My first realization when I awoke was that I was tucked in so tightly I couldn't move, and I couldn't help how my heart dropped. I didn't have anything against being tucked in, but it was something that Kylo did when he left me sleeping, and it meant that I was alone.

I kicked free and rolled over onto my back, bringing a hand up to move my unruly waves away from my face. There was a soreness between my legs that had my face heating as the memories of the night before played in my head. To my surprise, those memories had me wanting him, aching for him. Having him hadn't dampened the need I felt for him. If anything, it'd made it worse.

When I moved to sit up, I saw a folded piece of cardstock on the nightstand, the front of the paper labeled: Friendly Suggestion

I picked it up, opened it, and read: Clothes.

And, it was signed not with a K, but with the number three. I smiled, remembering our agreement from last night. He'd said two last night after our shower, when I was a breath away from sleep, nestled in his arms.

I considered going to the door of the study and throwing it open in nothing but the sheet, but decided against it, and got dressed. I chose a loose fitting, empire waisted gown, the maroon color complimenting my skintone. I grabbed a hair elastic, and the comb, and turned the knob to the study, deciding to ask Kylo to braid my hair.

I skidded to a stop, the door hitting the wall behind it, and four heads turned to look at me.

I was swept up in a massive bear hug, and spun around. The air flew out of me in a surprised heave as I was put back onto my feet, and looked up.

At Vicrul.

Ushar was close by, arms crossed over his chest, shadows coiling around his legs like a cat rubbing against its owner. And Kuruk sat on a couch next to Aplek who looked more irritated than usual.

"What are you doing here?" I asked Vicrul. "I thought you couldn't travel with us."

"I'm not banned from Lothar." He told me.

"Yet." Ushar chimed.

Kuruk didn't even look up. "I got a fifty that says he won't make it to noon."

"Noon?" Ushar scoffed. "Double or nothing he punches someone before ten."

"You're on!" They shook hands.

Vicrul looked over a broad shoulder at the shadow guard. "What if the person I punch is you?"

"You wanna try it?" Ushar cocked his head to the side, shadows scurrying from him. "General?"

"Hey, you can't taunt him!" Kuruk objected. "That's against the rules."

Ushar's face was the portrait of innocence as he showed Kuruk his palms. "You set down no such rules when we made the bet." He looked at me. "Right, Rey?"

Vicrul pointed at him. "Don't bring Rey into this just because Trugden isn't here to referee."

Ap'lek sighed, rubbing his temple with the tips of his fingers. "For fucks sake, it is too godsdamned early for your squabbling."

Vicrul snorted. "Too bad Trugden isn't here. Isn't he the one who makes sure Aplek takes his midol before these meetings?"

I brought a hand up to pinch my lips together as Kuruk and Ushar howled with laughter, and Aplek cast furious glances to the three of them.

"Says the one we literally can't take anywhere." Kylo said from behind me.

Kuruk and Ushar howled again, and I turned, relaxing when I saw him.

I'd had enough of the royalty and politics, of the mandatory mingling, and I'd thought- hoped- we'd be going home today. But one look at his immaculately tailored black on black suit, told me I was wrong. He wore his finery like armor when he had to be King, when he had to be Supreme Leader, and today, he might as well have been in fighting leathers.

"What's going on?" I asked, letting him pull me into his arms.

"Good morning to you, too." He teased, a smile playing at the corner of his mouth.

"Good morning." I said, flatly. "What's going on?"

"A few of the Kings want to ally with me." He explained. "Alliances, treaties and cease fires are all official-"

"Which means we have to sit through the boring meetings, too." Vicrul cut in.

My face fell. This was not how I wanted to spend my morning.

We joined the other Kings in the conference room, and took our seats, Ap'lek on Kylo's right, and Vicrul on my left. Ushar chose to remain in the shadows, and no one argued with him.

Dravic started the meeting, and a notepad slid on the table in front of me. I recognized Kylo's handwriting, and read: I'm sorry. I meant to tell you last night, but I got...distracted.

I uncapped my pen, and wrote: Whatever could distract you so thoroughly, Supreme Leader? And sent it back to his side of the table.

He wrote back: I'd be more than happy to show you.

Damn him. I clenched my knees together, turned the notepad over, and tried to focus on the meeting, my cheeks blazing. I could've sworn I felt a soft laugh shake him at my side.

Vicrul fell asleep. Twice. I had to swiftly kick his seat both times to wake him up, and when the contracts were brought, Kylo moved to the middle of the room to sign them. Applause broke out across the room, and Kylo shook hands with Dravic, then the other allied Kings.

I got to my feet, stretching my stiff legs, and watched Ap'lek walk to Kylo's side, to join in the conversation.

"They'll be at it for a while." Vicrul said, also watching them.

"Aren't you going over there, too?" I asked.

He looked over at me, the gold shimmering in his hazel eyes. "I'd literally rather do anything else."

Kylo turned, looking for me, then held up four fingers when he spotted me. I smiled at him, and he turned back to the Kings.

"Four?" Vicrul asked.

