I taste her, measuring every inch of her skin with my tongue and branding her with my hickeys. Her moans fan the flames of desire inside me. Her hands are all over me, tracing my abs and running over my muscles. Gently, I place her on the bed while hovering over her as I trail down her body.

Her skin is so soft, it temps me to bite into it. I can't have enough of her. Unlike other times, she is giving into my touch. This makes Rey growl in approval. I could feel her wolf, Vesta just underneath her surface.

As I descend down, she puts her hands in my hair and pulls me up before claiming my lips again. I lie by her side before I pull her closer. Strong sparks dance on my skin as her bare skin is pressed again mine. Her tender, bare breasts are pressed against my hard muscles. I can't help but pull her closer as I deepen the kiss.

I wanted this so badly. I had never felt so content before. I was upset since yesterday when we had the heated conversation. This lightened my mood considerably. She's capable of making me feel things that no one ever made me feel. I can't be happier to have her.

I don't know what I did to get her as my mate. Ishtar paired us to get back at me. I am well aware of it that Ishtar paired us even after not being compatible, just for the sake of revenge but I couldn't have asked for anyone better.

She gives me hope. She promises me a future to look forward to. I want to have all of her. She's everything for me and I'd give her everything if she asks once.

I don't know how long we kissed. I lost track of time. I lost the sense of my surrounding. It's so easy for me to forget everything when I am with her. She sighs deeply when I pull back. She buries her face in the crook of my neck and stays like that for the rest of the night. Her hands rest on my chest while my arms are wrapped around her and one of my legs is draped over hers, enclosing her into my body.

"Good night, my queen," I mutter lowly in her ear. I feel her lips curl into a smile against my skin. "Night, my king," says her faint voice and my heart skips a beat.

"Oh, my Neffie..."

~

The morning sunlight casting through the window is the first thing I feel in the morning. I yawn as I rub my eyes. I feel so warm and fuzzy this morning. Vesta is buzzing with happiness inside me. As I sit up and stretch my arms, a smile finds its way to my lips.

I sigh deeply before I crawl out of the bed. Suddenly, my pajama top slips, which makes me stop and look down. It seems exceptionally bigger and smells nice... hmmm. The sleeves are bigger than my hands so I have to slip them up to my elbow. Did I shrink or the shi- GODAMN IT'S HIS SHIRT! HOW DID IT END UP ON ME?

I freeze for a moment as I rake my brain to remember what happened last night. Soon, I remember everything. His heated kisses, his electrifying touch, and his passionate mouth. I find my pajama top lying on the bed, crumbled and disregarded. I let his pajama shirt slip off my body as I stand before the huge mirror in his room.

A gasp leaves my lips as my eyes travel over my skin covered with hickeys. My breasts seem swollen and covered with his marks. There are several marks on my stomach and neck too. I race my brain to remember if things went down south but so far, I don't feel anything abnormal in the juncture between my legs.

I force myself to focus before I bathe and get dressed. I am pretty much of a late riser whereas Arles wakes up pretty early. I like to function late and Armelius has adjusted to my timetable. I have breakfast before I head to the library. Armelius is not there. Instead, I find a note saying that he's busy with important matters which will require him to leave me alone for the day.

I resume my study but I am mostly distracted by random books. I am alone in the library for the most day. One of the servants brings me snacks as usual. While munching on a pineapple pastry, I skim through books, looking for something that'd keep me interested enough to not to reminisce about last night.

At one point I realize that I have taken too many books at once and that I have to put them back before I could take any new ones out. I start to sort them and arrange alphabetically before taking them back to their shelves.

I was in the deep inside the library when I hear footsteps but later they fade away.

"What are you do-"

"AHHHHH" I scream bloody murder when I hear him speak behind me all of a sudden. "Are you planning to kill me?" I hiss at him while I place a hand over my racing heart. He gives me a huge smile as he steps closer. The smile reaches his eyes. I've never seen him so happy. My already racing heart speeds up and my stomach clenches when my eyes land on his neck. I find bite marks disappearing under the collar of his black cloak. I gave them to him.

"I wanted to see you," He confesses as he steps closer till the toes of our feet are touching. I feel the blood rushing to my cheeks as he looks down at me fervently. I gulp as I try to act normal while placing the books back in the shelf.

"You can leave as you've seen me already," I try to sound nonchalant but the truth is, a part of me is overly excited to see him. I've missed him a lot since morning.

"What are you doing though?" He asks as he places his hands on my waist and continues to look down at me as I put the books back in an orderly manner. I press my lips in a thin line to stop myself from smiling. I find myself leaning back, welcoming the warmth of his body.

