"Love is our true destiny. We do not find the meaning of life by ourselves alone - we find it with another."-Thomas Merton
"Well, I don't care," said Bird out loud, said Bird, who cared so much that she couldn't bear to touch the hurt. "I don't care. I ran away from Summer, and I will make my own castle. I will be my own queen."― Katherine Catmull
The Queen had slipped away mid-day. Lauren was working in her lab and Bo's work was nearly done. She breezed through the hallways of her castle with two guards in tow. The irony was Bo would probably end up protecting them if something were to happen. The Dark Queen's battle exploits were known throughout the kingdom and only the foolish or crazy-she counted Vex and Evony among both these groups-would attempt an attack on her.
She knocked on the door, authoritative but non-threatening and when the door cracked open a few minutes later, Violette sucked in a breath at the sight of Bo on her doorstep.
"Can I come in?" she asked, not waiting for an answer. She pushed the door open, leaving her entourage outside, and walked past the other woman to the bed that filled the room.
Violette hopped after her, wringing her hands. "Is there a problem?"
Bo took in the cluttered surroundings and looked over her shoulder at the fox. "That depends on what your definition of problem is," she said and gestured to the bag on the floor, overflowing with clothes. "Like what you've done to the place, by the way."
"I think I know why you're here." Violette glanced at the nightstand and back to the Queen.
Bo raised her eyebrows. "You do? Enlighten me."
Violette dared to smirk and shrugged shyly. "You have to respect me for trying…" She trailed a hand along the back of the Empire chair that faced a small coffee table just off center of the room. "She's a beautiful creature."
The Queen narrowed her eyes. "You need to let her go, you had your shot."
She nodded. "I think I love her, surely you can understand that?"
"That's the difference between you and me. I know that I love her."
Violette watched Bo start to move around the room. "And you don't even know what you have," she said, "keeping her locked in your glass castle. A prison is a prison, no matter how pretty the surroundings."
Bo looked up at a painting of the castle from long ago. "You seem to know a lot about prison, why is that?"
"Oh, you know, occupational hazard." Violette smiled as Bo moved around behind her. "But I hear Lauren knows a thing or two about dungeons, too."
She nodded behind Violette's back. "Where did you hear that?"
"There is little gossip I have not heard."
Bo leaned forward, her lips close to Violette's ear. "Then you probably know that you shouldn't believe all that you hear," she said, continuing to the only window in the room.
A breath escaped Violette while the Queen's back was turned. "So you didn't keep her in your dungeon for months on end until she convinced you that she loved you?"
"She didn't have to convince me," Bo said to the window.
"I must admit I thought it a strange way to fall in love."
Bo turned around and leaned against the mahogany desk. "When something is meant to be, it will happen."
Violette chuckled. "You seem so sure of that. I always thought a Queen would be more confident about her lovers. Relying on luck or destiny or whatever you want to call it instead of a real connection seems rather desperate."
Bo crossed her arms over her chest. "And I always thought a guest begging the Queen's sanctuary would be a bit more careful about insulting her." She could see her pause then as realization took hold.
"For disrespecting you, I'm sorry but I will never be sorry for loving her."
"Then get wise to this: If you hurt her, I will take every pleasure in hurting you." Bo pushed off the desk and moved into Violette's space, inches away. Her eyes flashed blue and the Queen stole a drag of her chi and her very breath. Just a taste, to judge her intentions. When she took a step back, she smiled disingenuously. "I'm glad we had this talk," she said, her hand squeezing Violette's shoulder. "Touch Lauren again and I'll kill you."
She wished she could have waited to see the reaction on her face, but she brushed past Violette to the door. Hand on the knob, Bo turned to face the smuggler who still stood, shell-shocked and hanging on to the back of the chair and she smiled, satisfied. Bo threw open the door and busted out into the hallway outside the room. She paused, suddenly out of breath, and she waved off the concerned guards. Bo was no stranger to the taste of the despicable and untrustworthy, they were how she fed, after all, but something about Violette's fauna imprinted onto Bo. The Fox. A trickster that was after Bo's one shot at true love. And she let her stay in the goddamn henhouse.
"Shit."
