Good Morning, Little Ones!

Thanks to Mel, Jill, and Dani! Any remaining mistakes are on me because sometimes I fidget with chapters after they've been beautified.

.: 36 :.

"I came to the court of the Hazel King many years ago. Back then, he was simply a prince I knew by a common name of Marcus. We were friends, he and I. He took me in, and in return for his shelter, I offered him fealty, long before he was declared king. When his father was killed in battle, and Marcus ascended the throne, I became one of his most trusted advisors.

"Ara was a young queen of a neighboring court Marcus' father had been at war with. The battles were bloody and brutal, and when the old monarchs died, a peace accord was drawn up, binding the courts together through the alliance of their marriage. Both of them gave up a degree of power, but in return, they earned peace and a doubling of their kingdom.

"The peace was only temporary though, as old grudges ran deep. Skirmishes began to break out, and instead of condemning their subjects, Marcus and Ara let it slide, believing their subjects continued to fight out of loyalty to the old way of things.

"So has the Hazel Court lasted for many, many years. Constant chaos, constant mistrust, all under the guise of loyalty.

"It didn't take Ara long to realize I had more sway over her husband than anyone else in the courts. She was jealous and sought to take me from Marcus. When she was made queen, I was forced to swear fealty to her in equal measure, and she used that against both of us.

"Ara used me for her own pleasure, and in turn, she forced me away from Marcus. I was once the one he confided in completely, and now, he couldn't say a word to me for fear Ara would order it out of me. She isolated him, cut him off from the only true support he had, and while she broke her husband, so she began to break me as well. She reveled in my diminishing will to resist her, to fight her. She wanted me to fight, but more than that, she wanted my complete subservience.

"That's how I existed for many years. I was no more than an object where pain and pleasure existed in equal, terrible measure. I let myself stop feeling, stop caring, and life was so much simpler."

His hollow eyes meet mine, and I'm aware of the tears running down my cheeks, aware of the depths of my breaths that I have to draw because my heart aches for him.

"I've done evil things in this endless life of mine, and in turn, evil has been unleashed upon me." His eyes close and he takes in a deep breath. "Several years ago, a fae came to court, telling tales of a spell, unfindable by those who need it. A spell powerful enough to break the bonds of fealty." His eyes open and he looks at me. "Hearing accounts of this spell, I felt for the first time a small spark of hope. I knew both Ara and Marcus would send me after it. The only thing they coveted more than power was freedom from each other." His head drops again and I can see him frown.

"I met several witches in my search." He pauses, his eyes flickering up to me. "But none of them called to me the way you do. You—" He pauses again, his eyes fluttering shut. "You were more than rain after a drought. You were an ocean and I wanted to drown in you."

I swallow hard at his confession and he sighs. "I brought you to that cabin because I couldn't risk it. I couldn't risk you escaping my grasp, not before I'd been able to figure out what exactly it was that drew me so deeply into you. It's true, what I told you, that was the ancestral ground of the ancient witch, but I wasn't actually sure it would be of any help. I just knew I needed you."

He shakes his head. "The more I learn and taste of you, the more perplexed I am. Many witches would have been able to fulfill my quest, but I wanted you. I no longer only covet freedom and power; I'm starting to covet you." His eyes lift to mine and I'm struck by the profound hunger in them. "And I don't know that I'll ever find my fill of you, Little One."

I lick my lips and take a deep breath. It's a lot to take in, and for a moment, I feel the overwhelming truth sweep over me. He's been broken, again and again. Am I enough to bring him back from that? Do I want to be?

I know the answer even before I've finished thinking it; yes.

This is a power beyond magic. His vulnerability, the truth and need burning through him, nearly setting me on fire... what we teeter on the edge of is cosmic; the beginning of a universe all it's own.

All I need do, is fall.

I stand from the tub, fully aware I'm naked before him, and I feel his eyes burning across my skin, scorching me with their need.

"I too suffer from a profound hunger," I tell him, drawing his eyes up to mine. He's watching me with slightly fisted hands. "And I think it's time we stop denying ourselves a feast."