**** Pain was the first thing that welcomed her back. Her eyes weakly blinked and then set apart only to see darkness engulfing her. She dragged a breath with all her strength. She tried to move but winced when her back throbbed like someone poured acid. It was excruciating and nerve-shattering. A tear left her eyes as she whimpered before flipping to the other side of an assumed bed. Her wails broke when her back rubbed against the sheet’s fabric, slicing her cells with stabbing pain. More tears trailed down. Her hand speedily lifted to reach her back out of pain, her fingers brushed the rough patches that were ingrained on her skin. She hissed and immediately dropped her hand. That’s when she noticed her hands were untied, she brought them under her gaze and realised she could see them. Her eyes widened in surprise, she thought she had become accustomed to darkness before noticing a light coming from behind her.She turned her head and found the lantern on the table. Her mouth inh
11- the calm before the storm -The mask of deception veiled all the venom from Zebian’s face as he strode toward the royal chamber with his concubine. He was holding her cold hand, Arlet walked beside him like a lifeless toy. The terror of his words still skirted on her face till they reached outside the dining hall. Zebian halted a step before the doorpost and turned to her. His cold expressions sucked all the courage that was knitting up within her. “A word about last night and your region is gone, keep that in mind before you feel courageous to speak.” He lazily laid his finger on her chin and drag her face to meet his cold eyes."Understood?" He said, impassive. Arlet gulped and nodded halfheartedly. “Good. Now, put on a big blushing bride smile and let everyone know my concubine had a wonderful night,” Zebian teased with an evil smirk. Despite feeling a whirlwind of hatred for him, she failed to be the defender of her self-respect. Zebian put a hand behind her back and enter
Her hands quickly came to hold his shoulder for support as she limped while he greedily lapped on her lips. The fire of agony abated a little. Renai was numbed by his sudden action and somewhere so was he. A part of his subconscious made him do that. He didn’t remember how he used to write in his journal about kissing her the second they would reunite, but his subconscious reflexed. His hands fell on her love-handles as he smashed his mouth more into hers. Renai, who was already lacking oxygen, opened her mouth which was intruded by his warm tongue. For a second, everything faded off for him. Every night of agony, every day of pain that ripped him, every second of cruel loneliness and every devastating flashback that numbed his ability to love someone other than her.At this moment, all he knew was that she was here and he couldn’t be enough grateful for it.He madly sucked on her tongue before roaming his own around her cavity. His eyes were closed. Too hazy to remain in his senses
12He grabbed her wrists with one of his hands and pinned them above her head. The V-neckline that graced an eye-cooling view of the valley of her breasts scooted aside, making her right boob to peek out. A paper-fabric in the name of a dress wasn’t hiding her curves much. A man like him could see right through the thousand layers of fabric, yet it was a see-through fabric. Zebian’s eyes followed those two lumps that were puffing out, secretly begging to be held. The beads of her nipple sneaking out teased the massive monster in his pants. Enough fuelled by her repelling words and her fascinating beauty, he leaned closer toward her collarbone only to be stopped a few centimetres away, his breath that fell on her skin as he exhaled deeply caused goosebumps to erect in its wake. Renai let out a heavy breath as his mere action prompted her carnal senses to arouse. Zebian glanced up and found her chin wobbling. A smirk crossed his lips. Without waiting, He bent and gently attached his
His muscular body planked down on her delicate frame. He spat on his hand and rubbed his saliva on her thigh before putting that hand to hold her waist. Renai fearfully put her hands on his shoulder as she waited for his next move with bated breath and a blank mind. His massive length adjusted between her upper-thighs as he began rubbing it over there. Renai dug her nails around the brooch. He ground his hard member in an imposing manner. The giant hot muscle pumped against her skin like an iron rod. His eyes closed as he parted from her neck only to groan over the firing sensations that were turning him into a lunatic. A desperate lunatic for her. “Feel it...Feel how every inch of my body desperately craves for you…oh…” He put a kiss on the gifted purple patch. Another forceful thrust against her bare thigh. “…Only you, rose,” He pecked lovingly along with massaging the lips of her tight hole for a few seconds before shoving a digit inside her. All alarms switched to alert mode as
13The slap had stunned both of them. Renai breathed heavily as she processed what her hand had done in a fit of haste and exasperation. She couldn’t keep it to herself. Her eyes welled up as she begged him for something she wasn’t quite sure of by shaking her head.“I..am..just leave me alone, I don’t want this,” She tried to push him off her but he was too fixated in his position. For the moment, she had forgotten this man was a king, not her friend anymore. Renai snivelled. She was never supposed to be under him again. She wasn’t a whore like his father’s sword of honour said. But what made a tear drop from her eyes was the fact he had also called her ‘whore’ during the pleasures of the flesh.Zebian stared at her without betraying any ounce of emotion. Instead of hurting her for slapping him, he was stunned to his spot. His gaze was set on her. As if his world had ceased and only she was left before him. As if she would disappear in the air if he even dare to bat an eyelash. The t
