The Beast and The Swallow

Thin curls of smoke rose from the gold and enamel-encrusted incense burners, carrying the delicate scent of plumeria and bergamote into the warm night air. The light breeze brushed past the large wind-chimes hanging near the window, making the hanging seashells rustle, akin to the burbling sound of a calm tide. The golden muslin draperies cocooning the large bed moved ever so slightly as if moved by an invisible breath.

Zoraidar lay naked atop the silken sheets, her eyes tightly closed. Taking slow, deep breaths, she savored the aroma of her home island. The clanking of the shell-chimes and the coolness of the bedding reminded her of the ocean's whisper and its refreshing touch on her skin. She missed the warmth of the midday rain, the green light sneaking through the evergreen canopy of the trees, the colorful underwater forests inhabited by flocks of nimble fish and lazy turtles. She had given up all that for peace and power. And it would also soon be hers when she ascended the lion throne.

Despite her apparent drowsiness, Zoraidar's ears detected a minuscule noise that was out of place amongst the shell's chimes - a little chirp coming from the floorboards just next to the bed. Her eyes ripped open, and she peered into the shadows behind the golden curtains. A flash of silver was the only bit of color amidst the pitch of midnight. The man approaching her bed was a true creature of darkness.

"A moonless night. A raven cowl. And yet a silver face to draw all eyes to." Zoraidar licked her lips, unfazed. "Not exactly the best attire to remain unnoticed."

"Give the people something to look at and they'll be blind to everything else." Even underneath the mask, the smirk in Master Argente's voice was unmistakable.

He gracefully slid across the room. His finely shaped hand lifted the curtains. Zoraidar held her breath as from behind the silver slits, the man's eyes feasted on her curves. Her hands moved to hide her body in a pretended attempt at modesty, but Master Argente's steely fingers grabbed her wrists.

"It's a bit too late to play the chaste damsel, my love." His hoarse voice was heavy with desire.

"The famous Limerian chivalry seems to be dead," quipped the princess. "To indulge in the view of your mistress without a proper pay… A cheeky robber, that's what you are!"

"And what compensation would my lady require?" Master Argente let go of her hands. His fingers traced her collarbone.

"A peek for a peek." Reaching out, Zoraidar pushed back the black cowl, releasing a mane of golden hair. One impatient pull later, and the strings keeping the silver mask in place disentangled. The face that appeared behind it graced Zoraidar with a playful smile.

"A fair price to pay, my love." Lionel leaned in, and his lips were quickly captured by his lover's kiss.

***

Lying panting side by side, bodies covered in sweat and lust, Lionel wrapped his arms around Zoraidar, savoring the silky touch of her skin. The Golden Princess, the most beautiful woman in Limeria and Zirath, was his and his alone. It was excruciating to have to hide in the shadows and seal precious moments; to lie and deceive, and pretend they were nothing more than in-laws. His impatience was growing, and it was getting more and more difficult to follow the plan, especially since those damn mutts seemed to thwart all of his schemes and emerge victorious. Was it a godly intervention, or were those bastards simply lucky?

"If you continue frowning like that, you'll start looking like your father." Zoraidar touched the crease between his brows. "What's eating you up?"

"Nothing much. I just wish we weren't losing pawns left and right. That quack physician couldn't even kill an injured, weakened person. Sister Simone and her goons also failed to end that bastard. And now, he has destroyed the valuable asset that primate Ambrosinus and I nurtured with so many efforts. It sure does leave a bitter aftertaste."

"Maybe if you didn't play with your food before eating it, it wouldn't end up like this." Zoraidar pouted, her fingers running up and down Lionel's chest. "A quick dagger between the ribs and it will be over in a second."

"So then, why is Llewellyn still alive, my dear? You are the only person he seems to trust as much as to let you in his bed."

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"I'd like to live after the matter." For the first time, Zoraidar's voice lost its playfulness. "And having the Crown Prince stabbed in my bed excludes that option. Still… What you are doing to him leaves a bad aftertaste in my mouth. He isn't that bad of a bad man."

