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she had anything on under that gown. If he focused, he could just make out the darker curve of her nipples through the semi-sheer fabric of the gown.
    “Excuse me.”
    “Yes, Your Majesty.” Guardian Winter quirked his lips.
    Usorn gave him a dark look and he walked over to Scribe Longway, taking her by the hand as her guards backed away.
    “You look lovely.”
    Her neck turned that delightful shade of pink. “Thank you, but isn’t this against protocol?”
    He quirked his eyebrow. “It is and it isn’t. As I have never had a female scribe before, there are new rules in action. I am making this up as I go along.”
    She reached up and paused before she touched her face. “It isn’t too much? Should I wear a mask?”
    “It is perfect and will help you when you are working. The starbursts make your eyes hypnotic.”
    She smiled, but her brows said she was unsure. “I thought I was here to write.”
    He sighed. “Yes, but you can still do it with grace and style. Come on, I wish to introduce you to the Guardians of Hredu.”
    He held her blue-black tinged fingers in his, and he tugged her toward his teammates. Something about her made him want to show her his entire world and she had only just arrived.
    Ariadne Longway belonged on his world, and he had no idea why. Usorn grinned; he looked forward to finding out.
     
    * * * *
     
    Ari had heard of the Guardians. They were the Imperium version of the Sector Guard, but they tended to be posted to a single world as opposed to travelling when called.
    Given the slightly more wild set of societies in the Imperium, it made sense to have a dedicated set of heroes for one particular world.
    Winter had a shock of white hair in a crest design and pale minty skin. Spring’s hair was deep emerald and his skin was bright leaf green. Summer was rich tones of emerald skin and waves of burgundy hair.
    “Where is Fall?” She asked Winter.
    “Holding your hand. His Imperial Majesty has a talent for flight and telekinesis. He leads and protects his people instead of simply ruling them.”
    Emperor Usorn was speaking with Spring and a minister for the interior. If he heard them, he didn’t show any sign.
    Winter smiled. “You were expecting more formality?”
    She sighed and cocked her head. “Something like that. Certainly more isolation.”
    His smile turned into a grin. “Since you are the first of your particular kind, consider all previous regulations gone. I think that Fall is rather smitten by you.”
    Usorn turned his head toward them and smiled politely. “Not smitten, just curious.”
    Winter smiled, “Then let her hand go, Your Imperial Majesty.”
    Usorn looked down at his grip on her hand as if surprised. He looked back to Winter. “No.”
    Her skin and blue-black-tinted fingers were trapped in his warm and comfortable hand.
    She felt a wave of relief when a gong rang for dinner. The frustration that flickered over the emperor’s face was frightening, but Winter laughed.
    “I will take her in to dinner, Your Imperial Majesty.” Winter grinned.
    Ari reclaimed her hand when the emperor released it. She inclined her head as he turned her over to Winter and left to enter the dining room.
    “I will be your dinner companion this evening, Spring and Summer will be across from you.”
    Winter took her hand and placed it against his forearm. “You seem a little nervous.”
    “This is new. It is a lot of new in a very short time.”
    “You will adapt. From your security file, your species thrives at adaptation. You will do just fine.”
    She stifled a yawn. “I am sure that I will, eventually. Today, I am just trying to get to tonight and my own bed.”
    Winter patted her hand. “Many here have that same goal.”
    Her surprised laughter went with her into the dining room and the formality finally kicked in, for about five minutes.
     

Chapter Four
     
     
    The dinner party passed in a blur, and Ari remembered making polite conversation about how much her tattoos