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queen-of-signs · 2 months ago

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💗Venus in the 12 Houses - Love, Marriage, Desires, and Red Flags Revealed💗

Note: These are all my personal observations and patterns I've noticed over the years. Take what resonates with you more and leave the rest. Lemme know in the comments if it hits home!

There are general interpretations. The signs on the house can make things different. Look at your Western chart!

Venus in 1st - crushes hit hard and fast, fantasizes off the smallest detail, addicted to being wanted, loves touch and attention, needs compliments to feel alive, sex is passionate and ego-driven, mirror sex, teasing, being watched, dominant but gets turned on by someone who takes control, wants it rough but romantic, flirty even when not trying, love language is touch and constant attention, gets bored if it’s too quiet or routine, chases chaos, confuses lust with love, pulls away when not admired, overthinks if not being noticed, takes care of themselves by dressing hot, posting selfies, shopping, changing their hair or look, hides sadness by turning up the charm, isolates when it really gets bad, won’t admit they’re spiraling, still needs to feel wanted even when numb.

Venus in 2nd - slow burn attraction, crushes build over time, wants safety before sex, needs to feel stable to open up, fantasizes about long-term partners not flings, sensual over sexual, big on physical comfort and routine in bed, loves touch, food, cuddling, cozy sex vibes, neck kisses, earthy and slow, love language is quality time and gifts, sex has to feel earned, doesn’t rush into anything, loyal but possessive, confuses comfort with love, stays too long in dead situations ("dead bedroom"), jealousy hides under chill energy, needs control to feel secure, takes care of themselves by eating something good, shopping, staying in bed, numbs out with comfort habits, avoids talking when low, isolates but still wants to feel cared for without asking.

Venus in 3rd - crush starts in the mind, turned on by voice, texts, banter, flirty and clever, fast talker fast lover, fantasizes about late-night convos turning into sex, loves sexting, curious and experimental in bed, love language is words and constant communication, can talk someone into bed or out of love, gets obsessive with overthinking, mind games, emotional detachment masked as charm, gets turned off if partner isn’t mentally stimulating, sex can feel empty if connection lacks depth, when low they spiral mentally, overthink everything, plays it cool but breaks down alone, tries to distract with social media or hookup energy, sending nudes, hard time sitting with emotions, uses words to deflect feeling.

Venus in 4th - soft crushes that sneak up, feels everything but doesn’t say much, drawn to people who feel like home, emotional connection before sexual, touchy but private, into secret love affairs or deep soul-level sex, love language is nurturing and silent care, fantasizes about being protected and emotionally understood, needs to feel safe to open up sexually, sex is intimate, slow, sacred, emotionally unavailable but expects you to read their mind, holds on to past lovers, avoids confrontation, shuts down when overwhelmed, when low they disappear, sleep a lot, rewatch comfort shows, isolate but still crave someone checking in, too much in their head to ask for what they need.

Venus in 5th - falls for people who make them laugh, shows off when they like someone, flirts like it’s second nature, big into playful teasing, sends thirst traps for attention, wants sex to feel fun and wild, obsessed with being desired, fantasizes about being irresistible, likes when someone’s a little obsessed with them, love language is compliments, showing off together, constant attention, gets dramatic when they feel ignored, picks fights just to feel something, jealous if you look too happy without them, acts super confident when sad, flirts harder when they’re down, celeb crushes, jokes through feelings, needs attention like air eve when they say they don't want.

Venus in 6th - crush starts slow, catches feelings from daily convos, notices your habits, flirts by being helpful, lowkey obsessed with consistency, sex is steady, focused, quietly intense, needs trust to open up, fantasizes about someone showing up every day for them, love language is acts of service, small helpful gestures, doing things without being asked, attracted to routines, stability, and loyalty, over-gives to feel needed, gets stuck in people-pleasing, hides hurt by staying busy, shuts down when drained, acts fine but quietly pulls away, zones out into work or chores when depressed, struggles to ask for love directly, wants to be chosen without having to say it.

Venus in 7th - crushes feel like romantic daydreams, wants a partner not a fling, flirts by being graceful, composed, knows how to pull people in with quiet charm, sex is soft but deep, wants balance and emotional connection, fantasizes about being chosen fully, love language is loyalty, quality time, mutual effort, loves being in sync with someone, obsessed with "the one" energy, avoids conflict to keep the peace, can settle just to not be alone, overthinks everything in silence, shuts down when things get unfair, goes cold when hurt, acts distant but still wants closeness, isolates when sad but checks your socials, self-soothes with routines, soft music, and staying emotionally guarded.

Venus in 8th - crushes feel like obsession, can’t stop thinking about them, picks up on hidden vibes fast, drawn to intense people, flirts through eye contact and emotional depth, sex is emotional, consuming, wants to fully merge, fantasizes about secret love, taboo, power play, love language is emotional loyalty, deep talks, full vulnerability, needs to feel like it’s all or nothing, jealous, controlling, tests people without saying why, creates drama to feel secure, stuck in past betrayals, overthinks every interaction, when low they spiral in silence, disappears to process, won't leave even though it's toxic, sexually frustrated, abstinence, plays it cool but feels everything too much, numbs out with fantasies or sex, craves intensity even when it hurts.

Venus in 9th - crushes hit fast and ends fast, falls for people who feel different or exciting, loves foreign accents and deep convos, flirts through humor, big ideas, eye contact, sex is spontaneous, wild, full of movement, fantasizes about road trip hookups, long-distance lovers, teacher-student energy, love language is freedom, sharing knowledge, exploring together, gets turned on by minds and new experiences, red flag: runs when things get too real, says they want love but craves escape, romanticizes unavailable people, talks a lot but avoids emotional depth, when low they disappear, book trips, change everything, chase distractions, attracted to exotic places or people, pretend they’re fine by staying busy, needs space but secretly wants to be missed.

Venus in 10th - crushes on successful people, older partners, boss vibes, celeb struck, drawn to people with money or status, flirts through achievements, style, showing off wins, sex is intense, dominant, about control and slow tension, can be super sexual or fully abstinent if it doesn’t feel “worth it,” fantasizes about secret hookups with powerful people, being worshipped behind closed doors, love language is consistency, financial support, public respect, wants to be admired and shown off, into sugar baby/sugar daddy dynamics, uses love to climb ladders, may marry for money or image, mixes love with ambition, needs validation to feel loved, when low they shut down emotionally, obsess in silence, chase work over love, secretly wants someone who sees past the image but still spoils them.

Venus in 11th - crushes on friends first, celeb crushes, online obsessions, loves brains over looks, flirts through sarcasm, memes, long convos, sex is experimental, mental, needs a strong connection first or else it feels empty, fantasizes about futuristic love, forbidden hookups, secret relationships, love language is shared interests, inside jokes, late-night talks, drawn to detached, mysterious types, emotionally unavailable, ghosts then watches your stories/status, acts chill but overthinks everything, lies to avoid confrontation, confuses flirting with friendship, when low they detach fully, scroll endlessly, disappear into daydreams, pretend they’re too “logical” for love but want to be chosen without asking.

Venus in 12th - secret admirer energy, hidden feelings, loves people they can’t have, crushes feel like fate, drawn to artists, addicts, loners, or people who seem broken, flirts without realizing it, emotionally seductive, soft touches, dreamy eyes, sex is emotional escapism, loves dim lights, silence, and emotional closeness, fantasizes about being rescued, soulmate sex, karmic lovers, dramatic love stories, love language is intuition, emotional sacrifice, being there even when unasked, gives without expecting much back, gets stuck in secret or toxic love, self-abandons, falls for unavailable types on repeat, confused between love and fantasy, ignores red flags to protect the dream, when low they isolate, over-romanticize pain, disappear into fantasies, live in old memories, lack of self-care when depressed, inexperienced, cry over what never even happened, wants love to feel like a movie but forgets to live it.

🌙💬 For readings, check out my pinned post for pricing and more info 💫💸

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meowdei · 10 months ago

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khaenriahn princess reader x knight capitano ; jealous capitano ; implied hidden relationship ; pre cataclysm ; royal au ; capitano is not cursed yet so his skin is supple and youthful ; banter and fluff

“There is word, my lady,” his voice says lowly. You hum, reaching over to grab at his helmet. Capitano gently captures your hand before you can, pulling it away from its path to uncover his face. There’s a fleeting frown on your lips, but it’s gone as soon as he brings it up and presses a small, delicate kiss to the knuckles through the dark cloth that hides him from you.

“Oh? What of, my dear knight?” You ask curiously. Something tells him it’s almost mockingly innocent.

“That there is a rather…determined prince seeking your hand in marriage.”

Sometimes, it feels unfair that very rarely do you get to see the face hidden underneath the armor, but you suppose you don’t need to see Capitano to know exactly what emotion is twisted in his face. You fight back an amused grin—his voice tells you all you need to know.

You’re certain he must taste his own bitterness as the words fall from his tongue.

“Such grand news,” you gasp, “and yet…you speak with such hesitation. Has this news not brought you joy, my captain?”

“Forgive me, my lady,” he says unamused, voice low and just shy of a grumble, “I value your wellbeing above all. Should a capable prince ask for your hand, I would be most delighted if that is what you accept.”

“You do not sound delighted at the idea,” you tease.

“Perhaps my lady has not given me reason to think she would be interested in such a proposition,” he mutters.

This time, his voice does, in fact, sound the slightest bit petulant—like a child who sulks after being scolded. His tone is usually one that is far too courteous. Painfully so, in fact. (You’ve spent a good number of exasperating moments insisting he be more casual with you. You reap the rewards of those efforts few and far in between). But now, he betrays himself with a flicker of frustration, far too evidently for even you to miss.

He realizes too late how childish the words must sound spoken so irritably. You can tell that he clenches his jaw, seeing the tension even under the mask as he forces himself to still the bitterness spreading through his veins.

“Tell me, my dear knight,” you grin. You can imagine the unhappy lift of his brow as you speak, “what makes you so certain I would be disinterested in such an enticing offer?”

“It seems my assumptions were incorrect,” he grunts, straightening his back before promptly adding, “forgive me, my lady. I must see to rather urgent military affairs. I shall be seeing you—”

“Jealousy is unbecoming on you, Sir Capitano,” you quip, your hand grabbing at his wrist, tugging him towards you. He stills, stiff as a statue as your hand reaches for his helmet once more.

This time, he doesn’t stop you. He allows the lithe, delicate fingers he knows so well to grab at the edge of his helmet, carefully tugging it off before his face slowly reveals itself to you. You smile, cupping a cheek before tracing your thumb along the soft skin of his face.

