Sorry for the delay in today's update. I am currently experiencing burnout and have struggled to complete tasks since yesterday.
Aetherion launched himself high into the air, rapidly becoming a dark speck against the ominous gray clouds that mirrored his foul, thunderous mood.Not far away, Grandma Eva’s spies and Zavian's most elite, hand-picked guards had watched in awe and reverence as their King transformed into his majestic beast. He was beyond… magnificent.They instantly dropped to one knee and bowed their heads low in respect to the second Aetherion's true draconic form emerged.Luca felt a shiver of unease trickle down his spine as the dragon King took to the skies. He knew all too well that this level of towering fury could only herald imminent disaster and chaos.He had recently uncovered disturbing leads about the treacherous activities Yuna had been carrying out behind everyone's backs, and it was nothing short of a miracle that Zavian hadn't simply snapped her slender neck on the spot in his blinding rage once he inevitably discovered the truth.Luca immediately opened his mind, establishing a secu
Luca quickly snatched up another robe to wrap around himself before hurrying after Zavian, who had already turned and started striding with grim purpose toward the immense central building where the high council's meeting was taking place.A hush fell over the courtyard as Zavian passed, every person dropping to one knee and bowing their heads in utter respect and deference for their king whose eyes blazed with an intensity that seemed to scorch the very air around him.Zavian did not so much as spare a glance at his subjects as he stalked by, Luca scurrying to keep up with his master's long strides.When they reached the council hall's towering double doors, two hulking warriors pushed them open, and Zavian swept inside with all the elegance and majesty befitting his noble bloodline.The cavernous chamber fell utterly silent as his eyes turned toward the dais where the high council was seated."Your Majesty!" The gathered lords and ladies rose as one in a reverent chorus of respect fo
A momentary, deafening silence blanketed the grand hall as all eyes turned to Grandma Eva in shock and disbelief. Never in their wildest dreams could they have imagined the revered queen mother to be...an abomination."By the gods, what trickery is this?" an elder exclaimed, breaking the stunned hush."She has betrayed us all by practicing foul sorcery!" another council member cried out accusingly.Murmurs quickly escalated into a rumbling cacophony of outrage and disbelief."How could the queen mother practice the forbidden dark arts?""She has consorted with demons! She has defiled our sacred bloodlines!"Luca swiftly used the brief moment of distraction to whisk away the insolent Thomas Bardot before the irate Zavian lost control and killed him. He grabbed the man in a blur of supernatural speed and vanished from the hall.Eva gritted her teeth in annoyance at Zavian for forcing her to expose this long-guarded part of her true nature. Her icy glare could have frozen even the most ha
It's been four days since Emmeline went back to Richard.Today was Saturday.Emmeline donned her new white top and black shorts athletic set that had arrived the previous day. She'd ordered the workout gear online since she rarely had time to go shopping.Pulling on an autumn jacket, she headed for the gym.She was mid-stride on the treadmill when a familiar figure got on the one beside her with his expression unreadable."I thought you'd given up working out," Zavian remarked coolly. "I don't see you at the club much these days."Emmeline glanced around before pointing at herself. "Are you talking to me? You actually know who I am?"Zavian’s upper lip raised in clear exasperation. "Don't be childish now, Emmeline."He tapped the controls, gradually increasing his speed until settling into a brisk pace. The effort of running lent a breathless quality to his deep voice. "We're neighbors across the street, we go to the same gym and pub. We're bound to keep running into each other whethe
Zavian remained stubbornly mute until they reached a deserted hallway. Then he slammed her back against the wall, his solid chest caging her in."I can see your fucking ass, Emmeline," he growled right in her face, eyes blazing with undisguised jealousy and possessiveness. "Do you want every man here hitting on you?"Emmeline held Zavian's gaze with unwavering bravery. His left hand was clamped around her wrist like a vise, while his right fist remained rock-steady against the wall beside her head from the force of his earlier punch."By what right do you get to police what I wear, Mr. Blackthorn?" Her tone dripped with defiance.Zavian’s jaw tensed until the cords of muscle protruded starkly. Rage caused his grip on her wrist to tighten viciously, but she refused to wilt before him."You're not in any position to criticize me, no matter how scantily I might dress." Emmeline lifted her chin a stubborn notch. "This is my personal freedom, and I don't appreciate strangers meddling in my
The past two weeks had been absolute torture for Emmeline. Sheer, agonizing torment.Zavian had kept his damn word, staying completely out of her life since that day she'd told him to let her move on.She didn't understand what prompted his uncharacteristic bout of actually listening to her wishes for once. Part of her was impressed he'd had the willpower, but mostly Emmeline felt a constant aching longing for him.Whenever a car passed by her house, she'd drop whatever she was doing and rush to the window, desperately hoping it might be him only to be disappointed time and again. It was pathetic, really, how obsessed she'd become with catching even the briefest glimpse of him.Emmeline always made sure to scan the crowds at the club whenever she went there for her usual workout, frantically searching for his familiar face and tall, powerful frame to no avail. The only time she managed to spot him was when he paused to chat with Taehyung outside his home across the street.It was 2 a.
