Amelia felt the fragile touches of her son behind her. The farm maiden’s eyes burned with tears, tears of sorrow and smoke. Evening skies normally full of beautiful sunsets were covered only by a blanket of black. The scent of her neighbors farms and homesteads burning away their livelihoods was a great enough warning.
A body, or land.
That was what Lungor requested of this small farming village to the west. Hythe had always been an agricultural homestead, bordered between Vitross and Lungor only with the river and slight mountainside to geographically lock them inside the tyrannical empire. There had been rumors of Lungorian tax collectors and soldiers roaming the countryside demanding a forced conscription. Amelia had not believed it then, she should have believed it now.
Her son was only fifteen, and despite being a capable farmer to their little agrarian field, he was disabled in his mind, nonverbal and mute. A boy like that would not survive in a war, not without his mother or any support. Amelia could not let her son be taken away. He would die, and she doubted Lungor’s enemies would hold any sympathy for a boy like himself.
But if her farm burned down, there was no chance to rebuild. There was barely any chance at livelihood.
The six soldiers, soldiers to Duke Larsen who presided over this Lungor precinct, all stood around the village with a wagon piling with scared, youthful boys. Boys who shouldn’t have to go to war. Boys who had no choice. The men had been taken months ago, and only the youth remained. Soon, there wouldn’t be any left.
“Boy! Here, now! Or your home burns!” the lead captain demanded to Amelia’s son, who still cowered behind his mother.
“Please! He does not understand. He is no good in war,” Amelia stumbled over her choked tears, “He can barely milk a cow, let alone carry a blade. He will be no use to Lungor. Please, I’ll do anything. Anything!”
The six men laughed heartily at that, as if they hadn’t heard that before.
“Do you smell that, darling? Don’t you like the smell of burning brick and straw? The smell of livestock burning? This land you’re on doesn’t belong to you. It belongs to Lungor. Emperor Bashir needs every able bodied man at his disposal. Such is the price to cultivate and live on these beautiful lands. So, pay up,” the man scowled, drawing his blade.
Amelia’s son, Abel, stirred at the sight of the weapon, cowering even more.
“Please…he’s just a boy,” Amelia sobbed.
The captain stowed his sword away again, this time approaching her. He reeked of whiskey and sweat, overpowering that of any smoke filling the late afternoon sky. The stench alone made Amelia wince, and the feeling of his finger brushing away the redhead’s tears only pained her more.
“You said you’d do anything?” he whispered, lust and power riddled in his dark eyes.
Amelia knew what he insinuated, but it meant saving her son, such was a price to pay. Her wet eyes looked behind the man, seeing the other young boys shivering with fear in that wagon. They knew they were sacrificing their lives. Not for something great like glory or honor. They sacrificed the lives of their families, so that Hythe and any of the other western villages could remain free to farm in peace. Sending her son there meant never seeing him again.
“Y-yes,” she stammered, the fear in her voice only increasing that dark power residing in the men around her.
He hummed in delight at her answer, “You are a pretty thing, aren’t you? Mm, I have a habit of desecrating beautiful things such as yourself. Give me a good time, and maybe I will consider not burning down this beautiful abode as well.”
Abel, in defense of his mother, had shoved the guard away, knocking him to his feet.
“Why you little…! So you can fight,” he spat, rising to his feet before slapping the back of his hand across the young man’s skull, knocking him to the ground this time.
“Abel!” she shouted before feeling a hand around her throat, pulling her close.
“My patience wanes thin, girl! You have three choices: your son, your home, or your body. Which is mine?!”
“That’s quite enough!” A sharp, strong feminine voice rose over the crowd. The captain along with six of his men glanced over at the small commotion to see who spoke such audacious words.
Jessamine stepped forward, her face shrouded by a leather hood and thin fabric across the lower half of her face. She possessed no blades in her hands, despite wearing light armor across the leather, clearly not dressed like any of the other villagers. She stood out amongst the crowd, yet had slipped in rather unnoticed, until now.
“And who are you, bitch?!” the captain laughed, his men following at the audacity.
