The Taste and Price of Victory

The King and Queen

Amira withheld a gasp, unbelieving. She finally had a face to the voice that she had been hearing ever since she had killed Riko and gained his powers. She almost groaned, easily telling everything about the man in front of her oozed danger, but in a good way. He was completely and totally appealing. 

He had black, shaggy hair that completely covered his forehead, almost his eyes. His eyes were calculating and smart, a green color. His body seemed to be modeled after a god. He had a strong, sharp jaw. His shirt revealed his muscles, especially showing off the ones on his arms.

She realized she had frozen in the middle of the palace entrance, staring at Kengi with an almost mouthwatering look. She quickly scolded him in her head,"You should've given me a warning that you would appear out of nowhere." She turned to Kasi with a smile,"Let's go. The King and Queen will want to see us immediately."

As they walked, Kengi walked beside her. Well, walking by very loose standards as his feet never truly touched the ground. He stared at her the entire time as if picking through the inside of her head to find something useful to use against her.

Amira eventually hissed in her head to him,"Can you maybe not distract me? I'm trying to win a war and help Kasi." She looked at him, seeing a strange expression on his face, confusion clouding her expression.

Kengi shook his head, the emotion leaving as quickly as it had appeared, a smirk taking it's place,"Am I distracting you, Amira?" He got closer to her, his green eyes locking onto hers. She swore if he was actually in front of her, her legs would've already given out.

She snapped her head forward, voice laced with venom as she spoke to him in her head,"Yes, you are. I'm under a lot of pressure right now, and your scrutiny isn't helping me at all."

Kengi's smirk grew,"Hmm, maybe I can distract you tonight in your dreams."

"You can control my dreams?"

"Kinda. I can enter them and alter them. Sometimes, your dreams with me in them will feel almost like real life."

"Do you ever get to dream?"

He paused,"Sometimes..." He shrugged,"I used to dream about getting out of people's heads. Eventually, the thought and hope tormented me so much I stopped sleeping."

Amira felt a flood of sympathy rush through her,"I'm so sorry, Kengi. I-"

"I don't want your pity, Amira," he cut her off,"I don't see a reason for you to apologize for something that isn't your fault nor something you can't control."

She snuck a glance at him, seeing his body tense slightly. She didn't say anything, for once truly speechless. She stopped outside the throne room, turning to Kasi with a small smile,"Are you ready to meet the King and Queen of Astralis?"

Kasi's smile was nervous,"Not really, but let's go. Besides..." She threw a confident smile at Amira,"We have an evil monster to beat."

Amira laughed,"We have an evil kingdom to beat, actually." She looked at the door,"Don't forget to show respect to the King and Queen. Make sure you curtsey low enough. The King likes when people show him extreme respect."

Kengi joked in her head,"Who wouldn't? You love when people show you respect." 

Amira hissed inwardly without bite,"You love it too, Kengi, so shush. I need to be able to focus." She heard him chuckle before he went silent. 

Kasi nodded,"Alright. Let's do this." She moved to flank Amira, eyes trusting.

Amira nodded towards the guards at the door,"Open it." She strode forward as they opened the door, Kasi flanking her. She stopped at the base of the thrones in the back of the room, dropping to kneel before them,"Your Majesties, I have returned with what is left of my army."