Moonlight poured softly through the tall windows of Dylan's chamber, casting silver light across the silence. Irin lay curled up like a small child in the center of his bed, her face peaceful against the dark velvet sheets. Her soft breath rose and fell gently… unaware of the shadow that had just stepped inside.
Dylan entered the room, shoulders heavy from war, soul tired — but the moment he saw her… everything stopped.
He walked to her quietly and sat beside her on the edge of the bed. With the gentlest touch, he pulled the sheets up around her delicate frame, as though protecting the most precious thing in this realm. He brushed his warm palm across her forehead, then leaned down and kissed her cheek softly.
Irin felt the warmth of his breath, the taste of his closeness… her eyelids fluttered open, and there he was — Dylan… watching over her like a guardian of the night.
He whispered in a husky, apologetic voice, "Sorry… I didn't want to wake you. Sleep, my queen."
He smiled at her so tenderly that Irin's heart twisted. Behind that smile… she could feel it — pain, hidden wounds, exhaustion that he never showed. He was protecting her from everything, even his own suffering. Tears welled up in her eyes before she could stop them.
Dylan's eyes widened. "Irin? What's wrong? Did someone hurt you?" His voice trembled with panic.
Suddenly she wrapped her arms around him and hugged him so tightly as though afraid he might disappear. "I love you, Dylan… Why are you so nice to me?"
He let out a small breath — half a laugh, half a sigh — and gently moved her back, cupping her cheek with his calloused hand. "Of course I am. You are half of me… my wife." He leaned in and kissed her lips lightly — a tender, reverent kiss that made her eyes flutter shut.
"Why are you crying?" he murmured, still holding her face.
Irin looked at him through shimmering tears. "Because… I'm so happy that you are my husband. I'm so lucky…"
Dylan smiled quietly, amused and touched, but as Irin's eyes lowered, she saw it — the red mark across his chest. A wound… fresh and painful.
Her breath caught. "Dylan… what happened?!" She hurriedly lifted the front of his shirt.
He tried to turn away, "It's nothing. Just—"
But she had already seen the deep sword strike over his chest. Her heart shattered. "You're bleeding…" her voice trembled.
He wiped her tears with his thumb as if wiping away rain. "This is nothing. In war, this is common." And he smiled again — that same warm smile that made her cry even more.
She gently brought water and cloth from the bedside and sat in front of him, silently cleaning his wound with trembling hands. He watched her with a silent awe, letting her dress his wound with white cloth. Every time she touched him, he felt warmth pouring into his heart.
After wrapping it, she pressed herself against him in a tight hug, cheeks against his bare chest. "It's because of me… all because of me. If I hadn't married you—"
Dylan covered her mouth suddenly, his voice turning deeper, darker, possessive. "Not because of you. Blame the Heaven Realm for what they did to our people."
He pulled her closer, gripping her waist with one strong hand, his voice brushing against her ear.
Dylan's voice dropped to a husky whisper. "One more word, Irin," he warned, his fingers tightening around her waist. "And I will kiss you."
She hid her face against his shoulder shyly and whispered teasingly, "Then I will say it again…"
Dylan didn't let her finish. His lips crashed against hers with burning need. The kiss was deep, desperately hungry, as though he had been starving for her touch. Irin felt her heartbeat race as she melted into him, her fingers pressing into his bare shoulders. He kissed her from one corner of her lips to the other, over and over, devouring her soft breath.
His warm hands slid along her back—from her hip to her shoulder—pulling her closer so that not even air existed between them. Irin let out a soft gasp when he broke the kiss to whisper against her lips:
"I've waited so long for this…"
He lifted her gently and laid her down on the velvet sheets beneath him. Irin's fingers traced the lines of his chest and abs, trembling with tenderness. He leaned down and kissed her again — softer, slower, but deeper. She stopped him for a breath, whispering, "Dylan… your wound…"
"My pain doesn't matter right now," he murmured against her lips. "I only want you. May I…?"
Her cheeks flushed as she nodded with a shy smile. "Yes…"
Dylan's lips brushed her forehead, then her cheeks, trailing down to her throat. Each kiss left sparks on her skin. His breath was hot as he whispered, "Your lips… I can't get enough of them."He kissed her neck, licking gently along her collarbone, his hand caressing her waist . Irin's body trembled with anticipation.
