Chapter 26 #3
"I think you should—" My eyes immediately narrowed at him, daring him.
He held up his hands in defence and settled back down.
"Goodnight, warrior." His voice travelled in a whisper around the room, and exhaustion had weighed so heavy on me that once I had hit the pillow I was completely out before I could thank him for requesting dry clothes .
Yet distant thoughts of the innkeeper's daughter followed my dreams, her frail body and pale skin all sunken in and rotting to death.
***
‘Please, make it stop. Make the night dreams stop.’
I was petrified, huddled in a corner and praying that the shadows would hide me from the terrors that haunted me.
‘Someone. Anyone—please make it stop.’ I prayed and prayed, hugging myself tighter until a dazzling shimmer caught my eye, teasing the darkness and making the shadows around me curious.
It sparkled like diamonds and stars dancing among each other in a rhythm I could not hear.
A hand struck through the glittery portal, a formidable, strong hand that had luminescent stars dotted around it.
Being so desperate for aid, I accepted it without much thought and was instantly pulled in, saved from the monsters that haunted my dreams and in the embrace of comforting yet muscular arms.
“You are safe, darkling.” The deep voice affirmed, his thumb gently caressing my cheek, which had me looking up, hoping that I could match the magnificent voice to an equally magnificent face, but was met with disappointment when all I had seen were stars blurring my vision from seeing the stranger.
“I recognize you stranger,” I cocked my head to the side, the stranger’s body tensed.
“You are the lust within me, some figment of my imagination that makes me less lonely.” I answered with certainty, as this was merely a dream.
The stranger hummed to me in agreement, the sound sending waves of tingles to my core.
I bit my lip and stepped closer into his embrace, he had gladly welcomed me in.
He caressed my neck and my eyes had rolled back from the intimate contact, feeling his palm delve lower between my breasts.
I whimpered softly when he brushed the tips of his fingers over the swell of my breasts.
He reminded me of someone, someone made of fire, embers and rage. Like the prince with ruby eyes.
“Please,” I urged, begging for more.
“Morana, wake up. Morana, hey. Wake up.” The dream realm shook and moulded into different colours, the warmth from the stranger’s absence left me cold and shivering. My eyes fluttered open and I gasped, trying to make sense of my surroundings.
Silvery white hair flashed from the soft glow of the fire hearth, he was kneeled by my bedside.
“You were crying in your sleep—OOMMFF,” I would not let the teasing stranger escape this time, no more.
If what I desired could only come from my dreams, then I would gladly accept it.
I had him under me, pressed against the blankets and pillows, keeping him there with my fists against his muscular chest.
I slowly opened the buttons of my nightdress and with a satisfied smile, I heard his breath hitch.
My dress had ridden up my hips that so desperately sought out friction and with a sigh of relief I felt the protruding heat against my thighs that only spread like an inferno.
His hands were no longer shy, they travelled and roamed, gently tracing my thigh, playing with a tendril of my hair.
Then palming the dip of my waist until a hand rested on the curve of my lower back.
It pushed, bringing me down closer to him.
“God’s, you’re so soft.” He murmured and panted until he was caught by surprise when I moved against him, making him whimper. Like a pup—this great, strong man whimpered like a pup and it made me smirk, feeling powerful, causing a strong wave of tingles that shot straight to my core.
“Your Highness, is everything alright— “A familiar voice entered the room and it had startled me so, that I blinked away the dreamlike haze I was under.
The Prince of Apollo. Trapped underneath me. Shirtless. With beads of sweat collecting down his sculpted neck and chest. My breasts swelled, nearly exposed and thighs uncovered for all to see.
“Get OUT, Inanov!” The prince all but growled, sitting up to cover me from further humiliation but the damage was already done. Heat welled in my face and collected in my chest, it felt like being dumped in an iced lake.
What in Nocturna’s name...
“I —I apologize.” Inanov stammered, his mouth open and closing, fumbling for the doorknob and then shutting the door shut with a bang.
“Morana—” I cut him off before we could damn ourselves any further.
“Get back to your side, now.” I was furious with myself, and embarrassed. I had forced myself upon him... what in Nocturna’s name was wrong with me?
The prince moved away, but did not leave—uncertainty clouding his gaze. “This was a mistake and I deeply apologize. I had thought this was my imagination and that you were... someone else. Anyone else.” I desperately tried explaining myself.
Adrion’s face hardened and with a coldness I had not seen before, he pushed himself away and got into his own bed.
“Indeed. What a mistake.”
Sleep did not consume me at all for the night that still remained.