Chapter Fourteen

David woke, the heavy weight on his eyes lifting as his eyes adjusted to the dim light. When the fog of slumber cleared from his mind, it left behind a dull ache behind his eyes and he became keenly aware of the crushing tightness in his chest along with the rock that seemed to have lodged itself in the pit of his stomach. He sighed wearily, burying his face in his queen's hair, breathing in her soothing scent which he noticed was no longer tinged by death, rather it was entangled with the subtle perfume of amber musk – his own scent. The king pushed himself up from the infirmary bed where he'd lain all night, his arms wrapped securely around his love, afraid that if he were to leave her, when he'd return she'd have slipped away. His eyes roamed the soft features of her face and hope swelled in his chest for the bruises and swelling that had only last night left her beautiful face disfigured, had all but faded, leaving behind soft unblemished alabaster skin. David tentatively lifted the sheet covering her naked, broken body and his hope soared further on noting that the lacerations on her chest had knitted together, the wounds still visible by a rather angry looking scab and puckered red lines but she was healing, his venom had reached her bloodstream in time.

With a renewed sense of determination and an influx of hope propelled vigour, his eyes darkened with ire, his hands trembling with unadulterated rage – he had a score to settle.

"I will return soon, keep fighting starlight…" he murmured, kissing her forehead tenderly, a faint smile tugging at his lips when he noted the subtle warmth of her skin, she was no longer cold and clammy. "Omarion send word if the queen wakes, I need to settle a score with a certain king," David stated authoritatively.

"Of course your majesty, do you wish me to bathe and dress her whilst you are gone?" the healer inquired.

"No, thank you Omarion, I would prefer to do that myself – I think I may move her to our chambers, the infirmary is no place for the queen to rest," David replied, glancing over at the hospital bed, his chest aching with empathy.

"Yes sire, as you wish," Omarion nodded in understanding as the king slipped out of the infirmary and strode down the corridor - he had something he needed to do before he called an emergency court into session.

David rapped on the heavy mahogany doors. Receiving no answer, he rolled his eyes and knocked louder. "OK, OK, I'm coming dude, sheesh…" Paul's voice grumbled from behind the door and David shook his head in amusement.

The door swung open.

"It's the arse crack of dawn dude, what the fu-" Paul quickly clamped his mouth shut when he realised it was the king standing outside his door.

Taking the guard by complete surprise, David yanked him into a fierce embrace. "Thank you Paul, she wouldn't be here if it wasn't for you," he mumbled, his respect for his lackadaisical friend doubling ten-fold. "You put yourself at risk in order to preserve the queen's life, you have proven yourself as not only a competent guard, but as a true friend to my future wife," he added, stepping back.

Paul averted his eyes, scratching the back of his neck awkwardly. "I've never cared about anyone like I care about her, aside from you and the boys that is – she's like my little sister, I couldn't let her die like that," Paul ran his hand through his dishevelled hair. "I know I fuck around and get her into trouble sometimes but I swear, I'd never put her life at risk, I care too much to see her hurt, you know?"

"I see that now Paul," David nodded.

"I mean it wasn't even a spur of the moment thing either-" he waffled, "-me and Ellie, we'd been trying to figure out a way to reach her from the get-go, we even asked around his old charges, you know his old concubines? But they weren't biting, they were too scared to give us anything. Ophelia even tried calling for Ellie yesterday morning but when Ellie tried to get to her, she was blocked by the wards, it was all pretty much a fucking shit-show until Jax showed up. He was talking about creating a distraction to keep the Goblin King occupied but I knew we didn't have time, I just thought fuck it, if he catches us, then I'll kill him, I'll spend the rest of my life in prison for killing a king if it meant I could save my little sister…"

"You and Ellie really did all that?" David frowned, honestly gobsmacked that Paul had the brains and the abilities to think outside the usual lines of strategy.

"Yeah, Phee's our girl, she's our lady, we love her dude and we know you do too and I didn't wanna see you fall apart like I saw you crumble when Dwayne was ready to bite it-" Paul grimaced, "-despite what you think of me Dave, I do care."

