｡･:*:･ﾟ★,｡･:*:･ﾟ☆｡･:*:･ﾟ★,｡･:*:･ﾟ☆

｡･:*:･ﾟ"If I didn't know you I'd say you were making a threat." ･:*:･ﾟ☆

Octavia

"I would like to welcome you all to our biannual council meeting. The first of this political session," Queen Luna proclaims from her seat at the head of the long table in the woodland themed dining room. Terra did a good job. I zone out for the rest of her speech, it's the same one she twists and changes slightly every political event. "-as I am sure you are aware, the burned ones sightings have been rapidly increasing and I wish to reassure you all that we are not approaching a second war despite what the rumours suggest."

"Yet the reports would suggest otherwise." The treasury's minister retorts, from the other end of the long table where he is sat next to Irene.

"The reports show sightings, not numbers." Lýkos interrupts, staring him down.

"So you're saying you don't know." The health care minister arches an eyebrow, her nymph eyes narrowing.

"I'm saying we need more information." Lýkos answers.

The ministers all shift at the implication of action. Helios, must they really fear doing something so much. I glance at Queen Luna from my place on her left, Stella sits on her right with general Lýkos on her right. Beatrix is on my left in place of the education minister.

"How do you propose we do that?" The treasury minister mocks, "Who will pay for it, who shall lead it, who will carry out. Do you even have a plan?"

Rumbling and protests break out among the table, noise clamouring through the hall. Even the guards and advisors lining the walls against the columns seem to be stepping closer in concern.

"Enough!" Luna calls, silencing the crowd, "The discussions can wait till the morrow. For now, we shall enjoy each other's company and be grateful for peace in a world where it is not common."

｡･:*:･ﾟ★,｡･:*:･ﾟ☆｡･:*:･ﾟ★,｡･:*:･ﾟ☆

"I wonder if I could crowd surf on them." Lýkos wonders and I begin to chuckle at his words, "What? Look at them down there, they're packed like sardines."

I grin and glance past him to the sea of student still happily dancing away. It was a nice surprise for them all, being given a free night of fun. I wonder what the Queen is going to ask of them in cost. She only ever butters people up when she's going to implement some new regime that they disagree with.

"The specialist might carry you around, but I fear you will lose all god like reverence to them." Stella jokes as she strides to my side on the upper floors of the east wing courtyard, "That dinner was awkward to the extreme."

Lýkos scoffs. "You're telling me, I've had to suffer through hundreds of them and let me tell you... you're mother's speeches never get any better."

We giggle at his words before drifting into comfortable silence. It reminds me of being 16 again and having mother dearest integrate me back into her political world. Of course I was living with Andreas at that point so Lýkos was assigned the role of taxi driver to get me to and from political events. Not that he minded, we had some good talks during those long drives.

"How have you been dear Stella," Lýkos drawls with a wiggle of his eyebrows, "You never call home, no postcards or letter, not even so much as a text-"

I break into giggles at his dramatic forlorn expression. Stella merely rolls her eyes at him, huffing in annoyance but I see the warmth in her eyes.

"I've been good, it's been... an adjustment." She answers somewhat hesitantly.

Poor stel, teenagers are arseholes. Little shadow mumbles sympathetically.

"Give them time little star," He rumbles out and I tense at the reminder of Andreas' little nicknames for us all, "the Ricki situation will blow over, it wasn't your fault."

"There's nothing you could have done against the burned ones and the attackers, Little Lámpsi." I soothe and Stella tenses.

"Why do the two of you insist on giving me childish pet names?" She questions in a quick change of subject. Lýkos and I share a concerned look but laugh along with her avoidance.

"Helios, my feet are getting sore in these shoes." Stella grumbles.

"And here I was going to ask you to dance." A stupid voice drawls.

You mean Brandon.

Fuck off

"Not much of a posh dance," Lýkos drawls, as he turns to face the young pup with a smirk, "I didn't think you would be into such things."

Brandon smiles slightly but looks to Stella in question who in turn sneaks a glance back at Sky.

I wave her off, "Go, have some fun. One of us might as well. I'm sure you'll be safe with Benton while we discuss boring plans up here with the defence minister. I'll need Sky here to guard Lýkos, maybe to stop him from attacking the poor little ministers while your gone"

"Oh, I don't think one specialist is going to stop me attacking anyone, Princess." Lýkos mocks as he glances towards the blond specialists.

"Oh, no." I purr, "Sky is here mainly to tackle me when I lunge across the table at your throat."

His laughter is dark and low, "Do you still trust my politics so little."

"Any politician dumb enough to blindly follow their leader is no politican." I smirk.

Lýkos barks out a wolfish laugh and I'm suddenly reminded of his namesake.

"Perhaps we should go," Brandon stutters out and I wave the couple off, keeping my gaze on the general as Sky drifts to where Riven is standing against the column behind me on the balcony.

"Why must you insist on challenging me?" Lýkos demands, eyes bright and filled with rage but his face is calm and humorous.

"Because it's fun." I state, "And I wouldn't want you to get slow in your old age."

