50.3. Arriving in New York - Part 3

The migraine is gone when I regain consciousness but I can still feel that the emotional pressure is much greater than in Liana's skyscraper. Even though there're many Draconians in the hotel, humans make most of the guests. It's going to be a tough week.

"How are you feeling?" Erik asks, leaning over me, and kisses me on my forehead. "Everyone is super worried about you. Those who know about your telepathy twice as much. They're scared you won't be able to attend the conference."

"I'm much better now," I assure him and slowly sit up.

I rub my eyes and inspect the bedroom. It's huge, twice as big as the one we have in the skyscraper. I'm lying on a king size bed which is really comfortable but I wish it would be even bigger, my wings won't fit fully.

"We're in a presidential suite and it's still not enough for you?" Erik laughs and massages my sore wing muscles. Then he gets serious again. "Ryuu, are you sure you'll manage?"

"If I'm not forced to go through the whole city again," I say, uncertain. "I'll fly to the conference building as far from humans as possible and I won't hear otherwise."

"Liana thought as much," he nods. "To be honest, they also don't want to repeat that journey. Besides, the Celestial delegation arriving at the venue in the Celestial style would be very impressive so I have no doubt you'll be allowed."

"What time is it anyway?"

"Five in the morning," he informs me. "Jet-lag is a bitch. I slept for a few hours when you did but my inner clock is confused just as they say. What about you? How can you sleep so much anyway?"

"My brain is always exhausted I guess," I shrug. "But don't let Werden do that again to me, I hate not being in control."

"We had to, you were seriously hurting, Ryuu," Erik sighs sadly. "You scared us, even Ms Behera seemed deeply concerned. She was evidently made responsible for our safety."

"Was I suspicious?" I ask, worried.

"Not really, Liana told her that you're just not feeling well after the long journey. Only," Erik clicks his tongue, "it's now kind of obvious that Celestial weaknesses have a heavier toll on you. We were trying to hide that fact."

"At least next time I'm not feeling well, they'll already know that my body is frail so they shouldn't pry that much," I wave my hand.

"We don't want any next time, we should prevent you developing migraines in the first place," Erik says with resolve. "Luckily, there should be lots of Draconians at that conference. Can't you focus on them or something?"

"I'll certainly do just that," I nod and look around. "Where's my laptop? I imagine some work must have piled up."

"You should take all the rest you can, hon," he shakes his head. "What about a nice morning meditation?"

"You're still afraid I won't manage the conference," I frown.

"We are, naturally," he doesn't try to hide his worries. "How about you practice now?"

I roll my eyes that he's forcing me into it but he has a point. I fold my legs into a proper meditation posture, straighten my back, spread the wings to the sides and close my eyes.

"Focus on me... your friends... your fellow Draconians," Erik guides me, caressing my wings. "Others don't matter so stop paying attention to them. They're like ambient sound."

When I focus, emotions all around me intensify so meditation is a double-edged sword. I try focusing solely on the Draconians in the building. Most of them are sleeping, the guards are patrolling and some are suffering from jet lag. I can also feel many Draconian telepathic imprints that are new to me, no doubt Twyla and Werden's Earthborn delegation and Deminas with his entourage.

"See? You're surrounded by friends," Erik hugs me. "Forget humans and focus on them. And me, of course."

"Focusing on you is sometimes distracting," I open my eyes again.

"I'm well aware," he chuckles. "Say...," he slips his hand between my wings. "Since neither of us can sleep anymore and there's still time until breakfast, do you feel like using this presidential bed for something naughty?"

"Aren't be both too nervous for that?" I ask but I can feel that Erik got horny already.

How can he get excited like that when we're so far from home and our first meeting starts in a few hours?

"Because I don't allow my head interfere with my down parts," he grins, sensing what is going through my head right now because we're touching. "You're thinking too much, hon."

"I am," I admit and let his excitement channel to me.

Erik is the best aphrodisiac for a telepath like me. I can get aroused through him. We start cuddling and when I connect to him at the deepest levels, I stop being bothered by all those humans around me. If he's by my side, I should manage somehow. And there's also Liana, I love connecting to her as well. I'll be okay.

