I don't know exactly how much time passed, I only knew one thing: I wasn't dead. More than that, the pain in my body was unbearable, the fever was consuming me, I could barely keep my eyes open for long, and my breathing was all affected. It wasn't unusual to wake up gasping, asking for water with a dry throat. At times I thought I would succumb; it was hard to think otherwise when the pain gave no relief. The poison was cruel, spreading through my system. All I could do was wait for the herbs, the medicines, the intensive treatment to show some effect. In waves of cold that ran through my body, I sometimes woke up screaming. Usually, the King of Roham was by my side at those moments. I didn't know what was going through Yurick's mind. But sometimes I dreamed of the assassin and his ivory mask. Those cold eyes that were slowly killing me showed my fragility and abandonment. My grandfather was willing to kill me to have Neopolita; he was willing to buy that war at the cost of his own grandson.
— Seyrim? — The voice calling me was sweet; I recognized it well. Lara was changing the cloth on my forehead, noticing that I was moving restlessly. — The fever has completely gone down; it's been days since your body showed the worst symptoms. — She explained as she wiped the sweat off my neck.
— And Yurick? — I asked, trying to sound stronger. However, my throat protested; it was dry and hard to speak without sounding like I was squeaking. — Water. — I asked, feeling weak. But I was finally able to think; my body didn't ache like every bone was broken anymore. That's why I sat up in bed with Lara's help, who quickly handed me a glass of water. I drank that precious liquid eagerly, asking for more. I was thirsty and hungry.
— You're talking to the General. They're investigating what happened. The king doesn't want the information to leave the castle. — The girl handed me a tray with several sliced fruits. I ate politely, even though my stomach felt empty. — They reinforced security with Neopolitan guards.
I didn't feel safer with that information. I didn't know how much influence the spy might have in the guard, especially if they were gradually implanting a false sense of freedom, making people believe they were liberating Neopolita, when in fact, a much bigger bloodbath awaited us. I just wondered since when my grandfather was involved. Was he at our court receiving information? Since the beginning of the war or even before? Just waiting to benefit from his influence over the kingdoms. I bet it was since my mother's time, with some Akasians who came to live in the kingdom. I felt paranoid thinking about what that old man might do. But one thing I was sure of: it was unfeasible to count on Akasia. I would probably have to choose to stand by Yurick in this war — the side with fewer losses and bloodshed, the side with fewer deaths for my people. My grandfather was horrid for using such a low plan, expecting the population to kill for my death, to die believing it was Roham's doing. It was just disappointing.
— Lara, you can go. — I was so absorbed in my thoughts that I didn't notice the older man entering the room. The girl left, bowing in my direction. Yurick walked over and sat beside me on the bed, running his hands through my hair, sliding his fingers with a caress over my forehead, checking for fever. That simple gesture made me feel ashamed. Was I really that bad? My heart was broken by the vulnerability caused by my health condition; only that could explain why my chest ached.
— My grandfather tried to kill me, Yurick. — I toyed with a grape at my fingertip before bringing it to my mouth. — The letter I wrote was a plea for help to my mother. I didn't imagine that man was so infiltrated in the kingdoms — more than infiltrated, he's trying to cause chaos throughout the city, causing unnecessary deaths by using his own grandson to incite people's revolt through feelings of loss and shame. — I ate more fruit and, when finished, set the plate aside, turning my gaze toward Yurick.
— I won't leave you alone. There aren't many people to trust inside this castle, especially without knowing the assassin's face. We need to get rid of the possible internal threats first. — The alpha seemed tired of all this. The information people had was only about my illness after the wedding; no commoner knew my true condition or what really happened. That would cause panic and was far from the king's goals.
I reached for his hand, surprising Yurick, who looked at me with a perplexed expression. I squeezed it firmly. I felt like crying. I knew Yurick had saved me because I was crucial to his continental domination plan. Without me, everything would be even harder and would take much longer to happen, if it ever did.
