The Imperial Tigress

Siobhan washed away all of the sweat from the dance, and put on a clingy and slightly sheer nightgown. She was now ready in case the Prince summoned her. She paced her room while she waited since she had nothing better to do.

An hour later, the clock struck midnight, and Siobhan decided that the Prince wasn’t going to summon her after all. She wondered what to do. It seemed that he wasn’t overly interested in her after all.

She pulled on a thick, fluffy robe, and decided to get some help. She walked silently down the hallways, and was grateful that the candles were low. She did not need anyone seeing her right now.

She knocked softly, and then let herself in. “Raston?”

The head of the Secret Guard exhaled in relief that she wasn’t immediately alerting him to a situation. He’d been asleep, and usually someone coming to him in the middle of the night indicated trouble. Serious trouble.

“What’s wrong?” Raston asked.

“I don’t know. I did everything the way you showed me, and things went well, but he has not summoned me to his bed tonight. I have to try again tomorrow, and…”

Raston laughed. “Trust me, there is no wrong way to do it! I’m sure the Prince had no complaints.”

“He didn’t, or at least not that he told me, but I must have done something wrong,” Siobhan nearly cried.

“Shh… come here,” Raston soothed as he pulled her into a hug.

“Please show me how to do better,” Siobhan begged. “The Empress has made it clear that I cannot fail.”

Raston held his breath, and bit back a groan. He had shown her what to do – as commanded – and allowed her to practice on him, but he knew that he was not supposed to be her lover any more. That honor would forever belong to whomever the Empress chose. Still, if she didn’t feel he had taught her well enough…

“Did you try kissing him?” Raston asked.

“You didn’t tell me to kiss him!” Siobhan exclaimed nearly frantically.

“Calm down,” Raston stroked her hair. “I didn’t tell you because I assumed you would. Kissing can be even more intimate than sex, and can create an intense bond… It’s why I didn’t kiss you during your training.”

“Right…” Siobhan muttered in disbelief.

Raston chuckled at her response, and stared at her lips for a moment. She blushed when she noticed, and wondered why his gaze made her shy. He held her neck with one hand, and leaned forward to kiss her.

He continued to kiss her progressively deeper until they were both panting in need. He separated their lips, and couldn’t resist one last peck before he stopped. She tilted her head to look in his eyes.

“Oh,” she stated, now knowing exactly what he meant.

“You know everything you need to, so tell me, what else should you be doing?” Raston asked.

Siobhan smiled, and stroked his groin. It was covered by his nightshirt and a blanket, but she could feel how hard it was anyway.

“Well, yes, but you should also kiss his neck and chest…” He faltered as she promptly complied.

Siobhan pushed his blanket out of the way, and tugged his nightshirt over his head. She wrapped her arms around his neck, and kissed him again. She decided to get creative, and kissed along his jaw line, nibbled his ear, and then sucked on his neck.

“You mustn’t leave any marks on me, but if you become the Prince’s official lover, then doing so to him would be a good idea,” Raston explained, barely able to remember why he was telling her these things.

Siobhan used the time while he was speaking to open her robe and guide his hand to her breast. Raston fondled her, stroking her silk nightgown appreciatively. He bent to take her nipple in his mouth through the sheer material, and then stopped.

“I can’t… You can’t practice on me anymore. Her Imperial Majesty would be upset if she knew you were here rather than with Prince Alexander,” Raston repeated the obvious.

Siobhan felt like crying, but managed to hide it. She gave a disappointed groan, and sighed. “I know… I’m sorry. I’m just so afraid that I will fail.”

“You won’t fail,” Raston assured her. “Now go, before I lose control.”

Siobhan was tempted to linger until he did exactly that, and he knew it. He pushed her away lightly, and gestured with his head towards the door. She sighed, and complied.

Unable to sleep, Siobhan paced her room until the clock struck three in the morning. She grunted in determination, and marched to Alexander’s chambers. She arrived much more confidently than she had the first time.

“I wish to see the Prince,” she announced, and the guards knew exactly why this time. They opened the door for her without a word, and allowed her entry. The guards inside searched her for weapons again, chuckling suggestively as they removed her robe and felt her nightgown.

Her first visit, she had worn a modest, frilly nightgown, but this one was made for clandestine meetings in the dark of night. Everyone knew it, and she didn’t bother to deny it. She stared at the guards imperiously as she waited for them to thoroughly search her; taking great care to ensure she did not carry any weapons.

Finally, they escorted her to the Prince’s bedroom, and softly tapped on the door. The bodyguard opened it slightly, and took one look at Siobhan. She hadn’t bothered to re-don her robe, and her intentions were clear.

He had received orders from the Empress once again not to turn her away, and so he let her in. He held open the door wide, waited for her to enter, and waved the other guards away. He suspected that they would listen at the door, but that did not concern him.

Siobhan approached the bed, and listened to the Prince’s breathing. She smiled, and prepared to wow him. Once again, he had thrown off his blankets while sleeping, and she used that to her advantage.

She kissed his mouth, and stroked his shaft. She licked his lips, and fondled his balls. A grin settled on her face when he moaned in response. She took her time to fully awaken his passion.

“Siobhan,” Alexander laughed after opening his eyes and recognizing her. “You certainly know how to wake a person up!”

“Thank you, my Prince,” Siobhan grinned.

“Somehow, I think we have rather moved beyond that stage. You should call me Alex,” he informed her.

Siobhan hesitated. This was entirely strange to her. No one has ever given me permission to call them by a nickname. She smiled, and kissed him.

“Alex,” she whispered softly, trying it out.

“Siobhan,” Alexander murmured in response.

