Chapter 289 Chapter 289
The priest officiated the ceremony, having both the king and Rayena stand in the middle of the arena, where a throng of people had gathered—werewolves, weretigers, and even human soldiers.
They exchanged vows, cut their thumbs, and tasted each other’s blood, drinking from the sacred wine the priest had poured for them.
“Your bond is now recognized among the people and before the gods,” the priest announced in a loud voice.
A loud cheer followed the announcement. Rayena chuckled, her chest close to bursting with happiness as she held Xenon’s hand. Finally.
“You can now proceed with the mating ritual. Remember, it needs to happen during the full moon for the best chances,” the priest informed them.
“Of course…” Xenon murmured, and Rayena beamed at him. He pulled her close, taking her lips in a solemn kiss. Rayena's eyes fluttered close as she melted into the kiss, warmth seeping through their bodies from where they were joined.
The cheers grew louder. Colorful strips of fabric and cut-up dresses were tossed into the arena, fluttering like bright petals at their feet. Music soon burst out from flutes, and everyone partook in the joyous atmosphere.
Rayena couldn’t stop smiling, her body humming with happiness. From the corner of her eye, she spotted Soraya and Morvan standing together, cheering openly. She waved at them before turning back to Xenon—only to find him studying her with something unreadable in his gaze.
Before she could ask, he turned and crouched, presenting his back to her.
“Come on,” he urged. “Climb on.”
Her eyes widened. In front of everyone? A laugh bubbled out of her before she could stop it. Without hesitation, she climbed onto his back, giggling as she wrapped her arms around his neck, her cheek brushing his shoulder.
“Hang on tight,” Xenon growled, morphing into a half-shift and speeding into the woods, leaving the palace and people behind.
It was a long journey beyond the palace to the edge of the dried-up forest. For hours, Xenon ran like a blur through the trees, while Rayena held on tight, hands secured around his shoulders, shrill screams occasionally spilling from her lips. The wind swished past them, filling her ears and whipping her hair around.
It was both exhilarating and calming.
They finally reached a small cave nestled under a rocky cliff, and only then did Xenon slow down. The structure came into view, and Rayena gasped at the sight. It was a small cottage that had been built directly into the cave, with just the porch, windows, and doors sticking out. It looked like something out of a fairytale.
“It’s beautiful…” Rayena murmured, while Xenon morphed back into his male form, helping her down from his back.
“I discovered it a long time ago while I was still a young lad,” he said, looking down at her. Rayena glanced at him, a soft smile on her face. Xenon felt his chest tighten, his heart pounding.
“Come on inside,” he said, leading her up to the porch. Bringing out a bunch of keys from within his robe, he selected one, slotted it into the lock, unlocked the door, and ushered her in, walking in behind her.
Lighting the candlestick next to the door, Rayena gasped as the warm light filled the room, illuminating all that it touched.
The interior was pristine yet lovely, with exposed edges of the cave wall still visible from inside the house. “This is beyond my wildest imaginations,” Rayena murmured, breathing in the faint scent of lavender. It looked like it had been cleaned recently, as there wasn’t a trace of dust.
“I’m glad you like it,” Xenon murmured, walking toward her. “But this is just a decoy. Come on, let me show you something else.” He said, taking her deeper into the home. Eventually, they reached a part where nothing was constructed at all, and Rayena could hear the faint rushing of water.
Her heart began to race as Xenon led her to a grotto filled with crystal-clear water.
“Wow…” Rayena gasped, stunned as the cave walls glittered like the night sky, reflecting on the water. “This… this is amazing!”
A corner of Xenon’s lips quirked up at Rayena’s reaction. “This is where we’ll be spending the next few days. Everything we could possibly need has already been provided,” he said behind her.
Rayena’s breath hitched. “Xenon…”
“This is where we’ll stay,” he said softly behind her. “Where the bond completes.”
She gave a tiny squeal of excitement, bouncing on her feet. “I can’t wait!”
“So…” he began, his voice dropping a few octaves. “What do you want to do now?”
A coy smile slowly crept onto Rayena’s face as she glanced back and forth between the grotto and Xenon. “How about a swim?” she asked, cocking her head to the side.
A smirk lingered on Xenon’s lips. “That sounds like a terrific idea. Lucky for you, the water in this grotto is always warm.”
“Even better.”
Rayena began stripping the outer layers of her clothing—the heavy robe they had worn for the ceremony—but soon began struggling with the multiple buttons and bindings on her gown that she couldn’t reach. Xenon stood behind her and deftly began helping her out of it.
Rayena’s breath caught in her chest as she felt Xenon’s warmth behind her, helping her with her dress. Soon it came loose and gently slid off her body. Rayena stood, watching as the clothes pooled at her feet, her heart threatening to burst out of her chest.
But Xenon’s fingers remained, brushing and teasing her skin until goosebumps rose, her fingertips tingling.
Swallowing tightly, she pulled away from his touch, mumbling a flustered thanks as she gently waded into the water, surprised to find it warm, just as Xenon had said.
Xenon picked up her clothes from the ground, folded them neatly, and set them aside. He stood, watching her as she waded through the water, excitement bubbling out of her.
She dipped beneath the surface, chuckling as she rose againagain, her hair slicked back and cheeks flushed.n“Why are you standing there?! You should join me!"
Xenon watched her for a long moment. Then, he allowed his lips to stretch into a smile—slow, dangerous, inevitable.
Very gently, he pulled off his clothes as well, until he was left only in his breeches, and stepped into the water too, the liquid wrapping around his legs.
Rayena watched as the water enveloped him until only the top half of his body was visible. Every time he closed the distance between them, Rayena would pull further back, until he was practically chasing her around in the pool. Rayena’s giggles rang out, filling the space and resounding back to them as Xenon finally caught up to her, pressing his body against hers.
“Got you…” he growled, his low voice sending shivers down her spine.