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A heavy tiredness settles over my body, burrowing deep within my bones. I brush it off as the stress of the last few days and the amazing night I just shared with my wife catching up with me.
I barely manage to clean myself off. That minuscule task feels momentous. The bed is completely soiled, and I don’t have the energy to call in a maid to clean up. It can wait until morning. Tonight, Rose and I will sleep in my nest.
I don’t bother putting on clothes, I’ve already exerted myself enough for one night. Instead I fall into the cushions and blankets of my nest, waiting for Rose to return from the bathroom. It feels like I’m fighting to keep my eyelids from drooping, and I sigh in relief when I finally hear the door open back up.
Rose’s floral scent hits me first before she tucks her soft body against mine. My eyes close on their own accord, but not before I wrap my arms around her.
“You are falling asleep on me, husband.” She laughs softly. I can’t even deny it. My body feels heavy and it’s becoming painful to keep myself conscious. I just want to sleep. Sleep until my body doesn’t feel so heavy.
“I blame you.” I try to tease, but it falls flat to my ears. Luckily, Rose doesn’t seem to notice.
“Can’t say I’m sorry.” I imagine her cute smirk, the one she does when she’s satisfied with herself. “I need sleep too. In the morning, we can go back to our normal duties. Together.”
It was probably not wise to waste more of our precious time, but I don’t regret it. Not even for a moment. “Together.”
As soon as the words leave my lips, darkness claims me, lulling me into a peaceful sleep. One I could stay in forever.
Chapter 31
Rose
There’s a delicious ache between my thighs when I wake up the following morning. I’m surprised to find myself gearing up for more, as if last night’s sex fest wasn’t enough. Since when did I become so wanton? This is normal between married couples though, isn’t it? The intense need for one another.
My thoughts of a morning quickie are shattered when I turn in Malix’s arms to find him still sound asleep. My disappointment is short-lived when I notice how serene he looks in sleep. The worry lines on his brow are gone and Malix looks so much younger. It’s hard to remember that for a dragon king, he is young.
Seeing him this tired makes me wonder how much he was able to sleep while away checking our borders. Whatever the reasons, he needs sleep and I’m more than happy to give him that.
Untangling myself slowly so as not to wake him, I break free from his grasp and crawl to the edge of his nest. Malix doesn’t so much as stir.
I leave him to rest so I can dress for the day. I emerge a moment later in a cream lace-up dress that does wonders for my cleavage. The normal maid—I really should learn her name, but she isn’t the most talkative person—strips the linens off the bed. Suspicious stains are visible over some of the sheets, but we are both pretending as if they don’t exist.
“Kitchen has your breakfast prepared, My Queen.” Before I can respond, she’s out of the room with my soiled bedding.
My stomach growls at the thought of food. I take one last look at Malix to make sure he’s still asleep before I head for the kitchen. Greasy bacon and buttery biscuits await me when I get to the kitchen. My mouth starts to water as I prepare a tray to bring back up to the room.
As I’m shoveling an embarrassing amount of potatoes on my plate, I hear someone walk in behind me. I look over my shoulder, half expecting to see Malix, but it isn’t my husband who stands haggard with dark circles under their eyes.
It’s Vivia.
“Vivia!” I say a little too loudly, causing her to flinch. “Sorry,” I try again, only much softer. “You look…”
“Like shit.” A self-deprecating laugh leaves the dragoness’s lips. Her body is rigid when she walks, wound up tight like a coil.
She looks down at the food with dull eyes. It’s like her body knows she needs to eat, but her heart just isn’t in it. She must feel me staring because after a few moments, she starts to half-heartedly pile a random assortment of food onto her plate.
If I were a betting woman, I’d wager none of that is going to be eaten.
“How is she?”
Vivia doesn’t look up. She keeps piling random fruit on her plate. Her movements are robotic; she’s here, but in body alone. “Stable. She’s in a lot of pain, even if she won’t admit it. But her face…”
The screams. Tearing of flesh. That’s all I remember before running away from Mina. No matter how long I live, I don’t think I will ever forgive myself for leaving her. Even knowing Mina is the one that told me to go.
“She’s calling it her battle scar. Thinks she looks pretty badass.” Vivia’s smile doesn’t reach her eyes, but her fondness and love for her wife shine through.
“Sounds like Mina.” Always the optimistic.
“She’s stubborn.”
