They spent the evening together.

Alan was walking down the corridor to the bed chambers after dinner had concluded. It had been pleasant enough, but he was perplexed as to Catrina’s behaviour at the dinner table.

She had been extremely courteous to magistrate Ignacio—and to their father, which was very odd. He had expected her to demand she come on the mission as well, but she only extolled how happy she was that Alan would be going on such an important journey. Alan was often oblivious to deception—and far too trusting for Catrina’s liking—but he knew his sister well. She must have been planning something, her manner left no other conclusion. He had to confront her about it.

The young man halted in front of his sister’s door, scratches marking it at the bottom where Luna demanded entry. He knocked politely—in case Catrina was in the middle of changing.

He opened the door when he heard his sister bid him to enter.

Catrina stood at the balcony, looking out over the gardens and holding a glass of white wine. She was wearing a light green gown that matched her eyes perfectly. It was slightly translucent, so Alan could see the outline of her stunning curves beneath. Luna was sitting on the couch lining one of the walls, grooming her fur.
‘The storm will reach us tonight, I think. I hope it won’t affect the roads too badly for your journey, Alan,’ she said while still looking to the horizon.

Alan walked to his beautiful sister’s side and joined her gaze to the approaching storm.
‘Your words in Jorik’s ear, sister. But does the storm mean what I think it means?’ Alan asked sheepishly, while turning his head toward her.

Catrina met his gaze with a raised brow and a smirk on her lips.
‘That Luna and I will have to seek shelter in your bed again? Maybe—this storm looks like a big one,’ she said. Alan could not stifle a smile at her response.

Catrina turned slowly and walked towards her table, adorned with a basket of fruit and the bottle of wine she had opened.
‘Join me for a drink, little brother? We have much to talk about before you leave tomorrow,’ she offered, gesturing towards the couch where Luna sat and watched their conversation.

Alan could not ever refuse his sister a request—nor had ever wanted to. He nodded his approval and made his way to sit while Catrina poured a glass for him. The cat immediately came over to him to sit in his lap and he started petting her, eliciting a low purr from the feline.

‘It’s a good vintage, at least our captors don’t skimp on our wine cellar,’ she remarked with a giggle.

She handed him the glass of wine and their hands briefly touched as he reached for it. Her skin was as smooth as silk.
‘Thank you, Cat. I’ll take your word for it—I’m not really an expert on wine,’ he said as he brought the glass up to clink.
‘What should we toast to, Cat?’ he wondered.

Catrina held his gaze while finding a spot next to him and said. ‘To us, Alan. I have a feeling this journey of yours will be a turning point in your life, but no matter what happens, we’ll always have each other, right?’

Alan was moved by her sentiment and gave her the most reassuring smile he could.
‘No matter what, Cat. Not even the hounds of hell could tear us apart!’ he claimed and clinked his glass with hers.

The wine did indeed taste wonderful, but he was unsure whether it was the quality of the wine or the company—in the end, he figured it was both.

He set down the glass of wine and reclined slightly, while petting Luna. Alan’s face turned more solemn.
‘I loath to turn our reverie to more serious matters, Cat,’ he said, ‘but something has been bugging me since dinner.’

Catrina looked at her brother with worry in her eyes, she did not want to broach the subject while they were having such a good time.
‘Whatever do you mean? Dinner was quite pleasant. Ignacio seems like a good man,’ she lied, she knew Ignacio was anything but.

‘That’s precisely what’s irking me, sister. You were so nice and courteous to both the magistrate and father, when just this morning you were telling me how you wanted to come with me. I expected you to mention it, what’s your angle?’ he asked her.

Catrina reached for Alan’s hand and caressed it gently.
‘I don’t have an angle, Alan. I would not waste my breath pleading for something I could never get. I was just being polite to aid you. Turning the magistrate against our family with petty squabbles—as you apparently did in father’s study—before your journey even started is not helping anyone,’ she calmly explained.

Alan could find no fault in her logic. Catrina was playing Alan’s heartstrings like a virtuoso. If he had suspected any deception before, those concerns were swept away at her speech.

Alan sighed deeply and brought his hand up to touch his brow.
‘I’m sorry, Cat. I understand you meant well. It must have been the stress of the day, that made me doubt your intent. Let’s speak of more pleasant things. I seem to recall that you wanted to talk about something?’ he apologised.

She gave his hand a quick squeeze before bringing her glass to her lips.
‘It’s alright, I understand, Al. What I wanted to talk about is your journey,’ she mulled, ‘You’ll be leaving the villa for the first time in years—to a grand city no less. You know what that means?’

Alan had not thought much beyond the journey to Mirantia itself, he figured he had plenty of time to do so on the way.
‘Ahm—I’m not entirely sure. Lots of people in a small space, dirty streets, begging peasants, crime?’ he pondered half in jest.

