Chapter 54: The Shadow King and his Wife

[The Emperor’s Chamber—Continuation—Imperial Palace]

Kael groaned softly, his body still trembling, his chest rising and falling in shallow waves.

"Please...slow...dow...hnghhh—aahhh...hah..." he murmured, dazed and breathless, one hand limp on the sheets, the other still clutching at Lytharion’s wrist like he wasn’t entirely sure if he wanted to hold him back...or pull him in harder.

Lytharion didn’t answer right away; he was too busy pressing lazy, open-mouthed kisses along Kael’s thigh—trailing fire with every brush of his lips, his large hand sliding up to cradle Kael’s knee again.

"I am being slow," Lytharion said, but his voice was dark and intoxicating. "Much slower than the second round."

"That’s not—hnnngh—what I meant—"

Kael let out a tiny yelp as Lytharion adjusted his grip, easing his hips back into position, guiding one of Kael’s legs up over his shoulder again as Kael’s thighs twitched from oversensitivity and his belly gave the faintest flutter.

Lytharion paused as his hand came to rest on Kael’s belly, his expression softening for the briefest moment, a smile ghosting across his face. "I wonder how beautiful you will look when you bear my child, beloved."

Kael’s face flushed, his hair damp with sweat as he hid his face, saying, "The womb...hasn’t formed yet, right?"

"That’s right...it hasn’t, but soon...it will."

Kael didn’t say anything; he just gulped, saying, "Please...go slow..."

"I’ll be gentle," Lytharion promised, then smirked, saying, "But I also plan to make you scream."

And---

THRRRRUUUUUUSSSSSSSTTTTTTT!!!!!!!!!!!!

Kael’s eyes went wide again. "That’s not gent—AAAGGGGHHHHHH----!!!"

Whatever protest he had, he died in his throat as Lytharion kissed him again, hot and deep and consuming. Kael moaned into it, arms sliding around Lytharion’s neck instinctively. His legs shifted, trying to adjust, but Lytharion was already moving, sliding inside again with careful, practiced grace.

The stretch still made Kael sob softly as his entire body clenched, breath catching, but Lytharion moved slower this time, deeper and more controlled.

He rocked his hips in smooth, steady thrusts, each movement pressing Kael into the mattress, each grind dragging sweet friction through Kael’s core.

"Nnngh—hah... L—lytharion... it’s too...deep..."

"You feel like fire," Lytharion growled against his throat. "Like heaven wrapped in sin? But beloved...you haven’t seen me during my heat."

Kael whimpered; he couldn’t think. He could barely breathe, but he was right. Is Lytharion like this now? What about the time when he goes on his rut?

His skin felt too hot, his lips were too swollen, and his mind was too fogged with pleasure and ache and the unbearable fullness of being worshipped like this. But Lytharion kept moving, kept whispering things that shouldn’t be allowed:

"So warm, so tight...gods, I want to stay inside you forever. You clench around me so perfectly...like your body doesn’t want to let me go. One more time. Just once more, my love..."

Once more was a lie; it was three more times.

At some point, Kael gave up keeping track. He moaned, he sobbed, and he even bit Lytharion’s shoulder once, hard, while crying out his name in that high, breathless voice that made Lytharion lose rhythm for a heartbeat.

And when it was finally over, when Lytharion spilled inside him again with a broken moan and kissed Kael through the last trembling aftershocks, Kael was done.

Absolutely, completely, soul-deep done.

Lytharion rolled over with him still in his arms, careful of his belly, pressing soft kisses to his cheeks and hair as Kael curled against his chest like something small and too tired to complain anymore.

"Beloved?" Lytharion whispered with a grin.

Kael didn’t answer; he was already half-asleep, fingers twitching slightly against Lytharion’s chest, breath evening out, and lashes fluttering shut.

Lytharion smiled gently. He leaned down and pressed a soft kiss to Kael’s swollen lips, his voice dropping into a warm, teasing murmur.

"I wish I could go more..." he whispered, brushing his nose against Kael’s, "but I’m controlling myself...for your sake. Because you’re too tired, beloved."

Kael groaned in protest even in sleep, too tired to argue but not too tired to request. Lytharion chuckled low in his throat, the sound full of affection.

"Sleep, my love," he said gently, then, without hesitation, he gathered Kael into his arms, holding him like something precious and irreplaceable, and stood up.

Kael didn’t speak, didn’t even open his eyes, but a tiny, dreamy sigh escaped his lips as he nuzzled deeper into Lytharion’s chest, completely at peace.

Lytharion pressed another kiss to his temple as he mumbled; his voice was barely above a breath. "I’ll clean you up."

The bathroom door opened with a soft creak, moonlight spilling in like liquid silver. Outside the window, the moon still hung in the sky, soft, round, and eternal, and in the hush of that final hour, only two heartbeats remained, entwined, steady, and utterly in sync.