Jessamine curtsied slightly, coming up and allowing the hood to remove itself with gravity, revealing dark auburn hair and blue eyes.
“Empress Jessamine of Vitross, Lady of House Kruzika, Admiral of the most powerful Navy in the Continent, and the Time Paradox Interluder. At your service,” she answered, “But, bitch works just as well, if my titles are too long for your taste.”
The crowd gasped and murmured at the revelation, the villagers not expecting this commotion to be conspired by the Empress, their sworn enemy.
“You dare invade Lungor and shed blood?!” The captain asked, fear laced in his voice. He had not expected anyone to interrupt his work, except a few family members who thought they could take him, but they could be handled easily. An Empress on foreign soil, not so much.
“Who said anything about shedding blood? I wish to speak with your Duke, Duke Larsen. I hear, these days, the old man locks himself away in that little castle of his,” Jessamine laughed, taking a few steps closer, “Let go of the woman. I will not shed blood, you have my word.”
The guard laughed with uncertainty, still having his hand around her throat, glancing around. His own soldiers were terrified, hands lingering around their blades but they were too worried about the consequences of actually drawing them. Jessamine appeared to be alone, but just about everyone could assume she wasn’t. If Jessamine was here, her Lord Protector was not far.
LET HER GO.
The words commanded in his ear reached his fingers, prying away from her throat as he took a step away in fear. His own body betrayed him, just as he would have betrayed her body if Jessamine had not intervened. Jessamine always missed the fear in a man’s eyes when his body betrayed him, how she could use them against their will, just as they used to do to others.
“That’s better,” Jess replied sweetly, “Now, again about the meeting with your Duke.”
“He will not see you. He holds no loyalty to you-”
“And you think Emperor Bashir holds any loyalty to him, to you? To this village? Tell me, the Emperor who increased taxes to pay for his mistake with Arilla is now also demanding young men to be rounded up like lambs to slaughter…and you still think he has your best interests in mind?” Jessamine questioned, “All I ask is for an audience.”
“Why? So you can invade his mind and give him commands, you mind-witch?!”
“Ooh, don’t tell me that’s your best insult,” Jessamine approached him, closing the distance to only a couple of feet, “Tell me, if you reject this offer and bloodspill occurs, will anyone miss you? You think the Duke will mourn his best soldier or will he train another one to replace you?”
“If you think you can kill me-” The soldier spat before hearing five bodies behind him collapse into the dirt and the gasps of the crowd in front of him. He didn’t need to turn around to know his men writhed and seized on the ground with ailments, rendered useless before going unconscious. Jessamine kept her eyes steeled on the man in front of her, not needing to blink to unleash her terror, not even sweating a drop above her brow.
“You men are so stubborn. You get so rigid for a man who won’t protect you, it makes me wonder what sex you do grow hard for. It surely can’t be women,” she whispered, her voice cold, “An audience with your Duke, that’s what I want. Can you provide? Or must we do this the hard way?”
The man shook in fear, but amidst that fear, delusion took over him. What if he could kill the great Empress of Vitross? Lungor would shower him with gold and glory. He’d end a war before a battle was even fought! He’d be worshipped as a hero. Jessamine stood there, rather unimpressed. Perhaps her guard could be caught, he could slip a blade right underneath her breastplate. Catching a mind witch off guard was easier said than done.
The second the captain unsheathed the dagger, a strong arm wrapped around his own. He felt it bend against his will, the joints stretching before breaking. His elbow snapped as Kaid tore his arm in the other direction, the blade falling to the ground. The captain yelled in pain, falling on his knees as if bending to the Empress in front of him.
“Lord Kaid, how wonderful of you to join us,” Jessamine smirked, seeing Kaid pick up the blade before standing at her side.
“Empress, was this man bothering you?” Kaid teased.
“Not at all,” Jessamine replied before looking to the distance at the wagon, “Young men, remove yourself from the wagon! A soldier must only fight when his home is threatened, and I am of no threat to your fields today.”
Kaid glanced at Kiev who stood to the side, wearing a hood as well to conceal that Vitross blonde hair, “Kiev, assist in putting out the fires.”
