Chapter Text
11 months ago…
After her decision to stay, everything changed.
Galinda thought Vulturis would immediately announce the death of the Emperor but she waited instead, biding her time while she ran the Empire in his stead. Galinda didn’t understand why she waited until she saw the edited, manipulated footage of Liir killing the Emperor while Elphaba appeared to be spurring him on. It was clear to the majority of the Senate—and the galaxy—that the rumors of the Jedi becoming a threat were real. And the Purge nearly a decade ago only reinforced that.
What other choice did Galinda have but to appear before crowds and confirm these rumors and speculation with a false smile on one half of her face, having to paint Elphaba and her allies as evil terrorists while full on knowing it was she who was.
But she needed to stay close to Morrible—needed to stay in her good graces so she was allowed to continue accruing her own power.
Much to her former Master’s delight.
‘She’ll regret underestimating us,’ Viosa chimed in as they stood before the mirror, dressed in something far more regal than they were used to.
Galinda had recently commissioned a new mask. It was rosen-gold, with fractures made of pink kyber, as though the mask had shattered and then been put back together with the vibrant crystal. It covered the entire right side of her head, contoured to her face and gave her the illusion of symmetry.
Of course, when she first appeared with her new face, people reacted with poorly concealed revulsion when they saw the mottled, burnt scar tissue and half bald head, only to become pitying when she told the story of being attacked while guarding the Emperor. She paid for her failure with her looks, but still the blame was put upon the Jedi and her Mandalorian ally, and while the Jedi Master and her Padawan escaped, she was at least able to slay the vile Mandalorian Mutt and traitor to the Empire; Mandaloria was still under the Empire’s control, after all.
Rightfully so, she was tired after the first appearance, and so her new mask was made, matching her new curved, bejeweled hilts of her lightsabers, and soon to be the crown she would be forced to wear.
‘Are you going to ignore me like you always do, Elphie?’
“Via, not now. You know Morrible wants to see us for something important. Enough to make me dress up like…this.” Galinda frowned at the slinky golden gown with glittering roses woven into the flowing, slender skirt. It exposed far more skin than she was comfortable with, her ample bosom and bare shoulders under the thin straps, the back so low it was almost indecent and showed off the many, many silvery and pink scars on her back.
She felt like a spectacle.
‘That’s because you are.’
“Very helpful, thank-you, Via,” Galinda sighed. “What do you think this is about?”
‘Nothing good. She’s been far too pleased lately and we haven’t been made to kill anyone, so I’m not sure what she could be so giddy about.’
Viosa was right. It couldn’t mean anything good.
At least the hag let her arrange whatever this was going to be in her castle on Mustafar. Even now, she still found peace standing by her window and getting lost in the hypnotic, slow drag of the rivers of lava.
As she stepped down the stairs, careful to pull at her dress to raise the hem so she wouldn’t trip, Ery’nn greeted her at the bottom.
Things weren’t exactly strained between them, but her former apprentice and current bodyguard no longer seemed to have any idea how to act around Galinda. And Galinda didn’t know how to act around someone who she’d been…intimate with. Someone who wasn’t Elphie. Still, Galinda liked Ery’nn, as did Viosa, even if their last interaction was…
‘When she kissed us?’
“Yes,” Galinda muttered as she approached her shadow, smiling almost shyly from behind her mask. “Ery’nn,” she greeted her, watching as the younger woman bowed. Galinda had tried so hard to get her to stop but the girl refused, either afraid it was a trick or a trap, she wasn’t sure. So, she had given up discouraging it. It kept up appearances, after all.
“My lady, you look…” Ery’nn began, her cheeks flushing a deeper and not at all unattractive shade of umber.
Though, Galinda couldn’t help but tease the girl, giving her a little twirl. “I didn’t have much a choice but it could be worse I suppose.”