After making love, we stay in each other's embrace for a little longer. Erik is so relaxed that he even falls asleep. I'm glad for that, he needs to rest. I suspect he was awake most of that time I was sleeping. I use this time to enjoy him, staring at his handsome face and caressing his hair. He mumbles something in his sleep which is ultimately cute and grabs my left wing to cover himself. He's totally used to using my wings instead of a blanket.

The magical moment is interrupted after an hour or so by soft knocking at the door and Erik wakes up immediately. He was always a light sleeper. He yawns, claiming that he had a good nap, and stands up. I admire how he can be so energetic right away. As for me, I usually need several minutes to get out of bed.

"Your Majesty, are you okay?"

"Should we call the Earthborn King to check up on you?"

Our maids Cien and Ayala storm the room and Erik doesn't even flinch anymore. He accepted their presence as inevitable. He disappears into the bathroom while the maids start the long process of putting a ceremonial robe on me after I assure them that I'm fine and well-rested.

"Wait, I'll fly in that?" I realise.

"I'm afraid you will have to," Ayala shrugs. "There won't be time or space to change from a flying robe."

"We packed several models that were made in advance specially for the conference," Cien boasts, showing me the embroidered fabric. "Naturally, you and Your Excellency can't be seen in the same clothes more once during the event."

Who makes such ridiculous social rules? I bet Emi won't bother with that. Erik returns freshly shaven and with his hair styled and also puts on a new three-piece suit. It's super formal but at the same time super stylish. There are times I can't believe how handsome my boyfriend is.

"We couldn't be more different," he bursts laughing when he looks at me.

I'm wearing a five-layered ceremonial robe and the maids partly braided my ridiculously long hair into a complicated knot with an ornamented hairpin. I look like someone straight out of historical Asian dramas while Erik is the embodiment of a stylish contemporary man out of fashion magazines.

"I love you in a suit," I flatter him.

"And I love you in a princess dress," he smirks.

"For the thousandth time, it's not a princess dress," I oppose but let him kiss me.

It's a tiny distraction, we're both delaying the inevitable. We have to get out of our apartment and face the world. Literally. Breakfast comes first, though. The first hurdle. Nothing is simple at an international conference, not even eating because all the guests we meet in a hotel restaurant will be state representatives.

"Finally!" Liana exclaims instead of a greeting, impatiently stepping in the hall and waiting for us. "Did you manage to get enough sleep? How are you feeling, Aefener? We were worried that you won't... you know..."

"Good morning to you, too," Erik raises his eyebrows because she blurted all of that with one breath.

"I'm fine, really," I say and study her dress.

Celestial fashion doesn't really distinguish gender, it's all up to a person's preference. For this occasion, Liana surprisingly decided to go for a model with brighter colours and narrowed cut. Well, she can afford it, her figure is perfect. I'd look too skinny in such a cut so my robes are loose on purpose.

Our guards form a protective circle around us and we get into the elevator, half of the guards riding in advance to secure the perimeter downstairs. Liana touches my wing with hers and not necessarily because of the lack of space.

Nervous? she sends me her thought so that our guards don't know what we're talking about. I'm sure they must know we're talking telepathically, though, and I hope we're not being rude. Vermiel, who rides with us, doesn't seem bothered at all and just winks at us knowingly.

Anxious beyond imagining, I admit.

Emi and Deminas departed just five minutes before us, we'll be mostly among friends, she assures me. Luviael, Twyla and Werden are there since seven to make sure our food is safe.

You expect poison? Erik gulps, joining our conversation because he can hear Liana through me.

Not really, it would mean disaster even to humans if one of the rules got murdered, she shakes her head. But giving an unpopular politician stomach-ache on purpose isn't unheard of. I don't think they would do that to us but still. Better be safe than sorry.

Human emotions intensify when we leave floors designated for Draconian delegations. I instinctively clutch Erik's hand firmer and I also grab Liana's because her Celestial mind is also very soothing to me.

