Firstly, the CW: There are D/s dynamics in the second sex scene of this chapter that skirt on abusive territory (where ta female character is the perpetrator against a male character). Those that like that sort of thing will likely find it quite mild, but those that don't may find it distasteful or upsetting. That's ok, skip it if you want to, I've marked it with "//" at the start and end.
I haven't put a warning within the text for the 'injury detail' section, because it's important to the plot (and because honestly I think I've written worse previously in this story). I might be overdoing the content warnings tbh, but there's nothing I dislike more on Lit than wandering unprepared into some dubcon or taboo, so I think it's only fair to try and be thoughtful.
Right, feeling nice and warned?
Cool, now go and enjoy some of that good sexy magical incubus romance trash that I know you came here for. ;-)
Chapter Seven:
The monsoon lasted seven days at best. It made the land beautiful. Tall lilac grasses that leapt from the sands within the first morning. By the first evening, these were adorned with tiny white flowers. The lake that I'd only ever known as a dust bowl glimmered in the distance. Strange heavy butterflies, with orange wings like the petals of the blooms on my balcony, flew lopsidedly about my garden. Feverishly quick creatures like gold dragonflies darted about the puddles that formed in the castle courtyard.
At night it was darker than before. No blue flames trembled on the dunes. Purple cloud obscured the constellations. The night air was full of strangely soothing frog-song. Life - the thing that Azure has always seemed so devoid of - was everywhere.
I was equally rejuvenated. Giddy with the joy and wonderment of renewed romance. I danced more than I walked and flew more than I danced. I was blissful in every moment and helplessly in love.
(I imagine that I was utterly insufferable for others to be around.)
Indeed, when Lazuren and I returned to the castle at daybreak, Maya had already packed up all of my few belongings and set the basket on the other side of our curtain. It was kind of her. But presumptuous...
The castle politics that had led to the three of us sharing sleeping quarters were no less in play now, no matter the change that had taken place. I could not be persuaded to lovemaking with Maya on the other side of the curtain however, so our nights were more virtuous than either of us would have liked. (Though, of course, Lazuren could not resist a light-hearted attempt at a seduction, followed immediately by a winking refrain of "it would shame my ilk not to try".)
I forgot my research. I read for entertainment and purpose to be alone with my lover in the library. For this was where we met, between summits and assemblies, to lash our bodies to one another and tremble in the glory of our love.
Queen Lusaka made no appearances. Her things remained in her room, but she herself was nowhere to be found. Lazuren seemed unworried. I could not have been gladder!
"Most likely she has been summoned. It is unusual for one to last so long, but certainly it is not unprecedented." He told me. "Hopefully, my father will grow bored of the lack of progress and choose to leave rather than await her return. He likes the lands of Heliotrope. With luck he will journey to conclude their business there."
I smiled, but had long since relinquished any hope that the King might leave soon.
Every second night a huge banquet was held, exhausting servants, soldiers and guests alike. The King's demands for drink, company and entertainment were insatiable - right until the moment he would fall unconscious. Then he would be carried to his chambers by his bodyguards, to sleep off his deserved headache. Sometimes he would emerge the next day with sporadic orders for Lazuren to arrange diplomatic meetings or make payments, (which the Prince would obey diligently, gritting his teeth when he disagreed, but never outwardly challenging his father). Usually his only communications were for the arrangements of more feasts and musicians.
It mattered not. I thought myself otherwise entirely happy.
***
The odd thing about joy; is that it makes for feeble gossip and is very tiresome to hear reports of. So I will digress from tell of my love-struck self for the time being.
I have avoided speaking of my other four sisters; Heidi, Dawn and Marta. As much pain as I have begun to share with you, it is still so difficult to think upon them, even these many years later.
What do you say of the sisters who do not break your heart to your face? Who simply make no effort either to save or to damn you. I could only ever hope that they loved me still, and were unable, not unwilling to come to my aid. Dawn and Marta ... who can say what they thought of me or if they did at all.
My sharpest sister Heidi was only a year my elder. Had anyone been taking bets on who among us five would disgrace our family and run away into the forest to become a sexual heretic and purveyor of witchcraft - the sensible money most certainly would have been on her. She was self-possessed and quick-tongued for her age. Grown from the kind of child who is always asking 'why?' - into the kind of adult who is always asking 'why not?'
Heidi was unhappily married, but not nearly so as my other sisters. Her husband, Hamish, was somewhat handsome, kind, generous and sociable. Indeed, Heidi liked him a great deal and they got along splendidly. But for, she confided in me, one aspect. He never touched her. Never kissed her. Never held her. His interest in physical affection was entirely absent.
This did not seem like so terrible a thing to me at the time. After all, she was being spared the greatest burdens of a young wife; to fulfil the carnal desires of her husband whatever they may be, whenever they may strike him; and the pains and dangers of bearing any babes. But of course, I came to realise the hurt she felt in being undesirable to the only man she was allowed for, and the embarrassment and gossip that came with childlessness in a young marriage.
Not that Heidi paid particular attention to what others thought. She drank ale, played cards with the men in taverns, dressed above her station and was altogether an adventurous, contrary type.
I thought I might never see her again. Looking back, I really ought to have known better... But I'm getting ahead of myself.
***
As the last of the silver puddles evaporated in the returning heat, life in the castle began its next period of normalcy. And so instead of magic, it was to poetry books and written plays that I gave my study time.
"Greta, may I ask a favour of you?" Maya stopped me in the passageway on my route to the library.
"By all means, is something wrong?"
"I, well, I don't wish to be dramatic, but I have found a book of stories from my homeland. And I would like to read it alone and in peace, as it will likely have me in streams of tears. So if you would be kind enough not to come to the library today - and keep Laz away too - I would be very grateful."
"Oh, of course. If you are quite sure?" I asked. I was more than willing to sit with her and help her sift through her memories of home and weep for all that she missed. But I also felt the cloud of anxiety and wish for privacy that engulfed her and did not wish to press too much further.