“I am not jealous,” he says stubbornly.

“Haven’t they taught you never to lie to a princess?” You hum, stepping closer. His lips twitch just a fraction at the edges before two strong arms wrap around your waist, pulling you towards him. Flush against his chest. Tucked right against his heart. Pressed so close, you almost wonder if you could feel his heart beating through the armor if you paid close enough attention.

“You torment me, my lady,” he murmurs quietly, “I fear I cannot accept this arrangement. It would tear through my soul to watch you be wed to another.”

“Then do not watch me,” you whisper.

You have seen his eyes flicker with soft, warm affection countless times. There is beauty underneath the helmet he wears so often, beauty that not many are so fortunate to see. You see it often, though. In private, hidden moments that he affords you. In the quiet of your chambers where the maids cannot disturb you. In the corners of the palace where no one can interrupt your fleetingly lingering touches and longing gazes.

Your hands hold his face, slowly pulling him closer as you study every precious slope across his skin. The slightly jagged curve of his nose. The plumpness of his lips. The slant of his sharp cheekbones. Every feature you know by heart, and revisit in your dreams.

You smile lightly at the thought of his jealousy, as guilty as you should feel for teasing him. Your knight—and you, his beloved princess.

“Do you wish to marry a prince?” He asks, leaning into your neck, breathing in your scent as his nose trails up your jaw until it reaches your cheek. Your breath hitches. His lips quirk into a smile.

“I wish to marry someone who owns my heart,” you say breathlessly, “prince or not.”

“Perhaps what you need is someone who is far more capable of carrying the weight of your heart. You possess rather discerning taste—it is not easy to please you, my lady.”

You huff, glaring at him from the corner of your eyes as you ask, “do you mean to call me difficult?”

“Among other things,” he chuckles. There’s a light, teasing trail of kisses pressed to your skin, leading straight to your lips. Capitano knows exactly what he’s doing, though—he stops just at the corner of them, making you pout as you try to lean in and close the gap.

He grins smugly, pulling away just enough to create distance between your mouths.

“You should not toy with a princess,” you say, displeased.

He hums, rubbing the small of your back as he counters, “and you should not toy with the heart of a man devoted to you.”

“Forgive me, my dear knight,” you murmur, gently bringing his face closer as your hands cradle his face once more, “I shall not torment you with such teasing again.”

“I am most grateful, your highness,” he fights back a chuckle.

Jealousy is unbecoming on someone as noble as the captain of your military forces. You like the way it looks on him just a little, anyway. Love the way his posture is more rigid and his voice is sharper when forced to consider the possibility of your heart yearning elsewhere. Enjoy the way he holds you tighter and closer as cool armor steals your warmth.

“Shall I tell this prince I am not interested?” You ask with a knowing look.

He hums thoughtfully, a smug smile playing on his lips as he replies, “no, I think I’d rather witness the expression of his highness when he realizes his charms hold no sway over you—a rare defeat for a man so certain of his allure.”

“Someday I shall marry you, my dear knight,” you whisper. Finally, with a softened look, he leans in to kiss you. Slow. Delicate. So gentle, it almost feels like you are one whisper from the wind away from falling apart.

“I look forward to it, my lady. Not even celestia could stop me from claiming your hand.”

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The last line is a big rip if you know what I mean 😔

#capitano x reader #capitano x you #capitano fluff #genshin x reader #genshin impact x you #genshin impact fluff #genshin impact x reader #genshin x you #genshin fluff #meowdei.writing

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plutotheplum · 1 year ago

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The First Fall of Snow

emperor!zayne x concubine!reader - read part 2!

summary: the emperor isn't interested in his concubines, but an encounter with you is enough to change his mind.

cw: nsfw (18+) - mdni!!, smut, p in v, oral sex, praise kink, breast play, masturbation, thigh riding, mentions of exhibitionism, virginity loss

wc: 7.7k

a/n: i did imagine long-haired zayne for this (like his master of fate card!) and he just gives off emperor vibes soooo

also on ao3!

The Emperor was a peculiar man.

He was not a man who fancied company. When the years for marriage had passed, his royal advisors had grown increasingly anxious. All potential candidates were refused, princesses from far lands given profuse apologies and lavish gifts in hopes of quelling their anger after they had traveled such vast distances, only for the Emperor to turn them away.

In an effort to try and draw out the Emperor’s romantic and sexual nature, several concubines were gathered. The Emperor had never overseen this, the affair carried out in veiled whispers as his advisors had sought to dispel their desperation by pooling their efforts into securing an heir for the dynasty.

That was what you were told when you arrived in the palace anyways. It had been a year since you were hand-picked as a concubine, along with a few other girls who had been eager to accept when the opportunity had been provided to them.

You had only met the Emperor a handful of times, when you first been brought to the palace and during private meetings that had been scheduled. He had never touched you or any of the other girls, had never sought after pleasure or secured an heir, much to the chagrin of Imperial staff. Like any other person, you thought it was odd.

Part of you felt as though you were wasting away in this palace, days spent outside by the pretty gardens and overlooking the fish in the ponds, entertaining stray cats or inside, like you were now.

You stare down at the steaming water in the teapot, watching as the tea leaves stain the water. The blurry reflection of your face looks back up at you and there’s a soft sigh escaping you, wondering what might’ve been if you hadn’t been chosen.

Such thoughts are lost when a short, stout man comes hobbling in. He grabs at your arm, teacup filled with hot tea tipping to the side. You wince when the hot liquid lands against your skin, burning you.

“The Emperor needs tea,” the eunuch hisses, pulling another set of teaware from the shelves as he tugs you closer.

“Why does that involve me?,” you ask, trying to free yourself so you can soothe your irritated skin under cool water.

“You will deliver it to him,” he says, fiddling with your robes and straightening out the fabric to make you look more presentable.

“Have another one of the girls-” you begin to complain, shrinking away when he sends you a glare.

You huff out a breath, making sure the pin in your hair is in place. There’s no time to tend to the burn on your forearm, the reddened skin hidden by the sleeves of your robes as the eunuch passes you the tray.

Sending him a glare of your own, you don’t stay behind to be chastised. Feet padding against the floor, you pass through the courtyard and hallway. Imperial guards stand outside the Emperor’s quarters and you bow your head, stating your business.

One of the guards opens the doors and you suck in a sharp breath, gathering your confidence as you step inside the Emperor’s quarters.

It’s a familiar place. The room is large, scrolls stacked upon shelves tucked against the walls, decorative screens partitioning the entrance to where his bed was placed. You swallow nervously, eyes blinking about. You can’t seem to find the Emperor. Deciding to step forward, you’re pushing your luck, sticking your head outside the open doors at the other end of his quarters. It opens into a private courtyard, greenery pruned to perfection.

There’s a frown pulling at your lips when you can’t see him. Perhaps he had left? Just as you’re about to give up, a man clears his throat. You jolt in place, tea sloshing as you struggle to keep a hold on the tray. Whirling around, you find the Emperor standing there, his arms crossed over his chest. There’s a curse entering your mind, placing the tea tray down on a table nearby before your knees are bending, meeting the floor as you bow in a seated position.

“Please forgive me, your majesty” you breathe out, eyes squeezing shut.

You would rather not feel the wrath of the Emperor.

“I did not ask for tea,” he says bluntly.

“The- the eunuch insisted,” you supply lamely.

The Emperor only sighs and your eyes are peeking open, head tilting slightly as you try to get a glimpse of his expression.

“You may stand,” he murmurs, waving his hand. You do as he says, stumbling to your feet, teeth gritting together when the cloth of your robes rubs against the still fresh burn on your forearm.

He takes a seat on a cushioned mat and you’re standing awkwardly, trying to taper down your fidgeting as the pain flares up again.

“Is something the matter?” the Emperor asks when he sees your inability to stand still.

You shake your head, biting the inside of your cheek. The Emperor only stares at you, unimpressed. His gaze drags over you and your cheeks are flushing in embarrassment.

“Sit,” he says suddenly, pointing to the space across from him.

“I-” you begin to refuse, restless to get out of this stifling place and tend to the burn that was currently beginning to sting.

“Sit, or will you refuse an Imperial command?”

To refuse an Imperial command is to forfeit one’s life. It’s why you’re sitting down in a flurry and looking everywhere at everything except him.

“Arm,” he murmurs, holding his hand out.

You extend your arm towards his hand without question. He hums when he brushes the sleeves away, moving your arm closer to his eyes so he can examine the burn. The Emperor’s lithe fingers prod at the edges of your reddened skin, and a whimper slips out of you, the tender skin sensitive.

He pulls away from you and your eyes are darting towards the doors, wondering whether it would be worth it to make a break for it. The Emperor returns soon after, a small pot in his hand, containing some sort of salve.

“Your majesty, it is beneath you to tend to such a matter,” you remind him, feeling his cool fingers wrap around your arm again.

“Perhaps so, but I happen to take interest in the ailments of the body,” he replies, spreading the salve against your skin.

So the rumors were true then. Many spoke of the Emperor’s affinity for the study of medicine. You had assumed he would’ve taken more interest in other pursuits such as hunting, but it appeared the Emperor valued intellect above all else.

As the salve soothes your skin, you find your gaze slipping over him. Pale skin, intelligent eyes framed by dark eyelashes, a strong nose and long hair tied back neatly, there was no doubt that the Emperor was a handsome man.

His eyes flick up to meet yours, his own gaze dipping over you once again. You feel as though you’re being scrutinized, so you’re sitting up straighter, trying to not present yourself as a mess.

“He sent you here to entice me,” the Emperor explains, beginning to wrap your wound using a thin, silken cloth.

“Oh. Is- is it working?” you ask tentatively.

“If you consider making a fool of yourself enticing, then maybe so,” he says, the side of his mouth curling up as amusement flashes through his eyes.

There’s a sharp scoff leaving you, arm tugging free from his grasp. The bandages are tight around your arm and you send him a frown, placing your hands in your lap.

“You take liberties that others do not,” he sighs, crossing his arms over his chest.

“I apologize, your majesty,” you whisper, head hanging low. He was right, you were taking liberties.

“Zayne,” he says, opening a scroll.

“Your- your majesty?” you reply, confusion flitting across your face.

“Zayne,” he repeats, not bothering to even spare you a glance “you may address me by my name.”

