Be Mine

By KittyShannon

Disclaimers: Voltron and all associated characters are owned and copyrighted by WEP. Original/new characters belong to the author.

Rating: PG-13 - Innuendo, Sensuality, and Language

PART 3

The Prince of Doom sat stoically upon the Captain's seat in his small Doom cruiser. He preferred a much larger ship, one where he was afforded at least a bit of privacy, but the smaller vessel could slip in and out of Arus's atmosphere without detection, and once on the surface was much easier to hide from prying eyes.

As he watched the Drule soldiers that made up his personal guard move about the cabin, he found himself being watched by their Captain.

"Farin," Lotor waved the other man over. They had been friends since boyhood and, when the time had come to choose his Royal Guard, he was the only man the Prince of Doom trusted with his life.

Stepping in front of the make-shift throne, Farin gave a sweeping bow. "Sire?"

"I wish to speak with you in private," Lotor stood and indicated the far corner of the ship's cabin. It wasn't the privacy he wished for, but it would have to do. When they were sure no one could hear them, the Prince spoke in a hushed tone.

"When we land, I want word sent immediately to my spy. I want him to meet me in the usual place within the hour." When Farin nodded his understanding, Lotor continued. "I also want two of the men to scout the surrounding area and find a place to keep watch."

"I understand, Sire," Farin said. "Shall I accompany you to the meeting?"

Lotor studied the other Drule; they had been friends for many years and Farin had always been loyal to him. On the one hand it was smart to have back up, on the other, he wanted no one to know what he was really up to this day. After a moment, he answered.

"No, I want you to stay behind and monitor things from here."

"Are you sure, my Prince? I do not trust that sniveling old man."

Lotor grinned. "He is just a fat, old Arussian. If he would attempt treachery and I can't handle him, I don't deserve to be the Prince of Doom."

Farin lowered his head in acquiescence. He did not agree with this decision, but he knew Lotor to be a vicious swordsman and a ruthless fighter - the Prince could certainly handle his own. It was just that the Arussian was sneaky and thought himself sly - anyone who betrayed his people, was someone not be trusted.

"Everything will be fine, Farin." Lotor clapped his old friend on the back. "Now, let us land this ship so I may be sure I make it to the meeting spot ahead of that idiot."

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"Great," Allura said when the rain began to fall. She closed her eyes and rubbed at her temples. They couldn't have missed the cave entrance - she knew it was around here somewhere! It had just been so many years since she had last been here. Opening her eyes, she looked around once more before letting free a deep sigh of exasperation.

"Should we head back, your Highness?" Jake asked as he gestured above. "The sky is growing darker and darker, I fear we are about to have a rather unpleasant storm! And Nanny will have my head if I allow you to wander about out here in the rain!"

"We will split up and look for just five more minutes. If we don't find anything, we'll head back to the castle." Allura agreed. She knew Jake was right, but she wasn't ready to give up just yet. Although Jake was quite reluctant to split up, he finally gave in as the Princess explained that no one could travel too far within the allotted time.

As the she made her way up the cliff face, Allura noted the rain saturated the ground and loosened the gravel - she would have to tread carefully lest she slip and fall down the 20 foot drop. After her short but steep climb, the Princess of Arus spotted something, but not the something she was looking for, or even hoping to find. As a matter of fact, she was dismayed to see it was two Drule soldiers!

Allura clasped a hand over her mouth and slowly backed away. Taking in the surrounding area, she realized it would be impossible for her to make her way down to the cover of the forest without the enemy seeing her. She would have to do her best to remain hidden until they left. And she had to hope that Jake wouldn't be foolish enough to try and follow her up here - she would never forgive herself if anything were to happen to him.

Out of the corner of her eye, she saw the young man emerge from the edge of the forest. Looking up, Jake spotted her and began to wave, so Allura quickly pointed in the direction of the Drules. Thankfully, he saw the two soldiers in time, and stepped back into the darkness afforded by the woods. Meeting the Princess's anxious gaze once more, Jake gestured that he would run back to the castle and bring help. Allura signaled her understanding and watched him go.

Deciding she had to do something to better conceal herself, the Princess began to slowly edge her way backward, doing her best to remain hidden in the shadows of boulders and shrubs. She stayed close to the rock face and after no more than a few yards, found herself standing in the mouth of the very cave she'd been looking for all along.

Entering the cave, she quickly made her way toward the back, where it was both much drier, and out of her enemies' line of sight! Rubbing her hands up and down her arms, she attempted to warm herself; the combination of the cave's cold and damp interior along with her soaking wet clothes caused her to feel as if her bones were turning to ice!

"Come warm yourself before you catch your death of cold."

That voice. She knew that voice!

Allura spun around, barely able to make out the shape of a hooded figure standing in the darkened cave. A light suddenly came to life, temporarily blinding her. As she blinked away the brilliance, she saw the figure place the orb on the floor and make his way toward her.

"Please Princess, the last thing I want is for you to fall ill."

Allura's heart felt as if it were caught in her throat, but she managed to utter one word.

"Lo-lotor?"

Throwing back the cloak's hood, the Prince of Doom swept into a deep bow. "At your service, my darling."

The Princess of Arus looked around the cave's interior with wild eyes. This just couldn't be happening! She looked back to where the Prince of Doom stood, no more than a few feet away, and she began to slowly back up.

"Stay away from me!"

"Now, now, Allura," Lotor's voice was quiet, almost gentle. "Is that anyway to speak to the man who is trying to help you?"

"The only person you are ever trying to help is yourself!"

With a heavy sigh, he shook his head. Turning back to the glowing orb, he reached out his hands and rubbed them over its warmth. "It is a source of heat and light; as if a contained fire. At the very least, you should come close enough to warm yourself."

"Are you insane?" Allura's blue eyes widened. "I'm not taking one step closer to you!"

Lotor took a good look at the lovely girl before him. Water dripped from her shivering form, creating a small puddle at her feet. He felt genuine concern for her well being. He quickly untied his cloak and dropped it on the floor. "I will stand over there, Princess, that way you can come closer and dry yourself. I will even leave my cloak here, so you may wrap up in it for additional warmth."

"I don't want anything from you," she spat, but as he moved toward the back of the cave, she found herself edging slightly closer to the heat source.

It was then that a deep and loud rumbling began, the sound so great it made the ground shake. It was a sound Lotor had heard once before when he was just a boy. He and his friends had been on a survival trip, left in the Pit of Skulls to test their skill against all manner of beasts. In an attempt to find a warm place to sleep, they had made camp inside a cavern. A RoBeast had scented them and as it was trying to reach into the cave's entrance and pull the Drule children out, it caused a mudslide!

"Allura!" He shouted breaking into a run and whisking the Princess's petite form up with just one arm as he rushed for the cave's entrance.

But, alas, it was too late.

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