"Paul, from now on, you can break as many rules as you want, I don't care – you're officially instated as the queen's personal guard, I wouldn't want anyone else doing the job but you."

"Aw man, don't get all sappy on me Dave, I prefer you when your barking orders and threatening to shove a joust up my ass," Paul screwed up his face in distaste.

David chuckled, shaking his head in amusement. "Noted – anyway, get dressed I'm calling an emergency court session, I want to deal with that rat-bastard now before he has the chance to escape to the Overworld to evade his recompense. I also need to decide what I'm going to do with his advisor."

"Am I gonna be in court? What do I wear?" Paul frowned and David barked a laugh.

"You sound like a woman Paul – wear the uniform of the guard without battle regalia and for God sake do something with your damn hair," David smirked.

"Hey, I'll have you know chick's dig my hair," Paul pouted as the king turned to walk away.

"That's likely because they want to know who styled it Pamela," David retorted over his shoulder, the sound of Paul's cackling laughter following him down the hall.

The high king perched regally in his throne, his body language poised, exuding power, his presence commanding. His facial expression was stoic, his eyes growing exceedingly dark and stormy. His hooded cloak was draped neatly over his broad shoulders while his crown sat perfectly straight on his head. His fingers drummed against the armrests of the throne, his eyes roaming the confused faces of his fellow monarchs. There were only Solomon and Drake that were aware of recent events and their eyes flickered with curiosity and concern. The king hadn't informed them of his queen's status - for all they knew, his tortured love had perished.

'Kieran escort the prisoner to the throne room,' David silently commanded, his fury heightening when the Goblin King still failed to make an appearance – the coward.

"Can a fae ignore the call of their name?" David spoke to the room, the question not directed at anyone in particular.

"It would depend who is being called and by whom your majesty," King Elven answered.

"And if a certain fae is choosing to ignore the call to his name, how might one render him unable to ignore the call to appear?" the king inquired further.

"If it is the Goblin King you refer to, he is the king of wishes and dreams your highness, he is powerless to ignore or refuse a spoken wish," Denryx supplied.

"Most obliged Denryx," David drawled just as a loud knock sounded on the door to the throne room. "Enter," the king boomed, his eyes darkened with ire, narrowing in suspicion as Kieran marched the iron-cuffed fae into the middle of the room. The man looked positively terrified, his beady forest green eyes darting across the confused faces of the other royals, his sandy blonde hair dishevelled and coated in a thick layer of dirt from his overnight stay in the dungeons.

"State your name and occupation for the king," Kieran ordered, shoving the fae forward.

"Your majesty, I'm Jax, the Goblin King's advisor," the sandy haired fae stammered timidly.

"Thank you Kieran, please return to your post," David nodded and his guard obediently complied, bowing cordially before striding out of the room.

"Your majesty, may I inquire why we have been called here? Why the Goblin King is ignoring orders and why his advisor is shackled?" Tatiana asked, curiously.

"No, you may not," David retorted coldly and the Elven Queen averted her eyes abashed.

"I wish for the Goblin King to appear, right now," David growled, his fingers furled around the armrests of his throne in a white-knuckle grip.

The king's fury heightened when with a crack of electricity the scowling Goblin King appeared, looking for all intents and purposes annoyed at being disturbed. "Ah Jareth, so nice of you to join us-" David drawled icily, "-Marko, if you would be so kind as to shackle our newest arrival," he commanded.

"I do not think so," Jareth fumed as Marko tugged a set of heavy iron cuffs from his belt.

"Oh but I do Goblin King, you are lucky that you did not spend the night in my dungeons alongside your advisor. No, in fact, you are lucky that I didn't personally storm your castle last night and mount your head on a damn stick you despicable gutter rat," David snarled.

"Here, here," Solomon and Drake chorused.

"Silence," David barked and the two king's slumped in their seats, glaring at the Goblin King with hatred.