“Call me Shevvie,” Siobhan said.

The Prince stared at her as if he also had never been given permission to address someone so informally. “Interesting! I would never have guessed you had a nickname.”

Siobhan smiled, and returned her attention to her task, which was to pleasure him. She explored every inch of his body with her mouth; kissing and licking him as the mood struck. She ended by licking his balls a few times, and then sucking on his rigid harness.

He moaned loudly and without shame several times, and she noticed that he was producing small drops of fluid. She licked one experimentally, and then decided that it was time to mount him. She wondered if she should remove her nightgown, or leave it on.

Deciding to leave it on, she gathered the skirt, and held it out of the way. She straddled him, and reached to guide him inside her. He surprised her by pushing her off him, and tackling her face down on the bed.

He kissed her neck, and whispered, “I am going to try something I’ve heard about, and I warn you, it may hurt.”

“Anything,” Siobhan permitted, hoping that he didn’t hurt her too badly.

He lifted her hips, and she instinctively got to her knees. She felt odd with her bottom in the air like this, but didn’t try to stop him. He pushed her nightgown out of the way, and gripped her hips firmly.

Siobhan felt him pushing into the hole that she had no idea could be used for this purpose, and sucked in her breath. She was suddenly curious and slightly afraid. It does hurt…

She automatically tensed up, and then forced herself to relax. She placed one of her hands between her legs, and quickly located her clitoris. She rubbed herself, and moaned when her body responded. She now felt like there was a fire in her veins, and was ready to accept anything the Prince wanted to do.

Alexander was finally buried as deeply as he could be, and he paused to see how she was doing. “Are you hurt?”

“No… I’ll admit that it did hurt at first, but not anymore,” Siobhan assured him.

“Good.” Alexander decided that it was time to start thrusting, and kept his grip on her hips. He pulled her to him with each thrust, causing him to pound into her as deeply as he could. Siobhan responded by rocking into him.

She continued to rub herself, and soon buried her face into a pillow so that she could scream without the whole palace hearing her. Her body shook as wave after wave of pleasure washed over her. She held completely still afterwards, and panted heavily.

Alexander was nowhere near ready to be done yet, so he continued to thrust into her. At first, Siobhan wished that he would stop and let her recover, but then her body relaxed, and she decided to wiggle her finger again.

“Oh gods!” She chanted. She kept making a noise somewhere between a gasp and a moan, and could feel another hurricane coming to get her. She took a few deep breaths, and concentrated on her stamina.

At least a half an hour passed like this, and Siobhan began to wonder how long sex could possibly last. Surely his stamina would run out at some point! It’s not that she wanted the experience to be over; she’d just had no idea what she was in for.

Also, her knees hurt, and the position was growing uncomfortable. She didn’t realize it, but the tone of her cries changed, and Alexander knew something was wrong. He withdrew from her abruptly.

“On your back!” He ordered.

Siobhan happily complied, and waited for him to continue. He tapped his chin in thought, and then nodded in decision. He bent her knees, and pushed her legs into her chest.

Apparently, Raston and I didn’t practice anywhere near as much as we should have! She thought as she felt him push into her rear once more. He worked his way in gently at first, but then resumed his previous – demanding – pace.

Siobhan found it difficult at first, but finally she figured out how to twist just right so that she could put her hand between her legs once more. She was ready to squeal several minutes later, and grabbed a pillow to muffle it. Alexander laughed.

“Don’t. I want to hear it loud and clear.”

Siobhan blushed, and discarded the pillow. She covered her mouth with her free hand in an attempt to stifle her squealing, but soon forgot why it was important to be quiet. She screamed and gasped as her body started to shake so violently that she nearly blacked out.

This time, her orgasm pushed Alexander over the edge as well, and he threw his head back to shout out his own release as he buried himself deep inside her. He rocked lightly a few times until the feeling passed, and then started to pant. He looked at Siobhan, and grinned.

“I take it you enjoyed yourself?” He asked.

Siobhan thought it odd that he wanted to talk now when she was having so much trouble breathing, but she couldn’t deny that she had. She nodded, and giggled. She looked at him still buried inside her, and realized that the room was a bit brighter with the light of dawn.

“Oh my, we must have been at it for hours!” She laughed.

“Seriously? It only felt like a few minutes to me,” Alexander grinned.

Siobhan’s cheeks turned bright red, and she covered them with her hands.  “Oh my gods! I must have made enough noise to wake the dead!’

Out of the corner of her eye, she saw the Prince’s bodyguard nod in agreement.

“I can never show my face in the palace again!” She insisted seriously.

Alexander laughed, and finally withdrew from her. He was mostly flaccid by now, and there wasn’t much point in trying to remain inside her. He helped her straighten her legs, and settled himself atop her.

“Don’t worry, Shevvie, I’m certain that no one will know it was you.”

Siobhan felt her blood run cold. “What do you mean no one will know?”

“I want to keep it a secret,” Alex explained.

“Why?” Siobhan wondered.

Alexander’s mouth formed a dazzling smile. “Because I don’t think it’s anyone’s business, and besides… the longer I wait to announce this, the more money I stand to win!”

Siobhan hit him playfully. “So that’s why you wanted me to Dance with Lord William! You wanted people to think that I was dallying with him so that I’d fall off the list of the top ten women most likely to grace your bed!”

“Guilty,” Alexander admitted. “So tell me, why does my mother want us to share a bed so badly?”

“I – uh – ah – I – um,” Siobhan was completely unprepared to answer this question.

“You don’t deny it; good. That means you haven’t lied to me… yet,” Alexander emphasized his point by nipping her neck.

