Chapter Thirteen
Expedition
Jia’s blood was up!
As exhilarated as if headed into war, she faced the challenge/opportunity of truly pursuing her quest at last already flushed with revelry. So superbly securing her irreplaceable vessel had been unprecedentedly intense. Caging to prevent spillage was so routine with thralls that such secondary effects normally went completely unconsidered. The genius was in the details; the thrill insidious. An even crueler glee enlivened her next intentions.
Originally unconcerned how her beloved responded to the admittedly enjoyable necessities ahead (perhaps a bit amused by his memory-obsession with poor Roy), the Empress had in the course of an afternoon come to belatedly appreciate both Shanelle’s delight and Thrall’s aversion-compulsion. She wante
