There were two master suites of numerous apartments within Nørrdragor. One for Godwin and the other for Lucian. Each suite took up about half the floor space above the roaring fires of the great hall. I wondered quietly along my husband's half as Astrid lead me through each chamber. The only chamber which shared the space between both great halves was the private, stately dining room which accommodated a fireplace that replicated the two grand hearths below, albeit on a much smaller scale.

Like Godwin's private solar, there was a living area of sorts with a library, vivid tapestries on the walls and a large rug of brown fur across the grey stone floor. I peeked into the adjacent chamber and discovered, to my delight, that it was almost identical to Anne's. A lady's solar! I entered with my little taper and walked all the way to the large glazed window, but I could not enjoy the prospect for there was naught but dense blackness beyond.

"It overlooks the ocean, miss." Astrid said from behind me, knowing how much I enjoyed staring out the western tower's uppermost window; the one that afforded spectacular views of the Redweld forest.

Well, no need to procrastinate further, I suppose.

I sighed forlornly, my breathe almost extinguishing the flame, as the little maid lead me to the the master's bed chamber.



❅



Astrid, had removed my weighty gown and slippers, debarrassed me of all but my filmy shift, ere she had closed the door and left me to my own gloomy council. However, not before also placing two fresh tapers on the mantlepiece, which was unnecessary since the fire she had started in the hearth cast a soft glow that reached all four corners of Lucian's bed chamber. It crackled heartily, echoing throughout the silent room as it steadily began to thaw the frozen stones beneath my bare feet. Would that it could banish the dread from my breast as well as it did the cold.

I waited, wiping the constant stream of tears from my cheeks. I cared little that my eyes were swollen and unattractively red.

All the better, I thought.

I lifted Ulfrlykill from where it lay around my neck and placed the silver chain at the bottom of the chest that held all my worldly belongings. I was still perplexed by Rose's gift, but I had more substantial concerns to ponder now and Rose's odd gift could wait till another day.

Perhaps he won't come. I then scoffed at myself. Of course he'll come!

What a lark! How droll I was being tonight. I was unable to sit still, my hands needing constant occupation lest I go mad with the waiting. Ergo, I sat on a stool in front of the fireplace, combing out my jetty locks and feigning a calm I did not feel — as attested by my agitated knee, bouncing rhythmically to some wild tattoo; possibly the violent tempo of my poor quavering heart?

I waited. Still, he stayed away. The rushlights stood now halfway burned, the telltale indication of the passage of time. Our apartments, his apartments, were situated directly over the great hall and I could still hear the hurly burly carousing and clamor of celebration that seemed unlikely to diminish till dawn, by the sounds of things.

Perchance he may imbibe himself into a stupor and be unable to...

However, that was a useless notion and only served to bedevil me further so, In lieu of fruitless speculation, I turned my attention back to the din in the great hall. I could well imagine how terribly frigid the rest of the castle chambers might be tonight, except Godwin's of course, considering they were not built atop the hall, and its massive fireplace, as this room was — I was yet cold, albeit not as much as I might have been were I currently established elsewhere.

This land seemed cursed with crippling winters that culled the population each year and I wondered if I would survive this night only to waste away from the arctic midnight months ahead. Although that was unlikely in as much as I had endured perfectly fine thus far, several years in fact, and had never been confined to a sickbed; ere now — I was sick with trepidation and the giant bed, now flooded by firelight, seemed to taunt me cruelly.

I nearly yanked the hair from my scalp when the door flew open, a veritable gust of cool air announcing my husband's dreaded arrival. How strange that still sounded. Husband. He appeared to me thus, abruptly and without the warning of approaching footsteps, venting out the warmth that had tentatively began to tepefy the room.

The little hairs at my nape stood instantly erect, gooseflesh spreading lightning fast across my skin, and I was not altogether certain the chill he'd allowed in was solely to blame for the static in the air. Meanwhile, he had said nothing. Simply closed the door and watched me silently, with a predatory glint in those disquieting amber eyes. I eschewed his gaze directly, never able to meet his stare long for fear he'd entice my very soul straight through my casements.

