Jayden took Mina deep into the forest's heart. Stairs—ancient and mostly forgotten—led to the Crystal Cave. Two Stone Golems stood on either side of the entrance with their battle axes crossed in front of vines that hung from above. Jayden took out his dagger from his pocket—Mina had convinced him to put some clothes on after they left the lake's shore behind them—made a small incision in his thumb, and let a few drops of blood fall on the Golem's weapons. The stone sentinels allowed the pair to pass.
Jayden didn't even glance at them as he led Mina inside. Behind them, the Golems continued to guard the Crystal Cave, not letting anyone interrupt the last part of the Trials of the Land.
The entrance led to a long tunnel. Yellow, red, green, and blue crystals stuck out of the stone walls and the floor, some long and round or pointy, others short. Small light globes floated in the air; shadows danced around.
Mina's heart raced, and blood pounded in her ears. Soon, she would become one with Jayden. The physical part no longer scared her, but there were other things... and if she wasn't careful, he would devour her. Consume her whole. Not that it would be bad, but it would have been easier if he loved her. More than once, she wondered what he felt for her. Of course, he wanted to fuck her and was trying to be a good mate for her, to make her happy, provide for her and their future offspring, and... She frowned. Nothing else came to her mind, so she looked up at him.
Jayden was quiet as they walked inside a long tunnel that took them below the surface; he seemed lost in thought, his shoulders tense. She wondered if he was as nervous as she was.
After weeks of waiting, he would mark her, letting every ocxoa know he chose her above any other female to be his mate. Not only that, but he tethered her life to his, so she could live as long as any Daughter of the Land. Maybe he did not love her, but he cared for her.
A large pool was at the end of the tunnel and in the middle of it was a big oval stone platform. Soft animal furs were spread on it. Close to the edge sat trays full of food and pitchers of wine. Around the platform, coming out of the water, were four long torches. At the far end of the pool was a big statue of a man embracing a woman. Her arms were to her chest, and she seemed to hold something in her palms. Engravings have been sculpted in the walls—there were scenes of wars; of beasts seducing women; a man chained in the middle of a labyrinth, his face contorted with rage and hate; a warrior, his body full of scars, sitting still while a young woman placed a crown of flowers on his head.
Close to the tall ceiling floated colorful crystals.
Mina looked around, stunned by the beauty of that place. "Who do you think they are?" she asked, pointing at the statue. She waited for Jayden to reply, but he was quiet. "Jayden?"
She turned on her heels. Jayden was stark naked, his clothes forgotten in a corner. He ate the distance that separated them, and his lips were on her. His kiss was hard and demanding, his sharp canines scraping her lips. She shivered—he was not kissing her; he was devouring her. His right hand fisted her hair and tilted her head while his free palm cupped her ass.
Her heart beat wildly in her chest, and she thought her legs would give in, but his hold on her prevented her from moving. She stood there while he feasted on her mouth, his tongue tasting every inch. Desire rose inside her, and when she flicked her tongue over his, his chest rumbled.
He pulled her head back, his eyes black as night, and he bared his teeth. "If you don't want this, now would be the right time to tell me." He breathed hard as he waited for her answer.
Her reply came a moment later. "Mark me!" Mina said, and he removed her dress and pearls and put them on top of his clothes. Only her bracelet remained.
He inhaled sharply; his eyes moved over her body, his gaze burning with desire. It was as if he was seeing her for the first time, and his fingers shook while he traced the swell of her breasts. She stood motionless while he walked around her, touching her, caressing her skin. He undid her braid; as her hair fell from the braid, each tendril caressed his skin. He groaned, need spearing through him, and ran his fingers through her silky hair. Her head fell back onto his chest, and she closed her eyes.
He kissed her shoulders and back, and his fingers traced her ribs. Her body trembled under his hungry touch. His lips traveled to her neck and sucked on her skin while his hands teased her nipples. She could no longer contain her moans. "Jayden!"