“Yes, my lord,” he nodded, moving urgently to begin forming a storm amongst these white clouds.
The captain still writhed, holding his broken arm as his eyes glazed over as the frightened boys left their transport to the slaughter house, his men unconscious in the dirt. He watched the eyes of the villagers, Amelia and the others, all look at Jessamine like some hero. He knew what she was doing.
Whilst Bashir raised taxes on his own, forced the conscription of young boys to fight after the burning of his navy, who else would show ‘mercy’ than their enemy? She was a conniving bitch, a woman who used her appeal as some graceful angel, here to bestow kindness. And her plan was working.
“Now, I’ll ask a third time and I won’t ask again. Will you take us back to your Duke for an audience?” Jessamine demanded, “Otherwise you are of no use to me.”
“You are not my Empress!” he spat, Kaid protectively stepping in front of the spit.
“Not yet. Once this is all over, I very much could be,” she remarked, soon sighing at the inconvenience, “No matter. I’m sure one of your soldiers when they wake will be more than happy to oblige.”
“May I do the honor, Empress?” Kaid asked of her, holding the dagger firmly in his hand. Jessamine was a tad surprised at his question, knowing exactly what he was asking. It was not like Kaid to ask to be her chief executioner. But, she also knew he had a very firm temperament about rapists and men who abused their power. This man had more than once consumed a woman with his lust and depravity, against their consent or promise.
“W-wait! You said you wouldn’t shed blood,” he stammered.
“I said I wouldn’t,” Jessamine hummed, nodding her head to Kaid.
Kaid thrusted the blade into the man’s torso, twisting the handle as it reached his intestines. He felt him squirm beneath him, his other non broken hand clutching at Kaid’s shoulder to stop. Kaid wouldn’t stop though. Anyone who spoke to his woman like that, his Empress, and threatened the lives of innocents around him didn’t deserve any mercy.
Jessamine gave out a noise of slight disgust as his blood spurted, her scowl not unnoticeable. She didn’t want to spill blood, thinking she might be able to talk her way out of this. Despite everything, these men would rather hold loyalty to the man who put their own balls in a vice rather than a woman. Yet, all the villagers seemed relieved.
“You have saved us. Saved our crops…saved our boys,” Amelia wept, the tears of relief and joy this time.
“I visited Hythe as a young girl, once. My father, may he rot in his grave, was canvassing this beautiful mountainside. He wanted to build a divide on this land between Vitross and Lungor. During our travels, he had broken his arm and it was this village where we were able to rest with warm beds and food. Despite my father demanding such respect and hospitality, it was then I knew we could separate our distances. Your land and crops will only feed Lungor villages and citizens. I know that. But I know farmers, I know sailors and all the other hard working souls that keep an Empire afloat…you are all the true heroes Bashir should be praising, not punishing,” Jessamine voice aloud, the sound of Kiev’s rainstorm echoing in the background, “I have not forgotten your hospitality, unlike my father.”
An elder of the village watched the clouds grow dark as the rain poured everywhere but around them, scowling slightly.
“Oblivion…” she muttered bitterly.
Even the helpfulness of such magical abilities, helpful enough to stop their homes burning, would never stop the propaganda and lies fed so spread out in Lungorian citizens. Jessamine ignored the comment, knowing people either saw it as a curse or a blessing. Oblivion could be both, depending on the user. But she, Kaid, and Kiev had done their job today. They had opened this village to a new prospect, one that would benefit military operations if successful.
Kaid approached the wagon to help some of the smaller boys out, seeing how frightened they were.
“Do not be afraid, I am a friend,” he smiled with assurances, showcasing he held no weapons besides the emerald blade at his hip.
“Hey, you’re just like me…” a small voice spoke, showcasing his stump of an arm.
“Indeed, young man,” Kaid moved his good hand to help him out. There was something oddly pleasant about the way the boy looked at his disability, and his own. It was astonishing for the boy to meet someone with the same ailment as him, a man who looked like a great warrior and stood amongst an Empress. If a man like that could do those things, maybe he could too some day. His options were not as limited as he once thought.
“Were you born that way?”
