After a warning from Kihara, Marcus draws her aunt’s interest again

With Kihara leading him gently by the hand, Marcus stepped after her into another lavish hallway, his eyes wide with shock as he took another part of this amazing palace that seemed to utterly outshine his parents' castle in both size and luxury. Following after his lover, he'd seen room after room filled with beautiful artworks and sculptures or draped in finely woven silk curtains with intricate, patterns of rich color. They'd passed lovely gardens too, lush green plants and gorgeous flowers, all carefully shaded from the heat of the desert sun, their leaves and petals hanging over pools of crystal water. It was all so amazing, the young prince could hardly even imagine how wealthy and powerful Kihara's aunt must be to rule from such a place. That made the thought of standing before her again even more intimidating.

As he walked together with his lover down the long hallway, the young prince's gaze settled on a marble statue set in a tiled alcove. The figure of a slender young man, captured so perfectly in the stone it looked like he was about to step down from the plinth and speak. Marcus felt his cheeks burn as he realized the man was naked too, standing there with his body turned and his head bowed, like she was shyly showing himself off to any who passed, his expression of nervous excitement so realistic it almost looked like the stone was blushing too. Between his slightly spread legs, his dick was soft, drooping over the sack of his balls. Even those parts had been so carefully crafted, looking very real. The young prince blushed even hotter, but he couldn't look away. Was this the sort of art they liked here?

"Come...you must stay close to me, little one." Kihara murmured sharply, giving his hand a gentle tug. Marcus glanced at her and saw he'd fallen a bit behind while gawping at the statue.

"Sorry, Kihara..." The young prince darted after her until he was walking right by her side, her warm fingers holding his wrist in a firm grip to keep him there.

"I know you must find the palace quite beautiful, but there is danger here too, especially for...boys." She continued in a hushed voice, turning her head to give him a firm look that made him instantly perk up and pay very close attention. "You are mine, my concubine, but before you are properly presented as such to the court there may be those who seek to steal you away from me. It would be a humiliation for me from those who do not welcome my return, but even more so you are a prize worth risking much for. There are women here who'd gladly take an unwilling boy and use him very roughly. I...need to protect you from them."

Marcus nodded hurriedly. He was pretty sure he knew exactly what she was afraid of. All these magnificent corridors and hallways had been rather empty and quiet, but every now and then they'd passed tall, dark-haired women in groups or alone, talking in low voices or hurrying about on some important business. Some had worn armor like Kihara's and carried gleaming spears or halberds against their broad shoulders, others had been draped in flowing white silk that bared slivers of their bronzed skin and muscled bodies. What they'd all had in common though, was the lingering looks they'd given him as he passed. Hungry stares darting down his body to settle on his butt and bare legs, each one leaving him very aware of how tight and filmy the clothing Kihara had dressed him in was. The imposing women had leered at him like hungry tigers staring at a helpless deer they meant to drag away and devour.

"I don't want to frighten you." Kihara gave his hand a comforting squeeze, then turned back to stare down the corridor ahead. "I will do everything I can to make sure you are safe, but both of us must be cautious all the same. It is even more important now that you do exactly as I say. Stick close to me at all times, and trust only those I specifically say you can. Do you understand that?"

"Yes...Kihara, I understand." Marcus replied, a shiver of nervous worry running down his spine. He was very lucky he had her here to protect him or else he'd be at the mercy of those scary women, but he'd better listen to her as well! He shifted a bit closer to his lover, until they were walking close enough he could feel the heat of her brown skin on his own bare arm. She smiled warmly, her fingers brushing over his skin as she held him tight by the hand. Leading him that way, she stepped towards the end of the corridor. Looming ahead of them was a doorway, covered with a purple silk curtain, threaded with gold. Flanking that entrance way were a pair of women guards, each of them as tall as Kihara herself, wearing wickedly gleaming scaled armor and long cloaks draped over their muscled shoulders. Marcus paused again, nervous of getting closer to such scary-looking soldiers.

"My aunt will be just through here, in her harem." Kihara explained softly, her grip on his hand getting tighter as she guided him after her towards the waiting doorway that suddenly seemed even more intimidating. "Keep quiet and just...be as good as you can, little one. She seems to like you, but she does not suffer untrained men in her presence." Marcus swallowed nervously, determined to not let a disobedient sound escape. The Empress was the ruler of this place and Kihara's family too...the last thing he wanted was to upset her. As they approached the door, the two guards stepped aside to allow them through. The young prince didn't miss the simmering stares they gave him from under their helmets though, and he stuck as close to his lover as he could as they stepped between the intimidating pair and through the waiting entrance to the Empress' harem.

Beyond the filmy curtain, the sweet smell of flowers and spices filled a large room, the floor covered in richly-woven silk carpets, with piles of cushions scattered here and there. More marble sculptures lined the walls, beautiful naked young men in various embarrassing poses that seemed perfectly arranged to show off their bare bodies. Just by the door, there was even one of a pair locked in a perfectly realized passionate embrace, their arms wrapped around each other's shoulders while their stiff stone cocks rubbed together between them. Marcus felt his cheeks burn at the lewd sight.