You hold your tongue in return, eyes narrowing as you stare at the Emperor. It must be a trick of some sort, you think, a ploy to make you slip up, and just like the traitors of the Empire, your head would be severed from your neck.

“You would distrust my own command?” he asks, sensing your hesitation. “I never said such a thing!” you protest, exasperation spreading across your face.

Sitting in place, you pout to yourself, tracing random shapes onto the cushioned mat. Zayne ignores your presence and it has you fidgeting even more, a huff of air leaving you.

The Emperor only continues to read the scroll in his hands. Pouring out some tea, you decide to indulge yourself. Your face contorts when you taste the now lukewarm liquid. It’s hardly enjoyable. Letting out another deep sigh, your body sags. There’s nothing for you to do here, the Emperor won’t carry a conversation and you only find that you’re making a fool of yourself even more.

“Shall I leave?” you ask him, feeling hopeful that you might be able to escape.

Zayne shakes his head.

“Stay a little while. It would do good for my advisors to think they have succeeded.”

“Succeeded?” you echo, brows furrowing.

“They expect an heir,” he sighs, setting down the scroll to give you his full attention, “surely you are aware of my… aversion to the entire matter.”

“I cannot say I understand,” you murmur, “you need an heir, and an illegitimate heir is an heir nonetheless.”

“The duty will be fulfilled when I am ready,” he says firmly.

Your head tilts at that, eyes narrowing. When he was ready? There would be no reason for the Emperor to not be ready.

“Other noblemen take pleasure in using women’s bodies,” you mutter, peering over at him, “it is strange that you have not yet touched any one of us.”

“You wish for me to use you?” Zayne asks, raising his brows.

“N- no! I just meant, it is odd that an Emperor whose rule has granted him anything he may possibly desire chooses not to engage in anything,” the words come out of you in a rush, your cheeks flushing.

“And have you engaged in anything?” he shoots back, his eyes sharp.

Admitting your own virginity wasn’t on your plan of things to do today. Your cheeks are hot with embarrassment, eyes averted to the side. Your silence is answer enough, and Zayne sighs, his fingers rubbing at his temples.

“I did not ask for concubines,” he says quietly, “and so, I do not expect you to serve me in such a fashion.”

“You may leave,” he says after a few moments, standing up with you.

Your head tilts, teeth worrying into your lower lip as he stares down at you.

“It appears you care for me,” he murmurs, his hand lifting to tuck a stray strand of hair behind your ear.

Your heart flutters at the unexpected action, eyes widening when he touches you.

“Only for the dynasty,” you breathe out.

Zayne lets out a low laugh at that. He gives you a faint smile and your heart stutters in your chest. You don’t think you’ve ever seen a man look so ethereal, but such is the favor of the gods.

It’s probably why you’re leaning forward, hands reaching to fix the crumpled collar of his silk robes. He stiffens under your touch and you pretend as though you don’t notice. Your fingers graze his skin and his hand curls around your wrist, stopping your movements.

“I shall expect you here in a week’s time,” he says.

“A week’s time,” you nod, feeling his fingers touch the cloth wrapped around your burn.

The Emperor lowers his head, his fingers gripping your chin gently so he can stare into your eyes more intently. He seems lost in thought as he swipes his thumb over your chin, his head nearing until you can feel the warmth of his breath on your skin.

It’s almost too much for your racing heart. Your already half-lidded eyes are slipping shut, lips parting as you lean in closer, waiting for him to kiss you. But it never comes and your eyes flutter open to see Zayne staring down at you with a hint of mirth in his eyes. He was making a fool of you yet again.

To preserve whatever dignity you have left, you’re pulling away, freeing yourself from his suffocating grasp. Bowing in deference, you don’t look back to see his expression, pushing past the doors as you leave his quarters.

Almost immediately, you’re met with the eunuch from earlier.

“Well?” he asks, his cheeks puffed with exertion as he tries to keep up with the pace you’ve set in an attempt to escape questioning.

“Nothing happened,” you reply curtly, looking back to see the short man totter after you.

“Nothing?” he repeats, voice laced with irritation, “not even-“ his voice lowers, mindful of the other staff working in the palace, “he did not even touch you?”

You shake your head. He doesn’t need to know that the Emperor had indeed touched you; tended to your burn even, that you were hoping the Emperor would hold you close and kiss you, and he most certainly didn’t need to know about your little displays of insolence.

The eunuch soon loses interest in you, grumbling curses under his breath as you retire to your own chambers shared with the other girls. It’s no secret that many of them have become bored with the Emperor’s apathetic outlook, some turning their charms to try and garner the affections of noblemen at court.

It’s raining the day you’re meant to meet the Emperor.

You step inside his chambers when the guards permit you, your hands clasped in front of you.

“Your majesty” you bend at the waist, bowing.

Zayne hums in response, striding closer to you. His fingers lift your arm, undoing the gauze to uncover your injury. The salve he had applied to your skin had soothed the burn, and it had begun to heal nicely.

“I told you to address me by my name,” he reminds you, his brows furrowed in concentration as he examines your skin, “must I remind you again, or will phrasing it as an Imperial command suffice?”

Your mouth opens automatically to retort sharply. He looks at you, brows raised. Spending more time in his presence has only vexed you, irritation making you almost forget who you were with. Mouth clamping shut, you send him a tight-lipped smile.

“Forgive me,” you say begrudgingly, “Zayne.”

“Better,” he murmurs.

You don’t know whether he’s referring to your obedience or the state of your wound.

“It will scar,” Zayne continues, turning your arm so that he can see your skin in better light.

“Badly?” you ask, a frown tugging at your lips.

“More salve will lessen the effect,” he says, finally letting go of your arm.

You release a breath you didn’t realize you were holding. The Emperor stares at you, his gaze unwavering. It has you wishing that you hadn’t listened to his request at all. The palace physician would have more than likely provided you with the necessary treatment, and yet here you were, being tended to by the Emperor of all people.

“Do you wish for me to repay you?” the words are out of your mouth before you can stop yourself.

“Did we not already have this conversation?” he sighs, pinching the bridge of his nose.

“I had assumed-”

“Do not assume anything.”

Zayne’s voice has hardened, the slight softness in his eyes no longer present. You’ve overstepped. He pulls away from you, turning his back to you as he walks towards the open doors of his quarters. Rain wets the inside, the mats on the floor darkening but the Emperor doesn’t seem to care.

Feeling like a scolded child, you trail after him.

“Forgive me,” you whisper, keeping your gaze trained on the floor.

It seems to be all that you’re doing now. Apology after apology after apology. It’s a miracle you haven’t yet been executed for your impertinence.

He turns to face you, his hand lifting. For a moment you think he’s about to slap you, a grimace settling on your face as you await the stinging punishment. Instead, all you feel is his hand on your head, petting you like you were some sort of unruly cat.

Zayne’s fingers begin to slip and you can feel the soft tips of his fingers graze the side of your face, traveling lower as he traces your jawline. You hold still, eyes wide with anticipation. He doesn’t stop, his fingers dragging down the length of your neck, parting your robes until you feel his fingers swipe across your collarbone.

“You are stubborn,” he says softly, “steadfast and oddly endearing. Perhaps I should keep you by my side.”

You stare up at him, jaw slackening, baffled.

“I thought you would appreciate it,” he murmurs, the sharpness in his eyes returning, “just moments ago you were offering yourself to me.”

It’s a struggle to bite back the whimper that so eagerly wants to escape when his fingers drag lower, skimming across the soft skin of the tops of your breasts. His other hand plays with the knot tied at the side, nimble fingers untying the only thing keeping your robes together. The soft fabric slips from your shoulders and you find yourself in front of the Emperor, breasts bared.

He lets out a low hum, both of his hands coming to cup your breasts. Your teeth have been biting into your lip so hard that you can taste the tang of blood on your tongue. Zayne swipes his thumbs over your nipples and you find yourself unable to rip free from his wandering touch.

“Should you not tell me to stop?” the Emperor asks, his face nearing yours.

There’s no will left in you to answer, a sharp gasp escaping you when he pinches your nipples to punctuate his question. The sensation only adds to the wetness pooling between your thighs.

“Please,” you whimper, the desperation clear in your eyes, “please, Zayne.”

“I may have the favor of the gods, but I cannot foresee your desires,” he whispers, the tip of his nose brushing yours, “tell me. What is it you want?”

“Kiss,” you manage out, “kiss me, please.”

The Emperor’s hands haven’t stopped their exploration, squeezing and groping at your breasts. Zayne lowers his head, forehead pressing against yours as you mewl and whimper under the onslaught of his caressing touches. The ache between your thighs has become unbearable with the way he plays with your nipples. He tugs and pinches, thumbs swiping over your areolas to grant you reprieve before rolling your nipples between his fingers again.

“Wantonness has made you far more polite,” he whispers, lips brushing against yours.

It’s not a kiss, and you’re squirming in frustration with the way the Emperor is stringing you along, driving you to the edge of pleasure and yet refusing to grant you what you desire the most.

“I- I can be even more polite,” you mumble pathetically, hands curling into his robes.

You chase after his lips, brows furrowing when he draws up to his full height, smiling down at you. Lips jutting out into a pout, you stand on the tips of your toes, trying to tug him back down so you can kiss him. It’s a futile endeavor, the Emperor only manages to evade all of your attempts to draw him into a kiss.

“I shall look forward to it,” Zayne murmurs, his lips pressing against your forehead gently.

There’s no way to discern what exactly is going through the Emperor’s mind. He no longer continues with his lustful touches, pulling away with a final caress of your breasts as he pulls your loosened robes over your shoulders again. You can only watch with dazed eyes, frozen in place as he helps redo the knot holding your robes together, covering you up properly so that unnecessary slivers of skin aren’t showing anymore.

“Do you do this with the others?” you ask, eyes finding his.

“Does the thought make you jealous?”

You frown at his retort, sending him a glare, “the Emperor may do as he wishes,” you grumble.

It’s hard to hide the jealousy that underlies your words. You want to be the only person he touches, to be the object of his affections. It’s a selfish desire to want the Emperor to need you only, but you can’t help yourself, envy flaring up inside of you at the thought of him touching another woman the way he touches you.

“You are the first to elicit such a reaction from me,” Zayne says, his fingers tilting your head so he can stare into your eyes more directly.

Letting out an irritated huff, you feel irked by his subtle way of trying to please you. He doesn’t reply to your display of irritation, nudging his forehead against yours as though trying to convey his affection.

“Go now,” he whispers, petting your hair again before he’s moving away, turning his back to you as he returns to peer out at the rain that falls outside.