He slid his hand to her waist, gently helping her loosen the ties of her gown. Irin brought her hands up to her shoulders, trying to remove her dress, but Dylan stopped her with a wicked, gentle voice, "Let me…"
With careful fingers, he untied her gown and slipped the delicate straps from her shoulders, worshipping her skin with slow, reverent kisses. He removed her outer coat and , then slid the thin strap off her shoulder, leaving only the lace fabric that hid her softness from him.
He kissed the exposed skin. He kissed her palm, unbuttoned her dress, revealing her lace bra. Admiring her shy bare skin, he touched her tenderly.
She lay beneath him, half-bare, breathing hard. He looked at her with pure admiration — as if she was the most sacred thing he had ever seen. "You're beautiful," he whispered brokenly, his voice full of longing.
Irin covered her face with her hands, shy. Dylan leaned down and kissed her palms, then her shoulder, the curve of her collarbone. She trembled as his lips traveled lower, tasting her skin.
He removed the final piece of cloth slowly, His fingers brushed over her breast, cupping gently, squeezing and teasing, then to her belly. Irin gasped softly.
He kissed her belly, then between her breasts, finally unclipping her bra. His warm hands gliding along her body. Irin gasped softly as he pressed gentle kisses across her chest, over her heart, along her waist. He touched her bare chest, gently squeezing and licking her breasts, teasing her nipples, kissing again and again.He touched her gently but firmly, like he was memorizing every inch of her.
Her breath hitched as he caressed the curve of her waist and hips, his mouth brushing softly over her skin. She arched against him when his lips lowered to her belly, kissing her lightly, making her shiver. His hands explored her sides and back, pulling her closer as she tangled her fingers in his hair, whispering his name in a breathless voice.
Dylan captured her lips again, and this time the kiss was deep and full of heat — desire mixing with love. He held her tightly as if she might vanish. "I love you, Irin…" he whispered against her lips.
Tears of joy filled her eyes as she whispered back, "I love you, Dylan…" She wrapped her arms around him, pulling him close.
He leaned in and kissed her over and over, covering her in warmth, both of them surrendering to their hearts. Under the soft glow of moonlight, their bodies intertwined with tenderness and fire. They held one another through the night, whispering each other's names, hearts beating as one.
---
Morning Scene
The sunlight spilled gently across the bed. Irin blinked her eyes open slowly, her body still glowing warm from his embrace. But when she reached beside her, the space was empty.
"Dylan…?" she whispered, sitting up and pulling the sheets closer.
A maid stepped in quietly. "My queen… His Majesty left early for the second day of war. He wished for you to rest."
Irin's heart tightened with both love and fear as she stared out the window. Come back safe to me… please.
The Great War Land
Swords clashed like thunder. The armies of Heaven and the Demon Realm met in chaos once more. Dylan's crimson eyes blazed with fury.
"Is your brother afraid of me?? Why does he hide?!" Dylan shouted across the battlefield.
Ren stood before him with cold eyes. "He doesn't fear you."
"Stop talking with your mouth," Dylan growled, drawing his blade. "Talk with your sword."
Their blades collided with a roar, sparks flying. The ground trembled beneath their wrath. Demons and Heaven warriors clashed around them like a storm tearing the sky.
---
Zerath's Chamber
Later, Irin stood before the old sorceress Zerath, her voice steady but desperate. "Zerath… I need your help."
Zerath's eyes narrowed. "Help? With what?"
"I know… a goddess can stop war and bring peace. Tell me what I must do."
Zerath answered calmly, "A goddess cannot stop war. She cannot bring peace." Irin's hope faded like a candle flame.
"But… a goddess may choose a side. And if she leads that side… that side may win."
Irin's eyes shimmered with new determination. "Then I will do it. I'll choose the Demon Realm. I will do anything for my people… for Dylan."
"You wish to abandon Heaven for the demons?" Zerath asked in a low voice.
Irin answered, "Yes. I already have." Her voice did not tremble. "I don't care what I was born as. My heart belongs to him."
Zerath stared at her for a long moment… and then, strangely, she smiled. "No… it doesn't surprise me. In fact… you remind me of someone."
Irin stepped closer. "Who…?"
Zerath's gaze grew far away, as if seeing someone long dead.
"Someone… from a past even the gods have forgotten…...your Mother-in-law "
---
To be continued…