a/n: this was originally getting really long and i didn't know how to finish it so i just kinda split it in two sorry T_T

i have about another 800 words but those words aren't vibing with me so have this :D

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The council room rang eerily silent. Clearly, those already in attendance had been briefed previous to Lotor's entrance, but he supposed (or had heard from others) that saying it only made it more real, to them. And reality could be painful, sometimes.

An attempt on the Princess' life? Unlike the others, Lotor did not question who would do such a thing - he would not find it strange, after all, how far or deep betrayal could run. He would not be surprised if he found out what another version of him did, once, twice, a thousand times.

"Have you reviewed the security footage?" asked Honerva, breaking the suffocating stillness with her sharp voice. Lotor stared into the mirrored panel on the other side of the room.

"That's the thing," Gyrgan said, flicking one of his ears at the sound of either Honerva's voice or his own, Lotor couldn't tell. "There's nothing to be seen."

"It's like the attacker is invisible to the cameras," clarified Blaytz, and Trigel nodded.

"We can see their action's effects, but not their source. See," she said, pulling up a hologram which glowed bright in the dim red lighting, "here, claw-marks appear on the wall, dragging downwards." Like they were gripping the wall, taking a deep breath. Preparing to do what most in this place would consider unspeakable. "Emperor Zarkon was fortunate enough to have been passing by, however, and according to him our assassin fled once he foiled their first attempt," All turned to Zarkon at once, who sat as if deep in thought.

"I did not get a good look at them, but I found them standing over the Princess' cot." At this, he gestured to Allura, who was cradled asleep in her father's arms. Alfor's hair hung loose out of it's ponytail and into his face, which contorted in concern - he kept tucking it behind his pointed ears, only for it to fall back. "I caught their arm as they were about to strike, then they fled."

Lotor twined his tail around the armrest of his chair subconsciously, then bit back a yell as he rested his elbow on top of it, crushing the end (luckily, no-one seemed to notice.)

"I think we may be able to retrieve some samples to find out who it was," said Alfor, who appeared to have been defeated by his errant hair and was now rubbing the back of his neck with his hands. "If we can just get to the site."

"Is that wise, given the chance that an assassin may still be roaming the castle?"

"We have some of the greatest warriors here within this room - the Paladins of Voltron. I do believe we will be well-protected." asserted Honerva.

"Stay alert, and keep your weapons in hand. We shall go."

The stench inside the room was sickening, and apart from Blaytz (whose species had no nasal receptors) everyone subtly covered their noses with their hands or clothing. Oozing some black viscous liquid from the claw marks scarring their surfaces, the walls seemed to weep, like fluid from an infected, festering wound. Lotor dug his claws into the palms of his hands, new cuts joining the old scars there, tail flicking behind him. Honerva gathered some of the liquid into a small vial, seemingly indifferent. Muted whispers passed between those in attendance

"We'll have to double the guard..."

"Allura will stay with Melenor and I in our chambers..."

And then:

"What about Lotor?" Of course, it was a logical question. As the heir to the Galra throne, Lotor could also be a potential target.

Any words he would have said were ripped out of his mouth. The familiar paranoia, you're just like your mother and he knew that they meant well but it couldn't comfort him when he found himself looking over his shoulder the way he did, as if expecting the shadows to meet his gaze with violet and gold- "I'll watch him."

Later, out of mere politeness, nobody would ask about the growing shadows under his eyes.

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