"You already know," Amelie whispered, biting her bottom lip as her eyes met Gabriel’s.
His smirk deepened, desire flashing in his eyes. He responded to her unspoken need as he explored her most sensitive place, guiding her toward waves of pleasure.
As her breath softened and her body trembled in release, his lips claimed hers in a fervent kiss. Her arms instinctively wrapped around his shoulders, fingers locking behind his back as if anchoring herself to the moment.
Without breaking the kiss, Gabriel wrapped his arms around her waist, shifting their positions with ease. The next thing Amelie knew, she was straddling him, his back now resting against the mattress.
When they finally parted, Gabriel brought his hand to her cheek, gently caressing it. She gave in to his touch by shutting her eyes.
The next second, she found herself lying on the bed, tucked inside the blanket, while Gabriel was off the bed.
"You are tired," Gabriel said, telling her he would be back in a moment.
Amelie’s brows knit together, wondering why he left midway. "After leaving me in a mess, he thinks I’ll get sleep," she mumbled. Just then, she yawned and turned to her left.
She moved her legs slightly up, bringing her hand to her belly. "It’s going to be a month. Then, only five months remain. Are you excited, Noa? Gabriel is your father. It still feels unreal whenever he calls you his. But it makes me so happy that you aren’t being judged by the man I’m falling in love with," she whispered, a small smile playing across her lips in admiration.
Soon, her eyelids grew heavier, and she let them shut before drifting off to sleep.
Meanwhile, inside the washroom, Gabriel splashed water on his face and closed the tap. His hands rested on the counter before he lifted his gaze to look in the mirror.
"What was that?" Gabriel murmured. Earlier, when he kissed Amelie passionately, he saw a glimpse of her body lying in a pool of blood while he cried. For a moment, it felt like someone had ripped out his soul, as a strange fear gripped his heart.
Running his fingers through his hair, he stopped. His fingers threaded through it as tiny water droplets from his face fell to the floor.
"I have to find out what happened to us in the past. Amelie’s mother told me everything, but my mother has kept quiet for years, except for telling me how I will bring chaos to the entire kingdom one day," he muttered in annoyance.
Bringing his hand down, he wiped his face with the towel and threw it in the laundry basket before going back to the bedroom.
He gazed at Amelie, who was already asleep. Sitting by her side, he rested his hand on the top of her head. Her fresh, gentle pheromones surrounded him, bringing his racing mind and heart to calmness.
’As long as we are together, nothing bothers me. You brought me the answers I always sought,’ he thought before sliding under the blanket, right beside her.
~~~~~
Casaio lowered the bottle of alcohol as he made his way down to the dungeon, where Zilia had been imprisoned for over two weeks.
The heavy gates creaked open, and he stepped inside. The guard behind him placed the lantern on the table and walked away.
Casaio found her lying motionless on the stone bed with her back toward him. Even after he had rejected her, his feelings hadn’t died. It was impossible to bury them forever after loving a woman for over ten years. Even though he hadn’t seen her face, he could feel the pain her body was enduring. It was unbearable for him, but necessary too.
Walking closer, he absent-mindedly brought his hand to her head.
That simple touch broke Zilia’s sleep abruptly, and she turned her head. As if light had again found its way to her eyes, she promptly sat up.
"Saio!" She used his nickname to address him and lowered her eyes, only to find a half-empty alcohol bottle in his hand.
Just then, his hand shot out as he grasped her neck tightly. "I’m not your lover or mate anymore," he growled, giving her a reminder.
Pain shot through Zilia’s entire body as the silver shackles burned her skin. Her eyes turned moist, but they didn’t break eye contact with him.
"You mocked my feelings, my loyalty, and my bond with you," Casaio said painfully.
When her eyes were about to close completely, Casaio pulled his hand back.
Zilia’s hands pressed against the cold stone slab as she gasped for air. A tear fell from her eye, and she tilted her head up.
"Why did you betray me? For ten years, you pretended to love me while staying loyal to someone else!" Casaio barked.
For days, he had been eaten up inside. Ever since the truth about her had been revealed, he had been disturbed in every way. He would keep himself busy even with the pettiest tasks just to rid himself of the memories he had made with Zilia.
"I–I didn’t betray you," Zilia said as more tears escaped her eyes. "If I had to betray you, I would have done it a long time ago," she muttered.
"Your fucking fake tears drive me mad. Just tell me the truth about your mission and I’ll free you... from this body," Casaio stated with a gaze full of hatred. He was not ready to give her a chance.
"Just kill me," Zilia said.
"You think I won’t!? Huh?" Casaio’s voice thundered through the dungeon, his eyes turning red, showing the intensity of his deeply buried anguish.
Zilia looked up at him, her moistened eyes locking with his once again.
"You kept me alive for days. I still believe you love me," Zilia said.
"But I hate you. I fucking hate you so much that I..." Casaio paused, not wanting to finish the sentence. His chest rose and fell sharply. Taking a few steps back, he pivoted and left the dungeon.