Chapter 47
Secrets of the Heart
Fae were blessed with soul mates from the Goddess Nocturna herself.
They say Nocturna's love for Riaan was so strong it could be felt across stars, universes and even through dreams. What better way for mates who have not yet accepted their mate bonds to meet through dreams. The dreams draw them closer to one another, compelling them to do the very thing that their souls were made for—to be mated as one~Duvessan Fae History.
The following text has been transcribed in an oath of truth by Volda Keely Darkblood of the Darkblood Witch Coven.
The original text has been destroyed upon command from the High King of Apollo, Solaire Gideon.
Ibrushed through the moonlit field that held comfort and relief with each step.
My feet kissed by the cold of the soft grass that nearly looked blue from the night sky.
The sheer dark indigo dress I wore felt weightless on my body and swept around my legs with a calm breeze.
My neck craned upwards toward the moon, letting it bathe me with its gaze.
I lightly traced the skin from my neck, to my chest, then to my heavy breasts that instantly swelled when I caressed.
It was electrifying, being blessed with the darkness of the night sky contrasting with the pure light illuminating from the moon.
It was the very gravity that pulled me to the plush grass that tickled my exposed back.
My body was restless. My hands were moving.
I needed more... so much more. My hands bundled up my dress up to my hips where the cool night air kissed my bareness.
I ached in dire need while tracing my fingers along my torso and down to my thigh where my hand met with someone else's.
The shock from my gasp was released with a whimpered plea when the stranger's hand began clutching and caressing my body.
The stars above me twinkled brighter as if to tell me that this is where I needed to be.
"I cannot begin to express how much you leave me undone.
" His velvet voice growled between my thighs.
My whole body was on fire, nothing I have ever felt could have compared to the heated ache between my legs.
I slipped the sheer fabric of my sleeve over my shoulders, my breasts swelling in anticipation.
My back arched, and my hips rocked for any kind of friction the generous stranger was willing to give.
His palm grazed my breast, and it was as if he was holding onto a waging battle of control that had him tensing and growling.
As if he had not wanted to give in to the sinful fantasies that my very mind was wishing for.
"The gods shall damn me for this," he breathed to himself before the hotness of his mouth was on my heat, kissing at first, simply tasting until even that wasn't enough. He was like a man who had been starved for too long, and when I felt his tongue caress—
Dear gods
I was seeing new stars that weren't part of the sky, the stars you begin to see with so much immense pleasure that they begin to turn different colours.
The sharp moan that left me was loud enough to bring me back to reality and open my eyes from the dream that had graced me at the dead of night.
My cheeks flamed when I took in my surroundings, brought back to the gilded room.
Sweat languidly trailed down my neck and as for the heat between my thighs. ..
What in the hells of Riaan…
"These dreams will be the death of me." I groan. If it was not the haunting nightmares, then it would be these sinful dreams that had little to no meaning.
The white satin nightdress I wore reached mid-thigh so I grabbed the matching silk robe as a cover up. My sleep had broken, and even now my anxiety would eat away at me if I stayed in the too-soft bed. I hesitantly touched the smooth door handle and before I could overthink, I stepped out.
The castle looked ethereal at night with sage being burned alongside each lantern. I did not know where exactly I was going, but I decided to choose a path where the air became cooler. My fingers gently brushed the fire blade I had strapped to my thigh.
I could not be too sure if someone would be planning to kill me after the dinner last night. The king couldn't have known that the darkness was mine... And yet, I'd be a fool to doubt his intelligence. But if he had known, I would not be alive right now.
I could not shake off the feeling of how his eyes stared wantingly at my fire blades.
How his eyes deemed me unworthy of having it at my disposal.
A longing ache caressed my heart when I thought of Fala, who had gifted me the blades and before I could let it do more damage I transferred my thoughts to the architecture within the castle.
I rounded a corner, deep in thoughts of the prince’s ancestry that lined up in paintings.
"Umph." My thoughts were cut off when I abruptly met with a hard chest. "I’m so sorr—"
"Why aren't you asleep, pretty warrior?" His voice was silk, and his eyes looked darker than usual. The white locks of his hair kissing his eyelashes, craning his neck down to meet my own eyes.
I took a step back; he took one forward. "I couldn't sleep," I answered swiftly or at least tried to while he came closer. "And you shouldn't call me that." I answered fervently.
"And why shouldn't I?" Amusement graced the prince's features. Was the prince this delusional? First, he ignores me, pretends that I do not exist, and now he is suddenly close to me, speaking to me like... Gods. He was giving me whiplash from all his moods.
"Because you are promised to another. And one shouldn't speak to another like that..." He came closer and I was being backed up against a wall. "Or be this close to someone... when they have a beloved," I whispered out.