That earned her an almost affronted look, which only made Galinda’s smile widen. In another life she might’ve giggled, and if Elphie hadn’t come back into her life, it might’ve even been flirtatious. But she’d be lying if she said she didn’t enjoy it just a little. Ery’nn was the only one who looked at her like she was worth something these days—always with stars in her eyes, as though Galinda hung the moons. It was flattering and often soothed her insecurities whenever she undressed in front of her full body mirror.
“Could be worse, my lady? You look like a heavenly body.” And Ery’nn meant it. Her face scrunched up in offense on Galinda’s behalf. While she still bowed respectfully, she was certainly a lot bolder with her affections after spending a month by Galinda’s side.
“You flatter me, my shadow. Will you do me the honor of escorting me to the dining room?” Her question, asked with an eye roll, was met with an offered arm, bent at the elbow. Galinda slipped her bare arm through Ery’nn’s and pulled the girl tighter to her so she could whisper in her ear, “Eyes open and ears alert. I don’t know what this witch has planned but we must be prepared. You have my sabers on you, yes?”
Ery’nn nodded, patting her side with her other hand. “Yes, my lady. Should things go sideways we will be prepared for the worst. I’m not sure what she has planned but I did see her speaking to a rather…androgynous looking man.”
Her bodyguard led her gently through the long, tall hallways to the rarely used dining room. The two women passed more of her Dark Stars, who stood at various entry points, all on guard duty. A few were conversing, though they stopped as their Master approached. Galinda merely nodded her head at the younger women—barely out of girlhood—who all looked back, terrified.
She didn’t sigh but leaned into Ery’nn, murmuring, “I hate how they fear me.”
Ery’nn nodded slowly. “But they must, my lady. If it eases your mind, I do not fear you. At least, not in the way they do.” The young woman almost smiled, one side of her mouth twitching upwards for just a moment.
Galinda, however, did smile, though it didn’t quite meet her pale blue eye. They rarely ever did these days. But since she was meant to appear as herself tonight, she allowed herself the brief gesture despite its lack of full sincerity.
Ery’nn, as always, understood.
“I like you better when you’re cheeky,” she told the girl honestly, her lip twisting upward in a little smirk.
She was in Hell. Day in and day out, but at least she’d somehow managed to find a true companion in Ery’nn. Even now, she was still tempted to call the girl back into her bed, if only for some comfort in the cold, lonely nights. But, she refrained, no matter how much both women wanted to.
How could she when her heart belonged to Elphie?
And Ery’nn, somehow too good and sweet for this career, understood and never pushed, no matter how much she pined to be with her again.
Perhaps Galinda would finally succumb to the effortless charm the girl didn’t even know she exuded.
‘You won’t talk to Elphie let alone fuck her and you won’t fuck Ery’nn. I don’t see why you won’t let me have a go. You’re not the only one who has needs.’
“I take care of our needs just fine,” she muttered.
Ery’nn, as always, pretended she didn’t hear her former Master talking to herself. It was something the younger woman had become accustomed to rather quickly once she realized her lady’s personality had truly shifted.
Though, it seemed Ery’nn had been emboldened by her ‘cheeky’ comment, because she leaned in, brushing her lips against Galinda’s ear and whispered, “Perhaps I can serve as your handmaiden this evening and help you bathe…my lady?”
And oh, how Galinda was tempted. So tempted she couldn’t help but consider the offer. “Perhaps. We’ll see how much steam I’ll need to blow off after this meeting.”
She could practically feel Ery’nn perk up through the Force, her aura reminiscent of an eager puppy. Yes, it was rather hard not to be tempted by her former Apprentice.
But that would have to wait, because they soon strolled into the dining room, pausing as they found Morrible at the head of the table—where Galinda usually sat when hosting the rare dinner meeting—and on her right was the man Ery’nn spoke of.
He certainly wasn’t very masculine but he wore his androgyny well enough that even she had to begrudgingly admit he was attractive; his hair was a dark black, quite unlike Elphie’s, because it looked almost like raven wings, shining different colors under the light. It was also long and wavy, not curly like her own, framing his angular pale features—features that looked far too familiar, along with stormy grey eyes that practically leered at her, accentuated by a knowing smirk on his face.
