Chapter 264 Chapter 263
He stated, beckoning for Rayena to come closer. She instantly rushed toward him, and he kissed her forehead. Sounds of surprise filled the place, but most smiled warmly. This time, they all dispersed.
"Come this way, your majesty. I already prepared a room for you." Morvan said, leading the way, while Xenon ambled behind, Rayena by his side.
He was led to a hallway Rayena hadn't seen before. When they walked in, she was pleasantly surprised at how well furnished it was. A far cry from the empty, sparse room she'd been sharing with Soraya.
Xenon headed straight for the plush couch, guiding Rayena to sit first, before laying his head on her shoulders.
"I'll call on the healer to check on you and have the cooks make you something to eat." He said, and Xenon nodded, intertwining his hands with Rayena's.
With a bow, Morvan exited the room, leaving the two of them alone. Rayena slowly reached up, threading her fingers into his long, two-toned hair.
Silky-smooth, just like she remembered.
"Is everything alright?" She whispered, gazing at his face.
"I'm fine. Just trying to find my bearings," he said, his voice low and husky, sending a thrill through her body. "What about you, are you alright?" His gaze lingered on her face, as if searching for any sign of pain or distress.
Her body was still sore from the rut she'd experienced with him, but she smiled, feeling the warmth spread through her cheeks. "I am, now that you're here," she said, her voice barely above a whisper.
He smiled, but his eyes were still tinged with regret and remorse. "I'm sorry, Raye. I didn't mean for us to part the way we did. I just was too scared of anything happening to you and our child." His voice cracked on the last word, and Rayena's heart ached for him.
At the mention of their child, she stiffened, but Xenon didn't notice. She forced herself to relax, to focus on the present moment, and the warmth of his body so close to hers.
"That doesn't matter anymore," she muttered, cradling his face, her fingers tracing the sharp planes of his cheekbones. "What matters is that you're here with me and not dead."
The words hung in the air, filled with the weight of all they'd been through. Xenon's eyes searched hers, his gaze burning with intensity.
"You're... You're not angry at me?" he asked, his voice barely above a whisper.
"Not anymore." She muttered, smiling as a tear slid down her face.
"Not anymore..." Xenon repeated, tasting the word against his lips. He leaned in, his lips brushing against hers in a gentle whisper of a kiss. Rayena's heart skipped a beat as she felt the warmth of his breath on her skin.
She leaned into him, her lips parting slightly, inviting him to deepen the kiss. He did, his tongue darting into her mouth lazily, tasting and exploring all he had missed. She moaned into his mouth, pressing her body closer.
Emotions swam over her again, but she refused to let it ruin this tender moment. Heavens, just how much she'd missed this male?! More than she could ever fathom.
Xenon pulled back before things got too intense, gazing into her peculiar gray eyes. She watched as his eyes shimmered with tears, and her heart skipped multiple beats, love flooding her chest for this male.
"Thank you for not giving up on me." He groaned, his voice thick with so many unsaid emotions. She gave him a teary smile.
"Thank you for returning."
.
.
.
The healers came, checking on the king and administering strengthening potions. The room filled with the sharp, earthy scent of crushed herbs and warm steam rising from the bowls they carried. Glass vials clinked softly as they worked. Food arrived soon after, and the two of them ate in a quiet that felt almost sacred.
When it was done, Xenon eased back onto the bed, patting the space beside him in silent invitation.
Rayena agreed—but only after a bath. The reminder of last night still clung to her skin, a mix of sweat and soreness she’d pushed aside after everything that happened.
Xenon grumbled in protest but watched her closely as she washed with the warm water a female weretiger had brought. The cloth dragged slowly over her skin, steam ghosting around her. Xenon’s gaze never left her, eyes half-lidded and strangely calm.
When she finished, she slipped into clean linen. The fabric was cool against her still-warm skin. She joined Xenon on the plush bed, sinking slightly into the mattress as he wrapped himself around her. His head rested against her chest, his breath fanning warm over her collarbone before it evened out into a light doze.
Rayena watched him as he slept, unable to resist touching his face, allowing herself to take in his features. Her fingers brushed along his jaw, the roughness of new stubble catching lightly against her thumb. He appeared more gaunt than she remembered, weariness still etched in his features. She could only imagine how much toll being stuck in his wolf form, completely mindless, had been for him.
Exhaustion soon caught up with her, and she slept as well, cradled in his hold.
When she woke up a while later, she discovered the bed was empty. Xenon had already stood up and was conversing with Morvan. Legs crossed and brows furrowed in thought, he listened attentively to Morvan, who gave him a rundown of what had happened in the past seven years.
“I was feral for seven years?” she heard him repeat, shock etched in his voice. She slowly rose from the bed, and he glanced at her, giving her a subtle smile she promptly returned before he turned back to Morvan with a seriousness she hadn’t seen before.
“It hadn’t felt that way for me,” he groaned under his breath.
“You… weren’t aware of anything in that state?” Morvan asked slowly.
Xenon shook his head. “Nothing. It’s all a blur,” he admitted softly.
Morvan let out a huge sigh. “Well, the realm has fallen. A new king is on the throne, but he definitely doesn’t care about the people or the state of things. All he wants to do is produce an heir. Aside from that, he’s also actively on the hunt to kill every weretiger. I managed to save and hide a good number of us in this underground fortress you built, but with the famine and provisions running out, our future is uncertain.”
Xenon groaned, running a hand through his hair. Rayena instantly felt pity for him. “Looks like I’m back to a lot of problems. I don’t even know where to begin.”