What a terrible dream she had last night. All she can remember is flashes of @Cassius ♔, leading him through the grove, the blood shed between them, and the grotesque activities they had participated in. It felt so real that she recalled the salty taste of blood mixed with skin and just how great she had felt during it all. Wow, her hormones were really getting the best of her lately. Slowly as the sun rises over the land and the light peeks through the trees of the grove (or rather what she believes to be her den), the high sovereign groans softly squeezing her eyes tighter as she shifts to bury her face deeper into her favorite pelt. Yes, that was better even though the soft chirping of birds annoyed the hell out of her. If only she could climb into every tree and shut them up.

She is just drifting back into her slumber when she realizes her favorite pelt is breathing. She lies there for a moment, brow furrowing as she once again assumes that the haziness of her heat is making her hallucinate. Front paws stretch out, kneading blindly at the pelt until she confirms that there is movement. Slowly she opens one blue eye noting the mix of black and white fur that she is snuggled against and realizing that there is a canopy of trees overhead instead of the roof of her den. Opening the other eye, Icefang squints as her pupils adjust to the sudden brightness. She shifts to lay onto her belly and further inspects the mass besides her, realizing that what she swore was a dream had been quite real. Cassius was next to her and they were out in the middle of the grove. Their activities on public display for anyone that might of seen or heard them. Pinning her ears against her skull, a groan of frustration emits from her as she buries her face back into his side, incisors attempting to pinch his skin. Damn him for putting her in this predicament. This was definitely his fault.

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If the sun had found them, then he may have woken up sooner. Luckily the thickness of the brush that surrounds the pair is enough to keep the brute shaded.
Cassius would have been content to slumber for the rest of the day, yet someone insisted on moving around. Kneading him in his side. His claws flex, arm wrapping the offender and pulling her closer.
A silent order. Go back to sleep.

The pinch she offers brings forth a rather weak growl. Lazy and uninterested. Was she wanting yet another round? Fuck, could she not let him rest for a little longer? He'd be happy to give her more. He just needed to recharge first. Sleep. Cassius rumbles around a large yawn, his other arm seeking to wrap her frame as well so that he may roll onto his back, placing her on his stomach.

@Icefang ♔

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While she is attempting to shove the mild panic that bubbles within her at their exposure, for the rash consequences of her actions it seems her company is rather content on snoozing the day away. Icefang releases a feeble squeak as one limb reaches out to pull her tighter against him. Now she cannot move. Her pinching only makes the situation more dire for her as he growls for her to keep sleeping, his other arm wrapping around her in a tight embrace as he shifts easily carrying her smaller frame from the earth to the top of his stomach. Now she has a full view of the surrounding grove in front of her. Great.

“Cassius,” she hisses as he slowly drifts back into his sleep. Hell no. She was not planning to be stuck here all day. “Wake up!” The words are spoken rougher now, a command as one ivory paw reaches up in an attempt to bat at his face. She was playing nice for now, but if it took more effort to wake him she would have to crash their slumber party sooner than he expected.

@Cassius ♔

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He can hear his name and softly he pretends as if he is snoring. Pointedly ignoring her. That is until her words are a bit more sharp. Damn, what a little succubus! Maybe she had been right all along. Maybe he couldnt keep up. Christ.

Cassius grunts, one eye opening to look down at her. Hard not to be. The beast coos as her paw baps at his face. Without bothering to loosen his embrace he rolls again. Returning them back to their sides. Now he releases her, head tilting back to yawn once more. Louder this time around. The noise nearly bordering a roar.

He had no idea that she was attempting to keep this low key. But would he have been a little more inconspicuous if he had?

Probably not.

@Icefang ♔

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Was he seriously snoring?! The serpent feels the prickling of irritation along her spine, the offending paw hovering dangerously close over his face as she prepares to launch one of her infamous talon attacks. Let’s see, where should she add her mark to him? Before she can pick from her selection, he is grunting and opening an eye. She does not remove her dangling claws from his face, inside giving him a small growl as he adjusts them again and lays her down on her side facing him. “You never fail to be obnoxious,” she grumbles accepting that unless she took off sprinting right now her hope to remain secluded was pointless.

