23. Chapter 22
Chapter 22
D aed’s hands drift lower, fingers grazing the curve of my hips as we continue to sway. My breath catches in my throat, and every nerve in my body lights up in response to his touch. His fingers press gently, exploring the line of my waist, teasing the edge of my dress as though testing how much further he can go.
I can feel my pulse quickening, heat building beneath my skin, and I tilt my head back slightly, the cool night air kissing the exposed flesh of my neck. His lips brush my temple, soft as a whisper, sending a shiver racing down my spine. My body reacts without my consent, leaning into him, drawn to the fire between us that grows with each passing second.
The sounds of Orios and Solena laughing fade, but their presence lingers in the distant, haunting moans that rise from the garden. I try not to listen, try not to imagine what they’re doing beneath the moon, but the berries, the moonlight, and Daed’s wandering hands make it impossible to think of anything else.
His breath is warm against my ear, his lips hovering so close I can feel their ghosting touch.
“Amara,” he murmurs, his voice dark and thick with intent.
His hand drifts further, fingers sliding down the curve of my back, brushing the sensitive skin just beneath my ribs, his grip firm but still testing, still exploring. I close my eyes, a soft gasp escaping my lips as he pulls me tighter against him, the line of his body pressed flush against mine. His other hand—still holding mine—relaxes, letting our fingers slip free, only to trail along my arm, lingering at my wrist before skimming up to my shoulder.
My skin hums where he touches, the warmth of his hand spreading like wildfire. Every inch of me feels alive, attuned to his every movement, and though my mind tells me to pull away, my body betrays me, leaning closer, wanting more. His hand finds the bare skin of my shoulder, brushing against the hollow of my collarbone before sliding down to the curve of my chest. My breath stutters, caught in my throat as he cups me through the fabric, his thumb grazing the peak of my breast in a slow, deliberate motion.
I know I should say something, stop him before it goes too far, but the sensation is too much, too intoxicating. I bite down on my lip, my heart racing as a wave of desire crashes over me, the heat in my body reaching a fever pitch. His hands—strong, sure, possessive—are everywhere, and I find myself arching into his touch, a soft moan escaping my lips before I can stop it.
His lips brush my ear, and the sound of his voice sends a tremor through me. "Do you want me to stop?" he asks, his breath hot against my skin.
I can’t think. I can’t answer.
In the distance, I hear Solena’s soft cries, followed by Orios’ low, guttural moans, and my mind spins in a haze of moonlight and lust. My body is screaming at me to let go, to give in to the primal pull that’s tugging me closer to Daed, but something deeper holds me back—something I can’t quite place.
His fingers press harder, more insistent, and I draw in a shaky breath, my mind battling the sensations that flood my body.
The moon above us seems to pulse, like a heartbeat that beats in time with mine.
Daed's lips graze the shell of my ear, his breath warm and heavy. “I wonder…” he murmurs, his voice a low, seductive growl. “What would you look like wearing only moonlight?”
The words send a shiver through me, but not the kind I’ve come to enjoy. His question, the one he asked me in Baev'kalath, feels wrong here—under this moon, under its control. My body may be begging for him, but my mind revolts. This isn’t real. This isn’t us.
I pull away from him, the spell of the moonlight shattering like glass. “No,” I whisper, my voice barely audible, but he hears it. “I don’t want this… not like this.”
Daed's hand lingers, fingers tracing my arm, his eyes confused and clouded with desire. “Amara…”
“I don’t want the moon to decide how we feel about each other,” I choke out, my heart pounding as I break free from his hold completely, stumbling back. The ground feels unstable beneath my feet, the effects of the berries making the world spin.
His eyes darken with frustration, his voice low and dangerous. “What do you mean?”
“I can’t… I won’t be a prisoner to the moon, to this… this madness.” My head spins as I take another step back, and I turn on my heel, running from him before I can think twice.
“Amara, stop!” Daed’s voice chases me through the night, but I don’t stop. I can’t stop. The garden, the moon, his touch—they all blur into one overwhelming force, and I need to escape it all. I need to get away from him before I lose myself to this twisted magic.
