Earlier: Vajra’s new mouth made an odd whining noise as she laid on the forest floor. She had just terribly embarrassed herself! Falling out of a tree? How could this Empress do such a thing! And in front of Noble Bi De! She could feel warmth flood her face, and an odd feeling pool in her gut. She felt ashamed. She could almost imagine the disgust on Noble Bi De’s face—! She reached out to her daughters’ vision, and thankfully she could still see through their eyes. She was almost dreading what she would see on Bi De’s face, but… instead of any disdain, or amusement, he just seemed concerned. “Vajra, are you all right?” Noble Bi De asked, his voice deep and pleasing. It had so many different notes, and the warmth of it was somehow greater. He reached out and put the hand of his human form on Vajra’s shoulder. His touch burned. Instead of the dull sensations she received through her armoured carapace, where his fingers landed burst with sensation. The feeling of his long digits digging in slightly to her shoulder sent a jolt of almost overwhelming pleasure through her body. Something in her chest was thundering like a drum and— “Your heart rate is quite high,” the man said, concern still evident. Her heart? That was her heart? She was used to it feeling like her whole body was pulsing, from her head to her abdomen. Having it hammering away like this made her feel… feel… ‘Like a steam furnace?’ one of her daughters chimed (...)