Xena stood in her new room that was bigger and better than the last one though the last one had many if her memories that were attached to what she was now.

Good and bad.

That included Cassius.

Xena had her luggage ready and at the moment, it was being placed in a large traveling carriage.

It had only been a day since her coronation and her father was already asking her to travel to other kingdoms to sign a treaty of friendship with everyone.

Including the one kingdom that was not able to make it to her crowning ceremony.

The Almond Kingdom. It was known as Almond because it was the biggest trader of Almonds.

Oh well.

Xena did not want to mess relations with anyone so she had to be wise while making decisions. Today was the first day of her being a Queen and she had to act like it now.

Xena stepped out of her room, dressed in a really gorgeous maroon gown with her crown on her head.

Her crown was in a triangle shape that sat proudly on her head between her braid that was made like hairbands. A white jewel placed at the top middle of the silver crown.

In short, the crown was really beautiful.

Xena walked down the stairs only to find her father talking to Prince Stephen.

What was he doing here? Xena thought but shrugged it off. Maybe he was here to see her off.

Maybe.

When Xena reached the bottom of the stairs, Prince Stephen bowed slightly - greeting her - while her father grabbed her daughter's hand softly.

"Dear, I know that this very short notice but King Cassius will be accompanying since he himself didn't sign treaties with other kingdoms the last year since he was busy making amendments to his own kingdom."

Xena had her eyes wide and her father continued,

"King Cassius believes it is best to join you."

Xena, deep breaths! First trial of your duties! Xena thought to herself.

"Prince Stephen, will you be accompanying us?" Xena asked Stephen who shook his head.

"I have to look after the kingdom when Brother will be gone. My sincerest apologies Queen Xena."

Xena only nodded her head but from the inside, she was nervous. She will be alone with Cassius, going on a journey to don't know how many kingdoms!

"Are you okay with it Xena?" Her father asked and Xena turned to look at her father who had a look that said, 'Don't you dare decline the offer', and so Xena nodded.

After last night that she spent with Cassius, she had sworn that this time, she was going to give Cassius a hard time.

If he wanted to be with her that bad, he had to make amendments for that that would probably take years.

And anyway, Xena now wasn't Interested in getting married anyway.

In the era she lived in, there were no 'friends with . . . With relationships', there were straight marriages. Do you like someone? Get married. You are attracted to someone? Get married.

Nothing in between.

So if Cassius wanted to make Xena his, it clearly meant that he wanted to marry her which Xena didn't want to do.

She might've said yes to him a year ago but not anymore. She had been waiting for a year, but he didn't come.

If she were a boy, she would've gone to ask his hand in marriage but she wasn't. She was a lady. She had to wait for the man to come to her herself or else, it would be deemed indecent and would be frowned upon.

A man is supposed to propose a woman, not the other way around so Xena had to wait. It got her nowhere cause Cassius never came.

Xena was an independent woman who wanted to wait to have a marriage even if it meant marrying the man she loved.

She knew how man worked. How they forced their woman and knowing Cassius, she wouldn't stand a chance against him. She would never be able to get her point across him.

Xena needed time. A year ago, she was different, now she was a completely another person.

"Let's get going. It's getting late." Xena's father brought Xena back to reality and softly pushed her towards her carriage that was big enough to accommodate two people.

Xena was helped into the carriage. She took a seat on one side and looked around. Cassius was still not here.

A minute went by and the carriage started moving. But wait! Cassius was still not here.

Xena didn't know what to do.

After a minute of thinking, she decided to get the carriage stopped - but how?

"Sir!" She called but she wasn't loud enough. She then finally pushed her head out of the window and said louder than before.

"Sir! King Cassius is still not here. Can you sto-" Xena stopped herself when she got a good look at the person who was driving the carriage.

Cassius.

It was Cassius who was driving the carriage and she was stupid enough to think that the driver had forgotten him back at the palace. Another man was sitting beside Cassius - probably the driver.

"Cassius," Xena whispered and Cassius lowly growled that was only audible to himself. Something's never change, for example, how softly she called his name.

"Shit," Cassius whispered to himself and Xena went back to her seat with her face red.

She was embarrassed.

Great job Xena! Now he knows you were thinking about him! Not a minute has gone by and you decided to make a fool of yourself! Xena scolded herself. Her face flushed.

Cassius quietly drove until the night came along and he passed the driving position to the original driver and decided to finally go and join Xena who had suddenly grown shy.

