Chapter 180 Chapter 179
"No. You were too restrained and weak for that," Morvan responded.
That added to his surprise. Usually, when his wolf was restrained, his tiger would take over, causing carnage. Did that part of him also let her be?
Morvan caught the puzzled expression on the King's face and scoffed. "You two didn't go all the way; she just helped you achieve release. You may feel fine, but I assure you, it's temporary. You still need to have her."
Xenon stared at Morvan, noting the new bruises that had formed from his attack and the old ones that were discolored. His chest twinged with guilt and embarrassment. "I'm sorry," he groaned, his tone apologetic.
"Apologizing won't change anything," Morvan grumbled, shifting his weight as he rubbed his neck where he had sustained a scratch from his brawl with the King. His lips were pressed into a thin line, jaw clenched tightly in anger. Then his expression softened, a while later. "I'm just glad you're back to your senses."
"Still, I'm sorry," Xenon repeated, his voice sincere.
Morvan breathed out a sigh, closing his eyes. "You're forgiven," he eventually answered, turning away from the king to hide his expression. The weight that had settled in Xenon's chest lifted at the admitted words, and a corner of his lips twitched—not quite forming a smile.
He looked around, and only then did he notice his state of undress. "I'll be back..." Morvan mumbled, walking out of the room and returning with the blanket Rayena had embroidered for him. Xenon accepted it from him, wrapping it around his body and covering his nakedness. It smelled more like him than it did like her, but knowing it was something she made calmed him greatly.
"I need to freshen up," Xenon announced softly, and Morvan led him back to his chambers.
There, he found a huge tub of steaming water waiting for him, as well as other bathing supplies lined up neatly next to it. Shedding the blanket, he stepped into the hot water and promptly began to wash himself.
As he washed, his thoughts wandered. His other halves hadn't gone mad at the sight of Rayena, even in his mindless state. They had let her touch him, comfort him, and bring him release. It was puzzling, to say the least. Perhaps he had been underestimating her.
Could she really be of use to him? He sighed, glancing out the window to stare at the blue sky, steam swirling around him and the gentle silence of his chambers wrapping him in thought. Letting out a breath, he continued washing. Well, he wouldn’t know if he didn’t try.
He didn’t want Morvan to go through whatever he had experienced while mindless those past three days, nor have him suffer the same attacks he was sure Morvan had endured trying to restrain him. It would be better if he helped Rayena learn how to handle him. His jaw clenched in determination as he settled on a decision.
He needed to keep Rayena closer.
.
.
.
Rayena returned to the castle, and thankfully, no one noticed she had been gone for the night. Unfortunately, she didn’t hear from Morvan or the king, and that made her worried. She wanted to know if he had woken up from his sleep and was all right now, but she was too afraid to ask, not wanting to draw suspicion to herself.
What was even more distressing were the dreams she had been having since that night. Every time she fell asleep, her dreams would be filled with her having erotic moments with the king. They were so visceral that she’d wake up heavily aroused and seeking relief. Sometimes she swore she could still feel the ghost of his breath against her throat, the wildness of his scent clinging to her skin, potent as ever.
The dreams terrified her, not because they were indecent, but because a part of her didn’t want them to stop. Whatever being with the king’s wolf that night had started within her, she didn’t like it at all, yet the dreams didn't stop, and her thoughts never failed to be consumed by him.
On the third day, however, she received a summons from the palace. She had been in the main hall with other women in the harem, quietly embroidering, when a guard walked up to her, announcing the king's command for all to hear. Everyone around her froze, immediately fixing their gaze on her, but Rayena just stared blankly at the guard.
"The king summoned me?" she repeated, pointing to herself. He gave a curt nod.
"What for? Did he say?" Soraya piped up, her gaze questioning.
"No, miss. He just asked me to summon Rayena," the guard replied coolly. Soraya turned to Rayena, who shrugged to say she didn't know.
Rayena shot to her feet, quickly packing up her supplies. "Let's go then. I'm ready," she spoke, hoping her voice didn’t sound as excited as she felt. She quickly went to put her things back in her room before following the guard to the palace. The guard led her to the king's chambers, and throughout the walk, Rayena's nerves were all over the place. She wanted to see him but was terrified of what would happen if she stood in his presence.
They finally arrived at the grand double doors, and the guard knocked once before pushing the door open. "You may go in," he announced with a small incline of his head.
Rayena swallowed the lump in her throat, and with a deep breath, steeled herself and walked into the chambers. A soft gasp left her lips as she beheld the sight in front of her. The king's chambers were unlike anything she'd ever seen. There were more windows than she'd expected, and every corner of the room was bathed in sunlight, the bright blue sky visible from every angle. She could spot an enclosed pool at the far end of the chambers, and the bedchamber was a floor higher, leaving the entire ground space as a lounging area. Every decoration was plated with gold and silver, adding an air of sophistication and authority.
A chamber fit for a king as powerful as him.
"You should come closer..." His deep voice broke through the silence, and she flinched, startled. Following the sound of his voice, she strode toward the couch and found him sprawled across it, limbs splayed out like a starfish, as if he'd just melted into the cushions. His head lolled to one side, eyes half-closed, propped up by his hand as he stared lazily at her.
Her heart skipped several beats, goosebumps spreading across her skin.
"Good day, Your Majesty," she breathed, performing a deep curtsy. Peeking at him, she found the blanket she’d made for him draped across his legs, and her heart beat faster. He seemed to always carry that around wherever he went. Seeing him so relaxed in his male form reminded her of a cat just lounging in the sun—so beautifully idyllic.
While she was happy to see him alright, being in his presence had ignited the arousal that never truly abated. "You summoned me," she added softly.