Late that night—late at night outside the Council.
The Scarlet Queen came alone to Annan's residence.
Annan was in the Lounge, expanding the script. He leaned back on the sofa with his legs stretched toward the burning hearth, letting the fire warm his soft leather boots.
A sound unlike the crackle of burning wood made Annan look up.
"What brings you here?"
Annan hurried to his feet, then noticed the Scarlet Queen was alone. "Where's Lena?"
"She's studying with the 'acting teacher' you found. I came by myself."
The Scarlet Queen held her head slightly raised, her long red hair cascading over her shoulders. Seated in the Wheelchair, she was shorter than Annan, yet her noble face seemed to gaze down upon the earth beneath the Scarlet Moon.
Annan's expression turned strange. Moving a Wheelchair meant pushing it or turning its wheels, and the Scarlet Queen had yet to recover... Imagining her inching her way over while he worked on the script, then striking this imposing pose, made it hard for him to feel much reverence...
"Annan—or should I say David—I have some questions for you."
The Scarlet Queen had decided to speak frankly.
Annan's ties to the Stuart Family were growing closer... Dracula and the others listened to him, outsiders thought he and the Crimson Princess might become another God of Love and consort, and the Crimson Princess relied on him... But the Scarlet Queen could not rely on anyone else, especially a human.
She found it easier to accept bonds built on mutual interest... and submission.
"Please, go ahead."
Those eyes resembled the Crimson Princess's ruby eyes, but held an uncanny light as they fixed on Annan. "You've done so much for us. What do you want in return?"
Annan had never really thought about it... He had