The Queen turned purposely and strode through the halls, passing through the Conservatory on her way to the back exit. She steamrolled her way across the field towards the stables, the guards behind her almost at a jog to keep up with her. When she charged past the guard at the stable doors, he jumped out of his seat and stood at attention. She found her prize mare, Juno, in her stall, resting.
Bo clicked her tongue and the mare stood at attention, too. She picked up the large brush from the corner and began to comb her, her tail swishing back and forth. The wood handle was heavy in her hands and the silence rang in her ears, just the bristling of hay beneath her boots and the coarse scratch of the brush against Juno's coat were the all that was important in that moment.
Once she strapped the saddle to the mare's back and led her out onto the field, however, Bo's mind was full again. Of doubts, of regrets, of an overpowering love that she would fight to the death for. Climbing atop Juno, Bo was a wrecking ball, bombing through the field and into the small thicket of trees. By the time her detail realized she'd left, she was half a mile away. They scrambled on to a couple horses and took off after her. Bo charged through the outcropping, branches whipping them as they passed. It was no accident, she knew the route well and this was all part of the self-flagellation that Bo enjoyed when her thoughts were too loud. She rode the circuit of the castle grounds, a long, sometimes wet and muddy trip through forest and marshy grass. The storms made for a ride so messy, she returned to the stables spattered and soggy. Lauren approached from the field and smiled at the sight of the Queen and Juno, jogging down the incline to meet them halfway.
"You're a sight for sore eyes." Lauren's lopsided smile sucker punched Bo. "I've been looking everywhere for you."
"I needed to blow off some steam," she said reaching out for Lauren's face from atop the horse. "I'm glad you found me."
Lauren covered the Queen's dirty hand on her cheek and searched her face. "Are you okay?"
Bo blinked, her expression sad. "No, I don't think I am."
"Come down from there," she said, waving her down. "We'll go inside, get cleaned up, the chef has made us a special meal as you asked. We'll have a nice evening together."
Bo threw her leg over and jumped down. She was covered in muddy splatter, grass and leaves stuck to her arms and legs. Lauren raised her hand and called the stable boy over to take Juno.
"See that she is bathed." The teen nodded in the affirmative and took the reins from Bo. They watched the proud mare follow the stable boy and turned when they heard a storm of hooves approach. The Queen's detail finally reemerged muddy and weary from the long ride.
"Thank you, gentlemen," Bo waved at them before turning towards the castle. "I'll take it from here."
Lauren's hand fit into Bo's like a missing piece of a puzzle, snug and incomparable, and Bo squeezed it. They were moons, orbiting a planet, chasing one another across the solar system but never catching the other. At least that's how life was playing out recently. Until now Bo was the most self-assured piece of their relationship. Now, she wallowed in the knowledge that someone had loved Lauren, a despicable and loathsome character at that, and Bo began to question destiny-the one thing she had pinned all her hopes and dreams to her entire life. The sun was setting and the dull ache of hunger settled into her belly. Lauren pulled her through the main floor and into the Queen's elevator. Bo moved closer as the car began to ascend. Turning in her arms, Lauren smiled sympathetically at Bo's weariness. She squeezed Bo's arm and kissed her tenderly. But tenderness quickly gave way to reckless abandon, unraveling as Bo kissed her insistently, pulling her along as she staggered backwards, her back slamming into the wood paneling of the elevator car.
She grunted, her outstretched hand swung forth and pounded the emergency stop button. The elevator car dipped and shuddered to a stop. In the silence that followed, Bo could hear Lauren's heart pounding, she could feel her love in every thump against her chest as she pressed into her and she began to understand all the ways that Lauren loved her. Her breath came in short bursts as their eyes met. Their connection was undeniable, like coming home after a long journey. Bo needed little motivation to pull Lauren by the waist to the back of the car where she settled onto the velvet upholstered bench. Hands on her hips, she pulled Lauren to stand in front of her and reached for the buttons on her shirt, three of which were about all Bo could handle before the need was overwhelming. She pressed her lips against Lauren's navel and all thought ceased as she inhaled the scent of her skin, lavender and honey and spiced vanilla. It was a heady mixture to be sure and she was bewitched by Lauren. The soft sounds escaping from her mouth as Bo kissed a path along her hip were maddening. It would be so easy to imagine Violette having sex with her, touching her, loving her. She blinked and pulled away.
