33. Chapter Thirty-Three
Chapter Thirty-Three
Zalen
“ H ow the fuck did this happen?” I whispered through gritted teeth.
“I have no idea, but three Kings killed all around the same time? This isn’t good.” Thane leaned against the window frame in the hallway.
Two Kings killed in separate Kingdoms within weeks of each other was concerning. It wasn’t a secret I killed King Erix—I had practically shouted it from the rooftop. And it could easily have been assumed I killed Makkor. Without anyone claiming his death or the death of King Belan of Innon, their assumptions would likely lead to me being the killer of all three.
My head tilted to the side as I thought of the possibilities.
“What if it is?” I asked quietly.
“What if what is?” Thane’s brows creased.
“What if this is good?”
“That someone is murdering all the Kings? How is that a good thing? It seems like we should be concerned for your life—and Maera’s—and that’s definitely not good.” Thane crossed his arms .
“Only two Kings were killed by someone else. Have you heard anything about the Shara King?”
Shara was the Kingdom south of Damanthus, and while we’d had our skirmishes with each other in the past, we hadn’t had much issue with them in a while. They mostly kept to themselves as of late.
“No, but I can send someone down there to check on things,” he offered.
“Make sure they don’t make a fuss,” I clarified.
Thane nodded. “So, again, why is the death of so many Kings a good thing?”
“Because this presents an opportunity. One we can use to our advantage.” The side of my mouth lifted. “I can add the power of Innon to my collection.”
Thane’s brows raised with intrigue. “But if Shara is without a King…”
“Then I could give them one.”
He blinked. “I don’t understand. The only way you could be King of Innon is to go through the Drehiri in their lands. And your intention is to become King of Damanthus, which now encompasses Aedum. You can’t go through the Drehiri twice.”
“No. I can’t. I could have absorbed the power if I had been there when Innon’s King died. But that doesn’t mean someone can’t go through the Drehiri in my place.” I gave him a knowing look.
It wasn’t the best plan, but it was something. Innon was weak. It was best to take advantage of the situation by using the chaos to invade. Without an Innon heir, the Kingdom’s power was up for grabs, leaving me the opportunity to select the new sovereign.
He grinned at that. “I’ll send someone else to Shara right away. ”
“Good. In the meantime, have the northern forces assembled. I want the Innon castle razed to the ground. And I want you to continue searching for whoever was strong enough to kill both Kings.” I opened the door to my rooms then glanced over my shoulder at Thane. “Come get me when it’s done.”
I closed the door softly then went back to the bed, crawling in behind Maera as she still slept. Brushing her hair behind her ear, I placed a kiss on her cheek. As much as I would have enjoyed watching her sleep for the rest of the day, there were things we needed to discuss.
“Wake up, love,” my lips whispered against the soft skin below her ear.
“Mmm,” she hummed with pinched brows, trying to pull away from me.
“Come on. I want to bathe you.”
“I can bathe myself,” she said stubbornly, but she sat up and stretched her arms over her head.
“I have spent years only having mere moments with you, and I’ve never had the pleasure of washing you. I get to take my time with you now, and I intend on doing everything I’ve imagined doing with you for the past three years.” I removed my shirt, and I didn’t miss the small gasp from her parted lips.
I wanted to personally wash away the scent of Aedum from her skin.
“I suppose I could be convinced,” she said, biting her lip.
She grabbed my hand as I stood to help her out of bed and led her to the bathing room. I released her hand and ran the bath as she waited patiently for the tub to fill.
While the water was running, I turned back around and stepped closer to her. Those remarkable eyes of hers looked up at me as I towered over her.
“Lift up your arms.”
Without breaking eye contact, she did as she was told.
I grabbed the hem of her nightgown and pulled it over her head, tossing it to the corner and making a note to have it cleaned for her later. My hands grazed down her sides, brushing over the curve of her breasts as I reached her undergarment.
Trailing my hand between her legs, I pushed her panties to the side and pressed two fingers inside her, feeling how wet she was for me.
