CHAPTER 61: STAGE PRESENCE 11*

"Absolutely not!"

Duchess Evangeline Stone slammed her teacup onto its saucer with enough force to crack the delicate porcelain. Tea spilled over the edges, staining the crisp white tablecloth.

"I’ve made my decision," Talia said, back straight as a sword. "I’m performing in the play with the current cast."

"Have you lost your mind? That fertility-cursed commoner will have her lips on yours!"

"It’s called acting, Mother."

"It’s called disgrace!"

The duchess’s personal quarters at Rosevale Academy were lavish by any standard. Plush carpets, gilded mirrors, a four-poster bed larger than most student dormitories.

But right now, all of it just felt suffocating.

"House Stone has maintained its dignity for centuries," Evangeline continued, pacing in front of the window. "And you would throw it away for what? A school performance?"

"For my commitment," Talia countered. "For my word. Which you taught me was sacrosanct."

Her mother froze.

"Don’t you dare use my lessons against me."

"I’m using them exactly as intended."

Talia remained seated, her breakfast untouched.

She’d known this conversation was coming after yesterday’s confrontation in the Headmistress’s office. Her mother never let anything go, especially not a public defiance.

"Do you have any idea what people will say?" Evangeline’s voice dropped dangerously low. "What your father will say when he hears about this?"

"That I’m honoring a commitment? That I refuse to be intimidated by a commoner?"

"They’ll say you’ve been bewitched. That you’ve fallen under that creature’s spell like so many others."

"The only spell I’m under is the one you cast, Mother. The one that says a Stone never backs down."

The duchess stared at her daughter, yellow eyes burning with fury.

"You will regret this."

"Perhaps." Talia stood, gathering her books. "But I’ll regret breaking my word more."

Without waiting for a response, she strode from the room. Her hands shook slightly as she closed the door behind her.

[That was either very brave or very stupid.]

But she’d made her decision.

The play would continue. And she would show everyone, especially that smug Aegis Starcaller, that a Stone couldn’t be rattled by something as trivial as a stage kiss.

No matter how annoyance flared at the mere thought.

---

Talia’s knuckles rapped sharply on Aegis’s door.

Her morning classes had been a blur. Strategic Thinking had dragged on endlessly as Professor Alberic discussed battle formations that Talia could recite in her sleep. She’d barely taken notes, her mind fixed on the confrontation to come.

The door swung open to reveal Lune, Aegis’s roommate. The dark-haired girl blinked in surprise.

"Princess Stone."

"Is Starcaller here?"

Lune stepped aside, revealing Aegis sprawled across her bed with a book. She looked up, her perpetual smirk spreading across her face when she spotted Talia.

"Well, well. To what do I owe the honor, Your Highness?"

"We need to talk." Talia glanced at Lune. "Alone."

Lune gathered her sketchbook without comment, slipping past Talia with a bow so shallow it bordered on insulting.

[Who even is that girl?]

When the door closed, Talia remained standing, refusing to sit anywhere in this commoner’s domain.

"I assume you understand what happened."

"You mean your mom storming the castle to save you from my corrupting influence?" Aegis set her book aside. "Yeah, I was there, remember? Front row seat to the whole show."

"This isn’t a joke, Starcaller."

"Never said it was." Aegis sat up, her smile fading. "So what now? You’ve defied mommy dearest to keep me in the play. Why?"

Talia crossed her arms.

"Because I refuse to let you or anyone else dictate my actions. I committed to this production, and I will see it through. Even if it means..." She grimaced. "Even if it means enduring your touch."

"Wow. You really know how to make a girl feel special."

"Save it." Talia’s jaw tightened. "We need to rehearse. The love scene, specifically. I won’t have our first attempt be on stage in front of the entire academy."

Aegis’s eyebrows shot up.

"You want private lessons in kissing? I’m flattered."

"This isn’t—" Talia closed her eyes, counted to three. "This is professional. Clinical. We will practice until it looks convincing without being... excessive."

"And when did you want this clinical practice session to occur?"

"Tonight. Eight o’clock. Here."

"Here? In my humble commoner quarters? I’m surprised you’re willing to slum it."

"Just be ready." Talia turned to leave, then paused. "And Starcaller? If you breathe a word of this to anyone, I’ll burn your eyebrows off."

Aegis gave a mock salute.

"Your wish is my command, Princess."

Talia slammed the door behind her.

---

The music room was empty at this hour, most students either in class or enjoying the afternoon sun in the gardens. Talia slipped inside, locking the door behind her.

Liora was already waiting, perched on the piano bench with sheet music spread before her.

"I was beginning to think you weren’t coming," she said without looking up.

"Mother insisted on a lengthy breakfast conversation about my poor life choices."

"The play?"

"What else?"