Siobhan realized that she couldn’t lie to him if she wanted to succeed in her mission, and she sighed. “I can’t tell you.”

“Which means you do know; I wasn’t sure.”

Siobhan felt like an idiot! He was pumping her for information, and she was just handing it to him. She laughed and shook her head over her own stupidity.

“I really can’t tell you, but I can tell you that your mother cares about you deeply,” she finally replied.

“That was never in question,” Alexander stated, and shifted off of her. “I think you should leave now, before any of my attendants arrive.”

Siobhan stiffened slightly, and nodded. He’s serious about keeping this secret for a bit longer. “Yes… Alex.”

“I thought you were going to call me ‘my Prince’ there for a moment,” Alexander commented as he watched her sit up, and move to the side of the bed.

“That’s because it sounded like a prince was dismissing me from his presence,” Siobhan replied.

“Sorry, that’s not how I intended it,” he apologized.

“Shall I come back tonight?” Siobhan asked with a smile.

“That’s entirely up to you. I am not going to command you to grace my bed.”

Siobhan couldn’t decide if that meant that he didn’t want her there, or if he had decided to leave the choice up to her so that she could never claim he forced her into his bed. The way he watched her, she was inclined to believe it was the latter, and she smiled at him. My mission is all but done!

His bodyguard quietly opened the door, and ordered her robe be brought to him. He thanked the guard that handed it to him, and shut the door. He turned, and walked to the bed.

“My Lady,” he said, holding her robe out for her to put it on easily. She complied, and took a moment to fasten the sash.

“Bastian, do not allow my attendants in; I plan to sleep late,” Alex ordered his bodyguard.

“Yes, my Prince.”

“And Bastian… did you enjoy the show?”

Siobhan watched the bodyguard as he hesitated. She wanted to know what he thought too. Maybe he could point out if she’d done anything wrong.

Bastian decided to be honest. He knew the Prince would know if he were otherwise. “It was very interesting, and I look forward to seeing it repeated.”

“Excellent!” Alexander grinned as he snuggled into his pillows.

Siobhan blushed at the thought that Bastian would be there to watch her every time, but then she realized that if she ever needed an honest critique on her performance, he would be able to give it to her. This pacified and confused her at the same time.

Bastian had returned to the door, and held it open for her. She cast one more glance at the now sleeping Prince, and then left. The guards in the outer room quietly clapped and cheered in congratulations, and made comments such as, “Well done!” and “It was nice to hear you!”

Siobhan’s face was utterly crimson once more, and she had no idea what to do. She gathered up her courage, curtseyed as if she were wearing a grand ball gown, and mumbled, “Thank you.” I must have done better than I thought!

She walked to the door, and they winked at her as they fell silent once more. They held the door open for her, and the guards outside informed them that the hall was clear. Siobhan stepped into the hall, and silently congratulated herself on a successful mission.

She walked all the way to her own chambers, and reached out to open the door. The hairs on the back of her neck prickled, and she turned to look behind her. Raston was watching her from a shadow, and stepped into the light.

“Were you successful this time?”

“Yes… and no. Prince Alexander wants to wait to announce his official lover until the odds in the pool are just right,” Siobhan informed him and then shrugged as if to say, “I have no idea why!”

Raston chuckled. “That sounds like the Prince.”

“I’m sorry!” Siobhan blurted out.

“Why?” Raston asked.

“I just am,” Siobhan stated, and then disappeared into her room closing her door behind her.

Raston intuitively knew that she felt the same for him as he felt for her, and nodded. He turned and left. Siobhan watched him from a tiny gap between her door and the wall, and wiped a tear from her eye.

*******

“It’s been over a week!” The Empress stated needlessly.

Siobhan nodded.

“What is taking him so long? I want you by his side around the clock!”

Siobhan knew that the Empress was upset because Alexander had been attacked during this morning’s hunt, and though he lived, his arm was broken.

“I shall go visit him, and ask him to make the announcement,” Siobhan suggested.

“Please do!” The Empress insisted.

Siobhan rushed to obey, and was surprised when William appeared before her along the way.

“Raston says he has received word that assassins will likely try to strike the Prince again now while he is injured,” William whispered in her ear.

“I understand,” Siobhan acknowledged quietly. “I will remain at his side no matter what.”

“See that you do!” William bade, and rushed off to complete his own Secret Guard duties.

The guards outside Alexander’s door hesitated before letting her in since they had been ordered not to allow anyone entrance. They were not the same ones who guarded the door at night, so they did not know she had a reason to be here. They looked at each other for guidance and decided to send her away.

Siobhan correctly interpreted the silent decision, and stamped her foot. “Bastian will vouch for me, and if he is not here then send a runner to the Empress explaining why you refuse to let me pass!”

This caused the guards to rethink their choice, and they looked to each other in uncertainty. Bastian was one of the two personal bodyguards, and they commanded the rest of the Prince’s guards. Unable to decide, one guard opened the door slightly to confer with the guards inside.

“The Lady Siobhan wishes to visit his Imperial Highness.”

Siobhan heard whispers, and then the guard answered, “She says Bastian will vouch for her.”

More whispers, and then finally, they opened the door. Siobhan suppressed a growl, and marched through the door. She knew better than to walk too far since they would need to search her. She wondered why the Empress had issued orders to admit her to the night guards, but neglected to inform the day guards.

Soon, she was waiting for the door to Alexander’s bedroom to open, and she prayed that he wasn’t injured too badly. His bodyguard scrutinized her, and decided that since she had cleared the previous guards, he had no reason to deny her. He held the door open for her, and she exhaled in relief.

