#but worthwhile

He smiled. “Almost,” he repeated.

A smile crept over Mora as he kissed her thigh, her hand sliding into his hair and she would bite her lip softly as she pulled on his roots with a gentle tug. "What additions? I did not know you were making more buildings? "What is this for? Anything special?”

He moaned softly when she tugged and he grinned widely. “I’m always making more of everything, my Doll.”

His moan made her neck turn slightly, a cool shiver running down her. She hummed and nodded. "That you do..." She almost laughed because of how true that was and it was resting on her lap. “Well?”

He raised an eyebrow. “What does it matter to you? Why the sudden interest?” However, his smile never wavered. He caressed her thigh and began to shift to rise off the floor.

She pulled on one of his ears as her hands slid away from his head. "I am always interested in your interests, In the interest of the kingdom. Isn’t that what a Queen should be?” She watched him stand. Looking over the length of his body, she would shift on the throne, eyeing him like she might eat him.

“Hmm, maybe.” He cupped her chin as he leaned in toward her. “Do you want to see it?” Sarinna was heard sighing and her papers were slammed down.

She giggled and started to nod as he leaned in her hands couldn't keep from him as she kissed his lips but pulled abruptly away as the sound of Sarinna disturbed her moment with him. Mora would glare Sarinna's way and then look back to her king "I do my love."

“Come then, my Doll.” He straightened and extended his hand out to her to help her get up.

Mora would get up awkwardly even with her King's help, off balance and even more so apparent as to why when she stood up, her belly was taking up a considerable amount of her and it was clearly a hindrance on her small frame.

They walked to the door and Sarinna followed them without a word. The day was calm and while they lived in a cool region of the land, there were signs of spring here as well. “The apple trees are flourishing. Something about the soil, the Flea said.” 

They walked to the left of the home, hungry Ratz staring at them noiselessly. Mora held her King's hand as he led her out of the house and into the Kingdom, with passing glances to the Ratz as walked by. She looked to where the orchard was and smiled, "Look at that, even the apples bare fruit to appease the King …" she would tease, but as she thought more about it, she would look back up at him. " I want to get some apples…" she said as if to ask him to make it so, squeezing his hand with gentle want.

There was a group of trees planted at the entrance to a small path that led to a small cottage. It was quaint and cozy. While it was not decorated, there was room to improve it. There were two rooms, a bathroom, and a small kitchen.

Mora stopped and look over the trees that lined the small walkway to the cottage, her brows furrowed slightly as she started to walk forward and pull on his arm to look. Walking up to the cottage, she would start to smile, not wanting to assume anything, but it was perfect, and it was close. Her heart started to beat fast and it felt as if it were rising in her chest.

"What is this? Who is this..for?” she asked before her hands pushed on the door and opened it to step in. The house was the perfect size for her, or at least she would not have to duck like Sarinna would.  Mora let go of his hand and start to look through the rooms with her interest bubbling over in cute sighs.

“There’s a hidden room in this room here,” the King said as he showed Mora around. He seemed rather thrilled to tell her that part. “It can be locked.” He chuckled randomly but it faded. Sarinna has to hunch slightly as she stood in the cottage, her silver eyes looking around as the King spoke.

She stopped before her King as he told her there was a hidden room “Where…and why?” She watched him to show her.  “Why is this here?” she asked coming up close to him again and standing on her tiptoes to wrap her arms around his neck. "Tell me who it's for.”

The King smiled as he saw her react to the home. Of course, he had to make it impossible for her. “It’s for my new lover,” he said with a smirk, looking away momentarily to simply add fuel to the fire. Sarinna smirked and was eager to get out of there considering there wasn’t any furniture for her to sit on. “Do you think he’ll like it?”

Mora's smiled faded.”Who?" and she seemed deadly serious. “Bring. Him. Let’s find out,” she glared and suddenly wanted to leave.

His hands clapped together and King laughed loudly. “As wondrous as that may have been to see, sadly it is not. There is no one.” He walked back to Mora. “It is yours.” Sarinna glanced at  Mora, her smirk fading rather quickly. She couldn’t stand her for a moment. She couldn’t stand that she was getting a home, to stay, the King. Her hand curled into a fist, but she said nothing.

