Why did you lie about being pregnant?” his voice rang out, the accusation hanging in the air.
Xena’s mouth clamped for a moment, not knowing what to say. Panic surged through her veins as she realized the gravity of the situation. She couldn’t let the king slip away from her grasp, not now, not ever. Determination set in, and she knew she had to find something to say before she lost him completely.
Just then, Xena fell to the ground, her body shaking with convulsive sobs. Tears streamed down her face as she cried, her voice trembling with anguish.
“My king, I lied because I wanted you all to myself. It felt like you were drifting away, no longer treating me as you used to. I saw your attention focused on the queen and Aurora, the murderers. I thought if I could make you hate the queen, you would return to me. I know you despise lies and deception, but I didn’t know any other way to bring you close again than this, I’m proud of it my king and I’m deeply sorry for it”
The king stood up from his seat, his eyes filled with pain and confusion. He moved closer to Xena, lowering himself to her level. Gently, he placed a hand on her shoulder and raised her tear-streaked face.
“What happened to my Xena?” he asked, his voice filled with hurt.
“The woman who cared for my mother until her last breath, the Xena who went above and beyond to defend her even when everyone else deserted her. This deceitful and selfish person in front of me isn’t the same Xena I know.”
Xena looked at the king, her gaze filled with a mix of desperation and love. “My lord, it’s still me, Xena. I’m still the same person, caring and devoted. My love for you drove me to these actions. Please believe me, I am not evil, and I haven’t changed.”
Alpha Malik shook his head, his disappointment evident. “No, Xena. The woman kneeling before me isn’t the same Xena I know. The one I trusted and cherished would never deceive others for her gain, she wouldn’t hurt innocent people. She would never disregard the well-being of others for hers.”
Xena’s heart sank, but she refused to give up. Determination etched on her face, she mustered the strength to approach the king. “My king, I am truly sorry. I’ve lost my way, but my love for you still burns within me. Remember the last time we shared an intimate moment, the passion we felt? It was in those moments that I sensed the fear of losing you, and it clouded my judgment. When you stopped seeking my affection, I feared you had found solace in the Queen’s embrace, especially with everyone anticipating an heir from her,” Xena pleaded, desperately hoping her words would penetrate the king’s heart.
As Xena spoke, she noticed the anger in the king’s face gradually dissipating. It sparked a glimmer of hope within her, and she seized the opportunity, thinking that her deceitful words had wormed their way into the king’s mind.
Her hand instinctively reached out, yearning to caress and reconnect with him, but the king gently intercepted her, holding her hand in his own. His countenance softened, and a whirlwind of conflicting emotions flickered in his eyes.
“Xena, go to your room for now,” he said, his voice tinged with a mix of sadness and resolve. “By tomorrow, I will decide what to do with you.”
Xena nodded, tears still streaming down her face. She turned and left the room, her heart heavy with uncertainty. She knew that time was running out, and she had to find a way to redeem herself and earn back the king’s trust before it was too late.
As Xena exited the king’s chamber and made her way to her own room, a sense of unease consumed her. The weight of her lies hung heavy on her conscience, and she couldn’t shake off the nagging feeling that the king had caught glimpses of her deceit. Doubt gnawed at her, and she wondered anxiously what judgment awaited her.
Upon entering her room, she reached for a lit candle, seeking solace in its flickering flame. But her attempt at finding comfort was abruptly shattered as a shadow emerged from the back of the door, causing her to scream in terror. Before she could react, the figure swiftly moved towards her, covering her mouth to stifle her cries.
As the figure released their grip, Xena’s eyes focused on the person before her-Jericho. A mix of relief and frustration washed over her. “What are you doing in my room, Jericho?” she snapped, her voice laced with irritation and a hint of apprehension.
Jericho’s hand gently drew her closer, his touch surprisingly tender. His voice, now filled with a romantic tone, whispered into her ear, “I love that. No more ‘Your Highness.’ Now, call me by my name. I believe you have finally seen me as your lover.”
Xena scoffed, pulling away from his grasp. Conflicting emotions swirled within her-desire, confusion, and a tinge of anger. “What is the meaning of this? What are you doing in my room? What if my friend is here?” she questioned, her voice tinged with concern.
Jericho’s seductive tone persisted as he assured her, “I know your friend Jeanne has traveled to the neighboring town. That’s why I’m here.” His response, while trying to reassure her, failed to address her primary inquiry.
Xena’s expression hardened, her unyielding gaze fixed upon him. She demanded answers, her voice betraying her deep-rooted unease. “That hasn’t answered my question. What are you doing alone in your brother’s wife’s chamber?”
“Since when did you have the audacity to ask me what I’m doing in my brother’s concubine room? Is it after we have engaged in intimate encounters severally? Don’t you know that our connection surpasses that of my brother’s?” Jericho uttered and pulled Xena closer, his lips caressing her ears.
“Don’t you know you will soon become mine alone finally?” Jericho uttered
For a second Xena wanted to succumb to his seduction, her body wanting to accept Jericho, but before she could she remembered the king’s expression, making him distrusted her the more is the last thing we wanted just then she moved away from Jericho grip.
Without responding to Jericho, Xena moved purposefully towards the door. Her words, delivered with a serious tone, resounded in the room. “Your Highness, please leave my room. The last thing I wanted is to make the king distrust me ” Jericho remained silent, prompting her to wonder if he truly understood the urgency of the situation.
Jericho’s confident facade wavered slightly as Xena’s unwavering stare bore into him. Concern and worry etched themselves onto his face, realizing maybe something had happened to her because of his suspicions.
Xena’s silence only heightened his own anxieties, as he suspected that the king’s was planning something because of the incident that happened.
He had come wanting to seek for Xena help, wanting her to penetrate the king and know his thoughts. However, seeing her display of distance and seriousness, made him more worried.
His voice broke the silence, his concern evident as he asked, “Did something happen?”
Xena scoffed dismissively. “You are not in a position to worry about me. Worry about yourself. Just get out. And I hope you do something about Aurora. Before long, she might expose our secret to the king. And if that happens, I won’t hesitate to tell the king that you raped me,” she threatened him, her voice filled with a mix of anger and desperation.
Jericho’s anger surged within him, and he burst out, his words filled with resentment. “Do you really think the king cares for you as I do? Do you honestly believe he will forgive you once he discovers the extent of your deception? What do you think will happen when he learns that you played a role in his mother’s death?” he fired back, leaving Xena with her mouth agape.
She stood, gazing at Jericho, completely unaware that there were others who knew the secret she had believed was buried deep within. She was taken aback, realizing that her carefully guarded secret had somehow been exposed