A/N: Hey guys, sorry this took so long for me to get out. I hit a bit of writer's block on this story. But I'm back now and should be able to go back to weekly updates. Please let me know what you think.
Chapter 3
The following evening, Emma and I were eating a quiet dinner in our chambers when the mirror interrupted us. "Pardon me, your majesty," he said respectfully.
I arched an eyebrow and turned to him to ask, "Yes? What is it?"
I was surprised when he turned to Emma and said, "Consort, you wished to be informed when Red met with Snow White. They are speaking now."
I turned to Emma who blushed and avoided my gaze. "Yes, Mirror. Would you please show us their conversation?"
"As you wish, my Lady," the Mirror replied and I turned back to watch as Snow's council chambers came into focus. Her entire council was seated around the large table, with their copy of the treaty spread out in the center. After a moment, the far door opened and Red came striding in.
"Red! Thank gods you're safe. How did you escape?" Snow asked, running to hug the wolf.
Red pulled out of the embrace quickly and replied, "Regina let me go after you signed the treaty."
Snow looked surprised by Red's gruff manner as the wolf moved to give her Granny a quick hug before taking her seat at the table. "I'm sorry we weren't able to get you out of there, Red. We tried, but that woman refused to accept our deals," the White Queen said apologetically as she slowly made her way to the table.
Red snorted, "Yeah, I know."
"What do you mean?" James asked warily.
"I was kept well informed of what was happening between the two kingdoms. Emma made sure of that," the wolf explained.
James grimaced and looked away, but Snow sat forward eagerly and asked, "So, is it true? Is Emma really pregnant?"
Red smiled, "Yes, she is."
Voices rang out in shock at that declaration. Snow shot a guilty look around the table before she held up a hand for silence and said, "I haven't said anything yet because Regina claims this child is hers and is the product of True Love. I had no way to refute this, so I had decided to wait until I could prove this child has a father."
I let out a frustrated snort thinking that she was so predictable. She'd never willingly believe me, or sadly her daughter. I glanced over at Emma and saw her jaw clenched in frustration. I reached over and gave her hand a squeeze. She glanced at me and smiled softly in appreciation before turning back to the mirror. I turned my attention back to the drama unfolding in the White Kingdom.
The councilors quieted and Red gave Snow a disgusted look, which the Queen paid no attention to as she eagerly asked, "So, who else did you smell on Emma? Who is the baby's father?"
"Regina is," Red declared flatly. "She is the only person I have ever smelled on Emma."
Snow's face fell and she petulantly said, "You have to be mistaken. Regina can't love."
Red snarled and stood up, leaning across the table. "Open your eyes Snow! Let go of this vendetta and focus on the things that are important. You've already lost your daughter, do something before you lose your kingdom!"
"How dare you," James growled standing to face her.
The wolf just shot him a dirty look. "I dare because it's true. Emma is an intelligent, loving and honest woman. She loves the Queen and if you hadn't been so focused on your hatred for Regina then maybe you would have gotten the chance to know your own daughter."
I couldn't help the grin that spread across my lips. Red's loyalties had definitely shifted in the time she spent in my dungeon. Emma's amused chuckle drew my attention to her. She met my gaze with a twinkle in her eyes and I knew that she was thinking the same thing I was. The White Queen's voice pulled our attention back to the mirror.
"Red, please, calm down. Whatever they've told you is a lie. We were trying to protect Emma," Snow insisted.
"That is utter crap, Snow. Emma showed me the conversation you had with Regina after they captured me. You barely even looked at your daughter, and you didn't even say more than three words to her. You do realize that was the first time you ever spoke to her? And did you ask her if she was alright? Or tell her that you loved her? No, you didn't, you were too concerned about me and Regina to spare her more than a glance. If you want to know the truth, that was the moment you lost any chance of getting to know your daughter," Red snarled vehemently.
Tears filled Snow's eyes but James glared at the wolf. "Watch yourself, Red. You've been a friend for a long time, but we are still your sovereigns. You don't have the right to speak to us that way," he said angrily.
Red scoffed, "Actually, you're not. I only came here to try to talk some sense into you and to say my good-byes. I am returning to the Shadow Kingdom."
"Child, what are you talking about?" Granny asked, breaking the stunned silence that met the wolf's declaration.
The wolf turned to Granny and her face softened as she said, "I'm going back, Granny. Regina made me an offer I couldn't refuse."
"This is treason!" James yelled, drawing his sword.
Snow reached out and put a calming hand on his shoulder, while looking at Red with tears in her eyes. "Red, I can't believe you would betray me like this? Has she done something to you? Cast some spell?"