Cassius opened the door of the carriage to find Xena looking out of the window with the moonlight shining over her face. She looked absolutely radiant.

Cassius stepped in without a hassle and took the seat opposite her.

They both made eye contact for hardly three seconds when Xena looked away.

She was not being herself.

A small smirk appeared on Cassius' face when a devilish smile took over his lips.

"Xena, how was the first day of being a Queen?" Cassius asked and Xena's eyes finally snapped to Cassius.

The season of winter had started and the cold air came through the open window - which could not be closed due to the absence of a flap - and Xena shuddered slightly.

"It was okay," Xena said with a straight face. Cassius nodded but then shot another statement.

"I think you will give up soon and step down."

"And why is that?" Xena said with an eyebrow raised. What was he trying to say?

"Well, women are not meant to lead. They are supposed to stay beside their male and be obedient." Cassius pushed a little more, waiting for an outburst.

"I must say, King Cassius, you have a very wrong mindset. Women definitely have a choice to do whatever they want. If they don't want to get married, they will not get married." Xena definitely had a double meaning and Cassius understood it very well.

She was clearly stating that she didn't want to do anything with Cassius but Cassius was going to prove her wrong.

"And my mindset will remain that way. Women are not fit to rule - especially the one I have my eyes on." A shiver went up Xena's spine and Cassius smirked when he noticed that.

A year away from each other had changed both of them. Both were acting opposite of what they were before - well at least one of them.

Xena was more open before but now, she was more closed off and remained in her boundaries while Cassius was Cassius.

Cassius had gotten even stronger, smarter, angrier, more demanding, and good-looking. A trait that didn't change about him was the same mocking self.

He loved to mock and tease others, Xena was just a bonus he would poke every now and then.

"The lady must be very unlucky then." Cassius rose a brow and turned his head around.

"I don't find you unlucky from any angle my love. You have a good face, personality and definitely a good body." Cassius looked her up and down and Xena's eyes widened.

She immediately wrapped her arms around her chest and turned beet red.

"You have turned into a pervert!" Xena exclaimed and Cassius' smirk widened even more.

"Only for you my love." Xena squealed and tried to hide her face from him,

"What is wrong with you Cassius!" Cassius suddenly was face to face with Xena. His arms caging her in while she covered her face.

Xena slowly lowered her hands and when finding Cassius so close to her, she quickly covered her face again.

"Why? Why are you so shy? Do you love me?" Xena's eyes widened behind her palms.

"Are you ready to give your body and soul to me? Are you ready to be my wife?" Xena had started breathing faster and Cassius enjoyed hearing her heart skip a beat.

"I - I" Xena could not speak. She did not know what to do. Her hands uncovered her face and move to his chest and she pushed him away.

Cassius let her push him away.

He was satisfied with the reaction. He knew that Xena still had to feel for him and Cassius was hellbent on making her give herself to him.

He was ready for everything Xena had to give, whether they were punches or kisses. He was ready to take on anything for her.

Anything.

The night turned colder from the passing minutes. The clouds had gathered in the dark sky, ready to snow.

Everyone was in their warm and cozy houses except this one carriage. The carriage where a Queen and a King sat. The problem was, they were not from the same kingdom. They were not the same type.

One was not even human.

King Cassius watched Queen Xena shuddering, freezing from the cold. She was probably frozen but Cassius made no attempt to help her.

He wanted her to ask him just like she did a year ago.

Xena was not going to ask for Cassius' help. She was going to be a strong independent woman who will not be dependent on a man for one measly cold.

Cassius waited for Xena to say something but was surprised when found her pulling out a blanket from a bag and wrapping it around her self. Suddenly, a scowl graced Cassius' face.

Xena came prepared.

Xena: 1 , Cassius: 0

Cassius shrugged and closed his eyes, also snapping his wings open and wrapping them around him. Warming his already warm body even more.

Xena watched Cassius, wishing she was him.

The blanket did little to nothing to stop the cold from licking her body. She still felt cold and desperately wanted to snuggle with Cassius.

Xena opened her mouth to say something but then closed it again . . .

"If you want something, then ask!" Cassius snapped rudely. His rudeness did not go away over the year. He still hated humans but not this particular human. Quite the opposite actually.

"Um . . . Can we share it?" Xena asked unsurely. What was he going to say?

She heard him sigh and then, one of the wings opened to reveal one side of Cassius.

