By the time Skye and Zed arrived back in Kristanlia, the moon was already high and indicating the lateness of the night. The journey had been long and exhausting, and Skye's entire body ached, she had danced and twirled and smiled so much. She couldn't fathom how Zed still looked so composed, not at all stressed, and not a strand of hair out of place.
"Shall I carry you, wife?" he offered casually, his deep voice echoing slightly as the carriage door opened.
Skye blinked, startled by the offer and the casual use of the word wife, it seemed like he wasn't going to stop saying it anytime soon.
"No… I'm fine," she gave him a small smile and managed, hopping down carefully. The cool night air brushed against her flushed skin.
Helen followed right behind, gathering the hem of her gown to avoid tripping.
Yes, Helen.
Skye had begged Zed after the ceremony to let her bring Helen along to Kristanlia. To her surprise, he'd agreed without argument and for that, Skye was grateful. Having Helen close brought her a sense of comfort, a reminder of home amid the eerie silence of Zed's fortress-like castle.
Inside, the great hall was quiet except for the echo of their footsteps. The marble floors gleamed faintly under candlelight. Zed walked beside her, calm and unreadable, while Helen trailed respectfully behind.
They parted ways once they reached the upper corridor. Zed disappearing down one hallway while Skye and Helen made their way toward her chamber where she had been staying.
Once inside, Helen set their luggage down and turned to her with a knowing look.
"You know you'll have to go to your husband tonight," Helen reminded gently, folding her hands.
Skye froze mid-step, her heart beginning to race. Of course, she knew, It was their wedding night. That was what newlyweds did… wasn't it?
Still, the thought of lying beside Zed…..of that made her face burn with a heat she couldn't contain.
"I'll shower and change before I go," she murmured, trying to sound calm.
Helen nodded and began preparing the bath. The scent of lavender oil filled the air, soft and soothing. Skye sank into the water, trying to relax, the water soothed her tired muscles, but her mind wouldn't stop running, filled with thoughts of his face, his voice, the way he'd held her earlier during their dance. She had felt every movement of his hands.
Afterward, Helen rubbed scented oils into her skin and helped her into a satin nightgown, pale cream and soft. When she looked in the mirror, she nodded in approval, her cheeks still flushed from nerves and her lips trembling slightly.
"Thank you, Helen," she whispered, and Helen smiled knowingly.
"Be brave, my lady."
Gathering what courage she could, Skye made her way to Zed's chamber. Her heart pounded with every step. The corridor seemed much longer for some reason, and each flickering torch making her nerves worse.
When she reached his door, she hesitated before knocking, only to realize it was already slightly open.
She pushed it open gently.
Zed sat near the window, still dressed in his dark attire, his head bent over a book. The moonlight shone his face, making him look more etheral, he hadn't even noticed her enter.
"Is everything alright?" she asked softly.
His head lifted immediately, those amber eyes catching hers. "Yes. Is there a problem?" he asked, sounding genuinely puzzled.
She swallowed hard, her fingers fidgeting. "Well… they say a woman is to stay with her husband on their wedding night." Her voice trembled.
A slow, wicked smile curved his lips as he set the book aside and rose to his full height. "Stay with her husband and do what?" he asked, stepping closer.
Her throat went dry. "And… love each other."
"Love each other?" he asked, clearly enjoying this.
"And… make love," she whispered so softly and her face turned red.
Zed's smile widened. He leaned closer, his voice a seductive whisper. "Do you want me to make love to you, Skye?"
Her breath hitched, and she flushed and her cheeks became hot and a deeper shade of red. "I… I don't know," she stammered, her cheeks terribly warm and she trembled under his gaze, it was almost like he could see straight through her.
He lifted a finger and tilted her chin up gently, forcing her eyes to meet his. "We do not have to do something simply because everyone expects it," he said softly.
Relief and disappointment mingled in her chest. She nodded faintly.
"You're tired, wife. You need rest," he said, brushing a strand of hair from her face. "I won't make love to you tonight."
Her lips parted slightly. "Are you… upset?" she asked.
"Far from it." His lips curved faintly. "I'm amused, Shocked even that you came to my room asking me to make love to you."
She flushed deeper, unable to meet his eyes. The amber glow in them seemed to brighten, burning with something she couldn't name.
Zed studied the beautiful, blushing woman before him, his wife and for the first time that night, he felt something warm stir in his chest.
Before he could stop himself, he bent down and kissed her.
Her breath caught. The kiss was soft and not too deep but enough to make her legs go weak. He wrapped an arm around her waist to steady her, holding her close for a little longer than he had planned to.
If he made love to her now, he thought, she might not be able to walk by morning.
Zed's heart began to pound harder, the sound echoing in his own ears. The faint scent of lavender on her skin, how soft and warm she felt, clouded his senses. Desire crawling its way in, tempting him to forget control.
Skye feeling brave, tried her best to return the kiss. Her lips moved with inexperience, then gradually melted into his. She felt tiny scratches at her neck, the faint brush of his claws. It should have frightened her, but it didn't. Somehow, she knew he wasn't doing it on purpose.
Zed felt his fangs lengthen, that familiar ache building at the back of his jaw, the wild part of him rising to the surface. A low growl escaped his throat before he tore himself away from her, breathing hard. His eyes burned amber with streaks of red.
"Skye… leave," he rasped,.his voice rough and husky "You are a temptation."
She blinked up at him, confused, and if she could get anymore red, she did. "Are you… busy?" she asked softly, her voice small.
He turned away, dragging a hand through his hair, trying to calm the pounding in his chest. "No," he said finally, his voice lower now, steadier.
She hesitated, he had told her to leave, yet part of her didn't want to. The room was silent except for the crackling of the fire and the sound of her own heartbeat.
Feeling brave, she slowly walked over to the bed and climbed onto it, sitting with her back straight, trying to seem composed.
"What are you doing?" Zed asked, his tone caught somewhere between disbelief and amusement.
"A woman is supposed to be with her husband on their wedding night, and you said we don't have to do what others do. So… we won't make love, but I'll stay here." she said softly, fiddling with her fingers.
Zed's lips curved into a small, rare smile. "If you say so, wife."
For some reason the word seemed to tug at her heart.
Zed suddenly began to unfasten the buttons of his shirt.
Skye's eyes widened. "What are you doing!" she asked, her voice rising slightly in panic.
"I can't sleep in these garments," he said, his tone calm and unbothered.
She turned her head sharply away, cheeks burning so hot she thought they might catch fire. "Right. Of course."
He continued unbuttoning, each metallic click echoing faintly in the quiet room, until he reached that stubborn button, the one that refused to close that morning. Now, it refused to open.
He sighed. He could easily tear the fabric apart, but he suddenly paused.
"Wife," he called.
"Yes?" She didn't turn her head, still staring at the wall, clutching the bedsheet in her fists.
"My button refuses to open."
Her eyes darted to him before she could stop herself. He stood there, tall and broad, that one button straining stubbornly across his chest. The moonlight shone over the hard lines of muscle beneath the dark fabric.
Her mouth went dry.
She should help him, shouldn't she?
Taking a shaky breath, Skye rose from the bed and crossed the short distance to him. Her fingers fidgeted nervously at her sides as she stood before him, close enough to feel the warmth radiating from his body.
Her heart thumped so loudly she feared he might hear it.
Keeping her gaze low, she reached out a trembling hand toward that stubborn button…