Author's Note: This is a longer chapter, but full of several little separate sections. I try not to do so many in one chapter, but it just worked out that way this time. I hope that's not too confusing! Let me know.

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"How is the production coming?" Kietnan asked Othen as the four brothers were eating a midday meal together.

I believe it's all coming together. Othen responded.

"I'll just be glad when it's over and I can have my partner back." Joreth complained. "She practically lives over there. In fact, I think she only comes home to see our son or else she would sleep there too."

"She keeps stealing my partner away as well." Kietnan agreed. "She's always wanting her opinion on just about everything. And when she's not doing that, she's stealing me away. I never knew so much went into these things."

"She hasn't sent me any more edits to review, so I am happy." Kahal added.

"You will be even happier when you find your own partner." Kietnan smirked.

"Our mother definitely believes so." Kahal responded.

"She is right, you know." Joreth added.

"True, but only with the right person. It can't be forced." Kietnan added.

"You've only had a partner for a handful of months and you're already an expert?" Kahal chuckled.

"It doesn't mean he's wrong." Joreth added. "How are things with Teth's niece, Lady Biechta?

"I have to admit, she is different than when she first arrived here. Our first meeting I struggled to not fall asleep."

"But you find her different now?" Othen asked.

"She is still quiet and reserved, but it seems she has finally found her own voice. Definitely more interesting that way instead of being a robot that only does and says as their family tells them to." Kahal took a gulp of water and thought of the female before continuing. "Yes, I'd say I like her better now."

"Oh." Othen said quietly but no one heard him as Kietnan spoke up.

"It is disgraceful, how her family has treated her. I don't know all of the details, but I know Ashima has cried over it."

"How do you handle all of those extreme emotions?" Joreth asked before chuckling. "And to think, I thought I had it bad with my partner."

Kietnan shrugged. "They are a part of her. Just like your partner's eccentric passion for theater is a part of her."

Joreth nodded and continued eating. "Kahal's fate will be sealed soon enough. Next, mother will be finding a partner for Othen. Maybe then we can all get some peace around here."

"You know she will find something else to become her pet project." Kahal added and all of the brothers nodded. "And I hardly think having four females added to our family will lead to more peace and quiet." Kahal smirked and the brothers laughed and nodded in agreement.

"Going back to what Joreth said, Othen are there any prospective partners for you?" Kietnan asked, watching his brother.

Othen glanced at Kietnan and then Kahal before taking a bite of food. After a moment he responded. "No."

"Better start seriously looking before the queen decides you're her next target." Kahal commented. "Trust me, it's easier that way."



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Thuq,

Of course I would be happy to come see you in person! I am catching up on work hours after my time away, but I should be able to have some time off by the end of this week.

I'm sorry this letter is short, we will talk more when I come there in a few days.

I look forward to seeing you.

Lana

Kahal read the letter again. He didn't know why but something just seemed off about it. Sure, she didn't have to write a long letter if there was nothing more to say. Especially if she would be coming in person soon. But he couldn't fight a feeling in his gut that something was off. All he could do at this point was wait and see what she had to report.



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"I don't know, Shima." Kietnan said as he joined her for an afternoon hike after leaving lunch with his brothers.

"Come on, Ki! It's so obvious!"

"Maybe she is to you. But he wasn't obvious to me."

"You asked him if he's interested in anyone?"

"Yes, just as you asked me to."

"And?"

"And he said no."

"He's either lying or he's in denial."

"Shima." Kietnan sighed.

"It's the truth!"

"Or you're wrong."

She playfully punched his arm and he responded by grabbing her around the waist and pinning her to him, staring at her as if to challenge her into trying to break free of him.

"I know I'm not wrong about her feelings toward him. Or I at least would be shocked if I were wrong about her."

"Let them be. They can figure things out on their own."

"You've met her, right?" Ashima chuckled. "She's super sweet but she's even more innocent and naive than Othen is. Those two would take forever to figure anything out on their own. And even longer to actually do anything about it. They're too... I don't know. polite."

"They'll figure it out. Or you will. But for right now..." he bent down and kissed her cheek, then her ear, and then trailed kisses down her neck to her collar bone. "How about we focus on your feelings for me."

