The Devil's Son and His Fated Bride
Chapter 28: You don’t play fair

Chapter 28: You don’t play fair

He laughed again, the sound deep and velvety, sending a reckless storm of butterflies fluttering in her stomach. It only fueled her anger further. She huffed, leaping onto the bed like an indignant cat and yanking the blanket over her head.

"If you’re done mocking me and prying into my mind, tell me—what have you done to me?" she snapped. This wasn’t a joke. This was dishonorable.

"It’s unfair that I can’t hear your thoughts," she added through clenched teeth.

"Oh? Well, alright. Don’t beat me, wife," he drawled playfully, his voice thick with amusement.

Her breath snagged in her chest.

"I have one condition," his voice was as pleasant as the cool air brushing against her skin.

Ren gritted her teeth. "What is it?"

"Hm. I can’t see your face. I won’t take this deal seriously otherwise."

She stiffened. He was playing with her, but she needed to know the extent of this mark’s influence over her. She had no other choice but to go along with it.

"Fine," she growled, lowering the blanket slightly. But her breath hitched. He was too close.

His elbow rested on the pillow beside her, his fist tucked beneath his temple, his smoldering gaze locked onto hers. The flicker of amusement in his eyes was blinding, teasing, unbearably confident.

"Wife, I told you this marriage can’t be consummated," he murmured, his voice suddenly thick with something darker, something that made her pulse jump. "But if you keep being this sweet, I won’t be able to keep my word. I might just ask you for sex."

The quiet certainty in his tone sent a tremor down her spine. She did not doubt that if he wanted something, he would take it.

"Then we should sleep in separate beds," she countered hastily, her voice faltering. "Unless... we can’t stay in different rooms."

His playful smirk vanished. In an instant, he was over her.

His arms caged her in, his broad frame blotting out everything but the heat of his body. She was trapped beneath him, like a little rabbit ensnared by a ruthless hunter.

What shocked her wasn’t his dominance. It was her own reaction.

Her body betrayed her, her back nearly arching toward him. It wasn’t fear coursing through her veins. It was something far more dangerous.

"Never, ever say that again," he growled, his voice low and edged with warning. "If we sleep in separate rooms, everyone will find out."

He shifted closer. His lips hovered a breath away from hers, his gaze lowering to her mouth, dark with intent.

"I can change my mind at any time, wife. So don’t tempt me."

She swallowed hard, but she wouldn’t let herself cave to this weakness.

"I have no problem sharing a bed with you," she forced out. "I’m just worried about your longing. You can sleep with Elaika."

She clenched her fists beneath the blanket. Saying those words burned her heart. She loathed the idea of sharing him. But if he didn’t want her, then why should she care?

His expression darkened.

"Are you serious? Would you not get jealous if your husband lay in another woman’s bed?"

The way his voice deepened sent shivers racing over her skin.

"Of course not. We are not in love."

The words tasted bitter. She had dreamt—fantasized—about the day he would touch her with passion. But that day would never come.

Kai pulled back, reclining on his side as if her words had settled something in him.

"So you seek love," he mused, his voice quieter now. "You want sex with love, is that it?"

"Of course," she whispered. "Why should I let a man who doesn’t love me force himself on me?"

His gaze snapped to hers, sharp as a blade.

"I am your husband. Not just any man. And I would never force myself on you."

A heavy silence stretched between them before he finally exhaled. "Now sleep. Tomorrow, I’ll take you to the training hall and the forge. It will be a long day."

Ren turned onto her side, gripping the blanket, but she couldn’t stop herself from asking.

"Have you ever loved someone?"

She didn’t dare peek at him, but she felt his tension crackle through the air.

"Pull that blanket away, and I’ll tell you."

"You tricked me. The other question is still unanswered."

A low sigh escaped him. "Fine. I’ll answer both. Satisfied?"

She tugged the blanket down slightly and met his gaze with wide, searching eyes. "Answer."

Kai shook his head, but his voice was firm.

"I don’t do love. I never have. Love is a weakness."

Her heart clenched. Any faint, foolish hope she’d held onto crumbled under the weight of his certainty.

"Alright," she whispered. "I won’t push you to explain. But I disagree. Love is the only weapon that guarantees victory."

Kai raised an eyebrow, intrigued despite himself.

"Why?"

"You want me to prove it?"

A slow, challenging smirk curved his lips. "That would be fun," he admitted. "At least this relationship won’t be boring. But how do you plan to start? Straddling me?"

She clenched her jaw. He was mocking her. Swallowing her pride, she threw off the blanket and rolled onto him in one swift motion.

His body tensed beneath her, her thighs caging his hips, her hands braced against his chest. His breath hitched as he took in the sight of her—wild, determined, sensually defiant.

For the first time, he looked... rattled.

His lips parted slightly, and he let out a slow, quiet breath.

"Not bad, wife," he breathed.

She leaned down, knuckles brushing over his cheek, her eyes following the path of her fingers.

"Who told you that love is only about physical attachment?" she whispered. "It’s both physical and soul-deep. If one is missing, it’s not love. It’s an obsession. Or lust. Or both."

Her voice was a featherlight caress.

Kai reached up, tucking a stray lock of hair behind her ear.

"Are you going to lecture me as proof?" his eyes were flickering with something unreadable.

She shook her head. "No. But I dare you to love me."

His grin faded. His fingers slid down to her waist, gripping just tight enough to pull her closer.

"What if I fail you?"

The pressure of his touch sent a jolt of heat surging through her.

"You won’t," she breathed.

Kai’s eyes darkened, his expression unreadable. No one had ever challenged him like this before.

"What do you say?" she couldn’t wait for his answer.

He held her gaze for a long moment, then exhaled a slow, measured breath.

"I accept, Princess," he declared. "Your time starts now... until the end of the war."

Ren nodded, shifting to move away, but his grip remained firm.

"I just said love isn’t only physical," she pointed out.

He smirked, finally releasing her.

"You’re a bold little thing," he mused. "Show me, then. Not with words. Prove it through action. But let me warn you—this is a waste of time. Love is undoable for me." His voice lowered. "But..." He let the word linger, a dark promise in his tone. "It will be fun."

Ren inhaled sharply, steadying herself. At least he didn’t get angry.

"Now, if you’re done playing," he said, stretching back with an easy smirk, "let me tell you what the mark is truly capable of."

"Sure, I’m all ears! If you don’t play unfair again."

The source of this c𝐨ntent is fre𝒆w(e)bn(o)vel