Therewith I stood and moved to the window, after placing my comb on the vacated stool, to stare into the atramentous void without. The stars shunned me tonight, but 'twas the moon I yearned for; to paint her light upon that inky canvas — to bear witness to this hour. I should have gorged myself on wine so that I too could sink into oblivion as she had done... behind the blanket of thick cloud. Why was I feeling so awkward. So nervous. Had it been merely my imagination or had things seemed easier between us of late? Why then were we acting like strangers tonight?

Two steely arms appeared on either side of me as Lucian pressed his palms into the windowsill, level with my heaving chest. It always surprised and unsettled me they way he moved so silently despite being a man of so large a frame — as of a stalking cat. He made no move to touch me so I closed my eyes and imagined that I was yet alone. A most absurd endeavor, for I could feel the air betwixt our bodies thrumming with bridled energy. We, neither of us, said aught; yet the tension rained as clear as tempest fire.

"Will you ignore me all night, wife?" he whispered softly at my ear.

Wife. My eyes had shot open with the sudden shock of his resonating voice and I turned within the confines of the thick arms that caged me.

"No," I replied with a corrugated brow. "You know I cannot." He was not a man easily ignored. Not for any reason.

"Well, you could try..." He cocked his head in a challenging manner that was strangely playful, and so at odds with my mounting nerves.

"But I shan't." He seemed suddenly disappointed by my dour response, but I was not coquettish by nature and knew not how to be. Or perhaps I could be if I were not dreading that which would soon take place between us.

Lucian nodded distractedly before changing the subject abruptly. "You surprised me this morning," said he, scratching his jaw as he swept his gaze over my lips and back up to my eyes.

"How so?"

He compressed his lips in a thoughtful manner. "You are a beautiful woman, Aria; but in your wedding finery...you quite rendered me senseless." He seemed almost sheepish as I stared nonplussed, and then kneaded the back of his neck with an awkwardness quite unlike him. We regarded one another silently and for a moment all thoughts of my anxious state were rived from my breast as I considered his words carefully, unused to compliments as I was. What was more, he seemed equally unused to giving them. "I should have told you ere now, but I am unaccustomed to the mawkish talk that comes so easily to callow swains."

"Well then your senselessness lends itself to dispassion, for I thought you rather unimpressed by me." I could not forbear the words, but the light rebuke seemed not to affect his mood in the least.

"On the contrary," he chuckled darkly. "Shall I show you just how passionate I can be?"

He moved away then and walked to the imposing bed as I tried to swallow, but my mouth had long since drained of moisture. Holding out his hand to me, Lucian arched a single brow, indicating that I should join him thither; however, my feet would neither obey me nor him.

"Aria?" His lips were quirked imperceptibly. "Come here," he commanded gently, a soothing timbre that he seldom employed, and I found it to be almost inviting as I watched him spread his battle-calloused hands casually atop the counterpane of furs. He seemed now almost tame. But not quite.

Never that.

I had interacted with Lucian only sporadically, each time just fleetingly, in the years since my arrival to the north. I could recall to mind every specific occasion that we had spoken, the sum of their total but few; however, our interactions were, for the most part, invariably intimidating, and rare. I had been a child when first I came to be here and he, comparatively, already a man fully grown. I had therefore been well beneath his notice — a drab and fragile little urchin. Howbeit, no longer. I held his attention now whether I willed it or no.

All this I thought as I walked uncertainly toward him, my feet padding soundlessly over the cold flagstones. At last I stood before him after what seemed like mere seconds, but was probably long enough to have bordered on impertinence. He smiled, baring his teeth as he did so. He did that but rarely and I was always taken aback by it — more so by his large canines than by the smile itself. Those teeth had always unsettled me.

Stop smiling, you brute! If only I had the gall to say it aloud. It was no charming smile, just a smirk that I desired suddenly to wipe from his face.

"My, Lucian, what big teeth you have!"

The look of surprise that therewith twisted his features was instantly gratifying, but I schooled my countenance admirably and contained the mirth that pulled at my mouth. Bravo, Aria! But my smugness was short lived, for he was soon grinning again.

