Chapter 25 Kaitlyn
KAITLYN
Morning Court was held in a different chamber than the banquet hall—a long, narrow room with a vaulted ceiling of stained glass that cast fragmented rainbows across the polished black marble floor. The air was cooler—scented with incense and a faint, metallic tang.
Instead of low couches, there were rows of high-backed chairs along the walls, filled with the noblewomen of the Royal Court. They were all dressed in elaborate, revealing gowns, their expressions a mixture of boredom and sharp-eyed assessment as they watched each other move around the room.
And beside each woman, like a living accessory, stood her husband.
Kaitlyn’s steps faltered for a second as she took it all in. Every single male was restrained in some way. Some wore intricate leather harnesses—others had their wrists bound behind them with silken cords.
But the common denominator, gleaming under the rainbow light, was the cage. Silver, gold, black chrome—each husband had one encasing his cock—a blatant symbol of ownership and control.
At the far end of the room, on a dais of purple crystal, sat Empress Shatezarra.
She was draped in sheer lavender silks and reclining indolently on her throne.
As always, a concubine knelt between her spread thighs, his head bowed in diligent service.
The soft, wet sounds of his tongue were audible in the hushed room.
Braze walked a half-step behind Kaitlyn, showing her respect while remaining close enough to protect her.
She could feel the tension in the leash…
the coiled readiness in his large frame.
She could also feel the key to his cage, which rested between her breasts—a cool, constant reminder of what they were doing together.
What were they doing together, though, she wondered?
Was he really as eager to submit as he seemed?
Did he really want her to dominate him? It certainly seemed so, and it felt like a wish come true.
If only they could finish this mission and get out of here, the two of them could explore the new dynamic that seemed to be growing between them.
Kaitlyn couldn’t wait—but first she had to get the Love Vine.
The Empress’s eyes were like chips of amethyst, tracking their approach. A slow, speculative smile curved her lips and she tapped her concubine on the head, prompting him to sit back and wipe his mouth.
“The Ambassadress from Earth and her Kindred Protector,” a servant in golden livery announced. “Brave survivors of the Kriver incident!”
A murmur rippled through the court. All eyes were on them, and specifically, on Braze.
“Come closer, my dears,” the Empress purred, beckoning with a lazy hand. “Do not be shy—you have much to be proud of.”
They approached the dais. Kaitlyn dipped into a curtsy and Braze went to one knee, his head bowed, the leash going slack in her hand.
“We are so very pleased with you both,” the Empress said, her voice dripping with honeyed condescension. “You put on an excellent show last night—both in the banquet hall and in the bedroom. The bravery, the violence, and the subsequent tenderness. Truly riveting entertainment.”
Kaitlyn kept her face carefully neutral, but inside she was fuming. Entertainment. That’s all they were to these people.
But it wasn’t just anger she felt—the Empress’ words sent a hot flush creeping up her neck.
She’d forgotten, in the terror and intimacy of the night before, that every moment in the Black Diamond Suite was being observed.
The thought of unseen eyes watching Braze kneel before her to taste her—and then, later, watching her explore him—made her skin prickle with a mix of shame and defiant pride.
“And you, mighty warrior,” the Empress continued, focusing on Braze. “You acted where my own guards failed! Such strength. Such loyalty.”
She clapped her hands once, sharply. A servant scurried forward bearing a velvet pillow. On it lay a heavy medallion on a thick silver chain, shaped like a snarling beast’s head.
“This is a token of our Royal gratitude,” the Empress said. “The Medal of the Crimson Claw—bestowed for valor far beyond the call of duty.”
Braze didn’t move until Kaitlyn gave a slight tug on the leash.
“You may accept it,” she murmured, since he seemed to be silently asking permission.
The big Kindred rose and stepped forward, allowing the Empress to lift the medallion and place it around his neck. It settled beside his leather collar—a symbol of honor against the symbol of bondage.
“Thank you, Your Majesty,” he rumbled, his voice perfectly respectful, but Kaitlyn could hear the underlying stiffness. It seemed to her that her Protector didn’t like submitting to the Empress. Maybe he only wanted to submit to her—to Kaitlyn. Could that be true?
“You are most welcome,” Shatezarra said, her fingers lingering on the medal, then trailing down to brush the leather of his collar. “You know, I need males like you. Loyal. Fierce. Effective. My own guards proved useless in the crisis last night.”
Her amethyst eyes lifted to Kaitlyn’s, sharp and calculating.
“So, I have a proposal. I am prepared to grant your request. You may take a cutting of the sacred Love Vine back to the Kindred Mother Ship.”
Hope leaped in Kaitlyn’s chest, swift and bright.
“Oh, thank you, Your M—” she began
“On one condition,” the Empress interrupted, her smile turning razor-thin. “You leave this magnificent creature here with me. To serve as my personal guard. And, of course, as my concubine.”
The words landed like a physical blow. A wave of pure, possessive fury swept through Kaitlyn so violently she actually saw a red haze at the edges of her vision.
Her fingers clenched around the leash handle, the braided leather biting into her palm.
Mine. He is MINE. And fuck you if you think I’d ever give him to you!
But of course she couldn’t say such things out loud. She bit down hard on the inside of her cheek until she tasted the sharp, copper tang of blood.
One. Two. Three… She counted, forcing air into her lungs, clinging to all her training and experience in diplomacy like it was a lifeline.