She gave a stubborn look back to him, a pout firmly in place, not liking how he teased her, but it was hard to hold a frown like that with he was giving her what she wanted. Her arms slid around his waist but the tummy kept her from getting as close to him as she wanted "It is mine..." she had to stop from getting overly excited as she eyes him "Here..you did this..for me?"

“The Flea insisted on sending you to Silvermoon, but I know how you get with your stupid little tantrums. Instead, you’re still here, but you’ll have protection from my Ratz and the Flea can shield it, and you’re not far from home.” He shrugged and paced about the home. “It’s not done in the sense that we still need to get your things in here, but once you do, you can do what you want with it. The secret room is for you to hide in if we have another invasion. It’s…Sarinna, explain it.”

Sarinna looked at Mora and then to the room which contained the secret room. “It’s reinforced with steel so that if we do get attacked and it reaches the cottage, once the protection is down, and so is the house, you will be safe.”

The King smiled at Sarinna and turned to look at the room. “Or if you’ve been extremely naughty and need to be taught a lesson,” he said, his eyes shifting to Mora. “Either way, only I have access to unlocking it. Once you lock it, only I can open it.”

"Do you know how I get?" she teased him but he was right, She wouldn't mention his tantrums, she knew exactly how he got when she was not around. "We love it my King!” she smiled and reached up for him to kiss her. "I have a few things I can put in place to keep it safe as well.” She was smiling brightly as she looked around the room again and then to the area where the secret room was. Her eyes looked from her king to Sarinna now as she explained it. 

She focused on the way Sarinna spoke, turning to look the room over again as she said it would be the only place safest if they were attacked again, her king's words slightly catching her off guard as Mora had stopped smiling up until that point. She understood the gravity of what was being done. For her, and for him. 

Mora pushed him some, or tried to, she mostly fell outta balance and leaned on him smiling and giggling some. The thought of having to use it sounded scary. What if they were inside and he never came back? “Promise me, Melaeth,” she hugged him close so that she whispered to just him, “that you will always be there to unlock it then.” She wanted promises that defied death, but she knew if anyone could give that to her, it was the Rat King.

“I promise,” he said softly, looking down at her. He smiled for a brief moment before turning away. “Whenever you want to start moving in, just say so. The Flea can probably do something to make it soundproof or something.” He shrugged.

"Sound-proofing would be nice, I think he should.." she would hug him tightly coming back to his arms when she had looked around again. "It is perfect my only” She smiled and nodded with her hand still keeping one of his even as he turned away. "I would like to have it ready before it's time. So..I want to stay in the main house until then while this one is being set up." She would tug on his hand. “Sooooo, that means I can go shopping, nnn?" She smiled again and started looking over the house again, taking mental notes of what she wanted and where. 

He chuckled at the mention of shopping. “Yes, go ahead. Get whatever you want. The Flea and Sarinna will go with you.”

Sarinna’s eyes widened. “My King, I have things to do here…”

“And you can continue doing those things when you come back. I need someone to make sure she doesn’t spend all of our funds.” He looked at Mora and smiled. “I spoil you too much.” He reached to kiss her, his hand gently on her belly.

Mora laughed some and clapped her hands quickly very clearly pleased with her King. "You spoil me, " she whispered hanging on his arm. "I will admit to nothing ever again" she smiled up at him as he leaned down to kiss her, a soft thankful kiss placed back to him. Her hand gently slid across her belly to where his was and only a pointer finger would touch and rub sweetly over his thumb. She loved him. Mora looked back to Sarinna with her smile fading and her brows narrowing some. She was very aware of the eyerolls and heavy sighs 

“Yes, I want Sarinna to go with me. You are always right, my only. I will only spend most of it,” she looked up and smiled at her King again.

The King stared at Mora a bit longer, the tender smile still in place before he clapped his hands and turned. “Get going then. I need Sarinna back.” He walked to Sarinna who looked up at him. “Control the budget. I’m sure I don’t have to tell you this.” He reached to kiss her lips and walked out the door. Sarinna turned to give Mora a hardened look, and she called out for the King at the door. Was she so desperate to speak? The King stopped and turned to look at Sarinna. 

Sarinna seemed to hesitate and she exhaled. It was not time. Not yet. “Rabbit has….he has food.” The King smiled and walked in the kitchen’s direction. Sarinna lowered her head and stormed out of the cottage, making her way to the main home.