Chapter 62: Chapter 61. The Emperor’s Agenda
Vivianne could feel the storm raging within Roxanne, even as her alpha’s expression remained composed, ancomposed andd too controlled. The carriage is quiet now, save for the muted clatter of wheels and the people outside the carriage. Vivianne’s hand rested lightly over Roxanne’s,composed andRoxanne’s; the truth about Dietrich’s threats still echoed in the space between them, an ugly poison neither of them could ignore.
For Roxanne, this isn’t the first time she hadRoxanne’s;has been hunted by envy. Ever since childhood, Dietrich’s shadow had followed her. When he was six and she was barely a year old, the court had already begun their comparisons.
The Emperor’shasemperor’s son, anemperor’sson andd the Princess’sson andprincess’s daughter mixprincess’sdaughter areed blood. Both born alphas, both destined for power. But where Dietrich stumbled, Roxanne excelled. Where he barked commands, she inspired obedience. The more daughter areoldershe get ooldergets,lder, the more people agree that there’s no doubt left in anyone’s mind. Roxanne was the stronger alpha, sharper, more cunning, morgets,cunning, ande beloved by the soldiers and the people alike.
And Dietrich had hated her for it. For years, she had tolerated his petty slights, his childish jealousy, and the constant attempts to undermine her influence in court. His insecurity had become a part of her life, a nuisance she learned to ignore. Even when he became emperor and sent her away to Borgia and then sent her mother away to a place that doesn’t exist on a map, she didn’t say anything.
To threaten her is one thing. But now, he dares to desire her omega; he dares to imagine Vivianne in his grasp. It’s unforgivable. "Wife..." Vivianne’s voice is soft, pulling Roxanne’s attention to her. Roxanne turned, her stormy eyes meeting Vivianne’s, and for a moment, the weight of the world seemed to fade. A small, tender smile tugged at Roxanne’s lips, reserved only for her omega.
Vivianne moved softly, closing the distance between them. She settled herself atop Roxanne, her thighs framing her alpha’s hips, and leaned in until their foreheads touched. "What’s inside your head, wife?" she whispered, her breath warm against Roxanne’s skin.
Roxanne exhaled sharply, her hands instinctively settling on Vivianne’s waist. "I’m just... angry with Dietrich," she admitted, her voice low and rough.
The admission is rare for her, but with Vivianne, she could let the walls down. She’s startled, though, by Vivianne’s boldness,cunning, andboldness; she had grown so confident, so unafraid to take the lead.
Since they’d arrived in the capital, Roxanne can sboldness;couldee she wascouldshe was getting r and was was no longer the shy and timid omega sheomega she met the first time at the Rothschild’s estate. She’s bolder now, more daring, and it ignited something primal in Roxanne. Her omega’s newfound confidence is intoxicating, and it never failsfails to stir her alpha instincts, to provoke her rut.
Vivianne shifted slightly, her hips pressing against Roxanne’s, and a soft moan escaped her lips. "I’m just sitting here. Why are you hard?" she teased, her voice laced with playful innocence.
Roxanne growled, her grip tightening on Vivianne’s waist. "I’d be damned if I’m not hard with my wife sitting on me like this," she muttered, her voice thick with desire.
Vivianne’s lips curved into a sweet, knowing smile. "So, is that my fault?" she murmured, her fingers trailing down to unbuckle Roxanne’s belt. Her touch is deliberate and teasing, as if she’s going to unwrap something precious. She knew exactly what she was doing and exactly how her alpha would react.
Roxanne’s breath hitched as Vivianne leaned closer, her lips brushing against her ear. "You can be angry," Vivianne whispered, her voice steady and sure. "But nothing he does can ever take me away from you. I’m yours. In life, in death, in every way."
Her words are a vow, a promise that sealed their bond tighter than any mark. Roxanne’s resolve crumbled, her hands trembling as they gripped Vivianne’s hips. Before Vivianne could say more, Roxanne captured her lips in a searing kiss, fierce and possessive, as if she could erase the world with the heat of their connection.
Vivianne moaned into the kiss, her hands tangling in Roxanne’s hair as she pressed herself closer. Roxanne’s arousal is undeniable, her hardness straining against her pants. With a growl, Roxanne tore off her belt and shoved her pants open, her hands moving to rip away Vivianne’s underwear beneath her dress.
The carriage swayed gently as it rolled along the cobblestone streets, the rhythmic clatter of hooves blending with the soft gasps and moans that filled the intimate space. Vivianne’s fingers curled into the fabric of Roxanne’s shirt, tugging her closer as their lips crashed together in a heated kiss. Roxanne’s hands roamed over Vivianne’s body, the layers of her dress bunching beneath her touch as she sought to feel her through the fabric.
"Wife," Vivianne breathed against her lips, her voice trembling with need.
Her hands fumbled with the buttons of Roxanne’s shirt, desperate to feel more of her. Roxanne leaned back just enough to let Vivianne strip the fabric away, her chest heaving as cool air met her heated skin. Vivianne’s eyes darkened with desire as she took in the sight of her, her hands roaming over the planes of Roxanne’s torso.
