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Ch. 41: Afterglow
Last Updated:
2022-09-26 12:53:47
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Catalyst CH. 42: Afterglow (part 2)
He sighed and shook his head. “We’ll figure it out. They’ll probably come back with me.” He took another handful of nuts and got up off the blanket to help her pack up. “Your mother may be a pain in the ass, and your father might be a little cold, but man, I’m still a little jealous. They don’t think of people as tools to be used. I mean, maybe a little—your mother wants you to marry me for the sake of peace—but not to the extent that they’ll kill friends and family for political gain.”She sighed. “It’s very sad that your family thinks that way, but I suppose it’s not altogether uncommon. My mom thought it would help peace, but I’m pretty sure after the whole trying to kill you bit she doesn’t think your safety and marriage as an alliance so much anymore. Which is both fortunate and unfortunate. I’d hate
Last Updated : 2022-09-27Catalyst Ch. 43: Diplomacy (part one )
The king had been pouring over everything that had happened since Hayward had arrived in his study, the room to the side of his bedroom. No one entered it, not even his wife, unless it was an emergency. It was where he went to think and he alone. He’d asked for lunch to be brought up and placed outside so he could continue to think things over. It was necessary for him to have his thoughts in order before he spoke with the prince that afternoon. He knew he’d have awhile as Elissa had offered to take him to the mines, but he wondered if that had been such a good idea. She hadn’t looked like herself that morning. He thought perhaps that had something to do with the events of the day before. He knew she was grown and strong and could easily hold her own against anyone, but the fact that in the time since the prince had arrived she’d developed a liking to him (one of the first men she had ever done so), overslept for a hunt (which she had never done before), been in the line of fire for
Last Updated : 2022-09-27Catalyst Ch. 44: Diplomacy (Part 2)
The king nodded. “Ranged soldiers are the one thing I have. Bows and arrows are very useful for hunting as well as for protection. When it comes to hand to hand blows, very few are skilled, but with a bow, most are quite proficient marksman.”“And we have small stations set along the borders for scouts to be based when not on patrol. We just haven’t needed them in years…” the last time he had sent someone to one had been the young soldier who tried to court his eldest daughter, but that had been spite, not necessity. “So sending soldiers out to them, especially along our southern border, is a good tactic?” They had enjoyed their years of peace, but he was foolish to think it would truly last. There would always be someone who chose greed over it. He would’ve given them whatever they asked for in return for peace, but instead, they would get nothing. And he would have to deal with the impending threat. “Is there... anything else?” He asked, looking into the young man’s eyes. Hayward
Last Updated : 2022-09-30Catalyst Ch. 45: Cat Nap
She was lying on the floor snuggling with Sasha, who had been somewhat neglected since his arrival. “Come in! It’s open!” She called, lifting her head off the white fur to make sure the sound wasn’t completely drowned out. One of her arms was hooked around the neck of the gigantic creature, scratching her behind the ear, and she had Sasha’s muzzle in the crook of her neck. The giant cat was purring so loudly there was no way he couldn’t hear it through the door. She didn’t even look up as the door opened, expecting no one else but him. “How’d it go?” She asked casually, not even looking in his general direction. Hayward entered and quietly closed the door behind him. He looked briefly for Elissa before finding her on the floor with the cat and chuckling. “It went… well. Your father was more agreeable than I expected. I’m going to lie to the Aasleaghans about how difficult it would be to invade Treiaul, and he’s going to try to make those lies more believable.” He sighed. This was t
Last Updated : 2022-10-01Catalyst Ch. 45: Dinner
She fell asleep almost immediately: sandwiched between Sasha and Hayward, comfortable and warm. When she awoke a little while later, Sasha had gotten down in favor of searching for something to play with, and she flipped over to find Hayward’s eyes still closed. She pressed her lips to his just to see if it would get a rise out of him, or if he would even wake up at all.He wasn’t quite awake yet, but he’d been pushed closer to it when she turned over in his arms. When she kissed him, he reacted more by reflex and instinct than by conscious thought. His arms tightened a little, and he pressed back. A moment later, his eyes opened, and he smiled. “Well, hello there.” He hugged her closer and kissed her again, more deeply this time. It was a pleasant response, and she smiled against his lips before kissing him back with the same fervor. As she pulled back once more to look at him, she beamed, “you know, I could really get used to this waking up next to someone thing…” It was nice to ha
Last Updated : 2022-10-03Catalyst Ch. 46: Dinner (part 2)