I nodded, but didn't elaborate, and he didn't press it further. Ardion walked to Kylo's side and I scanned the crowd for Ovadia, finding her golden hair easily enough. She caught sight of me, as well, and I blindly gripped Vicrul's arm. "I'm going to step outside."

His blond eyebrows pulled together, then he followed my gaze, and his eyes popped open a bit. "Is she single?"

"She was." I told him. "Until about twelve hours ago."

"I gotta be quicker about meeting your friends." He said, not taking his eyes off of her.

"Be a little more subtle, Vicrul, I beg you." I said, dryly.

"You should know by now, subtle really isn't my forte." He told me. "It's actually my biggest character flaw."

"I thought it was the fact that you still laugh anytime someone says the word 'duty'."

"That, too." He admitted, then giggled like an eight year old. "Duty."

I rolled my eyes. "How are you a war-hardened, and universally feared general?"

He gave me a boyish grin and brought a hand up, wiggling his fingers. "I can move shit with my mind."

A laugh bubbled out of me. "Can you mind to mind with my husband and tell him I'll be out in the hall?"

He nodded and I walked toward the exit, hooking arms with Ovadia.

The hall was filled with a few guests, so we walked around the corner, and down enough as to not be heard. "How'd the ceremony go last night?" I asked.

"Well," She sighed, leaning against the wall. "It was just us, so that was good."

I nodded, encouraging her to go on.

"And, you were right, it wasn't what the ladies told me it would be."

I nodded again, perfectly content to leave it at that.

A hysterical giggle erupted from her. "It was awful!" She blurted. "He was just rubbing like he knew what he was doing, but he wasn't anywhere near my clit." She stopped for a moment to catch her breath. "Then, when he actually got it in, he came in a minute." She snorted, laughing. "An actual minute, because I looked at the clock. Then, he had the balls to ask me if I came."

If anything, her experience sounded awkward, which was a relief. Awful would have been if the night had gone as the ladies had said.

"Your Majesty." I heard a voice say, and set my jaw, not looking up. Because I didn't need to. My mood immediately soured.

"Father." I replied, curtly.

He looked at Ovadia. "Your highness, your new husband was asking for you in the conference room." He shrugged. "Seemed important."

She gave me an apologetic look, and pushed herself away from the wall. I followed, but the Priest spoke again.

"Supreme Empress, a word?"

I stopped, nodding to Ovadia to go without me, and turned to face the Priest, noticing for the first time that he was not alone.

"I dont want us to end your visit on bad terms." The priest said. "Won't you accept my most humble apologies?"

His words did nothing to settle the unease I felt in my stomach, but I painted on a pretty smile. "Of course."

"Wonderful." He motioned behind him. "Have you met the Prince of Arkanis?" The tall, thin, pale man stepped from behind him, his red hair perfectly coiffed. "May I introduce Prince Armitage Hux?"

Armitage bowed at the waist, though his cold, green eyes never left mine. "Supreme Empress." He said, offering his hand.

His voice, his smell, the way his eyes roamed over me, it had every warning going off in my head.

I swallowed, not wanting to make a scene, and held my hand out to him. He took it, and brushed his lips across my knuckles, that brief contact making the hair on the back of my neck stand on end.

He stood upright, his eyes like frozen jade as he looked at me. No one had ever looked at me like that, and for the first time since marrying Kylo, I felt like a bought bride, like a thing to be used and discarded. I shivered.

The Priest smiled wickedly, and strode away. I fought an urge to call after him, to call the attention of people down the hall. Ovadia and I had come further down to be able to speak privately, and now I didn't have a chance of a passerby seeing me, seeing us.

"Father Altheus says you have forgotten your place." Armitage said, taking a step closer.

So, that's what this was: revenge for standing up for Ovadia.

"Kylo is just in the next room." I reminded him.

"Ah, yes." Armitage purred. "That thieving ingrate you're unfortunately married to."

Thieving? "What did he take?"

I wasn't prepared for him to sweep a hungry look over my body, and say, "You."

My blood ran cold. "Me?"

"I had a contract with Palpatine, the money was already paid. You. Were. Mine." He snarled. "And, a week before our wedding, Palpatine returned the money because Kylo's officials paid more for you, and you were sent to him."

I hadn't known that there had been another contract, a first contract.

"That sounds like something you should take up with my grandfather." I told him, my voice low so that it wouldn't shake.

He took another step closer to me, his face twisted in a sneer. "Kylo can give you any title he wants, he can dress you in whatever he wants, but everyone knows what you are."

I raised my chin, meeting his gaze. "And what am I?"

He took a final step closer, too close. "An overpriced whore."

His head snapped to the side, and it wasn't until I felt the sting on my palm that I realized it was because I'd slapped him.

Red bloomed on his cheek, and when he turned back to me, his eyes were emerald flames. An iron grip wrapped around my forearms, digging so that I bit my lip to keep from crying out.

He roughly shook me. "Listen, you bitch-"

He didn't finish. Because he flew back, and landed hard on the floor several feet away.

Shadows skittered as Ushar stepped between us, his shoulders flexing under his armor as he took a defensive stance in front of me.