I rolled my eyes, but didn't take my gaze off the mirror. I didn't want to miss Red's response.
Red gave a small shake of her head and sadly said, "No, Snow. She's done nothing to me. I'm sorry that you feel betrayed, but you don't need me anymore. I can't do anything to help you fix the damage you've done to this kingdom. And even if I could, it would be too little too late. There is someone else who needs my protection now. You need to let me go."
A tear slid down the queen's cheek and she softly said, "I'm sorry, but I can't do that. That monster has taken my daughter, and is now trying to take my best friend and my kingdom. Reconsider before I am forced to do something we'll both regret."
Emma's angry grunt pulled my attention and I gave her hand another squeeze and gently said, "It'll be alright, darling. We'll protect her if Snow does something stupid."
She met my gaze and jerked her head in a short nod of agreement. "I know," she replied flatly.
Before Red could respond, Jiminy Cricket spoke up and asked, "What do you mean 'she's trying to take your kingdom'?"
Red snorted and said, "She hasn't told you about that part of the treaty yet?"
Heads shook around the table and James coldly said, "We were getting to that part before you interrupted, traitor."
The wolf sneered and turned to the rest of the council. "In five years, when they are unable to restore the kingdom's economy, Snow and Charming will be forced to give the kingdom to Regina."
Cries of outrage filled the room in response to Red's declaration. "WAIT!" Snow bellowed, and the room fell silent. "That's not the truth. The treaty does dictate that we abdicate the throne if we cannot reach certain economic goals, but we will abdicate for our grandchild, who would eventually inherit the kingdom anyway. That is the only reason we agreed to this treaty."
Murmurs spread through the room and Red rolled her eyes and flatly said, "Yes, your four year old grandchild will have the White Throne, with Regina acting as Regent until he or she is of age."
"Why Regina and not the princess?" the Blue Fairy asked.
Red chuckled and mockingly asked, "Yeah, Snow, why won't your daughter be Regent?"
Snow had the grace to blush and look away as she mumbled, "She renounced her title."
"Why would she do that?" Geppetto asked.
When neither Snow nor James answered, Red said, "Because her place it at the side of her True Love, Regina, not on the throne of a different kingdom." She paused to look around the room, when no one spoke she added, "I know this is a lot to take in, I struggled with it too. But none of you actually know Emma. She was taken from this kingdom as a baby and has only known life in the Shadow Kingdom. It is long past time you let go of her. She will only ever enter this kingdom at her Queen's side. So, now you should focus on repairing the damage done in an effort to kidnap her from her home. It is time to replant the crops and feed and care for the people in this kingdom. And I must take my leave, I am needed elsewhere."
"No, you are a traitor, Red! You aren't going anywhere," James said coldly, advancing on the wolf.
She laughed and shook her head. "I am no traitor. I am leaving to safeguard the future of both kingdoms. If you try to stop me, you will only lose this kingdom more quickly."
"What do you mean?" Snow asked, sounding almost desperate.
"Regina asked me to protect the heir to both thrones. You need to let me go, Snow. I am a fighter not a farmer and not a politician. There is nothing I can do here to help," Red said gently.
Snow took a deep breath and nodded, "Very well, for the sake of my daughter and her child, you may go."
"Snow—" James started to say, but his wife cut him off with a look.
Red gave a courteous bow and said, "Thank you, your majesty." With one final glance around the room, she turned and walked back out the way she came. Silence filled the room for a long moment before everyone began to talk at once.
I watched for a moment longer and when silent tears began tracking down Snow's cheeks, I wiped the image from the mirror. I sat and thought about the conversation I'd just witnessed and had to smile. It seemed I'd actually done well in securing Red's loyalty. I wasn't delusional enough to assume that she would be loyal to me, at least not yet, but maybe I would be able to earn her loyalty eventually. With that thought in mind, I turned to Emma, who still hadn't said anything. I was immediately worried when I saw tears welling out of her eyes. "Emma, my love, what's wrong?"
She seemed lost in thought, but she slowly met my eyes and said, "I don't know why it hurts so much. I've never known them, and I've never really wanted to get to know them. So, why does it hurt so much when they say those things?"
"Oh darling, come here," I said reaching out for her. She launched herself into me, harsh sobs wracking her body as I pulled her into my lap. "Shh, I'm sorry. I guess we all really just want our parents to love us and respect our choices," I said softly, running my hands soothingly down her back.
She calmed quickly and let out a sigh, melting into my arms. "Ugh, this is ridiculous. I have you, what more could I possibly want?" she asked in a frustrated tone.
