Cinder walked up to the gates of the palace, the same ones she had used to return Nainsi to Kai so many years ago, and flashed her wrist over the scanner. It beeped and the guard on her left paled, knowing that the emperor might have his head for not knowing the empress had left the palace.

In the halls, there was a flurry of activity, officials rushing around like-what was the old saying?-chickens without heads. Cinder paused and watched them for a moment then turned on her net link, receiving three hundred seventy-six unread comms from several people, mainly Kai and Iko. What could possibly so important that they had to send her nearly four hundred comms?

A passing official noticed her and gave her a relieved smile. "Your Majesty! You're okay! We've been searching half the country for you! The emperor was very nervous about your, uh, condition."

Cinder furrowed her brows and protectively laid a hand on her somewhat protruding stomach. "Would you mind taking me to him?"

"Of course, Your Majesty," she said and started towards the bank of elevators along one wall.

THey took the elevators up to the conference levels and walked to the government wing of the palace. THe activity seemed to be much more frantic near Kai's study and Cinder pushed through the people and moved to flick her wrist over the scanner, but someone was just leaving, so she slipped inside.

Kai was seated at his desk, surrounded by several invisi-screens. a handful of advisors, and his face was creased with what Cinder thought was unnecessary worry. A screen flashed with an incoming notification and Cinder grew angry.

"Really, Kai? I go for a walk and you send the navy to Australia?" She marched up to his desk and shut off the screens, moving their contents to her retinas and canceling all of Kai's stupid orders to find her. "I told you where I was going and this is how you react when I'm a little late?"

Kai looked ashamed and relieved to see his wife standing in front of him, even if she was angry. "You're three hours late, Cinder, what was I supposed to do?"

"How about not comm me every five minutes so I don't shut off my net link!" Cinder crossed her arms over her chest.

Iko had started ushering people out of the room and spreading the word that the empress had been found.

"I was worried about you, Cinder," Kai said softly.

"I know, but next time, try sending someone to follow my ID chip, because I know you have a team for that."

Kai walked around his desk and pulled Cinder into his arms. "I will neither confirm or deny that," he said, and they both laughed. "I just wanted to make sure you and the baby were okay."

"We're fine, Kai, if anything had happened, I would have told you." Cinder rested her head against his shoulder. "Like how I had a few contractions on my way back."

"What?"

Review EMPRESS if you want to see some more quirky Kaider!

XO,

The Duchess