There was a physician and his assistant kneeling next to the right side of the bed, tending to Alexander’s broken arm. They had already wrapped it in a cast, and were now examining it to make sure it was not too tight nor would it allow him to move his arm. They looked up at her as she carefully crawled onto the empty side of the bed.

“Alex? Are you in terrible pain?”

He opened his eyes, and smiled at her. “Not anymore, Shevvie.”

Siobhan took his left hand in both of hers. “I should have been there!”

Alexander laughed. “Don’t be ridiculous, there’s nothing you could have done.”

“Even so,” Siobhan insisted.

“You know, somehow I have no trouble imagining you giving my attackers an earful until they decide to retreat just to be free of your harping,” Alex joked.

“Oh, I would do so much more than that!” Siobhan laughed. “They wouldn’t get away that easily!”

Siobhan stretched out next to him, and rested her head on his chest. She didn’t particularly care that her dress was being crumpled, and didn’t cover her stocking-clad legs. She was grateful, however, that she’d remembered to kick off her shoes before crawling into bed.

“Did mother send you to comfort me?” Alexander asked.

“In a manner of speaking,” Siobhan admitted.

The physician cleared his throat. “My Prince? I do not recommend any strenuous activities quite so soon,” he stated delicately. He hadn’t realized they were lovers at first, but the way they shared the bed made it abundantly clear that they were just waiting for him to leave them alone.

“Hear that, Shevvie? You have to take it easy on me!” Alexander replied jokingly.

“I have to take it easy on you?!” Siobhan gasped. “Just who is it that –“

The Prince covered her mouth before she could finish. “That’s enough! A Lady shouldn’t say such things aloud.”

His bodyguard was frankly astonished by such intimate talk, and vowed to grill his partner thoroughly at the next shift change. He even considered switching shifts for a week, but then decided against it. He just wasn’t a night person.

The physician frowned in disapproval, but didn’t say anything. He propped the Prince’s hand on a pillow, instructed him to keep it elevated, and informed his assistant that they were done. The duo quickly left.

Siobhan noticed that Alexander’s attendants had stripped him and washed the blood from his many scratches. This meant that he was naked under his blanket, and she grinned at him deviously. She slid her hand under the blankets, and watched his face as she fondled him.

He closed his eyes, and moaned in appreciation. A minute later, she tossed the blanket aside so that she could suck on him. She wanted to see how far down her throat he could go, and practiced the maneuver until she was certain that she could do it easily.

Suddenly, there was a soft tap at the door, and Alexander gripped Siobhan’s hair. He held her head in place, and even pushed so that she would take him deeper into her throat. He groaned softly as he filled her mouth, and she had no choice but to swallow. I had no idea there was this much!

A moment later, Siobhan covered Alexander, and looked to his bodyguard to see who had knocked. Satisfied his charge was not showing anything inappropriate, he opened the door. Siobhan didn’t recognize the woman, but she was dressed as a maid, and carried a tray.

The maid set the tray on a table, and then daintily cut a bit off of everything. She slowly ate the portions she’d separated, tasted a spoonful of stew, and sipped from his cup. She waited expectantly for a minute, and then turned to the guard.

“Looks like this food is clean. You may go,” he dismissed her.

Siobhan fed him, sharing his food, and laughed when she accidently dribbled some of his wine on his chest. “Looks like I shall have to clean that up!” She bent over him, and licked up the drops of wine.

“I think I am full now,” Alexander informed her, and then leered at her suggestively.

“Oh ho!” Siobhan laughed, and set the tray back on the table. “And just exactly what do you want me to do to you?”

“Hop on,” Alexander suggested.

“With or without my clothes on?”

“Makes no difference to me,” he grinned.

Siobhan couldn’t quite make herself remove all her clothes when there was plenty of light in the room. She glanced nervously at the daytime bodyguard, and decided to remove only the undergarments that would get in the way. She knew Bastian could easily see her at night, but the darkness gave her the illusion that he couldn’t.

Gathering her skirts, Siobhan uncovered her fully erect lover, and arranged her skirts so that she could sit on him without them hindering her. She started to guide him into her when he stopped her. She cast him a questioning look.

“The other hole,” he insisted, and she nodded. Aside from the first time, he hadn’t used her proper hole once!

She took her time, grateful that he was still lubricated from their earlier foreplay. It wasn’t a lot, but it made her task that much easier. When he was completely inside her, she pulled up her skirts so that she could use her fingers to stimulate herself.

She bounced up and down his shaft, and rubbed herself until she started moaning. They took advantage of the fact that no one expected him to emerge from his chambers again today by playing with each other for hours. At some point, they’d removed all of Siobhan’s clothing, and the pillows had all migrated to the floor.

They finally collapsed into an exhausted pile, and Siobhan couldn’t summon the energy to care when the daytime bodyguard covered them with a blanket and placed a pillow under the Prince’s cast. They both fell asleep for a while, and Siobhan finally felt like she was doing her job right! She held him to her in her sleep.

A while later, she heard a soft knock on the door, and Bastian’s voice ask, “How is he, Andrew?”

“See for yourself. Apparently he has a lover that you didn’t tell me about,” Andrew gestured to the bed.

“Sorry, didn’t think it would happen during the day,” Bastian shrugged. Andrew nodded, realizing the information was fairly private.

“Has he eaten?” Bastian asked.

“He ate some lunch, but I’d be willing to bet he is near starving after his afternoon exercise!” Andrew joked softly.

Alexander heard him anyway. “And you would be right! Bring on the food!”

Andrew left to order something for them to eat, and Bastian made himself comfortable in the chair by the door. Siobhan wondered if she should initiate another round of lovemaking, and Alexander read her mind. He laughed.