Ery’nn cautiously escorted her to her seat to Morrible’s left, which was a rather offensive gesture since this was her home, and her former Apprentice never took her eyes off the man who stood the moment Galinda stepped forward.
“Ah, Galinda Arduenna. Or should I call you Darth Viosa?” His voice was familiar, as was the cadence of it, and before the realization could fully bloom he took one of her cybernetic hands and kissed what passed as her knuckles.
“Galinda is fine,” she responded as she pulled her hand away from this simpering fool.
She regretted it the moment Morrible stood and threw her a warning look, introducing the tall, slender man as, “My son, Emeralt Ozmorian. The heir to our Empire and your new fiance, since the last one, well…” Morrible laughed, as though the thought of Chuffrey being turned into human confetti was funny or entertaining. Her… son soon joined her with a smug little chortle.
Galinda hated him.
‘I hate him, too.’
She didn’t often admit it, but she liked when she and Viosa agreed on something as mundane as disliking smug men. Even if said smug man was rather important.
“Fiance? I don’t recall agreeing to a marriage,” Galinda said with a tight smile, her laughter ringing like a bell as she sat down. Ery’nn beat the man—Emeralt—to the punch and pulled out her seat for her. “Thank you, darling,” she told the younger woman. She knew she was playing a dangerous game but she couldn’t resist showing everyone in the room how important her bodyguard was.
And how unimportant this new man was to her.
‘Careful. She already has a target on her back by being yours. Don’t bring further attention to her if you wish to keep her.’
Galinda knew better than to respond to Viosa around Morrible, though she sometimes slipped up as she did now, muttering, “Ery’nn will be fine.”
Emeralt sat back down, taking the rebuff in stride. “Ah, Ery’nn is it?” He appraised her bodyguard, looking her up and down without much thought or care. She was already dismissed by this man, assumed to be a pet or a prop—not someone of value.
“Yes, Ery’nn Akul; First Sister and the Grand General of the Neo-Sith Army. And…my personal bodyguard. Should we marry, you will afford her the respect she has earned protecting your betrothed.” It was a risky statement, judging by the cold, examining glare Morrible threw her.
She’d pay for that later.
“My apologies, Lady Ery’nn. How rude of me,” Emeralt replied, though he sounded anything but sincere.
Morrible cut in, smiling at her son in a way that sent a chill down Galinda’s spine. “You’ll find Darth Viosa here is quite…close to her girls, and very protective of them.”
Galinda smiled again, tilting her head to the side. “Yes, and they’re rather protective of me.”
The man—her betrothed—continued smiling at her as though she were also a prop or a pet. Or a trophy to dangle on his arm. “Ah, yes. I’ve heard how…close you are to your charges,” he smirked, mirroring his mother. The two shared an even creepier look that made Galinda want to gag.
‘I want to cut his cock—’
“Okay, that’s enough,” Galinda interrupted Viosa, smoothly steering around her slip-up. “Yes, we all know the rumors. Let’s just get it out in the open, hmm? I do occasionally fuck my Wild Stars. That is in their job description, which they consented to. And no, I won’t let you touch them. There, are we happy now? Anything else you’d like to know about my private life? Perhaps what shampoo I use, or my bra size?” She couldn’t help the Viosa-edged sarcasm that spewed from her mouth, her temper much quicker to rise to the surface than during her Temple days.
‘Good one. But be careful, you know where those kinds of comments landed me.’
To her surprise, Emeralt burst out laughing. “Oh Mother, you picked a good one! She’s very spirited, isn’t she? I do so love a challenge,” he simpered, having the audacity to wink at her. Viosa was five seconds away from flipping the table and Galinda was two seconds from letting her. If it weren’t for the sharp look from Morrible, she might have.
‘Let me out. Let me at him,’ Viosa growled in the darkest corner of her mind, pacing like Brrr did when agitated.