I run toward the castle, my bare feet pounding against the stone path as I make for the staircase leading to my chambers. My pulse throbs in my ears, and I can hear Daed’s heavy footfalls close behind me, his voice calling my name, but I don’t turn back. My only thought is to get away.
I reach my room and throw myself inside, slamming the door behind me with a loud crash. My chest heaves as I fumble for the lock, my hands shaking from the dizzying effect of the berries. I twist it into place just as Daed’s hand pounds on the door.
“Amara, let me in,” he demands, his voice low and firm, but I can hear the restraint in it.
“Go away!” I shout, pressing my back against the door as if my body can reinforce the lock.
There’s a heavy pause on the other side, his breathing hard against the wood. “Amara…” His voice is softer now, almost pleading, but I’m too dizzy, too lost in the confusion to give in.
I sink to the floor, my head swimming as I clutch the fabric of my dress, the cool stone beneath me doing little to ground me. The warmth of the moon, the magic in those cursed berries—it all swirls inside me like a storm, threatening to consume my will.
Outside, Daed stands still, his hand pressed against the door, waiting for an answer. But I don’t give one. All I can do is sit in silence, trying to hold on to whatever part of myself hasn’t been taken by the moonlight.
I wake where I last remember—curled up on the cold stone floor of my chambers, the remnants of the berries’ intoxicating power still lingering in my veins. It’s the early hours of the morning, the Lover’s Eye still high in the sky, casting its full glow through the windows and across the room. The moon’s light feels too bright, too intimate, like it knows all my secrets, like it has been watching me all night.
I sit up, rubbing my eyes, feeling weary and weak. My body aches, but beneath the heaviness, there’s something else—a slow, simmering desire that refuses to fade. It stirs in the pit of my stomach, reminding me of the way Daed touched me, how his hands had explored my skin with such hunger, how I had wanted him in a way that scared me.
I crave him still, despite the clarity that has returned to me. I’m not sure if it's the berries, the moon, or simply him, but the need to be desired, to be wanted, pulls at me like a tide I can’t resist. My whole life has been spent putting others first, bending to duty and obligation at the expense of my own happiness. But Daed—Daed is the only one who makes me feel something just for myself. And as much as he terrifies me, as much as his power and cruelty frightens me, I cannot deny that I feel more alive when I am with him than I have ever felt before.
I rise to my feet, unsteady but determined. The castle is eerily quiet, only the sound of my bare feet padding softly against the stone as I leave my chambers. The moonlight follows me, pale and soft, casting long shadows across the halls as I move. I don’t know exactly where I’m going, but my feet seem to know the way.
I need to see him.
When I reach his door, I pause, gathering myself, trying to calm the whirlwind of emotions swirling inside me. I should turn back. I should leave him alone. But I can’t. Not now.
I push open the door quietly, stepping inside. The room is dim, shadows dancing in the corners, but the balcony doors are wide open, and standing there, shirtless and bathed in the moonlight, is Daed. His broad back is turned to me, his black runes catching the moon’s glow, making him look like a figure carved from shadow and stone.
My breath catches in my throat, and I stand frozen, watching him. His body is tense, as if even in the stillness of the night, he cannot rest. I see the muscles in his back shift as he moves slightly, his hands gripping the balcony railing as he stares out at the sea, lost in thought.
I take a step forward, my fingers brushing the doorframe for support. He hears me, his head turning just enough for me to catch the edge of his profile, his jaw clenched, his eyes still fixed on the horizon.
“Amara,” he says softly, his voice low and rough, like he’s been waiting for me.
I swallow, my throat dry, the sound of his voice sending shivers through me. I want to say something, anything, but the words won’t come. Instead, I take another step forward, the cool night air from the balcony brushing against my skin as I move closer to him. He steps away from the balcony, closing the distance between us. The sight of him, shirtless, his pants low on his hips, bathed in the light of the Lover’s Eye, is more intoxicating than any wine or berry.
“Why are you here?” he asks, his voice quiet but intense, his gray eyes searching mine.