"What is it?" Lauren asked.
Bo shook her head. "Nothing." And she meant it. That criminal meant nothing to Lauren, Bo told herself. As she freed the last button, Bo pushed the shirt from Lauren's shoulders and watched it fall to the floor of the elevator like a wisp of truth. She looked up at Lauren who cradled her face with the palms of her hands. This was all that mattered, the warmth of her skin on Bo's face, the light in her eyes as she gazed down at her. This fragile thing they had built together was quickly becoming a fortress and no woman nor fox was going to come between them. Not now, not ever.
Lauren leaned forward and captured her lips in a scorching kiss. It was a reclamation of everything Bo had doubted, an exploration of remorse and intention. Pulling her closer, the leather of Bo's jacket creaked as she reached for her. Bo's fingers worked the button of her pants and stripped the tight-fitting jeans from Lauren's legs, tossing them to the side.
Lauren's flawless complexion was rosy and she was out of breath from their kisses. Her hands smoothed up Lauren's thighs, her fingers crooked around the waistband of her panties and tugged them over her hips. She drew in a breath, long and slow, as Lauren held hers. Bo's eyes burned as her gaze washed over the blonde, from beauty, from desire.
She stood bare before the Queen and there was a boldness about her now. Bo had watched Lauren's transformation from her throne, her bed, and her court. She was a spectacular Human specimen at her core and a fantastic lover to be able to keep up with her. Lauren's expertise as a doctor had only helped the colony and Bo was indebted to her for many things not the least of which was the confidence to be able to say her subjects were getting the care they needed. There was so much to her. Nothing like those that came before her, Lauren was a bona fide treasure.
Her hands were on Bo's shoulders as she climbed onto Bo's lap, straddling her. This beautiful creature was hers, wanton and unapologetic. Her hands were in Bo's hair, her breath against Bo's cheek. Gripping her hips, the Queen's eyes navigated the scapes of her form, bared and beautiful.
Lauren tilted her chin up and stole a kiss. It was a slow and sweet exchange, the kind that made Bo restless with need. She moved her hands to Lauren's thighs and squeezed. The wickedness in her grin then was like a lightning rod to the storm of her desire and Bo lurched forward and captured her mouth once again.
Her fingers ran through Bo's hair as they kissed and it was startling how relaxed Lauren made her, even in the midst of passion. And so what started as a frantic need to prove something, became a tender act of love. She cradled Bo's face against her neck, holding her there for a long moment before Bo retreated to her bosom. Awash in her pale skin, the Queen took her into her mouth and Lauren gasped.
She braced herself on Bo's leather-covered shoulders as Bo's hands snaked up her back. The elevator hung fifteen floors from the hustle and bustle of the ground floor and they were sequestered away in a little metal box. The silence was deafening-just the sound of their breathing-so when a moan escaped Lauren, it sounded like a proclamation from on high, echoing off the walls of the grand canyon. And when Bo reached between her legs, the strains of her pleasure could be felt ringing in their ears.
She was proudly on display for the Queen, hair flawless, tousling around her shoulders as her mouth formed O's. There was so much perfection that Bo hadn't even had a chance to get used to yet and maybe she never would. Her hand moved between Lauren's legs and her hips jumped. Bo touched her with purpose, enticing her and drawing her out. To be touched by a succubus was to be touched by a master of a lost art. The things she could bring about in her partners was unmatched by any conceivable notion of sex.
Her hands squeezed Bo's shoulders as she tipped her head back. The arc of her body in the low light sent shockwaves through Bo and her mouth covered Lauren's throat, nipping at the skin with her teeth before soothing it with her tongue. Bo's fingers dipped into her and Lauren embraced her ardently, hugging Bo against her breasts.
Bo's hips jumped and as her hand found Lauren's rhythm, her hips began to undulate watching the revolution of Lauren's. Her thumb swiped over Lauren eliciting a gasp. Bo smiled, Lauren was close. Bo knew this because she knew every noise in her arsenal and every expression in her cache.