Sighing she shifts to sit up, flesh colored tongue slipping out to gently groom her paw. Ugh, she would have to venture out of the groove to take a bath. There was no way she could return home reeking of him. “Now that you can think clearly,” because of course she would blame him for their lust induced night. “I’m still waiting for my answer. Which pride are you overtaking? Or are you going to run away with Freja and start your own band within my grove?” Even before he had captured his princess to be future queen, she had caught his scent quite frequently outside of the Brook. Who’s to say he didn’t have his eye on attempting to share this place with her? Butter her up with words, sex, and then hope she wouldn’t make him pay rent.

@Cassius ♔

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He did not shy away from her claws as they hovered above his face. They had left red weeping wounds all over the other. He was coated in the evidence of her wanton fever. And now he lay observing as she groomed herself. Her tongue gliding over the many marks he had also left upon her body. You can wash away the shame all you want. He half chuckles, a paw coming to pester at her chest, ruffling the fur there. But after last night, if you're not pregnant then I've got busted swimmers. He wasn't a fool. He suspected she would not want her pride to know what a cheeky little seductress she truly was. But what would she tell them if her sides swelled in the coming weeks?
It'd of course be a great way to solidify the X'uekai connection. But he had a sneaking suspicion @Icefang ♔ would not have aligning ideas.

Ohhhh, I dunno. Tone evident that he wasn't done teasing her. I quite like the Brook. Brows arching suggestively. He is pulling away and sitting up before she has a chance to rip out his eyes, snickering as he did so. I like Wolfbron but I like the Dieudonne more. So that was a no. Oasis is too hot. The Summit too cold. The Mire is far too muddy..

Goldilocks over here looking for something just right.

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It was an oversight on her part, the recognition that even if she did indeed wash away his scent she was littered in numerous marks that would need tending to. Not that she necessarily did need it, but as a queen it was hard to stumble into your home without many glances and stops along the way when you came back with torn flesh. She only glares at him when he ruffles the fur on her chest, tongue stopping mid stroke on her forearm. He mentions pregnancy and she huffs. Yes, there was a high chance this would result in pregnancy, but the high sovereign had remedies for that. No one needed to know the father and it was only when the children were born that the moment of truth would be revealed. If she were lucky, her genetics would take over though she wouldn’t complain if they took his size.

She continues grooming, but stops and places her paw down ready to smack him when he begins teasing her. The Brook would be a death wish on his part and knowingly he backs away just in time as her paw smacks empty air. “That will only convince me to hang your balls in my den.” It was a part of him he’d surely miss if he decided to be that brave. He then proceeds to list his options - noting what was wrong with each one. She considers what he hasn’t mentioned yet. Firnen, but they were allied with Wolfbron and Ludivine had seemed alright (though she was clueless on the reality of the murders that had transpired between them), so that was a no. Lorien Plains would let him be her immediate neighbor, but she did like Olive. Eh, she wouldn’t suggest that. Even if the Mire’s mud didn’t bother him, Icefang hoped Luther would raise back to his throne. An ally that she would encourage @Cassius ♔ to make in the future. The cove was now her allies. That only left two options causing an idea to flicker into her head.

A small smirk comes onto her lips as she slips back into her succubus state, a soft purr rippling off her words. “I have an idea,” she hums slinking forward in an attempt to gently brush noses with him. “You should take the Lagoon. It is clearly the only choice left, King Cassius.” A flick of her tongue across her lower lip as she seeks to brush the rough spikes against his. “It rolls off the tongue quite nicely, don’t you think?”

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Her paw hits nothing and he couldn't help the triumphant grin he gives her. He was beginning to know her too well. Make sure to kiss them goodnight at the end of each day. He taunts back, already bracing for another swat.

She does stand but not to hit him like he thought she might. He assumed her idea had something to do with violence but he is surprised once again as she is against him. Without thinking he attempts to lean in, wrapping an arm around her to pull her closer. A deep purr gently rolling as their noses press together. Yeah? Hoping it had something to do with the proximity of their bodies again.

What she says makes him pause, his hold falling lax. Scilla? He murmurs as her tongue glides over his lip. It was almost instinctual, the way his own tongue comes to meet hers. Yet his eyes are distant. I was it's Prince once. Which felt like a whole lifetime ago. It never crossed my mind to return there.. Considering he had been on the run from that terrible childhood since witnessing Amara tear apart her challenger for Wolfbron.

