The young prince comforts Lyra and they reach an understanding

"Lyra..." Marcus began uncertainly. She glared at him across the room, gasping for breath as the amulet dangled from her white-knuckled grip. The look in her one good eye was almost impossible to bear, the mixture of grief, anger and confusion swimming in her green pupil enough to make his heart clench like it was trapped in jaws of ice. Part of him still wanted to just turn tail and run, but he couldn't just leave her like this, so furious and sad, not when she blamed his family for it. He saw a single tear dripping down her unscarred cheek, and he knew what he had to do. "Lyra..." He murmured her name again, bracing himself to **** up the words he had to say, no matter how frightened he was. "My father...I don't think he did this."

"What...?" She gasped out, a shudder running down her spine. There was shock in her voice, but at the same time her body went tense like a wounded animal caught in a trap. Marcus could tell she'd thought of that too, how could she not have after finding the locket in the king's desk? She must have refused to let herself believe it. How could she, when it was the very reason she'd spent years hating his father so much? "How dare you even say that, you little shit? Get out...get out right now!"" She screamed, her hands curling into tight fists by her sides. Marcus flinched at the fury in her voice, but held his ground. If he couldn't be brave now, then when?

"Please, listen to me, Lyra." The young prince stammered hurriedly, **** to get this out before she got even angrier. "My father did so many things wrong, I understand that now! He hurt people, he ignored the poor and starving in the kingdom he ruled when he should have helped them, and he wasn't a good King. But...he can't have killed your mother!"

"I saw...them, clear as day." Lyra snarled hoarsely, a few more glistening tears dripping down her cheek to land across her breasts. "Men with his colors, his emblem on their cloaks, blocking the door and burning our home while my mother screamed for mercy. He must have gotten bored of her! I don't know...why, they always looked so happy together, but he must have! She was just a whore...just a peasant woman he could have killed for no reason at all!" The desperation in her voice made it sound like she was trying to convince herself more than him. Marcus felt a sharp pang of sympathy for the tortured woman. Despite everything she'd done to him and his family, he still wanted to help her! How could he just stand by when she was in so much pain?

"I...know that's what you saw." Marcus began, his voice soft trembling, but growing stronger as he gathered his courage and his argument. "But just because the men who did this wore his emblem doesn't mean he gave the order. There's others who can command the castle guards, or maybe they were paid off to do it! Like you said, my father and your mother were happy together! He cared about her or he wouldn't have kept that locket where he'd see it everyday! It doesn't make any sense that he'd suddenly want her dead!"

"Maybe...he decided he couldn't be with her anymore..." Lyra stammered. She looked like she had to **** the words out, between **** sobs that made her bare chest heave. "He was the bastard king who ruined this country, and she was just his whore. Maybe he decided he needed to get rid of her because...because...he was ashamed of her! Because he was scared someone knew about his tryst!"

"It doesn't sound like that to me." Marcus shook his head. Before he could think to be frightened, he found himself taking a halting step towards her. Maybe he should have been scared she'd lash out and hit him, but...somehow he wasn't. Instead, the young prince shuffled closer, keeping his voice soft and soothing as he spoke to the sobbing woman he just wanted to help. "You saw them together, Lyra. You told me how how much you thought he cared about her. If my father really decided he couldn't be with her anymore, he...would have just left her. I know how hard this must be to hear...but doesn't it just make more sense that someone else gave the order?" He was standing right in front of her now, both of them naked. She was slightly taller, her scarred, muscled body so much stronger than his own slender, weak one he knew if she wanted to hurt him she could do it so easily. Only...all he felt was the same urge to soothe her agony. Slowly, he reached out a trembling hand towards her.

"I...I don't know." She gasped, frozen stiff. She followed his hand with her haunted gaze, but made no move to shrink away. He reached out and touched her shoulder gently, running his hand along the curve of her arm. She was trembling like a leaf, the muscles under her skin tense like cords of steel, but she stood there and let him rub her shoulder all the same. He stared at her scarred face, seeing the pain and confusion flickering across her features. "Marcus...I don't know..." It was the first time she'd said his name since bursting into his room that first awful night, only this time it wasn't spat with venom, but instead whispered with soft, **** confusion like she was begging him to explain.

"Listen to me, Lyra." The young prince continued softly, rubbing at her shivering arm in what he hoped was a comforting way. "My father didn't kill your mother. You shouldn't hate him for that anymore, and you shouldn't hate me." She whimpered like a frightened dog, guilt joining the sea of emotions swimming across her scarred face. He swallowed hard, this next bit was going to be hard to say, but he had to. "I understand why you were so angry. I can't even begin to imagine how hard it must have been going through that. Even...attacking the castle, overthrowing my father, after everything I've seen and heard the last few days I can understand why you did that. But...you were wrong, at least about this."

