The birds chirped happily on the branches of the trees surrounding the clearing. The Sun was so bright that its light reflected itself on the taut red surface of the apples. The overall picture was that of a perfect Demacian summer...

It had been ruined in a split second by this fucking crow.

Though the air was warm, a chill ran over Quinn's bare body. She brought her legs together against her in an attempt to keep a bit of warmth. She didn't dare come close to Talon after this. She felt filthy again, completely sullied by the situation Swain had put her in.

And Talon still hadn't spoken... Not until now.

"I was such a fool... Damn it!"

Talon hit the tree out of anger, and hurt his fist. His knuckles were beginning to bleed, but he didn't seem to even notice. Quinn's heart lurched at seeing him hurt himself like that. Judging by the scars she had already noticed, this likely wasn't the first time.

"Quinn..."

That was it. He was going to say they were a mistake, her and him. That all she did was bring him trouble. That she wasn't worth it. The perspective of him rejecting her was unbearable.

Talon stood up, and took his cloak. He was leaving. Quinn closed her eyes and winced, she was on the verge of tears.

But the sudden weight falling on her shoulders surprised her. She opened her eyes: Talon was right above her, and kneeled beside her. He had just covered her shivering form with his heavy cloak, and he let his forehead rest against her shoulder. She was confused.

"I'm sorry."

Almost a whisper.

Quinn didn't understand what she just heard. Why was he apologizing? Was he making fun of her? The sour taste in her mouth didn't want to leave.

"You must hate me so much." She blurted out.

"What?"

Talon sounded surprised.

"Yes... I'm just a coward."

"Don't say that." The anger was rising again in his voice.

"But I am!"

"Shut up! I don't want to hear that!" He pressed his forehead against her even more, and had almost shouted. It was so foreign for Quinn to see his emotions take hold of him.

"But HE came to ME! He found us out!" She bit her lip to the point it started to bleed. "I don't know how, but he did. And now he's using me."

"What did he ask of you?"

When did she start trembling like a leaf?

"I think... I think I can't tell you. If I do, he'll reveal our secret to everyone and..."

"No." His tone had become measured and confident again. "He revealed his crow to me willingly. He wants me to know. Believe me, I know him too well." He snickered. "He would never do such a mistake."

"What does that mean?"

"He expects me to push you to do what he wants. He thinks I'll be on his side."

Quinn felt relieved to be able to finally speak, but hesitant. She didn't want to condemn their fate with her words. The crow seemed gone, but it could be hidden anywhere. Listening.

"He... Swain asked me to steal some documents about Demacia's defence... And give them to him. He told me I'd only need to do it once."

"And you believed him?"

Quinn didn't say a word. She almost didn't breathe.

"What stops him from asking more? Nothing."

Exactly. Nothing stopped Swain from using her over, and over again. Quinn felt absolutely stuck. She started crying.

Talon held her. Out of all the things that had and could have happened, he didn't leave her. He was there. The only solace in her misery.

"Do you... Do you think I should do it?" Her voice was so small.

Talon took a long breath, and Quinn felt his chest heave against her.

"Not so long ago... I would have said yes." He lifted his head, and looked at Quinn. She didn't have the strength to avert her teary eyes from his face. "But not so long ago, I wouldn't have cared about your life."

His words fought the pain and dread that threatened her from all sides.

"Doing this will get you killed. I don't want that. I love you."

He held her tightly in his arms as if she could be stolen away. He buried his face in her neck, Quinn felt him tighten his jaw. Only then she realized, he was as afraid as she was. They felt so well together... And so powerless.

"I'll find a way. I'll protect you."

Quinn was afraid to trust his words, but couldn't do otherwise. They were the only light in the future that was stolen from her. And Talon was right. If she obeyed to Swain, she would become a disposable pawn that would be found out in no time. She would be sentenced to death for high treason. And the other option... Betraying her love for Talon... They both knew it was not an option.

A sudden impulse awakened her. She gently pulled Talon's face away from the crook of her neck and found his lips with her own. She was finally breathing again when he responded to her kiss. She felt his muscles relax slightly.

While they kissed softly, she made him lie down and straddled him. He kissed her like he didn't care the world was ending. There was no haste and no panic; all that mattered was the moment sealed by their lips.

Quinn's hands lowered the hem of Talon's leather pants, and found his hardness there. He instinctively responded to her touch by taking her lower lip between his teeth. He brought his hands to her backside, and took hold of her lower cheeks. She started going down on him, but he grabbed her arm.

"Wait... I want to kiss you again."

She had never obeyed such a delicious order. She hastily went back to her previous spot, found his ready member, and eagerly led it inside of her.

The soreness from their earlier lovemaking made them go slower, deeper, tasting the other's body in a way they hadn't done before. Quinn was learning to move differenly, her hips finding new angles to welcome Talon as far in her as she could.

He had found the perfect spot, and hit it thoroughly until they came together.

The Sun was already setting when they regained their senses. Talon decided to spend the night in his hideout, for it was the safest decision, but told Quinn he would be visiting her unexpectedly. She accepted it with a knot in her stomach. They parted painfully and Quinn walked back to the castle, alone in the forest.

"Mmm, this pie is so delicious... Luckily, I know how to hold myself back, haha!"

Lux guilty cut herself another slice of pie from the plate. Her and Quinn had settled in the quiet garden for lunch, but Quinn's stomach was too knotted for her to swallow something filling. She sipped her tea quietly while Lux finished her slice.

