The world bent and breathed to the whims of Magda Ivanova. Who would have thought it? The girl who’d been nearly been smothered by the lecherous desires of her father, the woman who’d been maligned at court as nothing but a harlot and a temptress. She was those things, but so much more. A sweet, beautiful flower, but one with venomous properties if one came too close. And the men of Coheed were starting to discover just how sweet she was.

Aldrich would be allowed entry. When he arrived, he’d find Magda in her office, draped in a chair with two warriors of Coheed standing behind her.

“You may leave us,” Magda said, waving a dismissive hand at them, eyes not leaving Aldrich. They obeyed. As they left and shut the door behind them, Magda stood and drifted toward the Sergeant. She would be even more intoxicating than his memories or dreams could conjure.

“Sergeant Abbot…I’d hoped you’d come find me.”

Magda’s smile faltered, the memory of the horror she had brought upon herself surging like a nauseous tide before receding once again. A hardness rose behind her eyes as if to steel herself against any guilt, any confliction she might have about the sin she’d committed. For it was a sin, certainly.

She’d look like she was about to cry, if only for a moment. Magda wasn’t above a bit of a show, and so she’d decided to put on a spot of one now. Intended for an audience of one. “Coheed has its harsh edges,” Magda whispered, very close to Aldrich at this point, “But I’m determined to smooth them out. The crown may not have faith in my commitment to the task, even after—after what’s happened. But I’m determined to prove them wrong. We can. Together.” She smiled up at Aldrich, here in the privacy of her office, willing to be very close.

Magda smiled with wide-eyed gratitude. Since she was a girl, it had been her sole purpose to be attuned to the needs of men. To understand their desires and become the subject of it. Before, it had brought her weakness, but now? Power. Magda reached out and stroked Aldrich’s cheek, running her fingers down it in a slow caress.

“I fear my husband will no longer desire me,” Magda said breathily, “Men of Coheed are not like men of Nevermere. They seek conquest, to own, to possess. They don’t understand…Not like you do…” Lies and the truth were seamless and interchangeable on Magda’s tongue. All that mattered was the end result, that she got what she wanted—damn the consequences for those who got in the way.

“And do you, Sergeant Abbott?” Magda purred, hand flush against his cheek and turning his face so that his eyes looked directly into hers, “Do you desire me?”

Though she knew the answer. Of course, she did.

Magda laughed, her low chuckle sounding more like the purr of a predator. Her fingers brushed down his cheek, down his neck until it came to rest on his chest. For a moment, it looked as if she were about to kiss him. Her lips were close, so painfully close to his before she gently pushed him back, stepping to her desk.

“Then we will accomplish much together, Sergeant Abbott. I will see that it is so,” Magda said through her dazzling grin as she sat behind her desk, straight to business as if nothing out of the ordinary had occurred, “I know you have been working closely with Kaalim Cyrilson to see Coheedsmen and women are well-integrated within the troops positioned here. I would like to take a more active role in overseeing their progress as well. I shall plan to join you at the training yard more regularly. Perhaps in your office, you can educate me on the finer points of…military preparedness.”

Magda’s eyes lingered on Abbott. Likely it was clear there was a second offer within that one.

“A crèche …” Magda considered the possibility, a wicked thought taking root in her mind, “Yes, that would do nicely. Surely there are a few women of Coheed and Nevereman witches that could care for them. Perhaps even give some children schooling while their mothers are not there to oversee them. Teach them our ways.” Magda grinned.

“You’ve done well, Sergeant. Let me know how I can assist you in seeing this through.”

Magda grinned, eyes hungrily looking at Aldrich as if he were a tasty morsel to be consumed.

“I look forward to being impressed,” Magda purred, crossing her legs so that her skirt slipped to the side and her bare tan skin was exposed to the rays of the Coheedian sun filtering in through the window.