Epilogue
KRANE - ONE YEAR LATER
My wife is as beautiful as ever.
Every year, I watched her grow more and more lovely. It seems impossible, yet after another year together, I can say that her beauty will never wane. She is kind and compassionate to the people of our land. She is a wicked and tempting lover to her duke.
She sits across from me in our dining room.
Her pale blue gown makes her eyes glow. Long, silvery blonde hair spills down her back.
The heart-shaped neckline of her dress highlights the swells of her breasts.
For some reason, they seem larger lately, and I’m not one to complain.
I watch her finish her meal, her goblet of wine untouched.
The image of her starving body will stay with me forever.
As I take in the fullness of her face, I fill with happiness.
Leaning back in her chair, a secretive smile curves her lips.
Mischief gleams in her eyes as she stares across from me.
The servants have been dismissed; I can tend to my wife's needs. We don’t have an extensive staff anyway.
My magic does most of what we need, and it’s best if not too many people see me.
I am not a human man. Scarlett and I have had enough rumors spread about us over the years that we don't need to add any more.
To the king’s credit, he doesn’t check on us very often. Last week was the first time he had stopped by in months. Once he was satisfied with how we were keeping the land, and even more pleased with the tithe we paid him, he was off.
I have no great love for the life of nobility. Taking care of our tenants and minimizing squabbles between farmers is tedious work. However, it is a small price to pay to keep Scarlett safe and happy. I would give anything to have her just as we are now.
I gave my soul to have another chance with her. Being a duke is nothing by comparison.
There are days when I still feel like that creature.
My monstrous nature has never truly gone away.
My need for my wife is a testament to that.
I take her roughly—our lovemaking is primal to the point I’ve burned countless bed linens and tablecloths.
We have dozens of replacements stored around Fog’s Nest Manor.
Additionally, I don’t believe the maids are persuaded by tales of faulty candle usage anymore.
My wife’s wicked grin stirs more heat to life inside me.
“What brings a smile to my darling wife’s face tonight?”
“You know why, husband.”
I have a few guesses. Especially when I can still feel her nail marks along my back and know she has my seed drying on her thighs.
She had a nice dinner prepared for us tonight, that’s why she insisted on dining formally.
If it were up to me, I would’ve brought the feast to our bedroom to be enjoyed between bouts of lovemaking.
My desire for her never wanes—I dare say it’s gotten worse over the past year.
Ever since I was a boy, I have admired her from afar.
The earl’s daughter with the shining hair and beautiful face.
The one who was quick to laugh at my childish jokes or sought me out with day-old bread when I had gone hungry from the night before.
I’ve loved her for as long as I can remember.
It shocks me that she feels the same. Her adoration burns as hotly for me as mine does for her.
There isn’t a day that passes that I’m not certain of our eternal love.
It hums between us during quiet moments like this.
Our bond is so intense sometimes I think I can see it dancing between us.
We rarely get visitors, and that suits me just fine.
I want my wife’s sole attention, especially on a day like today.
Our anniversary. Technically, our second wedding, but the only one to be made official by a priest. The two of us married on Samhain—an ode to the old gods who blessed our handfasting.
I had gifted Scarlett the sapphire necklace that decorates her delicate throat this evening.
It had brought a smile to her face, and I had enjoyed it even more when it was the only thing she left on while I bent her over our bed.
She had said she had my gift with her and she would bestow it on me tonight. I could hardly wait.
“You’re looking at me funny, my love.”
Her soft voice sends all the blood rushing to my cock.
It strains behind the lacings of my trousers, begging to find itself back in her tight pussy.
I roughly adjust myself below the table and take a sip from my wine glass.
Food tastes good again, but nothing will ever compare to Scarlett’s incomparable sweetness.
“How am I looking at you?”
“Like you want to devour me whole.”
“I do.”
Color engulfs her cheeks as she reaches for her water glass and takes a small sip. After a moment, she rises in a swirl of pale, blue silk. Her eyes burn me alive.
“You seem eager for your gift, husband. Let me prepare it for you.”
Scarlett rounds our dining table, trailing her fingers along the polished wood. Leaning down, I inhale her rose perfume and nearly come in my pants at the feel of her lips at my ear.
“Join me in our chambers in five minutes.”
Her lips graze my cheek, and then she is gone, slipping through the oak doors with a high-pitched giggle.
She loves to torment me, and I allow it.
She’s going to get it rough tonight—hell, she always does.
She loves the primal way I take her. I seek her out at all hours of the day to relieve this desire for her.
I would worry I was overstepping if she didn’t take me with the same fervor.
I’ve been inside her in every room of this manor home we built atop the ruins of her former home. We christened it in love to wash away the stains of the past. Every hateful memory is wiped away. Those who came before us are not welcome here—not even as ghosts.
Finally, the wall on the clock shows five minutes have passed, and I hastily rise and leave the room.
Portraits of Scarlett in various outfits and poses decorate the walls.
There are some paintings of us together and of the house, but they are few and far between.
This house is a testament to my devotion to her, and it is clear to all who enter who owns my heart.
Taking the steps two at a time, I rush down the carpeted hallway and burst into our bedroom.
My mouth goes dry at the sight of her. My seed threatens to spill without even a touch from her. Scarlett is a vision—too beautiful for words. Her eyes tell me she knows the effect she’s having on me, my wonderful, wicked wife.
Atop the satin sheets of our bed, she is surrounded by gauzy red fabric. It spreads out around her in a crimson cloud. The material is not thick enough to conceal her. I can see every lovely dip and curve of her body. Her hard nipples poke through the red, and I nearly fall to my knees.
“I thought you deserved to unwrap something today,” she purrs.
I nearly go out of my mind as I stumble towards her. She drifts up to me like an angel bestowing a dying man his final wish.