I chuckled lightly, "I don't know, dear. But if you think of it, let me know and I will get it for you."
She laughed and looked up to meet my eyes, "I love you, Regina. You know that, right?"
I smiled softly at her and said, "Yes, Emma. And I love you, too."
She leaned down and captured my lips with her own. It was a soft kiss, full of the love and tenderness we felt for each other, but it apparently wasn't what Emma wanted, because after a moment she sucked my bottom lip between her teeth and bit down. Heated desire shot through me and I groaned. She took the opportunity to slide her tongue past my lips as her hands dragged along my sides. I shivered under her and she broke the kiss with a mischievous grin.
I lifted an eyebrow at that and asked, "And what do you think you're doing, Lady Swan?"
Her eyes had gone dark with desire and she stood, pulling me to my feet as she replied, "I need to feel you, my Queen. I need to remember the life I have and forget about the parents who never loved me."
I let out an overly-dramatic sigh and let her pull me into the bedroom. "The things I do for my subjects," I said in mock dread.
Emma spun on me with a dangerous look in her eyes. "You better not be doing this with any of your other subjects," she snarled jealously.
My breath caught and moisture pooled between my thighs in response to her possessiveness. "No, Consort, just you," I said breathily.
"Good," she said, pressing her body into mine. "Because you're mine."
I smirked and waved a hand vanishing our clothes. I gripped her hips, pulling her even more tightly against me and growled, "And you're mine!"
Not giving her a chance to respond, I clamped my lips on her neck, sucking hard enough to bruise. She let out a soft cry, and shuddered against me. I pushed her away and chuckled, "Now get into bed, Consort."
She stumbled a bit, but managed to catch herself. She shot me a small smile before she scurried to obey. I followed more slowly, conjuring the strap-on harness as I did so. When I walked into the room, Emma was already laying in bed waiting. I smiled and stalked across the room. Her eyes widened when she noticed the dildo between my thighs. I smirked and in my most demanding, Evil Queen voice I barked out, "On your back."
She immediately shifted to obey and I crawled between her legs. I swiped one finger through her damp folds and grunted in disappointment. "You're barely even wet. Don't you want your Queen?" I asked coldly.
She bit her lip and nodded, "Yes, my Queen."
I could feel her arousal through our bond, and I knew that she needed my more aggressive side tonight. So I lifted an eyebrow and said, "Then prepare yourself for me. I want you dripping before I touch you."
Emma let out a soft whimper and I could see her desire growing. "Yes, your majesty," she said huskily as one of her hands slowly came to rest between her legs.
I hummed in approval as she began to stroke herself. She took her time, running the pads of her fingers through her folds before slowly circling around her clit. I sat back on my heels as I watched her draw out her arousal. I could feel my own core clench in anticipation as beads of moisture pooled on her swelling lips. When she flicked her fingertips against the bundle of nerves at the apex of her slit, her hips bucked up involuntarily and a whimper escaped her.
"More," I growled, even as my own arousal continued to build.
"Please, Regina," she moaned, even as she began stroking herself with more force.
I shot her a glare and snarled, "Not tonight, Consort. Say my name again and I will chain you to the wall and leave you until morning." It was an empty threat, but I watched in fascination as a shudder ran through her in response to my words.
"Yes, your majesty," she whimpered, pinching her clit between two of her fingers.
"Good girl," I purred and watched as more of her juices coated her center. Judging she was ready, I said, "Now stop and hold your thighs open for your Queen."
As she obeyed, I shifted into position and waited until her lust-darkened eyes met mine before I slammed into her. She cried out, her first climax slamming through her as the dildo filled her tight channel. I didn't give her a chance to come back down before I began thrusting at a brutal pace. I was going to be sore in the morning, but I didn't care. I just wanted to drive out any lingering melancholy thoughts she might be having over her parents.
"Oh gods," she moaned, aching into my thrusts.
I grinned and lowered my mouth to nip sharply at her stiff nipples. She bucked under me and I pressed harder into her, driving her relentlessly through several orgasms until she screamed out, "MY QUEEN!" She slumped limply under me, tremors raking through her.
I lowered myself and placed gentle kisses along her collarbone and tenderly whispered, "Shh, my love, it's alright. I've got you."
When the tremors died, I shifted to pull out of her, drawing a soft cry from her lips. I quickly vanished the harness and pulled her into my arms. "Thank you," she murmured.
I chuckled and said, "You're welcome darling."
"Mmm, love you," she mumbled sleepily.
"I love you, too. Sleep, my dear," I said softly, holding her closely as she drifted off to sleep.