"But I'm doing it for you, Zorai." Lionel cupped her face. "For the lover you were forced to abandon because of your sudden engagement to Llewellyn. For the stillborn children you were forced to carry because of his weak seed. He knew very well that his body was a wreck. He could have set you free if he truly loved you. But he didn't. He is like our father. To him, women are possessions to collect. And if he can't have them, no one else can."

"I know." Shaking like a leaf, Zoraidar snuggled in his embrace. "But to see him agonizing for so long… And now Leo…"

"Are you having second thoughts?" Lionel kissed her forehead. "Believe me, Zorai, the dose won't kill the boy. It's just to make him sickly for long enough so that Ris climbs securely on the throne. As for my brother, it is time to speed up his departure anyway. If your visit to Norden hadn't been postponed, my shaman would have dealt with him sooner."

"None of us could have expected that the delegation from Pandad would insist on meeting with the Duke of Norden in person to discuss Marzbane Ilmaz's betrothal." Zoraidar gritted her teeth. "I thought the matter was settled. And I just got used to the thought of you bedding that thing-"

"You know that my heart belongs to you, Zorai!" interrupted her Lionel and kissed her forehead. "Everything I do, I do for us. For Ris."

"I know." She frowned, chewing on her lip for a while. "I know they are all tools to use. But it doesn't mean I have to like it. All those bastards-"

"Will be Ris's most loyal supporters." Lionel felt a pang in his heart. Only his beloved Zorai could make him feel guilty like that. "This will be the last one. I promise."

The woman in his arms gave him a stern look. Her golden, hawk-like eyes peered into his soul and made him shudder. Her message was clear - if he ever harmed or threatened Leoris in any way, if he ever betrayed her, she would kill him. And exactly this side of her made him love her even more. She was the only person who had the moral right to demand his life. After all, he had made her suffer too much.

A cold shudder spread through his body. She could never learn that the cause of her miscarriages had anything to do with him. It didn't matter that it was his mother's plan. It didn't matter that seeing her cry in desperation had been the trigger, freeing him from his mother's control. That it had been the moment she had stolen his heart.

Because of her, he had defied his mother's wishes and interfered with their initial plan. Strangely enough, what he had done to his mother afterward had felt less like a betrayal than dripping that poison on Zorai's clothes. Maybe it was due to the fact that his dear mother saw him only as a tool to hurt the emperor. Or maybe it had been the look in Zorai's tear-filled eyes – the same desperation and hatred for the world he, too, felt from the very moment he could think. But any reasoning was futile. His days were numbered if his beloved Golden Princess ever learned about his deed. And she was the only one who could demand and receive his life.

Lionel felt her soft palm rubbing against his chest.

"Your heartbeat has quickened," she whispered. "What's wrong?"

"Nothing, my love." He kissed the tip of her nose. "It's just the anticipation of the hunt. Lucky for us, the envoys from Pandad are from the Left Minister's side. Since they oppose my marriage to Ilmaz, I had little qualms in assisting my dearest uncle in his own plans."

"What did I miss?" A shadow of worry ran across Zoraidar's face.

"Nothing much. It seems that the bitch my brother married is of interest to the Church. Master Argente was kind enough to provide my uncle with a little something that would make collecting the girl and totally destroying any chances of a union between Norden and Pandad."

"Shouldn't you concentrate on Llewellyn instead of starting another game? If your plan fails-"

"It won't." A dangerous glint appeared in Lionel's eyes. "By the end of this year, I'll have one dead brother and one wishing for death. Norden and Pandad will be ours. And with the girl in the Church's possession, I'll have the support of the clergy."

"And then all that's left will be the emperor." Zoraidar trembled, but Lionel couldn't tell if it was from fear or joyful anticipation.

"Yes, my precious queen." He pecked her lips. "Leave my father to me and Master Argente's concoctions."

"Lionel, you have that look again. Don't stray too much into games."

"Oh, no, my dear. I must finish my game according to my rules. After all, everything I've done until now would have been in vain." Madness burned in his eyes. "I'll let the old monster watch as his most beloved son writhes in agony and his empire becomes mine. It's a spectacle I've prepared too carefully not to indulge to its fullest."

"You know." Zorai gave him a blending smile. "Sometimes, you scare me."

"This goes for both of us, my dear."