Kaius holds the letter between his gloved hands, his usually steady fingers trembling ever so slightly as he tears away the seal. He knows damn well how fucking dangerous this is, carrying on with the tyrant king's spouse while Eeros indulged in his harem but gods, you were a wonderful person and in Kaius' eyes one of the most beautiful he'd ever seen. He wonders if this will be the last letter but the general often wonders about such things. If the two of you were caught there would no doubt be dire consequences and Kaius could imagine himself strung up still living on the castle gates for the vultures and crows to peck at. The thought is a dark one and he shakes it off, resolving instead to read what you've written to him.

Kaius devours your letter, greedily drinking in every word you'd scratched onto the page. His latest campaign would be over within the month and here you were, inviting him informally to the winter ball. The formal invitation would come later, he knew, but to have this correspondence from you was both a blessing and a curse. The paper was scented with your perfume and he ran a thumb across the margin, careful not to smear the ink even though your letter would have to be burned when he was through. He'd never admit it, not even under Eeros' best techniques but Kaius' heart and soul belonged to you entirely. For a man who didn't believe in love he sure felt a lot of it towards you.

When fall gradually gave way to winter and his unit was recalled to Polura's capital Kaius' mind was occupied with seeing you again, holding you in his arms, your husband be damned. His men dropped off a handful at a time on the way to the palace, content to indulge in the city's many brothels and taverns. He couldn't say that he blamed them; If it weren't for you he'd probably be in some whore's bed, drinking himself stupid in an effort to forget. He was only thirty-five, not a young man by any means but not quite middle aged and certainly not old enough to feel burdens as heavy as these but sixteen years in the king's army forced a boy to grow up quickly.

The herald announces his presence and Kaius gives a deep bow to the king, your absence noted but not commented on. He knew better than to make Eeros have even a grain of suspicion, not after all the trouble your husband had given you over the High Priest. Kaius was a devout man himself but that pious bastard wouldn't know what to do with a woman if he found one waiting in his bed. The more your husband's attention was focused elsewhere though, the better. He attends his business with the king, the other man waving him off dismissively after the report had been given and it takes everything Kaius' has not to smirk. If only Eeros knew that Kaius was fucking his spouse right under his nose. Perhaps if Eeros had half a brain he wouldn't have left you untouched in favor of his harem.

He stalks down the hall to his quarters, content to smoke and have a bath as he waits for night to fall, the perfect time of day to meet you in the gardens under the covers of darkness with only the moon to guide you. When the time does come he waits in the alcove of your private gardens, reaching out to snag you by the shoulders when you pass him by without noticing.

"If I were an assassin you would already be dead."

Kaius chuckles and buries his face in the crook of your neck, his whole body thrumming with pleasure at seeing you again.

"Tell me, what have I missed? Does your priest still draw breath?"

A small smirk at the question but it amuses him greatly to see how focused Eeros is on your relationship with Soris when he should be looking much closer.