Renai balled up her fists, embarrassment and a desperate urge to get away from him hit her with full force. Before mustering up the courage to threaten him, she squawked which he ignored. “It hurts, please," She wiggled. "Get away or I will scream,” He replied to her by increasing his lips' pace against her skin, sucking up the leaking blood from her spinal cord, adding to her distress. "I will scream!" She shouted as a forewarning. Renai knew even if she would shout, no one would even lay an ear to her pleadings. He was the king. They will turn deaf to her cries before defying the king. She tried to come up with something else and started thrashing her elbows that hit his chest but he remained unaffected like a mountain. She kept flying her arms and elbows, hitting him several times but no outcome in her favour. “Leave me,” She longed a cry. He hummed in a breathy no against her skin. Renai grimaced in disgust. “You have become a monster,” she gritted. He reached her right sho
14Renai wiggled in his hold applying every iota of the strength in her. Though nothing seemed efficacious as the giant man hadn’t even moved a budge. His lips were tugged into a smile as he amusingly watched his woman fight against his hold while he drew circles on her clit. She seldom squeezed her eyes in an attempt to fight off the butterflies that were balling in her stomach. Zebian’s smirk widened when she tried to close her legs to stop him but he shoved a finger in her narrow hole as a compliment. She helplessly shook her head and grimaced uglily, but that only made her look the most beautiful woman in his eyes. She was an enchantress no matter how badly he wanted to deny it and believe otherwise. She was the only medicine to his ill-heart. “Ah..please, your majesty…don’t…d..do…this…le…let..me.g…” He curled his finger inside her before she could word out properly. Her face bore a grimace that satisfied her harasser. He sped his digit while hitting her scared spot, sprouting a
******All the royal children were present in the hall. The hall was echoing with chirping voices. Little birds were spread everywhere until the king and queen’s arrival was announced. The boys back-stepped on the left and the girls took to the right lane. Zebian and Renai treaded between them and took to the stage. They settled on their respective thrones. The instructors rushed close to the stage and bowed. Zebian nodded and permitted the class to begin. They explained the moves and coordination to the children and showed how to combine the steps. After that, they paired the couple. Zenia was paired with Aurelio and that happened on the king’s order. He wasn’t unaware of her daughter’s interest in his sword of honour’s son.Lucian glanced at Zebian and smirked. Zebian smirked back and watched the pair stepping closer. The instructor told Aurelio to place his hand on her waist and grab her hand. Zenia put her hand on his shoulder and began swaying along to the music. She was deeply
Stepping inside the hall, the announcer proclaimed their arrival and both of the kids stood from their seats in respect. Rebian, who turned fifteen last month, was on the right side of the table along with his sister. Zenia will turn ten next week. The youngest one watched her parents advancing close with blurry vision. She wiped her tears with the back of her hands and dashed toward them. Zebian stepped faster and kneeled with his arms open. Zenia hurriedly slammed into his chest and hugged him tightly. He lifted her in his arms and stroked the back of her head. Her soft muffling caught him cooing. “I missed you so much, papa,” She mumbled against his neck and wept. Zebian smiled and closed his eyes. “Papa missed his angel too. Now, why are you crying?” He asked as a tear smeared over his skin. He tried to pull her face away but he snuggled into him and shook her head. “You didn’t come to meet me last night,” Zenia grumbled. Renai smiled and watched Zebian grin. “I thought you w
Bonus Chapter “Oh…oh…oh..ss…s…stop it, you are…t…tickling m…” Renai held his head and tried to pull it away but her husband was keen on sucking her neck while tickling her belly with his unforgiving cold fingers. The queen was erratically wobbling underneath him and he was chuckling against her skin, making it more hard for her. Zebian undid his lips and pasted a mischievous smirk before glancing down at his artwork. It was raging bright and purple sitting on the side of her neck. He was proud of every mark he owned on her body. “Will you ignore me again?” He aligned himself outside her entrance and gritted contemptuously. The mushroom tip was massaging her clit. Renai bit her lip to press her smile and nodded her head, doing hard to keep an offensive frown on her forehead. Zebian lifted his brows and stared at her in amusement. “Are you sure, my queen?” He leaned closer to her face and locked her gaze with his stern one. “If it comes to our children, I shall be ignoring you f