"There is much I would do with these teeth, Aria. Let me show you..."

"I'd rather you didn't," I snorted, however, I was rather intrigued by this humorous side of Lucian. He had effortlessly replaced my nerves with easy banter.

"Come closer," he drawled, his tone still mild and his eyes yet kindled with promise.

"So impatient," I suspired loudly with a calm poise I did not wholly feel.

"Extremely..." he answered, his lip curling ever higher.

I took a deep breath and reached for his doublet, my fingers grazing the warm skin of his neck. I had done this — touched him — very little since we first met. My fingers were shaking unmistakably, so much so that it drew his eyes and furrowed his brow. It was absurd, really — a ludicrous circle — for the more displeased his countenance became, the more I quavered. And yet I was excited too. A thrilling mix of trepidation and heat had pooled into my belly.

"It seems I must need ask this question again: have I ever hurt you ere now?" I think he was endeavoring a soothing timbre, but the quietness of his voice only made it gravelly... like a low growl.

"No," I said. I recalled the conversation we'd had when he had asked me something similar the first night of his return to Nørrdragor after his protracted absence.

"Why then do you tremble?" he asked with a knowing set to his features.

"I am afraid?" I seemed to be asking myself this question as if even I doubted its veracity. But that was not altogether true, was it? It was not my fear that quickened my loins.

"Yes," said he, his jaw clenching. "A forgone conclusion, believe me."

Then why ask? I almost retorted.

"Tell me what to do to ease your... suffering." Why was he smirking again?

I thought about what he might do. Stop flashing your canines when you leer at me for one thing!

"Talk to me, perhaps?" It was a statement and I hoped he would comply despite the note of query in my answer.

"What about?" His sigh of resignation almost made me smile. Almost.

I said the first thing that jumped to mind. Though, why that question lurked there, I know not! I ought to have chosen a safer subject to distract him, thereby acquiring the reprieve I sought.

"Have you done this before?"

"Yes."

I was amusing him now. "Oh..." The word hung limply between us.

"You really wish to know the details?" he asked quietly. I nodded my head emphatically. "Very well. She was a widow. I met her whilst serving my uncle at Skådrokk, I was his squire, you see." I nodded again. "She had come to visit Rose. She was older than I, perhaps the same age as my aunt, yet lovely besides. An attractive combination to any lusty boy, myself included."

I sat down on the furs beside him, his eyes following the movement with a satisfied wolf-smile stretching across his lips.

"Her husband," he told me, "had apparently been an ancient, doddering old thing and she found herself desirous of some younger flesh to warm her bed. I acquiesced readily, as you may imagine." His grin lost some of it's potency as he thought to add, "I regret it now; but I fancied myself in love with her then as all callow youths are wont to imagine themselves."

"How old were you?" I asked. No wonder he had hated the sight of me when first I arrived. Perhaps he had still thought himself in love when he was told he would have to marry me instead.

"Sixteen. Tall for my age, but not a whit of sense to show for it."

Although beautiful even then, I imagined. "What happened to her?" I was quite invested in his tale by now.

"She was rather wealthy and retained a vast amount of rich lands. The King, always eager to reward his loyal subjects, bade her marry one of his favorites. A baron in Seabergen, I believe. I never saw her again." He seemed unperturbed by this, which strangely pleased me.

"But she was not the last?" Oh curse you damn tongue! Why had I asked that?

"You think me promiscuous, do you?" His lip quirked as he studied me and I blushed uncomfortably.

Well, you did ask to know! But the idea that he was experienced did not sit well with me.

"The answer is no, Aria." His words were muttered with obvious chagrin. "I do not run about seducing women at whim, whatever you may think. That lady was the only one with whom I..." He clamped his mouth shut in consternation and began anew. "I was young and stupid," said he, as if that should adequately explain his past indiscretions.

I nodded my understanding, but with dubious solemnity, although I did concede that the follies of youth might very well be sufficiently considered extenuating circumstances.

