As Lotor and Ayli descended the staircase, Lotor barely took notice of the fact that almost everyone in the room had stopped their activities and were bowing as he and his sister passed. His reputation always preceded him, and he was used to the attention. He was scanning the room for a suitable dance partner and possible suitor for Ayli. He was sure she didn't want to dance with her brother the whole time at her first ball. He saw a young man leaning against a pillar. The man looked harmless enough and as Lotor strode over he said, "I am Prince Lotor of Kyldare and this is Princess Ayli. I have matters to attend to, and my sister wishes to dance. Will you oblige me by being her partner?" Ayli was embarrassed by the fuss and blushed deeply, but she was also pleased by Lotor's choice, for the man he had chosen was very handsome. The young man blushed as well and stammered as he answered the prince, for he knew exactly whom was speaking to him. "Of course, your highness, I would be most pleased!" the young man managed.

"Good, and I expect you will treat my sister with respect," the prince declared, giving the young man a dark, knowing look.

"Of course, my lord. There is no question of it," the young man said. Lotor handed Ayli over to the man with a quick warning to behave and stay near.

As soon as the dark prince was free, several ladies surrounded him clamoring for his attention and a dance. He was a highly sought after husband. Lotor noticed Allura just then and remarked quietly to himself, "That woman looks very familiar. I could almost swear it was Allura. But she would not attend a function such as this." He waved the others aside and went to ask the mysterious woman for a dance. Allura saw Lotor walking toward her and thought he had seen through her disguise. She quickly realized it was not so when he stopped in front of her and extended his hand.

"May I have this dance?" he asked. She took his hand and he led her to the dance floor. The sea of bodies parted, and soon they were at the center of the dancers. The melody was beautiful and slow, and they waltzed for a long time among the others without speaking. Allura's heart was beating fast and she felt flushed. She had forgotten how good it felt to be in his arms. The scene in the garden flashed through her mind again. She was also surprised at what a good dancer Lotor was. She should have suspected that combat strategies and swordplay were not the only thing a proper prince learned. Lotor held the mysterious woman close and wondered again if this could be his princess. The hair was different, but she seemed so familiar, and she seemed to know him. He had to know!

"You have not told me your name, my dear, " he informed her.

"Al....., Alana!" Allura stammered, catching herself just in time.

It WAS Allura! He was certain as soon as he heard her voice and her slip up with the name. He wished to get her alone and discuss why she was there. Lotor scrutinized her through her mask again. "Alana, why don't you accompany me to the viewing area on top of the castle? I wish to see the lands," Lotor suggested.
When they reached the top of the castle, and Lotor saw they were alone he took off his horned mask, turned to Allura and said, "Allura, I know it's you! Did you think you could disguise yourself from me? Take off your mask and that wig! I would know you if I were blind, so long have I loved you," he told her passionately. "Do I dare hope you've finally accepted your feelings for me?"

Allura lowered her mask and stated, "I've come here to ask you, no, to IMPLORE you to mend your ways. I will not insult your intelligence by denying that I have any feelings, but they are secondary to my duty to my world. You must stop your evil!" Allura declared, her voice firm and serious.
Lotor turned away and shook his head, "Always your WORLD! Why can't you think of yourself for once? You deny yourself happiness at every turn! Sometimes I believe you hide behind your duty to your world! You are afraid of what you feel and cling to what is safe. Have you come all this way just to ask me to spare your planet?" Lotor asked. When he turned around his golden eyes were bright and angry. When will you stop denying yourself? I'm growing impatient!" he shouted, raising his arms to the heavens as in supplication.

Allura frowned and stepped closer, "The enslaving of people for your own selfish benefit is wrong! People should not be slaves! They should be free! I want to know you better, but you must change!" she cried. Things were not going as she had planned at all.

"No, you don't want to know ME! You said yourself you want to CHANGE me. Why can't you try to understand and love me as I am. Everyone makes sacrifices and gives up a little of themselves for those they love. I can do that for you, but you must give up some of your precious HONOR for me! I can't be the whitewashed man you want. In my own defense, you rule a planet, not because you're a good person, but because you were born to it. Would you give up the power you have and live as everyone else, or offer your people a chance to pick a leader? No, I think you wouldn't. I was born a prince, and I intend to rule. The planets I take are ruled by kings. They're not truly free as you would suggest. Can't you try to understand the way I see things?"

Allura was growing more and more upset. She had thought he would immediately accept what she said and give up his ways. "Lotor, what you do is evil! The people under your rule are unhappy! Don't you see that? she said, trying to make him understand.

Lotor took her hand and pulled her closer. They were only inches away and he caressed her cheek with one hand. "GOOD men deny evil things and suffer for it. To be evil is to be free of the constraints honorable men shackle themselves with. I live for myself and am, by rights, a happier man than they, " he boasted.

"You are not completely evil!" Allura cried frantically. "I sense good in you and you do things that betray your proud words here! You lie to me and yourself when you say you want to be evil! Allura's voice broke on the last words and tears began spilling over her cheeks. If Lotor continued his wicked ways, she would be forced to hate him, and she loathed the very idea.

Lotor's face softened at the sight of her tears, and he brushed them away with his hand. He hadn't meant to make her cry. "I can't believe you're here, and I have chosen to argue politics with you. I should be kissing you instead. Ayli wishes my break from immoral acts and I have grown weary of my present existence. Perhaps, a change would do me good. We will figure out a way to come to terms," he told her softly.
Lotor pulled Allura closer and took her chin in his hand. He brushed her lips lightly with his and then gazed into her eyes searching for a response. What he saw in her eyes was unbridled passion and something more. He had dared to dream of her love before, but now it was truly there in her eyes. He wrapped his powerful arms around her waist and kissed her eagerly.
Allura felt a strong surge of emotion rush through her. Lotor loved her and she was sure they could find a ground both of them could stand on. Her mind turned from her thoughts to the growing sensations in her body. Lotor's kisses were long and slow, and she felt like she was on fire. His kisses left her light-headed and breathless. She never wanted him to stop. She returned his kisses ardently and ran her fingers though his silken hair. She ached with desire and gasped with delight when he lowered his head to kiss the hollow of her neck. When he ran a fingertip along the edge of her bodice she knew he could feel her heart pounding in her breast. He continued to explore her mouth with his and her body with his hands. She wanted to be as near to him as possible.
Lotor moaned with surprise and pleasure when she began to run her hands along his muscular frame and slipped her hand between the fastenings on his shirt. Allura was ready to give herself to him, now. She brushed her hips against his. He pulled back from her suddenly and asked, his voice thick with desire, "Are you sure! I want you to be happy, and I can wait for you!" Lotor couldn't believe he was actually giving Allura a chance to reconsider, but he loved her and he meant what he said. Allura took his head in her hands and pulled him to her for a long kiss, suffused with heat. When they broke she whispered in his ear, "I'm sure! I want you and only you! We can work anything out. I'm sure of it now."
They turned toward the stairs to go, his arms around her shoulders, hers around his waist, when five masked men raced toward them, weapons drawn. Lotor reached for his sword, but it was too late. They had anticipated this and shots rang out. Allura screamed in terror. The laser shots found their mark and Lotor crumpled to the ground. Allura leaned over to help him when she felt a laser blast hit her side. She tried to stop her fall, but her body would not respond. She stared up into the sky, and the world went black.

Chapter Sixteen & Seventeen
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