The prince's forehead met mine and he inhaled, briefly closing his eyes before opening them again. "And how is it that I talk to you? I speak the truth. You are my warrior, who to my luck- looks as you do. Am I not allowed to speak the truth?"
"No, not like that." I denied breathlessly. The prince's eyes felt warm on my skin, it felt like hot kisses the way he raked his gaze down my slightly exposed chest and the robe that now opened. His fingers, warm and hot, slowly traced my thigh.
I admit, I had allowed myself to develop feelings for the prince because I knew that he and I would never happen, there would never be love and he would never reciprocate those feelings.
I deserved worse than love. But now, I am slowly starting to believe that he might somehow harbour feelings for me and that terrified me. ..
Suddenly all this felt too real, "You shouldn't." My breath caught when his fingers brushed over the blade that was attached. His eyebrows rose in surprise when he felt it, and his smile turned into a soft smirk when he gripped it.
"Give me a reason why I should not, warrior," he whispered against my lips. My mind could not come up with a coherent response, my thoughts were moot.
"Because I hate you." Was the only answer I could seem to come up with.
The prince only chuckled lightly before he detached the fire blade from my thigh and traced the sharp end of the blade along my thigh.
I closed my eyes, trying my best not to react to the feeling, controlling the shiver that wanted to sweep my body.
He traced it up to my torso and up in between my breasts where I panted.
I could not control the goosebumps that arose on my skin, and neither could I control the fact that this act was undisputedly turning me on.
"This does not look like you hate me, warrior," he whispered and licked his lips. My eyes were drawn to his lips with immediate effect and yet when I looked at it. All it did was remind me of how Izlana had kissed him. Softly, tentatively, and lovingly...
It pained me and brought me back to reality.
Lust immediately dissipating from the air I breathed.
"I am not your toy to be played with. I suggest you go to your betrothed for your needs and continue to ignore me like you had.
" My words were cutting and sharp, all made from the anger and frustration the prince had caused.
Surprise had momentarily graced the prince's expression before I grabbed the hilt of my blade from his palm, moving away from his presence, heating up with white hot anger and choosing to lean over the window where I might get some air.
"How do you expect me to feel?" I lashed out and instantly bit my tongue, regretting my outburst.
"I—" The prince stopped himself before taking a moment to think.
I had never seen him this way before, so unsure of his words.
"I was ashamed." The evident shock made its way to my face.
"I was ashamed that I caused those now-faded bruises on your face from that witch who evidently wanted my head.
I am ashamed that I slept, while you nearly got killed by the necromancer in Litara.
And I am even more ashamed that I am a prince who cannot even provide to his people who are starving, covered in shit and drowning in poverty.
" I was silent. There was no amount of words that I could have said after hearing what he revealed.
"I am so... so fucked up, Morana. I chose you to be my warrior, believing you were an asset after you slaughtered that cliftolight and yet also knowing that I wouldn't need you for long.
That I would be rid of you as soon as I accomplished what I needed.
I still doubted your abilities before we made it to Viridis Aurum.
You outshined me in so many ways that should have made me envious and angry.
Yet, it made me prideful and curious. I'm ashamed that the very warrior I have chosen has made me feel things that I never wanted to feel, and yet I enjoy it too much.
It is shameful that all I do is want to protect you from being hurt, and yet I am the one who has chosen you to be the person who sacrifices their life for a pitiful one like mine.
" He was now panting and clutching at his hair.
"And like a fool, I had touched you, gotten a taste of you and now it's all I think about.
Even after Izlana had kissed me, it could not compare, it did not wash you away from my thoughts and senses like I thought it would have.
" I turned to face him fully, still stunned by his sudden outburst of expression.
It had not compared to his confessions in Abdera, not one bit.
His words painted a clear picture of what he truly felt, it had softened an unknown ache in my heart and made me feel too much at once.
"Believe me warrior, when I say. I truly cannot have you, it is wrong for me to want you.
I am promised to another, but these are my feelings laid bare for you to do what you will.
So forgive me if I have hurt you." Were his last words before turning away.
"Wait." I had suddenly found my voice. Unsure of what exactly I was doing but it must have meant something because the prince halted.
"You care for me?" I asked. The prince did not turn but he answered with a melancholy chuckle.
"Is it not obvious yet?"
"Then at least—" I spoke up, being firm and clear, " —put our quarrels aside and call it a truce.
If we both care for one another." I had hoped I was not rambling.
"Let us be friends. I know we cannot be together and it might simply be for the best that we aren't. So let us use our feelings for a friendship.
" It sounded like a foul idea when the prince turned around and his eyes looked into mine because at that moment it had made me feel like reaching up to kiss him.
"Friends?" The prince smirked in challenge, but seemed to think it over carefully before putting his hand out to shake mine. "Friends it is, dear warrior.