Kaid shook his head, helping him finally to his feet, “No. I lost my hand in battle, fighting for my Empress over there. Were you born with it?”
The boy nodded, “Yes. I don’t know why.”
Kaid bent down slightly, adjusting the boy’s rustic attire covered in dirt and grime, “It doesn’t matter why. There will sometimes never be an answer to why. Even if there is an answer, it is perhaps not as satisfying as you’d think. It exists. You exist. That alone gives you more than enough purpose and drive in this life…you must be a very brave boy, getting in that wagon.”
“I’m looking for my father. He got in that wagon a few years ago. I thought I might find him.”
“Oh, and he has not sent any letters?” Kaid asked, seeing the boy shake his head, “Well, where is your mother?”
“She died a few weeks ago. She was very sick. All the medicine men and doctors here got sent away too…for the war.”
And the war hadn’t even started just yet.
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“I’m sorry, that is something a young boy like you should never experience,” Kaid placed a firm hand on his shoulder, “We will find some accommodations for you, I promise.”
“But…I…she is not my Emperor,” the boy looked puzzled. How could she help him when it was Emperor Bashir that was his ruler?
“She is not. But that doesn’t mean she can’t help. We can also try and get in touch with your father. We have a few contacts in Lungor,” Kaid assured him.
“Really!? Oh thank you, sir! You are a kind knight,” the boy smiled, “And strong! I wish my arms looked like yours.”
“One day perhaps they will. I am sure farm life will strengthen them far better than swordplay and training,” Kaid gleamed, patting his back, “Come, let’s see what my Empress can do for you.”
“She’s really pretty…” the boy whispered, any fears or doubts he once had in that wagon withering away. Yeah. She was really pretty. And nothing was more beautiful than seeing her do the right thing, helping others that truly needed it.
Some might wonder what an Empress was doing in a small village that had little to no concern for her. Of course, Hythe had its advantages, perhaps one Bashir didn’t or wouldn’t take advantage of. Jessamine would, but not replicating the tyranny already in place here.
“Indeed she is…” Kaid smiled proudly.
Amelia helped the Empress into her humble, stone home, immediately entering the kitchen to pour a few glasses of water. Jessamine glanced around the home for a moment, feeling the love and comfort a simple stone building could provide. As a child, she would have hated such a life like this, always wishing for glamour, polished floors and servants at her leisure. Now? She could imagine herself in a home like this, waking up each morning with Kaid at her side. They’d enjoy freshly brewed tea every morning, tending to crops or livestock, maybe even fishing. In their spare time, they’d make love, read, and train for a war they’d never have to fight.
That life, despite being in front of her right now, felt so out of reach in regards to her. In regards to them.
“Thank you, again. It’s been years since someone stood up to them. That was when there were still a few men around these parts,” Amelia returned with some water.
“I seemed to have arrived just in time. I didn’t expect such conscription to be unfolding so…forcefully,” Jessamine replied honestly.
“Does your Empire not conscript?” Amelia asked curiously.
“No. I don’t believe I could ask such things from my people. I let them give where and when they can, with whatever capabilities they have. Whether that’s spare taxes, sailing equipment, or a sword, that is what matters. All my soldiers and guards enlist willingly. Some of course for a warm bed and salary, but I will never force a man or woman to fight,” Jessamine hummed.
What good would morale or honor be if men were forced to fight? It would only create cowardice behavior and fear. Those things would not help her win this war.
“Your Duke, he is rather useless is he not?” Jessamine turned the questions back to her.
Amelia looked begrudged by the question, but not because she found it untruthful, “The man takes our crops, and our coin. And what is returned? In the days of old, we would give such fair trade for protection and guidance. We have none. The man eats our food and spends our coin instead of helping us. With war on the rise, we will receive no protection. And oddly enough received it today from our enemy.”
“I am not your enemy. I am Bashir’s enemy,” Jessamine politely refuted, sipping her water.
Kaid walked in with Abel, who seemed to be taking great curiosity in the Lord Protector’s armor. The metal armor was designed with the Vitross crest, the ocean waves in the background, along with two Uhkhtarian daggers below the main family symbol. Kaid liked the blending of his two cultures, that of his lineage home, and that of his new home as part of the Kruzika family. Jessamine found him rather spectacularly handsome in armor, but then again, found him handsome in just about anything he wore. Especially, nothing at all.
