Early in the morning, Jayden and Mina prepared to go to the Royal Palace and meet with King Baswein. After Caesar served breakfast, Mina took the children for a short walk around the garden. While Belle chased after some butterflies and Violet picked up some flowers, Mina asked the boys to look after the girls and the kittens until she and Jayden returned from the Royal Palace.
When Jayden went out to look for a carriage, Mina put on the prettiest dress she had. It was an off-the-shoulder dress in a beautiful shade of green, with short sleeves and white lace around the neckline and trim. Flowers were embroidered all around the skit. Pearls were sewn in the middle of the petals. It had been a rather expensive dress, and Mina insisted she did not need it, but Jayden said she would look lovely in it and bought it.
Mina brushed her hair and put an ornamental hair comb in it. She added a few drops of perfume to her neck and wrists, grabbed her shawl, and left the house. Jayden was waiting for her in front of the main gate, wearing black pants, a shirt, and a dark brown jacket. He opened the carriage door, and before Mina got inside, she looked at the house—yellow tulips were planted along the front of the house, and next to them was a wooden bench. Mina had the feeling she wouldn’t be returning home the same day.
Lifting her dress, Mina entered the carriage. Jayden gave instructions to the coachman and sat next to Mina. He folded his arms and narrowed his eyes. “I knew you would look magnificent in this dress. But I had hoped you would wear it for me, not for the King,” Jayden said in a serious tone.
“I can change it!” Mina said quickly. “If you tell the coachman—”
Jayden cupped her cheeks and kissed her, taking her by surprise. A heartbeat later, she melted against him. His palms moved from her face to her neck, his fingers brushing against her skin. Her pulse quickened when he removed her shawl and caressed her bare shoulders. “I love that you are wearing this dress. This way, everyone can see what a beautiful wife I have,” he said against her lips. Mina smiled. “After we find out what the King wants, we will stop by the mansion. I want to try out our new bed.”
Mina fidgeted with her dress. “Jayden, I have a terrible feeling about the meeting with the King.”
Since the errand boy brought the King’s message last night, Mina hadn’t stopped thinking about what the King wanted from them. She knew King Baswein was a kind man, but she had seen how easily influenced he was on many occasions. And not always by honorable men.
He ran his knuckles over her cheek. “I am sure it is nothing. Probably the other Commanders reached Athea, and a party is being planned.”
Mina gripped her dress so hard her chuckles turned white. “There is a thing I haven’t told you. Not that I wanted to keep it secret from you, but because of everything that had happened, it had slipped my mind. The day Rosalyn came to the house, I told her we hadn’t consummated our marriage. She knows I am still a virgin, and I believe—”
Jayden silenced her with a kiss while he reached to close the curtains of the windows. He deepened the kiss, his tongue dancing around hers, and he fisted her hair, tilting her head to the side. His mouth moved to her ear and sucked on her earlobe while his free hand lifted her dress.
Mina gasped and tried to push his hand away. “Jayden! We are in a carriage! And didn’t you hear—?”
“Listen to me,” he growled softly in her ear, his fingers touching her thigh, the back of his hand brushing against her clit. A throb started between her legs, and she tried to squeeze her legs shut, but Jayden’s hand prevented it. “You are mine, and no one takes what belongs to me! Not Rosalyn, not your uncle, not the King, and not even the Gods!” Jayden ran his canines along her neck. “I could mark you right now while I sink my cock in your cunt; consequences be damned!” He lifted his head and stared into her eyes. A soft light filtered through the curtains, and Mina could see the gold ring inside Jayden’s eye burn with rage. “If Rosalyn is behind the King summoning us to the Royal Palace, she will regret angering me. I would like to think I am a kind person, but I won’t hesitate to transform into a beast with those that anger me!” Jayden growled, and shadows started dancing around him.
“You don’t understand, Jayden. You might be the man who saved our Kingdom from being conquered by the Necromancer and the King of Litus, but when it comes to the King, he tends to listen to men like my uncle. He might have a good heart, but he is weak minded. And if our wedding gets annulled—” she shook her head. The thought of being forced to marry the Count and having him touch her made her sick to her stomach. She would rather die than marry Count Dickman. “I can’t go through that!”
