Hey guys, sorry it's been so long.

Thanks to some new readers, she decided to write this chapter as soon as she could.

Which, unfortunately, was a while. Thanks for waiting so long and for the reviews. I, once again, don't own a gosh darn thing!

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"Darling…"

His deep voice penetrated my sleep. I smiled and opened my eyes slowly. I could feel him smile against my ear before nibbling on it. I smiled wider and rolled over to snuggle into his chest.

"Let me sleep a little longer."

He chuckled. "Darling its time to get up."

"Just a bit longer."

"I have meetings."

I look up at him and pouted. He laughed. "That doesn't work anymore, you know"

I added puppy dog eyes to the mix. He smiled before leaning down and kissed me. I moaned and I felt him smirk before thrusting his tongue into my mouth. I untangled my arms from around his waist and wrapped them instead around his neck. He rolled us so I was on my back with him laying on me. I arched into him when he grabbed my ass and squeezed roughly I-

"Mi querido! It's tiempo to get up." I jerked awake when Ofelia banged on my heavy door before opening it and stepping in.

"Ah! Your still in cama? Get up, get up! We are off to the mercado hoy. Did you olvide, mi querido?"

"N-n-no. You just woke me up."

Ofelia put her hands on her hips and stared angrily at me.

"Then get up! Ai yi yi! Darse prisa! Darse prisa! We have things to do!"

"Alright, alright." I climbed out of the bed and before I could take another step Ofelia grabbed me and shoved me towards the bathroom. "Darse prisa!"

"Alright!" I laughed. I pulled the curtain away and stepped into the more-than-adequate bathroom. I was decorated with silver tinted tiles and black fixtures.

"Be quick, mi querido. We have much to do hoy."

"Okay, Ofelia."

I shaved, took a quick bath, and gave in to mother nature before I stepped back into the bedroom. Ofelia closed the door holding a tray with sliver domes on it. The smell coming from the tray made my mouth water.

Ofelia raised one eyebrow before setting the tray down on the side table and gestured for me to come closer. I glanced at the bed and saw that she had already laid out my clothes for the day. I sat on the stool that was in front of the vanity that had appeared in my room while I was at the party last night and waited for her to start. She placed the first plate of my breakfast while she started to brush back my hair.

I had just started to eat the toast when she spoke. "Most of the dia will be spent at the mercado but you have other cosas to do as well. After the mercado you have several lecciones that you will-"

"Like what?"

"Que?"

"What kind of classes?"

"Well, you will have to aprender several more idiomas to understand royals from different lugares. You will have to learn ancient Egyptian, speaking and writing. La historia of several cultures must be taught in case of conversation. Etiquette and modales from different lugares must be taught."

"Is that all?"

Ofelia's laughter filled the room. "Of course not! You have plenty to do, mi querido. We also are going to drop by His Highness's chambers before we leave for the mercado."

My mind suddenly went to the dream Ofelia interrupted and I could feel my cheeks heat up. Before I could get myself under control, Ofelia noticed and a grin broke out across her worn face.

"Oooohhh," She put down the brush and I realized that all I was going to wear over my hair and face was a gauzy piece of cloth that you could hardly look though.

"Why am I going to wear this? Hardly anyone will recognize me."

"His Highness hasn't announced to the temas who you are yet. It will be mas seguro to hide who you are for now."

"But wouldn't we have bodyguards?"

"Si, but que will be ocultos in the crowd to not attract atencion."

"I see."

"But, that's not importante right now. Que was that blush for eh?"

My face heated up again. I looked down at my empty plate and sighed heavily.

"I've been having dreams about Imhotep."

"Dreams, eh? And por que haven't you told mi about them?"

My face got hotter was her answer and she began to laugh.

"I don't understand them though!"

She stopped laughing and looked at me. "I saber someone who can help you with that."

I glance up then looked down again. I felt Ofelia's hand under my chin tilt up my head to look in my eyes.

"Mi querido, it is nothing to be scared of or be ashamed of. All it meas is that you el amor him very much." She smiled at me so I smiled back.

She straightened and tugged on my arm until I stood up. "Now put on these ropa and lets bonito you up."

I laughed and started to dress with Ofelia's help.

Ofelia stepped back from finishing putting on my eyeliner and smiled wide. "Perfecta."

I turned and looked at myself in the mirror. I hardly recognized myself.

This time I had no jewelry but I had plenty of makeup to replace it. My eyes were surround with dusty gray eye shadow that shined slightly. My eyes were lined with red this time and my lips were painted in a vivid red that nearly matched the Egyptian tunic that was dyed red.

The tunic ended in the middle of my calf. It had black boarders with red stitches forming x's.

My shoes were sandals that wrapped up my leg but stopped just and inch or two where the tunic started.

"You look hermosa, mi querido."

"Thank you Ofelia."

She clapped her hands and picked up the bag that she had dropped near the door when she came in my room. She wrapped it around her shoulder and tied it closed at her waist. She opened my door, said something to the ever-present guards; then looked back at me and nodded. She stepped out of the room and I followed her out.

I nodded at the guards before following Ofelia down the hall towards Imhotep. We walked for a while before she spoke. "Be polite and keep your eyes on him."