Not enough.
Pulling in and out, I fucked her with my fingers, curling them inside before pulling them out and circling her clit, then back in again until she was writhing beneath my touch, utterly soaked.
“Zalen…I thought…we were…going to bathe… Oh!”
The little noise of protest that came from her lips as I pulled my fingers from her had my mouth spreading in a pleased smile.
“We will.” I grabbed her undergarment and pulled it down to her ankles, lifting one foot at a time to remove it. I stood up and began removing my pants, admiring her luscious body.
Maera’s eyes glazed when my already hardened length sprung free.
I wrapped her hands around my neck then lifted her by her thighs, carrying her to the overly large tub. With her legs around my waist, I sat down in the steaming water, slowly lowering her onto my cock. She felt so tight with the way we were angled, stretching around me as I eased her down.
Her head fell back with a gasp when I filled her completely.
Gripping her hips, I guided her up and down until she started fucking me on her own.
“Right there,” I said huskily. “Keep going.”
I grabbed the soap and a cloth from the small table next to the tub and began washing her—taking my time as I lathered her with torturous slowness. I paid extra attention to her breasts, alternating between sharp flicks at her nipples and soothing rubs.
Maera’s breathing came faster, and my body was beginning to tense. I couldn’t wait any longer. I tossed the soap and leaned over her so I was on top, her back against the tub. She held onto the edge as I pounded into her, water sloshing onto the floor.
As our mouths crashed together, our tongues clashed seeking a desperate deepness within each other as if we couldn’t get enough.
“More,” she moaned into my mouth, and the sound alone had my balls tightening.
“Touch yourself,” I growled against her lips.
She didn’t hesitate to snake her hand down her body.
I tilted my head and watched as she played with her swollen clit. The tips of her fingers brushed over the base of my cock as she rubbed herself in short little circles, heightening the sensation even more.
“Fuck, that’s sexy,” I said breathlessly, slamming into her. She bit her lip, and I could tell she was holding back. “Let me hear you. We both know that pretty little mouth of yours can be louder.”
Her lips parted, releasing her unrestrained moans.
The sound of her cries mixed with the slapping of wet skin as she began to tense. I claimed her mouth again, wanting to taste her scream. I thrust with a grunt as I spilled myself into her just as she came hard, pulsing around my cock.
We were panting as we rode out our release, until we came down from our state of euphoria. I pulled her forward and held her against me.
“You did so good,” I whispered to her, running my hands soothingly down her back and kissing her neck softly.
Her lips turned up into a smile that wars could be fought over. And I would for her, only for her.
Maera had the ability to settle my soul with a simple look, taming the violence below the surface. She made me feel as if I could breathe freely. But most of all, she gave me purpose.
After a couple of minutes, I pulled out and began properly washing her—running the cloth over her body, massaging the soap into her scalp, and tipping her back into the water to rinse it. Then she washed me.
It was a different level of intimacy, taking care of each other in this way without the need for words. The silence between us was filled with comfort and serenity.
I stepped out of the tub.
She took my offered hand as she stood and got out after me.
“So,” she began. “What’s next?”
“Well,” I said as I handed her a thick towel then grabbed one for myself. “We’ll dry off, and I’ll have my way with you in bed.”
She huffed a laugh. “Do you ever think about anything other than sex?” She lightly smacked my arm, and I chuckled.
“Not when you’re naked .”
She wrapped the towel around her body, grinning widely with a light giggle.
“ Next is the Drehiri in two weeks,” I finally answered her question, folding the towel around my waist.
She stiffened. “The ritual for Kings.”
I placed my hand on the small of her back and encouraged her to go back into the room. “Yes. As well as anyone else I grant,” I added. “But usually, Kings don’t want to share.”
“Oh,” she said quietly. “Are you nervous about it? I heard it’s…intense.”
I smirked. “Not at all.” I leaned against the bedpost and crossed my arms. “Are you?”
