"Fate was a reality, but it wasn't a beautiful or angelic thing. It was a heart-wrenching nightmare. And we'd fallen blindly into it. We had no escape. It was happening, and it was up to me to guarantee our survival of it. "― Shannon A. Thompson
She left Kenzi shortly after their conversation and rode the elevator to the penthouse with Elliot, a feisty young Fae from the infantry, promoted due to the illness that had swept through the guards. Elliot was silent, speaking only when spoken to and clearly taking her new post more seriously than Verns who still meandered around the Penthouse even though Bo was now coming and going as she pleased.
But Bo was home when she returned. Sitting in the sunroom, enjoying the beautiful day from the comfort of her favorite chaise lounge. She was a picture of beauty. Lauren didn't stop to appreciate her enough, but today with Kenzi's words fresh on her mind, Lauren drank her in. Her profile was so very regal, her brown eyes were bright, and her figure was beyond anything she had ever known. She was losing herself to the charm of the succubus without even saying a word.
"Why are you lingering in the doorway?" The Queen spoke finally.
"Just enjoying the view." She smiled and stepped into the room. She sat at the foot of the chaise, her eyes coming to meet Bo's somewhere in the middle.
Bo smiled into the book she was reading. "How's the outbreak?"
"Controlled. Commissary and Mess Hall went through intensive sanitation, and new rations have been brought in from neighboring colonies." Lauren tried to read the title of the book in Bo's lap. "There's something we need to discuss."
Bo swung her legs over the side of the chaise and sat next to Lauren. "Of course, what is it?"
"I sent Kenzi to find Violette. She's sourcing the materials as we speak and will be here in any number of days."
A hollow laugh escaped Bo. "I knew you couldn't resist your old life."
"Bo, you know that isn't true."
"Then why?" Bo looked at her, hurt. "Why now when we are at our most vulnerable?"
Lauren thought she was speaking of the kingdom in general when she spoke, but she was beginning to see there was a bigger obstacle at work. "Look, I don't know what's going on between us but I'm sure it's nothing we can't fix together."
Bo sat forward, snatching Lauren's hands up into her own. "I love you, Lauren. And if you say she doesn't mean anything to you, then I believe you."
Lauren looked down at their hands and smiled. "My Queen," she said. "I am sure you needn't worry. It'll be fine." She kissed Bo on the cheek.
"I hope you're right."
"Trust in me, Kenz." Lauren walked ahead of Kenzi, onto the field.
"With all due respect," Kenzi slid the sunglasses over her nose. "You know I'd follow you into battle, but sometimes you miss the point."
Lauren rolled her eyes as they approached the line of trees. "What's that supposed to mean?"
"You get so focused on a problem that you inevitably wind up forgetting why you are trying to solve the problem."
"Oh yeah, and what about you?"
There was a short silence before: "I don't want to talk about it."
Lauren laughed. "Is that so?" Kenzi stopped abruptly, Lauren backtracking to her side. She paused, studying her friend for a moment. "You slept with him."
"It felt like the right time." She kicked at the ground beneath her feet.
"But you were disappointed…" She finished.
"Yeah- No, I mean, I don't know." Kenzi sighed, resigned. "I just wanted someone to throw me around and have a good time."
Lauren's eyebrows raised. "So what did you get?"
"He made love to me."
Lauren gasped. "That sounds terrible."
Kenzi pushed Lauren's shoulder, knocking her off-balance. She laughed. "What am I going to do, Lauren?"
"You have to tell him."
"No way. I can't do that."
"It's just sex, Kenzi."
"Says the doctor." Kenzi rolled her eyes. "You of all people should know it's not that simple."
Lauren shrugged. "I guess you're right." She started to walk again. "Look, Kenz, he obviously loves you, where are you at?"
She sucked in a breath through her teeth. "I'm not sure. He's thoughtful and we have a lot of fun together…"
"Then what?" Lauren climbed down the incline to a large rock beside the stream.
Kenzi jumped down behind her. "I never asked him to love me."