Talia dropped onto the bench beside Liora, their shoulders touching. The simple contact sent warmth spreading through her chest.

Liora finally looked up, blue eyes concerned.

"Was it awful?"

"Standard Stone intimidation tactics. Nothing I haven’t weathered before." Talia traced a finger along the piano keys without pressing them. "She thinks I’ve lost my mind."

"Because of Aegis?"

"Because I refuse to back down."

Liora’s fingers found Talia’s, intertwining them on the bench between them.

"I’m proud of you."

Talia turned, finding Liora’s face inches from her own.

"Don’t be. I’m doing it for selfish reasons."

"Still pretty brave."

Talia leaned forward, brushing her lips against Liora’s. The contact was electric, sending sparks through her veins.

"I have to rehearse with her tonight," she murmured against Liora’s mouth. "The kiss scene."

Liora pulled back slightly.

"Oh."

[What’s with that reaction?]

"It’s just acting."

"I know." Liora’s smile didn’t reach her eyes. "You’re going to be wonderful."

Talia caught Liora’s face between her hands.

"... We’re doing too much talking, for my taste."

Instead of answering with something quippy back, Liora surged forward, capturing Talia’s mouth in a fierce kiss. Her hands tangled in Talia’s hair, pulling her closer until they were pressed together on the narrow bench.

Talia groaned quietly, deepening the kiss. Her hands found Liora’s waist, then slid lower to cup her ass through her uniform skirt. She squeezed, drawing a gasp from the blonde that Talia took advantage of, sending her tongue deeper.

"Talia..."

"I need you." The words emerged as a growl. "Now."

Liora stood, dragging Talia with her toward the back of the music room where practice cushions were stacked against the wall. They fell onto them in a tangle of limbs and hastily removed clothing.

Liora’s tits bounced free as Talia uncovered them. Talia’s mouth found Liora’s neck, sucking hard enough to leave marks while her hands pushed up the blonde’s skirt. Liora arched beneath her, moaning as Talia’s fingers slipped past her underwear to find her already wet.

"So eager," Talia whispered, sliding two fingers inside. "Is this all for me?"

Liora just gasped, hips bucking.

[That’s right, that’s right,] Talia thought. [All that business with my mother, everything about Starcaller... None of it matters right now.]

Talia worked Liora’s pussy with her fingers in a rhythm that had Liora writhing, her thumb circling her clit. She knew exactly how to touch her now, knew every spot that made Liora’s breath catch, her back arch, her voice rise in pitch.

"More," Liora begged, and Talia obliged, adding a third finger, stretching her wider.

The sight of Liora, perfect, sweet Liora, coming undone beneath her was intoxicating.

Her blonde curls spread across the cushions, lips parted in pleasure, eyes half-closed and dreamy.

Talia lowered her head, capturing a nipple between her teeth while her fingers continued their relentless pace.

It didn’t take long after that.

Liora came with a cry that she tried to muffle against her arm, her inner walls clenching rhythmically around Talia’s fingers.

[That’s right,] Talia said again. [I’m fine.]

---

Exactly at eight o’clock, Talia knocked on Aegis’s door again.

She’d spent the afternoon in a daze, her body still humming from Liora’s touch, her mind focused on the task ahead. Professional. Clinical. Nothing more than necessary to make the performance convincing.

The door swung open.

The first thing Talia registered was the smell. Sweat and something muskier, a scent that triggered her instincts to flee. The second was the sound. Rhythmic slapping and muffled groans.

The third was the sight that burned itself into her retinas.

Aegis bent over the desk, completely naked, her face contorted in pleasure. Behind her, equally naked, was Scarlett Lionheart, her muscular body glistening with sweat as she thrust into Aegis with her enormous cock.

Aegis’s own cock bounced with each hump. Scarlett’s cock slid in and out of Aegis’s cunt at such a quick pace that it almost ached to watch.

Talia’s jaw dropped.

Aegis’s eyes widened as she spotted Talia in the doorway.

They froze, with Scarlett’s cock buried so deep in Aegis’s pussy that Talia swore she could see a bump on Aegis’s womb.

"Oh! Um, Princess... could you give us a few minutes?"

The question was so casual, so matter-of-fact, as if Talia had interrupted them studying rather than... this.

Smirking, Scarlett Lionheart went right back to it. She didn’t even slow her pace, her hands gripping Aegis’s hips as she continued to pound into her.

"Oh, fuck... right there," Aegis gasped as her face turned lewd, like all her attention was instantly brought back to the massive dick hammering away at her insides.

Talia stood frozen, unable to tear her eyes away from the scene before her. Her face burned hot enough to melt steel.

"I’ll... I’ll come back later," she finally stammered, backing away.

Talia slammed the door shut and fled down the corridor, her heart pounding in her ears.

[What the fuck what the fuck what the fuck...]