"Careful now, I have kept you safe all these years. Cared for you as if you were my own, but-"
"But what, Lýkos?" I cut him off, my voice tired, "You are loyal to the Queen, far too loyal."

"There's no such thing." He retorts, clearly insulted.

"When you wind up dead because of one her petty spats-"

"Watch yourself." He snaps and steps forward, the sound of metal clinking as my boys do the same behind me.

"Oh," He mocks, glaring at Riven and Sky, "So you found yourself some new guard dogs and decided that I was no longer of use to you."

Rage contorts his features as he looks down at me in disbelief. There's genuine pain in his eyes. He does love me. I remind myself, he raised me, he saved me but he is loyal to my mother. He would report back to her and I will not have my people die because she wants to hide behind her petticoats and skirts.

"I decided to start protecting my people. Something you have failed to do in a while."

A snarl rips from his chest and Riven is by my side in seconds only pausing when I raise my hand to stop him. There's a suffocating pause as I wait for Riven to take a step back to stand by Sky's side. Irene and Silva drift through from the dinning room and I can see a few other ministers staring through curiously. Good. I need to discredit Lýkos. He'll stand in the way of actual action against burned ones, especially with all the fudged reports I've been receiving from him.

"How dare you," He seeth and I tense. I may have bitten off more than I can chew, "I have been protecting this realm for longer than you have been alive. I was the first black general, I was the first general to allow transgender people into our ranks, under my commands our troops have increased. They have become more diverse, better trained, more efficient. The crime rate has gone down, the witch sightings have gone down, we have eliminated the threat of Shax demons entirely and 4 peace treaties with other nations and countries have been signed under my command."

The party has gone silent below, someone has turned off the music and the students are staring up at their general with rapt attention.

"You dare to stand there, nineteen, at your first meeting and claim I have not done my job? I have not done my job? What about your job, princess? You have been away from your home for many years, do you even remember what your people look like?"

Silence. Utter silence.

You could hear a pin drop and I see every Dumaris in the room go still at the promise of violence in the air. Every minister, advisor, guard, family member and the Queen has stepped out onto the balcony to witness my humiliation.

I shake slightly with shock. I wasn't- I didn't think he would go that far. I didn't think the closest thing I had to a father would go that far. I thought he would understand. See what I was trying to do. That he would know I'm trying to play the game.

He scoffs and rage begins to build in my stomach as he storms past me.

No. He doesn't get to walk away after that. Not after publicly humiliating me. I intended for an argument between the two of us, to be witnessed by a few ministers. Not this.

"I remember the faces of the starving five year old children I saw in the dessert," My voice echoes through the room and Lýkos' steps halt behind me, "I remember their mothers' eyes as the begged me to save them, as they begged me for food, for a new home, for safety and protection."

I turn to face Lýkos, catching a glimpse of Riven's glaring face as he stares daggers into the general's back. Sky looks conflicted about who to believe, his idea of who I am based on his experiences with Stella warring what he has seen of me. Taking a step towards Lýkos the two quickly fall into rank behind me.

"I remember the leering looks on the officials' faces when I went to plead the peoples' case. Their laughs as they told me the people had no money, so why would they do such laborious work for free. Our army has flourished under your command," I mock, using his words against him, "We now have even more soldiers for war that is apparently not coming. Soldiers that we could be using to take aid to those in poverty, soldiers we could train in other ways to help the people they have sworn to protect. Tell me, what threat shall we vanquish with our swords when our greatest threat is civil unrest?"

A camera flashes in the distance and I realise that the students are recording this.

Fuck. Not good.

I've not prepared a public speech, nor do I know the politically correct terms. This could turn on me. This could turn on the whole royal family.

"Our greatest threats include poverty, disease and wars of our own making. You have made great progress in our peace treaties. 4 of them signed in 10 years... when we have an additional 40 at least that need negotiating for this realm alone. I am young, yes, but I know my job. Do not talk down to me for representing my people because I may not have been in the capital for a long time but I do know my people, I know them far better than you do."

｡･:*:･ﾟ★,｡･:*:･ﾟ☆｡･:*:･ﾟ★,｡･:*:･ﾟ☆

Riven

Is this an appropriate time to be horny? No. Am I currently fighting the urge to pin Ocatvis to the nearest surface after her speech.... Yes.

Lýkos storms past us as the cheering breaks out from the students, clapping and whistling quickly ensuing. I see Stella command the DJ to restart the music as she clearly tries to draw the public's attention away from her sister.

"I thought you were supposed to tackle me if I went for Lýkos' throat." Tavi murmurs quietly to Sky.

I wonder if I can get ahold of the video I saw one of the students take. Definitely my new favourite fantasy. There's something brutally attractive about Octavia bringing men to their knees with just words.

She does all the political crap and I get to sit back and appreciate it while being the muscle.

