasting her pale skin and bright hair.
She carried herself with elegance and confidence.
Right behind her, trying to appear just as unflappable but failing thanks to the giddy smile on her face, Hattie entered wearing a pretty frock that shifted from pink to orange.
The skirt was long in the back, but open at the front, and the bodice was low enough to showcase her impressive breasts – the largest of the humans and far larger than a domini female's chest. When she appeared, Atem heard Tuvo suck in a quick breath, but he ignored it.
Holly and Alanna walked in arm-in-arm. Alanna had chosen an opalescent white gown that flared out around her waist into a long, elegant train, with a lace cape draped over her arms. Holly had chosen a high-necked dress in a deep, emerald green with billowing sleeves that tightened around her wrists and a skirt that reached the ground.
Both of them were smiling, putting Atem more at ease.
He had been worried that Holly would be unhappy going to such a big gathering.
His heart skipped in excitement before Peony even appeared.
She was the last one through the doors, trailing behind the others.
She looked nervous, though he couldn't imagine why.
She was absolutely beautiful. The pale green of her long, billowing skirt was held in place by an elaborate silver belt with delicate chains crossing up to the tight, high-necked bodice, leaving her belly fully bare to his hungry eyes.
Her neck and arms were draped in impossibly delicate silver chains shimmering with rough cut, clear gemstones.
Her long hair had been curled and half pulled up on her head, falling in waves around her shoulders.
She was stunning. Nervous as she approached him, but too lovely for mere words. Her fingers twisted together as she bit on her lower lip. He was completely distracted by the rocking of her hips with each step.
The other females moved to the railing, commenting excitedly about his people below, but Atem couldn't look away from Peony as she stopped in front of him. Smiling shyly.
“Hey,” she breathed, forcing her hands behind her back so she'd stop fidgeting. It didn't work. “You look really good.”
“Not nearly as beautiful as you, vi Seerin,” he praised sincerely, taking hold of her arms and pulling them back in front of her so he could hold her hands. The bright green of her dress highlighted her eyes and threatened to drown him in their vibrant pools. “Come. I want you to meet someone.”
He turned, but Tuvo wasn't looking at him. He was staring at the females. Atem almost laughed. Even his stoic and serious friend, leader of their entire intergalactic military, was struck dumb by the sheer sensuality of the human females.
He coughed loudly and deliberately, getting his attention as he brought Peony forward. Tuvo looked back at him, and, to his credit, his face didn't show any sheepishness at having been caught staring. He maintained his aloof and closed expression.
“Peony, this is First Warrior Tuvo, my most trusted advisor. Tuvo, please meet vi Seerin Siria, Vora Vakara Peony.”
“Honored Vora Vakara,” he saluted her with his fist over his heart. “Allow me to express my gratitude for your efforts in protecting vi Dominani.”
She looked surprised but it faded quickly as she smiled, clutching Atem's arm. “I'm pretty sure he's the one who protected us.”
“Your humility is endearing.” Tuvo clutched his wrist behind his back, standing straight.
His height was probably intimidating but Peony faced him bravely, only the tightening of her fingers on Atem's arms telling him that she might be uneasy.
“But not necessary. Take pride in your actions. You deserve it. Vi Dominani, will you be going down now?”
“Yes.” Atem smiled at Peony. “Not all of my Council could make it tonight, but I want you to meet them.”
“Is Donivi here? Scarlet wanted to talk to him.”
“He is, yes. I'll be sure to point him out to her. Shall we?”