"I do not know the meaning of this tomfoolery, you cannot just summon me here and arrest me without charge," Jareth scoffed, waving his shackled wrists in the air arrogantly.

"You wish to hear your charge Goblin King? Dwayne, please inform Jareth and the rest of the court of his charges," David deadpanned.

Dwayne stepped forward, unfurling a scroll of parchment, his eyes flashing with raw revulsion. "The Goblin King, also known by the name Jareth is brought before the court of the high king on a charge of First Degree Attempted Murder of the High Queen," Dwayne declared as the room filled with horrified gasps.

"She's alive?" Solomon's brows raised, his posture straightening.

David gave a brief nod, while the other king's and queen hollered in outrage at such a heinous crime. Quickly losing his patience David leant forward in his throne. "Silence!" he boomed, slamming his fist against the arm of his throne and the raised voices swiftly ceased. After a few tense moments passed, David turned his attention back to the surly Goblin King. "How do you plead Goblin King?" he snarled.

"Not. Guilty," Jareth replied sardonically.

A snarling growl tore from the king's left as Paul leapt at the contemptuous Goblin King, knocking him to the floor with a heavy thud. "You lying son of a fucking bitch! You tortured her you sick fuck! You left her hanging in a pool of her own fucking blood and puke!" Paul yelled, his fist slamming into Jareth's jaw, the back of his skull cracking against the marble floor.

"Guard!" David barked and Ezra and Riyadh swiftly hauled Paul's flailing body from on top of the dazed Goblin King, dragging him to the opposite of the room.

"Though I understand that emotions are running high and that tempers are flaring, I will not stand for such behaviour in my court. If I can restrain myself, then so can you, do you understand Paul?" David stated hardly.

"Yes sire," Paul replied, averting his eyes that David could see were brimming with unexpected tears of anger. David pushed back the compassion he felt for his friend and turned back to Jareth who was being dragged harshly to his feet by a pissed off Marko.

"Do you truly dare to stand there and call me a liar Goblin King? So arrogantly you declare your innocence when my queen lays in the infirmary unconscious, her body broken and violated after returning from your castle. You dare to call my guards who witnessed you kidnap my queen at the same time your behaviour killed my adopted son and almost killed my brother liars?" David seethed.

"What exactly did I do that supposedly almost killed the woman who you indulge in pleasures of the flesh with? I committed no such crimes against a queen, she is merely a woman who shares your bed," Jareth scoffed.

David leapt to his feet, striding over to where the Goblin King stood, his arms shaking from the fury that rocketed through his body. "How dare you speak such filth about my queen you vile creature, I am not in the habit of warming my bed with fleeting fancies unlike those such as you and as for what you did-" David hissed, jabbing Jareth's jest hard enough for him to stumble back, "-you left her face disfigured with bruises and swollen flesh, you stripped her naked and paralyzed her, pinning her to the floor of your dungeon while you shredded the backs of her thighs and the soles of her feet with a belt buckle."

Horrified gasps came from behind him but he ignored them, continuing to reel off the twisted acts of torture.

"You pumped her body with hallucinogenic drugs while you did God knows what with her, who knows what images she was tortured with. I know you violated her, the evidence is in the imprint of your teeth on her breast and the bruises to her womanhood," growls and gasps of outrage once again echoed around the room.

"Furthermore, Jareth, you hung her from chains whilst you flogged her until the skin on her back was torn to shreds, leaving her to scream until her vocal chords snapped as her own blood pooled by her feet. You caused her so much pain and agony she vomited from the shock, and if that wasn't enough, you flogged her chest, leaving lacerations deep enough to expose her ribs-" David swallowed, feeling emotion overwhelm him, "-and yet you dare to stand here and claim your innocence!" David roared, feeling a pair of strong arms pull him back, preventing him from caving in the Goblin King's skull.

David lowered himself back onto his throne, taking a moment to centre himself, he couldn't lose his mind in the middle of court.