"Fucking hell...some pampered royal brat is more understanding than me." She let out a hoarse sigh, some of the tension easing from her body with that trembling breath, though tears still trickled down her cheek from her good eye. "Maybe you're right, Marcus. Maybe, as terrible a King as he was, he cared enough about my Mother not to do that to us. I saw them together...back then I thought he loved her, I thought he'd be the one to save us both. And then...it was all taken away suddenly, I was burned, in agony, and...it just seemed so obvious to me it had to be him who did that to me. I...hated him so much, I hated him for years. I even went and blamed you for it just because you were his son. Fuck I was planning to have you **** by the entire town, an innocent boy who's only crime was being born to the wrong family. I didn't listen to Jack when he said you didn't deserve this...I went and sold you to him and Juliet, I **** you myself just because I was too furious over what happened to stop myself. Damn it, what the fuck is wrong with me?" She clenched her fists, another shiver running down your spine. The young prince just waited, his hand still resting on her shoulder. "Okay, Marcus..." She raised her head, staring at him with her one good eye glistening with tears. "You've convinced me. Even...before that, it was wrong what I did to you so...I'm not going to make you whore yourself out to any of my people anymore. I'm never going to do that to anyone again. There'll be some disappointment, but...fuck, they can deal with it. I'll...put you under my protection, make sure no-one hurts you, doesn't make up for what I did, but I've got to do something. Don't suppose that's going to make you leave now, after everything, is it?"

"No, it won't." Marcus shook his head, pouting determinedly. "Like I told you, Lyra, you paid for a whole night, so I'm staying here for a whole night." It'd be...nice to go back to Jack and have his handsome older lover hold him tight while they slept, but...he couldn't leave her alone even after everything. He wanted to make sure she was okay first. Maybe he should hate her...but after seeing her sobbing, in agony over her dead mother...he just couldn't.

"Just like I thought." She sighed again, sounding defeated. "A cute brat of a prince...too sweet for his own good. Then...could you at least get me that booze now? Fuck I could use a drink." Marcus nodded quickly, letting his hand drop from her shoulder. He turned and stepped back over to the desk, his heart still pounding in his chest as he grabbed the jug of wine and carefully poured out a cup. It was still hard to believe he'd been that brave, him...the weak, cowardly prince who got too frightened to sleep when he read a scary book. A few days ago, he knew very well he'd have run away screaming at the first sign of Lyra's anger. Only, after everything that had happened, the good things like getting to be with Jack, and the scary parts too...he'd somehow found the courage to stay. And he was...very glad he had. It was a big relief to know she wouldn't be making him sell himself to her soldiers anymore, and...he hoped at least knowing the man who cared about her mother hadn't been the one kill her would help her too.

She was sitting back on the bed when he turned with the cup of ale, one hand resting on the blankets beside her with the necklace clasped in her fist. Her gaze followed him as he stepped over. Despite everything, the young prince couldn't help but blush. Having an older woman stare at him while he was totally naked like this was still a bit embarrassing after all.

"Here..." He held out the mug to her, awkwardly covering his soft dick with his other hand while trying to make it not seem too obvious. She reached out and took the cup, lifting it slowly to her lips. The young prince watched as she took a few big gulps, her throat tensing. She lowered the cup, wiping her mouth with one hand, then glanced back up at him. For a moment she just stared at him, her mouth hanging open like she was trying to speak, but didn't know what to say. Marcus waited patiently, staring back at her.

"I know...I don't deserve it, least of all from you." She stammered out at last. "But since you're not leaving...could you sit beside me, Marcus? Just for a little while. I...think I need someone close to me right now." The young prince nodded. He turned on his heel and lowered his butt onto the bed, wincing a bit at how tender his hole still was after that ivory cock. Shifting back, he nestled himself down right next to her, close enough their legs were almost touching and he could feel the heat of her skin on his own. For a few minutes he just sat there, watching as she slowly finished her drink, until at last the cup was drained and she set it down to one side. With her gaze fixed on the floor, and her lips pursed tight, she still looked...so sad and guilty. Maybe it was only right she feel that way, but Marcus...wanted to help anyway. He leaned into her side, gently wrapping a trembling arm around her. "What are you doing?" She gasped.

The young prince ignored the question, resting his head on her shoulder as he hugged her round the torso, feeling her shiver against his naked body. His hand was resting on her scarred side now, and he could feel the rougher skin where that awful burn lay across her flank. She'd hurt him...she'd done horrible things to him, but it had only been because she'd been in so much pain herself. It didn't excuse her actions...but then like she'd told him from the start he'd lain around in comfort in this castle, not even bothering to find out that so many people in the Kingdom he was one day meant to rule were starving and **** for help. That had been kind of wrong of him too, he understood that now. So...maybe he could be better and help her like this. She definitely seemed like she needed a hug. The young prince snuggled into her naked body, turning slightly to reach his other arm around her front so he could hold her properly. She...could be one the scariest woman he'd ever met when she was angry...but she was warm and soft, and it still felt nice hugging her. Slowly, he felt her stop trembling so much, the tension easing from her muscles as he lay against her.

"I'm sorry, Marcus. I'm...so so sorry." She whispered, so softly he could hardly hear, with fresh tears dripping down her cheeks. "Tomorrow...you can go back to Jack. He cares about you, he'll look after you, no matter what. You never have to see me again." Marcus didn't reply, just leaning silently into her bare shoulder. It was all still confused. He didn't really know what he felt right now. But somehow...no matter that she'd told him that, he thought he might want to see her again after all. For now, he was kind of tired, and she must be as well. He'd...see how he felt tomorrow once they'd slept, which was going to be with him hugging her too, he'd already decided, and she'd just have to deal with it.