Pushing aside her own need, bottling it up and preserving it for the next time, Bo pressed forward, driving deeper into Lauren whose grip tightened around Bo's back, holding on as she began to let the rest go. "Bo," she gasped and she kissed Lauren then, tasting her desire. There were many ways to feed and when Bo was with Lauren she absorbed the pleasure that she brought about in her.
Lauren tensed, the muscles in her back growing taut as she began to let go. Her body shook and she called out for Bo once again. When Bo withdrew her hand, Lauren slumped against her. Bo held her like a precious gift, gathered up in her arms, hearts beating against one another. This was a succubus in love: caring little about her own pleasure and deferring to her lover. She was the Queen and she could have anyone, but she chose Lauren. And when she had to feed from others it was a joyless and empty experience. Long ago it was exciting, there was even a hunt but now everything seemed meaningless when compared to her new life with Lauren.
She kissed her forehead and Lauren's eyes fluttered open. A smile tugged at the corners of her mouth as Bo leaned her head back against the wood paneling. Lauren shook her head. "Dinner's going to be cold."
"We can reheat it." She kissed Lauren who reached for the hem of Bo's top. Stilling her hands, Bo smiled. "It's okay." She released her hands.
Lauren paused, confused. "Is everything all right?"
"Yeah, I'm just…" Bo shook her head. "I'm fine. Better than fine." She kissed her again. Lauren lowered her feet to the floor again and stood, gathering her clothing efficiently. When she was dressed she hit the emergency stop button again and the elevator came to life. Bo remained on the bench, drinking her in.
She turned to face Bo. "Are you sure you're okay?"
"I'm just tired," Bo said. "Big day and all of that." Lauren looked her over, muddy and wearied. "C'mere." An outstretched hand beckoned the doctor into Bo's embrace again. "I love you," she said with conviction.
The elevator slowed to a stop. She smiled. "I-" The elevator doors opened and Lauren froze in place. The entire Queen's guard stood in front of them with their weapons drawn.
"Stand down!" Bo called from the bench, not wanting to incite panic fire with any sudden movements.
When the weapons had been holstered, they emerged from the elevator car to find Kenzi accusing Verns of overreacting and that she told him they weren't in any danger. The soldiers milled about the dining room and in front of the elevator aimlessly. Bo pushed past them and made a beeline for their bedroom.
Lauren followed her with her eyes as she spoke. "Thanks for your concern but as you can see the Queen is fine. Now will you please vacate the Queen's quarters. That'll be all for today."
"You heard the woman, shoo!" Kenzi hollered at the other soldiers. The elevator door opened and they filed into the car. She looked at Lauren. "Go on without me, boys." As the elevator door slid shut Kenzi exclaimed: "What is going on with you two?!"
Lauren looked at the closed bedroom door. "Keep it down," she hushed her. She sighed. "I don't know anymore."
Kenzi paced in the foyer. "Tell me you still love her."
"Yes," Lauren said defensively. Looking the way of the bedroom again, Lauren pulled Kenzi into the living room. "Of course."
"Does she know about the naked fox?"
"Not unless you told her," she said contemptuously.
Kenzi frowned and wandered into the kitchen. "Why would I tell her?"
Lauren rolled her eyes as Kenzi brushed past. "I don't know, Kenzi. Why would I tell her?"
"Because honesty is the most important thing in a relationship?" She opened the fridge and stuck her head inside.
"Easy for you to say."
Kenzi straightened quickly and shook her head, pointing at Lauren with a plate of brownies. "Don't do that."
"Do what?" Lauren watched her drop the plate on the countertop.
"Pretend that you're above lying."
Lauren frowned. "Did I do something to you?"
"Look Doc," Kenzi said around the brownie in her mouth. "All I'm saying is Bo deserves the chance to overreact. You never know, she might shrug it off and you will have worried for no good reason."
"Well, I thank you for your input, Kenzi but if you'll excuse me, I need to get ready for dinner and quite frankly I'm not letting Violette ruin what could be a lovely evening."
