Brandon felt the edges of his father’s desk in the study. From the corner of his eyes, he could see Thoron seated, a stack of papers lined up as he worked on his quill and pen. He was afraid to move, afraid the illusion would turn true.
But his eyes moved, settling on the empty seat. It created an emptiness in him, one filled with guilt and respite.
"This is the least of places I expected to find you." Brandon whipped his eyes toward the other direction.
"Uncle Tieron!" He said, his voice laced with disbelief. A man, almost in his fifties, pale of skin and raven black but unkempt hair, erged from the shadows, a smile plastered on his face.
"That’s ," he seconded, opening his arms widely. Brandon threw himself into his embrace, his hands enveloped tightly around his uncle’s back.
"Everyone thought you were dead," he whispered in dread.
"Sorry to disappoint you," he said, clapping Brandon’s back. And letting his eyes around, he comnted, "A lot has changed since I left."
"Father’s dead," Brandon said, taking a step back to look at Tieron.
"I ca here as soon as I could when I got the news. Looks like I’m late."
"You are," Bran confird.
"I’m sorry I was not there for you when you needed the most," he said. He took a step forward and gently squeezed Brandon’s shoulder. "But now that I’m here, I’ve got your back."
Their eyes t, Brandon nodding in agreent. Gods knew he wanted soone to guide him now more than ever.
"Thoron, your father, was a good person," Tieron said, taking a sniff. "I loved him as a brother would but we had our differences."
"The good thing is that you’re here," Brandon said. Tieron opened his arms to give him another hug.
"Why don’t you co et my mother? I’m certain she’ll be happy to see you!" With enthusiasm, Brandon led the way out of the study.
"Mmmh. Will she?" Tieron asked before he followed Brandon.
"New colors in this part of the palace," he comnted as he watched the familiar hallways and ceiling.
"Father did so renovations after you left."
’Father’. Why did that word bring a pang to his heart, as if his pride was hurt by the re ntion of it? He watched Brandon react to every little detail like a rhyming princess.
"And here we are!" Bran announced, halting in front of a door. He knocked once before pushing the door open to reveal his mother struggling to cover her chest with the sheets. His smile naturally disappeared before his eyes fell to the captain of the king’s guard covered in nothing but his hands.
"Mother!?" He called, his voice laced with disappointnt. His eyes darted between the captain and the queen, still unable to believe what he was seeing.
"Please spare , Your Majesty," the captain begged, holding his hands out but covering his nakedness at the sa ti.
"I can explain," Jessica replied.
Brandon shook his head, his lips curled in disgust. "There’s nothing to explain. Father dies mysteriously, and in less than a week, you’ve already done... this? What will my sister think about you when I break the news to her?"
"You’ll do nothing of such kind," Jessica said, crawling towards the edge of the bed. "Leave us!" She instructed the captain.
The captain’s eyes darted between the king and the king’s mother in confusion. Turning around, he gathered his armor and pants, ready to leave but...
"You’re going nowhere, captain," Brandon said, his eyes blazing in anger. "The consequence of defiling a mber of royalty is death!"
"Defile?" The captain asked, forcing a nervous chuckle. "She invited ..."
"Guards?" Brandon called. From outside, Tieron stepped aside as two ard knights entered the room. "Take this man away and strip him of his powers. He shall be paraded in the public square and hung naked as punishnt for his cris."
"Your Majesty?" The captain tensed. He dropped his things on the floor as the knights approached and chained him. "I have served you and your father dutifully. Please have rcy, your Majesty."
"You’ll do no harm to him!" Jessica voiced.
Brandon shifted his eyes in her direction, now staring daggers at her. "You forget your position, mother. I’m the king, and I do what I want." He declared. The knights led the captain out, his nakedness in full display.
"You disgust , mother!" He said once the knights were gone. "Is this the best way to welco my uncle?" He asked.
Jessica’s eyes narrowed in confusion. What did he an by ’uncle’?
"She’s always full of surprises," Tieron said, stepping out of the shadows. Jessica’s eyes widened in surprise before sothing dark enveloped her.
"Tieron!" She hissed the na, her face turning a shade darker. Holding the sheets around her chest, she walked up to where the bastard stood, her eyes never leaving his.
"Missed ?" Tieron asked, a smirk curved up his lips. But a hot slap was the reply he got. Brandon creased his brows on the side.
"What was that for?" He asked but Tieron silenced him with a wave of his hand. He let his fingers caress the cheek that had been slapped before his eyes t with Jessica’s again.
"You’ve never changed a bit, have you?"
Jessica raised her hand again but Tieron caught it in midair. "You forget I’m royalty too," he reminded, just in case she had forgot.
"Neither have you," Jessica replied, dropping her hands to the sides. "If you’ll excuse , I have to dress up."
She walked to the door and opened it. Brandon was the first to leave, Tieron staying a little longer behind.
"This is not over," he said, leaning forward to sll Jessica’s skin. She took a step back, earning a smirk from him, before he walked out too.
"What happened back there?" Brandon enquired when they were both out.
"It’s nothing to worry about Your Majesty. Your mother and I had a little disagreent before I left. But since I’m here, I’m sure we’ll work it out."
And clapping Brandon’s shoulders, "What you did back there... I could never imagine any way better to handle the situation than you did." He started walking, a proud smile plastered on his face, one that he was quick to hide when Brandon caught up with him.
"You think executing him would be the right decision too?"
"Do you know why kings are obeyed by their subjects without question?" He asked instead. "A maid bows when you walk by, a knight straightens his balls when you’re entering your chambers. You think it just happens because you’re royalty."
He halted to catch a curious Brandon’s attention. "Power. Real power doesn’t co to those who are born with it. Real power cos to those who are willing to do anything to have it. Fear is a tool to control the subjects. Use it."
*****
"You’re beautiful!" Darion comnted, his eyes moving up to et with Jophiel’s. She raised her shoulders apprehensively, wondering what would happen next.
Darion took the few steps to reach her. He stroked her hair first, snaking his way down to her cheeks. Her breasts pointed right to his chest was turning his resolve weaker with each passing second.
She closed her eyes as he stroked her chin, until she felt his thumb caress her lower lip, parting it. She looked damn seductive right now! Darion leaned over, his warm breath fanning against her nose. She could feel him travel south, his breath awakening the lust in her along the trail.
She wanted him so badly right now, but he was delaying it on purpose, whatever it was. She wanted to feel his lips against hers... Before she could think further, she felt a light brush against her lips; a light skin that made all her reasoning flee to the back of her mind.
The feeling was alien at first, but strangely, she yearned for it. And this ti, she moved to search his lips. As inexperienced as she was, she caught his lower lip between hers, sucking it lightly.
He groaned softly before capturing his lips with hers, knocking the air out of her lungs. His tongue plied her open until hers found it and sealed into a heated kiss, one that left her toes curled. The atmosphere that was once cold suddenly turned into a blazing inferno, one only he could put out.
He broke from the kiss, and though she wanted more, his current ministrations made her think otherwise. Or was it? He planted kisses along her neck, making the sensitive flesh react in a way she never knew it could. Her brain was clouded with pheromones, her ability to think completely shuttered.
His free hands found her peaches, giving them a gentle squeeze. Jophiel had never felt them so hard, if she could admit. His touches, though simple, awakened a part of her that she always sought answers to. And she was close to finding them, she could feel it!
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