Maren froze at Cora's words. She was perturbed. She wanted to believe her, but another part of her didn't.
Then, in a moment of pure instinct, Maren turned to the prince and his men and said, "I apologize for this greatly, Your Majesty, but I need a moment alone with Princess Cora."
The prince stared at Maren, wide eyed, as if his mind was processing her words. And before he knew it, he and the Knights stood outside the now closed Vermis Library doors.
Maren turned to Cora who stood in front of the door in a sleepy haze. Her gaze hung in exhaustion.
"I don't understand. Can you tell me what you're talking about?" Maren asked.
Cora grimaced, "I slept with the stone in my palm last night. It's a memory stone."
Maren's eyes widened and Cora looked away in shame.
"I had it all along. I didn't tell you," She started. "Because I thought it reacted to your presence that night, but it didn't react to me. I wanted to see if it would…"
Maren grimaced. Cora didn't have any obligation to tell her the truth. In fact, she'd even expected this from Cora. It hurt, but Maren wanted Cora to continue telling her the truth. She didn't want to live with her for the rest of her life with all these walls.
Maren softly replied, "It's not okay, but...I understand that feeling."
Cora hesitated, her eyes searching Maren for some hint of anger, but when she found none, she continued, "It showed me through the eyes of a Starblessed Princess…or I think she was. She had two men with her, but they weren't knights and her magic…it was strong. Stronger than anything I've ever seen."
"Wait, wait. You're saying you saw this all in a dream?" Maren interjected. "But…memory stones don't work in such a manner."
"They don't," Cora affirmed. "but this one did."
Maren and Cora shared a look and Cora continued.
"They fought a creature there…" her face twisted in disgust and horror as her eyes flicked to the doorway. "Or I suppose creatures would be more accurate. A group of them with hanging flesh, red eyes and inflamed bellies. It was disturbing."
Cora completed the story, giving Maren all the details of her nightmare, including this Amethyst Princesses name.
"But Elena is not a name of any Princess I can remember." Maren said. "Are you sure you're remembering her name right?"
"Clear as day," Cora responded, grimacing at the memory of that man holding her face and speaking that name. "She must be an old one that we're forgetting. There have been so many before us."
Maren grimaced, searching her memory for anything she'd read about the previous Princesses. There was a Violet Princess who could see spirits, and another who could see a person's life-force. There was even tell of one who could speak to the dead. But a Princess that could command spirits and hold them within her body...it was simply unheard of.
Maren shook her head, "Twelve once told me that the royals in our country sought magic from across the sea. Are you sure she was a princess? "
Cora straightened, gazing into Maren's eyes as she recalled the dream, "She was definitely Starblessed."
Maren turned away, pacing. Her mouth tightened to a line as she thought, "What about the book? Did they say much else? What it looks like or -?"
Cora shook her head, "She only mentioned it was mature for a children's book."
Maren stopped her pacing to look directly at Cora; her expression filled with concern.
"What's wrong?" She asked.
Cora looked up, her eyes fretful.
"I'm just worried," she whispered. "What the stone showed me…and now finding this place…it doesn't feel like an accident, Maren."
"You think The Goddess brought the stone to us for a reason?" Maren asked.
Cora shrugged, "I don't know what to think right now. I'm so exhausted I can't even think straight. I feel like I'm going crazy. I can still hear those sounds. I can feel Elena's power. What it felt like to be her. I just feel like this damned tour is going to suck the life out of me."
Maren snickered at that. Cora glanced up at her, a smirk playing around her lips. They gazed at each other for a long moment, and then Maren stepped forward.
Her heels on the cold floor echoed in the empty chamber. Maren's heart pounded in her chest as she made the decision this time.
To reach for Cora.
Maren took Cora's hands in hers, gazing up at her warmly.
"Whatever happens. Whatever you saw --- I don't think you're crazy. We will deal with this together. We will face this together. Everything from now on, you can count on me to be there."
Cora gazed down at Maren, her tired eyes shining with something new. Something Maren had never seen when Cora gazed at her. It wasn't trust, exactly. It was smaller, and more fragile.
Something like hope.
"We shouldn't keep the prince waiting too long." Maren said, suddenly turning away, heading for the library doors.
She knew taking things any further could cause Cora to lash out. Maren knew Cora would be uncomfortable allowing Maren to steer whatever was brewing between them.
For now, she would allow Cora to steer the canoe, but Maren would control their pace.
Maren fixed her expression into a bright smile, curled her fingers around the door handles, and pulled the heavy doors open with all her strength.