“I don’t even need to see your eyes to know that you are thinking about having your way with me again!”

Siobhan giggled. “How do you do that?”

Alex waved his hand dismissively. “It’s a gift.”

Siobhan curled into his side. “Are you finally going to make the announcement so that I may stay by your side always?”

“No, Siobhan, I’m not,” he stated.

She knew something was wrong when he said her name. She cleared her throat, feeling near tears in frustration. “Why not?”

“Because I want to make someone else my official lover,” Alexander answered.

“Who?” Siobhan demanded.

“No one in particular, just someone… male.”

“Oh!” Siobhan cried out in clarity. It made total sense now that she thought about it. No wonder he always wanted to use my rear!

“Don’t be upset, Shevvie,” Alexander pleaded.

“I’m not… other than I am about to fail in my mission to become your official lover no matter what,” Siobhan admitted rather more than she was supposed to.

“I see,” Alexander muttered.

“Please don’t be mad at me!” It was Siobhan’s turn to beg.

“I’m not. I always knew that you were only here at my mother’s command, but I hadn’t realized that she had made it your mission.”

“I shouldn’t have said that,” Siobhan stated.

“Yes, you should have, and you should also tell me why she wants you here so badly that it’s your mission no matter what,” Alexander told her.

“I can’t!” Siobhan nearly wailed, then she calmed herself. “But if there really isn’t a particular person that you want in your bed, I can make a suggestion to the Empress, and have her send you someone more suited to your tastes.”

“The court would never accept it,” Alexander muttered softly.

“So what! You will eventually have to marry a suitable woman and bed her to produce heirs. So long as you do that, you should be allowed to share your bed with whomever you so choose,” Siobhan avowed.

“Ah… so there’s someone specific for you,” Alexander guessed correctly.

Siobhan blushed, but remain silent.

“I bet it’s Lord William,” Alexander added. “I have noticed that the two of you often disappear from court at the same time several nights a week.”

Which reminded Siobhan that the weekly meeting was tonight, and that she was going to be late – if she even made it at all. “It’s not William.”

“Then what do the two of you do when you have disappeared?” Alexander wondered.

Siobhan stared at him as she wondered what to say. She couldn’t be completely honest with him, but he would know it if she lied. He was that good at reading people.

“Sometimes we dance, and sometimes I sing for him… Sometimes we fight, and sometimes we talk about anything that crosses our minds.”

Alexander shifted to sit up, taking care to keep his arm elevated. “If that’s all true, then how is it that you two aren’t lovers?”

Siobhan inspected her nails. She honestly could not say more without compromising the Secret Guard. She tried to wait for him to drop the subject, but he continued to stare at her expectantly.

“Fine, leave me,” Alexander ordered when it became obvious that she would not answer.

“I don’t understand; if you don’t want me as your official lover, then why are you jealous?” Siobhan wondered.

“If you won’t answer my questions, then I won’t answer yours,” Alexander informed her stubbornly.

“I cannot leave you!” Siobhan insisted.

“Yes, you can,” Alexander stated, and Siobhan knew she was very close to being thrown out without her clothes. She nodded, and crawled to the side of the bed.

Bastion gathered her clothing, and held it out for her, but she decided not to waste time getting completely dressed again. She simply threw her outer dress over her head, and turned her back to Bastion so that he could button her up. He tossed the rest of the clothing in a nearby chair, and complied.

Siobhan raced to the secret room, and startled everyone else. “Sorry I’m late!” She called out in apology as she ran behind the screen, and changed into her practice clothes. She had no desire to spend the entire meeting wearing a dress that hung loosely on her because it lacked the numerous undergarments that normally filled it out.

She took her time changing, and concentrated on her breathing. She was near tears again, and did not want to start crying about her failure until she was alone in her room. She sniffled quietly, and wiped the excess moisture from her eyes.

“Is something wrong?” Raston asked from the other side of the screen.

“No – Well yes. The Prince has informed me that he does not want me as his official lover, and he ordered me out of his chambers,” Siobhan reported.

“You promised not to leave his side until we’re certain he’s safe,” William pointed out almost angrily. Out of all of them – excepting Siobhan – he was the only one of sufficient rank and similar age that he actually had spent time with the Prince. He had gotten to know him, and felt almost personally responsible for his safety.

Siobhan emerged from behind the curtain. She was fully clothed, and ready to spar. She spread her hands wide, and shook her head.

“What was I supposed to do? Tell him all about the Secret Guard?” Siobhan asked. “He kept asking me questions, and when I couldn’t answer, he commanded I leave. Was I supposed to defy him and fight all his guards when they tried to toss me out? – Naked, I might add.”

“Of course not,” William mumbled.

Raston handed her a mug of tea. “What about the part where he does not want you as his official lover?”

Siobhan had been staring at William as if she could peer into his soul and uncover his deepest secrets, but now she blushed, and focused on Raston. She fidgeted. She wasn’t supposed to keep secrets from the Secret Guard, but this might be different. Still… she had promised to mention it to the Empress, and Alexander hadn’t asked her not to.

“Alex… Prince Alexander prefers another in his bed…” she still hesitated.

“Who?” Raston wondered.

Siobhan inspected her nails for the second time in 20 minutes. Despite the Prince’s insistence that there was no one in particular, she knew that there was. She just needed to figure out who. She felt like it was obvious, and then it hit her. “William.”

“Really? He said that?” William asked with just a bit too much interest.