"Help me put these back, will you?" I ask politely as I tilt my head at a side to look up at him. His lips curl into a smile before he nods.

"So how much have you learned?" He asks as he helps me arrange the books alphabetically. I tell him how much I've learned.

"I think you should start coming to the court. It will help you learn more than these things," He says while tossing a book at me. Its title read 'Guide to a Queen's conduct'. I roll my eyes as I stuff it back in a lower shelf where it won't get much attention.

"Arles," I call for him as he looks at the new stack of books that I just bought from the reading table.

"Humm?"

"I don't know anything about you," He slowly turns to look at me as silence surrounds us.

"Why, don't you know me as the bad and meanest man? Don't you know I killed my father and half-brother for the throne? Don't you know I got outsmarted by a mortal who also happens to be my mate? Don't you know how I caused the most pain to my mate? Don't you know I am hated by everyone in my kingdom, including my mate? Don't you know me as the worst King who has nothing left in his kingdom? Don't you know the crimes I committed? Why, didn't those books tell you how I killed innocents for the throne? Don't you know me as the Lonely God? You know a lot about me, Neffie, don't you?" He speaks casually while sorting the books while my back is facing him as I listen to him. I bat the tears away and try to act normal.

"What happened, Neffie?" Suddenly, he speaks close to my ear and I drop the book from my hand as he continues, "You already know so many things about me, what else would you want to know?" He places his hands on my hips and turns me around so that I am facing him.

"I wish I were a sensible man. All the things I did to you, I... you shouldn't forgive me. I don't deserve your forgiveness. I regret marking you like that. I... I was taken away by my feelings. I didn't want you to leave me. I..." He trails off before he adds, "I was scared that you'd leave me,"

My stomach dips at his words and the vulnerability in the tone of his voice. I feel guilty at his words. The realization dawns upon me that I was busy running away when he needed me the most. A storm of emotions is brewing in his eyes as he speaks to me.

"It scared me more when you tried to claw my mark out. It broke me to see the person who meant everything to me trying their best to get away from me. It's not your fault though. I did so many bad things to you... you deserve better, I..." My heart is aching at his words. The weight of his hands on my hips feels so heavy. I couldn't believe that he's telling all this to me. "I used to think how you owe me so many things but now, when I am able to think clearly I realize that it is I who owes you so many things.

"I robbed you, Nefret. I robbed you of your choice to be marked. I robbed you of your normal life and the happiness you deserved. I gave you pain and sadness for being my mate. I don't have much to offer, really. I was never loved by anyone. It was a foreign thing for me, love. I was jealous of those who got it without asking for it while I tried to earn it. Though, I never got it from anyone anyway. Maybe, I am not meant to be loved.

"Then I got you. I thought I'd finally have someone. I was angry at first when you didn't want to do anything with me. I forced you and it makes me the biggest fool. I can't force you to love me, especially a strong woman like you, Nefret.

"I've never been vocal about my feeling before but I found that it's necessary to tell you these things after what happened last night. I..." He trails off before he closes his eyes and takes a deep breath. His arms wrap around me as he leans forward and presses his forehead against mine. I place my hands on his chest and clutch his cloak because I don't trust myself. His words are so strong; they overpower the hatred that I reserved for him. "You made me feel loved. For the first time, I felt like I was really wanted by someone,"

Silence follows his words. I am at a loss of words. I don't know what to say to him. I am left searching for words to voice my emotions but I can't find any. My heart is fluttering in my chest like a caged bird. Vesta is silent inside me as I am consumed by a pang of new guilt.

"I tried to keep you safe from all the evil but I couldn't save you from me," He speaks as I am drenched in silent, trying to sort my thoughts. He did do wrong things but I have a fair share of mine into doing such things too.

We've both hurt each other at some point.

~

It's evening and I am back in his room. He is not here so I am planning to go to the well and see more. I put on some warm clothes since it's snowing heavily outside before I sneak out of his room.

"Where are you go-"

"FOR GOD'S SAKE WILL YOU STOP SCARING ME LIKE THIS?" For the second time today I find myself being scared to death by his sudden arrival. My heart is racing a thousand miles per hour in my chest while the butterflies in my stomach are angrily flapping their wings against my stomach wall. He's leaning by the entrance of his wing as he throws his head back and laughs. It resonates throughout the wall, sounding musical. His laugh is infectious because I find myself trying hard not to smile at him.

I glare at him but continue to go my way. Soon, I hear his footsteps follow me.

"Where do you keep going at this time?" He asks suspiciously.

"I'm going for a run," I lie.

"I'll go with you,"