"Your guards can lie on your behalf, God knows they follow your orders like snivelling little puppy dogs – you have no proof your majesty," Jareth hissed.

King Solomon slammed his fists against the surface of the table. "If it was not you Goblin King then why did you ward your castle directly after her disappearance? Why did I witness for myself the queen chained barely alive in your dungeon? Do you call me a liar you crooked-nose knave!"

"The word of a hedge-born yaldson is not worth the oxygen wasted to speak it," Jareth retorted and Drake had to hold the Demon King back from pummelling the smirking Goblin King to death with his fists.

"If you accuse my guard and your fellow king of speaking falsehood, then what of the word of one who has no reason to lie on my behalf, in fact, this person should be loyal to the one whom he serves," David stated, motioning to the trembling fae stood a few feet from the priggish king.

"Snivelling excuse for a man," Jareth hissed in his advisors direction.

"The court calls to witness, Jaxon, the Goblin King's advisor," Dwayne declared with all eyes falling on the anxious fae. "Please state your account before the high king and his court of what you witnessed of the attempted murder of the queen."

Jax's eyes roamed to the Goblin King momentarily before flitting to David's stoic face, straightening out his back as he ignored his former charges outraged stares in favour of solely addressing the high king. "Your majesty, I was ordered by the Goblin King to prepare the disused dungeon in the belly of the castle in preparation for the arrival of the Goblin King's prisoner. When I asked why an oubliette would not be sufficient, I was told to stop asking question and do my job," Jax explained.

"Continue," David nodded.

"I knew of the prisoners arrival, but I did not know their identity, I was only aware of the screams-" Jax swallowed, staring down at his feet, "-I happened to overhear Jareth refer to the screaming prisoner as the queen, demanding she relinquish her subservience to the high king and when I heard the screaming voice respond that even if Jareth were to kill her, with her last breath she'd declare her love only for the high king, I knew for sure that it was the queen that was being tortured."

David's chest tightened, knowing she suffered as much as she did because she refused to turn her back on him - she almost died solely for her love for him. The king swallowed around the lump in his throat, shifting in place as he motioned for the fae to continue.

"Once I knew it was the queen, I knew that I had to firstly see that she was alive and then I had to procure help to remove her, I couldn't stand back and allow the torture of an innocent, my loyalty does not run that deep," Jax glowered at the irked Goblin King.

"While the king was in his chambers, I snuck down to the dungeons and finding she was still alive, I teleported to your palace, finding your guard-" Jax motioned to Paul, "-and a female fae who agreed to help me. The guard told the woman to send word to you while he accompanied me back to the castle to retrieve the queen. Once your guard secured the queen, I teleported them back here to the palace where I was placed in the custody of his majesty."

"I extend my gratitude Jaxon for if it wasn't for your compassion then my queen would have perished, terrified, tortured, agonised and alone-" David exclaimed, "-I am prepared to offer the mercy you showed my queen to you, thus you have the choice to remain under my charge at the palace as staff or you may seek hospitality in one of the other kingdoms with permission of the king or queen of course. Marko, please release him," David stated.

"I would like to seek hospitality in the Elven Kingdom sire, if the king and queen will allow it," Jax spoke timidly.

"I'll allow it," King Elven nodded, his wife giving an assent of accord.

"Most gracious your majesties," Jax bowed, moving to stand against the farthest wall from the seething Goblin King.

"Seen as the Goblin King is so resolute in claiming his innocence, after hearing from a first-hand witness who was under no duress to speak falsehood against his former charge, I take the question of the Goblin King's verdict to the members of court. When your name is read, please state whether you find the accused guilty or not guilty," David announced.

"David, High King of the Underworld, ruler of the Kingdom of Bloodthirst, how to you find the accused?" Dwayne read from the scroll in his hand.

"Guilty," David deadpanned.

"Travis, King of the Dwarf Kingdom, how do you find the accused?"

"Guilty."

"Fabian, King of The Unseelie, how do you find the accused?"

"Guilty."