“It won’t happen!” Jayden tried to assure.
“You don’t know my uncle! When he wants something, he will stop at nothing to get it!” Tears pooled in her eyes, and she blinked them away.
Jayden’s eyes turned golden, and to Mina’s shock, he kneeled in front of her. He pushed her dress up and put her legs over his shoulders.
“Jayden! What are you doing?” Mina hissed.
The street was busy, with carriages passing by, horses walking fast, and people talking about the festival.
He kissed her thighs and pulled her towards him. “Making you forget about everything except me!” he said, ripped her undergarment, and shoved it in his pocket.
Mina could not believe Jayden was planning to do things to her in the carriage for everyone to see. “You mustn’t! People will see us!”She tried to wiggle away, but Jayden grabbed her hips and licked her from the back to the front, avoiding her clit. A gasp left Mina’s mouth.
“The curtains prevent anyone from seeing how I will devour your little cunt!” His voice was husky.
“Jayden! Not in the—!”
He licked again and again and again, and each time he stopped before his tongue reached her clit. It felt good, but she wanted his tongue—no, she needed his tongue to flick over that spot that made her feel so much pleasure.
When he stopped again, Mina let out a cry of frustration. “Please! Don’t stop!” she begged.
She felt Jayden smile against her skin before he licked her clit like a starved man. Her back arched. He took her clit between his lips and sucked it hard, making her forget where they were.
Why was she against Jayden doing wicked things to her with his mouth? His tongue was wickedly amazing and—
He circled her clit with his tongue before moving it up and down, left and right... Was he writing the alphabet with his tongue on her clit? Holy Gods!
—sinful.
If a book were to be written about sin, Jayden would have to be on the first page. There should be an entire chapter dedicated to Jayden.
His eyes—especially when they turned golden, made her heart drum in her chest and her blood boil. His fingers and mouth... should be forbidden!
She was a sinner and would gladly sin each day with him.
“Jayden, more!” she moaned.
A finger probed her entrance. Mina stopped breathing. She was certain Jayden would push it inside. A feral sound came from Jayden before he moved his finger and squeezed her ass.
“Beliar take the Lady and her trials!” Jayden growled and sucked her clit even harder.
Heat rose inside Mina, and a shiver ran down her back. Her hips moved on their own while Jayden kept sucking and licking her. She was so close, she could feel it.
“Jayden! I am—” she moaned loudly.
He covered her mouth with his palm as she screamed her release. He did not stop licking, dragging on her orgasm, and making her feel so much pleasure it became painful. Mina tried to push him away, but he grabbed her wrists and kept licking her until she came again. Her back arched, and she screamed against his palm. When her orgasm faded, she fell against the bench, slack. Jayden kept flicking his tongue against her core, but she didn’t have the energy to push him away.
Jayden licked her clean before lifting his head—a smug smile was on his face. His chin was glistening with her release and he cleaned himself with her undergarment before shoving it back into his pocket.
Mina showed him her middle finger. He laughed and licked his lips. “Such a naughty little lamb. Later I will have you pleasure yourself with that finger while I watch!”
Mina blinked.
Jayden stood and helped Mina fix her dress before putting her on his lap. Her legs were shaking, and she still felt slack.
Jayden opened one of the curtains to see where they were—they passed the bridge, and in a few minutes, they would arrive at the Royal Palace.
Mina smacked his shoulder. “I can’t believe you did that in the carriage! What if someone saw us? And thanks to you, I have no undergarments under my dress!” she huffed.
Jayden chuckled. His blue eyes shined with amusement. “You are always worried about people seeing or talking about you. Next time we are in a carriage, I will make you come on my tongue without pulling shut the curtains! Let the high society see how Commander Jayden kneels in front of his wife and makes her scream with pleasure! Maybe the rich men will learn a thing or two and have their wives gossip about other things than my beautiful wife.”
Mina gasped. “You wouldn’t!”
Jayden’s eyes turned golden. “There is nothing I wouldn’t do for you!”
Mina leaned her head on his shoulder and smiled.