By the time she reached ten, she could speak, though her voice was tighter than usual.
“Your Majesty is most generous. However, I fear I cannot possibly give you my husband.”
A ripple of surprise went through the court. Anyone telling the Empress ‘no’ was clearly a rare event.
The Empress’s pleasant expression froze.
“Cannot? Or will not?”
“Cannot,” Kaitlyn repeated firmly, lifting her chin. “You see, Braze is Bound to me by a special Kindred Soul-Bond. It is a connection that goes beyond marriage. Because he is Soul-bound to me, he cannot form a true attachment to any other female. The bond is unbreakable, except by death.”
Shatezarra’s eyes narrowed and the concubine at her feet shrank back slightly, a look of fear crossing his face.
“Is that so?” she mused, her tone dangerously soft. “So the only way to have him is to break this ‘Soul-Bond’ by killing you?”
A low, warning growl vibrated through the air. Braze’s head snapped up. His golden eyes were no longer gold—they were bleeding to a deep, furious crimson as Rage overtook him. The growl deepened into a snarl—raw and bestial—his lips pulling back from his sharp white teeth.
The leash went taut as iron in Kaitlyn’s hand as he took an involuntary step forward. The Court gasped and several guards reached for their weapons.
“Braze,” Kaitlyn said, her command slicing through the tension. She pulled firmly on the leash. “Peace.” It took immense effort, but at last her Protector subsided, though the red Rage still smoldered in his eyes, fixed on the Empress.
Kaitlyn turned back to Shatezarra, her own fear buried under a layer of icy calm.
“No, Your Majesty. That wouldn’t work either.
” She couldn’t believe the woman was discussing her murder so casually, but she was determined to keep calm.
“You see, a Kindred male will almost always die when his wife does. The Soul-Bond drags him down into death with her. It’s a physiological reaction.
So if you tried to kill me…” She shrugged.
“You would lose him too. You’d get nothing but two corpses. ”
She sent a silent thank you to her friend, Kat, back on the Mother Ship, who had explained the tragic tales of widowed Kindred to her. That little piece of knowledge might save her life!
The Empress stared at her for a long, tense moment, her lower lip jutting out in a childish pout.
“Oh, very well,” she snapped petulantly.
Then, like the sun breaking through a cloud, a sly, cunning grin transformed her face. It was an expression that promised mischief of the worst kind and it made Kaitlyn’s blood run cold.
“But before I give you some of our precious Love Vine to take home, I think it’s only prudent that you try some. To be certain it is to your liking and worth the inconvenience of your journey.”
Before Kaitlyn could respond, the Empress clapped her hands twice, sharply.
“Servants! Some Love Vine tea for our guests! And make it extra strong!”
Panic, cold and slick, coiled in Kaitlyn’s gut. This was a trap—it had to be.
Within moments, a servant approached with a delicate porcelain cup on a tray.
The liquid inside was a pale, translucent pink, like diluted rose quartz.
It steamed gently, emitting a peculiar, cloyingly sweet floral scent with an undertone of something earthier…
muskier. It must be the smell of the vine itself, concentrated, Kaitlyn thought. Or had something been added to it?
She reached for it, her mind racing. Should she pretend to take a sip? Refuse outright?
“No, no, my dear Ambassadress,” Shatezarra chided, waving a finger. “This tea is for your husband. Think of it as a reward for his bravery. Let the warrior drink.”
Kaitlyn’s eyes flew to Braze. Don’t, she wanted to scream. It could be poison!
Braze looked from the cup to her face. His nostrils flared, widening as he took in the scent from a few feet away. The red had faded from his eyes, replaced by intense concentration. After a moment, he gave a single, almost imperceptible nod.
“It’s all right, Mistress,” he murmured, the words for her alone. “I don’t smell any poison. No toxins. Just the vine.”
Of course. All Kindred had extremely sharp senses and with Beast Kindred their sense of smell was legendary. If he said it was safe, it must be safe.
Reluctantly, she nodded her permission. If it wasn’t a life-or-death situation, they couldn’t risk offending the Empress by refusing her special gift.
Braze took the cup and brought it to his lips for a cautious sip.
His throat worked as he swallowed. He paused, as if assessing the flavor…
the effect. Then, with a resolve that made Kaitlyn’s heart pound, he lifted the cup and drained it in three long gulps.
He handed the empty cup back to the servant, his face impassive.
The Empress’s grin widened into something distinctly evil and triumphant. She clapped her hands again in excitement.
“Servants! Bring the punishment frame! And hurry—he drank the whole cup!”
Dread, cold and heavy, settled in Kaitlyn’s bones.
“What?” she demanded, her diplomatic composure cracking. “What are you talking about? Who’s getting punished?”
“Why, your dear, sweet husband, of course.” Shatezarra’s eyes sparkled with malicious glee. “He refused my generous offer to service and protect me. In our society, such a refusal from a male—even a bonded one—requires a public correction. A lesson in obedience.”
She leaned forward, her voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper that somehow carried across the silent court.
“But don’t worry, my dear Ambassadress. You will be the one administering the punishment. Isn’t that delightful? Now, first…unlock his cock.”
The command hung in the air and Kaitlyn’s mind went blank for a second. The punishment frame? Unlock him? Why?
Oh God—what was about to happen?
Whatever it was, she was sure it wasn’t good.