Chapter 71 The wedding ritual
Catherine's POV
Seeing the glint in his eyes, I could tell Daevir's blood was boiling. No man looks at my nakedness and turns away. It's like an enchanting portion that brings great men to their knees.
When Daevie left me at the ceremony, all I wanted to do was cry. The people and their stupid speculations! Can you believe that before I left the ceremony, rumour whirled around that Daevir only married me out of courtesy and he never loved me.
They said he will soon dethrone me as queen and set another queen whom he loves on the throne.
I had arranged for the heads of those who swirled such rumours. Just before this day ends, 1600 men, women and children have been slaughtered, their heads hung on a pole to rot.
They will learn.
With the Royal banquet completed with no trace of Daevir, I wanted to run into my room to cry and curse fate. The least he could do was honour me and show up for our wedding banquet. But Daevir was still nowhere to be found. And no one was helping!
That cursed Zephyr only stood and bowed to me like the simpleton he is. Didn't they say Zephyr had great influence over Daevir? Why couldn't he convince him to be a proper husband to me?
"I'm afraid, your highness. But my authority over Daevir doesn't extend to controlling his reactions to his new bride. We can only pray for the success of the marriage, while you find a way to make your husband love you." Zephry had said solemnly when I confronted him with my anger. He seemed to be the only one of the eunuchs who was not terrified of my power.
I'll show him!
Yet, the weak old man had his point. I had to make Daevir love me. He had been so caught up long enough in Amarien's spell that only I could undo what had been done.
So I prepared myself in my chambers tonight, knowing that he will come to me as tradition demands. We must consummate the marriage tonight so the gods can bless the land, the new reign and the marriage.
I waited for him right into the midnight, my heart pounding in my chest as evil thoughts flooded my mind.
What if he had left for Amarien? What if he had trailed that darn rag to the nunnery? What if he's willing to bring her back, as the rumours say?
I shut my eyes and felt a pounding headache.
Daevir is the emperor. No matter the traditional, forbidden law, he can get away with anything now if he so pleases. Bringing back Amarien into this palace will be the worst fate that will ever fall upon us.
And then, in that moment, I could hear my mother's witchy voice whisper to me. "You've got to take it, Catherine. Take it by force!"
I snapped, lunged up to my feet and ran to the emperor's quarters, where Daevir now resides. It's forbidden for a queen or a concubine to enter the quarters without an invitation, but I wasn't thinking of any tradition. I was thinking of getting my life back before Amarien digs her claws into it again.
I cursed beneath my breath as I raced into the night.
Curse you, Amarien!
But it wasn't just curses I would be giving her. I have made necessary arrangements with some of my agents in the nunnery.
A few Concubine, who swore their loyalty to me, have promised to handle Amarien in the nunnery and silence her for good. If they succeed in doing that, I promised them freedom from the nunnery and return to the palace.
Amarien will be dead in no time, and when the news gets to him, Daevir will be able to forget her for good.
I didn't know what to expect when I got into his quarters. The guards let me in when they saw my agitation.
They were scared of me.
Afterall, I'm the new bride who just killed 1600 people for the assumption spreading a rumour about me.
No one dared to stand in my way. What a feeling it is to be greatly feared!
When I got to his quarters, Daevir was stirring in his sleep, probably suffering from a nightmare.
I stripped to my toes and lowered myself to him, soothing him with my soft hands. Now that he is awake, I love that hot blood look in his eyes.
He wants me, and I know it.
"It must have been a terrible nightmare." I pulled my weight up and leaned closer to him. His eyes lowered to my ample breast; his chest was heaving with the horrors he had seen.
"Don't worry, your highness. I'm here to comfort you." I took his hand and rested it on my breast, circling so he feels my taut nipple in his palm. He grabbed it instinctively.
I gave a soft gasp as he leaned in to kiss me, hungrily, like a ravaging wolf.
He was forceful and rough, but I loved it. My hands ran through his coat, tugging and pulling it out.
Daevir's kiss only deepened, his breath hollow. He kissed me like he had no life in him. Unwilling to wait for him to make the next move, I lowered my hand to his thigh, digging in to pull out what was rightfully mine.
All I need is his seed planted in me. An heir to take over the Eastern throne, and the deal is sealed. No one in the human or werewolf world will be able to stop me.
But Davier caught my hand, almost immediately and pushed me off. I gave a whelp as I stumbled back to the bed, my eyes darting at him in fury.
He rose from the bed, wiped his lips dry from our kiss and made to leave.
"No! Your majesty! No. You can't leave me like this!" I lunged at his back, holding on to it, unwilling to let him go.
Daevir sighed a tired sigh. "Who let you in here?" He asked like a warning.
Pricked by his tone, I raced to his front. "I let myself in! Have I no rights to my husband?!"
"I warned the guards not to let in any intruder!" Daevir pushed me off.
"Intruder?! That's what you think of me now? I'm your queen!"
"You are their queen, not mine!" Daevir's growl blazed in the darkness.
I scoffed pitifully. "So that's what this is all about. You haven't forgotten about Amarien,"
I saw Daevir clenched his hands to his ears like that name brought him torment. "Get out of here, Catherine!" He said with a low growl.
But I was unrelentingly. "If it please you to know. Amarien will be dead by now! She won't suffer a week in the nunnery, not to talk of the rest of her life!"
In a flash, Daevir snatched up my neck so fast and squeezed it tight, making me choke through sobs.
"One more words form you, and you'd be dead." A terrifying growl burst out of Daevir. His eyes narrowed on me.
I whimpered, begging for my life.
His eyes softened for a moment, like he was suddenly conscious of the danger he posed to me. "Get out," He said finally.