Mature: Desert Moon

[Emora Deen]

Tenara refused bedtime that night. She ran around in circles giggling, dancing, hyper. Tenele laughed at her. She'd given Tenara her bath, and the little girl frolicked with damp hair and dressed in a girly nightgown. She really didn't blame the little girl for being wide awake, after all... she just got her parents back.

But, some time later she ran her battery low and Tenele curled with her in their big bed. Tenele fell a sleep not too long after Tenara finally succumbed to it.

Later that night Atul knocked quietly on the door and stepped in. He spotted Tenele curled in bed with Tenara. He almost backed out of the room.

[Soran Nightblade]

Vlad was sitting awake on the balcony, surveying the familiar landscape of Hajara's moon-kissed harbor. He was listening intently to his wife and daughter's hearbeats, but couldn't make himself lie down. He looked over his shoulder at the familiar rhythm of Atul in the room behind him. His ruby eyes flickered with relief when he spotted the man.

Relief? He cast his uneasy emotions to the back of his mind. A psychic tendril pulled lightly at the front of Atul's shirt to let him know he was out there.

[Emora Deen]

Atul crept across the room, through the curtain, and out onto the balcony. He peeked back inside to make sure he hadn't woken them up.

"Sorry I took so long getting back here. I've got this damned Queen from a northern kingdom called Kalu who insists that I've chosen the wrong woman as my bride. I think I'm going to have to use force to get her to leave," he sighed heavily. "The advisers are breathing down my neck to make my marriage with Espha quick so all questions will be off the table. I'm in no hurry to run into that trap any earlier than I have too... That's just the tip of the mess I walked into when I got back."

Atul leaned heavily on the banister surrounding the balcony and exhaled in a long breath. "What about your day?"

[Soran Nightblade]

Vlad looked at the king's handsome form leaning tiredly on the rail. "It was better," he said. "Tenara took it hard when we got back. But she seemed to be more like herself after a little while. Espha also visited. It seems she is quite kind to her."

He didn't sound truly interested in his report, probably because he wasn't. He was thinking about the slight bend of exhaustion in the king's posture, a weariness he'd never noticed in him before. "It is a lot," he said with calm concern. "You can talk about it, if you want. If it will help you, I mean."

[Emora Deen]

Atul smiled, but it wasn't a happy smile. It was a tired smile. "Ah," he sighed, stretching out his arms. "Its a lot. But, I'm king. Its always going to be a lot." He went back to leaning against the railing. "So much right now. Tenele, Espha, new alliances to be made with Kalu, keeping the trade going with Ighten, blocking out Arken. Taxes. Crime. Flushing out the last remaining supports of Verin. I have a whole town growing to the east that is nothing but demons. A whole town of trouble collecting in one spot." Atul shook his head. "This is all very boring to you..."

The King reached up and pulled the cord from his hair. The black fell around his shoulders, tossing gently on the breeze. "I've been trying to think of a way to get out of my wedding night," Atul admitted. "Espha isn't known to a man and I can't bring myself to force her into my bed on the basis of it being her duty as my wife. It seems cruel. I mean, eventually I'm going to have to own up to being a monster, I can't run from it forever. But, priests will check to insure we consummated the marriage. It won't be completed until then."

[Soran Nightblade]

Vlad thought on it, his expression sober but calm. A calm he'd worn since the night before, when he believed he had raped his wife. He didn't intend to take it off. It was still needed. It might always be needed. "She is capable of consummating the marriage upon herself. It could be uncomfortable for her, but there are devices suited to the purpose. You could guide her, and then offer her privacy. Though the physical discomfort would be less if you were to assist in preparing her." The thought left a sour taste in his throat.

[Emora Deen]

Atul winced. "Yes, there are devices," he admitted. "Seems... cold, and lonely... and sad, maybe even a little bit frightening for a girl like Espha. And if I assist in preparing her, I might as well make love to her. Its not that much further..." Atul placed his head in his hands. "I'll figure it out. I could ask her what she might prefer. She may choose the quiet loneliness of some inanimate object."

[Soran Nightblade]

"There is no one she cares for? You are certain she does not care for you?" Vlad asked.

[Emora Deen]

Atul frowned. "I don't think she does," he replied. "I hope she doesn't. As far as someone who cares for her... She hasn't told me. Though, I get the sinking suspicion your fledgling has a crush on her. When I arrived back from my trip at word that you and Tenele had gone overboard, they were making goo-goo eyes at each other. He's a good bit older than her isn't he? Gods, what am I saying... I'm older than her. This would be so much easier if she did love someone. Then, he could take my place on that night."

[Soran Nightblade]

Vlad nodded, rising to lean on the railing beside Atul. "You could take her out riding," he observed. "I've heard that unmarried women who ride often sometimes find it quite challenging to convince their future husbands of their innocence." God, that sounded crude. But it was true.

[Emora Deen]

Atul nodded. "That's not a bad idea... She might enjoy getting out of the palace," he replied, smiling a little. "It will be interesting explaining that theory to her..." Atul straightened, scratching the back of his head. "Speaking of unwanted sexual encounters... How has Tenele been today? I'm still a little in shock over her approach this morning. I thought she was going to kill me instead of asking me to take her on a date. I still kind of wish she would have murdered me. Then, I wouldn't have to worry about this mess."

[Soran Nightblade]

Vlad looked at Atul. "You couldn't help what the link did to you, Atul. She is aware that you had no control, and she knows you are innocent. Don't worry the issue any further than that. Don't blame yourself for my error." He looked out over the gentle waters of the harbor. "She wanted my embrace last night. I suspect she doesn't trust me, but she needs someone, and I'm her best shot." He patted his friend on the shoulder. "I hope your date goes well.

[Emora Deen]

Atul smiled. "I hope it goes well too... I guess tomorrow evening is the best time. People aren't apt to notice me in the dark. Its a good thing that subjects rarely see their king. I'll have to get her something for her hair. Its best if we go this one incognito."

"On a last note," Atul added. "I have all my scribes looking through the library for anything they can find on Hesics. I've also sent word to the four major provinces to search their keeps for anything. We'll hear something soon. I promise..."

Atul looped an arm around Vlad's waist. "So," he mused. "Your bed looks crowded and mine is empty. Feel like sleeping with me?" The King looked purely exhausted and in desperate need of sleep. He hadn't slept at all last night, and the days events had left him even more drained.

[Soran Nightblade]

Vlad nipped the man's nose lovingly. He couldn't imagine sleeping, but the exhaustion in the man's eyes stopped him from mentioning it. "I will watch over your sleep, my king," he vowed warmly, turning with Atul's guidance on his waist. He led the man silently through Tenara's room, and cast a last look over his sleeping wife and daughter. Then they left quietly into the hall and made their way to Atul's suite. The smell of the room relaxed the vampire instantly. The faint scent of clove and honey was in the air, along with an essence that was distinctly of Atul, and this place. He'd missed it.

[Emora Deen]

Atul removed his fancy kingly garbs and washed before slipping naked beneath the sheets. His limbs felt so heavy and exhausted. "I didn't wall up the secret entrance between our rooms," he mentioned to Vlad as he snuggled up to a pillow. "If you get bored and want to go back over no one will see you slip out through there." The King let out a heavy tired sigh. "Good night, Vlad..." I love you...