Abel let his hands wander around the lukewarm steel, across the stub of his arm or even the cloth fabric tunic of his shirt underneath. Kaid knew it was just the boy’s way of learning, given his mind didn’t seem to operate the same as the others. He did not mind at all, letting his hands wander patiently. Abel even let his hands touch Kaid’s warm skin, before messing with the curls in his hair. It made Kaid laugh softly, which made Abel smile in return.
Amelia couldn’t recall the last time she had even seen her son smile.
“I’m sorry, I’ve told him he shouldn’t touch people like that-”
“Oh it is quite alright. He is just curious,” Kaid assured her.
As always, Kaid was patient and understanding. He, of all people, had grown up in an environment harsh and cruel, not once getting a life that might have benefited him. It was conform, or die. That was something Lungor seemed to instill in its population. Such a system would never help Abel show his kindness, or express himself in ways words could not. Kaid wished to remove such a system, permanently.
“I haven’t seen Abel smile like that in so long, even if it was brief,” Amelia whispered, just loud enough for Jess to hear.
“Kaid has that effect on people…” Jessamine whispered in return, smiling at the interaction. Gods, he always had a way with people, especially children. Seeing him just earlier with the boy with a physical disability much like his own…well, it was bittersweet. Kaid would make a wonderful father. And as much as she wished to provide him such a life, she couldn’t. How badly she wanted to, even though years ago she swore she’d never think of such a thing. Now, it was impossible medically.
“And that is the man who made the Time Paradox?” Amelia inquired, her voice a tad serious with a bit of disbelief.
Jessamine blinked, unable to decipher what her reaction might be, “Yes. How damaging was it here?”
“Not much here. A few crop rotations were poor due to the soil conditions but nothing drastic. Nothing like what happened in Aspen,” Amelia shrugged.
Kaid approached over at that, grabbing some water for his parched throat. Abel moved to some toys in the corner, despite his age. Yet if such toys would bring him joy and nourishment, then that was all he could ever need.
“What happened in Aspen?” Jessamine asked, pretending to not be so interested.
“Oh, are you familiar with that village as well?”
“Not exactly,” Jessamine knew she had to come up with some sort of half-truth, “I heard they used to have very good mead there.”
“I didn’t know you drank mead,” Kaid teased slightly.
Jess nudged him gently, her elbow poking only at steel rather than his soft, yet muscular stomach she was used to, “I’m a woman of many tastes.”
“They did have a very nice honey brew. We used to trade with Aspen quite often. They produced more citrus goods or fruit, while our land was better suited for grain or various vegetables. It was a profitable business,” Amelia explained, “But I guess something had happened with the Time Paradox there. The entire village was practically slaughtered by some serial killer.”
“A serial killer?” Kaid asked for clarification, seeing the woman nod.
“There weren’t many survivors. Just like here, there weren’t many fighters. There was rumored to be one man who tried to stand up to the fighter, but supposedly the Time Paradox occurred before he could be caught or killed. The killer fled. A lot of people from Aspen moved on, heading more eastward, believing the land was cursed.”
One man tried to fight back: Alec.
“Oh,” Kaid’s voice softened at the explanation, “That sounds awful. I didn’t mean for that to happen…”
“Those with common sense, my Lord, will be able to see that you did not contribute to such violence. You provided an opening for such villany, but that was their choice to make. The fault is not yours,” Amelia sympathized with him.
Maybe before all this, she wasn’t sure what she felt about the Time Paradox, nor the Interluder that was deemed to be their enemy. Interesting how a mere hour of hope and the safety of her son could easily sway her mind.
Jessamine knew she couldn’t ask further questions without making it obvious, to either Amelia or Kaid. What her brother had shared about Zarya or Aspen had stayed between them. But she knew it was only a matter of time before she would have to share with Kaid, for his own understanding and perhaps perspective on the matter. Alec and Kaid stayed far from each other these days.