Lauren sat on the edge of the rock. "I'm beginning to understand." She looked out over the stream that babbled by.
"You and Bo?" Kenzi said, climbing up next to her.
She nodded. "I love her, I do, but sometimes I feel like I'm trapped in her destiny."
Kenzi was stunned. "You never told me that…"
She shrugged. "How do you say, 'I love you but I need some space' without hurting anyone?"
"You tell me…"
Lauren smiled. "I'm still working on it."
As they hiked up the hill, she appeared on the horizon like mirage and Lauren was suddenly parched. The wind blew her hair off her shoulder as she strutted toward them, two guards trailing her dutifully. She smiled. "I've been looking for you," the Queen said.
"Just catching up with Kenzi," Lauren said with a smile.
"Very good." She turned to face Lauren. "Would you accompany me on a ride before dinner?"
"Of course." She nodded.
"I'll leave you to it." Kenzi nodded and backed up a few steps. "Enjoy your ride." She marched up the incline and out of sight.
Bo turned to Lauren and sighed with a smile. "I thought we could both use some fresh air. I refuse to be held hostage by those parasites any longer." She guided Lauren up the hill and as they walked across the field to the stables, Lauren's hand found hers.
When they arrived at the stables there was a bigger fuss than usual paid to the Queen and herself but she enjoyed the warm breeze on her face and the and the fresh air in her lungs. Bo was right, being cooped up in the castle had done nothing but drive them apart. Bo returned to her side after a long conversation with the stable manager.
"I have a confession to make," Bo whispered into her ear. Lauren tensed, not sure she was ready for another revelation so soon. "I got you something…" The stable boy led two horses toward them, on the right was Juno, Bo's prized mare and on the left was a horse she had never seen before, a beautiful white horse with black spots on its muzzle and blotches along its back and croup. It's wide blue eyes stirred something in her. The new horse snorted and stamped its foot as Juno swished her tail and bowed her head to greet Bo.
She took the reins of the Tovero and walked her out onto the field with her, Bo following with Juno. Lauren stood in front of her horse stroking its face, she turned to Bo. "This is too much, Bo."
"I couldn't wait until your Coronation, and when I saw her, I knew she was yours."
"She's breathtaking."
"Let's see what she can do." Bo climbed atop her raven-colored horse, tapped her heels into Juno's side, and she started running.
"Hey!" She called after Bo and pulled herself into the saddle. Clicking her tongue, she snapped the reins and charged after Bo and Juno. She was fast, almost as fast as Juno, and responsive as they dashed through the brush. Bo smiled over her shoulder as she ran ahead of her and Lauren couldn't remember why she was still having such a difficult time resolving her feelings of trepidation.
Emerging from an outcropping of trees, Bo dashed onto the boardwalk that floated on the outskirts of a pond. Juno's hooves stamped onto the marshy shore and reared up as they skidded to a stop on the grass. Lauren pulled back on the reins and stopped beside Bo. Her heart was pounding, she was out of breath and she couldn't wipe the smile from her face. She remembered when Bo took her from the dungeon and brought her along for a ride; when their love was just beginning and she was just as confused. Not about loving Bo, no, she was certain of that, it was everything else that sent her off the deep end.
Bo smiled at her and it melted the iceberg that had been numbing her. "What do you think?"
"She's magnificent. What do you call her?"
"I call her Minerva, but she's yours now."
Lauren smiled and shook her head. "No, it's perfect." She grabbed the lapels of Bo's jacket and kissed her. The kiss was a quiet revolution, stirring Lauren to her very core and when she pulled back she could tell it had done the same for Bo.
Bo looked over Lauren's shoulder at the two guards on horseback that had been following them. "Let's go somewhere more private," she said trailing a finger from Lauren's cheek to her chin.
"Catch me if you can," she teased before kicking her heels into Minerva's side and galloping away. She rode her hard, the sound of the boardwalk echoing beneath her hooves, water sloshing up her legs. Lauren navigated the trees and shrubs like the obstacle course they were until she came upon the trail that had led them to the pond.