— Thank you for defending me and stopping me from dying. — I was still weak, but that didn't matter anymore. — The words you said at the wedding in front of all the gods can be taken as true: my loyalty is yours. I will do everything to prevent my people from suffering because of my grandfather's choices, for your cruelty in trying to kill your only grandson. I will do everything to help you conquer the title of emperor. — I affirmed, knowing Yurick wouldn't believe everything because he was my enemy, someone who had lost the title, subdued by the war. He was hurt to have been so easily sentenced as a traitor. But I didn't care — I would choose the way that harmed people the least. I could even try to convince Yurick to keep only Neopolita, but my grandfather wouldn't rest until everything was his. Honestly, I preferred to see him lose the crown and his head rather than risk my entire people.
— I believe you. — The alpha said in a way that surprised me. — I count on your knowledge and your will to dominate Akasia.
I just needed to rest after that. I was relieved Yurick didn't question my words. Before I could rest my head back on the pillow, the alpha grabbed my nape, bringing it toward him, kissing my mouth voraciously, swallowing my lips, making me lose my breath faster than usual. Even as he pulled back a little to catch air, the older man slowly ran his tongue over my mouth, then slipped it inside seeking mine. It was hard to keep up with the alpha's rhythm, but I tried to follow. It was good — Yurick's kiss ignited a fire throughout my body. I was slightly trembling. We were married, so that kind of situation was allowed. The big hand on my waist pulled me possessively toward him, and my body yielded easily to his firm touches.
— Yurick, wait, I'm not in the condition to keep up with you now. — Even saying that, I let out a more whiny moan than usual when his lips found my neck, sinking in a strong bite that should have displeased me but instead gave me goosebumps. I remembered the needles, the sensation of pain piercing my skin. It was a mystery to me to like those extreme, painful sensations.
— I've waited more than a week, Seyrim. You're my husband; you have your duties. — Yurick exuded dominance, but he knew my limits; I would never keep up until I was fully recovered. I gave his face a light slap to get his attention. The alpha looked at me as if I had committed a crime.
— Do you want to kill me? — Of course, I had to control the urge to let him do whatever he wanted with me. — I just recovered from poisoning; my arm is bandaged and healing. I'll faint before we can even finish the act. — I lay back down on the bed, still feeling weak. — Give me a few days. — I asked, even though I longed to do it sooner, not just out of obligation. It was like that small flame just needed a breeze to spread like a huge fire inside me.
— Two days. — Yurick seemed thirsty for it. Until a few days ago, he was angry with me for thinking I was a traitor; now he just wanted to end that stage by sealing the marriage. I let out a big sigh, nodding in agreement. It wasn't a sacrifice — far from it. I had that sexual need for the alpha, marked since the first time we kissed in the bathtub, but it was nothing more than that — not feelings of love or passion, but carnal lust provoked by our pheromones. Every act between us was like a silent agreement, especially now that I was willing to cooperate with the older man.
I don't know exactly when it happened, I ended up falling into a deep sleep, exhausted after spending days in pain suffering from the poison that had finally left my body. I woke up at some point just to be fed by Lara; it was night, but I no longer cared. I noticed the climate had reached the nighttime cold, it wasn't snowing yet, but the harshest winter was about to come. I could tell how much the climate had changed; I still couldn't imagine the Roheians wearing so little clothing in the scarcity of winter. They must have been used to harsh weather conditions. Soon our culture would change; people would begin to imitate the royalty in terms of clothing, getting used to wearing little fabric even on the coldest days. That would take years, but it would be a gradual, inevitable process.
The two days that passed were mostly resting; I basically didn't leave the room. Lara stayed by my side telling stories, talking about the wedding, about her family, and how she missed going back to the capital to see her siblings. Even though the girl had the freedom to speak to me this way, she still used formal treatment. I just listened, amused by her tales, even though before I hadn't liked her cheerfulness, now I appreciated her company.
—How did you become Yurick's royal maid?— I asked her on the morning of the third day of recovery. I felt much better; it seemed my body just needed a walk after finishing breakfast, which consisted of scrambled eggs, fruits, juice, and some chocolate chip cookies.