“You two must be exhausted after your travels. There are a few spare beds in the old inn, if you’d like. Free of charge, since it is mostly abandoned. But I can provide warm blankets not covered in dust or mites,” Amelia offered with a warm smile.
“That is very thoughtful, thank you Amelia, but I think-” Jessamine replied but was interrupted.
“I don’t see why not. We can visit the Duke in the early morning, perhaps catch him off guard,” Kaid offered.
“You most certainly could with some help. There are a few here that know cracks within the walls to sneak in. Although, surely you know he keeps at least fifty soldiers within his castle,” Amelia sighed.
“Fifty…rather a small number…” Kaid muttered. Fifty against three? It was nothing Kiev, Jessamine, and himself couldn’t handle. But, their purpose was just to talk, not start a small skirmish or war.
“A bed in the inn would be nice. Two rooms shall suffice once Kiev returns back from relinquishing his storm,” Jessamine agreed, nodding her head.
Amelia looked at Kaid, then Jessamine, putting the details together before smiling, “Of course. Let me go get that sorted with you, if you don’t mind watching Abel for a moment.”
“Not at all,” Kaid smiled back, turning slightly to keep an eye on him.
“You and that young boy seemed to get along really well. I didn’t see his mother around,” Jessamine observed, “The one with no hand.”
“He did not have any relatives. He lives with a distant ‘cousin’, although I think it’s mostly out of politeness and they aren’t actually related…” Kaid sighed, “I wish there was more we could do for these people.”
“Well, what if we offer him a spot in the Academy?” Jess asked.
“His father is a Lungor soldier, by the sound of it,” Kaid explained, “That would complicate things.”
“We’d be giving him a warm home and prolific education. No father should refute that,” Jessamine shrugged, “When we learn of his father, we will send word, if he is alive.”
“That…well, that boy will be really blessed,” Kaid nodded, smiling softly at her, “You are very kind, Jessamine. I will tell him the news tomorrow if you are sure.”
“I am sure,” she smiled in return, “It…well…”
She paused, a warm blush meeting her cheeks which immediately amused Kaid, and sparked his interest.
“What is it, my dear Empress?” he asked softly, his voice sending chills down her spine.
“If I admit this to you now, it will forever change your mind. Perhaps some things are best left as secrets.”
“There are no secrets between you and me. Tell me, I will not judge,” Kaid insisted.
Jessamine rolled her eyes for a moment, knowing she couldn’t resist when he looked at her with those soft eyes, “The way you act with children…whether at the orphanage or now…gods, it fucking turns me on.”
Kaid blinked at that, his expression blank before feeling a blush himself, “Oh, really?”
“Yes. I didn’t want to say anything because you spent so much time with the orphans and such. I thought if I told you, that would always sit in the back of your mind or you’d do it less…” Jessamine hid her gaze from him, “Just the other day, seeing you hold Lilah’s baby, I nearly lost it.”
“So that’s why you removed yourself for the afternoon? I thought you had work to do,” Kaid grinned, clearly impressed with himself.
“I did have work to do, plenty of it,” Jessamine refuted, shaking her head, “Kaid, you need to wipe that smirk off your face and stop looking at me like that.”
“Or what?”
“Kaid, we are in the middle of nowhere on a very important logistics mission, in a village where anyone could be considered our enemy and all I want to do is…”
They paused as Amelia walked back into her home.
“Your lodgings should be ready. I know it is probably nothing an Empress is used to but it is the best we can offer.”
“Not at all, we appreciate the hospitality. Amelia, I know Hythe is a part of Lungor. But should anyone in this village need anything, please do not hesitate to send us delegations. I know the others might be skeptical, but I wish to help. If all goes well tomorrow, hopefully that will not be needed,” Jessamine bowed politely.
“Of course, I hope you two have a pleasant evening…”
-
Jessamine stifled a moan, burying her lips into the blankets as her fingers clenched around the sheets beneath them. It was rather hard to stay so quiet with Kaid pressed so deeply inside her, the angle of her back allowing him to easily thrust into her from behind with precision and power. Yet he let his thrusts remain slow and deep, wanting her to feel every inch of him.