"Alright."

She glanced back at me and nodded before facing forwards again. We walked in silence until we got to two giant doors with guards. Ofelia nodded to the one on the right, who nodded back and opened the doors for us. We stepped though and I, immediately, looked for Imhotep.

Our eyes met from across the room, me at the doors, as they closed behind me, and him across the large room behind his desk. He looked me up and down and I could hardly stand there without figeting.

"Your Majesty, we are off for the market."

"Is that so?" He looked down at the papers he was looking at when I came in.

"Yes."

"Have you eaten your breakfast? What are you planning to purchase?"

"I have eaten, Ofelia insisted that I had to eat before leaving. And I really don't know yet. I think we are going to browse and just walk around."

"Hm."

He still hasn't looked back at me. What was on those papers anyway? Better yet, was I supposed to just stand here until he was ready to talk to me? I didn't have all day just for him to-

"Pet."

I snapped out of my thoughts and focused on Imhotep. He had put away the papers he had on his desk. "Yes?"

He motioned for me to come nearer so I moved until I was in front of his desk. Looking down at him, I realized that I had followed his directions without hesitation. He smirked up at me before standing up.

"You are going to cover your face? Why?" His hands came up where the fabric ended just below my chin before pulling so it would fall forward into his hands.

"Ofelia said that you haven't announced who I was yet, so it would be stupid to flaunt who I am."

His eyes bored into mine without blinking. It felt like he could read my mind and find out my secrets. He smirked before leaning forward.

"She is a smart woman." He whispered, his breath ghosting over my lips. I could swear that I felt the barest brush. I shivered before looking back into his eyes. What I saw surprised me. Well what I thought I saw, because it kinda looked like lust.

"Are you cold?"

"N-n-no."

"Rick…" Before I could respond , he kissed me. I gasped and felt his tongue in my mouth. It was like my world fell away and all I could feel was him. One hand was on my chest rubbing over one of my nipples while the other was tilting my chin up. His tongue was thrust and rolling around in my mouth. All I could do was clench my hands into his tunic and moan. He growled before trying to get closer. When he couldn't, he growled again and pulled away from me. A trail of saliva connected our lips broke when he leaned back

I then heard the doors to the study begun to open. I snatched the face-covering thing from the desk where it fell and quickly put it on. I looked at Imhotep and my knees nearly gave out when he licked his lips and adjusted himself. I could feel myself blush and was grateful for the face fabric thing.

"Mi querido, we must go before the mercado becomes too lleno de gente." I looked at Ofelia and she winked at me. Did she know what was going on?

"Yes, you should probably leave now." I looked back at Imhotep and almost lunged toward him. His gaze was smoldering.

I nodded before walking toward Ofelia. I was out the doors when I looked back at Imhotep. He looked back up at me (which I figured that he was looking at my ass) and smirked. He adjusted himself again and licked his lips before the closing doors blocked him from my view. I looked down at Ofelia smirking at me.

"What?"

"It is on backwards." She said leaning up and tugging the face thing off before putting it back on me. She laughed when she saw my tomato face.

"First we will find the inker. Then we will go to the piercer. Then the tailor-"

"The last thing that I need it clothes, Ofelia"

The market wasn't what I expect it to be. It was crowded by my standards but not Ofelia's." It wasn't dirty, I mean it had some dirt, but it wasn't revolting like I thought it would be. It wasn't as loud as I expected it to be. No one was screaming to hear each other but people were yelling to get other's attention who were not in normal range of speaking terms. And no one paid special attention to me. Those who wanted me to visit their stalls did but no on else. Adults just glanced while children stared but never long enough to make me feel uncomfortable. I did feel eyes on me but I just assumed that to be the hidden guards.

"Here we are." Ofelia stopped at a stall that you had to push through curtains to get inside. She stepped through and I stepped in after. I think that there was some sort of magic because everything looked like nothing would have fit in a small stall.

"Welcome!" said a booming voice that made me jump from the sudden noise. Ofelia seemed unaffected as she turned towards the giant man. He was African but had a European accent.

"Ofelia!"

Ofelia murmured something in Spanish before looking at me. The man looked at me and laughed. He said something back to Ofelia in Spanish before striding off into a sectioned-off portion of the tent; disappearing behind a curtain. Not two seconds later, a green skinned man complete with spikes on top of his head came through the curtain.

"Ofelia, how can Horn help you today?" He asked in a rough voice that reminds me os rough sand.

"This is the Majesty's el amor. He is in need of the real sello. Of both el rey y la reina."

"Is that so?" He looks over at me and I noticed that his pupils were like a snakes. He smiled revealing sharp teeth. Yep, defiantly not human. "Come this way." And with a dramatic sweep of his arm, he directed me to another part of the tent that was sectioned off. I started to walk forward before noticing that Ofelia was going to leave.

"Wait, aren't you coming?" I asked. I defiantly did not want be left alone with this guy.

Ofelia turned back to me and smiled. "Do not preocuparse mi querido. Horn will not permita que any danos to you. I will go get something for us to coma, si? I will not be largo." And with that she disappeared outside.