“No,” she told her other self firmly, once again steering around her words as she spoke to Emeralt once more. “I am not a challenge. I am a Dark Lady of the Sith and soon to be crowned Queen of Glikkus, second only to your mother. You will treat me with respect.” She took a breath to steel herself, Ery’nn standing loyally at her side, giving her strength without even realizing it.
Morrible looked between the two, scowling warningly at Galinda until Emeralt laughed again. “Of course, of course,” he waved her words away, as though humoring her. “Apologies, my lady, or should I call you ‘your majesty’?”
Galinda smiled that saccharine smile she’d perfected as Viosa, resting her chin on the backs of her metal hands. “Don’t call me anything,” she said sweetly, feeling Morrible bristle next to her, Viosa cackling in their mind. “But if you must,” Galinda sighed heavily, “Your majesty will do just fine.” She paused, keeping up the front of indifference as she asked, “And the wedding? When should I be prepared to tie myself to this…man?”
Oh, she was definitely going to be punished next time she was on Morrible’s new ship, The Stormbringer. She’d say it would be worth it but she knows it won’t be. The punishments are never worth the crime with her former Master.
“In two months, then one month after that will be your coronation,” her former Master replies with a tight smile, which Galinda found odd. Perhaps she didn’t want to lose her composure in front of her son but that didn’t make much sense to Galinda. Still, she would take what she could get in terms of Morrible’s moods.
“Excellent! Well, this has been such a fun meeting. I look forward to never having another one. Now, if you’ll excuse me I think I’ll take my dinner in my room.” The former Sith was already standing, her fake smile glued to the left half of her lips, matched by the false one engraved into her mask.
“Well, I look forward to our next one, Your Majesty,” Emeralt replied with a smug little grin, as though he believed he won this exchange. He stood and bowed rather ostentatiously, making Galinda’s jaw twitch. By the time he sat back down, his eyes still on her, she was nearly out of the room, hurrying back upstairs with Ery’nn on her heels.
“I think I’ll take you up on that offer,” she muttered, keeping her shame to herself that she caved so easily. But after that exchange she needed something to release the tension that wasn’t her usual coping mechanisms of murder, murder, and more murder.
‘I wish I had been able to murder him. Why was he acting like that? As though he came out of that exchange the victor?’
“I don’t know, Viosa,” she replied with a hum, gripping Ery’nn’s arm a little tighter as she was escorted to her room.
As usual, the Togruta didn’t acknowledge the exchange so much as her highly intuitive self picked up on the unheard question. “My lady, he was trying to get a rise out of you. Morrible wasn’t just upset with you. It’s clear she needs him to behave as well, should you convince people you are to be wed and not soon to be strangling one another.”
Yes, her former Apprentice would not have been so bold months ago as she was now. But Galinda didn't mind it. Most people weren’t as forward with her, this new…man aside. They were overly honest to save their own skins, or lied just as hard to do the very same. Or worse…They tried to lick her boots.
“Shall I run your bath then, my lady?” Ery’nn asked politely, as though she weren’t asking for something else entirely. Even after consent was given, her charge seemed to remember that even Viosa encouraged consensual…relations.
‘Relations? Really?’
Galinda ignored Viosa as she moved to her standing mirror. “Will you…help me out of this dress first?” The invitation was well received as Ery’nn came over, standing taller behind her, even with Galinda in heels.
“Yes, my lady,” she intoned, moving closer so the front of her suit rubbed against Galinda’s bare back. Slender fingers, though not as long as Elphie’s, slipped under the thin straps and slowly dragged them down her arms. She couldn’t help but shiver as she made eye contact with the Togruta in the mirror, both women sharing a charged look as more and more of Galinda’s scarred flesh was revealed.
But like Elphie, Ery’nn looked at her as if she were a Goddess of Gillikinese myths. Not the scarred and mutilated monster she truly was. She couldn’t refute the girl’s gaze though, or the clear want radiating off her through their Force bond. It was so different from hers and Elphie’s…
‘If you’re not going to contact her, can you please stop comparing everything and everyone to her?’