"Denryx, King of the Centaur Kingdom, how do you find the accused?"

"Guilty."

"Elven, King of the Elven Kingdom and Tatiana, Queen of the Elven Kingdom, how do you find the accused?"

"Guilty," the two monarchs chorused, their tone laced with disgust.

"Drake, King of the Kingdom of Fire, how do you find the accused?"

"Guilty."

"Solomon, King of the Demon Kingdom, how do you find the accused?"

"Guilty."

"All members of the court have reached the consensus that Jareth, King of the Goblin Kingdom, is found guilty of the attempted murder in the first degree of the High Queen, Ophelia. Let us proceed to the sentencing of the accused's charges," Dwayne announced to a round of jeers.

"This is a damn circus-" Jareth seethed, "-she is not even his betrothed, there is no proof that she is to be queen, this is all supposition and gossip – you punish me for a crime against a concubine!"

"Shut your damn mouth Jareth!" David boomed and Jareth snarled, clenching his fists. "Though your crimes are punishable by death, I feel that death is far too merciful," the king steeped his fingers beneath his chin. "Thus, by the authority endowed in me as High King of the Underworld, I hereby banish you disgraced Goblin King from the Underworld."

David smirked when he noted the way Jareth's eyes darkened, his body shaking with rage.

"Your staff and guard will be released from your charge with immediate effect, though you may keep your vile, fustilug goblin subjects for they are of no benefit to the Underworld, they merely take up precious space. You are prohibited from importing or exporting to or from other kingdom's whether in business or in pleasure, meaning you are to sustain yourself on whatever piss grows within your cesspool of a domain, fornicate with the damn chickens and live on whatever inheritance you were left with. I sincerely hope that you live a long, torturously lonely life and I hope you die in a puddle of your own piss choking on your precious goblin ale or better yet, you end your own life by tying a noose around your neck and jumping out of the highest turret of your castle. Either way, it will surely be a cause of celebration within my kingdom."

"My father should have ordered the Lycan to slay you along with your wretched parents you fool," Jareth snarled, and a red mist descended over David's eyes as he felt his body release like a coiled spring from his throne, a guttural roar of rage and grief reverberating around the stone walls. He felt something solid slam into his side, sending him careening towards the marble floor. His back hit the floor, sliding on the smooth surface for a few feet before coming to a stop, Dwayne's heavy weight pinned on top of him.

"Get off of me!" David roared, thrashing at the man restraining him.

"It's what he wants David – it's what he fucking wants," Dwayne hissed, catching the fist that was flying towards his face.

"He knew, he knew all along!" David ranted like a mad-man, wrestling with his best friend, as he tried to break free from Dwayne's grip. He managed to land a vicious blow to Dwayne's sternum, knocking the wind out of him, enabling him to throw him off as he leapt back onto his feet, vaulting over the table only for Drake to slam into him, holding him back.

"He wants you to kill him David, don't you see that? You'll just be giving him what he wants, he doesn't deserve such a mercy," Drake hissed, struggling to hold back the enraged king.

"Someone get the son of a bitch out of here!" Marko hollered.

"My pleasure," Solomon grinned wickedly, grabbing Jareth by the scruff of his neck before the two of them disappeared in a cloud of thick, grey smoke.

"Court is dismissed," Dwayne barked, pulling himself up from the floor as the shaken royals slowly began to file out of the room, their expressions shell-shocked, mumbling words of concern but David couldn't focus on anything but his rage.

He managed to break free of Drakes hold, screaming in a crazed frenzy of grief and rage. The king flipped the heavy wooden table, sending it hurtling towards his guards who had the sense to leap out of the flying objects trajectory. Solid wooden chairs followed the table as David hurled every object in his sight against the nearest walls as splinters of wood rained around the room. Finding nothing left to destroy, he took to the throne room walls, slamming his fist repeatedly into the black stone until his knuckles ripped, showering himself in a spray of his own blood and crumbling rock. "Get out, get out, get out!" he screamed at his guards and Drake as he sank to his knees amidst the carnage, fisting his hair in despair, feeling his chest tightening as grief hit him in one tidal wave of pain after the other.