“Well, no… He said he wanted a man in his bed; that there was no one in particular… but then he asked me why you and I disappear at the same time several nights a week, and he got upset when I wouldn’t tell him what we were doing. If it’s not me that he wants, it stands to reason…” Siobhan left the rest unsaid

“Interesting…” William mused.

Raston looked as if he suddenly understood something that should have been obvious. “William… Have you ever taken a lover?”

William blushed. “Yes.”

“Man or woman?”

“One of each,” he admitted.

“Aha, and which did you prefer?” Raston wondered.

William looked away and refused to answer.

“So then… Can I assume that you might not mind becoming the Heir Apparent’s official lover?” Raston inquired.

“Mind?” William parroted. He tried to keep his tone cool, as if he didn’t care either way. “No, I don’t think I would mind.”

“Right then,” Raston turned to Siobhan. “Take him to the Prince’s chambers. If we are lucky, the guards won’t have been ordered to refuse you entrance. Tell Prince Alexander that you have brought William with so that you can clear up the misunderstanding, and then tell him whatever he asks to know… But only what he asks for.”

“We can do that?” Siobhan wondered.

“If he were anyone but the Heir, no. In this case, it’s necessary, and he will find out eventually anyway,” Raston explained.

Siobhan nodded, and took William by the hand. “Come on!”

William was suddenly nervous, and dragged his feet. Corbin laughed good naturedly, and Eck finally had the idea to close his gaping mouth. William had hidden his preferences well, and they all tried to remember if he had ever given them a clue.

Back in front of the Prince’s chambers, Siobhan remembered that she was inappropriately dressed, but it was too late to change now. She kept a firm hold on William’s hand, and watched the guards watch her. They were obviously curious.

“I have returned, let me in,” she commanded, praying that they had no idea that the Prince might not want her there.

“What about him?” They asked.

“He has important matters to discuss with the Prince,” Siobhan stated.

The guards pointed to the daggers at each of their hips, not bothering to give the command aloud. Siobhan removed her belt, dagger and all, and handed it to the guards. William simply handed over his dagger, and the guards opened the door.

They were still searched once inside the door, and the flirtiest of the guards sighed as he groped her. “I was hoping you’d be wearing that nightgown again.”

“Maybe later,” Siobhan flirted in response, and winked at him.

“Tease!” the guard exclaimed, and then cleared them to be escorted to the Prince.

Bastian opened the door when their escort knocked, and frowned at Siobhan. His eyes took careful inventory of her clothes, and he cast her a questioning look. Then he glanced at William.

“Bastian, I need to clear up a misunderstanding. Please let me in?”

Bastian looked to Alexander, who was brooding over a mostly uneaten dinner. Alexander couldn’t see them, but he recognized her voice. He sighed, and nodded permission.

“Still have to be my official lover no matter what?” He asked as first Siobhan then William entered the room. “What’s this?” He sat up in sudden interest.

Bastian quickly closed the door, but not before warning the other guards not to listen at it.

Siobhan took a deep breath. “You wanted to know why William and I spend so much time together if we aren’t lovers, and I couldn’t tell you. I have since received permission, and well…” She had to wait for him to ask.

“Go on, tell me,” Alexander ordered.

Siobhan exchanged a look with William; he shook his head almost imperceptibly. “Tell you what?” She asked for clarification.

“Tell me why you are alone together so much if you are not lovers.”

“No good,” William muttered. “We’re not alone together; he’s not asking the right questions.”

“Even so, I think he deserves an answer,” Siobhan murmured in return.

Alexander overheard them, and grinned. “Ah… you have orders to answer my questions.”

“Yes, my Prince,” William acknowledged.

“Fine, then what do you do together when you’ve disappeared at the same time?”

Siobhan had already answered this, so she looked to William to do so this time.

“We… dance… fight… talk…” William tilted his head to see if he could think of anything else.

“I sing,” Siobhan reminded him.

“And play various instruments,” William added.

“That’s it? You’re really not lovers?” Alexander pressed.

“We’re really not lovers,” William reaffirmed.

“Very good friends then?” Alexander wondered.

“Yes, but more than that… We’re like family,” William smiled at Siobhan, and she squeezed his hand.

“What aren’t you telling me?” Alexander was amazed that they managed to avoid spilling the big secret despite having permission.

“Does that count?” Siobhan asked William.

“No, unless he wants to specifically know which things we do that we haven’t told him yet,” William replied.

“We covered everything, unless you count killing convicts,” Siobhan whispered the last part.

“There is that,” William mumbled in agreement.

“Killing Convicts?!” Alexander demanded. He shook his head; certain he hadn’t heard them correctly.

“Yes,” Siobhan admitted.

“You kill convicts? Together?” The Prince was intrigued.

“Yes,” William confirmed.

“In your spare time? What, you thought it might be fun?” Alexander quipped.

“Not particularly,” both Siobhan and William replied.

“Then why?” Alexander wanted to know. He noticed that Bastian was paying rapt attention as well.

“Aha, he finally asks the right question, can I tell him now?” Siobhan asked her partner in crime.

“Does that count as the right question? He wasn’t very specific,” William pointed out.

“Yes he was, in context,” Siobhan decided. “I’m telling him.”

William nodded, conceding defeat.

“We are both members of the Secret Guard. It’s our job to kill violent criminals on occasion,” Siobhan informed the Heir to the Empire.

“Secret Guard?” Alexander asked, directing the question at Bastian.

“I’ve heard rumors, and if rumors are to be believed, the Secret Guard exists to protect the Empress and Empire in ways that are not able to be openly acknowledged,” Bastian explained. “I don’t think it actually exists… I think they are telling you what they think you want to hear.”

“No…” Alexander denied after some thought. “I believe them. What else does the Secret Guard do?”

