CHAPTER 63: STAGE PRESENCE 13*

"More passion, Starcaller! You’re supposed to be in love with her, not asking for directions to the library!"

Professor Loralei hovered six inches off the ground, her hair swirling around her face as she directed the rehearsal. The entire cast watched as Aegis and Talia ran through their scene for the third time.

"Sorry, Professor," Aegis said, not sounding sorry at all. "I’ll try to imagine being in love with Princess Stone. It’s quite the acting challenge."

A few students snickered. Talia’s yellow eyes narrowed.

Aegis was, of course, not being serious (she loved Talia a little too much, even). But, a little teasing never hurt anyone.

"Perhaps if Starcaller could remember her lines, we wouldn’t need to repeat the scene so many times," she said coolly.

Aegis grinned.

"I remember my lines perfectly. I just get distracted by your radiant beauty, Your Highness."

More laughter. Talia’s cheeks flushed with anger.

"Again!" Professor Loralei clapped her hands. "From ’I think you know.’ And this time, Aegis, try to look at her like you want to devour her, not like she owes you money."

Aegis nodded, stepping close to Talia again.

They’d been rehearsing for hours, and the final dress rehearsal was tomorrow. The actual performance was in two days, and tensions were running high.

"I think you know," Aegis said, her voice dropping to a husky whisper as she reached up to brush Talia’s hair back.

This time, Aegis let her fingers trail along Talia’s jaw, her thumb brushing the corner of Talia’s mouth. She stepped closer, close enough that their bodies almost touched, and looked at Talia with pure hunger in her eyes.

For once, Talia didn’t flinch or pull away. Instead, she held Aegis’s gaze, her breathing quickening slightly.

"Elara," she whispered, her voice trembling. "We can’t."

"We already are."

Then, as the script dictated, Talia leaned forward and pressed her lips to Aegis’s.

It was brief, barely more than a touch, but Aegis felt a spark of electricity run through her. Talia’s lips were soft and cool, and she tasted faintly of mint.

When they pulled apart, Talia’s eyes were wide, her cheeks flushed.

"Yes!" Professor Loralei clapped her hands in delight. "That’s it! That’s the chemistry I’ve been looking for! Rosanna’s hesitation, Elara’s desire! Perfect!"

Aegis winked at Talia, who quickly looked away.

"Let’s move on to the next scene," Professor Loralei continued. "Kyle, Liora, take your positions for the council chamber confrontation."

As Talia stepped away, Aegis noticed her hand drift up to touch her lips briefly before she caught herself.

[Oh, God, I need more of this. Off the stage and in my bedroom, preferably.]

---

"So, how was rehearsal?" Nazraya asked, leaning back against her desk, skirt hiked up around her waist.

Aegis knelt between her spread legs, lips wrapped around Nazraya’s thick cock. She pulled back with a wet pop, stroking the shaft with her hand.

"G-good," she said before diving back down, taking Nazraya deep into her throat, and then popping back up to say, "Professor Loralei thinks we’re ready."

They were in Nazraya’s classroom after hours for another Shadow Magic lesson.

Aegis even got a new spell out of it this time!

Touch of Shadow - Cost: 10 MP per second

Effect: Grasp a target’s life force through a firm grip

But as usual, the "lesson" had quickly devolved into something far more carnal.

Nazraya gripped Aegis’s hair, guiding her movements as she fucked the girl’s mouth. Her black hair cascaded over her shoulders, red eyes gleaming with dominance and lust.

"And how’s the princess handling having to kiss a commoner?" Nazraya thrust deeper, making Aegis gag slightly.

Aegis pulled back to catch her breath, saliva connecting her lips to the professor’s cock.

"Better than expected," she said, smiling, jerking Nazraya’s shaft. "We finally practiced it today. The kiss."

"Oh?" Nazraya raised an eyebrow. "And?"

"Well, it was just a stage kiss. Nothing special."

"Liar." Nazraya tightened her grip on Aegis’s hair, forcing her back down onto her cock in a way that nearly had Aegis making heart-eyes. "Your voice changed when you said it."

"Mmph—" Aegis’s reply was muffled by the thick shaft stretching her lips.

Nazraya laughed, the sound low and husky.

"Perhaps you’re developing feelings for the princess? How amusing, pet."

[Oh, you’ve got no idea.]

She thrust harder into Aegis’s mouth, her cock hitting the back of Aegis’s throat. Aegis relaxed, taking it deeper, her own cock so hard it ached, her pussy so wet it was dripping.

For several minutes, the only sounds in the classroom were Nazraya’s soft grunts and the wet, obscene noises of Aegis’s throat being used.

"I’m going to—" Nazraya warned, her cock pulsing. She held Aegis’s head firmly in place, cumming down her throat with a satisfied groan.

As Aegis caught her breath, wiping her mouth, Nazraya fixed her skirt and moved to sit at her desk chair, looking perfectly composed despite what they’d just done.

"Ah, how satisfying," she said, crossing her legs, "now, remind me about this play."

"It’s about Queen Rosanna," Aegis said, still slightly breathless as she got to her feet. "Her early years, before she united Valdria. Talia’s playing her, and I’m playing Elara, her advisor and lover. Well, one of many, hehe."

Nazraya’s eyes lit up with interest.

Aegis took the chance as soon as she saw it.

"You should come see the play," Aegis said suddenly. "It’s open to all academy staff and students."

Nazraya’s hand stilled.

"I’m not sure that would be appropriate."

"Why not? You’re a professor. No one would question your presence."

