4.3

Palien showed up suddenly when Erin was not with Kamily. Through her nap she heard him enter the bedroom and sit down next to her.

"Hello, my dear," his voice was quiet and insinuating.

"Don't send me away, I came to check on you," he carefully placed his hands on her big belly.

Kamily did not want to look at him and turned away. "You only care about these twins, not me."

Palien sighed heavily:

"I want to apologize for using you to gain the gift of foresight."

"What happened to you? You have become something different," Kamily looked back and looked into his eyes.

"You did something to me," he said sadly. "You can change everything that hurts you. Everything that you don't like, you correct in your favor. Recently you managed to agree with people to cooperate and release women from under lock and key, and this is a big step. You melted Lantas' heart, now he is in such a love ecstasy with the princess that he did not want to share her with anyone, but before he was withdrawn and cold. And you simply crushed poor Amirel for his insolence..."

"By the way," Kamily perked up. "I demand an apology for organizing the kidnapping of the princess; you allowed him to kidnap her."

"It was for educational purposes, I saw the future, how you intercepted the princess and humiliated Amirel."

"Won't it be boring for you to live, knowing in advance what exactly will happen?"

"No," Palien chuckled. "On the contrary, it's fun. I am always above the situation, I have an advantage, I know for sure how everything will end. It is always possible to change an unwanted future."

"I don't want to know everything in advance," Kamily said. "Amirel must apologize to Avilena, humiliation alone is not enough. Send him here."

Palien froze, lost in thought.

"You won't like the result."

'What will he do with her?" She asked anxiously.

"Are you interested? But you don't want to know the future. Nothing bad will happen."

Palien laughed reservedly.

"Is it really that funny?" Kamily asked displeasedly.

"I will, of course, make him apologize. How did the princess settle in? Does she agree to everything?"

"Yes, I really liked her, she's smart and educated, she wants to help me in everything, a real princess." 

"She was already the Queen of Zaria in the past, she is an experienced ruler."

"Then appoint her instead of me," Kamily suggested.

"Then you will have to return to Xantari, you cannot be below her in status here. Do you have no idea who you are? I constantly hint to you about your power, that you can control everyone in your favor. You must be a Queen at your core. That's why I put you in this position."

"I hate your Xantari."

"Yes, it's better to stay here for now, you are a wonderful Queen. And we will miss you," Palien stared dreamily into the distance.

Kamily turned away with reluctance to talk further.

"How are your wings? Are they growing?" He brushed back her hair and examined the feathered appendages protruding from her back. "Little white ones, just as I ordered."

***

Amirel appeared the next day and, after apologizing to the Queen, was sent to Avilena's room.

A beautiful girl with long red hair in a light green dress allowed him to enter, looking up and down her offender in a tight gray suit.

He knelt in front of her with a gloomy look, staring at the floor.

"Please accept my apologies, princess!"

Avilena was silent, and he waited for her to answer. He decided to look at her: she looked straight into his dark blue eyes with silver sparkles, reminiscent of the evening starry sky.

"Get up! Why did you want to kidnap me?"

Amirel stood up and began to examine her, taking his time to answer.

"Explain to me why you needed the princess, couldn't you have limited yourself to any other woman?"

He frowned: he was caught off guard with such an awkward question. "If you don't answer, you won't be forgiven!" 

"Love with a princess is an extraordinary pleasure for a syrinx," Amirel answered reluctantly.

"I wonder what you were counting on when you forcibly dragged me into the street? How can I love a kidnapper?"

"I've never kidnapped before, I don't know what came over me. I really liked you, and it's not easy to get you away from the Zarian people," he tried to justify himself.

"I know everything," her voice sounded harsh. "You and your friends wanted to have fun with me and gain new abilities in the ritual of fiery love."

Confusion appeared on his face.

"You can't know about it. Where did you get this from? This is secret magic."

"It's no longer a secret!" Her face lit up with a sly smile. "And I will punish you! You will be my chosen one!"

"What?" He looked at Avilena in bewilderment, not believing his ears. "Are you kidding? You must hate me."

"I like you, handsome and experienced aristocrat of Xantari. You are such a bad boy!" She drawled playfully.

"What is the punishment?" Amirel grinned, coming closer to her. The beauty was simply amusing herself with him.

"I will be your Mistress, and you will fulfill my every whim."

He was not used to women setting their own conditions and controlling him. Avilena reminded him of the fussy and demanding princesses of his home planet. Amirel specially went on stellar travels for light amorous connections with girls of the colonies, who always easily fell in love with elegant officers. But love with this advanced, headstrong beauty promised many pleasant moments, and he was ready to surrender to her.

"Why are you standing like a statue? Take off your clothes!" Avilena said in an orderly tone.

"Right now?" The officer was surprised.

"Of course now. Kidnap me again, my bully!" The princess mocked.