“I can’t help it,” Galinda sighed as she leaned back into Ery’nn, the straps of her dress down and her plush breasts revealed. But just as the dress began to slip down to her stomach she suddenly stopped.
Her scars.
The scars. The ones that showed she was claimed by another.
Ery’nn didn’t seem to notice her hesitancy, or if she did she chose not to bring attention to it as she leaned into Galinda’s back, wrapping her arms around the now half-dressed woman and pulling her tightly against her. Smooth lips touched the back of her neck, placing open mouthed kisses down her collarbones, hands sliding down inside her dress to grab firmly, but not aggressively, at the bare hips she found there. Perhaps she had noticed Galinda’s reticence to have her abdomen seen or touched.
“I think I’ll have that bath now, Ery’nn,” Galinda whispered to the girl, looking over her shoulder as their lips brushed for just a second. The younger woman nearly gasped into the almost kiss, always surprised by any amount of affection or attention offered to her. As she nodded to her former Master, their lips brushed again but didn’t quite connect as she heeded her order. It was clear that she was letting Galinda take the lead. As she always would.
Galinda wouldn’t let anyone else but Elphie have control.
‘Still cannot believe I let her on top.’
“I can’t either,” Galinda murmured under her breath as she slid the dress all the way down to the floor, revealing her completely nude form underneath. Under the scars her body was still perfection, tone and slender but jutting, womanly hips. Most of the scars were ignored except for the ones on her stomach:
ELPHIE
They were still a pretty, pale pink, raised up so she could always feel them—could trace them with her fingers and easily spell the letters out to herself in the quiet of her room.
Ery’nn didn’t understand the recent shift in Galinda’s modesty but when she approached the large, jetted tub, she turned around to allow the naked woman to step down the stairs. The jets were on and Galinda’s favorite honeysuckle scent wafted from the oils and soft, soapy bubbles. She hadn’t wanted to smell like roses in some time. Not since Viosa…not since Gillikin.
‘You wanted it, too.’
She slipped under the bubbles, until only the tops of her breasts were visible, and she sighed gently. “I know…I did want it. And I didn’t…”
As Galinda leaned her head back, she found a lap underneath her head, bare legs draped around her. She cracked her eye open and saw an equally nude Ery’nn adjusting the knobs off to the sides before turning them off. Galinda realized that if she was naked that meant so was her lap…So, what else could she do but turn around, standing up on her knees so her soapy breasts rose out of the water. She was fortunate the bubbles hid her stomach, easing her self-consciousness and keeping her secret safe.
Ery’nn turned her head back just as she found Galinda’s hands sliding up her thighs, slowly opening her up, and then hooking behind her knees to drag her even closer. Her bodyguard didn’t fight the movement, but a little gasp of surprise was pulled from that beautifully striped and orange throat…such a long, slender neck.
“You know, as much as we enjoyed our control over Eden, there is just something different about a pretty girl like you,” Galinda whispered as she pulled her even closer, until the other’s legs were nearly wrapped around her. “You wanted to take care of me, didn’t you?”
Ery’nn nodded, her throat bobbing as she took in her Master’s bare, wet chest, perky nipples tight despite the heat of the tub.
“Good girl. Then come here and give me a kiss,” she purred as she beckoned the girl with two fingers.
Ery’nn did not hesitate as she leaned in to press an exploratory yet sensual kiss to those scarred lips. It was a little awkward at first with the half-mask, but it didn’t seem to deter the determined Togruta, who simply tilted her head to angle closer to the left side of her mouth. She pulled back and made eye contact, licking a line along the golden mask—a quiet acknowledgement and acceptance that almost made Galinda cry.
‘Save the emotional sex for Elphie. If you ever decide to let us talk to her again. You aren’t the only one who misses her…’
Viosa’s intrusive thoughts only worked to spur Galinda on. Her hands wrapped around the girl’s hips and pulled her so tightly against her that she could feel her smooth, plump pussy lips rubbing against the hidden scars on her belly. The touch was electric, forcing her to place a hand on her lower back to encourage her to move—to writhe against her.
