Chapter 186 Chapter 185
Swallowing hard, Rayena nodded once and stepped out of her chambers, her bare feet whispering against the cold floor as she began the slow walk toward the King’s quarters. Each step echoed like a heartbeat, her own pulse thundering in her ears.
By the time she reached the great doors, her hands were trembling at her sides.
Her stomach twisted into knots. Do I really want this?
Images of her dreams flickered behind her eyes—dreams where the king had been wild, unrestrained, his touch searing through her like fire. If she walked through that door, there would be no turning back. Whatever awaited her inside, she would have to face it.
She drew in a shaky breath, forced her hand to rise, and knocked softly.
"Come in..." The King’s deep voice rumbled through the door, low and commanding. It vibrated through her bones, stealing the air from her lungs.
She opened the door and stepped inside, closing it quietly behind her. The chambers were different—darker, more intimate. Heavy curtains drowned the sunlight, leaving only the flicker of candles to cast trembling shadows across the room. The faint sweetness of incense curled through the air, clinging to her skin and clothing.
Her breath caught. It smelled of him.
Not seeing him immediately, she lowered her gaze and curtsied deeply. "You summoned me, Your Majesty..."
The silence stretched—thick and pulsing—before soft footsteps echoed closer. Her skin prickled as his presence surrounded her. When she finally lifted her head, Xenon stood several paces away, his head tilted slightly, eyes glowing faintly gold in the candlelight.
Her heart stuttered.
He didn’t speak at first, only watched her. His gaze swept slowly down her body, lingering where the thin linen clung to her curves. The air between them shifted, charged, heavy with something unspoken.
Rayena tried to breathe, but the sound that came out was barely a whisper.
Then, without a word, he moved—each step deliberate until he stood before her, caging her between the door and his body. Heat rolled off him in waves. His scent—spice and smoke—filled her lungs, dizzying her.
His gaze dropped to her lips, then trailed down her neck and chest like a physical touch. She trembled as his fingers reached up, catching a loose strand of her hair. He brought it to his nose, inhaling deeply, a growl rumbling in his throat.
"Do you know why you’re here?" he asked, his voice rough, dark.
"I—I have an inkling," she stammered, caught in the storm of his gaze.
"Good."
Before she could blink, his mouth claimed hers.
The kiss wasn’t gentle. It was consuming—hot, demanding, stealing every breath she tried to take. Rayena’s eyes fluttered shut, her body melting into his as the world around them vanished. The thrum of his pulse echoed through her, and without realizing it, she clung to him, answering the hunger in his kiss with her own.
When he finally pulled away, her lips were swollen, her mind spinning. His eyes burned with that same wildness she had seen before—the one that both terrified and thrilled her.
"That lesson I mentioned earlier?" His voice dropped lower, husky and deliberate. "This is it. I hope you’re ready."
"As ready as I’ll ever be," she whispered, surprising herself.
His gaze darkened, a dangerous glint flashing amber. He brushed his thumb over her mouth—softly, almost reverently—before pulling back, putting distance between them that felt colder than before.
"Take off your robe."
Her heart stopped. Then began to race.
Her fingers trembled as they found the tie of her robe, loosening it until the fabric slid from her shoulders, pooling silently at her feet. The thin linen beneath offered no comfort, no protection. His gaze swept over her again, slow, deliberate, and a low growl slipped past his lips, the sound primal, hungry.
Rayena’s fists tightened at her sides, every muscle taut with tension. She tried not to tremble, not to look away.
"You're beautiful," he said finally, his tone a blend of awe and restraint. A muscle ticked in his jaw as he clicked his tongue. "Do you know that?"
Her mother had always told her she was beautiful—even her secret admirers from her human kingdom—but they never sounded as sincere or powerful as the enigmatic male before her. So, she shook her head.
A corner of his lips twitched. "Well, you are. It’s taking every self-control I possess not to pounce on you right now," he groaned. Rayena was tempted to tell him not to hold back but thankfully snapped her mouth shut.
He let out a breath. "Get on the bed."
In a daze, Rayena made her way to his bed and climbed onto it, lying down on her back as she gazed at the four-poster corners. His mattress was even softer than anything she’d ever lain on, and his scent clung to it, strangely soothing.
She waited for him to join her, and he did—only to lie at her side, propping his head up with his hands as he stared at her. Rayena turned to look at him, and for a while, all they did was exchange glances, no words spoken. The silence became too heavy, and she fought to dispel it.
"Um, aren’t you going to do anything?" she mumbled, already fiddling with her fingers.
"I will… I just don’t know what to do or how to begin," he murmured, grabbing hold of one hand, bringing it to his lips, and pressing a gentle kiss against the back of it. Her heart stuttered.
"Are you a virgin too?" she whispered.
"No…" he groaned, a light grimace on his face. "Just inexperienced with seduction or foreplay."
His honesty eased something in her, and a smile bloomed on her lips. "So, we can teach each other?" she asked. He shrugged, pressing the hand he held against his nose and sniffing it. That act made her skin tingle. Becoming bolder, she added, "I quite liked what you did yesterday morning."
His eyes smiled. "I know you did," he murmured against her skin, and she shuddered, her body becoming unbearably hot.
Her cheeks flushed as she looked away from him. "Well, that’s because I had been having dreams of us being intimate," she admitted quietly.
Xenon froze, his brows furrowing. "You have?" Interest piqued, he leaned forward. "How are they like?"
Intense. Just thinking about it now was making her wet already. Hell. Rayena closed her eyes, trying to shake off those scandalous images from her head. Xenon nudged her hand. "Tell me how they went," he growled, the undercurrent of authority making her shiver.