She giggled and threw her arms around him. "I love you." She spoke softly just before their lips met.



~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"Oh, greetings-"

"Greetings Thuq, I'm so glad you invited me to come see you." Rahn said wide eyed as she made a face that said play along or I'll rip you apart. Or at least, that's what she hoped she was conveying as she pointed to a small piece of metal in her ear. Thuq stood there staring at her. "Aren't you going to invite me in, my love?" She asked as she glanced up and down the hallway.

She had sent another letter two days after the first, letting "Thuq" know she'd be coming by the next day just after midday meal. Thankfully Thuq was there when she arrived, just like they'd planned the last time she had come in person.

He nodded and Rahn let out a thankful breath as he stepped to the side and let her in before closing the door behind him.

"It's been a while since I've seen the inside of your dwelling." She hoped her voice sounded as playful as she was trying to portray, she had to keep up the same flirtatious tone she'd been using in her letters. Now that she knew for a fact they'd been intercepting and reading them. "Although, this time I take it this time we won't be going straight to your bedroom." She chuckled and again pointed at her ear, hoping he'd understand.

Thuq visibly flinched at her words and she motioned for him to stay quiet and mouths silently "where is Kahal?"

Thuq nodded and quickly opened the door beside him to reveal what looked to be Thuq's home office. Kahal stood from the armchair where he was sitting and opened his mouth, only to be cut off by both Thuq and Rahn waving their hands.

Rahn knew there'd been too much silence on the other end though, so she needed him to speak before they became suspicious. "Thuq, don't just stare at me like that, say something." She stared at Kahal, mentally willing him to pick up on the fact that they were being listened to as she pointed to the metal piece in her ear. "You did invite me here, did you not? Something about missing me and wanting to talk about our relationship. Sound familiar?"

Kahal cleared his throat. "Right, yes. I apologize." He motioned for Thuq to leave the room. "I just... I'm so glad to see you. You had me worried, you know."

"And I apologized for that."

"Yes. It's just good to see for myself... that you are alright."

Rahn smirked, suddenly feeling immersed in their roles. "If that's what you need to feel at ease, perhaps you'd like to come over here and see for yourself just how fine I am. Better yet, how about you feel for yourself too?"

What Rahn wasn't expecting was for him to take wide strides across the room and stand directly in front of her. "Perhaps I should." He said in a low voice.

Rahn's mouth opened in shock. What?! He took another step and she took a step back, wide eyed. He took one more step and she backed into the wall. He placed his hands on either side of her head.

"What are you doing?" She whispered, her voice sounding weak.

"Isn't this what you wanted, Lana?"

Right. She blinked and drew in a breath to steady herself. "That doesn't mean I was expecting it." She spoke softly. "The last time I came here you were barely willing to see me."

"As I said in my letter, I've had time to think things over. I've made my decision."

"What's that?" She asked.

He leaned closer, whispering into her ear. "I want you."

"Maybe I'm not going to just let you change your mind on me so easily." She whispered back.

"I would expect nothing less." He said softly and she could feel tingles across her skin as his breath fanned her neck. "You never make anything easy."

"Of course not." She breathed out, finding it hard to concentrate. "There's no fun in easy."

"And are we going to have fun today, Lana?"

Rahn's mouth opened but nothing came out. She felt like lines were blurring. What were they doing? Was this going to help her predicament? She couldn't think straight with him so close to her."

"What's this?" He asked as he caressed her ear.

"Hmm?" She mindlessly responded.

"New jewelry?"

She tensed. Did he just mention the ear piece?! Why would he do that? Anger and frustration began to fill her.

"How about we take that off. You know how exploratory I get. I don't want to mess it up. Or lose it."

"Oh... um..."

"You can always put it back on when I'm finished looking you over." He leaned into her ear again and whispered. "The offer still stands doesn't it? For me to feel and see you."

He leaned away from her ear and stared at her, his face looked completely impassive. She suddenly realized he was waiting on her to respond.

She drew in a breath and closed her eyes, mentally preparing for the show she was about to put on mere inches away from her general and future king.

"Mmm" she moaned quietly and opened her eyes, staring straight into his. "Thuq, stop that." She said in a playful voice that really said she didn't want him to stop at all.