Bo and Juno were biting on their heels once the trail opened up but she pushed Minerva harder and they started to pull away. Minerva's muscles rippled beneath her skin as Lauren pressed on. She was certain Bo could've overtaken her but was trailing so she could watch Lauren's rear end, an unusual bid at foreplay to be sure but Bo had her predilections.
Lauren guided Minerva up the steep incline as they approached the stables, Bo and Juno still hot on their heels. Slowing up, Bo came to ride beside her and it was her turn to smile. Lauren knew the twinkle in her eyes was just for her, and that knowledge imbued her with emotion.
"You looked good out there," Bo said, catching her breath.
Lauren bowed her head and smiled through the veil of her hair. "Thanks," she said her seduction in full effect. She jumped down and walked Minerva to the stable attendant, waiting as Bo handed Juno off to the stable boy. As the Queen approached she was noticeably softer, letting her eyes fall to the ground as she walked, her features gentle and unguarded.
Walking quickly, the women approached the castle with one thing on their minds. The inconvenience of being tailed by guards at all times was an irritating reality of the situation they found themselves in. Her fire for Bo was back and there was no missing the fact it hadn't gone far.
"My Queen!" Verns called out for them from the other end of the promenade. Bo groaned and she pulled up, stopping in front of the castle's tower. "There was a disagreement at the gates. She says she's here to see Dr. Lewis," Verns said crooking a thumb at the woman being held by another pair of guards.
Bo turned sharply, her eyes brimming with power as they raked over the now infamous woman. She wasn't much to look at, rather plain but she possessed a quality that could have passed for lovely if Bo didn't hate her already. "What's your name?" She asked, already knowing the answer.
She removed her hat, floppy from years of wear, striking red hair tumbling to her shoulders, and shielded her stunning green eyes from the sun with the back of her hand. "Violette, my Queen."
"My dear Violette," Bo started, crossing her arms. "I have heard the stories. You're the lawless sort, you didn't pledge allegiance to your kind during the war, choosing to work both sides against the middle, and yet your salutation proves that you are not to be trusted."
Violette nodded and in the blink of an eye, found her mark standing a few steps behind the Dark Queen. "It is true, I am a Reynard, a smuggler by trade, it is my nature."
Bo paced. "As a succubus I know all about the nature of my Fae. Do you know how I feed?"
Violette smirked. "Sex, of course."
"So you must know that a Fae as powerful as myself could kill a human easily if I were to feed off them. How is it that she stands before you, then?"
Violette blinked, unsure she understood. "I'm sorry?"
"Dr. Lewis shares my bed and I have not harmed her."
"Bo," Lauren warned.
The tone was lost on the Queen. "What I mean to say is that you are not cast by what type of Fae you are. You are cast by your character."
"Enough, Bo," Lauren admonished. She took a step toward Violette. "Did you bring everything?"
"I had to give up my favorite rune, a rare tusk and a small fortune to get what you wanted."
"Anything, we will repay in kind," Lauren said a bit desperately.
She reached into her satchel and produced a package wrapped in brown paper and tied with leather straps. Violette held the small box in front of her and Lauren received it gratefully. Bo watched the women interact with interest. Violette's eyes lingered on Lauren and she mumbled in French as she had once before, except this time Bo heard her.
"'Heavenly creature, you haunt me still?'" the Queen repeated, her lip quirked. Lauren looked between Bo and the look of panic on Violette's face when Bo took a step forward. "You have the gall of a hundred men and you are lucky you don't find yourself in my dungeon for treason. But…" She smiled. "…the war is over and you can do business with anyone you please. What I won't tolerate, however…" Her smile faded and she wore a grim expression in its place. "…is flattery with a forked tongue. Stay away from Dr. Lewis." She turned to Verns. "Show her out."
"Wait," She asked as Verns grabbed her arm and began to drag her away. "What of my payment?"