“You know why,” I say, meeting his gaze, stopping short of telling him how desperate I am to feel his touch again.
“You shouldn’t be here,” he says coldly. “Go back to your room, wife.”
I can feel the heat rising in my chest, a swell of anger and frustration that I can’t keep in anymore. My hands ball into fists at my sides, the rejection tightening in my throat like a noose.
“Why do you keep doing this?” I shout, my voice echoing in the night. “You pull me in, make me feel like there’s something real between us, and then you just—reject me! Over and over again!”
Daed flinches, but remains silent, which makes my fury boil hotter.
“Was it the moon? Tell me, Daed,” I demand, my voice trembling with hurt and fury. “Do you even want me? Or is this all just some twisted game to you?”
His jaw clenches so tight I can see the muscle ticking beneath his skin. But his eyes—his eyes burn with something dangerous, something he’s trying desperately to hold back.
“Amara,” he starts, his voice low, gravelly, like he’s forcing the words out. “You don’t understand—”
“No!” I cut him off, stepping closer, daring him to look me in the eye. “I’m done with excuses! I need to know. Do you want me or not?”
He stares at me, his stormy eyes swirling with so many emotions it almost knocks the breath out of me. His chest heaves, and I can see him struggling, wrestling with whatever storm is brewing inside him. For a moment, I think he’s going to push me away again, that I’ll have to endure the sting of his rejection one more time.
But then, something snaps.
“I have never wanted anything more in my life,” he says, the words ripping out of him like a confession. His voice cracks, raw with emotion. “You consume my every thought, Amara. I can’t sleep, I can’t breathe without thinking of you. You—” His voice falters, and he takes a step toward me, the intensity of his gaze pinning me in place. “You are maddening. The very thought of you drives me to the edge, every damn moment.”
But in the same breath, I feel him pull back, and that’s when I decide I’m done with the games.
With a swift motion, I pull at the ties of my dress, and it falls to the floor, leaving me standing there bare beneath the Lover’s Eye.
“This is what I look like wearing nothing but moonlight,” I say, daring him to turn away now.
His eyes darken, his breath hitching as he takes me in, the struggle in him clear as day. But this time, it’s not enough. He can’t resist. Not anymore.
And neither can I.
Gently, I reach up, my fingers brushing his cheek. His skin is hot beneath my touch, his breath hitching as I cup his face. He leans into my hand, his eyes squeezing shut like he’s holding on to the last shred of his willpower.
“I will ruin you,” he mutters.
“Daed,” I whisper, my thumb stroking along his sharp cheekbone. “You could never ruin me.”
His breath comes in shallow, uneven gasps, and I drag my fingers slowly, softly, across his lips. His eyes flutter open, and he exhales into my palm, his breath warm against my skin. For a moment, it feels like time stands still, like the world outside the balcony fades away, leaving just the two of us. The moonlight washes over him, painting his skin in silver, and I swear I can feel his pulse racing beneath my touch.
His lips tremble against my fingertips, and for a heartbeat, he doesn’t move. But then, so slowly it’s agonizing, he kisses my hand. It’s soft, tentative, as though he’s afraid the slightest motion will shatter this fragile moment between us.
I let my hand fall to his jaw, guiding him, pulling his face closer, until there’s nothing left between us but the space of a breath.
He looks at me, his gaze tortured, his fingers trembling as he lifts his hand to cover mine. “Amara…” His voice is barely a whisper now, full of desperation, full of everything he’s held back.
“Shh…” I murmur, my lips hovering just inches from his. “This is where I ask you to take me, husband.”
I pull him down to me, our foreheads brushing, and I can feel the tension, the agony in him as he fights one last time to hold himself back. But then his resolve breaks, and his lips meet mine.
It’s soft at first—so soft, like he’s afraid to fully give in. But when I press into him, it’s as though a dam bursts inside him, and all that bottled-up passion, all the longing he’s been fighting, floods out. He kisses me with a hunger that steals the breath from my lungs, his hand slipping to my waist, pulling me closer until there’s no space left between us.