She moaned again, longer and louder this time. "Okay fine. I'll take it off. Stop licking me, you'll damage it. This jewelry is delicate. It cost me a lot of money."

He stayed right in front of her face as he made a low, growling noise of satisfaction. "Hurry." He smirked. "As you said, it's been a while since you've seen my bedroom. I plan to fix that."

She chuckled playfully and then removed the ear piece, and he took a step back away from her. But then held it out and looked at him in question as if to say what now??

He took the piece and sat it on a side table near the door.

"Come on." He said, making sure they could hear as he picked her up bridal style. She let out a yelp of surprise. "I'm not going to wait any longer." He loudly kicked open the door and Rahn let out a series of scandalous noises as they retreated down the hallway.

When they were on the complete other side of Thuq's dwelling with the door closed she let out a chuckle as Kahal sat her on her feet and quickly stepped to the other side of the room.

"That was wonderful acting, my lord." She said quietly, just in case. "Who knew you'd have it in you." She crossed her arms and smirked at him.

"I was shown a good example by a certain female guard not too long ago." He sat at the top of the bed, leaning against the headboard and crossing his arms as well as propping his feet up and crossing his ankles.

"Comfortable?" She asked.

"Very."

"I didn't think you were actually taking me to the bedroom."

"It was furthest from the room we were in."

"Ah... I see." She moved to sit on a chair at the vanity beside his bed, on the side opposite Kahal. Quick thinking by the way. It was a good idea on how to get us in a different room than the ear piece."

He simply nodded. "What happened?"

She stared at him a long moment before moving the chair to sit closer to the bed and propping her feet up on top of the blanket, matching his comfortable position.

"I take it my notes from a few days ago were delivered to you?"

He nodded.

"Good, so you know all about my time in the underground bunker system."

He nodded again.

"I was assuming they'd watch me closely after that, see if I spoke to anyone or told them anything. But nothing much happened after they released me. Well, not much other than them keeping me busy being a courier. Same as I was doing underground, just above ground instead."

"But the day after your letter arrived, I was brought back into the underground bunker and taken to a female named Plar."

"Plar?"

"Yeah terrible name, I know. Anyway, she is one of the higher ups. I don't know how high, but definitely higher than the members that normally interact with me."

"Do you know much about her?"

Rahn shook her head. "I'd never met her before that day. She basically admitted they'd read our letters. She knew you'd asked me to come see you, that it looked like Lana and Thuq would be getting serious again. They had done their homework and knew who Thuq worked for and wanted to capitalize on this opportunity."

He stood up from the bed then turned back to look at her. "And you're smiling because this is the break you needed. It gave them a reason to get you involved."

She nodded.

"So what is it they asked of you?"

"They need me to get information. I of course told them I couldn't risk my relationship with Thuq at this pivotal time."

"So they threatened to get it from him themselves, in a less nice way." Kahal guessed.

"Exactly."

"What information? Security plans for our upcoming visitors and big events?"

She nodded. "It confirms our precious thoughts that they don't have anyone planted in the guards."

"No it just means they don't have anyone high up."

"Hmm?"

"I've only discussed plans with the captains. The lower ranks know they're preparing for something but they don't know any key details such as dates, times, and locations. Of course everyone already knows the details of the production, I couldn't keep that a secret. But only The Premier and the captains know when each lord and lady are to arrive, where they'll be greeted and where they'll stay. We've also not told anyone details of the banquet, much to my mother's complaints, I might add. Although I'll have to tell the kitchen and wait staff at some point, I'll put that off as long as possible."

She watched as he paced while he spoke, she could tell he was going through every detail in his mind. "Tell me something."

"Hmm?" He stopped and turned to face her.

"The transcripts I was given when I first arrived at my temporary home. Who wrote the notes on them?"

"The Messages from The Aerulians?"

She nodded.

"Those notes were mine."

"I knew it."

"Why?"

"I have to admit, I am impressed, my lord." She gave him a deep nod, a common sign of deep respect or a greeting for high authority.

"Don't start with that formal stuff now, you've been doing so well." He grumbled.

"Someone doesn't take compliments well." She smirked before standing and getting serious. "Ok so what can we give them?"