Xenia sat in a chair wearing her all-black leather military outfit with her legs and boots hiked up on a metal table waiting. It was a relatively small room in a building that had been erected halfway between the BloodStar Citadel and the Allied Forces siege line for the purpose of neutral ground negotiations.

She puffed on a cigar blowing nearly perfect smoke rings that reached all the way across the room while maintaining their circular form.

She heard the door opposite her open, and Jacek Heraklinos and Master Karasu walked in silently and stood before the table watching her puff more smoke rings.

She failed to stand in their presence and instead said, “Smoke rings are so delicate. They require masterful control of both the lips and tongue. Both of which I have.” She then puffed another smoke ring and looked directly at Jacek and said, “Don’t I?”

Karasu looked to Jacek out of the corner of his eyes. He had heard rumors of him and Xenia having a past together, and he watched Jacek to see his response. Karasu noticed no change in Jacek’s determination.

Jacek then said, “We aren’t here to discuss such frivolous topics. We are here to negotiate the terms of your surrender.”

Xenia took her legs off the table and looked to them both, “My surrender? Are you here to force my surrender? Two big men against one young little girl? It’s not that I don’t enjoy being ganged up on from time to time, but with Jacek I much prefer one-on-one.”

Master Karasu sneered, but Jacek held his hand out and said, “No. It is okay Master Karasu. Please leave us. It would only to be fair to conduct the negotiations one-on-one as a show of good faith from our side.”

Karasu looked to Jacek and subtly nodded, “Very well. I will be waiting outside the building if you need me. I trust you can take care of yourself.”

Xenia smiled at Karasu and waved goodbye. He exited the room leaving Xenia and Jacek to themselves.

Xenia walked around the table and stood directly in front of Jacek. She ran her finger down his chest over his tight muscle shirt and said, “A siege Jacek? An entire siege just to come see me? You could have just called, you know.”

He bluntly ignored her flirting and grabbed her hand firmly, “We are here to negotiate. Nothing else.”

She took a step back and leaned against the table, “Of course. I wouldn’t dream of doing anything else. Would you?”

Jacek stood like a boulder and crossed his arms as he glared at her, “Your citadel is surrounded. Your highest-ranking political figure is in our possession. And your supply chains will soon be disrupted beyond repair.”

She continued to smile at him, “What’s your point Jacek?”

He frowned and said, “My point is… you may want to consider surrendering before it’s too late.”

She leaned back putting her hands back on the table leaving her entire body open for Jacek to gaze upon, “Sure, I can surrender. I’ll surrender right now if you give me an heir.” She bit her lip and raised her eyebrows at Jacek.

He shook his head and gave her a half smile, “Xenia. The Allied Forces are trying to end your bloodline. Not propagate it.”

She held her alluring pose, “Is that right? Or has Erika fundamentally changed you? Whatever she’s done to tame you, I promise I can undo it in one night.”

Jacek firmly said, “We are not an option. What other concessions for your surrender would you ask of our forces?”

She rolled her eyes, “I’m afraid that means surrender is out of the question. In the meantime, before this war drags on, how about a trade?”

He hesitantly asked, “What did you have in mind?”

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She tilted her head and playfully said, “I have several thousands of your soldiers. You have my highest-ranking political figure, Arthur Davis. Let’s swap.”

“I’m afraid Arthur is not for trade. Even if the cost is several thousands of soldiers.” Jacek would love nothing more to get his soldiers back; however, the value Arthur had was enormous. He was one person Xenia actually wanted to have back in her circle.

“Not for trade? Everyone is for trade. Short of my surrender, what is your price?” Xenia for the moment was intent on making a genuine effort to retrieve Arthur.

Jacek once again stood in front of her and firmly said, “He’s not for trade. He has already proven invaluable to us. He has given us plenty of intel including one very disturbing piece of information. Compound X.”

She sighed and blew a breath of air to move her hair out of her face, “Not for trade no matter what? You are either tempting me to come take him back myself, by force. Or, he doesn’t want to come back.”