It’s not just a kiss. It’s a breaking, a surrender. A moment where everything we’ve kept buried comes rushing to the surface.
And I kiss him back with everything I have, with every ounce of emotion I’ve kept hidden. His lips are warm, and soft, and they taste like all the things we’ve never said, all the moments we’ve been too afraid to take.
For the first time, it feels like the world is right. Like this—us—is right.
Tears prick at the corners of my eyes, but I don’t let them fall. Instead, I lose myself in him—in the way his mouth moves against mine, in the way his hands tighten around me, holding me like I’m something precious, something he’s afraid to lose.
His hands roam my body with more certainty now, as if he’s finally stopped holding back, and each touch sends shockwaves through me. I feel the roughness of his palms, the warmth of his skin, like every part of him is claiming me, marking me.
I’ve never been touched like this before—never been this close to anyone. My whole life, I’ve been sheltered, my body untouched, my heart guarded. But here, with him, all those walls are crumbling. Every part of me is exposed, vulnerable, and yet I feel safe, anchored in his strength.
I let my hands wander over his chest, my fingers brushing across the black runes. The ridges of the marks pulse beneath my touch, and the sensation makes me shudder, the intensity of it all washing over me like a tidal wave. His body is so strong, so sure, and yet the way he touches me is so tender, so careful.
His lips press harder against mine, deepening the kiss, and I respond instinctively, my body arching into him as a soft gasp escapes me. My fingers drift lower, down his torso, feeling the taut muscles ripple beneath his skin, and I can’t help the soft moan that escapes me as his hands begin to explore more.
His fingers trail down my sides, tracing the curve of my hips, and suddenly, I feel his touch lower. My heart races, and I freeze for a moment, nerves mixing with the overwhelming heat between us.
Daed must sense it, because he pulls back slightly, his breath hot against my lips as he rests his forehead against mine. “Amara,” he murmurs, his voice low and rough, like he’s holding himself back.
But I don’t want him to hold back. Not anymore.
“I want this,” I whisper, my voice barely audible, but I know he hears me. His fingers tighten around my naked waist, his breath hitching, and I feel his body tremble against mine.
I’ve never wanted anything like this before. I’ve never felt this kind of need. Every part of me is aching for him, burning for him, and I know there’s no going back. I want to feel everything, to let him be the first to touch me like this, to share this moment that’s been building between us since the day we met.
His lips find mine again, more urgent this time, and I gasp into his mouth, the heat between us flaring hotter. I’m trembling, but not from fear—this is something else. This is anticipation, desire, a need so raw and powerful it leaves me breathless.
And then, in one smooth motion, he lifts me into his arms, cradling me as though I weigh nothing. His lips never leave mine, the kiss deepening with every second, and I wrap my arms around his neck, pulling him closer.
Daed carries me to the bed, my naked body pressed against his bare chest. Every inch of him is as powerful as I imagined, his muscles tensing and relaxing with each step he takes.
As he lowers me onto the bed, the heat between us flares, my body already trembling in anticipation. He pauses for a moment, his eyes trailing down my naked form as if he’s committing every curve, every breath, to memory. His hands, usually so strong and assured, shake at his sides.
He leans over me, and I tilt my head back, giving him more access as his lips move lower, trailing kisses down my throat, over my collarbone. A gasp escapes me when his mouth finds my breast, his tongue flicking over my sensitive nipple, sending waves of heat straight through me. His hands continue to roam, sliding over the curve of my waist, down to my thighs, his fingers teasing the inside of my legs, coaxing a soft moan from my lips.
His body is warm and solid as he presses against me, his growing hardness unmistakable beneath his leathers. I shiver as his fingers slip between my folds, exploring with a slow, deliberate touch. His thumb circles gently, teasing a gasp from my lips as pleasure ripples through my core. His mouth closes over my breast, teeth grazing a hardened nipple, each sensation drawing a soft moan that fills the quiet of the night.
His breath grows ragged, his kisses fiercer, more demanding. He shifts above me, his hands moving to the waist of his pants. My heart races as he unfastens them and slides them off, the sight of him—thick, hard, and eager—sending a jolt of anticipation straight through me.