"Come on." Xena quickly jumped on his seat, pulled her legs up snuggled against Cassius as his wings covered the both of them.

Xena: 0 Cassius: +1

Just this once. Just this once she will give in to her urges but not only because of urges but Also because she really missed Cassius and their times together.

Both had their crowns inside a chest from the start of the journey. Cassius had gotten another crown. Not the one he had stolen from the museum. Now he had his own 'King' crown and he was never so proud.

Their Crowns:

Cassius

Xena

The crown had become the most precious thing to him since it was a combination of his old crown.

If he ever loses it, he would turn the whole world upside down to find it.

Cassius looked out of the window when he heard soft snores from beside him. Cassius turned his head around to see the stubborn twenty-two-year-old female.

Just by looking at her, his jaw started to hurt. Cassius was surprised by his own reaction because it had been a year since he last felt any pain like this.

Cassius sigh and let his canines come out. He then looks back at her and his eyes go to her neck.

The necklace. She still wears it.

She still didn't know why Cassius originally have her and it was better that way. Cassius immediately look away when his eyes wander lower to her swell -

His gums started throbbing and he groans.

The night went on and the day came along.

The sun shone proudly while Xena and Cassius slept together, still cocooned in Cassius' wings.

The chariot came to a stop and the small jerk had Cassius waking up. The door of the chariot was knocked om and then pulled open by the driver.

The moment the driver saw the King and his Queen hidden in Cassius' wings, together - the driver was out of his mind.

"Got some problems with the eyes? Can't close them? I will be happy to help." Cassius while raising a single claw up and the driver's breath hitched.

"What do you want?" Cassius asked calmly while the driver was shaking in his boots.

"We are there sire." The driver's voice was high pitched and Cassius immediately cringed.

"Can't you see she is sleeping? Shut up and go away. I'll call you when we are ready." Cassius snapped and the driver literally jumped, slammed the door close, and ran away.

The driver was scared. He thought that the King will rip him apart cause he was so strong. With that thought, the driver did two to three pushups after which he was face-first on the ground.

As the driver tried building his muscles, Cassius slowly poked the Queen. She still won't wake up.

"Xena. Wake up." She still didn't wake up. Cassius poked with his finger again on her shoulder.

"Xena, wake up!" He said with a little more force but still, his voice was soft. Xena's deep slumber still didn't break.

Cassius sighed and then looked around. No one was close by and then Cassius smirked. He lowered his lips to her ear and spoke,

"My dear soon to be wife, you better wake up or I will be forced to take some drastic measures to wake you up. Wake up, my love." Cassius spoke sensually in her ear.

He felt Xena shudder but she still didn't open her eyes and Cassius groaned. What can he possibly do to waker her up politely?

Cassius started to retract his wings from around Xena when he felt a sharp tug and his eyes widened. Xena had a very strong grip on one of Cassius's wings.

"Xena! Let my wing go or I swear I will throw you out!" Cassius' voice booked which jolted Xena awake and she immediately let go of his wing.

"Come on, we are there," Cassius said rudely and walked out of the carriage, ignoring a Xena who had a drum for a heart.

When Cassius got out, his mood instantly got better at the weather and the surrounding but then, his eyes spotted a sweaty driver who was trying to do push-ups.

Cassius raised an eyebrow and walked to stand beside him which the driver still hadn't noticed.

"5 . . . 6 . . . Ah, 7 . ." Cassius tried to hold himself from scaring him out of his wits buts failed. Cassius noticed that he wasn't going low enough so he placed his barefoot on his back and the driver instantly fell down.

A scream escaped his lips when he realized who had a foot on his back.

Cassius pulled his a foot off and watched the driver scurry to the corner.

"You were not going low enough," Cassius explained innocently while the driver only tried to calm himself.

"Let's go," Xena called from the inside of the carriage and then stepped out. Cassius watched her. She looked gorgeous.

"Your majesty, your crowns." The driver was already on his feet - recovered from the scare - and held out the chest which held their crowns.

Xena nodded and pulled out here, immediately putting it on. Cassius too pulled his out and pulled it on.

"Down this path, we will reach the first kingdom."

...
So I decided instead of a second book, I will give you these long additional chapters.

Even though I had great plans for the second book but it's not possible - I even made the cover lol, but hey no problemo.

I started levels and I don't think I would be able to give time to the second book so here it is. Just showing the cover.

Enjoy though.