"Do you wish for me to keep you company today as you're with my father?" Charlie asks nipping Santana's shoulder gently. He inhaled as she rolled over to look at him.
"That depends," Santana says looking at the bruise on his face and the scratches covering his chest and arms.
"On?" Charlie says trying not to smile. He could go for an early morning delight to get him through the day. He gently adjusts his hips so his wife could feel his arousal.
"Whether or not you plan to disappear so you and Lucas can destroy your mother's garden again. You said you'd be right back. I didn't see you till dinner," Santana smirks feeling his arousal die. "You did say you had princely duties."
"I did. I had to make Lucas eat dirt, it just took longer than I expected." Charlie explains, she had to understand how important it was. When Santana doesn't nod her head, like it's a perfectly reasonable excuse he frowns. "You're right, our wedding is an event that should have my interest. But I assure you that I wouldn't be much help when it came to the planning of it. I don't know what flowers are in season, I don't know who should sit with who so we don't cause a minor incident. I can help with the feast preparations—"
Santana rolls her eyes, "You choosing what to eat isn't much help Charlie." She shakes her head and rolls on top of him looking down at him and gently touching the area around his eye, which was swollen and turning black and blue. "I think I would like the victor's wreath."
"Then I will win it for you," Charlie promises placing his hands on her thighs.
"If what I saw yesterday was an indication of how the fight will go, I must admit my faith is in your brother taking it home. I've watched you fight, and it was brief and I didn't see any wasted movements." Charlie scowls at this and she leans in to kiss his lips gently. "I didn't mean to offend. I'm just suggesting that perhaps you practice a bit so you don't look quite as amusing slipping and sliding everywhere. It wouldn't hurt to look regal."
"Lucas is to be Emperor after me. I do not wish to sit on the throne, you've seen my father. It's a prison, no one is praying harder for Rachel's child to be born healthy and male more than I am."
"A woman can't rule?"
"If there are no male heirs, in the immediate royal family, then the throne will go to the woman. It's a silly archaic rule, I have fought with women, some of which who are just as brave and courageous as any man that I've fought with. Sometimes even more so, there is no proof that they wouldn't be able to rule effectively."
"Are you saying this because you truly do not wish to be third in line?" Santana asks frowning slightly.
"I do not wish to be emperor. I do not wish to rule over the people," Charlie informs her.
"It seems your father has other plans for you," Santana says after a moment, deciding to let him know. "You also didn't quite answer my question."
"I don't care if the person on the throne is nothing more than a babe, so long as I don't have to do it." Charlie shakes his head. "I'm aware of my father's plans, which is why I take such pleasure in displeasing him. Reminding him I'd make a poor choice for emperor. Why do you care? Do you wish to be queen?"
Santana doesn't say anything, she hadn't thought about it. But Russell was certainly grooming her for something and she was certain he was grooming Charlie for the throne. When he looks to press her on the issue, she gently cups him. "Do you think we have time?"
Charlie frowns slightly before groaning at Santana's ministrations getting aroused again. "Lucas is to be Emperor, he's spent his whole life preparing for it. He's everything I'm not."
"Except beloved by the people. If you think your father hasn't noticed your accomplishments then you're mistaken. I would also rather you not become more like your brother. You just need to be firmer—" she smiles when he bucks his hips against her hand when she gently squeezes causing him to cry out in pleasure. "—while dealing with your men," she continues studying him. He quickly becomes undone, and she feels him soften in her hands slightly as she looks at him. "Think about it," she says moving to get up and start getting ready for the day, only to have him grip her wrist and sit up kissing her.
"Lucas is still first in line for the throne and despite the fact that he's insufferable and enjoys humiliating me, he is my brother and I do not wish him or Rachel any harm."
"Your father decides who is to be Emperor, he's made that clear to me. You and your brother are competing for the throne I believe, he's said as much. He does love you I believe," Santana groans as he reaches between them and begins to touch her, his fingers bringing her pleasure as she feels him hardening quickly between them.
Charlie stops for a moment, his mother had mentioned the same thing to him on numerous occasions, but he had never believed her. His mother said plenty of things to make him feel better.
"Charlie?"
He blinks and leans forward kissing her before moving to pin her on the bed so he could take her. He wasn't meant to be Emperor. He simply wasn't.
~O~
"If I used my abilities every time I got angry, there wouldn't be an empire for me to rule over," Russell explained. "I assure you both my sons have tried my patience numerous times. Every miscarriage my wife had—were times when I needed to keep everything under control or I would have destroyed everything. I instilled that same control in my sons. It is the same ability that I will pass on to you now," Russell lectured, flicking his eyes towards his son who was staring at him. "Must he be here?"
Santana turns to Charlie who was glaring at his father from the doorway. She rolled her eyes, "Didn't your mother insist that you help Lucas redo her garden?"
Russell studied his son for a moment, "I think he believes that I will hurt you."
"No, I simply remember how painful your lessons were, and—"
"It can't be as painful as Lauren throwing me around can it?" Santana interrupts getting up to meet him. He furrows his brow at her and she gently touches his side, where she had stabbed him, running her hand over where she knew the scar was forming. "I'll be fine."
Charlie studied his father, before looking at Santana. "You're probably faster than him, he can't get on a horse by himself, and he rides them into the ground." The ground rumbles at this and Charlie smirks at his father. "Are you certain, you do not wish for me to teach you. My control is far better than Lucas or my father's."
"I'm certain. He is my father by marriage, we should get along."
Charlie scowls at this, "Very well, I'll be in the garden."
"We'll take a soak in the hot springs once you're done," Santana promises.
Charlie nods before taking his leave, only stopping to glare at his father once more.
Russell watches for a moment before snorting, "Once you have children I assure you, that you'll want to strangle them." He motions for her to sit down. "When I was a young man, I decimated an army that came for my village." The ground rumbles and suddenly a tiny man on horseback with a spear in his hand appears made from rock and begins to gallop around the room.
Santana watches in awe and looks up at him. "Is this how you conquered most of your lands?"
"No, my people said I was a god amongst men, much to my father's annoyance. I conquered the lands in his name, as is the tradition of my people, though I assure you my father deserved none of that. He was a far crueler man that I am. There were many times that I wished to kill him and that is how I learned to control my gifts. I have brought my son's up in the same way."
"I do not wish to see you dead, I think despite your son's insistence that you are the devil incarnate, he would be quite upset if I were to kill you," Santana said firmly, frowning when Russell roared with laughter.
"I may not be the man I once was, but I assure you that your abilities are not a threat to me, they are however a threat to everyone without abilities like ours. Which is why you will sit there in silence."
Santana blinked, "Excuse me?"
Russell gave her a blank look, but chose to ignore her instead picking up his documents on his desk and reading them.
Anger coursed through Santana's body and she could feel the heat escaping, "You said that you would train me with my abilities, I didn't expect to be treated like some child."
"And yet you're throwing a tantrum like a child. When you don't get your way do you generally lash out with your abilities? I shouldn't feel any heat from you. The nobles here would eat that up, I would prefer they couldn't read you."
Santana's jaw dropped and she realized that the fire in the fireplace had roared to life at her annoyance. She scowled at him before crossing her arms and staring at him. Perhaps Charlie was right about his father, and she should have taken him up on his offer to teach her control. "How long will I sit here?"
"For as long as I say you will," Russell responded. Until she got frustrated or until she learned patience whichever came first.
"Lovely."
"I'm pretty certain I said to sit there in silence," Russell says ignoring Santana's furious gaze. He could still feel the heat radiating off her like waves. At least the fire in the fireplace no longer threatened to spill out and burn everything to the ground.