He planted his palms against the floor, his shoulders heaving with the weight of his ragged breaths whilst tears rolled down his cheeks. "David," Dwayne's voice broke the stifling silence as he knelt before the king.

"All this time I blamed myself when all along it was… it was him," David croaked, hanging his head in his hands.

"I know brother," Dwayne murmured, drawing David into a fraternal embrace.

"You never do follow orders, do you?" David sighed, feeling himself slowly calm.

Dwayne chuckled. "Rarely."

David scoffed, sitting back on his heels as her surveyed the aftermath of his meltdown. "Well it can't be said that I don't give the town carpenters enough business," he jested, smoothing his fingers through his hair.

"I think you successfully scared the other royals, aside from Solomon and Drake of course, they're accustomed to your eccentric outbursts," Dwayne smirked.

"If nothing else, I know how to throw a world-class tantrum," David huffed a laugh, self-deprecatingly.

"I hope your children don't inherit such a skill, it will be a damn nightmare-" Dwayne laughed, "-speaking of which, how is Ophelia?"

"She's healing, albeit slowly. I'm not sure how long it's going to take for her to wake," David frowned with a heavy sigh.

"It doesn't matter how long it takes, what matters is that she will," Dwayne patted his shoulder in a gesture of comfort. "She really loves you David-" Dwayne murmured after a brief pause, "-she took all that torture because she refused to turn her back on you, she was prepared to die for the love she felt for you David – you need to put a damn ring on her finger and fast," he shook his head incredulously.

"I know," David smiled wistfully.

"Then what are you waiting for brother?"

"I hate planning parties," David groaned and Dwayne barked a laugh.

"You're an idiot," Dwayne grinned, ruffling his best friends hair.

David swirled his hand in the water of the bath, testing the temperature as the sweet fragrance of almond milk and honey flooded his senses. "Ellie, I need you to help me bathe her, I cannot possibly hold her and wash her at the same time," he directed at the fae fussing over his unconscious queen sheathed in blood-stained sheets.

"Of course sire," Ellie nodded.

David removed his shirt and hiked up the leg of his pants to his knees before removing the soiled sheet preserving Ophelia's modesty. The wounds that had been angry scabs that morning were now dark, slashes of puckered skin and the remaining bruises on her face had completely faded. He gently scooped his love into his arms, carrying her into the bathroom, cautiously lowering himself to his knees in the warm water while Ophelia remained secure in his arms. David held Ophelia while Ellie tenderly washed her matted hair before compassionately cleaning the dried blood from her face with a damp washcloth. Ellie then supported Ophelia's weight while David cautiously bathed the rest of her body, ignoring Ellie's horrified gasped when he turned Ophelia to bathe her back, her alabaster skin covered from shoulder to foot in thick, angry puckered lashes.

David carried Ophelia back to the bed, resting her atop the soft cotton towels Ellie had laid out, setting about drying her body while Ellie dried and tamed her rich chocolate curls, plaiting them in a neat, fishtail braid. David clothed her in a black silk nightdress, pulling back the sheets as he gently lay Ophelia's head against the pillows, covering her sleeping body with the sheets. "Thank you Ellie, you are dismissed," David murmured, gathering the used towels.

"Allow me sire-" Ellie smiled, taking the damp towels from his hands, "-should you need anything, just send me word."

"Most gracious of you Ellie," David nodded with a small smile.

Once alone, David shucked off his wet trousers and changed into a pair of black silk sleep pants, climbing into bed beside Ophelia, reflexively reaching for her hand. He lay his head adjacent to hers on the pillow, his thumb stroking the backs of her knuckles. "Please wake up soon starlight, I feel so alone without you…" he sighed, kissing her bare shoulder.

