Chapter 33 Bow
Verena
“ R epeat after me,” The high priestess says after a lengthy monologue of the meanings marriage. “I, King Eryx Ashwood,” She speaks and Eryx copies. “Vow to be yours. I vow that the love I have for you knows no bounds. My love for you does not falter to sickness, health, joy, or sadness. I vow to have you as my equal. When you speak, I will listen. When you fall, I will catch you. When you rise to fulfill your dreams, I will be there to help you reach your greatest heights. I vow to treat you as if you are apart of me, because you are in my eyes and in the eyes of the Gods. May they bless this union and ride with us through our journey.” I hold my emotions together even as I copy the same vows.
The high priestess reveals the marcam used to carve rune into ourselves. But this one is different. Eryx smirks as he hands it to me, “Queens first.” I look at him with confusion before taking it from him. He opens the chest of his shirt further, revealing an open spot over his heart. “I’d go lower but I don’t think anyone wants to see that.” He whispers and I laugh loudly, unable to prevent the sound from slipping out. Confusion slips over the crowds faces at my laughter but only the high priestess and my self heard him. She clears her throat, clearly not amused, and I sober up, smiling at him still as I move closer to Mark him.
The design is the same wedded rune. But I pause when I see that the color isn’t the usual one. It’s an exact replica of the hue of my irises. A perfect indigo. My heart beats hard in my chest at the love I have for him. This answers the question on why he was smirking at me.
When it’s his turn, his isn’t silver like Zorya’s. It is as black as his hair, as the night sky, as the look in his eyes when he peruses me in an act of coitus.
He motions for me to choose where to have him mark, so I match him with my heart, thanking the fact that the dress doesn’t need to be moved.
Unlike my wedding with Dryston, I wasn’t full of existential dread. It was love, hope, and joy. And the look of promise in his darkening eyes has sparks shooting through me, tightening in my lower stomach.
“Love is not a path we determine ourselves. It’s determined by the gods, by the marcam itself. Our fates entwine into their twisting patterns, binding us together beyond our own desires.” She says and as the high priestess chants the ancient incantations, a shiver runs down my spine, a sense of unease creeping into my heart. The marks glow with an ethereal light, pulsing with an unseen power that seals our vows in ways we cannot comprehend.
As the ritual concludes, I feel a weight settle upon my shoulders, a burden of responsibility and destiny that comes with this union. King Eryx’s eyes meet mine, and I see in them a mixture of determination and uncertainty, reflecting my own emotions back at me. We are bound now, not just by words or love, but by forces older than time itself.
The high priestess steps back, her gaze inscrutable as she pronounces us husband and wife in the eyes of the gods.
Without another word, Eryx’s hand grabs my hip roughly and pulls me toward him, dipping me into a fierce kiss that ignites a wildfire of passion in my body. Every inch of me is consumed by his touch as he hungrily devours my lips, leaving nothing but a trail of burning desire in his wake.
“If this room were empty, I’d take you right now.” A blush colors my face.
“Why wait?” His eyes flash to mine, surprised, but debating almost.
He sighs, “No one else will see you so natural. You are mine. I am yours. And I do not share.” He kisses me again, more this time as if he doesn’t kiss me with the same ferocity as always.
He faces the crowd now, his face dropping solemnly, “Bow.” Were his only instructions and my face reddens as if it couldn’t get worse. Embarrassment floods me at the sight of everyone doing just as he demanded. The guards don’t even hesitate and I take note of some of them holding back smiles. But, while the Court held uneasy glances, Calanthe, Hadeon, Esmeray, and Ruelle bow their heads with smirks and smiles. Eryx takes my hand and starts walking down the aisle once more while everyone continues to bow.
He faces them, “Now, we celebrate before we go to war. Enjoy your evenings.” I feel a mix of emotions swirling inside me as Eryx’s words hang in the air, heavy with unspoken truths and hidden promises. The weight of his gaze on me is both thrilling and daunting, a reminder of the tangled web of fate that now binds us together.
* * *
Once everyone arrives in the ball room, Eryx makes his way up to the dais, sitting on his throne. But I stand, announcing loud, “I graciously thank you all for your patience, and for showing your love and support. My vows are not just for King Eryx but for this kingdom. I will do everything in my power, in my queendom to help Khyrel flourish and thrive.” I am greeted with applause as the entire ballroom burst into a lively celebration.
The sound of music fills the air, mingling with the laughter and chatter of the guests. I can’t help but feel overwhelmed by the grandeur of it all, the extravagance of the decorations, the opulence of the feast spread before us.
I sat down temporarily and caught glimpses of familiar faces – friends and allies who had come to witness our union. Calanthe’s eyes sparkle with mischief as she raises her glass in a silent toast, while Hadeon grins like a Cheshire cat, clearly enjoying himself.
But amidst the revelry, a sense of unease crept over me once more. I glance around discreetly, trying to shake off the feeling of being watched. It was ominous but I brush it off. I still haven’t adjusted to having so many people wanting to meet me.
I dance through the night after we eat, spinning around in the traditional dances with Ruelle. With a wild abandon, I raise my hands above my head and spin in the open-air ballroom as rain cascades down. A lot of the rooms for big crowds were designed with this very purpose in mind— to let nature’s elements join in on our revelry. Above us, the stunning Aurora Borealis dances across the sky in vibrant shades of green and pink, its magic amplified by the reflections on the falling raindrops. Unable to contain my joy, I throw my head back and laugh, taking in the breathtaking sight before me. It is a moment of pure wonder and delight.
