On her eighteenth birthday or what would have been her eighteenth birthday had she still been alive Carlos presented her with a delicate ornate sword and beautiful ruby necklace. They were lovely gifts but she knew that at least part of his generosity was because he was waiting for her to come to his bed as he had been since he first changed her. Despite what she had first thought about Carlos, most of which was true, there was a lot to like about him too. He was charming and kind in his own way and he helped make her strong and revelled in her strength and outside of their physical training he treated her every inch like the queen he told her every day she was. Her favourite thing about him though was how well he treated her brother, whom he also trained with for hours each day. He despite his many flaws had made what was left of her family strong, ensuring they would never be weak in the face of an enemy again. She was grateful for that.

That night he took her to a beautiful candlelit restaurant and he had ensured that they had the place all to themselves aside from staff. The food was amazing and she felt the tension build between them as they walked back to his car. Was she going to do this? Once back at their place he walked her to her room, she turned to him and pressed a soft kiss to his lips. He smiled and met her kiss with his own pushing her firmly up against her door and she squirmed against him for friction. He pushed the door open and somehow despite not feeling his hands on her she felt her dress fall to the floor and his clothes soon followed. He gently pushed her against the nearest wall lifting her gripping her ass, her legs wrapped around him as he pushed gently inside her, his mouth devouring hers. She felt the pinch of his entrance and the reverent way his hand moved up her body to hold her face looking into her eyes, waiting for her nod. She gave it and he started thrusting deep inside her, it felt so much better than she had expected and before she unraveled beneath him calling his name and moments later he enjoyed his own release before kissing her softly before gently lowering her to the ground guiding her to bed and pulling her into his arms. She woke the next evening still in his arms as he idly stroked his hand through her hair and it felt nice. It wasn't love she felt for him but maybe a growing affection, maybe one day it could be love but she wasn't convinced.

From then on they shared a bed most nights and she listened to his master plan unfold and evolve, his idle musings and his earnest guidance which she followed and ignored as it suited her. Her brother loved that she was with Carlos, loved that it gave him special privileges, which was more than would have been true if it had been Seth in her bed. Try as she may to forget him though she yearned for Seth. Despite his addictions and failings and in spite of all Carlos attempts to win over her love, her love was for Seth but she did her best to bury that secret deep within her.

As time wore on Carlos day by day and strand by strand was weaving a new mythology about Kate, as the rightful queen of the culebra world. He unveiled books about her lineage and soon there were temples in her honour and people worshipping her figure in place of Santanico. She visited some and the culebra's adored her and bestowed many gifts upon her praising her love and compassion for their people. It made her uncomfortable but she understood the importance of the work, her people did need guidance and without it they felt lost and uncared for. She despite her lack of interest in being such a leader understood its value and gave herself to the role as best she could. Of course there had been attempts made on her life too by people who compared her to a false idol but that was to be expected as change was hard for many. Carlos dispensed with them all quickly and viciously and now most people kept their complaints about her place as queen to themselves.

Nine months after her change she was beating Carlos regularly although not as confidently as she was capable of and he was gleeful with her progress.

One day Carlos walked in a little delirious "My love I have tasted the elixir of the gods and I am closer than I have ever been to the well". Kate frowned looking over his jittery state and narrowed in on his dilated eyes, reminding her of Seth and his heroin.

"You will be queen any day now, I will ensure it" he proclaimed and she smiled a forced smile and carefully approached him.

"And this elixir is there any left?" she asked.

"No my love, but I will ensure you have the very first taste when I find the well. I must go now for a few days and I will be taking Scott with me". Great a few days with no meaningful company, she nodded.

"Shall I come too?" she asked already knowing his answer would be no.

"No my love, you are far too important to risk on such a menial task" he replied pushing the hair off her face looking over her features with a leisurely smile and he kissed her.

"Of course, I should speak with Scott before he leaves to wish him luck" she said with a smile.

"Of course my Queen" he said still looking high as fucking kite.

She walked out to find Scott in his room door as usual ajar "I believe good luck is in order, I understand success is almost at hand".

"Yeah, potent stuff. Carlos is a bit".

"Yes he is" she said Seth's face once again flashing before her eyes "be careful Scott and keep an eye out, there are plenty of people around who don't have our people's best interests at heart".

He nodded knowingly and she hugged him before returning to Carlo's bed before he left.