"I promise to spend the rest of my life showing you how much I love you Ophelia, I just need you to wake up… please…" he whispered softly kissing her pale lips and nestled his face against the crook of her neck, inhaling her soothing scent as he felt his body grow heavy from exhaustion, willingly succumbing to slumber.

"Dude I still don't understand how Jareth was able to grab Ophelia with you and Dwayne there," Paul frowned, swinging his legs over the wall of the palace, blowing a cloud of pungent smoke over his shoulder.

"It's pretty much my fault," Ezra sighed, drawing his cigarette to his lips.

"What do you mean?" Marko quirked his brow, leaning around Paul, observing the look of guilt plastered on Ezra's face.

"She and Dwayne were out in the palace gardens talking whilst Jeremiah bounced around with that damn rabbit and I might have made a joke about the mouse playing while the cat was away," Ezra sighed, flicking the build-up of ash from the end of cigarette over the side of the wall. "Suffice to say the queen was more than a little offended with my insinuation," he chuckled with a fond smile.

"As she should be," Marko chuckled.

"Anyway I started teasing her that his majesty had obviously only told her about the rules he wanted her to know about and when she asked what I meant, I told her that the king or queen is permitted to invite any of those who work for them of their choosing to bed."

"You didn't?" Paul huffed a laugh, incredulous.

"Oh but I did-" Ezra chuckled, "-she accused me of talking out of my arse which I assured her I wasn't and she was pretty outraged that I'd insinuated she was canoodling with the king's advisor while he was away. I told her there was no shame in it, for it is a rule after all but she started pouting and backing away, calling me out for being twisted and that's when he popped up out of nowhere."

The three guards fell silent, each of them flooded with the memory of Ophelia's broken body. "It's not your fault man, you weren't to know he'd show up and it wasn't like she was on her own out in the palace gardens, she was a few feet away," Marko assured him.

"Perhaps," Ezra shrugged. "Hey, now she knows, do you think she'd ever take advantage of the rule?"

"Dude," Paul punched his friends shoulder.

"You just want her to invite you to bed, you dog," Marko chuckled, shaking his head in amusement.

"I'm a man and I am not blind-" Ezra smirked, "-the queen is rather sexy in a bookish kind of way, do you know what I mean?"

"Are you calling the queen a nerd?" Marko scoffed.

"Hey, Ophelia is the most adorable, funniest, kindest hellion nerd I've ever met-" Paul interjected, "-and I'll kick your ass if you so much as point your dick in her direction," he warned, jabbing Ezra's shoulder with a ringed finger.

"So you're saying you wouldn't accept her invitation then Paul?" Ezra teased which resulted in Paul booting him off the wall, the sound of the trio's laughter ringing in the calm night air.

Checking the coast was clear, Paul stepped into the chambers he'd been frequenting for the past month. "Where's Aeofe?" he quirked his eyebrow in question, clicking the door closed behind him.

"She's with Maria and Grace," Ellie informed him with a bashful smile as Paul kicked off his boots before clambering onto the bed, pinning her delicate body beneath him.

"Hmmm... so I've got you all to myself, huh?" Paul grinned, ghosting his lips over her own seductively.

"You do," she smiled, linking her arms around his neck.

"Good, because I'm going to fucking devour you," he grinned impishly, crushing Ellie's lips in a breath-taking kiss. "Damn Elle, I've missed you so much..." he murmured, trailing his tongue down the length of her neck to the part of her chest exposed by the gaping neck-line of her silk robe.

"I've missed you too Paul," she hummed, biting her lip when Paul sucked a sensitive spot on her neck.

"Tell me what you've missed…" he drawled with a smirk, grazing his teeth over her bottom lip.

Ellie twisted her fingers in his wild, dirty blonde hair, trapping him in a succession of teasing kisses, her desire building rapidly. "I've missed the feel of your hands on my body. I've missed the feel of your lips on my bare flesh and I've missed the feel of your tongue branding your name between my thighs…"

Paul groaned, sensually nipping her lips. Ellie nibbled her bottom lip with a smirk as Paul untied the belt of her robe, guiding her upright before he pushed the silken fabric down over her shoulders and arms, trailing wet, open mouthed kisses over her bare, skin. A low moan escaped Ellie's lips when Paul's warm, wet tongue explored her breasts, nipping, biting and sucking the sensitive mounds of flesh. She gently pushed against his crown, yearning to feel the heat of his tongue somewhere much lower.

