Rebirth of the Villain
Chapter 41: Royal Consolidation (18+)

Chapter 41: Royal Consolidation (18+)

The echo of Gareth’s broken sobs followed Arthur and Isolde down the palace corridors, but neither looked back.

Arthur’s arm remained possessively around his queen’s waist as they walked, her body pressed close to his side.

Now, it simply was.

"The guards heard everything," Isolde murmured, her voice steady. "Word will spread through the palace within the hour."

"Good," Arthur replied. "Let them know exactly where power lies in this kingdom."

Through their bond, he felt Isolde’s pulse of approval at his ruthlessness. The woman beside him had evolved too—no longer the careful queen walking political tightropes, but a partner ready to wield power without apology.

They reached the royal chambers in silence, but the moment the doors closed behind them, the careful composure both had maintained shattered like glass.

"Arthur." Isolde’s voice broke on his name as she turned in his arms, her hands frantically mapping his face, his shoulders, confirming he was real and whole.

"When the bond went silent, when you disappeared—I thought I’d lost you. Lost everything."

The fear in her voice, the desperate edge of a woman who’d already buried one king and faced the prospect of losing another.

But beneath it, through their connection, he felt something else: the steel core that had held the kingdom together in his absence, the iron will that had kept her functioning when everything inside her screamed to collapse.

"I’m here," he whispered, pulling her flush against him. "I’m not going anywhere. Never again."

But even as he spoke the words, the Primordial’s whispers echoed in the dark corners of his mind—reminders of the price paid, the power gained, the cosmic entity that had touched his soul and left its mark.

Isolde felt it too, through their bond. Her eyes widened slightly as she sensed the otherworldly presence that now lurked within him, sealed but not gone.

"The thing you channeled," she breathed. "It’s still there, isn’t it?"

"Contained," Arthur said firmly, though they both knew it was more complicated than that. "But changed me. Made me stronger. More... focused."

The last word carried weight—a euphemism for the cold calculation that now came as naturally as breathing, the willingness to psychologically destroy his own brother without hesitation.

Isolde’s response surprised him. Instead of fear or concern, her eyes darkened with something that looked remarkably like hunger.

"Show me," she whispered.

Arthur and Isolde move into their bedroom and shut the door.

Gareth’s meltdown in the medical wing. Isolde’s cool queen act fell apart fast—she rushed Arthur, clawing at his dirty shirt, nails scratching his chest as she pressed herself close, breathing hard.

"Three weeks," she growled, voice filled with need and worry. "I’ve been keeping this kingdom from falling apart, thinking you might be dead."

Arthur grabbed her hips, pulling her tight against him, feeling her heart pounding. She’d been a rock while he was gone, but now she was all raw emotion. "I’m back, Isolde," he said, tilting her face up to meet his eyes. "And you’re all mine."

They crashed into a kiss, messy and desperate, like they couldn’t get enough. Isolde yanked his hair, her tongue diving in, tasting the dirt and sweat from his fights. Arthur’s hands tore at her dress, ripping it open until it hit the floor, leaving her naked and shaking with want.

"That Primordial bitch," she panted, her curves glistening in the dim light. "I felt her messing with you. What’d she do?"

Arthur’s lips brushed her neck, biting hard enough to leave a mark. "Tried to take me over, but she is still within me."

Isolde shivered, her voice dripping with heat. "Then do it. Fuck me ’til I forget her."

He didn’t wait. He lifted her up, her legs wrapping around his waist, her wet heat grinding against him. He carried her to the bed.

The sheets crumpled as he tossed her down, her body bouncing, ready and begging. Arthur stripped quick, his cock rock-hard, throbbing for her.

Isolde’s eyes locked on him, legs spreading wide. "Please," she begged, voice breaking.

"Nah, not yet," Arthur smirked, climbing over her, his dick inches from her face. "Open that pretty mouth. Taste how much I missed you."

Her eyes went wide, then lit up with hunger. She opened up, and he pushed in, slow at first, letting her feel every inch. But he couldn’t hold back—his hips snapped, fucking her face hard, her throat taking him deep.

Isolde’s nails dug into his thighs, scratching as she gagged, but she didn’t back off. She sucked him like she was starving, tongue swirling, cheeks tight.

"Fuck yeah," Arthur groaned, head falling back as pleasure hit him like a punch. "Take it, Isolde. Show me you’re mine."

Her muffled moans drove him wild, spit dripping as she worked him. But he wanted more. He pulled out, a string of saliva hanging between them, and slid down her body. "Gareth would lose it seeing this," he said. "His mom choking on my dick."

"Good," Isolde shot back, fierce and filthy. "He’s my son. You’re my king—fuck me like one."

Arthur grinned, all predator, and slammed into her pussy, filling her in one rough thrust. "Mine," he roared, setting a brutal pace, her screams bouncing off the walls. "My queen, my dirty little slut."

[BOND SYNCHRONIZATION: ISOLDE - 100%]

[ENERGY RESTORATION: +25 POINTS]

[PLEASURE MULTIPLIER: x2]

The Primordial’s voice scratched at his brain, pushing him to go harder. His eyes flashed, hands gripping her hips so tight they’d bruise, pounding like he wanted to break her. He flipped her over, yanking her ass up, and spanked her hard, the crack echoing as her skin turned red.