You have half the mind to call him out on his behavior, but the reminder of your position is the stifling reality in which you live in. Despite his gaze elsewhere, you bow to him, turning on your heel to leave.

Thankfully, there are no lurking eunuchs to question your brief stay in the Emperor’s quarters. The palace staff don’t pay you any mind as you return to your chambers, and you explain to the other girls that you feel sick.

The whimpers that spill from your mouth are muffled by the pillow that you’ve pressed your face into, the fingers of one hand rubbing at your clit and the other hand pinching at your nipples as you try to mimic the way the Emperor had touched you. With the image of Zayne’s face ingrained into your mind, it doesn’t take long, a soft moan escaping into the quiet of your chambers as you come apart on your fingers.

You’re spying on the Emperor.

The past year had been plenty of time to explore the palace and figure out the little passageways that weren’t well known. Perhaps you were just as bad as his advisors that were intent on prying into Zayne’s private life, but you just couldn’t help yourself.

It’s why you’re here now, hovering outside his quarters, pretending to take great interest in the portraits that line the halls. Every now and then, your eyes flick over to where the guards stand, trying to discern whether anyone was entering or leaving his chambers.

You almost feel pathetic for acting in such a way, but he was the only thing you could think about. Visiting the gardens had grown dull, despite the leaves turning into pretty shades of orange and red in the autumn air, thoughts of the Emperor taking root in the crevices of your mind instead.

“My grandfather,” a deep voice breaks through your thoughts. You don’t have to look to know who it is.

“Handsome,” you mutter, taking a step closer to examine the portrait genuinely this time.

“My guards have complained about a woman hiding in the hallways,” Zayne says, his hand falling onto your shoulder. “I did not realize it was an offense to admire fine art,” you shoot back.

“There are far finer things in this palace,” he murmurs, stepping forward until you’ve been backed up against the wall.

It’s becoming more and more apparent to you that the Emperor must be suffering some sort of illness to the mind. You struggle to come up with a reason as to why his arm curls around your waist, whilst he presses himself closer.

You try and push at his firm chest, but he doesn’t budge.

“People will see,” you whisper heatedly, eyes darting to the sides despite Zayne being so close that you can hardly see anything but him.

“So let them.”

Zayne reaches out, his hand cupping your cheek. You stiffen under the sudden touch, eyes widening when his thumb brushes over your skin.

“Why are you doing this?” you whisper, frowning.

“Is my mind not allowed to change?” he asks in return, head lowering until his forehead is pressed against yours.

“I am far more concerned that you have lost your mind.”

The Emperor lets out a deep chuckle and you think the air around you both has somehow grown thicker with how lightheaded you’re feeling.

“I assure you, I am still of sound mind.”

His nose brushes against yours, and you rise to meet the challenge, nose nudging against his gently. The heat of his body is intoxicating, his arm tightening around your waist as he exhales. Your eyes flutter shut, anticipating the feeling of his lips against yours.

It’s not to be, not when an Imperial guard insists on interrupting your moment with the Emperor.

“Is this woman bothering you?” the guard asks, his gaze dragging over you with obvious disregard.

The utter nerve. Eye twitching, you ready yourself to snap back but Zayne’s squeeze to your waist has you staying silent.

“She was feeling ill,” Zayne lies steadily.

The Emperor’s mask of cool indifference slips over him easily, his lips pulled thin as he speaks to the guard.

“I shall escort her to the physician,” the guard offers, his hand reaching for you.

Zayne pulls you out of reach before the guard can touch you, tucking you against his side.

“No need,” Zayne says, “I shall take her myself.”

You can almost hear the nervous gulp that the guard takes, his face paling at the Emperor’s stony disposition. Unfortunately, you don’t get long to revel in the satisfaction that spreads through your body when Zayne reprimands the guard. Zayne tugs you along, his hand wrapped around your wrist. It appears the Emperor knows of the passages as well, and a few twists and turns later you find yourself back in the Emperor’s quarters, having bypassed the Imperial guards.

“Did you see his face?” you snicker, looking over at Zayne.

Your smile fades when he doesn’t reply, the grip on your wrist almost painful without how firmly his hand is still holding onto you.

“Zayne? Are you-”

You nearly trip over your own feet when he suddenly pulls you closer. Zayne’s lips are slotting over yours, his large hands cupping your cheeks as he kisses you. There’s a small noise of surprise coming from you, eyes widening before they flutter shut, your body lulled into submission with the feverish kisses Zayne gives you.

He groans into your mouth and you cling to his robes, rising up on the tips of your toes to meet his kisses better. The Emperor might’ve been starved with the way he’s kissing you, his lips firm and insistent against yours whilst he holds you in place.

Zayne pulls away after a while, and you’re completely and utterly dazed, chest heaving as soft pants fill the space between you both.

“Will you have me?” he whispers, his fingers tracing the curve of your cheek.

No man has ever spoken such words to you. Your breath catches in your throat, heart clenching uncomfortably in your chest. As the Emperor, he shouldn’t say such a thing.

“It is beneath you to ask,” you murmur, averting your gaze.

“And yet, I am asking,” Zayne replies, his hands maneuvering your head until you have no choice but to look into his eyes.

Letting out an irritated huff, as though he had somehow inconvenienced you, you lean forward and press a chaste kiss against his lips. You can’t bring yourself to say the words out loud, feeling uncharacteristically shy as you shift on the spot.

“I see.”

Zayne’s surging towards you again, lips crashing onto yours. You whimper, hands scrabbling at his shoulders as you press yourself closer. His arms are wrapping around your waist, keeping you flush against him as he ravages your mouth. His tongue is teasing your lower lip, coaxing it open. You have no choice but to obey, letting out a muffled moan when his tongue slides deeper into your mouth, his hand pulling at the pin holding your hair together.

You squeak when he picks you up, his lips trailing burning kisses down your neck as he nudges the partition blocking his way to his bed. Zayne undoes the knot holding your robes together before long, your thighs straddling his hips as you sit perched on his lap once he sits down on his bed.

“Have you really never given yourself to anyone?” Zayne asks quietly, his fingers tracing across the soft skin of your shoulders.

You nod, body leaning forward to chase after his touch as his fingers find their way back down to your nipples, rolling the pebbled buds between the pads of his fingers.

“H- have you?” you ask, biting your lip as he presses heated kisses against your collarbone.

He shakes his head, lips drifting lower and lower, until your body twitches as his lips enclose around your nipple. A whimper leaves you, and Zayne grows bolder with his movements, sucking harshly as his tongue swirls around your nipple, flicking the little bud in his mouth.

Your hands have drifted into his hair, pulling free the band that holds his long locks together. His dark hair runs past his shoulders, the strands soft under your touch as you pull at his hair, moaning as he continues his exploration across your chest.

Zayne looks up at you with half-lidded eyes, spit-slick lips dragging across your chest to pepper kisses against your other breast, his mouth enveloping your nipple yet again. He lets out a low groan and you whine, pulling at his robes desperately to pull them off.

“Oh,” you breathe out when he lets you, biting your lip at the sight of his bare chest and abdomen. Your fingers spread across his chest eagerly, mapping out the expanse of his skin. There’s a sly smile spreading across your face when you see his cheeks flush pink as your fingers drag lower, past his navel.

“Enjoying yourself?” he asks hoarsely, his head tipping back.

“Should I not?” you whisper, fingers delving lower until you can feel his hardness through his robes.

You rub your hand against the bulge experimentally, eyes lighting up when he lets out a grunt. Face tucking into the crook of his neck, your breasts squished against his chest, you place hungry kisses against his neck, palming at his bulge.

The Emperor tugs at your hair, pulling your head back. You stare up at him, meeting him in the middle when he leans forward, sharing a sloppy kiss. His hands squeeze at your waist and you shift in his lap, letting him undress you completely.

Nervousness flits across your face as he stares at your bare body, hands leaving him to cover yourself up. He grabs your hands before you can, placing a soft kiss to your jaw.

“You are beautiful,” he whispers, lips drifting to kiss the shell of your ear.

A shy smile pulls at your lips and he squeezes your waist again. Your brows furrow when he jostles you, making you straddle his thigh instead.

“I want to watch,” Zayne says, his fingers dimpling into the fat of your thighs.

“Watch?” you echo, head tilting in question.

“I want to watch you come undone,” he clarifies, gripping your hips as he guides you into grinding against his thigh.

A strangled noise leaves you and he pats your hip, satisfied. You’re so aroused that your slick has begun to wet his silken robes, the fabric darkening as you roll your hips, dragging your pussy against his thigh.

“I- I want to watch you too,” you gasp out.

Zayne obliges and you watch as he pulls his cock free. The sight is almost enough to have you coming on his covered thigh. His fingers wrap around his cock and you whine, hips rolling faster. “Is it to your satisfaction?” he murmurs.

You nod rapidly. It is. You’ve never seen one before, but you just know Zayne’s is pretty compared to the others. His cock is thick, flushed prettily at the tip to match the blush on his cheeks and you lick your lips, wondering what it might feel like in your mouth.

“Another time,” Zayne says, smiling when he sees the expression on your face.

It’s entrancing to watch the way his hand drags up and down his cock, his long fingers wrapped around himself. Globs of pre-cum bead at the tip, wetting his hands and his cock, creating a sinful sound. Unable to help yourself, you tilt your head, tongue lolling out as you let your own spit drip down onto his cock. You hum in delight when his thighs twitch, your eyes peering into his as you drag your cunt against his thigh, clit catching on the fabric of his robes just right.

“I did not know my concubine was so depraved,” he murmurs, his hand kneading the flesh at your hip roughly.

You give him a dopey smile, eyes slipping back down to watch his hand move around his cock whilst you rock your hips. Head falling against his shoulder, your lips drag across his chest, landing soft kisses against his skin before nuzzling your face into the crook of his neck, nipping his skin lightly.

Airy sounds fill the air, his quiet moans and your soft whimpers emanating in his quarters.

Wrapping your arms around his neck, you press yourself closer, guiding his head into another kiss. It’s messy, his tongue licking into your mouth with no hesitation. Zayne’s pulling apart suddenly, his previous desire of watching you come undone on your thigh forgotten as he manhandles your body, making you lay down against his bed.

The Emperor kisses you over and over, and your head is swirling, trying to keep up whilst his fingers have found their way down to your pussy, rubbing your wetness across the sensitive flesh before he finds your clit. All it takes is one firm press of his thumb, your thighs twitching violently as you grasp at the sheets, moaning loudly as you come. He smiles against your lips, granting you one last kiss before he directs his attention elsewhere, his face disappearing between your thighs.