Paul chuckled, zig-zagging his tongue the length of her stomach and buried his face between her thighs. "Mmm… yes…" she moaned, her back arching as her lover hungrily devoured her. The tip of Paul's tongue teasingly flicked her sensitive bud before he covered her with his mouth, sucking hard. "Oh… God…" she panted, palming the sheets, her climax building at speed. Ellie's body exploded with a thousand bursting beads of pleasure, leaving the fae writhing and whimpering uncontrollably.

Paul crawled back up her body, grinning mischievously, his addictively kissable lips glistening with the remnants of her desire. "I didn't know you were religious Elle," he teased, kissing her enticingly.

"I wouldn't say that I am, but alas, I think I just saw heaven," she giggled and Paul barked a laugh.

He whipped off his uniform, enjoying the way her ethereal lilac eyes darkened with lust. "How about you give me a glimpse of heaven angel-face?" Paul drawled, trailing his finger down her chest.

"Seen as you asked so nicely," she smirked, skilfully flipping Paul onto his back.

"I recognise that move..." Paul smirked, biting his lip hotly seconds later when Ellie teasingly ground her ass over his rock-hard erection.

"You know I have plenty more leof-" she dipped down to place a lingering kiss to his lips, "-should I show you one of my signatures?"

Paul moaned as Ellie fluttered kisses across his muscular chest and torso. "Shit Elle, you feel so fucking good," he groaned when she lowered herself onto him, taking all of him, slowly. Ellie braced her hands on Paul's chest, slowly rolling her hips in quick, hard thrusts, shuddering and biting her lip as pleasure burst low in her stomach. Paul smoothed his hands down her slender waist, grabbing her narrow hips and firmly squeezed her rear. He bucked his hips to match her movements and she whimpered, almost collapsing against his chest as his pulsing cock brushed her g-spot at the most perfect angle, resulting in another explosive orgasm.

"Oh fuck… I'm close..." Paul groaned.

Ellie's breath quickened as she rolled her hips, hard and fast, feeling him tense and quiver beneath her, filling her with his hot seed, eliciting a throaty moan. Ellie collapsed against his chest, fighting to catch her breath, still feeling the lingering tingles of her climax working its way through her body. Paul exhaled a shaky breath, lightly skimming his fingertips down her spine. She shuddered, softly kissing his chest and pushed herself upright, gazing down at his handsome face. She brushed a stray lock of dirty blonde hair from his face and he smiled, grazing his lips over the tips of her fingers.

"Elle?" Paul mumbled, pushing himself up onto his forearms.

"Hmmm?" she smiled, tracing languid patterns on his chest with lithe fingers.

"Do you wanna try the whole monogamy thing?" he quirked his brow, his pale blue eyes staring up at her with a boyish twinkle.

"Do you mean you wish to court me?" Ellie frowned.

"Is that what they call it down here?" Paul chuckled. "Look, I never saw myself as a monogamous guy, you know my reputation but I don't know Elle, I feel like we vibe you know? I feel like there could be something more to us than just amazing sex."

Ellie giggled and Paul grinned.

"I guess I just wanna give us a shot you know? I feel like we go together, if it doesn't work out then it's whatever but I feel like we should try."

"You're so sweet leof," Ellie murmured, cupping his cheek. "I cannot deny how you make me feel, you bring me pleasure like no other and I'm not only referring to the bedroom," she blushed.

"So is that a yes?" Paul pressed, sitting upright.

"Yes leof, there's nothing that would make me happier than knowing I am for you," Ellie smiled coyly.

"Gimme some sugar angel-face," Paul grinned beckoning Ellie toward his lips.