“You are my favorite thing.”
I quickly shuck off my boots, while her hands go to my overcoat. The silver buttons hit the wooden floor with a thunk. Scarlett’s warm palms slide up my sides under my undershirt, and I help her remove it. My pants go next, her breathing speeding up as my nakedness is revealed.
The proud length of my cock stands at attention. Milky seed beads at the tip and skim down the grooves along the side. Scarlett moans, and her thighs rub together. Crawling forward, she licks her lips before taking me in her hand.
Her tentative tongue snakes out to lick my seed from the tip.
I groan, my head falling back on my shoulders.
Scarlett licks me again while her fist pumps me roughly.
My hands fall to her head as she sucks my length deep.
Her tongue works me in and out of her hot mouth.
The perfect tightness of her throat encourages my climax, but I withstand her torture.
I’ve come all over Scarlett throughout the years—marking every inch of her—but tonight I have the desire to spill inside her pussy. However, that doesn’t mean I won’t allow my wife to have her fun, especially when her teeth graze my shaft.
“Fuck,” I snarl, gripping her hair. “You’re too good at this.”
“Thank you, husband,” she murmurs demurely around my cock.
She works me extra quickly. Fisting me over and over until my teeth snap together. I can smell the delicious scent of her pussy. I’ll need my tongue in their soon. Scarlett releases me with a pop. My seed mixes with her saliva and paints her gorgeous lips.
“Do you want to come in my mouth? Or on my tits?” She bats her thick lashes at me. “You can put it anywhere, Krane. Wherever you want.”
“Fuck, you’re trying to kill me.”
Her eyes turn innocent.
“I’m just trying to be a good wife for my husband. I want him to reward me with his come.”
My vision blurs around the edges as she sucks me deep again.
Her hand grazes my balls, and she gives me more teeth.
My hips move of their own accord, fucking myself down her throat.
Tears fall from her eyes as she chokes on my cock, sucking me harder.
Her sloppy moans around my cock are nearly my undoing.
Pleasure tingles along my spine, but I fight against it.
Releasing her hair, I pull out of her mouth and hook her under the arms. She gives a sound of protest, but I’m already wrestling with her covering. The fine fabric shreds in my hands. Her gasp is music to my ears.
“That was expensive,” she condemns.
“I’ll be you a hundred more. I need inside you. Now.”
She rolls her eyes, but slides her legs open wide.
Her glistening pussy calls to me. With her mouth on me, I’m crazed with lust. I need her deep.
Pulling her from the bed, her legs go around my waist. I pin her to the nearest wall and hook my hands under her ass.
Her arms go around my neck, and she holds on for dear life.
I thrust into her roughly, the first pump of my hips unmakes me.
Her pussy is so wet and tight. I don’t know how I’m going to last, but I will.
Her breasts pillow between us, and I take her lips in a bruising kiss.
She tastes of blackberry jam. Her moan is the only encouragement I need as I pull back and fuck her into the wall.
Our lower bodies slam together. The portraits along the walls rattle and shatter onto the floor. Scarlett screams into my mouth, her nails clawing at my back. We mark each other inside and out. She pulls my hair, makes me bleed, and I let my desire run rampant on her little cunt.
“Krane, I’m close,” she warns.
Her pussy begins to quiver around me. The punishing rhythm is heightened by my hand that finds her clit.
It only takes a few rough strokes for her to erupt.
She clenches down on me and soaks me with her sweet come.
I push deep, butting up against her womb, and emptying myself on a roar.
Seed spills from her little hole and soaks her thighs.
Scarlett’s eyes are dazed as I pull her from the wall.
Her quivering body tucks into mine. Her mouth is open against my birthmark, trying to get her breathing under control.
Our sweat-slick bodies slide together, basking in the moment.
When I’m inside her, we are truly one. The afterwards is almost as good, this feeling of our souls knitting together.
Once she has come down from her peak, she rolls back onto the bed, her fingers staying on my birthmark. Something dances in her eyes—an emotion I haven’t seen before.
“Do you want your gift now?”
I chuckle, taking her lips in a soft kiss.
“You’re spoiling me. That was more than enough.” I nip her throat. “Unless you want to let me fuck your ass again.”
Scarlett laughs, pink decorating her cheeks.
“Later,” she agrees.
“I don’t need anything else, Scar. You’re all I ever want.”
Her smile turns secretive once more as she takes my hand in hers.
“Well, unfortunately, the gift I got you can’t be returned.”
She settles my palm onto her soft stomach. Tears fill her blue eyes, and for the first time in my life, I don’t know what to say to Scarlett. My fingers tighten on her skin, my mouth falling open. Does she mean—surely not—she can’t be—
“Are you sure?” I ask.
“The doctors confirmed it for me today. We’re going to have a baby, Krane.”
A howl rumbles from me as I collect her to my chest. Our laughter is watery as we share gentle kisses. A baby, truly. A family between Scarlett and me was something I always dreamed of. When I had been cursed, I thought there was a chance I had lost that dream too.
How wrong I had been about so many things.
“Are you happy?” she asks.
I kiss her soundly.
“Scarlett, you and this babe, and however many more we should have, will make me the luckiest creature in the world.”
Kissing her again, I taste her salty tears.
“I love you, my sun.”
“I love you, my moon. Always.”
Everything we lived through brought us to this moment. All the longing—the pain and betrayals—none of it matters. When you find a love as consuming as mine and Scarlett’s, you fight for it until the end. The past was dark and full of demons, but our future is brighter than ever.
This will be a new adventure for us both, and I can’t wait to embark on it with her. Scarlett, the only girl I’ve ever loved. My wife. My soulmate. The one who’s loved me as a boy, as a monster, and as whatever I am now. Our love can withstand anything.
Even death.