"Quinn, you barely ate anything!"

"I'm not really hungry."

"Do you think you're sick or something?"

"No, I'm alright."

Lux thoughtfully took her chin between her fingers, and shamelessly scrutinized Quinn. The scout was beyond uncomfortable, but didn't want to say anything.

"Maybe I did something wrong..." Lux spoke to herself.

"What? What do you mean?"

"Well, I thought the ball had put you in a good mood. Dancing with Jarvan and all..."

Quinn almost choked on her gulp of tea.

"Dancing with... No, Wait! Yes! No..." The conversation had taken a sudden turn that made her want to crawl in a hole. She didn't want to be reminded of Jarvan, especially not of the peculiar attention he had been giving her. Quinn decided to stop trying to justify herself, especially with such a difficulty to speak.

"Haha, Quinn, it's fine!" Lux giggled and put her hand in front of her mouth. "I know everything, you don't have to lie to me anymore."

"You know... What? What do you know?!" Quinn had started trembling in panic.

"I know Jarvan and you have got something going! But don't worry, I won't tell anyone. And I won't judge you either! I never really cared for the etiquette."

Quinn's horror was growing while Lux seemed to be enjoying the moment.

"I've always had something for forbidden love... I know he's a royal but -"

"There's nothing between Jarvan and me, Lux. Really." Quinn had cut her maybe too harshly, but she couldn't bear this idea spreading to her friend's imagination. She tried to speak more nicely. "There never was."

"What the fuck!"

Quinn had never heard the blonde swear. Lux almost seemed angry, red rising to her cheeks.

"But I spoke with Jarvan after your dance! I thought you were head over heels for him!"

"I couldn't say no!" Quinn defended herself.

"Yes, maybe! But then I told him he should confess to you, that it was the right time!" Lux was too embarrassed to speak calmly. They were both lucky to be the only ones in the garden.

"Oh no..." Quinn pinched the bridge of her nose and closed her eyes.

"Did he do it? Did he confess?" Lux asked eagerly.

Quinn had a long sigh.

"Yes."

Lux' face was so red it looked like she had a bad sunburn.

"What happened? Did you reject him?"

"Yes."

Lux's hand flatly hit the table, making the empty dishes shake. She was fuming.

"WHAT THE HELL IS WRONG WITH YOU?!"

Now, Quinn had trouble containing her anger. She tried to control herself, unlike her friend.

"I don't love him, Lux. Simple as that."

"But he's the PRINCE! Do you know how many women wish they were in your place?"

"They can have him if they want! I don't want him."

"You can't refuse!"

"Yes, I perfectly can!" Quinn got up, as did her heartbeat. "I'm not going to run after him just to satisfy your little fantasy! Now, drop it!""

This conversation was exhausting. Quinn hated that she wanted to leave, but this was getting on her nerves. Suddenly, her eyes darted to Lux' own, and she saw they were filled with tears. Seeing the fragile blonde break like that hurt her already wounded heart. Instead of leaving, she sat next to Lux and passed an arm around her shoulders.

"Lux... I'm sorry. I didn't mean to yell like that."

"No... You're right..." Lux sniffed. "That was my fantasy. I thought you'd be so happy."

"I know... I'm not angry with you."

Lux wiped her nose with a napkin and took a long breath.

"Quinn... I must tell you something."

"You can tell me anything, Lux."

"I... I'm so selfish." She sobbed, and buried her head in Quinn's chest. Though she was slightly uncomfortable, Quinn let her. She hesitantly put her hand on the blonde's shoulder to provide her comfort, but she was no expert in soothing other people's sorrow... She wasn't even able to deal with her own.

"I wanted it to work so badly between Jarvan and you. It gave me hope."

"Hope... For what?"

"I thought I was in the same situation as you, Quinn. I love someone. But I don't have the right to love this person."

Quinn felt like she had been punched in the stomach. Oh, if Lux knew...

"I'm sorry... You can't know what it feels like. I'm such a fool for sharing." Quinn hugged her blonde friend tightly. She knew. She couldn't take it anymore, she wanted to tell her.

"You aren't a fool." Quinn said softly.

"It's so painful, Quinn... Knowing I'll never be with this person... I can't even tell you who he is." Lux cried.

"You don't have to, Lux. Your secret is safe with me."

Lux snuggled against Quinn's chest. They weren't so different in size, but at the moment Lux felt so small. It made Quinn feel vulnerable, too.

"You know, Lux... You're not totally wrong. I do love someone."

Lux sniffed and raised her head.

"Why... Why didn't you tell me?"

"It's someone forbidden, too."

A small giggle erupted from Lux's mouth between the short breaths.

"So, I wasn't so wrong! Haha... " She looked at Quinn with a new glint in the eye. "I'm so curious... But I won't ask you more."

She wiped her red eyes with her sleeves and straightened her back.

"Just one thing... Is he handsome?"

Quinn's lips couldn't help but form into a smirk.

"He's literally worth dying for."

Both women laughed together. For the first time in a while, Quinn knew she hadn't made a mistake. Sharing this little bit of knowledge about her love with Lux made it real.

[A/N: Can you guess who is Lux' forbidden love? And does this story make you think of any music? I often listen to "Le Bien qui fait mal" from Mozart l'Opéra Rock when writing it, you should check it out.]