“Z-Zayne!” you squeal, pushing at his head, trying to get him to stop as the overstimulation becomes too much.

The Emperor ignores you in favor of thumbing apart your folds, his eyes trained on your clit.

“Pretty” he whispers, the pads of his fingers stroking over your clit gently, “and so, so swollen.”

It has your eyes rolling to the back of your head, and he kisses the inside of your thighs, edging closer to your pussy, letting out a low breath, the air hitting your exposed pussy.

He groans when you tug at his hair, and you writhe, trying to somehow free yourself from the onslaught of his tongue as he laves over your pussy, pressing sloppy kisses against your skin, his lips latching onto your swollen clit. Zayne’s tongue flicks against the sensitive bud, teasing you.

Something between a moan and a scream climbs its way out your throat, the sound ringing in through his chambers as you come again, thighs firmly squeezing his head. Your eyes widen when you realize the guards are still outside the doors, panic flaring through your body as you scramble to sit up.

Zayne’s hand slides over your mouth before you can get anything out, the stern look in his eyes making you go still. The rapping of the guard’s knuckles against the door has you rigid, eyes widening in alarm as he begins to move his tongue yet again.

You glare at Zayne, tugging at his hair roughly to make it hurt as you attempt to get his mouth off of you. Zayne only gives you a hazy look, looking utterly gone as he presses his face deeper into your cunt. It’s a struggle to keep the noises in, your body shaking as his nose rubs into your clit and his tongue fucks in and out of your aching hole.

“Your majesty?” An urgent voice calls out from behind the door, and you can hear the faint scuffling noises of the guards’ boots.

“Someone get this door open!” another voice hisses, the sliding doors rattling soon after.

The Emperor grunts into your cunt, raising up finally. The sight of him is nearly enough to make you come for a third time. Zayne is utterly disheveled, his cheeks pink and the lower half of his face glistening with your slick.

You watch as he runs his hand through his hair, biting your lip as you let your gaze wander, catching on his cock once again. He looks painfully hard, cum smeared across his skin and drool is pooling in your mouth. Getting onto your knees, you crawl forward eager to envelop it in your mouth.

The tip makes its way into your mouth for a brief moment and you can barely suck when Zayne is yanking you off of his cock, his hand curled into your hair.

“Everything is fine,” the Emperor snaps, narrowing his eyes when you pout.

“We heard-”

“I said,” Zayne’s voice grows louder, “everything is fine.”

You think he might take out his wrath on you with the way he grips your cheeks roughly, planting another kiss to your lips. He’s manhandling you yet again, pushing at your shoulders to make you lie down as he settles his hips between your thighs.

Zayne’s cum smears against your skin and you whimper when the fat tip of his cock nudges against your clit. He lands a gentler kiss to your cheek, his hand cupping your cheek as you squirm under him, whimpering as he grinds his cock against your cunt.

“Good girl,” he murmurs, his face pressing into the crook of your neck as he lets his cock slide up and down against your folds, “my good girl.”

“Yours,” you agree, cheek squishing against the pillow, “all yours.”

“I want to see you like this all the time,” Zayne confesses, his hand grasping his cock to press it firmly against your cunt, coating it with your arousal, “all flustered and needy… perhaps I am losing my sanity.”

You need him inside of you. The emptiness in your pussy has made you all too aware, hips bucking with every drag of his heavy cock.

“More,” you whisper, voice slurring, “Zayne, I want more.”

Zayne draws back slightly and you watch as he squeezes his cock, pre-cum dripping steadily onto your thigh. He reaches for your hand, fingers lacing with yours.

“Ready?” he murmurs.

You nod, swallowing down your nervousness. He presses his cock into your hole and the stretch is uncomfortable, a pained whimper leaving you as Zayne guides his cock into you.

“A little more,” he coaxes, kissing your forehead to try and distract you from the initial stretch.

He finally pushes his entire cock in, and you feel as though the air has been punched out of your lungs. Zayne fills you up so perfectly, his cock snug inside your cunt, the emptiness from earlier disappearing almost immediately.

It appears you have affected him just as much, his eyes squeezed shut as he pants into the crook of your neck, trying to get used to the wet heat of your cunt.

“Perfect,” he mutters mindlessly, and you can feel the twitch of his cock from inside of you, “so- so perfect and warm and tight.”

A hazy smile drifts across your face, legs locking tighter around his hips as your pussy clenches around him.

Zayne lets out a ragged gasp, and you know he can feel it. His eyes bore into yours, brows pulled together in annoyance at your little tease.

“Little minx,” he hisses.

It’s you that gasping this time when he draws his hips back, nails clawing at his back as he thrusts into you. His cock is stretching you out, over and over, as he tries to press it in deeper, trying to carve a path from your pussy to your heart.

“Too- too much!” you wail, arms wrapping around his neck to cling onto him.

“Do you want the guards to hear?” Zayne murmurs against your ear, his hips slowing slightly.

Through the haze of it all, your head turns, eyes finding his. The truth is, you wouldn’t exactly be opposed to the idea. Zayne can see the flash of interest in your eyes and he lets out a hoarse laugh, shaking his head.

“I should have taken you sooner,” he mutters, his fingers squeezing at your hips, “kept you close to me from the beginning.”

You preen at the thought, pressing sloppy kisses against his jaw, feeling his cock drag in and out of you.

“Next time, I shall take you on my throne.”

Your movements pause, eyes widening as he whispers those words, his lips brushing across yours.

“Not like that-” you begin to say, cheeks flushing deeper as you imagine him taking you on his throne, his hips rutting into yours like they were now.

“Why not?” he asks, “Shall I command it? Have-” Zayne lets out a shuddering breath “have my entire court watch as my pretty, little concubine loses her mind, drunk on my cock as I claim her atop my throne?”

You moan unabashedly, cunt clenching around him tightly. Zayne grunts, his hips stuttering when at the feeling of your walls tightening before he’s gripping your thigh, his chest flush against yours as he picks up the pace. It’s no secret that the guards must have heard what was happening inside, your loud moans most likely drifting through the wood of the doors. Both you and the Emperor don’t seem to care, lost in the blur of lust that swirls between you both.

“Deeper,” you mumble, pouting up at him, “need- need you closer, Zayne.”

“You are going to be the death of me,” Zayne mutters, dropping his weight on top of you.

You mewl in delight, the feeling of his body against yours deliciously warm. He hikes your thighs up a little higher, hips pressing deeper until you gasp. You can feel his balls pressed snugly against your ass, his cock as deep inside of you as it could go.

“Take it,” he whispers, his hand beginning to stroke your hair as he moves his hips. Short, sharp thrusts that serve to bury his cock into your cunt the way you want, “take it, my love.”

My love. Skin against skin. His hand stroking your hair gently. Girthy cock filling you up perfectly.

The sensations mixed with his affection are too much, pulling at your heart uncomfortably until you let out a sniffle, staring up at him with glassy eyes.

Concern passes through his eyes when he hears you sniffle, his hand cupping your cheek as his thumb swipes away a stray tear that beads at the corner of your eye.

“Am I hurting you?” Zayne asks softly.

You shake your head, lips trembling even more at his display of concern.

“I just like you a lot is all,” you whisper, sniffling quietly.

“I like you too,” Zayne replies in kind, his lips pressing soft kisses against your cheek, “and I take care of what’s mine.”

He leans down, lips pressing against yours in a tender kiss. Your tears wet his cheeks as he keeps you there, kissing you gently whilst his hips roll into you.

“Let go for me, my love” he murmurs, and you’re clenching around him again, feeling his hand sneak its way between your bodies as his thumb rubs against your clit.

You whimper, head pressing back as you arch your back, the sensation of his cock and his fingers driving you further and further to the edge until he latches his mouth onto your breast, catching your nipple between his teeth. He bites down and a broken moan fills the air, body shuddering as you come on his cock.

“Oh fuck,” Zayne grits out when he feels the harsh clench of your cunt around his cock.

You can feel him bury his face into your chest and you reach up weakly, running your fingers through his hair. It’s enough to have him letting out a guttural noise against your chest, his fat cock twitching as his thick cum floods your pussy.

The Emperor lays on top of you, both of your bodies loosened completely. You whimper when he pulls out of you, his cum beginning to leak out from your cunt. Zayne stares at the sight for a moment, entranced, before pulling you closer, letting you press your face into his chest as he kisses your forehead.

“Everyone will know by now,” you whisper.

“They will,” he agrees, his fingers prying your face away from where it hides.

Zayne peers down into your eyes, a faint smile playing across his lips as he swipes his thumbs against your skin.

“Stay here with me,” he says quietly, “by my side.”

You laugh softly at his proposition.

“I am your concubine,” you murmur, reaching up to curl your hand around his wrist, “nothing more.”

“You will be more,” Zayne insists, his voice hardening, “I will have you.”

“Your advisors would not allow it!” you protest, eyes turning glassy again.

“Desperation will make them vulnerable to acceptance,” he retorts, his body pressing closer as though to keep you tethered to him, hands tightening around your cheeks.

“I am the Emperor,” he continues, forehead pressing against yours as his eyes bore into yours, “you said it yourself. I may do as I wish, and what I wish for is for you to be by my side.”

You swallow harshly, blinking up at him when you hear the sternness of his voice. He doesn’t give you a chance to reply, kissing you desperately.

“Stay with me, my love” he whispers again, stealing kiss after kiss from you.

“Okay,” you relent, sinking into his embrace and returning his kisses just as desperately, “okay.”

The Emperor holds you close to his chest, his arms wrapped around you tightly. The heat of his body has your eyes drooping shut, his lips brushing over your forehead as he whispers sweet promises of his love.

Outside, far away from the warmth of love’s embrace, the first fall of snow has begun to drift from the sky.

