The last forty-eight hours were a whirlwind. There was an apology and change in feelings I would have never expected. The morning after we had sex with each other, I woke up and realized what we had done. He felt fragile in my muscular arms. Even when compared to some women I had been with he had a slimmer physique. What differentiate him from women was the underlying muscle instead of plumpness. He worked out with Mileta who focused on speed which resulted in his slender muscle. He rarely worked out with Alejandro, who was a strength-based trainer.
He smelled like lavender even in sleep, but there was something sweet present. That smell made me salivate and urged me to fall back to sleep. I thrust against him, wanting to feel the pleasure that he had given me a day ago. After one taste of him, I needed more. He was softer than any woman I had ever been with. His moans were one of the most pleasing sounds I had ever heard, angelic.
Thoughts about my husband were the only things on my mind as I mindlessly signed off on requests that whole day. I couldn't wait to get back to him. The whole time I grew aware of how lucky I was for him to accept me in that way after what I had done to him. How could I have ever put someone like him through all of that drama? When I made it home after my tiring day and saw him waiting for me in bed I knew I would regret my actions for the rest of my life.
Another morning with him in my arms and I was in heaven. His body moved in his sleep. He pressed his ass against my pelvis, getting a reaction from my sensitive member. I tightened my hold on his body and his movement dwindled when secured in my grasp. As we lay there, I slowly allowed my mind to wake and my thoughts moved to the future. I had to have that conversation with him. I had to prove that I could be good too, and for him.
If I could do that, we could have an actual relationship. I always wanted a happy relationship. I had always thought happiness meant I would find a noblewoman in the south, have a few kids and try to beat out my siblings for the throne. Even if I never became king and was the prince forever, I would be happy. I realized that what I wanted was someone to create happy memories with. I wanted inside jokes, kisses that last till the sunset, and a family that was happy.
Though I know I shouldn't, I moved my hands down his back and played with his pajama pants, feeling just above the curve of his. I bit my lip when my fingers felt nothing under the thin material. I wondered if he dressed more feminine for himself or because it was what he wanted. He had leaned on the dainty side since I met him, so I assumed he did it for himself and would leave it at that. I was enjoying it anyway.
The sun had not come up, so I allowed myself to fall back asleep. I wasn't in proper sleep, but my eyes were closed, and I stopped moving. "Your highnesses," Mileta's voice boomed throughout the room which jostled me to an alert stare and woke Myles. He shot up with a look of bewilderment on his face. I used my digital companion to activate the lights. My vision was blurry, but I made out both of our guards at the door. They almost seemed panicked, which concerned me.
"What's going on," I asked. The situation had to be dire since both of our personal guards never looked like they did in that moment.
"Approximately thirty minutes ago there was a bombing at one of the urban guard facilities. We thought it was a gas leak or something accidental, but rapid forensics teams said it was a direct attack. There are over twenty reported casualties and six guards in critical condition. The Muerte group has already claimed the attack as of two minutes ago. They said it was a direct challenge to the power of the crown," Mileta said.
"Holy shit," Myles said as he rubbed his eyes. I put my hand on his shoulder to comfort him. Though I was angry, I had a job to do.
"Get a crisis response unit on the scene as soon as possible. Call off the presses, I want us to be the ones to tell the families. Do not go by rank or nobility status, everyone's family will receive the same level of notification. I want there to be a ground force presence within a ten kilometer range of the target facility. Make sure we keep the thrones of both the South and North in the loop. We need to catch anyone associated with this terrorist attack and group as soon as possible. I want them alive and I want the head of interrogation on the ground." I had prepared for something like this since I was a child so I knew exactly what to do, I never thought I would have to put that knowledge to use. It was a devastating moment I knew would paint the way I ruled forever. Mileta waited for me to stop speaking before she dashed out of the room to relay my message to those who needed it.
"Did anyone in the public eye die in the attack? It will be harder to get the media to back off if that is the case," Myles said, as he laid back down with eyes glistening.
