To Wed A King

Flames

Morning came with Adeline lying on the floor right where Lucan had left her. The cold had seeped in through her bones, and she sat up, the tears freezing in her eyes. The servants had started their routine. Fixing her room, arranging the bed, and making a bath for her. She turned towards the large base where her dress was hanging on. Underneath the hollow basket was burning incense, and she watched it burn slowly to perfume her dress.

"My lady. The ceremony will start by sunset. Your dress and accessories are ready, but you will need all of the time to be groomed and properly styled."

Adeline swallowed, her eyes thinning. An introduction ceremony, eh? Who did he think he was to force her to his will while refusing to cave into any of her requests?

She nodded at the servant. "Can I ask a question?"

"Go ahead, my lady."

Adeline bit down on her lips. "Have you seen a servant named Evander? He has immacukate features. Strong shoulders and a rather slim build. His hair is..."

"No, my lady."

"You have not seen him, or you are not allowed to speak about him?"

The servant bowed even deeper. "I..."

"She is not allowed to speak of him."

Adeline looked up to Lucan. He was shirtless, and his hair was pulled up in a man bun, his eyes cold.

"Go to the bed and strip."

The servants immediately walked away, leaving them alone.

"I refuse to."

Lucan raised a brow, his eyes thin. "For every time I have to repeat myself, I shall have a pound of Evander's flesh."

Her eyes widened as she straightened. "How can you even..."

"Go to the bed and..."

Before he could finish, Adeline went to the bed, her eyes wide with fear, anger, and hate. He gave a laugh as he covered the distance.

"You are quite adorable when you listen."

"To hell with you," she spat, and he laughed, forcing her to lie on her side. He pulled the dress she was wearing, then started to get rid of the corset.

"I know you are trying to keep my attention, but do not overdo it."

She swallowed as he took off the old dressing of her wound. She did not reply, and he gently redressed the wound again. He was soon done, and he observed her, his eyes thin.

Stretching the limits of her anger and her compliance, he increased the pressure of his fingers on her waist, so even if she tried to move, she would not be able to.

He turned her so she was lying upwards, her bare stomach in view.

"I do have to praise your father for sheltering you."

Her brows furrowed in confusion, but it did not last long as she felt his lips lightly brush the sensitive curve of her stomach.

"What are you doing?"

He gave a chuckle, then kissed the length of her fair skin, his fingers pressing down more, and lightly denting her skin.

"You said you would not force me!" She yelled, kicking into the air, but somehow missing each time.

"I never said I would not taste you."

"Let me go!" She yelled, just as he suddenly let her, then came to hover above her instead, his eyes resting in a predatory manner on her lips.

"If not your stomach, then your lips?"

"None. I shall give you none."

He smiled. "I was thinking of being generous to Evander today."

"You already did that to me and..."

"Tasting your skin is clearly within my rights, princess. I can decide to go back to it or go even further and not offer you any sort of bargain."

She blinked slowly. "Will you really feed him?"

"Would you let me taste you if I do?" His eyes darted between both of hers, his chest lightly heaving. It was the lowest he was going for a woman, allowing her to ask of him whatever she wanted just so he could feel her skin.

"Yes."

He gave a small laugh, then pulled away. "I do not feel very obliged at the moment, Princess. You could probably try again some other time."

"But Lucan..."

"Are you about to beg me to take you?"

His eyes met hers, and in his was a challenge, a dare, one that she knew she needed to lose to him or Evander would suffer the most from it. After all, he could force her and offer her nothing in return, especially since he was insisting on marrying her.

She swallowed down her pride, then closed her eyes. "Yes."

Lucan raised a brow, his fingers tightening against the curve of her waist, his chest heaving.

"You know how to make me hate that man even more."

Her eyes opened, and she met his hateful gaze. "What is the problem? You want me and..."

"Not like this!" He yelled, finally voicing out his frustrations regarding the bargains she kept offering him. First, she came to him naked so she could try and murder him. Now, she keeps throwing herself at him in order to keep her lover safe. He felt offended, ridiculed, and made fun of. He had never felt less like a king than he did every single day after acquiring her.

"Then how?" She asked, rather calmly, way too calmly for someone who had a raging beast in front of her.

It only enraged him even more since it felt like he could never get beneath her skin on his own without using Evander's name.

"You..." He said, his finger pointing at her. "I will let you watch him starve to death, but as long as you obey because of him, I will not indulge. Do not be late for the ceremony, or he will pay in flesh."

Adeline swallowed as he walked away, his fists clenched, a murderous gaze in his eyes. She turned away, her eyes landing on the dress. The incense was still beneath it.

Slowly, she stood up, then moved the dress till the hem was right above the incense flame. She watched as the dress immediately caught fire, and she let it go, the flames reflecting in her eyes.