He kneaded her breasts. "When I first went to your uncle's house and smelled you...I fucking hated you!" he whispered into her ear while he brushed his thumbs over her nipples. Mina stopped breathing. "I hated the power you had over me, and I wanted to kill Hugo because I thought he was your mate. His scent was all over you. And then you said he was your cousin. That saved his life. When I left, you followed me. Chased me. On the bridge, when we tried to help that man who broke his leg and then called you names, you never once flinched. I think that was the moment when I knew you were the one. My mate. And I hated you more."
"And I hated you for wanting to ruin my family name. My father's name," she confessed. His right hand went between her legs, and he rubbed her clit. She looked over her shoulder. He kissed her cheek while his finger circled her. "I wanted you to disappear, to have never existed. But then you went to Prince Liam, and I knew there was nothing I would not do for my family. Even marrying you."
"It was wrong of me to force your hand in marrying me, but I don't regret it! If anything, I would do it again because a life without you is not worth it!"
"And my answer will be yes each time."
Jayden spun her around and took one step back. "You are the most beautiful thing I have ever seen. When I first saw you at the Opera, wearing that lacy lilac dress, your hair cascading down your back, I thought the same." Mina breathed heavily. She didn't think he would remember what she looked like that night or what she wore. "I might have hated you, Mina, but I hated you the right way."
She smirked. "To this day, I still hate you!"
"Do you?"
He picked her up in his arms and jumped with her into the pool. "Jayden!" Mina screamed as soon as the cold water touched her skin.
His rich laughter filled the cavern. She tried to look inside the water, making sure nothing lived inside it. When she felt something brush against her feet, she wrapped her legs around his waist. His breath hitched, and he murmured something. One moment she was in the water, and the next, she was on the furs, Jayden on top of her.
"Do you need to drink or eat anything?" he asked. "Once we start, I don't think I can stop."
Mina shook her head. "Did you bring the food here?"
"The cave has magic and will supply us with food, wine, and other things for as long as we are here." He dipped his head, and before he kissed her, he said against her lips, "Minerva Ruxman, this is the happiest day of my life!"
*Minerva.*
For once, Mina did not hate the name Minerva. She liked how it sounded when Jayden said it.
It was the happiest day of her life as well. For the first time in her life, a man chose her. Not out of spite, or hate, or revenge. But because he was intrigued by her, her scent called to him. He had not only opened his house for her, but he never once let what happened with Rosalyn affect how he treated Mina. So many times, he had shown her he cared for her, and she did not see it. But right then, at that moment, while his fingers laid sprawled on her breast, his lips peppering kisses along her jaw, she understood that love came in many ways. It did not matter if he was not in love with her, for he made her truly happy.
He found her ear, nibbled her lobe, and then covered her neck with kisses and sucked on her skin until he left a red mark in the hollow of her neck. Her heels dug into the furs, and soft moans came from her parted lips. His lips—hard and demanding, his unrelenting touches, the stark need in his eyes ignited fire and desire inside her. He returned to her mouth while he rolled her nipple between his fingers. She kissed him back with the same ardor. His hips rocked, his cock rubbing between her folds.
"Do you remember when you first danced for me?" he asked while gazing at her.
"Yes!" she breathed.
"I almost lost my control that night. You don't know how close I have been to fucking you while you lay on my bed. A virgin in the beast's lair. From the moment you entered my life, each day has been agony, knowing that I had to wait for today to make you mine."
He took her nipple in his warm mouth and sucked it hard while still rolling the other between his fingers. She ached—ached—for something. For more. "Jayden!" she panted. "No more teasing!"
He let go of her breast. "There are some parts of your body I never kissed, and I would like to do it now."
"Like?" she asked.
Jayden sat on his knees and lifted her leg. He stared into her eyes while he left a trail of kisses from her thigh to her feet. "I love your tiny toes," he said before sucking one of them.
"Jayden, don't!" she said and tried to free herself from him, only to accidentally kick him in the nose. Jayden groaned in pain and covered his face with his palm. "I am so sorry! Are you alright?" she asked as she sat on the furs and tried to remove his hand.
"I think it is broken! I might need a Fire Mage!" he complained and fell on his back.
"I can go to the village and let the Lady know that—