"Arthur!" Isolde gasped, half-pain, half-pleasure, pushing back into him. "Don’t stop!"

He didn’t. He grabbed her wrists, pinning them behind her back, and fucked her deeper, the bed shaking. "You love this," he growled, smacking her ass again. "Love me owning you."

"Yes!" she cried, her body trembling as he pushed her closer to the edge. "Fuck me harder—make me yours!"

He leaned over her, chest against her sweaty back, and bit her shoulder, growling, "Come for me, Isolde. Let me feel it."

She exploded, screaming his name, her pussy clenching tight as she came hard, soaking him. Arthur let go with a loud grunt, spilling inside her, their orgasms hitting together like a damn firestorm.

[ENERGY ABSORPTION: +50 POINTS]

[PRIMORDIAL INFLUENCE: CONTAINED]

They collapsed, sweaty and tangled, Arthur’s arms wrapping around her as they caught their breath, hearts pounding together.

The bond between them pulsed with shared satisfaction and something deeper—unshakeable unity.

"Better?" Isolde asked softly, her fingers tracing lazy patterns on his chest.

"Perfect," Arthur replied, then felt his expression darken as reality intruded. "Now we need to discuss damage control."

Isolde’s demeanor shifted instantly, the satisfied woman transforming back into the calculating queen. "Gareth’s reaction will be all over the palace within hours. The nobles will be... concerned."

"Let them be concerned." Arthur’s voice carried the cold edge that had become natural since his transformation.

"I’ve just saved the kingdom from invasion, eliminated a threat that had been growing for years, and secured alliances that will make us untouchable. My authority is absolute."

"Authority earned through legend, yes," Isolde agreed, sitting up and reaching for a silk robe. "But political marriages require delicate handling. We need to control the narrative before it controls us."

Arthur watched her move, still marveling at how perfectly she’d adapted to their new dynamic. "What do you suggest?"

"We announce it as a strategic alliance first," she said, her tactical mind already working. "The grieving widow and heroic prince uniting for the kingdom’s strength. A political necessity that happened to bloom into something deeper."

"And if they object to the... personal aspects?"

Isolde’s smile was sharp enough to cut glass. "Then we remind them what happens to those who question royal authority.

Your brother’s breakdown will serve as an excellent example of the consequences of opposing us."

Arthur felt a dark satisfaction at her words. The woman before him was no longer just a queen playing political games—she was his partner in every sense, willing to be as ruthless as necessary.

"Speaking of strategic alliances," he said, "we need to discuss Sera."

"The dragon." Isolde’s voice became thoughtful. "She’s ancient, powerful, and now bonded to you. The political implications are staggering."

"She’s also been tortured for three years," Arthur said, his jaw tightening. "Drained, experimented on, treated like a resource rather than a being. She’ll need careful handling."

"And integration into our structure." Isolde moved to her dressing table, beginning to repair her appearance with practiced efficiency. "A dragon as your consort would send a message to every kingdom within a thousand miles. But it also creates complications."

"What kind of complications?"

"Dragons are prideful beings, Arthur. Ancient, used to being apex predators in any situation. She may not adapt easily to being part of a harem structure, even as a highly valued member."

Arthur considered this, feeling the new bond’s presence at the edge of his consciousness. Sera’s draconic essence called to his Incubus abilities in ways that promised incredible power synergy, but Isolde was right about the complications.

"She’s already forming the bond," he said. "I can feel it strengthening. The connection between dragon magic and Lustborn power—it’s unlike anything the system has shown before."

"Which brings us to another concern." Isolde turned from the mirror, fully composed once again. "Your evolution. You are about to reach Archon rank. What happens when you cross that threshold?"

"I don’t know," Arthur admitted. "The system has been... different since the Primordial contact. Enhanced but changed. I can feel new possibilities opening up, but also new risks."

"Risks we’ll face together," Isolde said firmly. "But first, we need to solidify our immediate position. Joint rule, with clear authority structures."

"And anyone who objects?"

Her smile was predatory. "Will learn why crossing the Lionheart dynasty is a fatal mistake."

Arthur rose and began dressing, feeling renewed purpose flowing through him. The intimate reconnection had healed more than just his depleted energy—it had reminded him exactly what he was fighting to protect and expand.

"I should check on Sera," he said, straightening his shirt. "She’ll need to understand her place in our structure."

"Be careful," Isolde warned. "Ancient beings don’t always adapt well to new power dynamics. And a dragon’s pride runs deeper than oceans."

"I’ll handle it." Arthur paused at the door, looking back at his queen—his wife, his partner in all things. "We’ll handle everything."

"Together," she agreed, her voice carrying absolute certainty.

As Arthur made his way through the palace corridors toward the chambers where Sera was recovering, he felt the system pulse with renewed energy.

The Primordial’s whispers were quiet for now, contained by his bond with Isolde and the prospect of new power through dragon integration.

But he could feel them waiting, patient as the void between stars.