#zayne smut #zayne #zayne x reader #love and deepspace zayne #love and deepspace #lnd smut #lnd zayne #lnd #zayne x you

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magic-astro-fae · 11 months ago

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House Significations

1st House: Head/ face/ physical body, eyes and smile. Our identity. Others perception of us. Our birth. Birth marks/ moles and scars. Character. Perspective/ outlook. Beginnings. Ego

2nd House: Throat/ neck/ voice. Resources and personal values. Physical possessions. Self-esteem. Money/ income. Security. Cultivation. Substance

3rd House: Arms/ shoulders and hands. Communication style. Primary school. Reading/ writing. Intellect. Siblings and cousins. Immediate communities. Transportation

4th House: Chest/ breasts/ stomach. Family/ ancestors. Roots/ traditions. Private life. Home. Domesticity. Mother/ care taker. Foundations. Heritage. Comfort/ relaxation

5th House: Heart/ Spine/ Solar Plexus. Pleasure. Creativity. Romance. Children/ first born child. Self-expression. Humor. Leisure/ entertainment

6th House: Digestive system/ intestines: Healthcare/ wellness. Daily routines. Known enemies. Employment/ skills. Coworkers. Consistency. Strength/ courage

7th House: Urinary tract/ kidneys/ bladder. 1-on-1 relationships. Business partners. Marriage partners. Contracts/ commitments. Compromise. People/ things we attract and are attracted to

8th House: Reproductive system/ genitals/ anus. Secrets/ lies. Death. Judgement. Transformation. Debts/ taxes. Shared resources. Conscious fears. Instincts/ intuition. Occultism

9th House: Hips/ thighs/ liver. Ideology/ philosophy. Long distance travels. Expansion/ exploration. Knowledge. Spirituality. Foreign affairs. Belief systems. Culture

10th House: Bones/ skeleton/ teeth/ skin. Reputation. Public image. Occupation. Focus/ ambition/ motivation. Professional self. Government. Authority. Father figure

11th House: Circulatory system/ veins/ calves/ ankles. Group efforts/ charity. Friendship. Gifts/ help from others. Innovation. Technology. Social work. Wistfulness. Acquaintances

12th House: Feet/ lymph nodes. Institutions. Unconsciousness. Nightmares/ dreams. Psychic abilities. Karma. Self-undoing. Fears. Privacy/ refuge. Peace. Forgiveness

#astrology #astro notes #astro posts #astrology placements #astro community #astro observations #zodiac signs #zodiac

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gatabella · 2 years ago

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Lana Turner, Marriage Is a Private Affair, 1944

#lana turner #marriage is a private affair

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sensualnoiree · 1 year ago

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1st House: The Helm This is where your spiritual energy and identity take the spotlight. The 1st House governs your appearance, personality, and vitality—the essence of how you project yourself to the world. It’s your steez, your approach to life, and the first impression you make on others. The 1st House is all about beginnings, the mask you may unknowingly wear, and how you come to know yourself on a deep authentic level. The captain of this ship is the ruling planet of the zodiac sign residing there.

2nd House: Gate of Hades Your values, self-esteem, and ability to attract wealth are all tied to the 2nd House. This is where your personal resources, possessions, and financial matters come into play. The foods you eat, your saving and spending habits, and your sense of self-worth are all part of this house. It’s where your style and material wealth are rooted, reflecting how you value yourself and what you own. This house represents how you sustain for yourself, how you support all that the first house needs of you to be who you are.

3rd House: Goddess The 3rd House is the domain of communication, early education, and the mind. It governs how you gather and process information, your intellect, and your interactions within your community. This house also encompasses your relationships with siblings, short travels, and technical skills. It’s the space where your to-do list and daily mental activities take shape.

4th House: Subterranean Deeply connected to your roots, the 4th House represents your home, heritage, and ancestry. It’s where your inner life and sense of security are nurtured, influenced by your upbringing and relationship with your parents—especially the mother. This house also relates to land, generational gifts, and knowledge passed down through the family. It’s a space of femininity and the feminine energies in your life. This is the lowest point of the birth chart and can be fairly private and personal-as opposed to the 10th house. It holds up the rest of the chart and is incredibly important in terms of learning about our sense of security/stability emotionally, spiritually, and physically.

5th House: Good Fortune Joy, creativity, and self-expression flourish in the 5th House. This is where you experience the pleasures of life—love affairs, children, art, and entertainment. It’s the house of flirtation, play, and drama, where your passions come to life. The 5th House also governs leisure activities, fertility, and the pursuit of happiness through creative endeavors. A sense of nostalgia lives here too.

6th House: Bad Fortune The 6th House deals with work, health, and daily routines. It’s the space of labor, servitude, and the duties that never seem to end. This house also governs how you care for your body, deal with illness and injury, and interact with employees or pets. It’s where the unexpected challenges in life arise, requiring your attention and resilience. Look here for understanding on what great works you may find yourself committing to.

7th House: Setting Place Relationships take center stage in the 7th House. This is where you finally begin to truly engage with others, forming long-term commitments, whether in marriage, partnerships, or friendships. It’s the house of open enemies, where you face the other in life. The 7th House also governs relaxation, romance, and the deep bonds that define your connections with others.

8th House: The Idle Place Death, transformation, and shared resources are key themes in the 8th House. It’s where you confront karma, contracts, and generational lessons. This house also deals with loans, debts, and the deep psyche—the mysteries and fears that lie beneath the surface. The 8th House is a place of soul material, where you explore the unseen and the unknown. Here, you face all consequences-positive & negative- of the 7th house and the relationships, contracts, and potential enemies made there. This is the house of others esteem of you, opposite of the 2nd.

9th House: House of God The 9th House is your portal to higher knowledge, philosophy, and spiritual exploration. It governs your worldview, ethics, and the pursuit of truth through study, travel, and discovery. This house is where you connect with religion, spirituality, and the higher mind, expanding your understanding of the world and your place in it.

10th House: House of Praxis Your public life, reputation, and career are shaped by the 10th House. It’s where you strive for honor, recognition, and achievements that define your legacy. This house also relates to your relationships with authority figures, particularly the father, and how you navigate the public sphere. The 10th House is where your goals, fame, and business acumen are realized. Sitting at the very top of the chart, like the sun at noon high in the sky, all can see you here.

11th House: Good Spirits In the 11th House, your hopes, dreams, and social networks come to life. This house governs your friendships, group affiliations, and the communities you belong to. It’s where you connect with humanity, receive sudden blessings, and find support in your aspirations. The 11th House is also associated with gifts, riches, and the imagination needed to dream big.

12th House: Bad Spirits The 12th House is a place of retreat, isolation, and self-undoing. It’s where you confront your inner shadows, secrets, and hidden enemies. This house governs institutions, mental health, and the need for solitude or seclusion. It’s also a space of psychological development, where you deal with endings, sickness, and the unseen forces that shape your life journey. This house is in a blind spot to the first house of Self and that is why we can be blind to the very things that reside here. Its not so much that these things seek out to destroy you but any area of your life your are deeply unaware of can come back and disorientate you from who you believe yourself to be.

follow for more astro insights like this and head on over to @quenysefields or my etsy --> sensualnoiree to grab my new astrology guidebook on reading your own natal chart :)

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eveningcherryblossoms · 27 days ago

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It's A Beta Life, Not A Better Life | Part 9

A platonic yandere Batfam x neglected beta reader story

Alfred Pennyworth, even before becoming the butler of a pack led by a billionaire that was also secretly the first vigilante of Gotham, had lived quite an unconventional life. Despite being an omega, he had not merely joined but thrived in the military and the secret service, serving Her Majesty. Later on he had been a Shakespearean actor–an omegan field among other branches of arts, to be sure, although not truly conventional or even respectable. Then somehow, he topped it all by becoming the butler of the Wayne pack, despite how butlers and housekeepers tended to be betas.

Yes, Alfred's life had been quite unconventional. The Wayne pack–both the one he initially joined and the one at present–were just as if not more unconventional. It might be ordinary now, but at the time Alfred began, it was highly unusual for two alphas to marry. For two high-class, wealthy alphas to marry for love, then remain in love and live harmoniously without a whisper of an affair, and have their child present as a prime alpha? It was highly unusual even without adding the fact that Alfred was the sole omega member of the pack, that the pack had no beta member at all.

And the latter fact continued to this day. Alfred could despair over that as he despaired over the failed marriage between your mother and Bruce.

Bruce had been better already then, thanks to spending the past two years with Dick. That had given Alfred reason to hope he would continue improving, to have a mate and perhaps a pup of his own blood–no offense to all Bruce's adopted children. And Bruce did take an interest in your mother! Dick–generally ready to present himself as an obstacle–actually supported Bruce in his choice of a mate as well! It was too good to be true... And, alas, the relationship Alfred expected indeed turned out to be false.

When your mother left with an unburdened smile and no backward glance, Alfred observed the shattered expression on Bruce's face changed to shuttered, and silently condemned your mother for bringing pain upon the pack.

When six years later news of her demise came accompanied by that of your existence? Alfred once more observed, and silently condemned you to an existence as an outsider to the pack.

All under the excuse, It is unseemly for a butler to be the first to welcome a new pack member. As if Alfred hadn't always done so with the pups Bruce brought to the manor while Bruce himself was preoccupied.

You were a good child, however, which was more the pity. Polite, respectful, considerate, sensible, everything that Alfred had more or less given up on his pack members exhibiting at all times. You never cried to him, and as the proverb went: The crying child gets the milk. You didn't cry, so with time Alfred no longer consciously withheld you the 'milk' you deserved; that was all relegated to the background alongside other less important matters.

Nevertheless, Alfred was scarcely unobservant. Indeed, he hadn't needed to cook, clean, or do the laundry for you for about the past three years at least, and after the first and only time Bruce's reputation as a good father got smeared due to being unavailable for you, your care at school had been entrusted to your late mother's lawyer. But Alfred's eyes and ears and brain still worked perfectly, and he knew some matters about you were becoming... suspicious.

There could be perfectly good reasons for them, Alfred knew. It had always been your habit to do everything alone, after all, and it was the custom for a recently presented alpha or omega to crave their own private space away from the pack. But.

But.

Alfred decided to keep quiet for some time still. If it turned out he was right about his suspicion, though...

Alfred acknowledged that he did leave you alone when you should have been properly cared for, as a form of punishment for your mother having broken Bruce's heart and dashed Alfred's hope for a more conventional pack life. Still, you were Bruce's first biological child, the only civilian one. The blood that ran through your veins was that of the Waynes, Alfred's pack.

If it turned out you were intending to leave the Waynes as your mother had done, he would not hesitate applying all he'd learnt from his highly unconventional life to retain you in the Wayne pack.

On this day that marked five months since your terrible sixteenth birthday, you were engaged in high-stake tag with Damian.

Or, to put it in another, simpler way–you were being chased by him.

It... wasn't supposed to be like that, yeah.

You were just innocently minding your business, keeping your head down as usual. It had been a fairly pleasant morning–with Bruce supposedly sleeping off a hangover, Dick still barely keeping his head above water (thanks to you uncovering more information and leaking them one by one), Jason's whereabout unknown as per the custom after his miraculous resurrection, and Tim easily waved off with an excuse of prior engagement in Chinatown.

