Dragonkin 2: My Persistent Mate

Part 5 Working through the night

The quiet wee hours of the night helps Karalian focus better and he manages to clear the desk free of documents. Stretching his arms above his head, he cracks his sore neck. Walking to the windows, he admires the dark night while contemplating the papers he had read. Some of the documents bear further exploring. Guinevere's proposal is interesting and is beneficial in helping to groom our successors for the council and leadership positions.

Done with thinking about work, his wayward thoughts shift to Guinevere. My younger second cousin is a fascinating character. She used to visit and play with us often when we were children. I remember her doting on my younger sister Karalene like her own little sister. Karalene used to follow Guinevere everywhere like a baby chick following a mother hen. She is fiercely protective of my younger siblings regardless of her own clumsiness. My lips lift on their own volition and I smile bemusedly at the childhood memory.

Another memory surfaces, this time, a pudgy Guinevere who used to avoid me like a plague as a child. When she is inevitably in my presence, she would cower behind her father, who is a cousin of the current empress, my mother. Or cry loudly enough to wake the dead if she can't hide from me. I'm pretty sure I wasn't that scary as a child, I was just older, and unsociable. To my credit, I didn't bully her. I was too preoccupied with my studies to bother with her. But somehow, she developed an unholy fear of me, which reason remains a mystery to me till today.

But looking at her now, the timid congenial cute sprite with an elfin face, ruddy cheeks and bright toothy smile is gone, and in its place is a spitfire beauty who is undeterred by my station. Seeing her fit of temper in the car was a surprise. I'd have thought she'd not countermand my express orders. Instead, she fusses over me like a mother.

During the sparring, she has proven herself to be a worthy opponent in spite of her small stature. Her reflexes are lightning quick, darting out of my reach fast before I can grapple her. Nimble on her feet, she escaped my punches a few times. It is not an easy feat. She has come a long way. I remember she used to trip over her own feet during training with her father and was reprimanded many times because of that.

Thinking about the match, Karalian recalls the feel of her on him. She's all woman, soft and curvy in all the right places. While she was squirming on top of him to free herself, it took immense effort to stay absolutely still and not ravish her there and then. Kissing her was an impulse and a bad move on hindsight. He was also hard-pressed to pretend to be nonchalant when she discovered his erection. Given that she's to be my advisor and aide, it is bad form to sexually harass her. What's worse is that I now want to devour her, once I have gotten a taste of her. His brows snapping together into a fierce frown, this makes working together with her difficult. She is turning into a distraction I can ill afford.

During the meetings today, my eyes keep straying to her and I find it difficult to follow the discussions, a behaviour which is unheard of for him. Lucky for him, Guinevere always summarizes the salient points of the meetings in the car before they debate on the outcomes of the issues discussed. He can't help but be unexpectedly impressed by her wide knowledge of matters pertaining to education, politics and economics. Then again, he shouldn't be surprised. We are both children of noble families, who are trained from the cradle for our respective roles. Successors to the throne and council are chosen with great care. They must undergo internship and sent to work at other courts before taking over the position. I had been tasked with ambassadorship and assessed before assuming my current role. She'd have passed the council's test before they summon her back to court to become my aide. However, becoming my advisor must have been an ordeal for her, since she doesn't like me much in the first place.