Page 60 of Dreams of Ash and Smoke

As soon as I hear her breathing slow as she falls into a deep sleep, I stand from my place beside her and walk out the door, seeing Esmeray in the hall with one of her trusted soldiers. “Watch them, I’ll be back soon.” I tell her as she nods. Ruelle’s room is practically next to hers so it’s easy for her to guard them both.

I walk through the hall and down the steps, all the way to the lowest level— the dungeon.

Hadeon is by one of the cells, staring in wait at the male in there. Once he hears my footfalls against the dirty floor, he looks at me and moves over, unlocking the cell door.

Before I go in, my realization sets in. Draven was involved in the harm of her and it will be his undoing. My shadows unfurl around me, angry just as much as myself. I can feel my eyes swim with darkness, blackening withemotion and hatred.

“Draven.” I greet him as I stroll in. The male was already stripped of his palace uniform and groaning in pain from the infliction Hadeon’s caused in my lack of presence. I take a glance at the cart of metallic items gracing it, some bloodied and some rusted. I look at Hadeon over my shoulder with a brow raised in question to which he shrugs. A smirk dawns my face and I turn my attention back to the man hanging from chains in the air.

“Why?” Is all I ask.

He can barely speak. “I… you know how she is, Eryx. She’s my s-sister. I had to help her…” He trails off, body weak already; likely from the lack of food. His voice hoarse.

I slice a blade across his chest. “You performed a high act of treason because she is your sister?” I question him. The darkness inside me cannot be tamed much longer. It is hungry for pain. “When you took an oath as a royal guard, which your father begged me to have you as, you took an oath to the crown swearing unwavering loyalty regardless of family, friends, or personal beliefs. That has been our rule from the beginning. I have always let you have personal opinions without punishment. I’ve allowed you to slack off and this is the thanks you give your king? You slander my fated mate, my betrothed, because your sister asked you to? You harm her because of a coward who was against this crown and what it stands for?” I question, my voice as dark as it can be with malice dripping thick from every syllable.

“I’m sorry…” He breathes. “I thought she was a distraction.” My hands go to his throat, squeezing tightly.

“That’s the problem now, isn’t it? You were thinking. And now, I am going to cut out your tongue,” I say, getting closer to his face, “And then we’ll see what else I am in the mood for. You will be the wedding gift for my wife.” I grab another blade and get to work removing the muscle from his mouth.

By the time I finish with him, A couple hours pass and I am covered in blood. I sent Hadeon to check on Verena and when he came back, it was with some of my staff to help clean up this mess. I can’t help but revel in the blood coating my skin, nothing feeling as satisfying as getting some revenge for Verena. I make my way to our room, seeing her still restingbefore walking to the bathing room and stripping off my bloody clothes, stepping into a hot bath that Hadeon had gotten a maid to start for me, and sinking down in it to relax. Most of the blood was on my clothing so there wasn’t much to wash off.

My eyes grow heavy once I finish using soap to wash off my skin and I’m almost unconscious when I feel it. There’s a presence in the room with me, however quiet. But once the scent of sugared red berries wafts through my nose, I know that it’s Verena. My eyes snap open wide, taking her in as she strips off the night gown, most of her superficial wounds healed now and the more serious ones were scarring. Thanks to her Fae healing and the herbs we have for wounds like that, she was almost back to normal. But it didn’t stop the worry etching its way onto my face.

My brows pull tight as she steps into the bath, sinking down onto my lap as we remain silent.

“Verena,” I start, trying to get her to go back to bed so I don’t accidentally injure her.

She shushes me, placing her delicate finger over my lips and grasping my suddenly hardening cock in her other hand. I suck in a breath of air at the feel of her wrapped around me, my head falls back and my eyes close briefly at the contact.

“Verena,” This time it’s a deep warning.

“I need you,” Her voice is needy, wanting and I’ll be damned if I can even attempt to stop her. She takes this as her cue and moves her hand up and down until my cock aches from being so stiff.

I let her take control, sensing she needs it right now and loving the sight of her taking me however she wants.

Her arms move to my chest, running up and to my shoulders where she holds on before grazing my chest with her perfect breasts and sinking her hot, wet cunt down my shaft.

Groans leave us in unison and my hands fly to her hips, gripping with desperation for her to move. She adjusts to me, fitting perfectly in place like we were made for each other.

“You are mine,” Her voice is deeper than usual, full of lust and… jealousy?My brows furrow this time in confusion and she answers my silent question as she slides up and back down my cock, another moan leaving me. “She believed no one else could have you but her. She was wrong and I made sure to tell her that.” Anger wants to brew up in me at the mention of Amaelya. “My only regret was not keeping her alive to fuck you in front of her.” Her words make me choke on a light laugh of surprise.

A smirk rests of her face now as she moves, grinding herself on my lap as she uses my body to pleasure herself. I could get off at the thought of it alone

I use my hands to help her grind harder, soft moans leaving her lips as I lean forward to suck a hardened nipple in my mouth, nibbling on it. Even with the water surrounding our bodies, I can feel her getting wetter. The nipple in my mouth pops out as I move to the next one, giving it just as much attention and care as her movements get faster, sloppier, and I know she’s close.

“Come for me, pretty girl,” I tell her, slipping my hand between us to help her as she grinds her clit against it. Her gasp catches in her throat, her nails digging into my shoulders as her body tenses, unable to move on her own now from the pleasure. I use my hands at her waist to help her ride through her climax as she shudders against me. Her cunt squeezes me tightly, enough to spur on my own release. My hands dig into her waist, surely adding to the bruises but she seems to enjoy it more than anything as I groan out my release inside her and she collapses onto my chest, her head nuzzled into my neck. I brush my hand down her hair, pulling it off her shoulders to gather at her back.

Chapter 31: Mama Zen

Verena

“So, why are you training me and not Esmeray?” I question Hadeon as he wipes sweat off his brow and I raise mine back at him, remembering when making him sweat during training was such a feat.

“She’s helping Eryx with some wedding plans.” He tells me, dodging another hit to his face. The bruise delivered from my fist an hour ago shines bright now. “Excited about your wedding tomorrow?” He asks me, lunging forward and grasping me to throw me down but I use his weight against him and angle our bodies so I’m on top before I start pummeling his arms.

A vision from the cave flashes over my eyes and suddenly it feels as if it is Amaelya again trying to kill me. A sob wrecks through me and I punch harder.

“Verena.” I don’t register his voice. I keep hitting, slamming my hands down again and again.

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