You had barely turned the corner, feeling vicious joy knowing he was drooping like a dog denied a walk like you used to whenever the Waynes went away without remembering you, before you gave up on them. Then like instant divine karma came Damian, practically ambushing and exacting you to drive him also to Chinatown.

"...not that I don't want to–" You really, really didn't, "–why aren't you asking Mr Pennyworth?"

Damian clicked his tongue. "Pennyworth is busy tending to Father. Are you going to drive me or not?"

"Sorry, Damian," you told him with the shameful, apologetic tone you'd long since perfected. "I can drive, yes, but I haven't gotten a license yet. I'll be taking the bus."

The way Damian looked at you, you might as well have said you would be taking the garbage truck. It would have been funny if it hadn't been vexing, knowing that someone who was technically your biological brother never felt unwelcomed to help himself to the manor's facilities. The fake slightly amused smile remained on your face from sheer effort alone.

Shockingly, despite his apparent disgust at the prospect, Damian insisted on going with you on the bus. He was displeased with the walk to the bus stop, the waiting time, the cleanliness (lack of it, really), the weather, the bus condition, the number of people inside, the smell, and worst of all he had no hesitation to make said displeasure known. You found it incredibly tempting to lose Damian on the way.

Somehow, you managed to stay strong. Nobody even spat your way or anything despite Damian's vitriol–though it very likely had something to do with his dark glares and the daggers he none too subtly carried on his person.

Once the two of you got off the bus, you turned towards Damian. "I'll see you later, I have to go–"

"Lies." Damian interrupted you mercilessly. "You merely told Drake that as you were too much of a milksop to tell him he was being a nuisance. You dared attempt the same thing to me?"

See, at this point, you knew that the sensible and safe decision was to assure Damian otherwise and obligingly keep him company–because for reasons unclear to you that seemed to be what he wanted at the moment. You were hiding being a beta. Consequently you needed to keep your head down until you could be free. Consequently you should make the sensible and safe decision.

Be sensible. Play it safe. Act like the good beta you are.

That kind of thought would be your undoing. Why? Because when it crossed your mind, by the time you realized it, you were already running.

While Damian, the little alpha, was chasing.

You could've hurled from the combined thrill and anxiety.

Subconsciously you tried convincing yourself: It would be good practice in case you'd have to run from a pursuing alpha. If you could stop yourself from running as fast and moving as nimbly as you actually could, it would misinform Damian of your real physical stats. Etcetera etcetera.

The truth remained that you were being really, really reckless right now.

Deliberately, though you could easily swing over the two-meter-high wall, you pretended to heft yourself with some difficulty before jumping off into the alleyway behind the wall. You smoothly landed, but kicked over the lid of a trash can you could have fallen on anyway, before taking off to the right. A not-so-distant growl prompted you to step into a bustling dim sum restaurant and thrust a handful of bills into the owner's hand with a murmured instruction in Cantonese. By the time Damian skidded in front of the eatery, his phone vibrated with a message you sent him: a selfie of yourself throwing a peace sign before boarding a bus, simply captioned lol bye.

Damian's almost literal howl of rage before he stomped away was like music to your ears. You shut your eyes and sighed in contentment, basking under the sunlight... on the rooftop of the eatery.

Yeah, back then you asked the owner to let you go up the rooftop. You took the selfie a few days ago just in case you needed it to throw off your pursuers. Even your engagement in Chinatown today wasn't entirely a lie, whatever Damian said. You were planning to take more selfies here and in surrounding neighborhoods.

An audible snort, followed by giggles that failed to be muffled, snapped you back to attention. It was, to quote Damian's most frequent criticism, sloppy of you. You leaped to your feet, scanning your surroundings, before slowly looking up.

Your eyes widened spotting the source of said giggles perched on a higher roof.

"Your Grace?"

A/N: The first part of this chapter was fueled by two (2) bad Alfred Pennyworth posts I accidentally saw yesterday, thank you whoever it was for inspiring me 🙏 As to the next part, well, nobody commented on beta reader feeling tempted to do smth risky sooo 😗

Forgot to tell you guys in the previous part (not that it's important lol) but my PACKAGE CAME BACK YEAH!!! 💃🕺 Turns out it was missent, my neighbor told me I should've used a different address bc the one I put down could be easily mistaken for another area under the same name 😔

Taglist: @randomlyappearingartist @bellethesleepypotato @nirvanaxx1942 @tenswife @galaxypurplerose @shycreatorreview @cupid73 @time-shardz @mikusamsan @simpingpandas @kore-of-the-underworld @elmichi0 @mirabilis-polaris @farsketch @altumsomnum @hai-there-how-are-you @vanessa-boo @ashjade19 @yandere-enthusiast @a-lurking-fae @hyperfixatedcatlover @leeiasure @luckynemi @lowkeyjarrr @lunoorbonoor @deathbynarcisstick @tacendxx @staarflowerr @anonlikesfics @magical-panda2 @whognuthis @arwenyukiamoto @hon3ydewcaram3l @lilyalone @jazzyspaceghost @teabutnerdy @bunbunbread @darktrashpoetry @conqcakes @sleepdeprivedcrappywriter @unrelatedlily @ciatin @ratchetprime211 @mybones537 @anonasatoruu @vikkus-main @shqyou @sitepathos @ee-1ovelifedownthedrain @totallynotacat13 @ratterpatter @hayourdadgon @justannie18 @jungkooks-tiny-waist @holderoflostmemories

#platonic yandere #platonic yandere batfam #yandere batfam #yandere batfamily #yandere batfam x reader #x reader #x neglected reader #neglected reader #gender neutral reader #beta reader #alpha/beta/omega dynamics #betaverse #batman #alfred pennyworth #damian wayne

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yandere-daydreams · 1 month ago

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Title: Empty Nests.

Pairing: Yan!Malleus x Reader x Yan!Silver (TWST).

Commissioned by the very lovely @felix-the-lemon-king.

Word Count: 3.0k.

TW: Kidnapping, Forced Marriage, Implied Prolonged Confinement, Unbalanced Power Dynamics, Obsessive Behavior, and Codependency.

Malleus spent most of his time alone.

Painfully, miserably, passively alone. Stowed away in the frigid classrooms of private tutors or left to haunt abandoned ruins or locked in cages of glass and eggshell. There were interruptions to his loneliness, sure – Lilia’s rough-handed care, the doomed friendship of a particularly courageous human – but those were exceptions, bright spots in an otherwise dour sky. He’d long since accepted that he was destined to spend of long, mundane life perpetually unsatisfied with his own company. The occasionally rays of sun that broke through his overcast were to be appreciated, admired, but not expected.

It was just a wonder how he could be so desperately alone and so smothered by people at the same time.

Music played softly nearby, meant to fall underneath the steady thrum of conversation. Knights, noblemen, and merchants milled through the ballroom, each attending to their own affairs under the guise of celebration. Occasionally, a servant or advisor would find their way to his throne, but he waved them off quickly. His eyes were trained on the revelries, flitting from guest to guest in search of silver hair, a shining blade, a uniform with double the decorations of the average soldier. Finally, just as his hope threatened to wane, his attention caught on a single, pale form moving through the crowd, just a touch less foreboding than the monstrous fae that surrounded it.

Silver. His general. His knight.

His.

Malleus was on his feet by the time Silver reached the front of the ballroom and sweeping the young man into his arms before he could so much as attempt his usual bow. Malleus held him in that bone-crushing hug for a beat, then another before Silver laughed and brought a hand to his shoulder, shoving gently. “I’m happy to see you too, highness.”

Right. Of course. Formalities. With as much dignity as he could manage, Malleus released Silver, letting him fall back onto his own feet. “You’ve been away too long. Next time I see you, you’ll have aged ten years.”

“It’s only been a few weeks.” Silver was quick to dismiss Malleus’ concerns these days, especially those that revolved around passing time. It hadn’t been a few weeks. It’d been months – five months – spent alone in the capital, chained to his princely obligations while Silver led his soldiers south. There was no real danger in their latest expedition, only a few skirmishes with a neighboring kingdom that had be stamped out before they escalated, but each day of separation felt like its own sort of threat. As if Death itself would come to steal Silver away if he strayed too far from Malleus’ side.

“A good few weeks, actually,” he went on, falling back into the steady march of a standard military report. “The tensions on the southern border have died down. Negotiations took longer than anticipated, but that’s to be expected. We were sidetracked on our way home. A fire broke out in one of the port cities were passing through, and I thought we could help with the recovery effort.” He cast his eyes to the side, the march faltering. “And I… I have someone I’d like you to meet.”

Silver paused, reaching behind him. His hand clasped another, and—

Oh.

You were a beautiful intruder, weren’t you? You must’ve been standing behind Silver for quite some time - Malleus could only wonder how he hadn’t noticed such a glaring imposition sooner. Your hand drifted from Silver’s hand to his arm, looking for support as you fell into a clumsy, shallow curtsy, only to fall to your waist as kneaded at the fabric of your dress. You were wearing a blue so pale, it bordered on white. Matching Silver’s uniform to the shade.

And you were nervous. Truly, evidently nervous, even moreso than the average human in a fae court. Malleus tried to catch your eye, but your gaze remained fixed on the ground, your shoulders raised and rigid. Your hair was pulled into a style that showed a bias toward practicality over presentation, and as Silver wrapped an arm around your waist, Malleus could’ve sworn you made an earnest attempt to huddle into his side. You were more of a rabbit than a rattlesnake, clearly. It was endearing in the way trapped, frightened animals often were.

“My betrothed,” Silver explained, beaming. Malleus felt his heart tighten in his chest. “Honestly, we would’ve gotten married on the road, but—” He glanced in your direction, the full light of his adoration shining suddenly on you. “My poor love is a little shy. We decided on a long engagement, to make the adjustment easier.”

“Ah.” The word ‘married’ stabbed a knife into Malleus’ stomach. ‘My love’ twisted the blade. “And you met…?”

“He saved my life.” Your voice, somehow, was even more lovely and even more timid than your face. Not quite a rabbit, then. Maybe a songbird, still learning how to sing from its cage. “My family’s home was caught in the fire. I was trapped. I thought I’d burn, but Silver—”

You stiffened, a frown pulling at the corner of your lips. Clearly, the memory of your rescue was not a pleasant one.

“And your family, have they accompanied you?”