“Well,” Siobhan answered with a hint of annoyance in her voice. “I’m supposed to help protect you, but you refuse to cooperate.”

“I see,” Alexander mused.

“What, am I not enough?” Bastian muttered.

“The more guards the better,” Siobhan informed him. “Especially if no one realizes that one of the people around the Prince constantly is a guard.”

“Oh!” Alexander finally realized that that was why his mother was so insistent.

Siobhan looked deep into Alexander’s eye so that he could see just how serious she was. “I promised I would suggest someone more suited to you, and that’s why William is here.”

The Prince laughed. “Am I supposed to be grateful that you have provided yet another person who doesn’t really want to be in my bed?”

“Alex,” Siobhan said emphatically. “I think you will find that William does want to be in your bed.”

“Seriously?” Alexander questioned. His throat was suddenly dry, and he swallowed to wet it.

“Yes,” William admitted, nervous again.

Siobhan looked at Alexander, and then looked at William. “Suddenly, I find that my presence is no longer required!”

She hugged William. “Good luck.”

She hugged her now former lover. “Have fun.” Then she turned to leave.

“Thank you, Shevvie, for all that you have done for me. I did have fun with you, you know?”

“I do know, Alex,” Siobhan replied, and then laughed as she noticed William silently mouth, “Shevvie?” She left them alone.

The next morning, after breakfast, Siobhan stood next to the Empress, waiting to give her report. The Empress was in no hurry, and had to wait for the right conditions to conduct a private conversation. It was midmorning by the time the Empress spoke to Siobhan

“Have you finally succeeded?” The Empress asked softly.

Siobhan opened her mouth to explain everything, but was prevented when a trumpet sounded, and the herald announced, “His Imperial Highness.”

The Empress immediately focused on the entryway, anxious to see how her son was doing. It had been agreed among all the guards that it was not a good idea for the Empress and the Heir to be in the same room while the attackers remained uncaught, and that was why she hadn’t visited him yet. She took the advice of her advisors seriously; especially concerning safety.

Alexander held William’s hand as they entered the throne room, and the crowd fell silent. The Empress looked at Siobhan as if asking, “Is this why you were unsuccessful?”

Siobhan nodded, and shrugged, thinking, I tried my best.

The Empress nodded at her in return. It couldn’t be helped, I guess.

Siobhan could tell that the Empress was relieved that her son had still managed to choose a member of the Secret Guard. The Empress narrowed her eyes suspiciously, and looked at Siobhan once more. Does he know?

Siobhan nodded again, and the Empress sighed. She hadn’t wanted Alexander to find out just yet. Still, she was grateful that things had worked out after all, and wondered what assignment to give Siobhan next.

Alexander finally arrived at his smaller throne next to his mother, and rested him bottom on it. William stood attendance at his side. The Prince waited for his mother to say something.

“You’re looking well for someone who broke his arm just yesterday,” the Empress remarked with a smile. She implied consent towards Alexander’s unconventional choice without directly saying it aloud.

“Yes Mother, I feel excellent,” Alexander grinned.

Siobhan scanned the crowd for their reaction, and noticed something unusual. There were fewer women today, which made it seem like there was an overabundance of men in the throne room. Why?

“I sense danger,” she muttered.

The Empress signaled her guards to be on high alert, and waited patiently for Siobhan to elaborate. Siobhan wracked her brain trying to figure out what was wrong, and how to stop it.

There was a shout from the back of the room, and suddenly half the men there produced weapons. They held the other occupants hostage. Siobhan realized that for the most part, these were Lords and other men of influence that had clearance to be here, so it was no wonder that they had managed to smuggle weapons through security. They must have also ordered their wives and daughters to say out of the throne room today.

The guards rushed to surround the Empress and Heir, and as a result Siobhan and William were inside their protective circle. Both members of the Secret Guard longed to take action, but they did not have orders, and could not break their cover just yet. If the attackers managed actually threaten the Empress’ life, then they could, but for now, they had to stay put and act afraid.

“We have taken hostage several of the most influential and powerful people in the Empire,” a spokesman stated. “We will kill them – one by one – until our demands are met.”

“What are your demands?” The Empress asked somewhat needlessly since it was obvious the spokesman was dying to tell her.

“We will spare everyone’s life in exchange for the unconditional surrender of the Empress and her Heir.”

Alexander inhaled sharply. As much as he didn’t want to die, he would sacrifice himself to save innocent lives. He simply wasn’t sure if any of the hostages actually were innocent.

The Empress was not willing to sacrifice herself until after she had exhausted all other options. She realized that she had two secret weapons in her hands, and debated on which one to use. She didn’t want to use both unless absolutely necessary, and had to decide based on which one had less to lose.

Unfortunately for Siobhan, William was an influential Lord who was now officially the Heir’s lover, and so she had much less to lose. The Empress closed her eyes regretfully for a moment – she had honestly come to love the girl like a daughter – and sighed. Both Siobhan and William instinctively knew what the Empress was about to do, and looked at each other emotionally.

William whispered low enough that the Prince just barely heard him. “Goodbye Siobhan, I’ll miss you so much.”

Alexander cast a startled look at Siobhan as she nodded, and squared her shoulders. The Prince wondered what the hell was going on. Why were they suddenly acting like Siobhan was about to die.

The Empress opened her mouth as if she was going to finally respond to their attackers demands. “There once was a flower filled with secrets aplenty. Mysteries kept inside, waiting and at the ready. Now is the time to open them wide, to spill blood and create a tide.”

“I await you command,” Siobhan responded. Her face was smooth and emotionless, and her voice sounded almost dead.