Emmeline woke up the next morning feeling refreshed like a weight had been lifted off her shoulders.She had fallen into a deep, blissful slumber on the library sofa – the first decent rest she'd had in two torturous weeks of tossing and turning with her mind plagued by thoughts of a certain infuriatingly handsome man.As the fog of sleep cleared, she recalled the previous night's events – the phone call, the heated words exchanged, the promises made. But she quickly dismissed it as nothing more than an alcohol-induced delusion, a fleeting moment of weakness that held no real weight in the harsh light of day.After going through her usual quick morning routine, she headed to work, wearing a crisp black shirt tucked into a flirty brown skirt, with Zavian's jacket. It was a subconscious move, one she didn't fully understand herself, but the familiar scent that still clung to the fabric was comforting.Richard had left for work early, and Emmeline was grateful to avoid another confrontati
Their gazes clashed like flint on steel. "Who would dare interfere between a man and his wife?"Emmeline's breath hitched at the possessive way that word - wife - rolled off his tongue. "I'm not your wife!" she bit out, anger and confusion swirling through her like a riptide. "I'm just a passing fling in your life."She made a bid for freedom, but he was too fast, shoving her back against the console and pinning her there with his hips."I'm not letting you leave, now that I've got you back." Zavian declared before burying his face in the crook of her neck with his breath fanning across her skin. "Appreciate the effort I went through to get you here for our appointment. If I were like other men, I would've replaced you by now. But you're irreplaceable - that's why I came after you."His words melted the little woman’s resistance and she stopped squirming.Zavian gently stroked her waist. "Forgive me, Emmeline." He murmured.Although his plea made Emmeline want to give in, she pretended
"Who was that guy who snuck out the back door of your house two days ago?" Minnie suddenly asked pointedly.Emmeline's eyes widened in shock. She forgot how to breathe for a moment, feeling trapped by Minnie's question.She knew Minnie must be referring to Zavian - who else would have been leaving through her back door like that?Emmeline hadn't prepared herself to face a confrontation like this, so she was unable to find a convincing excuse right away.After a charged pause, she smiled nervously. "And who else could it have been other than Richard, my husband?"She refrained from looking directly at Minnie, afraid of what she might see in her friend's eyes."I can give you more than one reason why that guy couldn't have been Richard," Minnie replied in a confident, assured tone.Emmeline's arms were resting on top of her stomach, and she couldn't control the trembling in them as Minnie started ticking off her reasons on her fingers."Firstly, your husband arrived home just a short ti
A few days passed in a blink.Minnie texted Emmeline asking for accompany to the facial care center the following day.Emmeline didn't hesitate to accept the invitation because her skin was in a terrible state, giving her an irreplaceable opportunity for some pampering.The doorbell rang after lunch the next day. Emmeline swiftly opened it, knowing who her guest was.Minnie was wearing a short gray knit dress under her brown wool coat, while Emmeline had on fitted jeans and an olive green peacoat."Right on schedule, Minnie," she said cheerfully.Minnie always hugged her whenever they met. But this time, she just stared at Emmeline's face intently as though the latter suddenly grew two horns.Emmeline wiped her cheeks self-consciously. "Why are you staring at me? Is there something on my face?"Minnie snapped out of her daze and shook her head quickly. "Oh no, I was just thinking about the kitchen faucet and whether I turned it off."Emmeline didn’t think much of her friend’s behavi
Emmeline felt her blood turn to ice, the pulsating waves of the washing machine beneath her suddenly lost their allure as the reality of Richard's return hit her.Her eyes darted to Zavian, who maintained an unnerving calm."Shit, Richard's home. What should we do?" she whispered with panic.Zavian's expression shifted. His usual devilish charm was now laced with a dark intent that Emmeline had come to recognize as his plotting look."Fasten your seatbelts, we'll complete the euphoria trip spoiled by his return!" he declared with a mischievous grin.Emmeline's chest swelled with air. "Have you lost your mind, sir? My husband has come home! What if he comes looking for me?" she muttered in disbelief. However, Zavian ignored her protest.He resumed expertly teasing her breasts.Emmeline fined his touch both soothing and infuriating under the circumstances."I doubt he will come to the laundry room. Until then, I’ll drown you in ecstasy. The excitement is beyond thrilling. The feeling of
Zavian had already slipped away when Emmeline woke up a while later.A tray of food sat on the table, covered with foil to keep it warm.She approached cautiously, lifted the foil and inhaled deeply. The rich aroma of tomato sauce and garlic filled her senses."The smell alone is enough to make my mouth water," she murmured appreciatively.Her gaze landed on a folded note propped against the plate.Emmeline snatched it up with a fluttering heart."I didn't want to wake you while you slept so peacefully. There’s some pasta for you - just heat it up if it's gone cold. -Z"A girlish giggle escaped Emmeline at the thoughtful gesture.She pressed the note to her nose, trying to catch his lingering scent on the paper as warmth blossomed in her chest. That this powerful, imposing man would take such simple care of her needs..."That man captivates me more each day," she sighed, tracing the note with a fingertip.Despite her lack of appetite lately, Emmeline found herself devouring every bite
