In some ways it made sense, their chaos, but in others Essetia felt blindsided by actions strewn across the map from one place to the next. They fell here and there, brushed against her, and fell away, still just as pointless and unmoving as the day she’d first encountered the mighty Engineer. He had been a splendid creature then, a hulking man with wit and reservation. Now he appeared more a pup, content to suckle at her breast as he pleaded and offered her the parts of him that others had left behind. It felt unfair to her- to have to deal with a mess of a man that she wasn’t certain she even trusted. Everything was too sudden in her opinion….

Yet, the burning sensation of her longing remained. It unfurled into flames that promised to swallow them both should one or the other look away. It had always been as such, her desires, but never so solid and so pronounced that she was forced to bring them to heel before him. It was maddening to crave so many different things all at once, but even more so to croon at his touch upon her back. It was the softest of sounds, a mere warble that passed her lips like a whisper, but embarrassing and defeating nonetheless.

Essetia had ignored his attempts to gain her favor, avoided the words that likely tied his heart to hers, but in a rush, her own emotions became boiling. What did it mean? How was she supposed to respond? In the moments that followed, Essetia became unaware of her own flesh and bones. They acted without consent and followed the warmth of Ulrik’s breath while leaning into the softness of his mouth. The mare couldn’t find the words to appease him or the promises meant to bind them forever, but the day was still just as long as she remembered and that was enough.

Whatever came would eventually pierce the careful heart of the life Essetia led. But in the final moments before she gave up and stopped fighting what felt almost inevitable, she felt calm. For the time being, the Queen met her King with as much care and confidence as he bestowed. Her breath was sheer and labored, anxious and excited about the unknown as she was. Yet, before she allowed for the first time what she’d never been willing to give, she fixed him with a glare all too knowing. “You’ll never get them back you know.”