The murky dusk was slowly swallowing Crystal City. Sienna was still staring at the small toys peeking at her from the open wooden chest. She stretched her back slowly. She felt tired but restless. She felt like she was cooped up in her room for ages! Even her soul felt exhausted from the intense emotions she felt while writing the cards to these kids!
"I need some fresh air."She sighed to herself. She put on her warm blue coat and opened the door. The burly young guard stood there silently. It was Gerra, the one she tricked with slippers before. He turned to her as she stood in the open doorway, a puzzled expression on his face.
Sienna's lips smirked a little."Will he let me go, or do I have to trick him again?"She chuckled to herself in her mind."
"My Queen."Gerra bowed.
"I'm going to the garden," Sienna said firmly, hoping he would not stop her. Gerra nodded and followed her quietly.
Sienna went down the wide stairs and almost ran into the garden. The fresh coldness of this open space hit her face. She took a few breaths in. The air felt sharp! It was something bewildering in it. Sienna walked quietly, carefully, like a hunting tiger, letting her imagination run wild while watching the dark trees move into the rhythm of the wind, following the shadows, reminding her of animals and monsters...monsters like the dragon she knew, her mate. Sienna was wondering about Thunder... It did not feel so good to be upset with someone, but she still was. It was not easy to forgive him!
"If I do not know that Marco beat him up, I might be scared to walk like this."She chuckled to herself satirically. "Now I'm safe, this city is safe," she thought, feeling so free suddenly. She knew Gerra was following her. It felt safe. She would not clench into his arm like with Ziran or with Bran. She felt like she did not know him that well, yet. She liked to feel her hands free, feeling the wind passing through her fingers. It was something freeing inside of there. Sienna walked by the evergreen bushes, thinking about Sarcos. She did not notice that she ventured inside the maze, because in the coming darkness, it looked different from how it looked normally during the day. Gerra saw the maze entrance but said nothing and followed Sienna in because he had to....
Sienna walked a bit mindlessly till she realised that she was actually in the maze when it became really dark.
"Did we get stuck in the maze now?"She turned to Gerra, a little unsure.
"We are stuck? Do not you know your way, my Queen?" he asked little confused.
"Sure, I know the way!"Sienna nodded," But I forgot to count the turns! So, I'm not sure where we are now and which one is the way out. Do you know?"She looked at him seriously.
The young guard shook his head. "I was just following," he said, thinking."I can change to the tiger and track the way back."He noted.
"I do not feel like going against the wind."Sienna scrunched her face. It was starting to get really cold." Let's just follow the right-hand wall; it should surely lead somewhere, and we will come out at some point eventually."She decided.
"As you order, my Queen."Gerra nodded and followed after Sienna again. After walking for a while, they made it into an interesting white marble fountain featuring a huge tiger with a luxurious grotto built from stone...
" I did not see this yet," she thought."It must be the third heart of the maze!"Sienna called excitedly and went inside to explore. Gerra lit the torches within the grotto eagerly. He felt a bit stupid and was trying to be helpful, because he remembered that his Queen can not see well in the dark.
"It is magical!"Sienna watched enchanted. The walls of the grotto were decorated with sea-shells, small river pebbles and gemstones. They featured big golden framed mirrors, which helped to illuminate the space, furnished with elegant turquoise velvet-covered furniture. The walls glittered in the light of torches; it almost looked alive. Sienna walked around the grotto in awe, and then she decided to take a rest. She sat on the wide settee and covered herself in warm quilts, which were just so handy folded in there. She was quite clear about what was on Tyrell's mind when he was creating this space for her!!!
"This is so nice!"Sienna stretched under the warm blanket while watching her beautiful surroundings."Have some rest too, and do not stare at me that much."She chuckled at perplexed Gerra.
"It is going late, my Queen, should we not get back soon?" he asked, sounding somehow guilty for breaking her resting moment.
"I'm tired and cold. I need to warm up first."Sienna nodded, but she absolutely did not feel like walking back into the windy darkness. This grotto was just perfect, glittery and cosy, she felt like in her own treasure cave, completely immersed in her experience and very comfortable.
Gerra nodded and sat apart from Sienna as well, watching the cave entrance. He was not sure what to do!
Meanwhile, Tyrell prepared a romantic dinner for his Queen and sent her page in training, Jace, to find her. But Jace returned running back to him, informing him that the Queen is not in her room, kitchen or drawing room, and that her guard is missing too!