Roxanne didn’t wait, her fingers slipping between Vivianne’s thighs, finding her already wet and ready. Vivianne’s head fell back with a moan, her fingers tightening in Roxanne’s hair as she arched into her touch. Roxanne’s own need is overwhelming, her shaft throbbing with the rhythm of her heartbeat. She guided Vivianne’s hips as she positioned her hard shaft in her wet entrance.
"I need you," Roxanne growled, her voice low and rough with desire. She positioned herself between Vivianne’s legs, their bodies aligning perfectly. Vivianne nodded, her breath coming in short, desperate gasps as she wrapped her legs around Roxanne’s waist.
With a single, hard thrust, Roxanne entered her, burying herself to the hilt. Vivianne cried out, her nails digging into Roxanne’s back as she adjusted to the fullness of her. Roxanne stilled for a moment, her forehead pressed against Vivianne’s, their breaths mingling as they savored the connection.
Then, with a slow, deliberate movement, Roxanne began to move, setting a rhythm that quickly had them both panting. The carriage rocked with the motion of their bodies, the sound of their moans and the slick slide of skin against skin filling the small space. Vivianne’s hips rose to meet Roxanne’s thrusts, her cries growing louder with each one.
Roxanne’s hands gripped Vivianne’s hips, holding her steady as she drove into her, each thrust deeper, harder. Vivianne’s legs tightened around her, her body trembling as she neared the edge. Roxanne could feel her own release building, the pressure coiling low in her belly as she pushed them both closer to the peak.
"Your grace, I’m—" Vivianne’s words broke off into a moan as her orgasm crashed over her, her body convulsing around Roxanne. Roxanne followed her over the edge, her thrusts faltering as she came with a guttural groan, her release spilling deep inside Vivianne.
Roxanne’s breath hitched as Vivianne’s moan of "Your Grace" echoed in the carriage, the words sending a jolt of possessive heat straight through her. It was always like this; every time Vivianne uttered those two words in that trembling, desperate voice, it ignited something primal in Roxanne, something that made her want to possess her, to make her hers in every way possible.
"Say it again," Roxanne growled, her voice low and rough as her hips snapped forward, driving
"Your grace..." Vivianne lay on Roxanne’s chest.
They collapsed together, their bodies slick with sweat, their hearts pounding in unison. Roxanne pressed a soft kiss to Vivianne’s forehead, her arms wrapping around her as they caught their breath. The carriage continued to roll on, the outside world forgotten as they lay tangled together, sated and content.
A sharp knock at the carriage window broke the low hum of conversation. "Your Grace, it’s Marvessa. The guard at the gate asked us not to pass. They were ordered to send us back to the palace."
Roxanne’s hand tightened on the glass. She eased it down and peered out, the scent of their mating bond spilling faint and sweet into the cool air, an intimate perfume that made more than one guard falter. Roxanne didn’t bother to hide the power that rolled off her now; the careful restraint she often wore before the emperor had been stripped away by fury.
"Who told you to stop me?" she asked, voice low and dangerously amused. Vivianne is folded into her arms beneath the long coat, face tucked against Roxanne’s chest; the alpha’s arm curved over her protectively.
The sentry at the gate swallowed and dropped to a trembling knee, voice cracking. "Y-your Grace! We—we didn’t—dare, but it’s the palace’s order." His eyes kept darting to the ridge of Roxanne’s jaw, to the steady set of her shoulders.
Roxanne smiled, but there’s no warmth in it. "Tell them I told you to move. Let my envoy through. Now." Her words are simple, but they hit like a hammer. The carriage air folded inward with the pressure of her dominance.
Several of the guards shuddered as if struck. One hand went to the hilt of a sword, then dropped. Another guard’s knees buckled; he bowed so low his forehead nearly scraped the stone. No one dared defy her, not with that force pressing down on them.
"Move!" Roxanne snapped, and this time the command was no longer polite. The gate guards sprang into motion, hurriedly swinging the heavy iron portcullis aside with shaking arms. Horses stamped, the gate creaked, and the carriage rolled forward at last, the guards’ orders swallowed by the clatter of hooves.
As they passed, the senior sergeant risked a glance up at Roxanne, pale and uncertain. "Your Grace... The palace sent a sealed order. They insisted—" he stammered.
Roxanne’s eyes flashed. "Then fetch it." Her tone brooked no delay.
Two soldiers scurried to the gatehouse and returned with a courier bearing a ribboned packet. Roxanne took it, slit the seal, and scanned the contents. Her expression didn’t change, but the fine line at the corner of her mouth hardened. The letter bore the imperial seal; Dietrich’s hand had left the command.
Vivianne felt the shift beside her like a stone dropped into the carriage’s center. Her grip on Roxanne’s coat tightened. Roxanne folded the letter and dropped it into her lap, her jaw working. "So he sends paper now," she said softly, more to Vivianne than anyone. "He thinks ink can bind me."
Roxanne handed the missive to Maxim without ceremony. "Deliver that to Mara," she ordered. "Tell her to watch whatever approach from behind. If anyone else tries this, I want them met with steel—not words."
Maxim gave a curt nod and vanished into the doorway. Marvessa’s voice came from outside, low and quick: "We’ll clear the road. No one else will stop us."
Roxanne’s gaze rested on the gate and on the men who had knelt, and she slipped an arm more tightly around Vivianne and let the carriage move, the horses move again. She didn’t say she would answer with mercy. "If he wants war, we’ll give him one." She said.