The carriage stopped in front of the Royal Palace, and Jayden helped Mina get out. Her knees were still shaking, and to her relief, Jayden put an arm around her waist, steadying her. After Jayden paid the coachman and put her shawl around her shoulders, he led her to the main gate.
Neth, the Royal Guard, hurried to open the gate. “Duchess Mina and Commander Jayden!” His eyes fell on her left wrist—the bracelet reflected the light coming from the sun. “Congratulations on your engagement!”
“We already got married!” Jayden said as he and Mina entered the Royal Garden.
Mina lifted her eyes. Once, she would have given anything to live in the Royal Palace and to be Prince Liam’s wife. But not anymore. She was happy being Jayden’s mate. Even a chosen one. Jayden might not love her, but he was acting like he did. He always wanted to spend time with her. And perhaps, one day, his heart would heal, and he would love her. She would be patient.
They entered the Royal Palace, and Mina inhaled deeply. She hadn’t seen Prince Liam since the day Jayden came looking for Rosalyn. Since that day, she barely thought of Prince Liam and hoped her heart would not start beating faster at the mere sight of him. It would not be fair to Jayden.
A maid greeted them. “Duchess Mina! Commander Jayden! The King is waiting for you!” she said before leading Mina and Jayden to the Throne Room.
King Baswein sat on his throne, talking with Duke Tedric and an older man. He was not only shorter than Mina, but he was also pot-bellied and sported a double chin. His hair had receded, leaving the top of his head bald, and dark age spots littered his shriveled skin. Mina didn’t need to see his face to know who he was—Count Dickman.
Rosalyn and Prince Liam were close. An evil smile appeared on Rosalyn’s face as soon as she saw Mina.
“Mina!” Prince Liam said. “Commander Jayden!”
Count Dickman turned his attention to Mina. Sweat covered his forehead and the top of his head, and he took out a handkerchief and wiped it. He licked his lips, and Mina might have vomited a little in her mouth. The man was repulsive. “Minerva! Tedric did not lie when he said you blossomed quite well. You are a little thin and have rather small hips and breasts, but I am sure you will have no problem giving birth to an heir for me. We can have a wet nurse—”
Jayden growled so loudly his chest vibrated. He pulled Mina towards him. “Who the fuck do you think you are to talk like that about my wife?”
“Count Jabba Dickman! And I advise you to take your hands off my future wife! A bastard like you has no right to touch women like Duchess Minerva!”
“Mina. Is. My. Wife!” Jayden growled.
“I am aware,” Duke Tedric said calmly. “But as you did not consummate the marriage and Mina is still a virgin, I asked the King for an annulment! She will marry Count Dickman as soon as possible!”
“Come here, Minerva. Let me see better what I—” the Count started talking, but a loud growl from Jayden made him stop.
Mina hid behind Jayden. Her pulse roared in her ears, and she felt sick. If the King made her marriage with Jayden null, she would rather face death than become the Count’s wife. Mina looked at Rosalyn—an expression of triumph was on her face—while Prince Liam looked with pity at her.
“Touch her, and you are a dead man!” Jayden snarled at the Count. He looked at the King. “You gave me your blessing to marry Mina! How little is your fucking word worth!”
King Baswein stood. “Commander Jayden, language, please! You are in the presence of two ladies! Now, from my understanding, you married Mina. I indeed gave you my blessing, but I should have consulted with Duke Tedric first. I did not know he was Mina’s legal guardian, and without his approval, your marriage is void. I might be the King, but even I must follow the law of this kingdom! Since Mina is still a maiden, there will be no problems obtaining an annulment from the Mages.”
“What I do in the bedroom with Mina is between her and me. If she is still a virgin, it is because I am giving her time to learn about her duties as a wife. But give me a room and in an hour, and she won’t be a virgin anymore!”
“Commander Jayden, enough! I understand your anger, but if you truly love Mina, court her and seek her uncle’s approval. I am sure Duke—”
“If you take my wife away from me, I will return to the Kingdom of Litus and set free the Necromancer from the tower, and I will help him burn this kingdom to ashes!” Jayden said as he looked into the King’s eyes.
“Is that a threat?” the King asked.
“It’s a promise!” replied Jayden.