—My father is a famous blacksmith in Roham. Even though we don't live in the capital, his fame reached the King's ears, so the King asked my father to forge the most powerful weapon in the whole kingdom.— Lara peeled an apple while hesitating in her story.—When the King saw how powerful our forge could be, he asked my father to move to the castle so he could serve the kingdom and train other blacksmiths. Well, the king spent a year trying to convince the stubborn old man to serve him. My father wanted to stay home to take care of my little sister, but my mother convinced him to work for the crown. So an alliance was formed between the king and the most skilled blacksmith of all. When we won the war, I was allowed to earn a position of trust because of the work.— Lara played with her own hair after realizing how much she had talked.—It's a privilege to be here watching history happen, taking care of my king's husband. Now we have food, no one will die of hunger from scarcity, so it's an honor to be part of this, even though I'm not a warrior like my sisters.
That was the other side of the coin. Those who won had their stories and were happy with their achievements. It was hard to feel indifferent to Lara's words. So I ended up smiling; I wasn't in a position to praise the enemy, I didn't have enough maturity for that, so I just held her hand, squeezing it gently. We barely had time for an intimate moment when the door opened. The girl had to leave immediately because Yurick had entered.
—Looks like you two are having a good conversation.— The alpha commented as if interested, although I knew his interest was elsewhere at the moment.
—She just told me about her family and the happiness of serving the crown.— I adjusted myself in bed, starting to feel my breath faltering, my chest beating hard and painfully, though anxiously.
Yurick looked like a predator, walking toward me while shedding his clothes, but first he closed the curtains, although no one could see anything due to the floor we were on, that gave a darker, more sensual atmosphere to the room. The alpha's scent started to take over the environment, filling every corner, showing his intentions.
—Lara's father helped me a lot, I only have to thank his family.— Yurick pulled back the sheets, exposing my still-clothed body. I let out a big sigh, not from impatience, but trying to control my breathing. I wasn't a virgin; that had happened before, not with the stature of the man in front of me, but I shouldn't be acting like an inexperienced person. The older man didn't take long to remove the last piece of fabric on his body, standing exposed. I had seen every detail of his flesh over those months, so it didn't surprise me, although his muscular composition was still admirable.
—Let me undress too.— I slowly removed the cloak I was wearing. Yurick seemed willing to wait until he saw my naked body again. The shirt was buttoned this time; I took off one button at a time in an attempt to prolong the act, doing it slowly. Exposing my chest, the earrings caught on my now hardened nipples.
I loosened my loose pants little by little, sliding the fabric over my skin until exposing my nudity before my husband. The alpha approached; I didn't even notice that my scent was strong too, mixing with his in a combination of sensual odors.
His hand slid along my neck, rising to my ear, caressing the earrings. The mere memory of the pain was enough to feel my entrance moisten and my member harden.
—I didn't pierce you and you're already excited, Seyrim.— His voice was hoarse and desirous. His lips touched mine. I kissed him with the urge to show my arousal. Yurick's hands didn't stop until they reached my nipples, first caressing the jewelry; that area was very sensitive. Then, between kisses, tongue, and the union of our mouths, I let out low, sultry moans. Yurick, sensing the sensitivity, pulled them, squeezing and twisting. Pain took over, and with it came pure ecstasy. How could my nipples be so sensitive? The alpha pulled and stimulated the area, showing his intentions weren't gentle. However, he soon stopped what he was doing; I murmured in frustration. The older man touched my nape, squeezing that area; I knew he would bite me—the tattoo on his finger wasn't enough; it was necessary to have that mark on my nape. Even though I imagined it still wasn't the right moment.
—On your knees, Seyrim.— The alpha ordered without hiding his intentions. He wanted my mouth at that moment. I just did it, kneeling before him. I didn't obey because of the promise, because I was his husband, because we were married, but from the need to be dominated in bed; it was as if with every act of obedience, my body became a boiler of pure heat. I was learning what pleasure meant in sex, fetishes I never imagined feeling before a man who was far from the prince of the most picturesque tales. I was before someone with a need to dominate, and within these four walls, I had the need to obey.