“Am I nervous?” she asked with a tilt of her head.
“Yes. ”
“About your ritual?”
“No,” I said slowly. “About yours.”
“You want me to go through the Drehiri ritual?!” she squeaked out.
“Of course.” I nodded.
“But… Has a woman ever done it? Can a woman do it?” she asked incredulously.
I shrugged. “As far as I’m aware, you’ll be the first. There’s nothing saying you can’t. Nowhere has it ever stated a woman isn’t able to, just that no King has ever permitted it.”
I loved the idea of watching her rise above all others, becoming the most powerful Queen in history by my side.
“Will I now? Right,” she drawled sarcastically. “So long as I’m strong enough to survive it.”
I pushed off the bedpost and walked toward her, grabbing the side of her face. “You are. And I don’t want to hear you doubting yourself again. Understand?”
I took a step back, and she sighed with a small smile then nodded. “Good.”
She glanced around the room. “What about in the meantime? What do I do to keep myself busy?”
“Today, you’re resting. Tomorrow, I’ll show you some of the things I want you to do before the Drehiri.”
“What am I supposed to wear?” She looked down at her damp towel.
“I’m perfectly fine with you wearing nothing for the foreseeable future.”
Maera rolled her eyes but failed to hide the blush crawling up her neck. It satisfied something in me that I could still get that kind of physical reaction from her.
I walked over to the wardrobe and pulled out one of my shirts then tossed it to her.
“All of your clothes and belongings are being brought here. You should have all that you need by morning.”
I grabbed a pair of pants for myself and pulled them on. I watched as Maera put on the shirt, her damp hair falling down her back, then she glanced out the glass doors to the balcony.
“Do you want to come sit with me?” She held out her delicate hand toward me.
Always.
In answer, I took her hand as I led her outside. She made to sit, but I pulled her down on my lap as I sat down in the other chair. I wanted to be able to touch her as much as I could, making up for lost time.
We sat in blissful peace and watched the last rays of the sunset dance over the glistening water of the Rhaen River. I took in the appreciation of the moment without having the urgency we had become so accustomed to.
“I still can’t believe I’m here.” She absentmindedly traced circles on my arm. I could tell her thoughts were trying to organize themselves.
Sitting there allowed for my mind to wander, and I was reminded of my discussion with Thane about the elusive Captain Lyron Vika.
“Maera,” I said. She flinched slightly as I pulled her focus back to me. “I need you to tell me if you ever heard anything about the captain planning to kill Kings. Or maybe your father ordered him to?” I knew it was a long shot, but perhaps he had confided in his future wife.
She turned to the side and shook her head. “I barely knew him.”
My brows flattened. “He’s been the captain of the guard for decades. Surely you know something about him.”
“No.” She shrugged. “He’s new. Captain Lyron got drunk one night, a few weeks ago, and got in a fight with a group of disgruntled humans. Apparently, he was so wasted he couldn’t utter spells correctly, and they managed to kill him. The next thing I know, someone new took his place.”
My nostrils flared, and my hands balled into fists. I was going to kill the Vord assigned to tracking down the information about the captain. They should have fucking known he was dead. I shouldn’t have been focused on someone who was killed weeks ago, rather than searching for someone else—someone she didn’t even know.
“And your parents were going to marry you off to a complete stranger? Someone you didn’t even know?”
She nodded, her eyes trained on the floor.
I lifted her chin. I would not have her feel shame for anything those fuckers had force her to do.
“Do you know who he is?” I asked.
“I never met him. I don’t even know his name. All they told me was that he was originally from Shara and quickly rose in the ranks of the guard, and would provide good seed for breeding. When my mother told me I’d be marrying him, she said the wedding would be after he returned. And before you ask, I don’t know where from. I didn’t care to ask.”
I gave a tight smile. “That’s fine. It’s over now,” I reassured, and she smiled in return.
I kissed her forehead as she rested her head on my shoulder.
Shara…