My grandparents hover at the edge of the crowd, eyes boring into Octavia and I push down my snarl at the sight of them. Helios, what are they doing here? Why wouldn't they warn me or even talk to me or-

Why am I even questioning their motives? They hate me. It's my fault their daughter is dead. I'm not sure I could forgive someone who killed my child. But why must they insist on not letting me visit Olivia. I just want to say goodbye at the very least. It's not like I'm begging to visit everyday with flowers and gifts, no matter how much I just want to curl up next to her and never leave, I just want to see her for one last time. For closure or some shit.

I sigh and calm my breathing. There's no use getting angry. My grandmother will only relish in my emotions. The party below has livened back up, the heavy base beating through the room like a war drum. No doubt made louder by the Dumaris getting out their excess energy after that adrenaline spike caused by Lýkos.

My thoughts drift back to the battle I just witnessed. Helios, I thought Lýkos had her there for a second. I really thought we were fucked before we had even begun. And then Octavia opened her mouth and I regretted ever doubting her for a single second. I will back fire eventually, it always does, but she's a spitfire and I know she's learning. Helios knows what kind of demon that will be unleashed once she's got some practice under her belt.

Octavia moves away from the balcony edge, wandering further into the gossiping crowd whose attention is fixated on the greatest woman of all time. I grin at the thought, damn straight they should be staring, she's a fucking goddess when she's angry. I distantly wonder what it would be like to have that rage fixated on me.

"Riven, stop looking like your imaging having sex with an angry princess."

"Irene." Silva snaps in shock, glancing between his mate and Tavi as the couple walk towards us.

"Oh, don't be so dramatic, mon guierre. I believe you were attracted to certain fiery personalities in your youth."

"Just my youth?" He mumbles under his breath as he downs a glass of whiskey.

Irene swats at his arm and I grin at the couple. These two are genuinely my favourite teachers of all time and the only reason I believe that this mate bond crap might actually be worth something. Sky apparently doesn't feel the same because he makes some kind of blech sound and looks disgustedly at the mated pair.

"Please don't," He begs, "it was bad enough living with the two of you as a pg couple."

Silva grins at the comment, clearly proud of himself for whatever the hell the two of them have going on behind closed doors. Irene looks slightly apologetic but turns to her son. Who is her son, no matter what the ignorant idiot keeps telling himself.

"How are you doing meu filho? I know it can-" Irene breaks off and narrows her eyes. Major scolding about to kick off. "Shouldn't you be guarding princess Stella-"

"I told him to stay with me," Octavia interrupt politely, "I had a suspicion that something was going to happen and wanted my sister out of the way and if Lýkos lost control I didn't want Riven to pounded into a pulp... not on his own at least."

"Your faith in me is reassuring," I mock, but I'm a little offended. I know I couldn't stand up against a general but still. Have some faith in me to not leave the fight as mulch. The chuckles and laughter die down.

"How are you doing?" Silva asks Tavi sincerely, concern shining in his eyes.

She shrugs, "It is what it is. I wasn't expecting this evening to be easy or fun but it's still not nice to actually endure it."

Irene hums, "So I take it you have a plan that Lýkos will disapprove of?"

Silva looks towards his mate in surprise, a warning look in his eyes.

"Silva and I will of course help with the specialists," Irene waves a hand as if we were just discussing casual topics and not running military operations under the general's nose, "Unless of course I misread the information you allowed us to overhear."

Sky and Silva both cough in surprise but I know Octavia is grinning in delight.

"You read my intentions perfectly." Tavi tilts her head in an animalistic manner, "Do you intend on including Dowling?"

Irene hums, her eyes alight in predatory intent, "I am not beholden to Dowling's whims."

"What Dowling doesn't know won't hurt her." Tavi states.

The two women share what can only be described as a look of pure domination. Where Irene is known for her calm, cold rages when she loses control; Octavia is known for a fiery rage like no other, to burn the world to the ground around her so long as she can dance in the ashes. Yet the two of them have that same animalistic rage, that same pack instinct to protect their own that allows them to lavish in the blood of those that would harm their families.

"I quite agree, one wouldn't want any specialists to go missing under her rules."

I freeze at Irene's words.

I don't know how to puzzle out that political jumble of a threat. Or not a threat?

It's Irene saying it so it's probably a threat.

"If I didn't know you I'd say you were making a threat." Tavi drawls and steps closer. Silva tenses, ready to defend his mate.

"Do you know me?" Irene taunts.

"I know Sky."

Irene freezes, "If I didn't know better I'd say you were making a threat."

"And do you," tavi asks, "Know better?"

Silence.

My fellow males freezing with me as all three of us stare at the warring women with fear and trepidation. We'll have to subdue the if they fight. None of us could either of them. This is going to end badly-

Laughter.

They're fucking laughing.

Helios have mercy on whoever crosses the pair of them.

I see Silva's eyes light up with a similar appreciation of the bond between the two women. Even Sky seems to have begrudgingly accepted that if his mother - she is his mother no one can change my mind - accepts Octavia then he must be the one in the wrong. Nevertheless, he and I will be having a little chat about whatever is going on between him, Octavia and Bloom.

And whatever little bond with a name I don't know that appears to be connecting him and I to Octavia.

A/N: What do you think of Lýkos and Tavi's relationship?