The Devil's Son and His Fated Bride
Chapter 87: Torn clothes

Chapter 87: Torn clothes

Ren narrowed her eyes as she pulled out a chair for her maiden and seated her at her left hand. Arkilla, naturally, settled beside the girl. The gesture alone drew sharp glances from several nobles. Their glares said enough, they found the act offensive, but none dared voice their displeasure aloud. But among them, Ren spotted some agreeing and smiling, mostly the ones who befriended humans in this castle. Ren had a purpose for doing this, to prove to them not all humans were shrewd and crafty. She could swear that among shifters some men and women loved each other but dared not to express or show it.

Lunch passed pleasantly, the food too good to invite arguments. Even those who held their pride like a sword chose to eat in silence before returning to their provinces. This was actually a farewell ritual before the elders of each land would leave.

Afterward, Kai took Ren for a walk through the garden. It was the first moment they had truly to themselves since her arrival, too many obligations had stolen their time. Thankfully, Elaika had left with her grandfather and wouldn’t jump here to ruin it, and Coran had ensured she wouldn’t stir trouble with that sharp tongue of hers.

"How was your day?" Kai asked, his tone softer than the spring breeze brushing past them, despite the hot weather of this short summer. Agara was right, summer was short in this land but scorching.

"Hard," Ren replied with a wry smile. "I only moved a few tiny water drops. I get distracted too easily."

Kai glanced at her, his fingers tightening around hers. "What distracts you? Is it me?"

She should have told him he was only one among a thousand thoughts storming through her mind. Instead, she said, "Everything. Including you. But on the battlefield, your safety matters most. If those vampires mutate again for any reason... I worry. If I fail to create something that can buy time, what then?"

"My army is fast and strong," Kai began but then hesitated. The weight of unspoken truths pressed heavily on his chest. Her uncle, no, her father, King Benkin... The man had only tried to save Ren because of their blood bond, not love. Still, Kai couldn’t pretend the king’s ulterior motives were ever pure. Not anymore. Not when both he and Agara had vowed not to let that man use her again. The Fae would protect Ren even if it cost them a war. They didn’t know about her blood yet but Kai was determined to tell them.

"King Benkin, I mean," he corrected himself. "He commands a shadow army, assassins trained to kill without mercy. I doubt many could stand against them. Vampires are not intelligent but they are elites."

Ren exhaled slowly, then offered a faint smile. "Send my regards to my uncle, and tell him I’m alright, will you? I know he’s not a good man... but he treated me far better than my own father ever did."

Kai gave her a slight nod, his jaw tightening. His stomach burned with the weight of the truth he hadn’t spoken. The king had begged him, pleaded, not to tell her yet. Kai didn’t owe that man anything, especially not his silence. But still, he couldn’t bring himself to add another burden to her heart. Not now. Not when she was already carrying so much. She was too innocent, too pure. He wouldn’t be the one to let hatred or vengeance taint her soul.

"Rail is working on the silver," he said instead, voice low. "I asked him to grind it down, like flour."

Ren nodded. "Once everything is ready, we’ll need to harvest the flowers. The stems are poisonous, but the blossoms... they’re the antidote to wounds caused by vampires. I just hope we don’t lose more soldiers to this war."

Without warning, Kai scooped her into his arms.

"Ah, put me down!" she squeaked, cheeks flushing with sudden heat. Being carried like this in broad daylight, how utterly embarrassing! He was so good at ruining a serious conversation.

"I’m taking you somewhere," he said, unfazed. "We need to go fast, close your eyes."

She obeyed, her lashes fluttering shut as she gave a soft, shy nod. She loved this about him, how he noticed even the smallest cracks in their time together and filled them with care. How he always found a way to draw her out of the chaos.

Less than a minute later, he stopped. The world around her went still. When he spoke again, his voice was warm and playful.

"Open your eyes, Love."

Ren opened them, and gasped.

The air felt different here. Quiet. Sacred. A single, ancient tree stood in the middle of the open plain, its gnarled limbs twisting toward the sky like it had witnessed countless stories.