"They were all grunts, mostly in training. There were two medical volunteers that emergency field medical physicians pronounced dead from severe burns and smoke inhalation. It looked like they were healing before succumbing to their wounds. There were also two guards who worked at the North entrance that died from cuts to the throat and bullets to the head. We may have video of that attack," Alejandro answered. His eyes went from mine to Myles. He looked devastated that he had to say the words.
"Thank you. Help Mileta while we gather ourselves." Alejandro bowed his head before shutting the door as he departed. "Are you okay?" I turned to Myles as I rested on the headboard.
"No, twenty people are dead. They did nothing to deserve that other than working for us. This is so unfair. Their poor families and everyone they cared about will get the worst news today. What can we even do to solve this?" Tears rolled down his face and his voice became raspy.
"This isn't our fault. You can't expect to control what everyone does, even gods can do that. It's not realistic. People kill for any reason they can somewhat justify." I reached for his hand that was resting on the covers, but he pushed it away. It hurt, but he was going through something so I tried to not take it as a personal attack.
"I expect us to not be the reason people die or get hospitalized," he said. He had gone from crying to huffing in anger.
"You are putting the blame on yourself when it belongs to the people who did this. The world isn't warm and fuzzy; it's messy and dangerous. People will die for things that make little sense, and it isn't fair. We can't allow injustice to break us because we have a duty to stay strong in the face of an insurmountable task." I took his hand, not allowing him to push me away. His mood worried me he would spiral.
"I hate this life. I don't like being in charge of stuff like this. Why couldn't we be average people? Why do we have to make life and death decisions?" I pulled him on top of me and held him. His body shook involuntarily as he attempted to suppress his emotions. I didn't have an answer for him and I didn't think he was looking for me to give him one. He held onto me until he could stop sniffling.
"Are you calm now," I asked as I rubbed his back. I wanted to comfort him, but we had to make some important decisions. "Yeah. You can let me go now," he said, trying to pull away.
"I don't want to," I said as I tighten my arms around his chest. He looked down at me with puffy eyes and copper undertones. "What is up with you? One day you're an asshole and the next you're comforting me."
"I know this change has been one-eighty. I had considered nothing other than getting a wife, having kids, and earning the crown of the south. So when our parents forced us into a marriage, I fought against making an honest effort with you. My brother helped me realize what I was doing and a major fault I have. I realized I wasn't being honest for myself and made a change. When I decide that I want to do something, I'm all in. I won't lie and say I'm in love with you but I want to see if that is a possibility. We could end up happy together if I stop fucking up and if you're willing to give me that chance. If it doesn't work, I'd rather be friendly than having animosity grow between us. We are together forever, so why not make forever enjoyable?"
"Yeah, we're stuck together aren't we?" He exhaled and turned to the window to see the sun make an appearance over the horizon. I chuckled and wiped his tears away.
"We need to stop these animals before more people die. I know it was her that did this. Those explosions sounded unnatural. We need to restrict all forms of combustion magic," He said. I could see he needed time to consider what I had said so I would have to be patient. A night of sex and a few cuddles wouldn't erase all I had done. Also, this was not the best time for us to have a sincere talk about our relationship. Both of our emotions and focus were on the issue at hand.
"We'll do that. First thing we need to provide proper burials," I said. "I want to set their families up financially. They need not worry about something as meaningless as that," he replies. I nodded in agreement. I wouldn't have thought to do that, so it was good he was there. Myles had an emotional intelligence far beyond mine.
"All right, we need to both contact our parents," he said. "My mother will call me in a few if I know her like I think I do," I said. The conversation would be tense.
"Okay," he said as I released him. He climbed out of bed as I rested for a last moment. He retrieved a robe from the closet and brushed his teeth before leaving the room to make his calls. I wanted to keep calm for just a few minutes before I had to face the attack head on. Just a handful of seconds before my mother's lecture on what I was and wasn't doing correctly. Then there would be the families.
Just as I was about to get up my companion notified me of a request for a video call with my mother. I braced myself before accepting with a head held high, and a mind focused on the task.