He positions himself between my legs, the heat of his body pressing into mine. The blunt tip of his length teases against my slickness, each brush causing me to tremble. His hands tighten on my thighs, pushing them flat to the bed, parting them wider as he begins to press forward.
I gasp sharply, a sudden stab of pain breaking through the haze of pleasure as he starts to fill me. It’s overwhelming—a mix of raw intensity and a sharp, burning stretch that makes me wince. Instinctively, my nails dig into his back, my body tensing beneath him. He pauses immediately, his forehead dropping to mine, his breath hot and uneven as he waits for me to adjust.
Tears prick my eyes, but I take a shaky breath and nudge my nose against his, urging him to continue. His movements are slow, careful, inch by inch as he pushes deeper. The pain doesn’t fully fade, but a new kind of pleasure begins to bloom, warm and pulsing. My hips undulate under the firm grip of his hands. Unbidden, seeking more.
He’s fully inside me now, the sensation both full and foreign, a blend of pain and need that sends sparks of heat through my veins. My body gradually softens beneath him, surrendering to the intimacy of the moment. He holds himself still, his muscles taut, and I feel the tremor in his arms as he fights to maintain control.
Finally, the pain lessens, replaced by a raw, primal desire that takes over. I arch into him, a soft moan escaping my lips, and he begins to move—slowly at first, then deeper, more insistent, each thrust echoing with the undeniable reality that this is something neither of us can undo.
“Don’t stop,” I whisper raggedly, my fingers gripping his shoulders, pulling him closer. “More, Daed. Please .”
With a growl, his hands grip my hips tighter, ceasing my restless movements and pulling me into him. Deeper, harder, his rhythm intensifying with every gorgeous thrust, and I cry out, the intensity of the pleasure overwhelming. My body responds to him in ways I never thought possible, waves of heat and ecstasy crashing over me as his pace quickens, driving us both toward release.
“Amara,” he groans, his voice rough and breathless as he buries his face in my neck, his breath hot against my skin. “I can’t… So good… So—”
“Don’t stop,” I gasp, my body trembling beneath him. “Never stop.”
With a final thrust, Daed’s body goes rigid, a broken groan tearing from his throat as he releases inside me, the warmth spreading deep and full. The sensation pushes me over the edge, pleasure crashing through me in waves. I shudder beneath him, my own release taking hold, and for a fleeting, euphoric moment, we shatter together, lost in the rawness of it all.
For a long moment, neither of us moves. His weight presses into me, his breath ragged and warm against my skin. There’s a lingering warmth between us, a contentment I’ve never known before—something real, unguarded, and startling in its intimacy.
Slowly, he pulls back, his eyes searching mine. There’s something in his gaze that wasn’t there before—a vulnerability, raw and unshielded, that makes my chest tighten. He reaches out, brushing a strand of hair from my face with a gentleness that feels almost reverent, as if the gravity of what we’ve shared is settling over him, too.
For the first time, there are no games, no barriers between us. Just us.
Daed wraps his arms around me, pulling me close. His chest presses against my back, the steady rhythm of his heartbeat a soothing counter to the lingering tremor in my own. My body is still humming, every nerve alive with what we’ve just done, but his embrace brings a calm I never thought I’d find in him. There’s a softness now, a quietness that anchors me in a way I didn’t expect, but suddenly can’t imagine living without.
But I know this paradise won't last forever. The sun and soft earth of Pariseth are a fleeting reprieve, and soon we’ll have to return to Baev’kalath. To the shadows. To the war that’s coming for us all. There will be no more quiet moments like this, no more time to pretend we can escape the weight of our fates.
Even in this bliss, I can’t shake the truth of what lies ahead. The danger, the choices we’ll have to make, the sacrifices. Daed and I may have found each other in the moonlight tonight, but the shadows are always lurking. And no matter how strong this feels, I know that the storm is far from over.
For now, I let myself breathe him in, let myself believe, if only for a few fleeting hours, that we can survive this— together.