Hayward turned and watched Elissa leave but didn’t go anywhere; he was still hungry. Internally, his mind raced. Well, shit. Now what? The queen will probably be scandalized. Her father won’t be happy either… ah, fuck it.When he needed to be, the young prince was utterly shameless. He would deflect matters simply by acting as if they weren’t important. And with humor. That was vital. He pointed his fork at Kohl. “That… that was a dick move.” He took another bite. “And someday, you may find yourself with a young lady friend, and you may do something that you don’t want your parents or hers to know about; and you will realize just what a dick move it was.” He took another bite. “And if you’re very unlucky, I’ll still be here to repay you in kind.” He grinned playfully at the younger prince. It was dangerous, of course, to address the prince and ignore the parents, but he was going to play it off like it wasn’t a big deal. Kohl just huffed. “I wouldn’t be as careless as you two are…” h
Last Updated : 2022-11-12Catalyst Ch. 48: A Good Family
In another part of the castle, Elissa was still throwing a fit. She wasn’t sure what had or hadn’t happened after she left, but she was out for blood. She had noticed Kohl slinking into the gardens out her window and seriously considered going after him. However, she waited. Well, she paced. She paced back and forth, debating whether she’d be beheaded for killing their only heir, or how badly she could injure him without actually killing him. And to think she’d saved the little bastard’s life the day before! She was absolutely seething. As soon as Elissa heard a knock, she froze and turned toward the door. She didn’t know who it was, but the knob turned and in walked Hayward. In response, she smiled a little. “Oh good. Just you…” It sounded a little harsher coming out than she’d mean it to. Just you didn’t exactly seem warm and welcoming, but she was afraid it was one of her parents, come to chastise her. “Sorry... I…” she reached up behind her head, scratching her neck awkwardly. W
Last Updated : 2022-11-13Catalyst Ch. 49: Ridiculous Politics
“So I know why you hate your dad. Rightfully so. But... what about your mom? Or your siblings? Why did you not have any common ground with any of them?” Hayward smirked. “This is going to sound strange, but it’s because I was supposed to be a girl.” He licked his lips. “There’s this… this expectation, among Aasleaghan noblewomen. Their first few children will be sons, and then they’ll have daughters. Supposedly, this is actually a common pattern, something in the bloodlines that causes them to have daughters instead of sons as they get older. But I hear more often about women who ‘fail’ to fit the mold than about the ones who succeed, so… who knows?”“Anyway, my mother was a perfect exemplar until I came along. Three handsome sons, a beautiful daughter… and then me. And then another daughter. See, political marriages are a big deal for us, and daughters are important, traditionally—can’t have marriages without them, you know. So while it might be better to have a bunch of sons in the
Last Updated : 2022-11-15
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Catalyst Ch. 67: Goodbye for now
She changed into her brown riding britches and the forest green dress that split up to the thighs for riding along with her boots. She then grabbed one of her arrows, blood still on the tip for him to bring to his father, and finally, she quickly penned a letter to take with him:My dearest Hayward,I hope you open this when you miss me most. You’re not even gone yet, and I already miss you. This is going to be hell, but I promise to write to you daily. I am keeping said letters ransom so you will need to return to retrieve them. You take with you my portrait and my heart. Don’t lose them. I love youEShe found some dried crushed rose petals that could be used for rouge and added a few drops of water, painting it onto her lips before kissing the bottom, leaving the print of them. Blowing it dry, she then wiped the color off her as best she could. She rolled the parchment small as possible and tied it with a ribbon, attaching the kumquat sized portait to it and tucking it in her pock
Catalyst Ch. 66: The Final Morning
She felt the first few streams of light bleeding through the window and stretched, still in his arms. The last thing she wanted was for it to be morning. She wanted to close the curtains and pretend it was still midnight, but it wasn’t. They’d slept peacefully, and now dawn had come. She wanted to cry again, but instead, she stared into his sleeping face, cupping it in her hand, and gently kissed his lips. “Good morning, love…” she whispered as she tucked a stray hair behind his ear.He groaned and squirmed and stretched before his arms rammed into her. His eyes flew open for a moment, but he stopped short as he realized what had happened. He smiled and relaxed back into the bed. “Hey beautiful,” he replied softly. He slid his arms around her again and hugged her warmly. “Did you sleep well?” He was still enjoying the fuzzy feelings of just waking up, and he really didn’t want to
Catalyst Ch. 65: Our last night
Back in his room, Hayward had quickly shed his clothes and drawn a bath. Shortly before Elissa returned, he sank into the hot water. “Oooh, that feels good.” He sighed and rolled his shoulders, relaxing as best he could. At the sound of the door, he looked up and smiled. “Hey beautiful,” he greeted her, then beckoned for her to join him.She came into the room, laying her things over the dresser after locking the door and stripping down to join him in the bath. “Saw your friend in the hall,” she commented, climbing in with him and sighing contentedly as she let the water creep up around her. “He now seems to regard me in much the same way he regards you: shaking his head and rolling his eyes.” She laughed and leaned forward, giving him a quick kiss.The prince laughed. “Shaking his head and rolling his eyes… yeah, that’s Dantares.” He shrugged, t