"It’s not that." Nazraya’s silver hair fell around her face as she looked down. "Rosanna... had strong opinions about shadow sorcerers. Are you familiar with them?"

"Just what I’ve read in history books," Aegis lied smoothly. "She banned it, right? After the Southern Rebellion."

"Yes." Nazraya’s voice was clipped. "She decided it was too dangerous. Too tempting. As if power itself were the problem, not those who misused it."

There was bitterness in her voice, old anger that made Aegis wonder just how long Nazraya had been practicing forbidden magic.

"Well, it’s just a play," Aegis said, reaching out to touch Nazraya’s arm. "And a chance to see me make a fool of myself on stage. Don’t you want to watch me squirm?"

That brought the smile back to Nazraya’s face.

"When you put it that way..." She leaned down, nipping at Aegis’s earlobe. "I do enjoy watching you squirm."

"And, you still admire Rosanna, right?"

"I can’t deny that."

"So you’ll come?"

Nazraya sighed.

"Very well. But only because I want to see how badly you butcher Elara’s character. And if they present me with any information I don’t already know."

Aegis grinned.

"I’ll save you a seat in the front row."

"Don’t you dare." Nazraya pinched Aegis’s side, making her yelp. "I’ll sit in the back, where I can leave discreetly when your acting becomes too painful to watch."

"Such faith in my abilities, Professor."

"I have complete faith in your abilities, pet." Nazraya gestured for Aegis to move closer. "Just not your acting ones. Now, come here. I’m not quite fully satisfied yet."

---

{Talia’s POV}

Talia stared at her reflection in the mirror, touching her lips for what felt like the hundredth time since rehearsal.

[It was nothing. Just acting. It meant nothing.]

But she couldn’t shake the memory of Aegis’s mouth against hers, the brief but undeniable spark she’d felt.

"Stop it," she whispered to herself. "She’s... she’s a fertility-cursed commoner. Nothing more."

A knock at her door startled her. She quickly dropped her hand and straightened her uniform.

"Enter."

Varyn Duskbane slipped into the room, closing the door quietly behind him.

"Princess," he said, bowing slightly. "I hope I’m not disturbing you."

"What do you want, Duskbane?" Talia wasn’t in the mood for his games.

He smiled, the expression not reaching his eyes.

"I heard rehearsal went well today. The first kiss scene, was it not?"

Talia’s stomach tightened.

"You’re spying on me now?"

"Not at all." He moved further into the room, examining the trinkets on her desk with casual interest. "But the academy is abuzz with gossip about the play. Particularly about you and Starcaller."

"There is no ’me and Starcaller.’"

"Of course not." His smile widened. "Though I did hear an interesting rumor about you visiting her room the other night. Alone."

"We were rehearsing," she said stiffly. "As we’re required to do."

"Naturally." Varyn picked up a small crystal figurine, turning it in his hands. "I simply thought you might be interested in a solution to your... situation."

"I don’t have a situation."

"Don’t you?" He set the figurine down and turned to face her fully. "In two days, you’ll be forced to kiss that commoner in front of the entire academy. Your mother is furious. The House Stone reputation hangs in the balance. And from what I hear, Starcaller is making the experience as humiliating as possible for you."

Talia said nothing. He wasn’t wrong.

"What if there was a way to solve the problem without breaking your commitment to the play?" Varyn continued.

Despite herself, Talia was curious.

"What are you suggesting?"

Varyn reached into his pocket and pulled out a small vial of clear liquid.

"This is a simple concoction. Harmless, really. Just enough to cause mild stomach cramps, perhaps some nausea. Nothing permanent."

Talia stared at the vial.

"You want to poison her?"

"Such a harsh word." Varyn set the vial on her desk. "Think of it as... an adjustment to the cast list. Starcaller falls ill, can’t perform. Professor Loralei is forced to recast her role. And who better to play Elara than someone who already knows all the lines? Someone who’s been watching rehearsals intently? Someone who has actual training in musical performance?"

"Liora," Talia whispered.

"Precisely." Varyn’s smile was triumphant. "She’s still a commoner, of course, but far more agreeable, wouldn’t you say? Imagine it, Princess. No more worrying about Starcaller’s fertility curse contaminating you. No more dealing with her inappropriate comments and her disgusting, leering looks."

Talia wasn’t on the same page, though. Rather, she was thinking:

[Liora acting alongside me?]

The thought sent a different kind of flutter through Talia’s chest. Their secret meetings were thrilling, but to perform together, in public, without anyone knowing the truth of their relationship...

"She wouldn’t agree to it," Talia said, though she wasn’t sure if she was trying to convince Varyn or herself. "Liora is too... honorable."

"She wouldn’t need to know." Varyn shrugged. "These things happen. Actors fall ill. Understudies step in. It’s the nature of the theater."

Talia looked at the vial again.

"And you’re certain it won’t cause any permanent harm?"

"Absolutely certain. Just enough discomfort to keep her in bed for a day or two. By the time she recovers, the play will be over, and everyone will have moved on to the next scandal."

It was tempting. So tempting.

No more Aegis Starcaller smirking at her. No more feeling those strange, unwelcome sparks when they touched. No more being reminded of what she’d seen in Starcaller’s room—her bent over the desk, Scarlett Lionheart pounding into her with that enormous cock.

Instead, it would be Liora’s lips she’d taste on stage. Liora’s body she’d hold in her arms during the final scene.

"Think about it," Varyn said, moving toward the door. "The vial is yours either way. Use it or don’t. But remember, Princess—this might be your only chance to salvage your reputation and make your mother proud."