Lay in bed.

After all that had transpired and everything that soon may, the only individuals who didn't head to bed early now remain awake in deep thought, either pondering about events to come, or remaining vigilante in case of an early invasion. You lay back atop your bed with your arms spread out--a mattress so large that your arms don't even come close to the edges. At least some of your stress melts away to the soft caress of silken sheets against your bare back. Your blue pajama pants are as comfortable as ever. All things considered, you could be in a much worst place given a battle is approaching. You stretch your arms up against the headboard behind you before your eyes trail over to the glowing magic lamp on the table beside your bed.

Before you can reach over to tap it off, you hear a knock at your chamber door.

"It's me." Queen Catherine--her voice still smooth and powerful despite only two words coming out as a whisper.

You sit up slightly, pressing your lower back against your pillow. "You can come in."

At first, you see only a silhouette lit by the glow of the hallway behind her. She shuts the door softly before taking a few steps into the room. The magic from your lantern reaches just enough to bring to light a striking imagine. The queen is always gorgeous, though there's something about her presence now that causes you to skip a breath. There's a sheen in her hair, which is somewhat messier than usual, yet her raven locks still roll down past her shoulders with a richness that betrays the fact that she must have just finished a bath. Either she spent just enough time to fix herself up, or her hair has a natural volume that would make many others envious.

Not only that, but she's garbed in what seems to be nothing but a housecoat. It's such a deep shade of red that it would appear black if not for your lamp causing the accents of the silken material to shimmer crimson. It's loosely tied at her waist--just enough to cover what matters, though hardly enough to be safe. The thin, smooth fabric hug her curves down to her knees, though as she sashays forward, her long, slender legs become almost entirely visible. All she has on otherwise, that you can see, is a silver chain around her neck which carries the symbol of the Empire of Tivera--a ruby in the shape of a wolf's head. Said pendant is nestled firmly between her breasts, which are near bare from how loose the robe is draped over her tantalizing figure.

There's no doubt this is the queen, even without any makeup, even without rings and crowns, even without an illustrious regal dress, even without the title itself.

"I couldn't sleep," she says quietly. She turns to the side, sadly putting away the view of her cleavage for the time being, and she makes her way slowly over towards the window at the far side of your room. It's near perfectly silent around this wing of the castle tonight, so all you can hear are her soft, bare footfalls against the floor before he she stops. There, she pulls open your curtains, and she gazes out over the village of Castle Phoenix.

You pull your blankets down past your legs before turning to lean back against your headboard. As you watch her ponder silently, you lay your hands on your stomach--tight, firm. You've gotten so strong during your time in Absoterra. Looking down over your physique, you see your blue pajama pants loose around your waist. Certainly the women you've met on your journey have been strikingly attractive, but you don't look so bad yourself. This is good. It's what you need. Before such a decisive battle, the last thing you need is to lack confidence.

"King Warren." Catherine pulls the curtains closed yet again, and she turns around to lean back against the windowsill. "You've come so far since we first met. You know that, yes? When you first came to me, you were merely a sidekick to Lady Tesgella. Then before I knew it, I was granting you the title of knighthood and gifting you an item from the royal treasury. Now, you're a ruler yourself. And it hasn't even been a year, has it, Kyle? Not even half." As she speaks, she strokes her fingers gently down long the thin chain decorating her neck. You can't tell if she's doing it with idle hands, because she's thinking of her empire, or it's to draw your eyes closer down to breasts she knows full well are truly grand.

"I know," you reply with a sense of disbelief. "Thinking back on it gives me whiplash. Though, it wasn't exactly my decision to head down this path initially. A lot has happened, and I've just done everything I could to survive."

Catherine makes her way closer to the corner of the bed. "Precisely. It's how one reacts to the events of life that defines them. Nobody can control the events that transpire, but they can choose their response. You may not be of this world, Kyle, but you're still the most impressive man I've met in this world."

"If you're having trouble sleeping, you can always lay here for the night."

She smiles wide. Her eyes half close as she peers down at you through the dim light of the room. Slowly, she lowers herself down to press her rear against the corner of the bed--one hand forward, fingers splayed out over the softness of the blanket. The mattress squeaks slightly under her weight. "For someone of royal blood to invite a subject into his chambers... I suppose it is within your right to act upon your desires, Your Majesty."

"I wouldn't say my blood is royal. I think it's the other way around."

Like an animal hunting, the queen brings her other hand forward and lifts herself up into a crawl. The loose band around her waist does little to keep her silken coat properly on her body. Her breasts hang down--one nipple, a hint of pink barely seen through the window now opened all the way down her robe. Her necklace rattles as the ruby wolf hangs down, nearly to the bed. It swings like a pendulum as she prowls closer. "Then I suppose it's within my right to act upon my desires. Is that what you're saying?" First, her hand clutches your upper thigh, and then her next presses down beside your stomach. You're **** to slip down all the way onto your back, right before she plants both hands down against the bed on opposite sides of your head.

You stare up at the beautiful woman gazing down into your eyes. At least for the moment, you resist ogling down the body nearly bare by how her housecoat hangs. Instead, you take a gentle hold of the ruby pendant and whisper, "We'll get Tivera back, Catherine. Then we'll both have a throne."

"When I rule the Empire once again, you and all your allies will have my support and protection," she speaks softly back. Then both of her hands move inward to clutch the side of your head. She moves down to press her lips hard against your own. You feel the soft weight of her body lay over yours as she takes you away to paradise--the clean floral scent, the tickle of her soft hair, the warmth of her lips, the melodic sound of her pleasured moan. You wrap your arms around to her back for a tight embrace as the two of you share a moment of pure delight.