She looked around, bewildered. Gods, how did they get here? He hadn’t used the shadow portal, it always left behind a cold tingle that pricked the skin. No, this... this felt like the magic of a different kind.

Kai walked toward the tree and sat beneath its shade, leaning his back on the thick trunk, pulling her gently onto his lap. He couldn’t take his eyes off the wonder softening her expression.

"Do you like it?" he asked, voice low, brushing a stray hair from her cheek.

"That’s an understatement," she whispered.

She closed her eyes and breathed in deeply. It was breathtaking, far more magnificent than Alvonia’s plains. Wildflowers painted the field in vibrant colors, butterflies danced between blooms, and birds sang as if the world had no sorrow. And there, nestled in the heart of the mountain, the castle shimmered like a distant dream.

Ren leaned into him, wrapping her arms around his shoulders and burying her face in the curve of his neck. "Thank you... for bringing me here."

Her sudden closeness stole the breath from his lungs. It took Kai a moment to gather himself enough to return the embrace, his arm slipping around her shoulders as he looked down at her. Her eyes met his, and something in them undid him.

He couldn’t hold back. He kissed her.

Ren responded with a fierceness that surprised them both, tightening her grip and following his lead. But as the kiss deepened, she shifted, wrapping her legs around his waist, arms twining around his neck, and kissed him harder, pouring everything into it.

Kai chuckled into her mind, his voice thick with warmth and desire. "Oh, my lovely little wife... this is so sweet."

Then he pressed her close, his heart hammering against hers, and kissed her back with everything he had, wild, unrestrained, and full of love.

Ren was dazed, utterly speechless. Her mind couldn’t summon a single word, let alone string together a coherent thought. And to her dismay, the remedy she had taken to dull her yearning for him, one her master used to distribute to soldiers during wartime to suppress desire, had failed. Completely. She was certain of it.

Because there she was... wet.

Kai pulled back slightly, looking down at her with a wicked grin. "Oh, my naughty little wife is so into me," he drawled, his smirk pure mischief. Shadow had been poisoned and lay fast asleep, Kai had made sure of it. That meant he could linger like this, unrestrained.

"I, I’m sorry," Ren stammered, blushing furiously.

"It’s alright," he murmured, brushing his lips near her ear. "I’ll release you."

Her shoulders stiffened as her eyes darted around. "Here? Outside?"

"Yes," he said nonchalantly as if it were the most natural thing in the world for them to be making love while eyes might be around. "There’s no one around."

His ease only made her skin flush hotter.

"No, we shouldn’t... It’s not fair," she whispered. "You’re doing all of this for me, and I can’t even give you anything in return."

Kai pressed his lips together, his gaze darkening with a gleam of teasing heat. "Oh, there are plenty of things you could do to help me, wife," he murmured, his voice like a soft velvet. "But I’ll teach you... later."

Ren’s eyes widened, blinking fast. What?! He was clearly enjoying her flustered reaction, and his teasing didn’t stop.

"So," he whispered, tilting his head with a wicked smile, "yes... or no?"

Ren couldn’t help it. She wanted him, desperately. Her need burned so fiercely that logic never stood a chance. Her lips moved before her mind could catch up.

"Yes," she breathed.

The moment the word left her mouth, Kai’s smirk widened, wicked and devilish, like the Hell-Prince he truly was. Without hesitation, he buried his face in the crook of her neck, kissing and nibbling along the delicate skin. Her moan escaped instantly, helpless, as sharp bursts of sensation sparked along her spine and poured deep into her core.

His hands slid upward, cupping her breasts and pressing them together, kneading them through the thick fabric. He cursed inwardly, damned cloth, always in the way, his desire rising unchecked. His mouth grew more demanding, tasting her like a man starved. And before Ren could even register how hungry he’d become for her, the sound of ripping fabric echoed in the still air.

The torn dress fluttered around her like petals, and Ren’s trance shattered. Her wide eyes shot downward to her exposed chest, breath catching as reality rushed back in.

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