"Of course, where are my manners?" Bo reached into her pocket and withdrew a purse, bursting with gold coins and tossed it to Violette. "I trust this will make up for your favorite rune."
Lauren watched the exchange, not missing the glance Violette threw her way as she tested the weight of the purse in her hand. "Thank you, my Queen."
Bo gritted her teeth at Violette's insolence, paying false tribute to her once again and turned away abruptly, heading for the large doors of the tower. Lauren followed her without giving Violette another look.
When the elevator doors slid closed, Lauren closed her eyes, relieved the ordeal was over. She had the material she needed in her hands and it was all she could think about to get back to the clinic and her lab.
"She's pretty," Bo said, breaking the silence.
Lauren looked at Bo and shrugged. "Yeah, I guess."
"I was surprised because you never described her like that."
"Because she's a horrible person," Lauren said to the panel of buttons. "It's easy to forget that outwardly that is not true."
"But she came through for you…"
Lauren scoffed. "Yeah. And was probably hoping for something other than coin in return."
"I have an idea about what she might want."
Lauren stepped in front of Bo and laid her palm over Bo's heart, leaning forward to kiss her neck. "And yet you seem oblivious to the fact that I want you."
Bo sighed. "You have my attention." She smiled, taking Lauren's hand in hers and kissing her fingers. The elevator dinged and the doors opened as she pulled Bo through the opening, marching past a pair of guards in the dining room to their bedroom. Inside the dim room, Lauren kissed her hard, knocking them backwards into the room as the door slammed shut. She tore at Bo's clothing, wrenching her top and bra off before sliding the skin-tight fabric down her legs.
Her scent was intoxicating and Lauren couldn't resist tasting her. Bo gasped and held Lauren's head against her urging her on. Bo looked at the ceiling, luxuriating in Lauren's mouth against her, her rough tongue teasing her apart. Bo was enthralled by her movements, the time she took to please her, the hand that steadied her even as she still stood beside the bed, and the enthusiasm with which she attended to her. And when her knees grew weak, she crumpled onto the bed, her moans exploding in Lauren's ears.
Lauren crawled over her, kissing her collarbone to her throat before settling on top of her. "You taste of ambrosia," she breathed into Bo's ear.
She bit her lip, a moan escaping her as Lauren pressed herself against Bo, who leaned up to capture her mouth. It was a heart-stopping kiss, one that melted defenses and crushed their doubts. There was so much to worry about but Bo embraced irresponsibility as she lost herself to Lauren over and over again, forgetting about Vex, Evony and her new foil, Violette. Bo's love was a ritual, an art, a metaphysical journey and stripping her bare, she would make love to Lauren for hours until dinner came at midnight when she had finally exhausted her.
"Lauren."
She didn't stir until she felt Bo's lips next to her ear, whispering her name again.
"What's wrong?" she said, clearing her throat. The ache in her bones overwhelmed her when she roused.
Bo sat on the edge of the bed. "Two castle guards are missing," she said. "They didn't report for their shift change this morning and their bunks weren't slept in."
Lauren rubbed the sleep from her eyes. "Isn't that something Kenzi can handle?"
"I'd like you to take a look at their bunks if you could," Bo said.
"Sure." Lauren nodded, sat back on her elbows, and flinched at the throb she felt.
"Sore?"
She shook her head. "It's fine," Lauren lied.
Bo put a hand on her thigh, squeezing gently. "You don't have to pretend, Lauren. I see how it hurts you."
Lauren sat up. "I'm fine, Bo," she said. "I can handle it."
Bo nodded. "If that's how you want it… Can I get you anything?"
"Coffee," she said, holding her head.
Bo exhaled, looking over Lauren for a moment before leaving the bedroom. Falling back onto the bed, Lauren sighed melodramatically. She couldn't deal with Bo's guilt today. With the outbreak stabilized and Violette out of the picture, she had to focus. Now she had bigger fish to fry. She was going to find Vex and Evony and finally put to bed this business of revenge.
END PART FIVE