Bhria

"Bhria!"

She had only just seen Callath walk away with the Mihrisa when a broad, bulking figure ran towards her, calling her name. Instantly her heart flooded with happiness when she saw her brother come running towards her, worry, but relief painted across his features.

"Bhria!" He called again and without an ounce of hesitation wrapped his large arms around her when he came to her, pulling her into his embrace. "Sweet Miss, you are okay!"

Bhria closed her eyes and let herself seep into the comfort of her only living relative's body, clutching the fabric of his black Lathra uniform. He wasn't wearing his metal, which meant he had to be off-duty this moment. For that she was happy, mostly because it meant he wasn't currently in any danger either, but also because it allowed her to hug him back properly without being stopped by steely chestplates or hard spaulders.

From the way her brother hugged her back, Bhria had to assume he had kept up with the latest developments. News traveled fast in Drala, so it was natural he of course knew what had happened to the Lady Kahtrina.

"I'm alright," She confirmed to the pec of his chest which he had squashed her to. She could hear his heart beating steadily, but a little faster than normal. "I was never in any danger..."

Byhron pulled back now and met her eyes with a stare. "Don't you dare tell me you weren't in any danger, Bhria. I heard what they did to her Kischmir, that could've been you."

"Byhron," She tried, placing her hand against his chest when he was working himself up. His teeth were grinding and his eyes were darkening in anger, and they were still in the middle of the castle's courtyard. Kathmirs and Kischmirs around them were unloading the wagons and taking care of the horses, but were shying glances their way when Byhron's voice began rising. Calmingly, Bhria looked up at her brother and took a deep breath for him. "I am here now, that's all that matters. I wasn't harmed and neither were you--"

"I am a Lathra," He reminded her sternly. "You're a female, a Kischmir. My sister. My flesh and blood." He closed his eyes and Bhria watched as his nostrils flared while he tried to calm himself. "If anything happened to you... if someone laid even a finger on you..."

Bhria immediately felt a burst of heat steam off her cheeks. Someone had laid a finger on her, quite more than a finger actually. But then again, she had laid her fingers on him, too...

"What?" Byhron questioned, not having missed the warmth coming from his sister, nor the scarlet gleam that lit up her cheeks. His eyes narrowed, but flashed. "What happened? Did someone--"

"No!" Bhria quickly assured him, too quickly. She nervously swallowed and tried to compose herself. "Nothing has happened. I just... I was thinking about the Lady Kahtrina..." Lying stung on her tongue, but it was only a half lie. She was thinking about the Lady Kahtrina, but now her biggest concern suddenly selfishly shifted to making sure her brother didn't find out that his superior had put his lips on her. And that she had put hers back on him.

She felt herself blush again.

Her brother wasn't stupid. He didn't buy her obvious lie, not for a second. His eyes narrowed even more and he looked her over, trailing his eyes down her tiny body as if trying to determine if anyone had harmed her, left a visible bruise on her he could call her out on. When he didn't find any, he instead just gritted his teeth. "Don't lie to me, Bhria. If any male has come near you or even tried, you would tell me, wouldn't you? You're my sister and--"

"I know," Bhria whispered, pressing her hand a little firmer against his chest to let him know she knew. She knew why he had to know. The scars on his mind from back then... he couldn't bear if that ever happened again, and neither could she. But that wasn't what was going on with her and Callath. Actually she had no idea what that was, which was another reason as to why she didn't tell her brother.

- Until she knew what Callath wanted from her, she was going to keep this secret to herself.

Byhron sighed above her and closed his eyes again for a short moment, but then opened them and looked down at her, his gaze having turned considerably softer. He wrapped his arms around her again and pulled her in for another embrace, placing his chin on top of her head when she relaxed against him and exhaled softly. "I'm just glad you're safe."

Bhria closed her eyes and breathed her brother in, his scent so similar to the one of their father. How she missed him. "And I you, Byh. How has things been here while we were away? Has anything happened."

"No. Not a single thing."

But funnily, Bhria felt as if her brother's words were as truthful as her own.

Leyla

From a locked chamber in Amascahr, to a locked carriage, to going back to the Dralan's locked chamber in Draylth, Leyla was beginning to feel claustrophobic. She wasn't making any objections this time though, given the recent events. The Dralan was taking every safety precaution since Leyla now was the last female around to keep him fed and nurtured. If the Mihr hunters got to her, the kingdom was doomed.

So, pliantly Leyla bowed her head when Callath shut her inside the Dralan's chamber, promising that food would be delivered to her shortly. She tried for a little smile, but the male like all of them was too preoccupied with the grim situation to return the friendly gesture.

"Wait," Leyla said, just before he closed the door. The Kathmir stopped up and rose a questioning brow at her.

"Yes?"

Leyla swallowed the little lump in her throat. "I never got the opportunity to... thank you for what you did. Saving me," She whispered, looking nervously at him. The male obviously didn't expect her to say this, brief surprise flashing across his face. "I don't know if I will again, so I'd just like to say it now; Thank you."

The male blinked twice, but then lowered his head. "You are welcome, Mihr. Now, do you need anything before I go?"

Leyla shook her head. The Dralan had wisely chosen this male as his friend and personal Kathmir. He was a good male, decent. She could see why Bhria fancied him. He was handsome and kindhearted. Sweet.

Callath bowed his head again, but then departed, shutting the door and locking it behind him. Leyla let out a small sigh as she once again found herself alone, isolated. She was exhausted. Deciding to take a small nap before her food arrived, she stretched her arms and began walking up to the Dralan's bed, but immediately stopped up when loud voices suddenly shouted outside.

