Kozantei, Fourth Quarter, Andromeda Galaxy.

The celebrations had died down and Zogan and Mya walked hand in hand to their room. She'd chosen to move her things into his as his space was much bigger. When they entered the cool room their kyeets perked up - looking over to see if any food had been brought to them and huffing their disappointment when they saw their companions' empty hands. Artemisia shot an accusatory glare at Mya who grimaced.

"Maybe I should go get them some treats," she said.

Zogan shot her an amused look, "You're going back for more squashi and rone cake, aren't you?"

She widened her eyes in mock innocence as she pointed to her chest. She then promptly turned to dash out the doors, Zogan's laughter following her down the hallway.

The Palace was quiet and cooler now that the crowds had left the premises. Mya sighed, rubbing at her aching neck. A crown on the head could really put a crick in the neck, gladly crowns were only worn on special occasions, the family crest would be enough to show her new status.

A cool breeze rushed through the corridor and her dress billowed out behind her, she quickened her footsteps, the palace was kind of creepy in the nighttime when it was empty. She rushed around corners, trying to remember her way to the food area. The palace was so big it was easy to get lost, twists and turns making it hard for her memory to be completely reliable. She rounded a corner and paused; this was definitely not the way. Turning around she came face to face with Aini.

"If it isn't the new queen to be." Aini looked down at her and smiled, her face was lupine. The smile did not touch her eyes.

Mya rolled hers and placed a hand on her hip, Aini was blocking the way back.

"What do you want?" Mya was already tired of her face; she wanted her food and to get back to her mate.

"I just wanted to congratulate you on your success."

"Success? What did I succeed at Aini?" Mya dropped her name with a sneer on her lips.

"Well, you've certainly seemed to wiggle your way into the royal family, haven't you?" She dropped her fake smile then, "Everyone just loves you."

"And your point is what? I've got somewhere to be and things to do unlike you." Mya started forward, trying to go around her, Aini stepped into her path.

Mya laughed then, "I think it'll be best if you don't do that."

"Don't do what?" Aini's face was all innocence, eyes wide as if she were really confused.

"Why, get in my way of course." Mya made her voice sweet and soft, as she moved forward again.

Aini blocked and grabbed her, placing a wicked razor dagger against Mya's throat, "You bitch, do you really think that you can come to my planet and take my place!"

Mya stood still, the dagger dug into her neck, and she was pressed between the walls before her with Aini at her back. "I didn't take your place Aini, you lost that all on your own."

"Shut up!" she started forward, dragging Mya along with her, her strength making it impossible for Mya to resist it. "I'm going to get rid of you!"

"What are you going to do? Kill me and then dump my body? They'll know who did it." Mya offered calmly, her mind running in circles trying to find a way out of the situation. She was unarmed and without her power suit. She looked around quickly – careful not to move her neck too much, Aini was leading her out the back doors into the wild forests behind the palace.

"They won't find you, believe me... I am quite prepared to be Zogan's crying shoulder."

Mya sucked her teeth, "You really think he'd come to you after being with me?"

Aini punched her in her ribs, Mya's breath left her, and she was reduced to a coughing mess, eyes watering as Aini moved steadily forward. 'Okay so antagonizing her was not a smart move, duh.'

They moved into the shade of the trees, beginning to descend the slope that would carry them deeper inside. Mya knew that Zogan and the kyeets would come looking for her if she were gone for too long, but how long would that take? She definitely did not come all this way to be killed by a lovesick psychopath. She scanned the thin woods around her, she had a short escape window before they were swallowed by the thicker trees and plants lower down.

Aini was bragging about how she would take Mya's place and the many things that she had planned for her kingdom and blah blah blah. Mya blocked out her talking and focused on her power. She shaped it into a spear and threw the energy at Aini's mind, it was met with a shield, and it felt oily and disgusting. Mya shuddered.

"Going to have to do better than that, I know all about your silly tricks." She made a disgusted sound, "Ugh, really, a human with a gift, what an abomination!"

Mya pitched herself forward rolling with the momentum, throwing a flailing Aini over her shoulder who banged into a tree and groaned. Mya scrambled up the steep incline they'd been travelling down, her long dress catching in roots and slowing her. She grunted in frustration and tore at her dress, her bare feet slid in the slippery dirt.

"You bitch!" Aini screamed.

Mya was back in the open then, she took off sprinting up the hillside now that she cleared the trees. She screamed, "Zogan! Artemisia!"

Something solid hit her in the back and she went down. Aini placed a dirty hand over her mouth and nose and squeezed, yanking her head back hard. Mya struggled desperately; she couldn't breathe.

"I should cut your throat right now for your stupidity!" She dragged a thin line across Mya's neck that was exposed. "But I have plans for you."

She leaned down and whispered the last words into her ear. Mya screamed against her hand, bucking wildly underneath Aini's weight. She lunged back with her head smashing it right into Aini's nose, stars burst across her vision from the impact, but Mya struggled out from under her.

She reached for the dropped dagger and lunged for Aini, lost in her anger at the bitch who dared to threaten her life during her Mating celebrations. She landed on top of Aini and climbed onto her, using her knees to anchor her arms firmly to the ground.

Aini's nose was twisted and oozing blue black blood. Mya took the hilt of the knife and struck her hard causing more blood to squirt up, marking her torn silver dress. She hit her over and over with Aini trying to buck her off of her chest, but Mya held firm. There was a loud growl to her left and Artemisia sprang forward, biting down on Aini's arm. The scream that she released was loud and horrible. It snapped Mya out of her anger, and she slowly stood. She wanted Aini punished and publicly shamed for her actions, not dead. It was what she deserved.

"Art, stop!" she ordered.

Artemisia dropped the now mangled arm that she'd been chewing on, bone was exposed. There were shouts inside of the palace. Mya turned to see Zogan and Azazel striding towards her, their kyeets following close behind. There was a scramble behind her and she turned, Aini had took off running down the slope, disappearing into the trees. Artemisia whined but stood by Mya who leaned on her for support, her breathing was ragged, and blood dripped freely from the thin slice on her neck. Azazel and his kyeet took off running behind Aini, his face set in grim determination.

"Are you alright? Did she hurt you?" Zogan took her into his arms and strode back into the palace.

"I'm fine, really... I had it all under control." she smiled weakly and Zogan hissed, his tongue flicking out in his suppressed rage. "I just have a thin cut on my throat."

Zogan cursed, "I should have let Ravanna remove her when he offered."

"Yea you should've, honestly, how could you have ever considered mating to that?"

"It was a long time ago and I was very stupid." His mouth twisted into a small smile.

"Clearly." She joked as he put her down in their room, "Will Azazel get her?"

"I hope so... she threatened the queen to be, her punishment will be very severe." His gaze darkened.

A few minutes later he strode into the cleansing room and came back with the healing salve that Mya had come to rely on during her training. He gently cleaned her wound and she hummed as he rubbed it into her neck. Artemisia stalked the room, agitated that she hadn't been allowed to end Aini, Zar watched her warily from his perch on his bed.

Mya groaned loudly, Zogan's eyes widened, "What is it?"

"I didn't get the squashi or the rone cakes!" she groaned again, Artemisia's ears twitched, and she stalked closer peering at Mya.

"I'll get you the squashi and cakes, you get yourself cleaned up. You are already spoiled." Zogan shook his head but smiled kissing her before he left the room.