This Is What It's Like To Be Lovers [ON HOLD]

3: We Can Find Each Other This Way

• Come and Find Me by Josh Ritter •

A sharp purr from her cat made Larimar rush towards the bedroom - her hair in a towel and wearing nothing from the neck down.

As she stepped into her sleeping room, she realized why her cat had been calling to her. But she was a moment late at the realization, and at that moment, the other figure in her room let their eyes rove over her body one full time before turning away.

Larimar gasped and rushed back into the private bathroom. Her cat followed her steps, and took refuge behind her legs.

"My apologies, High Princess Larimar." It was the voice of an unfamiliar woman. "I'm... I...didn't realize you'd be in the bath at this hour. I'm Jade...from Jahima. Could you please come with me for a moment? Please?"

Jade. From Jahima.

Queen Jade? The one who revolted against her father and took away the woodside realm from under his control? The one Larimar had read dozens of books about, and always wondered what kind of a person she might be?

Larimar covered her mouth in astonishment. What could she possibly be doing here at this hour? What did she want with her?

"And why would I?" Jade heard her ask. The young Queen's cheeks were flushed red from the encounter, hot from seeing the Princess nude. And hot from the stagnant air in the room.

She sighed. "You'd probably not want to come with me if I tell you."

"Then, that should be the end of the conversation, no?" Larimar returned, trying to sound antagonizing.

Jade smiled a little. She knew the pretense of a heavier voice, and the swift yet nervous uttering of several words at once. She'd done that herself before.

"There's a...battle going on in the front yard of your home, Princess," Jade informed.

"A battle? Between whom?"

"Your aunt Sillia and I had come here to... umm... assassinate your father. But we discovered that somebody had snitched and he was ready for us with...his soldiers."

"Wait, wait, wait! You're telling me, you came here to assassinate my father? And now you want me to just come with you? If you want me to walk into a trap, at least don't make it this obvious." Larimar giggled, feeling the faintest tremors of power from making a snarky remark.

The warrior Queen felt a heaving tightness around her chest. "Princess, I'm not here to hurt you. Some of my troops had gotten inside the castle on Sillia's orders to capture your ministers, family, and yourself. I'm here to...and, you may not believe me, but I'm here to prevent that. Please come with me."

Lari didn't reply for a few moments, calculating the pros and cons inside her head, trying to figure out whether she was being lied to. Mewton was near her feet, on her four paws, her tail alert and unwavering, her tricolored fur standing on her neck. She was not purring anymore.

"Is it done?" Larimar finally asked, her enunciation shaken, her bottom lip between her teeth, "is he... RR gone?"

Jade weighed the question in her mind before answering. What did the Princess want to hear?

"Sillia took responsibility for it. I had to come to find you."

Larimar sighed and took the towel off her hair, letting the damp strands fall past her shoulders, before wrapping it around her bust and walking out. Jade turned to look away again, giving her as much privacy as was possible at the moment.

"How did you find my quarters?" Larimar asked again. "You're not supposed to know the layout of the palace."

"I was lucky," Jade returned, touching the cut on her cheek. The warmth of the room irritated it. "I met a kind, old man on my way and he recognized me. I told him the circumstances and he showed me to your quarters."