Zavian winked at her before he dipped his head to capture her lips in a scorching kiss that robbed the breath from her lungs.She melted into the passionate embrace, her body tingling with desire as his tongue teased against her lips, demanding entry.Emmeline parted her lips with a soft moan, allowing his skilled tongue to delve inside and engage hers in a sensual dance.His large hands slid down her back to pull her flush against his hard body as the kiss deepened, growing more heated and intense.Emmeline gazed up at him with half-lidded eyes and was breathless when they finally broke apart.“Delicious as always,” Zavian commented wickedly, placing two bags in her palm. "I heard women crave snacks during their period, so I brought you bags of chips, feminine stuff and chocolate," he responded.Emmeline looked at the first bag in astonishment, seeing numerous brightly colored bags of potato chips inside in a wide array of flavors. Then she blushed furiously at the numerous branded pa
~The next morning~Emmeline woke up feeling a bit under the weather, with some uncomfortable cramps signaling her monthly visitor was on its way. Ah, the joys of womanhood!As if that wasn't enough, her entire body ached as though a truck had plowed into her - no doubt the result of all the passionate smooching Zavian had lavished on her the previous night aboard his yacht.A ghost of a satisfied smile curved her lips at the delicious memories. Their heated embraces, his skilled mouth blazing a path of sin across her bare skin, the way he'd worshipped every inch of her body with fervent devotion...Emmeline shivered, warmth pooling low in her belly despite the cramps. Last night had been nothing short of heavenly debauchery.She'd barely slept a wink, too consumed by visions of her devilishly handsome lover and the sinful acts they'd indulged in together.Richard, the oblivious fool, hadn't even batted an eye when she arrived home well past midnight yet again. He simply grunted his usu
Zavian wasted no time driving straight to his private estate located on the outskirts of the sleepy town of Riverwalk after making sure Emmeline arrived home safely."Double the security detail," he instructed one of his trusted men through the mind link tersely. "Keep a low profile for now. "You got it, boss. The lady's security is locked down tight," came the quick mental reply.Zavian had handpicked five of his most elite and loyal shadow guards to keep a watchful eye on Emmeline while Luca was busy with other important matters. No way was he taking any chances with her safety.As Zavian's sleek ride pulled up to the circular driveway, he spotted the men in crisp black suits and earpieces standing at stiff attention like statues lining the whole thing.They all snapped to attention the second Zavian climbed out of the driver's seat, giving a respectful deep bow of their heads."Welcome back, sir!" They chorused like one voice, showing their utmost respect for the man whose power an
Zavian’s eyebrows shot up in surprise as if she'd asked something completely unexpected from a married woman like herself. "You really don't know?" He questioned incredulously."I..." She began but faltered under his intense gaze, lowering her eyes bashfully."It's because men and women are built differently. Women can orgasm multiple times during one round due to quicker recovery time." He explained, gently stroking her cheek and studying Emmeline intently as she absorbed the information. "Therefore, it's crucial for a man to maintain an erection for a long time. Premature ejaculation can be quite frustrating for women because it denies them satisfaction."Emmeline listened with rapt attention, her eyes wide with newfound knowledge. "I didn't know our bodies were so complex," she confessed.Zavian chuckled softly, his hand absentmindedly stroking her hair. "You're hard to please even in bed," he teased.She playfully punched him in the chest, giggling lightly. "If you want good servic
Emmeline was on the precipice of a delicious surrender, her fingers dancing across her femininity with a feverish tempo.Her middle digit fluttered left and right, creating an intoxicating rhythm that echoed through her body. As she pleasured herself, her other hand was busy exploring Zavian's turgid manhood, sliding up and down his length in a frenzy of desire."I'm...I'm so close," she breathed out. The sensation was so intense that it cut off her voice mid-sentence and sent ripples of pleasure coursing through her body."I want to watch you climax, but I can't keep my eyes open. It feels like I'm soaring to cloud nine."Zavian groaned at the effort of holding back his own pleasure, his breath hitched and ragged."Seeing you like this," he continued after a beat, "Touching yourself for me for the first time...it's like observing an exquisite piece of art that demands admiration." His voice was thick with arousal as he watched Emmeline writhe on the bed before him.Her soft whimpers e