Jacek continued without addressing her commentary, “Arthur gave a very disturbing report on Compound X. Is it true? Are you really using such a despicable tool?”

Xenia smiled up at Jacek, “So my supply chains are soon to be disrupted. That would be very hard to do. Impossible really. Unless you have the help of St. Michael. And now you are telling me that Arthur has turned informant and by all means doesn’t want to return to my side. You have so much new company at your side, Jacek. Surely, you won’t miss a few thousand soldiers if they never return to your camp.”

Jacek took a step closer to her and barked, “I asked you a question! Are you using Compound X on live soldiers?! These acts would formally brand you as a war criminal!”

She breathed a little heavier as his aggressive actions towards her turned her on, “War criminal? I’m a war goddess.”

She picked up a mobile device from the table and said, “Just let me show you!” She turned the screen on, and Jacek slowly craned his neck to view the screen.

He saw a chamber with a gas cannister in the middle and several hundreds of soldiers sitting and standing around the rather large room.

Xenia smiled down at the screen, “This is the gas chamber. I can remotely open the valve on the gas cannister if you would like a demonstration. Compound X activates every pain neuron in the body. And best of all, it cancels out the body’s attempt to dull the pain giving the user a pure experience of pain.”

She raised her finger and said, “Should I?”

He curtly shouted, “Stop!” He held his hand out and sighed, “What do you want? It is not within my power to trade Arthur otherwise I would. What else do you want?”

She gave a look of utmost pleasure as she finally had him in the palm of her hand, “What do I want? All I want is a kiss, Jacek. One real kiss. And these men are free to go.”

Jacek hated his position, but he knew he had no choice. He took a step closer. As he moved closer, Xenia moved further back inching her body on to the table as she began to lay down on her back. Jacek followed her, chasing her, until finally he was atop the table and hovering over her.

She looked up into his eyes and raised her hand placing it at the back of his neck caressing him.

Jacek then leaned in and kissed her. He felt the touch of her perfect plump lips as she held him for a long passionate kiss. For a moment, Jacek could remember why he was so previously obsessed with Xenia. She had the power, respect, dominance, and allure. She was the most powerful woman in the world.

He lost himself for a moment and kissed her several times until he finally returned to his senses. He broke off their kissing and quickly climbed off the table. Having experienced her fully in the past, he was reasonably wary of relapsing into addiction with her.

She leaned up on her elbows and smiled, “All I asked for was one kiss, Jacek. But you gave me so many. You sure haven’t forgotten how to please me. I love kissing you, and I think… if I’m not mistaken… you love kissing me too.”

Jacek darted his eyes away from her look and said, “I will be expecting the return of my soldiers by nightfall. I will be expecting them healthy. No funny business, Xenia.”

She remained in her position on the table propped up by her elbows, “They will be released as soon as I get back. But Jacek…” She sat up and slid off the table to stand close to him in his personal space, “Those extra kisses have left me wanting more.”

He looked at her and said, “That’s all you’re getting, Xenia.”

She took a deep breath, “Such a tease, Jacek. I love it.” She turned to walk to the other side of the table, “Our first round of negotiations has gone so well. Same place, same time again in a few days?”

He squinted his eyes and looked at her expecting a bit of an explanation. She only returned his look, and he finally said, “And what will we be negotiating for then?”

She laughed, “The remainder of your soldiers of course. Unless you’d like to leave them with me, so they can die excruciatingly painful deaths at my hand.”

Jacek didn’t return her laughter, “We can discuss the release of all of my troops tomorrow as well as the decommissioning of all of your Compound X cannisters. A documented use of Compound X will be cause for action, Xenia. You will get hurt. Don’t force our hand.”

She raised her eyebrows and smirked, “You’re going to hurt me? Don’t threaten me with a good time Jacek. You’re just encouraging me to be a bad girl for you.”

He didn’t respond, and they both stared at one another with tension in the air. He finally broke the silence, “Same time. Same place. I will see you in a few days, Xenia.”

She turned to exit from the door on her side of the room, “It’s a date, darling.”