"Where could she go so late?" Tyrell furrowed his brows worriedly. Bran was still delivering the notes, and the Tiger King had no idea where his Queen was...
Tyrell decided to check outside, when he caught Sienna's scent lingering in the corridors, passing the door to the garden. Tyrell breathed her scent in; the longing for his mate made him feel restless as he followed it to the maze. Tyrell was impatient; he changed into his White Tiger and jumped over the hedges as fast as he could when he noticed the smoke coming from the maze. Tyrell ran like a crazed tiger into the middle, jumping over the walls of the maze in a frantic rush just to find Sienna resting in his artificial cave, covered in blankets!
"Tyrell, you found me!" she smiled as she saw the huge White Tiger at the entrance to shift into her handsome mate."Come next to me," she chuckled." This place is so magical, you built it for me, yes?"She asked him excitedly.
"How could you scare me like this?"Tyrell growled, but with visible relief.
"We got lost..."Sienna fluttered her long eyelashes, innocently trying to seduce him, to make him calmer.
"How could you get lost in here...?" Tyrell glared at Gerra."You are a tiger, no?"
"Well..." Gerra wanted to explain, but Tyrell stopped him with a sharp wave of his hand. Sienna's seductive innocent look got stuck in his mind, and his brain could not concentrate on anything else right now.
"I'm taking the Queen with me, and you can use tonight to familiarise yourself with this maze." Tyrell hissed as he lifted Sienna into his embrace, along with her soft blanket. Sienna pulled the quilt even more tightly around herself and smiled with satisfaction. Travelling back in a hot Tyrell's embrace is way better than walking in the cold!
"Sorry, Gerra, "Sienna whispered as she passed next to the perplexed guard in Tyrell's arms stronghold, her golden hair floating in the air. Gerra paid for her mischief again, and now he will have to spend the night walking the maze by himself!
Tyrell took Sienna back to his room. He ordered the food to be brought up there, and he sat her in his bed, feeding her a very belated dinner! He was staring at her as if she were lost for ages, not just a few hours, so when Sienna started to feel full, she tried to slip away from his serious gaze.
"I like to go for a bath now," she smiled. She wanted to have a relaxing bath and to break Tyrell's dog gaze.
"I will help you."Tyrell offered and followed her to the bathroom.
"Sure, my love," Sienna nodded when she realised that she was not getting away from him any time soon!
Tyrell prepared the warm bath and helped her to take her clothes off carefully. He was somehow immersed in this experience, so Sienna was not sure what he was thinking about.
Sienna lay in the bath full of water, while Tyrell was still staring at her caringly."How do you feel, my love?"He asked carefully.
"Quite nice..."Sienna looked at his handsome face."But maybe it would be nicer if you took your shirt off!" She licked her lips cheekily.
"Why?" Tyrell asked innocently. His brain was still out of order somehow.
"Because it is wet!"Sienna splashed him with her foot, giggling. The droplets of water drenched Tyrell's shirt suddenly! He blushed as he caught her foot in the air.
"Aren't you a little bit wild?"Tyrell rasped as he slid his hands down her calf.
"Me? You are the tiger..."Sienna wiggled, trying to free her foot. He was holding her off balance!
"Shh, let me touch!"Tyrell held her leg strongly; his hungry blue eyes were fixed on Sienna's naked, wet body. He kissed her elegant, wet foot and let it slip back to water. Then he took off his wet shirt...and trousers, too...
Sienna stared at her naked man.
"Hmm. Maybe I overdid it with the water..." she thought in a sweet panic."What was I thinking?"Sienna was scanning her mind for her reasonable brain, which was on a standstill. The moment was just too intimate, and she felt her heart beat louder in expectation.
"Have your days finished yet?"Tyrell asked her innocently as he came to invade her bathtub. It was big anyway, and her splashing him was a good excuse to get closer...
Sienna ran her hands on his wet chest and kissed him." I think it's ok to mate..." she whispered a bit wildly..."She really missed his hands on her body....and this was a good opportunity. She felt her body shaking as his hands glided on her soft, wet skin. They were warm and big, a little rough, but so strong. Sienna just wanted Tyrell so much; all her bottled-up emotions came out in a wild play, and all week of not having anything because of her days was suddenly on Tyrell to resolve...