This elicited another, throatier gasp from her charge. “M-My lady, I’m meant to take care of you,” Ery’nn protested weakly as she wrapped her legs tighter around Galinda, grinding herself against that scarred stomach.
“Galinda. Call me Galinda when we’re alone. Please, Ery’nn,” she begged, feeling Viosa stiffen within her mind at the impropriety of it all; the intimacy of it all.
Ery’nn slowly nodded as she leaned forward to kiss her again, murmuring against those lips, her voice thick with arousal, “Yes…Galinda.”
And oh, she hadn’t realized how good that would be to hear. When Morrible called her Galinda it was to weaponize the name itself and her past. When the world called her Galinda it was to fuel a great lie…but when Elphie and now Ery’nn called her by her true name…it wasn’t intimacy so much as it was being seen…finally being seen as her true self.
Whoever that was.
“Taking care of you is taking care of me, Ery’nn. Now, my pretty, fuck yourself on me. I want you to cum so hard I will have something to drink from later.”
The words provoked the exact reaction she wanted, because Ery’nn began to drag her core up and down Galinda’s torso, her arms wrapping around her Master’s wet shoulders, holding on tightly. “G-Galinda,” she moaned as she leaned forward to rest her face against the crook of Galinda’s neck, careful to choose her left side…away from the ever present bitemark on the right. She turned her head, releasing soft, needy little moans directly in Galinda’s ear that had the older woman beginning to move faster and harder.
“Yes, there you go, pretty thing. Just like that.” Her hand moved from her hip to between Ery’nn’s thighs, spreading her open even more so she could feel her hardening clit; deft fingers pulled back the hood, tracing the top to force a delicate, high cry from her long, slender, very tasty looking throat.
She couldn’t resist the call. That nexu curled up within the weak cage in her heart was thirsting for blood, thirsting to sink its teeth into supple flesh. From previous experience, Galinda knew that this would draw out more keening moans so she had no choice really but to slide one hand behind her former Apprentice’s neck and tilt it firmly to the side so she could feast. The heat from the tub and the heat from this moment caused the girl to begin to sweat, which made Galinda groan as she lapped her tongue along that neck.
She dragged her pale pink appendage up and down her neck before finding that pulse point and sucking long and hard to leave behind a darker orange bruise; running her tongue over it to soothe it, she contradicted such a soft act by biting down, forcing a surprisingly girlish cry from Ery’nn. One hand tangled in her hair, the other clutched the back of her mask as Galinda was encouraged to bite down. Harder.
How could she say no to such a pretty creature?
Teeth bit down hard, enough to draw blood before her tongue quickly darted out to both taste and soothe once more. “Mmm, I can’t wait to taste you. Come on, pretty girl, don’t you want my mouth on you? I won’t sip of your nectar until you can give me just one. You wanted to work for my pleasure well…work.”
And that was all her bodyguard needed. She began to push her growing clitoris against a firm, flexing stomach. “Fu-fuck, my lady…Galinda.” With legs tightening around her, and one hand now switching to one of her shoulders, Ery’nn began fucking herself without abandon.
And just as she was about to cum, they both felt it…a heavy presence in the Force. One that hadn’t been there earlier—not when Morrible’s presence was all encompassing.
“Well, don’t stop on my account, ladies. The rumors really are true. I assume this means I don’t have to be a good, loyal little husband either?”
Emeralt.
An apologetic, understanding look was offered to her from Ery’nn as the woman summoned two robes, a black one for herself and Galinda’s new pale pink one that was embroidered with various honeysuckle designs. Without even drying off, she slipped the silky fabric on and stood almost leisurely from her bath, turning to face the intrusive man.
“Emeralt,” she greeted, rather rudely, crossing the room to where he stood just past her winding stairs. “As you can see, you are interrupting my private time in my private suite. And I’m not sure if you know this or not,” Galinda continued, tapping a finger on her lip, “But this is my castle. And it will remain mine even after we are…” She couldn’t hide her disgust, the emotion fueled by Viosa egging her on. “...wed.”