And just like that...the new beginning of love has begun.

***

[Imperial Palace—Emperor’s Chamber—The Next Day—Afternoon]

Soft sunlight spilled through the lattice windows, warm as honey dripped over stone.

CHIRP...! CHIRP...!

The tiny birds outside the emperor’s chamber trilled their afternoon song, light and cheerful.

Kael’s lashes fluttered as he blinked, once... twice, recalling the last day’s events. He exhaled softly, muttering, "He was...indeed too big..."

"Too big? What does that mean, my beloved?" Lytharion’s voice poured over him like warm molten gold.

Kael’s eyes snapped open as he realized his mate was close to him. In panic he tried to move—TING!!!!!!

A sharp pain shot up his spine, and he stiffened.

"Oh....ughhh....." Kael groaned in pain, face twisting in agony.

"Beloved, are you alright?" Lytharion murmured, his voice aching.

Kael blinked at him and froze, because Lytharion looked...radiant, glowing, and bright, like he had swallowed a sunbeam.

His skin gleamed, his usually sharp eyes softened into molten warmth, and his long hair shimmered with a ridiculous, unfair shine.

Kael tried to sit up—BAD DECISION.

"AHHH—!!" His whole body jerked, and he winced so hard tears pricked his eyes.

In an instant, Lytharion reached to hold him, but Kael was flustered. He pressed a shaking hand to the emperor’s chest.

"What... what are you doing?" Kael whispered.

Lytharion blinked innocently, but a shadow deity trying to act innocent was... a sin, as he said gently, "I was merely trying to hold you; your body must ache from... the nights."

Kael’s face reddened instantly. "I... I see..."

Lytharion didn’t wait; he scooped Kael into his arms slowly, reverently, like he was cradling a wounded moon.

Kael slumped helplessly against the emperor’s bare chest, his breath shaky, and he was still naked.

Then—

"Beloved..."

Lytharion’s voice shifted, soft, thick, and heavy with guilt.

Kael looked up, and what he saw made his breath soften. The shadow deity, lord of darkness, looked guilty.

Truly guilty or pretending to be, his brows furrowed, his golden eyes lowered, and his lips parted in quiet remorse.

"I truly apologize," Lytharion whispered. "I always feared the monster within me...but I never thought I was this dangerous. It was our first time after our bond; the situation had always made me control my desire, but...yesterday when you accepted me as your mate forever, something snapped in me and...I couldn’t hold my desire of wanting you anymore, beloved."

His fingers brushed Kael’s cheek, feather-light, trembling. "So forgive this husband of yours...beloved."

Kael’s cheeks warmed as he whispered softly, "It was... too much, but I... I really liked... rough. So no need to apologize, Lytharion."

Lytharion’s eyes widened slightly, and then he smirked, saying, "Then...I shall be more rough next time."

Kael’s cheeks went pink as Lytharion pressed a soft, tender kiss on Kael’s cheek, slow, lingering, and filled with reverence.

His hand slid behind Kael’s back and lifted him a little more comfortably.

"You look pale as a leaf," he whispered. "Come, let this husband of yours feed you, beloved, so that you can be ready for our...rough nights."

"Please stop it..."

"Why...is my beloved shy?"

Lytharion reached toward the tray beside the bed; he scooped a small spoonful and blew gently on it, cooling it with quiet patience. Then, with a soft, coaxing tone that felt far too intimate for daylight, "Now... open your mouth."

Kael’s entire face flushed scarlet in an instant. "I—I can feed myself. You don’t have to—"

Lytharion cut him off, leaning closer until Kael could feel the warmth of his breath.

"Let me take care of you. After exhausting you in such a manner... it becomes my duty. It is my honor to take care of my wife. Do not snatch that honor from me."

His thumb brushed Levin’s cheek, slowly, reverently.

"So..." Lytharion whispered, gaze soft but commanding, "open your mouth."

Kael’s breath trembled, his pride crumbled, and his ears burned red. And finally, slowly, reluctantly, adorably, he parted his lips.

Lytharion’s smile was tender enough to melt stone; he brought the spoon to Kael’s lips and fed him like a child being fed by someone he trusted more than his own heartbeat.

Warm sweetness touched his tongue. Lytharion’s hand stayed beneath his chin, steadying him, supporting him.

"It’s embarrassing to be fed like a child," Kael said.

"There’s no embarrassment, beloved; the embarrassment left the room the moment I saw you naked."

Kael’s eyes widened and his cheeks went pink. Lytharion chuckled under his breath, a soft, warm rumble as he whispered, "Good. Eat well, beloved... regaining strength is necessary."

And he lifted another spoonful, patient, gentle, utterly devoted.