“Kill all of our attackers and anyone who gets in your way no matter what, but do try not to hurt the hostages,” the Empress commanded.

“I understand.”

“The flower blooms, the tigress leaps.” The Empress finished activating her lethal ward.

Siobhan pushed free of the surrounding guards, who were smart enough not to try stopping her after a command like that, and raced down the center aisle. She was wearing a complicated dress that was not suitable for fighting in the slightest, but that did not stop her. She used her momentum to perform a flip to allow her to kick the first man with a sword she came across.

He landed on the ground, and she grabbed his sword, ducking as a second attacker decided to take a swing at her. She disarmed him, and grabbed his sword too. With a sword in each hand, she was able to defend herself from all who tried to kill her as she steadily dispatched men left and right.

Alexander realized that his mouth was hanging open in shock, as were most of the guards’ surrounding them. He closed his mouth, and looked to his mother. The Empress watched the scene without surprise, and he looked to his lover – who also was not surprised in the slightest. The Prince knew then that this was what it meant to be a Secret Guard.

Siobhan was quick, and fought with her whole body, kicking, jumping and flipping around the throne room as necessary. She wasn’t injured at all for several long moments, but then suddenly, someone was smart enough to slip inside her defenses. He aimed for her guts, but she was moving so quickly that he only managed to get her hip, and not very deeply.

She killed him the next instant, and turned to deal with another opponent. The attackers had all abandoned their respective hostages, and gathered around her. Their numbers overwhelmed her, and she started having trouble defending herself.

Raston appeared. He could not blow his cover by helping her fight, but he couldn’t just let her die like this. She was already bleeding from several cuts, and he had no idea how serious they were.

He threw her a large scythe that she kept in the secret room for training purposes, and knew that she was either going to sense it flying at her, or she was going to be beheaded and spared a long and painful death. He held his breath.

Siobhan dropped both her swords and caught the scythe. This weapon was much more lethal and gruesome than her swords because it had a longer reach, and anyone who tried to get inside her defenses ended up losing a body part at the very least. She danced with it as if it were her partner, and moved so quickly that she seemed like a blur.

Most of the original attackers were now dead or severely injured and lying on the ground in agony. Those that were left back away fearfully. They looked around, and realized that there would be no escape; guards blocked all the exits.

Siobhan had orders to kill them all, so she figured that if they no longer came to her, she had to go to them. She stalked them all, and dispatched them as quickly as she could. Her dress had been reduced to tatters during the fight, and no longer hindered her in the slightest.

The very last attacker still alive dropped his weapons, sank to his knees, and sobbed. He begged for his life, and alternated between holding his hands out to stop her, and using them to pray. She no longer needed to use speed, and walked to him calmly.

“Mother, stop her!” Alexander pleaded. “This is insanity!”

“No one who dares to threaten the Imperial family may live. He must be made an example of.”

Siobhan beheaded the unfortunate man, and watched as he fell to the ground. His blood sprayed her, coating her already blood drenched body. She looked around to see if she had missed anyone, and the freed hostages all back away from her in terror.

The Empress nodded in satisfaction. “The tigress has done well.”

Siobhan stumbled, gasped in horror, swerved unsteadily, and fell to the ground. She was unconscious, and Raston was reminded that some of the blood covering her was actually hers. He wanted to go to her, but doing so would give away too much information.

Alexander noticed that every guard in the palace was now crowded into the throne room, or standing outside it. This included Bastian – who had rushed here once he received word that he might be needed. He sighed in relief.

“Bastian, help her,” Alexander commanded.

“Yes, My Prince,” Bastian stated, and removed his long coat. He carefully covered her, and lifted her into his arms. Siobhan tried to wake to defend herself if necessary, and moaned in alarm. “Shh… I’ve got you.”

“Bastian…” Siobhan acknowledged, and lost consciousness once more.

An hour later, the Empress announced that her brave ward had died from injuries received while defending against a hostile attack. Siobhan received honors and commendations galore, and a funeral fit for a princess. People were shocked – horrified to know that such a killer had lived among them – and were relieved to learn she had died and they didn’t have to figure out how to react to her.

Two days later, Siobhan woke up. She was relieved to discover that she was clean, and rested in a comfortable bed. Raston dozed at her bedside.

“What happened?” She asked, waking him. She did not refer to the killing spree, but the events afterwards.

“You died,” Raston informed her.

“I what?!” Siobhan demanded.

“You died, and are therefore free to do whatever you want. As long as you don’t want to stay here in the palace,” Raston explained.

Siobhan felt pain and soreness from several wounds, and realized that he couldn’t be speaking literally; she hurt too much. She nodded in understanding, murmuring, “Oh…”

Raston was so relieved that she hadn’t died after all that he allowed tears to escape his eyes. “Where will you go?”

“Home, I guess… Will you bring me there?”

“Yes,” he promised. “But I can’t stay long.”

“I understand,” Siobhan settled back into a restful sleep.

A year later, she rested in bed once more, cradling her new daughter. The baby looked just like Raston, and Siobhan wondered if she should send word to him. She knew that the most they could hope for was a few weeks together each year, and it didn’t seem like enough.

She reaffirmed her decision to raise the baby on her own, and was grateful that the Empress had gifted her with an enormous amount of money for her service. No matter what happened in the future, she would always be able to care for herself, and her daughter. She also had the skill to ensure that nothing happened to them. No one and nothing would ever leave her daughter an orphan, nor would anything ever be able to tear this child from her arms.

She finally had a family, and almost nothing could make her happier! She kissed the nursing infant’s head, and drifted back to sleep. A smile stretched across her face. A real family at long last!