“Oh gods,” she whispered the moan, her eyes half lidded. How she wished she could see the ecstasy written on his own face, litter those lips of his with kisses until they grew swollen, or watch his hard, thick cock enter and exit her. Yet, it felt so good to be fucked like this by him, to be under his control and domain.
Most often, she was the one dominating the bedroom. It was something both of them enjoyed. But on the occasion, nothing was quite as freeing or de-stressing as him taking his frustration out on her.
“Quiet, my love,” Kaid’s strained voice broke through the panting.
“I can’t,” Jessamine laughed softly in reply, one thrust hitting a sensitive spot and it took everything to not let out a squeal in delight, “you feel so fucking good.”
He thrusted deeper at her compliment, watching the rigidness in her back falter as she arched, raising her ass higher for him to use at his mercy. And he did at that, one hand spreading a cheek as he increased the pace. He did his best to not be too harsh, otherwise the sound of skin pounding skin would be too obvious. And it was best Kiev got a good night's rest asleep in the room across the hall.
Jessamine could feel her mind go blank. That’s what she loved about sex with Kaid, besides just the general intimacy and love making. Her mind was constantly hearing other people’s thoughts against her own will, hearing drabbled ignorant thoughts, or just idle chatter. This was the only time it wouldn’t hear, sense, or decipher a thing. There was silence in her mind, as her body and soul were filled with something else entirely.
Kaid moved his hand around her stomach, forcing her up and pressed against his backside, still thrusting at the new angle. Jessamine eagerly responded by wrapping her hands behind her, clutching at his skin or any patch of black hairs she could find to encourage him further. Kaid let his lips immediately press to her cheek and neck, littering the soft pale skin with marks of his own. It wasn’t until his hand snaked down to let his finger pads brush back and forth across her clit that her core erupted with hot, ecstatic energy.
“Yes, yes baby,” she encouraged, “Please, Lord Protector. Don’t stop.”
“Never, my Empress,” Kaid whispered against her neck, increasing the pace of his thrusts and the movement of his fingers, dancing and tingling across her sensitive nub while his cock slammed into that internal sensitive spot as well. It didn’t take long to feel her unravel, begin to feel the shake of her thighs moving up to her stomach, her body lurching against him as her climax consumed her.
He could feel the spurt of wetness against his fingers, her orgasm rippling and releasing a pool of moisture. As much as he loved to feel more of it, he could sense a noise begin to build in her lungs. His hand moved up to cover her lips, shielding that moan that was coming, just Kaid’s name being repeated over and over again until her orgasm dwindled. Just the feeling of her muffled vibrations against his hand was enough for him to climax as well, filling her with his warmth.
The moments after were such a blur, which is why he liked that post-orgasm relief. Whether it was mere seconds of laying together or hours, time felt like it had completely stopped. Jessamine laid in his arms, after Kaid was the first to collapse in the small bed provided. They traced each other’s skin, soaking up the warmth and intimacy of each other.
“You should fuck me more often…” Jessamine whispered with a soft laugh, planting a gentle and long kiss on his lips.
“I should, if it caused such a powerful orgasm such as that,” Kaid smirked in return, “but I do love it when you’re the one fucking me, too.”
“If we did not have such urgent plans in the morning, I would do so,” she hummed, closing her eyes and enjoying the silence. The silence minus their still heavy beating hearts and exhausted lungs, forcing exasperated breaths.
“What’s so important about Aspen…?” Kaid asked in his drowsy state, his fingers stroking through her hair.
Jessamine knew she couldn’t hide that from him, given he asked, “That is where Alec chose to hide and make a small name for himself. He started a brewery or tavern of some sort. I didn’t think it would be so close to here.”
“Should we visit after our dealings with the Duke?” Kaid offered.
“No. Visiting a ghost town won’t do us any good,” she whispered, “It sounds like Alec was the only one who knew what happened there.”
“And it sounds like I was the reason he couldn’t stop whatever happened…” Kaid added, his voice full of regret.
“Amelia’s words are still right, Kaid. Whatever happened to Zarya, it was not your fault…”
Zarya. Zarya.