The music seems to fade into the background, leaving only the sound of our footsteps and the racing of my heart. Eryx places his hand on my waist. It’s firm and possessive, guiding me with a familiarity that speaks of countless dances shared between us in another lifetime. I look up into his eyes, dark pools that reflect the shimmering lights above like distant stars.
The metallic stars hanging from the ceiling cast a dreamlike glow over us, creating an illusion of floating through a midnight sky filled with wonder and magic. And suddenly I am not worried about the haunting war on the horizon. Nothing else matters in this moment except us. I want to make him feel how happen he makes me. I want to cherish him and worship his body. He seems to take note of the change in my eyes before leading me out of the celebratory dancing and toward our own room, calls and whistles sound from behind us and again, another blush reddens my chest, my face, everywhere at the fact that everyone in attendance will know what we were about to be doing. Eryx laughs fully, more than I had heard from him in the time of knowing him and It is more heavenly than the music playing. I want to hear it all the time.
The anticipation of what was to come mingled with nerves and excitement, creating a heady concoction that made my pulse quicken.
As we enter our room, the air was heavy with the scent of lavender and sandalwood, a soothing aroma that wraps around us like a warm embrace specifically for our wedding night. Eryx closes the door behind us with a soft click, enveloping us in a cocoon of privacy. The candlelight dances across his features, casting shadows that accentuate the sharp angles of his face.
Wordlessly, he turns to face me, his eyes dark with desire and something deeper, a raw intensity that sent shivers down my spine. The distance between us seems to shrink until there was nothing but the crackling tension that hung in the air like a tangible thing. The heavy grandeur of the castle falls away, leaving only the intimate space that now contains just Eryx and I. The air is thick with anticipation, our breaths mingling as we stand facing each other in silence. Eryx’s eyes hold a tender warmth that melts away any chill from the rain or lingering fears, and I feel a rush of desire coursing through me.
Without a word, he closes the distance between us, his touch sending shivers down my spine. His lips brush against mine in a soft, gentle kiss that ignites a fire within me. I respond eagerly, my hands finding their way to his hair as I deepen the kiss, losing myself in the taste and feel of him.
Soaked clothes are shed with an urgency born of longing and love, until we stand before each other completely bare, exposed in body and soul. Eryx’s gaze roams over me with a hunger.
* * *
Eryx
Verena’s hands roam across my sculpted chest, tracing the lines of my muscles with reverence and desire. The heat from her indigo irises is palpable, a living thing that pulses in time with my racing heart. She sinks to her knees before me, her eyes never leaving my gaze as the blonde slowly trails kisses down my torso, tasting salty skin in a heady mix. I groan with need and impatience.
Her tongue lashes out, gliding down my skin and over the raven shaped mark of our bond. A shiver wracks my body. Her hand takes my cock, smoothly drifting over it in a back and forth motion. My eyes close in ecstasy but she squeezes my length and they flash open. “Eyes on me, handsome.” Her voice is deeper than usual, heady and full of lust.
She licks up my shaft, sending my body into another shiver and my right hand finds it’s way into her hair, gripping like my sanity depended on it.
She takes me into her mouth, and I gasp at the exquisite sensation that threatens to unravel me completely. Verena’s mouth is warm and wet, her movements expertly driving me wild with need.
I’ve never felt anything like this before. I can barely contain myself. Just before I can reach the edge of ecstasy completely, I gently pull her up to stand before me by her hair.
With a hunger that—no doubt— matches her own, I guide Verena to the bed, laying her down like a precious offering to the Gods. Her wet skin glows in the soft candlelight, ethereal and luminescent against the dark sheets beneath her. I kneel before her, trailing kisses along her inner thighs and giving a small bite to her own bond mark. I needed to taste her.
My hands trace a path of fire along her skin, leaving a trail of goosebumps in their wake. I feel like I am burning from the inside out from the need to touch her, to taste her, to fill her with me until she remembers nothing but my name and who I am. Consumed by the intensity of my touch, she garbles out gibberish in a breathy moan and I smirk.
With a reverence that borders on worship, I trail my tongue across her, mapping every curve and dip with an intimacy that forces her breath to catch in her throat. When my lips meet the sensitive skin of her cunt, a gasp escapes her pink luscious lips, and she arches toward me, craving more.
The world narrows down to the sensation of my tongue on her skin, sending waves of pleasure cascading through the both of us. I lose myself in her, lapping her up like a pet with a bowl of water. Tasting her is a need, one I’ll cherish for my entire life. I can’t get enough of her scent, the way her body writhes underneath me, her eyes rolling back as I watch her pleasure.
She comes undone then, trying to push my head away in a whimper. I chuckle deeply, moving up after wiping my face and kissing her once more, unable to get my fill of her .
My tongue meets hers, lazily playing with one another and I trace a trail of kisses down her neck, my lips leaving a searing heat in their wake. She gasps at the intensity of the sensation, my hands clutching her hips while hers grip my shoulders as if to anchor myself amidst the whirlwind of emotions that threaten to consume me.
I feel a surge of desire pooling between her thighs again as my cock rubs her hot, wet heat. I lower myself then, my gaze locks with hers, a silent promise of pleasures yet to come.