Silver opened his mouth. You were faster. “My family is with the stars, now.”

He could see why Silver liked you. There was a rawness to your voice, a transparency to your expression that put every through behind those pretty eyes on display. He could see pain, grief, and then deeper. Anger, fear. Loneliness.

Silver smiled, sighing as he kissed your temple. “I was hoping to get your blessing. We plan to return to the cotta—”

“No.” You weren’t the only one able to hide how you felt, apparently. The rejection was instinctual, reflexive. Malleus rushed to mask the slip. “No, no, a dusty old cottage is no place for soon-to-be newlyweds. Stay at the castle, as my guests. At least until Lilia pays us a visit.”

Silver’s eyes darted to you, clearly unsure. Malleus bridged the space between them, bringing a hand to his shoulder. “Please, Silver. You were away for so long. Give me a chance to enjoy having you back. And to get to know our new friend, of course.”

It was a pathetic excuse, as obvious as it was poorly pieced together. Still, Silver smiled. “If you’ll have us.”

Malleus exhaled, allowing himself only the smallest shows of relief. Of course. Silver hadn’t been a lonely child. He didn’t know what it was like, what it could drive people to.

His attention fell onto you – beautiful, quiet, lonely you.

He wondered if you weren’t quite so naïve.

Silver was learning what it was like to be alone.

Slowly, clumsily, tortuously. He wasn’t used to it. He had his father through childhood, and that’d been enough to keep him happy. He had Sebek for a friend, for a rival, and that’d been enough to keep him challenged, to keep him sharp. He had Malleus for a liege, and that’d given him a purpose to work toward. A king to serve. An idol to worship. Now, though, his father was traveling to distant lands, only ever in the valley for a few days at a time, and Sebek was just as far, teaching young mages on a remote island on the other side of the world. His world had always been small, but it’d always been full, too. Full to bursting. Full of warmth.

His world was still small. But it was quieter, too. Emptier.

He could only be thankful that he had you to keep him warm.

Unconsciously, his hand found its way to your thigh. He could feel you next to him, your knee occasionally knocking against his when you leaned forward to refill your teacup, and it was all he could do to stop himself from leaning across the table and kissing you until he forgot why he felt the need to. He loved seeing you here, sitting in the gardens of Castle Blackscale, surrounded by the very same walls he’d visited so often for his training. He loved hearing your voice, as beautiful as wind-chimes and birdsong and wedding bells, mixed with Malleus’ low murmur. He loved you.

“…isn’t that right, Silver?”

He only realized he’d lost track of your conversation when you spoke his name. Blinking, he straightened, glancing between you and Malleus and earning a breath of a laugh from you. His heart raced at the sound. He hadn’t heard it recently, not since the engagement.

“I was just talking about how cloudy it is, here. The sky was always so clear at home.” You bowed your head, smiling softly. “I don’t know if I’ll ever get used to the cold.”

Malleus started to respond, but his gaze caught on something over your shoulder. Silver followed his line of sight. An advisor stood on the outskirts of the garden, clearly waiting for his prince.

Sighing, Malleus rose. “My apologies. I have a last minute appointment – it must’ve slipped my mind,” he said to Silver, nodding. When he turned to you, his smile was wider, his fangs slipping over his bottom lip. He held a hand out, and reluctantly, you offered him yours. Silver had to stop himself from digging his nails into your leg, from kissing you more roughly than he would’ve cared to have to. “My deepest apologies for the cold. Hopefully, you’ll be able to seek out company capable of keeping you warm.”

After pressing his lips into the back of your hand, he made his exit hastily. When he was out of sight, you folded your arms in front of you and buried your face in your self-made shelter. “I hate it here, Silver.”

Ah, there you were. His betrothed, his love, all the same pouting lips and heavy sighs you’d showed to him the first night his soldiers arrived in your village, the night he’d spent tucked into the back of a tavern, talking with you until the sun rose, slipping outside for fresh air and stolen kisses. It was the first time he’d ever met someone like him, another human adopted into the valley. It was the first time he’d ever felt so well and truly with another person, and he was sure you felt the same.

Grinning, he draped an arm over your shoulders, pulling you close. “I know. The castle can be intimidating when you first arrive.”

“The castle is—” You straightened, gesturing dismissively. “It’s the prince. I hate the way he looks at me.” And then, leaning back in your seat, “It reminds me of you.”

The rage was instant and all-consuming. Silver had never considered himself to be overly jealous, but he knew how he looked at you, remembered the stabbing pain in his chest when you told him that you wouldn’t leave your family, that you couldn’t follow a near-stranger back to a city you didn’t know. The desire to have, to keep, to lock away. A fire that could burn down a city, so long as it meant holding you that much closer.

“Malleus is harmless. Curious, but harmless.” And yet, he swallowed it back. He had you. There was no need to fight for what he’d already won. “And to be fair, who could ever look away from you?”

Another sigh, this one punctuated by you burying your face in his shoulder. You stayed like that for a moment, then another, and Silver drunk it in – the proximity, the closeness, the way your body fit so perfectly against his. You rarely lingered against him for so long, these days. “The last time a man looked at me like that,” you started, finally, speaking into his sleeve. “I ended up orphaned, homeless, and engaged to a man I barely knew. I don’t want to know what’ll happen the second time around.”

“You have nothing to worry about.” And he meant it. To his final breath, he’d keep you safe. To his final breath, he’d make sure you stayed his.

And yet, Malleus resurfaced in his mind, his name alone vicious and mocking. It would’ve been a lie to say he hadn’t noticed the way Malleus sought you out when Silver wasn’t by your side, how naturally his eyes landed on you in a crowded room. It would’ve been a lie to say he liked the tone Malleus used when he spoke of you, explicitly conspiratorial and overly affectionate in turns.

It would’ve been a lie to say he hadn’t laid awake at night, wondering what he would have to do if Malleus’ interest proved to be more than curiosity, after all.

More than anything, you wanted to be left alone.

To grieve the ashes that used to be your mother, your father, your life. To sort out your own conflicting, smoke-tinged thoughts on the man you’d fallen in love with overnight and grown to hate by the next morning. You wouldn’t need long – just a day, an hour. Just enough time to remember what it felt like to exist without Silver by your side, without Malleus’ voice in your ear. Just enough time to run.

You wanted to be left alone. You needed to be left alone.

But your needs didn’t hold much weight these days, did they?

Malleus had taken a chair in front of the fireplace, only a few paces from where you sat on the foot of your bed. He’d let himself in, asked if you had time to talk. Silver had been called away to the knights’ barracks, but you weren’t in a place to turn away royalty. Still, he seemed like an ill-fit, somehow too tall and too foreboding for the fortress that was his castle. It made sense, in a way. Dragons belonged in towers, not bedrooms.

“I’m sorry,” you said, again. You’d lost track of how many times you’d apologized to him. “I promise, Silver’s going to be back in—”

“I know. He’s not the one I’m here for.”

Fuck. “You wanted to see me, your highness?”

“I have a question. Please, answer honestly. I’m not sure we’ll get another chance.” He waited for you to swallow, to nod. When he went on, his tone was so low and so even, it almost seemed solemn. “Are you satisfied?”

Of all the things you’d been expecting him to ask, that hadn’t made the list. “Am I… satisfied?”

“With your engagement. With Silver.” Malleus pushed himself to his feet. He perched himself next to you, and you stopped yourself from retreating to a more isolated corner. “I know him. I raised him. I’ve seen how he clings to you. He’s not the type to let go of what he loves, not so easily.” He wasn’t. He really, really wasn’t. You flinched into yourself, shutting your eyes, and Malleus’ hand found yours, his thumb pushing slow patterns into your knuckles. “You don’t hold on so tightly, do you?”

“…no, I don’t.” The confession was less painful than you might’ve expected. He must’ve known. Silver, too. You’d been the only one in denial. “Honestly, the only thing I’ve been able to think about since arriving here is leaving.”

“And if I offered you a chance to, would you take it?”

You didn’t trust Malleus. You didn’t like Malleus. From the moment you’d met him, he’d looked at you like something he wanted to eat. Something he wanted to own.

But you couldn’t keep going like this. You needed to get out.

You needed to be alone.

“In a heartbeat.”

A second passed, then another. When you could force yourself to open your eyes, you found Malleus’ lips curled back into a broad, fanged grin. Over his shoulder, you could see that the bedroom door was ajar and Silver was standing on the threshold.

You tried to run. It was a rash, dangerous thing to do, but you had to, needed to. You threw yourself forward, but Malleus’ hand found your wrist, clamping down. He jerked you toward him, your back slamming into his chest and his free arm snaking around your waist, making your futile attempts to struggle against him all the more pointless. You heard him laugh, felt him bury his face in your shoulder. His breath was cool and biting against your skin, his cheek just as freezing as he nuzzled into the side of your neck. “My darling little songbird,” he muttered, making no effort to stifle his delight. “You’ve sung too loudly now, haven’t you?”

Desperately, you sought out Silver. He’d always known how you felt about him, and he’d always claimed to want to protect you, regardless. But, when he stepped out of the doorway, it wasn’t to draw his sword, or wrench you out of Malleus’ arms, or make good on any other promise he’d ever made to you. Instead, he lowered himself onto one knee between your thrashing legs, staring up at you. His eyes looked too blank, too dull. Malleus’ smile widened.

“You were going to leave me.”

It wasn’t a question, but you shook your head violently, little ‘no’s and ‘never’s slipping past your lips before you could think better than to lie. “I told you,” Malleus cut in, making no effort to speak over you. That didn’t matter. It was clear Silver wasn’t listening to a word you said. “Some things just can’t be trusted to stay where you left them. You remember how I caught you to catch finches, don’t you?”

Silver nodded. “A string around the foot and wire cages. Father said it was inhumane.”

“For a common animal, yes. But some creatures should know better than to fly away from what keeps them safe.” You dug your nails into Malleus’ wrist. He laughed, settling in the crook of your neck. “And you want to keep this one safe, don’t you?”

You let out a frustrated sob. “Silver, please, I don’t—”

His answer came easily, like he hadn’t heard you at all. “More than anything.”

“And you want to keep them, don’t you?”

This, he seemed to have to consider. You managed to catch his eyes, pleading silently, but Silver only let his gaze drop to the floor. “I can’t be left alone, not again.”

Malleus’ laugh was bright, chiming. He reached forward, combing clawed fingers through Silver’s hair, and Silver melted into his palm.

“Then make it so that our songbird cannot fly at all.”

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