The Dieudonne had given him the chance to prove himself through his ambition and strength. Had nurtured his desire of violence. Something his old family had never understand. Something they had never accepted. Regardless of how ever many times he won. All they ever had to offer was discouragement. Belittlement.

Eyes lower to study her face. Had she known all that? Was she saying this to get back at him for the things he had just teased her with? Tensions between her pride and Scilla were also climbing. Maybe she just wanted to use him in her war. He mulled on whether or not he should be upset at her attempt at using him like a pawn. But he found nothing. When it came to the Lagoon, Cassius simply felt nothing. Hatred for the memories but the beach itself? Its sands? I do miss the palms. The faintest of smiles tugging the corners of his lips. Let's say I do take the Lagoon. It would help you out a great deal would it not? Of course it would. It would wipe her biggest threat right off the board. What will you give me?

@Icefang ♔

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All she gave him was an annoyed huff at his slick ass comment as she slides in, mind already focused on the much more important matters of how he could continue to serve her. Their noses brush, the affectionate gesture earning her a purr as he grabs her preparing to pull her against him once more. As soon as her plot drops from her mouth, his grip relaxes and internally she tenses realizing that he was expecting a different idea. "Oh?" she asks, tone soft as he mentions his royal background. He is still young in comparison to her and she can only assume he might of been born a Prince. So, having power was in his DNA. The urge to rule in his blood. Excellent. His tongue still tangos with hers for a second. "Why not?" A possible dangerous question as she attempts to pry into his past. It had been a possible birthright to own the Lagoon one day, so what had caused him to leave and end up in Wolfbron in the first place? Their initial meeting had gone sour so quickly, she had little time to ponder much about him besides teaching him a lesson.

He dwells a bit on his experience in the Lagoon and at the faintest hint of a smile on his lips, she believes that she has him right where she wants him. However, as he asks if this act of service would help her out and she is ready to tell him how much of a good boy he would be to do it, he asks the question she dreads the most. What will you give me? Icefang regards him with a cool stare, blue orbs locked on his only losing contact between vapid blinks. "Do you not see my value?" There were lots of things she could give him though she wouldn't be so quick to start listing them off. Her mind recalls the advice she had given Freja days ago. You were stupid in not offering your terms clearly. He might not be in a political position yet, but @Cassius ♔ was showing himself to be a master in bartering. She would have to play this chess match carefully, her mind already considering all the things he could decide to do or make her do that she'd hate. Starting with the revelation of their secret night or how he gained the Patriarch name to the rest of their kin.

"What is it that you want most, Cassius? What is your ultimate goal?" Maybe she would be the genie to grant his wish.

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She wanted to know his past. Whether out of genuine curiosity or something else, it would make her the first to ever do so. And he thinks about ignoring her. Contemplates brushing it off. But theirs was a complicated relationship. And right now they were sharing perhaps the only unstrained interaction. My father was X'uekai. I never knew him. My mother was Queen of Scilla. And much like the Dieudonne, she preferred her daughters. Nose wrinkling the smallest fraction. As if talking about the dead woman and his estranged sisters left a sour taste in his mouth. I proved myself time and time again. But no matter how many times they lost, my sisters continued to take from me. Them and everyone else beneath my mother. Dagge especially and even though no one else said as much, he could feel it. Even behind Tinuviel's kind eyes he saw glimpses of malcontempt.

A paw comes to cup the Queen's chin. I do indeed see your value. An unfamiliar tone in his voice. Near genuine softness in his eyes. I am not like the X'uekai before me. In most ways he was but in others he was not. He had allowed her to keep her title. Had not demanded all beneath her bend to him and hime alone. Just as he had always tried to prove in cubhood, she was above what was between her legs. In you I see what I always should have had. And she could take that as she willed. He would not elaborate further. Would not describe how she was the guide and family his young heart had always yearned after.

His paw drops as he moves to stand. I will take Scilla Lagoon. For us. For the X'uekai. And if something comes from last night, and you bear me a son.. A thoughtful pause as he examines her face. He could make the boy Heir. Heir to Scilla. Heir to the X'uekai. But only if Icefang was forthcoming of the boy's full heritage. The binding link between their factions. Perhaps he would ask that of her. Perhaps he wouldn't. He was not a fortune teller. He could not see passed whatever the current day brought. If you have a boy. Just promise me that you will give him the life he justly deserves.

Tell him you love him more than hate him.

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