Sleep came to him after two weeks. After bending fate in his favour, he finally had her sleeping in his arms. His eyelashes fluttered as he woke up to her sight. Her soft petals slightly parted, her nose twinkling in pink hues. She was breathing peacefully as if she knew she was safe and protected. His heart drummed quietly against her left shoulder as he brought the back of his fingers to trace the outer-rim of her jaw. He keenly swirled his route down to her chin, grazing it with his thumb. As if her body acknowledged his touch, her lips got closed. He softly smiled and danced his hand all the way down to her stomach, underneath the duvet. He placed his hand on the bare surface and drew circles on it. She was only wearing gauze on her shoulder, the rest was her skin. Closing his eyes, he imagined caressing their baby. How much he dreaded losing him when she was injured by the arrow. That time he thought he would lose everything. Him, her. Every single hope to live.His heart walls
******Renai was being taken to the king’s chamber which was also hers now. Her chambermaids had dressed her in a black nightie and a gown concealing her beauty. “Her Grace, the Queen,” the announcer said. It felt oddly good to the queen as the doors opened for her. The king who was no other than her husband was gazing out with his hands tugged back. He was wearing a silk black gown like her. She stepped inside and the door shut behind her. Her gaze fell on the envelopes. Was he planning to tease her again? She wondered.He turned around. “My queen,” He stepped toward her and curtsied. Renai smiled amusingly. “You may rise,” “With all pleasure,” He straightened, both of them grinned.“You are holding something?” She mentioned. “Your wedding gift,” He presented it to her. She frowned. Wedding gift? Was it really a wedding gift in an envelope?She took it from his hands and took note of his reaction. “Open it,” He jutted his chin. She inhaled deeply and opened it. It was a paper
*****She squeezed the nosegay in her hands. Her palms were sweaty and she was slightly shivering in nervousness. She lifted her anxious eyes and glanced at the children dressed in royal suits and gowns ahead of her. They would escort her to the altar where she was going to marry the most powerful man in the world; who also happened to be her childhood best friend. Then why was she feeling so nervous? She didn’t know it herself. “My lady, it’s time,” Evelyn put a hand on her arm. Renai glanced at her with tears filling her eyes. She didn’t know why she was feeling mawkish. This was the biggest day of her life, it was supposed to make her happy. “This is the last time we are calling her ‘my lady’,” Cora piped in. Renai chuckled out of the blue and a tear tripped down as she closed her eyes. Evelyn smiled warmly and pulled her in a sisterly hug. “He will love you with his life,” Evelyn whispered in her ear.“You think so?” Renai whispered back.“I believe so, we all have seen in hi
Three Months LaterRenai detached the baby’s mouth from her nipple. His tiny lip formed a pout as he rubbed the back of his fist over his right eye. She purred seeing his little move. Her eyes admired his round, chubby sleepy face as he perfectly snuggled in her embrace. She brought her fingers and moved his fist down before bringing them to his cheek and lightly grazing his skin to the chin. The baby sighed in peacefully, coaxing a smile on his mother’s lip. She leaned down and placed two pecks on his cheeks, settling him on the mattress after that. She shielded his body by stuffing pillows around him as she had to leave him to take a bath. A chambermaid would be here to take care of him but she still chose to keep them for the safer side.Renai stood straight and was about to turn around when she heard the indistinct voices swinging from afar, coming through the window. It was early morning but she had been hearing these voices since last night. She smiled and thought to glance out
Renai had seen Zenner killing people. She first saw it when he was taking her to Calmia on Gordian’s—Bancroft’s Sword of Honour—command. She woke up in a carriage after she passed out in her house, looking around she discovered she was not in Sebria anymore. They stopped in a market. A few minutes later, she heard a commotion, she glanced outside the window and saw Zenner stabbing an old man for not giving him the apples on the rate he demanded. It was her first time witnessing a murder. She never recovered from it. Neither had she the courage to see people getting butchered by him. She also didn’t want him to hurt Zebian. King or not, Zenner was close to him. He could have easily killed him. “He said if I told you anything, he would behead you and your people would turn up against you. I didn’t want that, I never want you to get hurt,” Renai flitted her misted gaze at him and snivelled. Zebian was over the moon. His insides were dancing in happiness. The effect her words had on him
She was staring at his face as he blew air on the hot soup. His eyes were swollen and he looked exhausted. Of course, the war and fighting had tired him out. Her heart was filled with pity for him. He lifted his lashes to her mouth as he fed her. “You c..cried?” She asked, gulping the brew. His eyes flicked to her eyes. If only he could tell how many sleepless nights he had spent beside her, praying for her, feeling dreadful whenever he thought she would give up on him. If only he could sob in her lap and tell her how powerless he felt in all these days of misery.“Did you make it?” She asked him to change the topic as he was only staring at her face, it was making her feel awkward. A soft smile crossed his lips as he forwarded the spoon. “Who else could make it with such fine perfection, my beautiful?” He sneered, keeping his gaze on her sparkless orbs that still held the whole world for him. She looked self-conscious. A small bubble of wrinkle sat between her brows.“I’m not beau