Kenzi shrugged and grabbed a few more brownies before returning the plate to the fridge. "Suit yourself." She walked to the elevator and pushed the button. "Your dinners are on the counter. The chef brought them up an hour ago."
"See you in the morning, Kenz," she said with a wave as she walked to the bedroom.
She left the penthouse, tired and weary from a day on duty. It's not like it was particularly hard work spending time with Lauren or even Bo, but her mind was working overdrive on another problem. The Oren conundrum as she so lovingly referred to it in the confines of her head. Lauren was right, as usual, and it had started with missing him and with missing Oren came a deeper understanding of what she needed, what she wanted, and in that knowledge was a kernel of love as near as she could figure. She had no idea what to do with it, but playing hot potato with it wasn't getting her anywhere fast. It was time to plant the seed.
She knocked on his door for ten minutes and when she was satisfied that he was still on duty, she leaned against the wall and slowly sunk to the floor beside the door frame. She pulled her knees to her chest and laid her head down then, letting her eyes close-just for a few moments-but that was all it took for sweet slumber to mesmerize her.
"Kenzi?" His voice was close as she began to rouse. His hand gently shook her shoulder.
She smiled at the sight of him. "Hey."
"What are you doing? You can't just nap in the hallway with Vex and Evony on the loose." She didn't need to be reminded why as she remembered all too well, the soldier face down in the mud and another still missing.
She rubbed her face. "I closed my eyes for a minute-what time is it?"
"Ten-thirty," his voice was smooth and calming, If she could only convince him to lull her back to sleep with it she could pretend the real reason she was there wasn't important. But it was and she didn't think he would be easily convinced to whisper her to sleep again, anyways. "What's going on, Kenzi?"
She started to push off the wall to stand when he extended a hand and helped her to her feet. She dusted herself off. "I, uh, thought we should talk."
"Did something happen? Are you okay?"
She smiled at that. He was still worrying after her when she had been so horrible to him. "No." She smiled. "I'm fine." She looked up at him, her mouth slightly agape but no words came.
He smiled back at her, suppressing a chuckle. "Kenzi, this is weird even for you."
"I missed you." She touched his cheek.
He turned his head away from her touch. "I'm sorry, but I can't be your hook-up-"
"Oren," she started. He leaned in, waiting for the next piece of her truth. "I love you, I do. And I was so stupid to let you go."
He exhaled, crossing his arms over his chest and she tried to read him. "Come on," he said. "I've got some homebrew in the fridge."
When he turned his back to her to unlock the door, Kenzi did a little dance and looked skyward, grinning.
The door swung open, he switched on the lights in the small unit and went to the kitchenette. He peered into the refrigerator. "You hungry?"
She poked her head into the galley window. "Sure."
He pulled a hoagie wrapped in paper and a pair of brown glass bottles from the refrigerator before standing up straight and closing the door with his foot. Oren set the bottles on the small two-person bistro table and sat across from Kenzi. She stared at him as he unwrapped the sandwich and offered her half on a napkin. Biting into his half, Oren looked up at Kenzi, who looked back at him expectantly.
"So what do you think?" he said, as he chewed the hoagie and swallowed. "About the ale." He took a long swig from the brown bottle and tapped its neck against Kenzi's bottle before she tried the homebrew.
"Huh." She looked at the plain brown bottle and up at Oren. "This is good." She raised her eyebrows appreciatively.
"Thanks, trying to be a guy with a hobby. And if it saves me pay at the pub, I figure it's worth my time."
"Yeah," Kenzi said uncomfortably. This wasn't where she thought the conversation would land when he invited her in.
Oren looked over his sandwich at Kenzi. "So you wanna get back together?"
She choked on a mouthful of ale. "Yeah, I do."
"And you're sure?"
"Is that my sweater?" She stood and walked to his bunk. She looked at him and then to the pile of charcoal grey fabric. Kenzi lifted the hoodie from its resting place, the faded number thirty-four emblazoned on the back.
He set the sandwich down and stood, walking to her side. "You left it here."
"Oh." She smiled sheepishly. "Thanks for keeping it safe for me."
"Kenzi."
She waved a hand and inhaled deeply. "I'm sure." She nodded. "I'm ready."
END PART TEN