I looked back at Horn and he smiled and me again, not showing his teeth his comfort me, I have no idea. He gestured to the curtain again. "Right this way," He rasped.

I signed before walking forward and stepping through the curtain. It was much brighter than it was inside the larger part of the tent. It had a cushioned bench like thing that I assumed that I was suspose to sit on. In one corner there was a table with a sheet over it. That's where I assumed where his tools would be.

"Please, lay down there. Make yourself as comfortable as you wish. And you can remove your face covering. Have you ever had a tattoo?" He said as he moved toward the table.I ripped off the fabric before laying down on the bench on my back.

"I have never had a tattoo." I said as I stretched before placing a hand under my head. Then because I didn't have anything else to do, I looked over at Horn. He still had his back to me but he had pulled back the sheet on the table. The bench was lower so I couldn't see what was on it. But I noticed a stool that was under the table.

"Have you done this before?" I asked, not really expecting an answer.

"No. The King and Queen don't take many mates."

"Hn." I looked up at the ceiling of the tent and didn't say anything else. I mean, what were you suspose to say? 'So how's the weather from where you come from?' I don't think so. Or how about-

When I woke up, I didn't know where I was. The red ceiling swam before my eyes. My back, chest, right calf, and left upper arm ached. I groaned and tried to sit up. A rough arm gripped my right arm. I looked up into green serpentine taking in the green skin and the pointed teeth. I sucked in a breath, pushed away the demon looking man, before leaping to my feet. Unfortunately, pain radiated up my legs, and they gave out from under me. Green skinned arms wrapped around my chest from behind as I struggled to get away. I was then aware of noises that were starting to turn into words that were too loud for my brain.

"Oi! Calm down! No need to panic! Be calm I say!"

I went slack. As soon as he let go, I was up on my feet stumbling around. Trying to get away. "Ofelia!" He yelled, "Don't let him get away!"

"I made it through the red fabric posing as a door, nearly getting tangled in it. I stopped in my tracks thought when Ofelia stepped into my path. My back, calf, arm, and chest are now burning. "Mi querido, stop."

I stopped and fell to my knees. Ofelia took a couple steps towards me until my face was pressed against her stomach. One of her hands was petting my hair while the other was cupping the back of my neck. I felt like a child that had scraped his knees and his grandmother was comforting him. "Calm, mi querido. It was necesario for you to be dormido to not feel the el dolor of the tatuajes."

"I could have handled it." My voice was muffled but Horn could hear me and chuckled.

"No, you couldn't have. I do not mean to insult you, but the ink has acid and secret ingredients to keep it from fading or being removed. If you were awake, you would probably be begging me to put you out of your misery."

I turned my face slightly away from Ofelia's stomach to glare at Horn. His smile, which no longer made me feel uneasy, widened even more. "You should have fucking told me what you were going to do before you did it."

He raised an eyebrow (which was just a thin line of skin that was darker) and chuckled. "If I had warned you, would you have gone along with it?"

I glared harder and turned my head so it was resting against Ofelia's stomach again. Her hand was still petting my head. "Can you soporte by yourself, mi querido?"

"I don't think so." I tried leaning back but the burning intensified until I stopped when a pair of hands pressed into my back. Pain shot up my back, making me lean back into Ofelia.

"I would have to agree. Beranger!"

Heavy steps moved behind me until the stopped next to Horn. "Oui!"

"Please pick him up and lay him down here. And be careful, he is still experiencing the afterfects."

"Oui!" Next thing I know giant hands are scooping me up and away before placing me down on my stomach. A large hand patted me on the head and the footsteps faded away into the background. Rough hands with calluses prodded my back before disappearing and then reappearing with a cool rag or something that was coated with something because the muscles in my back relaxed and the pain dimmed. Weathered hands that I could tell were Ofelia's brushed my hair from my neck and started to massage the tense out of my shoulders.

"Because of your panic, you irritated the new tattoos before they even had a chance to settle. You didn't stay under for very long, which is surprising. Don't worry though, I have something for the pain. But it needs to be applied every morning when you wake up and every evening before you go to bed. If you don't, well…. Just don't forget."

"I will make sure he puts it on."

"Also, do you have some sort of robe with a hood? It is probably for your best intrest to cover up the tattoos right now. And are you heading back to the palace? He's gonna crash and it would probably be a wise idea to go home."

"If you creen that it is sabio to return, we will. Anything else?"

"Yes, secure his rooms. Keep him in bed even if it means that he gets pissy."

"I entender." Ofelia's hands left my back and I murmured. "Shhh, mi querido, don't moverse. It will only cause you el dolor." She said something else but I started to drift off. Hands pushing in my skin made me hiss and tried to move away. "Mi querido, sleep. Do not be miedo. I will take you home safely."

"Ofelia," I murmured. I know that I was about to fall asleep but I had to get her to do something for me first.

"Si?"

"Don't bother him." I fell into the darkness that seemed to welcome me again

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Sorry guys, I kinda needed a cliffie. Thank you for being so patient! And I'll update as soon as my busy schedule calms down to let me write.

I'll give her the appropriate nudge when needed.

Nudge? Hah! More like a damn push off of a cliff. Please review!