It was Catrina’s turn to roll her eyes at her brother for the day.
‘You make it sound horrible, Alan,’ she said with a groan, ‘I wasn’t talking about any of that. I was getting at something we’ve been talking about quite a bit over the years.’

Alan shrugged his shoulders, still not quite sure where she was going.

‘Gods, Al. You are so innocent. I’m talking about girls, silly! You’ll finally meet many young women your age—or not your age if you prefer,’ she said winking at him.

Alan’s cheeks flushed at the implications. She was right—when was she not right? Curiously, Luna also perked up at the change in topic.
‘I had not thought about that yet. Do you think they might—they might like me?’ he asked, rubbing the back of head nervously.

Catrina’s smile went as wide as a Cheshire cat. She knew her brother to be handsome—maybe just on the edge between cute and handsome—and other girls would take notice without doubt. But she found his insecurity about the matter adorable.
‘Alan, of course they will! You’re well-mannered, kind—a real gentleman. Not to mention extremely good looking and I know you have a nice body too. And I’m not just saying that because I am your sister, I say it because it’s the truth!’ she encouraged him. ‘You just need a bit more confidence and the girls will be tearing down your door—or even if you don’t, I think you’re just the type older women love to seduce.’

Alan could not say a word to his sister, shocked with embarrassment.

‘In fact, if the rumours about our dear cousins Duncan and Stewart are true, then there’s a whole army of nubile girls in the royal palace just waiting to lift their skirts for someone like you!’ she claimed with glee.

He had heard of his cousin’s exploits in the bed chamber, but he thought them only hearsay.
‘You really think those rumours hold true? I can’t imagine both bedding so many different women. Sh-shouldn’t they find a sweetheart to love and marry?’ he asked innocently.

Catrina was surprised at Alan’s question. Was he a hopeless romantic, despite knowing her own exploits?
‘Gosh, Alan, you’re more naïve than I thought. They are still young and experimenting with their sexually. I’m sure they have their favourites among their playmates, but you don’t have to love or marry every person you take to bed, Al,’ she explained calmly, ‘Look at me, for example. I don’t have a sweetheart, yet I get plenty of “action”. Though, I may have it easier than most girls. I get all my emotional intimacy and cuddling needs from you! Sometimes it feels like we are a couple—just without the you know what.’

The young man coughed at his sister’s wild imagination. Catrina and him being a couple did enter his mind once or twice, but common decency and morals forbade such pairings.
‘Well, our situation is not exactly normal, Cat. Isolated in this villa, no prospects for marriage. And the guards and servants are rotated in and out regularly. There’s no real time to become overly attached, so I did not think it odd that you never became a girlfriend to any of your sexual partners. But in Mirantia, where none of that applies, I just figured it would be more like the tales,’ he tried to justify himself.

Catrina giggled musically at Alan’s explanation.
‘O, those kitschy tales of knights, princesses, chivalry and courtly love? They are a nice fantasy, but they are just that in most cases—a fantasy. I’m sure somewhere out there a boy and a girl can fall in love at first sight, marry, be each other’s firsts, have children and never know the touch of another. But for the rest of us things are not so picture perfect. We have lust, make mistakes, are afraid of commitment—do not have the courage to tell our true feelings,’ she whispered the last part to herself.

Alan had drawn closer to her while she spoke, clinging to every word his dear sister uttered.
‘Then what should I do, Cat? Just throw caution to the wind? Bed as many girls I can before I find the one? I’m not sure that is what I want’ he genuinely yearned to know.

The beautiful young woman brought her hand up to her little brother’s cheek and looked deeply in his steel grey eyes.
‘Alan, I don’t want you to roam Mirantia like some crazed maniac—chasing every skirt in sight. I’m just saying you shouldn’t regard your first time as some sort of prize to be given only to the girl you will spend the rest of you days with. If you find a girl who you fancy—and I’m certain you will—just let things run their course and enjoy each other. If she’s the one, great, you got lucky. And if she’s not, do not be sad and cherish the memory.’

Alan leaned forward to press his nose to hers, he sighed when they touched.
‘Cat, I fear I’ll be lost without you—a sheep in a den of lions,’ he murmured.

Catrina gently rubbed their noses together and soothed him.
‘You’ll be fine, Al. Just think of my words and you can’t go wrong,’ she cooed.

Luna got up from her seat on Alan’s lap and craned her neck towards her favourite people in the world.
‘O, you want some love too, Luna?’ Catrina asked, knowing Luna did.
Catrina picked Luna up and the cat immediately went to rub her head to her mistress.
‘Looks like she’s jealous you’re giving me so much attention,’ Alan joked.

Catrina laughed, she knew Luna did not mind her mistress being so close to her brother.
‘Maybe she’s more upset that I’m taking your attention away from petting her, Al,’ she claimed with a giggle.

A flash of light and the loud crack of thunder brought them out of their discussion, as a heavy downpour started pelting the landscape.