Catalyst Ch. 64: The Gardens (part 3)
“Not yet, at least,” he replied. “I hope that someday it’ll be safe. The desert… has its own beauty, and my people… well, when we’re not being murderous barbarians or treating women like chattel, we’re inventive and resilient.” He scooted a little closer against her side. “But if we can secure peace, then I’m optimistic. I would at least like to take you to see the badlands. It’s an old mountain range, I think, that was stripped of life by the desert sun, leaving only bare, wind-carved stone behind.” “That sounds kind of... pretty…” she admitted, sounding surprised. “I mean, hot and harsh but...pretty…” she nuzzled her face into his neck, kissing it gently. “Come back soon, but more importantly, come back safe.” She nipped a little harder at his neck. “I don’t want to have some sort of long-lost love backstory. It makes me too romantic and desirable, and I have to marry someone, eventually. Otherwise, my siblings aren’t allowed to. So I really don’t want to have more emotions and fe
Catalyst Ch. 63: The Gardens (Part 2)
She cleared her throat and wiped her face once more. “Sorry. So. Yes. Gardens…” she took his hand in hers once more and moved forward. “Don’t know how you feel about flowers, but we have hundreds of varieties. Roses, lilies, vines, carnations, impatiens, zinnias, dahlias…”He smiled again as they walked, but only barely took his eyes off of her to glance at the flowers. “They’re pretty… beautiful even… fleeting… water hungry…” he stopped and shook his head. “This is a lovely garden. There’s only one that’s even like it in Aasleagh, and those idiots have to risk drought and starvation to keep their garden green. This is incredible, and I think I would love to see it again when I get back, because right now…”He sighed, smiled apologetically, shrugged helplessly. Then he grabbed her and pulled her into another de
Catalyst Ch. 62: The Gardens
He stood and followed Elissa out the door. “Well, that was… interesting. Your brother seems to enjoy playing with fire.”“If he ever finds a girl,” she sighed. “I shudder to think what sort of hellcat she will be.” Elissa laced her fingers in his. “It’s actually a little surprising he hasn’t ever found anyone who he even fancied enough to take to bed.” Her brother was a rather private person despite his penchant for exposing others’ secrets. However, she felt sure she’d know if he had actually had his way with someone. “I don’t think he’s quite romantic enough to be waiting for the one, or whoever mom deems is going to be the one.” She shrugged, looking at him as they exited the castle and walked into the gardens. There was an archway covered in Ivy that marked the entrance and boxwood hedges making walls around it
Catalyst Ch. 61: You're Family Now
She laughed at the two men, then drank hers as well. Through dinner, she ate more than she should and drank more than she should, but Elissa was thoroughly enjoying herself. Aeris, who was seated across from her, pointed to her neck as she moved her braid absentmindedly.“What’s wrong with your neck?” She asked, scrunching her nose up.“A tree branch scratched her…” her mother replied for her, but Elissa’d had just enough wine to embarrass her sister.“Kohl, would you like to repeat your performance, or shall I tell her?” She laughed, and her mother shot him a glare.“It’s a love bite…” Elissa snapped her teeth at Aeris, who still looked confused.Kohl, in turn, leaned over to her despite his mother’s warning glares. “It’s a hickey. Prince ‘can’t keep it in his pants’ and our eldest sister are fucking.”“Kohl Cyrus Sylvari! Don’t think you’re too old f
Catalyst Ch. 60: A toast
Apparently this was a going away dinner as her entire family plus Dantares and Deker appeared to be in attendance. She sat down next to him and smiled at everyone a little awkwardly. Elissa wasn’t particularly a fan of this many people at the table, all staring at her like she had two heads. She wasn’t sure if they were staring because of her now open connection with the head next to her, or if they were staring because they’d downed a beast with two heads earlier. Either way, it was uncomfortable, and she smiled awkwardly, drinking some of her wine to calm her nerves out of habit. Hayward straightened up a little as they entered the great hall. Oh. Well. Hmm. There’s people here. He smiled politely and did his best to look at least slightly regal, like he actually belonged there and hadn’t just snuck in the back when no one was looking. He offered a gracious nod to the king and queen as they sat down. “Hopefully, this is only a brief farewell,” he remarked. “But I appreciate the sen
Catalyst Ch. 59: Victory
“Oh, you’re probably right.” She said, laughing. “Do you need me to help you with that?” A sly smirk appeared on her face as she followed him up the staircase to his room. “Or are you a big boy and can do it all by your lonesome?” She teased. “Ha! I don’t neeeed anything.” He waited until they were out of sight in the stairwell, then grabbed her and kissed her and pressed her up against the wall. “But I want you.” He kissed her again and then slipped away, jogging up the stairs. “Hey!” she called back after him, running up behind him. “That’s not playing fair! You can’t do that and just run off!” She caught up to him just as he was exiting into the hallway, and content they wouldn’t take a tumble down the stairs, jumped onto his back and nipped his ear, laughing. “I just did, didn’t I?” he shot back before she jumped on him. “Ack!” He turned his head and growled, but did not try to dislodge her. “Now, now, princess,” he chided her, lowering his voice. “If you wanted me to carry