When he said the name in his head, the darkness that was the stone inn turned into flashes of violet and black swirls of the void. There was a moment of worry, given the last time he felt forced into the Void against his own will was with Payne weeks ago. But, Payne had not returned since then, nor did Kaid think he would. The man got his point across, and Kaid and Jessamine would do whatever it took to prove him wrong.
The blonde woman he was used to seeing paced in a crazed manner across the shadowed floor, or crying herself in a corner rocking herself, was no longer doing so. She stood patiently, as if waiting for Kaid.
“Zarya…?” Kaid asked, wondering if a name was all she needed to connect herself back with the living.
“I am she,” she nodded, her tone soft yet blank. It wasn’t delirious or panicked as Kaid was used to. It felt…odd, almost menacing although the woman despite her muscles didn’t seem hostile in the slightest.
“You knew Alec?” Kaid inquired.
She tilted her head slightly, “His name wasn’t Alec when I knew him. I always knew he was running away from some ghosts. I didn’t think the ghosts were that of his fate, attached to the throne of Vitross. If I had known, I would have wanted nothing to do with him.”
“Perhaps that is why he didn’t share it with you,” Kaid swallowed that gross feeling of trying to be empathetic for Alec, stepping into his shoes, “He wanted to start anew.”
“I see you with your Empress, with his sister. There are no secrets or lies between you, not anymore. I knew he was lying, and when I confronted him, he ran away. That’s what happened, that’s what he was used to doing. When he cannot handle a situation, he runs. He couldn’t handle running away from his fate, that when confronted with my questioning, he left Aspen for a few days. When he returned…”
“Zarya, what happened?” Kaid asked politely as she stopped talking.
“I warned you, Kaid. I warned you and you didn’t listen…same as I warned him!” Zarya’s eyes welled with furious tears,
Kaid stood there puzzled by the sudden change of emotions, “Warned me?”
“Your hand. Your fucking hand! You know how much it took out of me to show you that? I showed you so that you wouldn’t let that happen. That you would do what needed to be done. You of all people should know, when your world is taken from you, you take from this world. And you gave him every tool he could ever want to destroy it…”
Kaid realized he had misinterpreted everything in this Void wrong. He thought the hand he lost was a sign of what was to come, that he must let it happen if he was to return to Jessamine and make things right. In that cave, fighting Alec, despite the fear Kaid felt at the idea of losing a limb, it still felt right to give him a chance. A chance to live, a chance to redeem himself, and a chance for Jessamine to not lose another loved one.
Yet, since that moment, Jessamine had lost Ingrid. She had lost her hold over Lungor. She struggled with her relationship with Alec, despite many second chances.
“Zarya, what can I do to fix this? How can I get through to him?” Kaid begged, hoping for a bit more insight.
“I’ve given you all I can…that’s all I can give you. I told you he was here and that you were too late. The rest is all up to you…”
Kaid blinked and he was back in the darkness of the inn, the musk of dirt and earthly agriculture filling his nose. Jessamine curled further against Kaid, burying her head further against his neck. Kaid wished to tell her everything, about his hand, about that decision he made that seemed to change everything. Yet, he could tell she was falling fast asleep, whispering one last I love you with her final awake breath.
Could one simple decision such as that send this entire world spiraling in the dark? Of course it could, because Kaid had done it before. In fact, he’s done it a multitude of times. Everyone in the world made choices so miniscule not realizing the weight of their actions. The butterfly flapped its wings like normal, not realizing the hurricane created in its future path.
Alexander Kruzika tonight was solidified as an enemy to Kaid. Yet, this was an enemy Kaid would refuse to duel. He shouldn’t fight him. He couldn’t. But the fates were confirmed to Kaid in his sleep. Amidst the playful, quiet sighs of Jessamine having a wonderful dream, Kaid’s dreams were filled with a fight to the death, blood spilt so much it was unclear who it belonged to. The plains of war were littered in bodies so unrecognizable, whether Lungor or Vitross troops.
When Alec placed his bloodstained hands on Kaid’s forehead, the dream stopped. And so would all dreams from this night hence.