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The cold, metallic rim of a goblet pressed gently against her lips, and she opened her eyes. Dux Gladiorum was seated beside her, smiling as she offered Cerydra the sweet content of the goblet. Cerydra couldn’t hold back the reciprocal smile even if she tried. She parted her lips, and the goblet tilted to pour the drink onto her tongue. The sweetness, very similar to honey yet a hundred times sweeter, spread through her mouth as she slowly drank, gazing deep into Hysilens’ mesmerizing blue eyes.
Hysilens didn’t shy away as ordinary subjects would have. Her oceanic eyes gazed right back, and Cerydra gauged her satisfaction from the hum that escaped her.
Honey-brew didn’t induce intoxication like ordinary alcohol, but Cerydra could almost feel herself starting to doubt the fact as Hysilens’ eyes seemed to lure her closer.
Her sips turned greedier, against her better judgement. She questioned if she had grown careless and was, in fact, drunk, and yes, she was, but less so on alcohol and more on Hysilens. The siren’s beauty was almost insultingly understated in hymns about the titankin of the ocean, and Cerydra had never cared about such a trivial detail before, but in that drunken, blissful moment, she couldn’t see any greater injustice in the world. Had she not been completely enthralled by Hysilens watering her with the siren’s favorite beverage, she might have stormed off and demanded that the hymns be rewritten.
It was deeply upsetting that the gilded goblet had a finite capacity, and that it was now empty. Hysilens lowered the goblet from Cerydra’s lips, and Cerydra let out a quiet sound of disappointment that she hoped Hysilens didn’t pick up on. She licked her lips to catch any residual sweetness and found herself glancing at Hysilens’ lips.
Would Hysilens taste as sweet as honey-brew?
Cerydra regretted the thought almost instantly and used her best efforts to purge it from her mind, but as with all unwanted thoughts, trying not to think about it only made the thought more potent. Embarrassment filled her as she turned away, pretending to observe some of the guests at the banquet. She tried not to think about whether Hysilens would be fooled by her act or not. The sound of Hysilens drinking reached her ears, and she assumed it was more honey-brew. Her breath hitched as Hysilens’ gloved fingers intertwined with hers, and the struggle for control over the overwhelming flood of emotions within proved nigh on impossible. Cerydra emerged victorious in her inner battle and kept her composure as she turned to Hysilens.
“Would you like some more, Imperator?” the sea siren’s beautiful voice sounded, and Cerydra felt herself almost melt.
She chuckled and leaned toward her Gladius.
“As long as you offer, Helektra, I will drink.”