Juniera presses herself close to Auris; snakes her arms around their waist. Her fingers trace Auris’ spine, slow and teasing, and she smiles as they tense under her touch.

“Dear Auris, I have no desire to hurt you. All I need is for you to tell me how your little errand went.” She pauses, moves close enough to whisper in Auris’ ear. Her hand hovers directly over the back of their neck as her voice becomes silvery soft, “You did get the contract, of course, did you not, my protector?”

Auris manages to breathe out a simple, one word response, “Yes,” before Juniera brushes her fingers back down their spine and their throat closes up. Their heartbeat pounds through every limb; her touch causes a drunken haze to fall over their mind. It is as if their surroundings have simply disappeared. She is all that exists. All they focus on.

The tranquility is shattered when she steps back. Auris reels back, stumbles to the ground; raises a hand to the stinging pain that spreads across their cheek. Juniera kneels beside them, then, cleaning a droplet of blood from her ring.

Her tone is crisp as she caresses their face, tilting their chin to examine their face, “And why, dear Auris, did it take you so long to return?”

“I did- You never specified-“ Auris wilts in shame at her obvious disappointment. They barely notice when she dabs a pinprick of blood from beneath their eye, distracted by their own guilt as she continues.

“It is a shame, really. If you had only been quicker, this never would have happened. I love you, truly; after all, others would do so much worse than I ever will.”

Auris keeps their gaze lowered as Juniera’s voice softens, soothes them with careful advice. “You must be prepared, my dear. I expect you will be punctual in the future.” She turns away and Auris, sensing that she is finished with the conversation, slips out of the room.