‘What makes it worse is he isn’t even ugly. His personality is atrocious. Perhaps we should have tried harder to keep Cuckfrey alive. How can we turn Emeralt into a cock block nick-’
“Yes, thank you,” Galinda muttered, waving away the sarcastic response as Ery’nn brought over a wine glass for her to sip on.
Emeralt looked around the tall, open room but wasn’t able to enter as Galinda blocked his path. “Ah, you’re not going to invite me in? What, am I too much of your equal or am I simply the wrong gender?”
‘Equals?!’
“You think we’re equals? No, there are a variety of reasons but yes, you being a man is one of them. You're also the son of the woman I hate the most,” Galinda replied with a lofty little shrug, trying to communicate how little she cared for this interaction.
But something strange happened at the mention of Mommy Dearest: those stormy eyes darkened as the smug smirk dropped suddenly from his face. “You aren’t the only one who doesn’t like her.”
‘Curious thing to say. Either he is trying to manipulate us to ingratiate himself or he truly doesn’t care for her…or both. Oh, is he still talking?’
“...Thankfully, she has left us alone to get to know one another.”
‘Oh, that won’t do at all. I refuse. I refuse for both of us.’
“Mm, no. I don’t think so, Emeralt. Unless there is a contract I missed stating I am required to be psychologically tortured by your presence, I think I’ll just…bow out. Graciously of course.”
Emeralt’s smirk returned. “Of course. I suppose I could have entered a bit more respectfully but can you blame me for being curious when I heard such tall tales and then those delightful sounds from such a tall girl with tails on her head.”
“Lekku, not tails,” Galinda corrected immediately, nostrils flared defensively. All these Imperials were the same: incredibly racist. At least that was a line Viosa didn’t cross.
‘I may be a monster but I’m not evil.’
“We’re both monsters,” she replied without thinking, causing Emeralt’s eyebrows to rise.
“Oh, are we now? Well, even more reason for us to get to know one another.”
Galinda crossed her arms over her chest when she caught him looking at her damp cleavage, clearing her throat purposefully. “If you were actually trying to form some sort of allyship between us, you are doing a horrendible job, Emeralt. Actually, can I call you Emmy?”
He tried to protest and she just spoke over him.
“Fantastic. So, Emmy, as you can see, I am rather busy. Why don’t you schedule a meeting with my secretary—”
“You don’t have a secretary!”
“ —and we can meet up again, say…” Galinda pretended to check a completely nonexistent chronometer on her wrist, “...how about the day before our wedding! Ah, yes. Perfect. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have a beautiful woman that has been denied an orgasm for far too long. I am sure you don’t know what that is so go ask your mommy to explain the porgs and the bees to you, hmm?”
She didn’t wait for a response. She simply pushed him back towards the stairs, though not as aggressively as she wanted to.
He seemingly took the hint, but as he turned to step away, he called after her, “I’ll warn you that rebuffing me only makes me chase harder, Glinny.”
‘Oh, let me fucking kill him right now. Only I can call you that!’
“I don’t even like it when you call me that,” Galinda muttered as she tossed back her wine and threw the cup down the stairs, causing it to shatter and startle the man still descending. He let out a rather high-pitched yelp, which was music to their ears.
‘Well, it’s not what I would’ve done but at least it’s something. Now, go eat Ery’nn out.’
Rolling her eye, Galinda replied, very sardonically, “Yes, ma’am,” as she approached Ery’nn, who was already lying down on her expensive bed.
“I want you to speak to the architect and mason about installing a door at the bottom and the top of the stairs. And next time, station less weak-willed girls at the bottom,” Galinda commanded as she climbed atop the bed, crawling up to the submissive form of Ery’nn. “Now, where were we?”
Unbeknownst to her, Emeralt wasn’t the only one who had been watching them. Or rather, only thing.