Not very royal I'm afraid, my Viceroy sighs but clutches me back in comfort. I'm sorry, Aefener, but we can't afford to show any weakness. Will you be okay with visibly holding only Erik and touching my wings whenever we're close enough?

Hopefully? I say but I know I don't sound certain. I mean... I was managing quite fine before the Great Evolution. Maybe I'm just nervous?

Your telepathy did get stronger, hon, Erik reminds me. And you have a Celestial brain now so it won't be the same as before. We have to be careful.

Suddenly, Vermiel steps closer to us, as if he couldn't stand anymore to be left out of the silent conversation, and touches my wing with his.

Your Majesty, I think it's better if you don't talk about your telepathy here at all, he says, dead serious. While we checked all our rooms thoroughly, public spaces are most probably bugged. Please, do talk aloud as much as possible when it comes to mundane stuff, so that it's not suspicious you're too quiet, but never mention your special ability even if you think no one else is listening.

Vermiel is right, Liana agrees. And you two be especially careful, you don't talk enough when you're next to each other.

I bite my lip. Nobody knows about me being able to channel my thoughts to Erik long-distance, not even her. We have to be twice as careful then.

The elevator stops and there's Ms Behera waiting for us. Will she watch our every move during the visit? Did other race rulers also get their watchers?

"Do you feel better, Your Majesty?" she asks right away.

I have no idea why she's so concerned about me. Wouldn't it be better for humans if I was indisposed and couldn't attend the conference?

On the contrary, it would be bad for everybody. Don't forget that you're the only one Celestials are willing to obey without a question, Liana clarifies. She let go of my hand a second before the elevator door opened but we're standing so close that our wings are touching.

"I'm okay now, I just wasn't feeling well because of the long travel and jet lag," I say quickly.

"I see," Ms Behera is genuinely relieved. "We have two hours for breakfast, then we have to depart. Her Excellency informed me already that you won't be using cars this time which, honestly, gave me several wrinkles, but we should manage with drones following you."

She shows us the way and I notice that the halls are full of security guards and soldiers. Are they here to protect us or monitor? Possibly both. I can feel their tension, they're staring at us with strong emotions of fear, disgust but also envy in some cases.

As expected, all eyes are on us the moment we appear in the restaurant. Although many Draconians got here before us, we still get most attention. I hope I'm not crushing Erik's hand too obviously. Human delegates are whispering to each other and stare. I see a few of them trying to chat with Draconians but everyone is mainly keeping their distance for now.

"Your Majesty, here!" Bauerova is waving at us frantically, occupying one of the big tables near the windows. Her wife is with her, wearing a bright yellow dress and looking exceedingly positive.

I was never more relieved to see a friendly human face so we happily head to their table before I even get the chance to see where other race rulers are sitting. Well, we can always socialise over coffee later. Now it's important that we're seen in a friendly interaction with humans.

"We're really sorry about the chairs," Luvi joins us. "We were trying to get you something more comfortable but their bar chairs were too high. At least Queen Twyla made sure that the food is absolutely safe."

"That's okay, thanks anyway," Liana appreciates and sits down next to the Czech Prime Minister.

I'm seated next to my Viceroy and I expect Erik to sit to my left but Luviael is quicker. Erik doesn't seem surprised, though. He kisses me into my hair and sits next to Bauerova's wife.

Sorry, it was decided beforehand and I didn't want to stress you, Erik sends me his thought long-distance. I'm supposed to bond with Elizabeth. But we can still talk at least like this. Connect to Liana and your adjutant to calm down, they're waiting for it.

I'm not happy that I wasn't told all the details again but I resist sighing and look at the plate someone just put in front of me. What the hell?! Who dares to draw a heart symbol with ketchup on my egg omelette?

"Prepared with love," the waiter adds cheekily, still standing behind me for some reason.

I blink, confused. What kind of sentence instead of the usual enjoy your meal is that? Isn't he afraid of me? I look up with a frown and in that exact moment the waiter leans down and brushes me with his wings.

"I'm at your service, Your Majesty. All yours," Gotrid grins, gently takes my right hand and kisses it.