"Dohmenic, you can't! Stop, don't go in--"

"Get out of my way!"

There was a sound of a punch being thrown, then a metallic rustling, and the next thing Leyla knew, the door was being unlocked and slammed open. The Dralan, looking pissed as hell and furious, kicked the door shut behind him and then zoned in on Leyla who stood frozen by the bed. She saw his shoulders square, then saw how his eyes narrowed.

"Take off your dress."

Leyla's eyes widened. "W-what?"

He instantly began prowling forward with strong steps, reaching her in five paces. "Take your dress off, now."

Confused, but scared, Leyla remained solid like a stone, staring up at the Dralan who glared down at her with dark eyes. "D-Dohmenic..."

Without an ounce of warning, his powerful lips slammed down on hers and his hands gripped her small body. Leyla shrieked and tried to push him off, but the next second he pushed her down on the bed, more like threw. She let out a loud gasp when he yanked off his own shirt, discarding it on the floor, before crawling on top of the bed as well, on top of her. Leyla pressed her hands to his chest again when he covered her body with his own, now capturing her helplessly beneath him.

"Dohmenic!"

"No," He growled, one of his hands frisking down her thigh, yanking at her dress. Leyla tried to stop him, tried to pull her dress down again when he kept pulling it up, but he was stronger; it was to no avail.

"Dohmenic!" She shouted, slapping at his chest, arms, hands. Fear struck through her, raced through her veins. He wouldn't do this... would he? He wasn't that kind of male. "What are you doing! Stop!"

"I'm taking you," He spoke against her neck as his teeth scraped against her vein that throbbed in fear at him, "I'm taking you now so the he won't."

Leyla froze up that very instant he said those words, even though he kept trying to tear up her garbs.

I'm taking you now so that he won't.

Phlague.

"Dohmenic," Leyla now whispered, swallowing hard when he kissed her neck. She laced her hands through his hair and then gripped it, tried to force his head up. He wouldn't comply. "Dohmenic, stop. You don't have to do this. He won't ever touch me, ever."

"Like he'd never touch the Lady Kahtrina?" He growled, now finally managing to rip her dress open by her thigh. Leyla gasped. "I am not taking any chances."

"Dohmenic!" She now screamed, sinking her nails into his scalp and scraping until he hissed. "Stop it, now! Don't you see, this is what he wants! If you do this, you'll have nobody to feed from!"

"I don't care."

"Yes, you do," Leyla demanded, strengthening her voice when he begun sliding his hand under her dress. "Think about your kingdom. Think about what would happen to your people if their Dralan died."

His hands slowed down and the shaking aggression in his body seemed to steam off some, too. She was finally getting through to him, but he tried to push through anyway.

"Leyla..." He rasped against her neck. He stilled and laid his forehead against the crook. "You didn't see what he did to her."

"Because you wouldn't let me," She replied, now softly stroking through his hair when his whole body collapsed on top of hers, nearly crushing her. "Maybe I would've understood better if you'd let me, but either way, this isn't the right thing to do and you know it."

"I want to protect you."

"And you are," She whispered again, feeling him tighten his arms around her. "But you must also protect your people. Your kingdom relies on your strength. It's only as strong as its Dralan. If you thirst, they will suffer. And so will I, knowing I let it happen."

She heard a deep sound immense from his chest. It wasn't a groan and it wasn't a whimper, but it was something in between, something broken. Leyla couldn't imagine the burdens he carried on his strong shoulders, the rough choices he had to make every day. Coming in here with the intention to lay with her against his will, as wrong as it was, it was a choice he had made because he wanted to protect her from the same fate that had fallen upon Lady Kahtrina. Leyla understood it, but she couldn't in good faith let him do it. He was choosing her safety over his kingdom's, and that was beyond what she could put into words.

"Dahna..." He whispered, now slowly pulling back to look her in the eyes. She stared up at Dohmenic, her Dralan, saw the pain riding within his eyes, swirling around like a maelstrom. "My sweet Leyla..."

Boldly, Leyla lifted her head and pressed her lips against his, hearing him groan as she kissed him. He dipped and kissed her back, cupped the back of her head like she cupped his. For minutes, that was how they both calmed down. The Dralan's temper eased and Leyla's scare wore off. She knew he could never have gone through with this. Ever. He was a wise male, but this situation had clouded his judgement. Seeing Lady Kahtrina, whatever her injuries had been, had made him believe this was the right thing to do. But deep down, he knew better.

After several minutes, both of them pulled away. Leyla sighed as Dohmenic settled against her, found comfort against her chest, holding her tightly. His large frame almost made it impossible for her to breathe, but she couldn't care in that moment.

Leyla closed her eyes and softly combed her fingers through her Dralan's soiled hair, the hair that hadn't been washed since they departed from Amascahr. She doubted he had even washed back then. So much had happened and she couldn't even remember herself when she had last bathed, everything having been so... crazy.

Now, as they both laid there, exhaustion overtook them. It was as if Leyla could feel all of her King's burdens as he laid on top of her, on the brink of sleep. She exhaled and heard him do the same, feeling his shoulders ease as he found a nest of peace in her, a moment of relaxation. All the world's troubles that he had to fix, they disappeared for just a few moments, right here, against her.

And while she felt all this happen, Leyla realized just how deeply she had fallen for this male that would never, ever be hers.