Kihara gently pulled him forward once again, and he stumbled after her, taking what comfort he could from her warm grip on his hand. He had to trust her, she'd told him she'd keep him safe so as long as he was good and stayed by her side everything would be okay, no matter how worrying this was starting to seem. He glanced ahead of them, a little gasp of shock escaping at what he saw before he remembered he was supposed to be quiet and pursed his lips firmly shut.

The Empress lay at the center of the room, draped along a long couch just like he'd seen her the last time, resting there like a satisfied cat and wearing even less than last time! A sheer, silk loincloth traced with gold thread was tied around her hips, with a matching warp across the ample curves of her boobs, and then she had that same golden headband resting in her dark hair, but otherwise her smooth, coffee-colored skin was bare, showing off her soft belly and muscular limbs. Even more surprising to the sheltered young prince, she had two men with her, both of them totally naked! A tanned boy about Marcus' age was kneeling by her feet, his hands rubbing over her long, muscled legs. He was slender and pretty, his plump lips curled into a look of avid concentration as he carefully massaged the Empress' calves with his fingers. And then, standing near the head of the couch, was a very well-built man, his bare, bronze skin shimmering with a covering of oil that picked out the lines of his bulging muscles. He was holding out a silver tray with a bowl of colorful fruit, standing as still as any of the lewd statues lining the walls of the room as he offered it to her.

Kihara didn't seem at all surprised at the decadent display, stepping forward without pause. Her hand slipped from Marcus' but he knew he had to follow her all the same and he hurriedly walked just behind her, already missing the comforting grip of her fingers round his wrist. The young prince wasn't sure he wanted to get any closer, but...he trusted his lover, and knew she'd protect him even from her aunt. As they approached, the Empress stirred, shifting on her couch. She leaned up, the boy by her feet scrambling forward so that he never stopped his rubbing of her legs even as she sat up. Raising her head, her dark eyes found Kihara and her full lips curled into a delighted smile.

"Kihara, my dear." The Empress cooed. "I've been waiting ever so eagerly for you." Kihara pulled to a halt a short distance in front of the couch and slipped into a low bow. Marcus hurriedly did the same, hoping that once again this scary woman would find his politeness appealing.

"Auntie..." Kihara murmured as she straightened. "I'm honored to be summoned to your presence once again."

"I'm sure you are, my favorite niece, and very pleased as well, of course." The Empress smiled, her dark eyes shining with amusement. Standing just behind his lover, Marcus shivered nervously. It was so hard to tell what this woman was thinking...even without her saying a word to him he already felt like a mouse being toyed with by a large and dangerous cat. "It's been far too long since you've visited my harem, dear. I've acquired so many lovely boys since you were last here." She chuckled lightly, then her eyes flickered to Marcus, still standing nervously just behind his lover. "Speaking of, I see you've brought your own darling little concubine back to me, such a treat. Step out where I can see you, boy..." She purred, a harder edge slipping into her voice. The young prince froze...he knew he should probably do as she said, but the thought of standing in front of this scary lady made his heart clench with worry. Glancing at Kihara, he saw her give a firm nod, her smile rather strained. Marcus hurriedly darted out from behind her. He shivered as the Empress leaned forward on her couch to stare at him. Her dark eyes moved slowly down his body, drinking in the sight of him. The filmy wraps of silk draped over his skin felt like nothing at all beneath that hot, lingering gaze. "Ah, you've had him properly dressed, that's good. I can see more work to be done still, makeup, some nice styling of that gorgeous hair of course, I'll have one of my boys handle that later." She nodded once, before continuing in a voice that seemed to simmer in the air. "Still...quite a treasure isn't he?" She breathed. "And barbarian royalty as well...I admit I find myself rather interested in him. That's quite rare these days. What is your name, boy?"

"Marcus...your highness." The young prince replied, his voice trembling.

"Marcus..." She repeated, her lips curling into a thoughtful frown. "These barbarians and their strange names." She sighed and straightened back in her chair, before lifting her head to look back at Kihara. "I'd give him a new one if I was you." She suggested, once again speaking to her like Marcus wasn't even there. "Draw a firm line under his old life and show him he's yours now. It'd have to be something cute and sweet like he is of course...maybe Bunny? Or Dumpling? That's a good one." She smiled eagerly, looking rather excited at the idea.

"I was hoping we could...discuss more pressing matters, auntie." Kihara ventured. "My mission, perhaps away from the boy..."

"No, I want him here. And discussing matters of the Empire in front of men, now I know you're joking." The Empress cut her off with a husky laugh. "Such lifeless talk of state can wait, my dear." She rose suddenly from the couch, the boy by her feet scrambling back to kneel beside the leg of the couch, his back stiff and his posture perfect despite his nakedness. "You've always been so dutiful and serious, I hoped finding a boy at last might teach you how to have a bit of fun. We'll have to change that now, won't we? Come with me, my darling niece, and bring him along as well. I've had my concubines prepare us a proper place to chat in comfort, with some lovely food and entertainment as well of course. First things first, I'll want to hear all about how you managed to snag your cute barbarian toy..."