"I apologize for the wait!" She said, greeting them. "It seems Cora is rather exhausted. Would it be alright to stop the tour here?"
She batted her lashes innocently, gazing up at Prince Darrin.
His cheeks flushed a light shade of pink, as he gazed back into her eyes with the confidence of a man who knew he was attractive.
"Of course, Princess Maren." He replied. "Please allow us to escort you both to your chambers."
Maren turned, and gently wrapped Cora's arm in hers. Cora's eyes widened, and for a moment, Maren considered Cora might retaliate.
But she made no move.
As the group made their way down the castle halls, Cora and Maren walked side by side, the supple velvet of their forearms brushing together. Knights of the Empire and Knights of Forsyth flanked them, trying to keep her focus on the sound of the clinking metal around her so that she wouldn't have to think about how soft Cora's skin felt on her own.
The green of Cora's gown matched her features perfectly, and the sway of the skirt bloomed a strong scent of sweet vanilla and citrus.
Maren wanted to know if her skin tasted just as sweet.
She blinked, shoving the thought out of her mind.
Clean thoughts, Maren. She told herself. Clean thoughts.
But as they walked, her mind betrayed her — wandering to places it shouldn't. The skin of Cora's forearm continued to rub against hers, her mind etching into her memory with tantalizing detail. It reminded Maren of their night in the river. She couldn't see a thing, but she could feel everything.
Cora's supple plump of flesh against the thin, soaking fabric of her camisole and undergarments. The heat of her body, practically searing into Maren as she pinned her to the wall and questioned her.
Maren grew hot at the memory, clearing her throat as they made their way down. She wondered, if Cora was a little bit more emotionally mature — if she hadn't
She glanced at Cora who stared straight ahead.
She knew Cora didn't feel nothing for her. To get that close to someone — to explore them in that way — had to mean there was some level of attraction. Maren wanted Cora to cross that line. She wanted to allow Cora access to her. She wanted to know what that moment could have been. To experience Cora's mouth on hers, on her neck and other, more intimate places she couldn't mention.
Maren didn't know why she wanted Cora, but she knew this was a feeling she couldn't ignore. That being said, she knew she could never make the first move. Cora was too volatile, and too unsure of herself.
It had to come from her.
Maren took a deep inhale, and steeled her resolved. She would absolutely, one-hundred-percent, not make a move on Cora.
"Are you okay?" Cora asked, her tone flat with exhaustion. "You're fidgeting a lot."
Maren straightened, blinking a few times, "Yes! Just fine, thank you!"
Maren's gaze hung low to the ground. Here she was, innocently linking arms with Cora, lost in perverted daydreams, right after she'd just confided in Maren about a magic stone. One with mysterious powers that can blast memories of eldritch horrors into a person's dreams.
She knew if she was going to make this odd marriage situation work, she was going to have to put in effort.
And that effort had to start within.
Clean thoughts, she reiterated to herself. Clean thoughts.
***
Maren's skin burned bright crimson.
She hadn't expected to be stuck in this situation with Cora again. The steam in the air, filling her lungs. The heat of the water, lapping at her skin.
And then there was Cora.
Bare flesh, and far too close.
But this time, while the water was hot, it wasn't volcanic. Cora leaned over her, softly pinning Maren's hands to the side of the foreign-style bath.
Heat rose within her at Cora's proximity, every hair, follicle and bump of her skin stood at attention — plump and aroused. Cora hadn't pressed herself against Maren completely, but she was simply too close for such a state.
"Are you going to make me ask again?" Cora whispered, leaning over her.
Her lips brushed Maren's ear, sending lightning through her body. Maren swallowed, hard. She wanted to respond to Cora. To say anything, but she knew any attempt would lead only to a pathetic, girlish noise.
"This pressure just keeps building," Cora exhaled heat, murmuring into her hair. "It's so different…"
Maren turned her face away, refusing to face Cora with such vulnerability. Her mind churned with salacious, intimate ideas. Maren was at her limit.
Cora continued, her mouth finding the length of Maren's neck, brushing the soft supple flesh that trembled at her touch.
"…and I don't know what to do with all this heat, but I'm quite sure it's your fault." Cora continued.
Her eyes flicked up to Maren, their gazes locking on one another, and Maren knew — all reason had left Cora. Maren's chest heaved for several beats, waiting for Cora to do something.
Anything.
"Take responsibility," Cora murmured, her voice light and soft.
"Heal me, Maren."