Lucian, deeming this particular conversation at an end, looked pointedly at his yet undressed state when something seemed to occur to him. He lifted a sardonic brow. "You have never seen a naked man before, have you?"

Why would I have! I almost sneered. "I feel as though there can be only one healthy answer to this question, Lucian." I shook my head, rather annoyed that he should ask this of me, and replied, "No, I have not had that misfortune." He compressed his lips, but did not acknowledge my temerity.

"Aye, you are right! There is but one answer! However, if there were another less desirable response, I would rather not hear it." His lips compressed and his eyes became as whinstone. "What has transpired heretofore should not reflect our future felicity; do not you agree?"

Does he know about Thomas?

"Well?" He cocked his head. "Shall we begin our lives from this night forward in honest fidelity? Or would you have us both confess every misdeed ere you will welcome me as your husband?"

"As you say, what is in the past is no longer of any import. I should not have questioned you about..."

"Aria, you may ask whatever you wish; I may choose to withhold my answers until I see fit to enlighten you, but I shall never lie. Moreover, I will not begrudge you your need to know me better. It is, after all, only natural."

Lucian watched me silently while I fidgeted with my hair and mustered a small smile. How could I now salvage this night and turn our thoughts elsewhere. Best to just get on with the business of bedding one another afore he choose to take the latter part of the conversation any further. I did not know if Carac had informed him of Thomas' poor judgement, but I appreciated Lucian's desire to begin our marriage on new footing without either of us suffering through this would-be Sacrament of Penance.

"But there is something I have never done," he went on, "that I must do with you before we ... complete our joining. In that respect we are both virgins."

"Will it hurt?"

"There will be pain tonight, more for you than for myself, but tis unavoidable."

"And blood?"

"Blood must be sacrificed, yes; in more ways than one." With that he pulled a dagger from his belt, which elicited from my lips a sudden gasp.

I flinched, thinking he meant to stab me with it, but his mouth became grim as he easily guessed my thoughts, and then he pressed the blade to his right palm and dragged it across his flesh so that the resultant blood pooled instantly in his hand.

"Your turn," he said, placing the blade in my own hand, indicating which hand he wished me to cut. My left.

Steeling myself for what I was obviously expected to do, I gritted my teeth and closed my hand over the blade as I pulled it across my own palm, as he had done.

Taking my hand in his, his wound pressed to mine, he said, "This is called the Blood Bond."

"Oh." I recalled our hand-fasting and thought that it meet that our hands should be bound this way one last time before we ... proceeded with the rest. "What does this mean?"

"It means I can never harm you. More importantly, it means I take you as a life mate, Aria." He leaned in and placed his lips gently to mine before pulling away again. "I bind myself to you with a kiss," he said, my hand still clapped in his. "I bind myself to you through blood." And he pressed our hands to his heart."

After a silence, I spoke at last, for I was becoming nervous under his weighty stare. "And the third?"

He smiled. "How do you know there is a third part to this pagan ritual?"

"I have come to find that your customs in the north always entail three or nine acts."

"Very good, but they are now your customs too; and I believe you know what the last 'act' entails."

"Tell me what to do?" I swallowed nervously. "How to proceed."

"Unbutton my jerkin." The nerves and quivering returned ten-fold and I almost screamed in frustration!

"Lucian... tis better..." I thought about how exactly I might convey the thought. "I... It was more pleasant when you kissed me," I said pointedly. Did he understand? When he had kissed me before, he had done so with such skill that I had been mindless for a time. Perhaps he could forge the same sensations again?

"Very well," he grinned and stood with deliberate care, slowly divesting himself of his layers. I sat transfixed as he lifted his shirt over his head.

There had been hints to the impressive frame he displayed to me now. I had seen him exercising with the other knights in naught but a thin shirt, but he was so much closer now and formidably large, his chest as broad and golden as the rest of him. When he made to untie his braies, I averted my gaze and heard him chuckle quietly before he uttered, "coward." He had not injected any meanness into the word, it had seemed almost playful — so I maintained the safety of my diverted eyes.

"Aria." There was a veiled warning in his use of my name. He was adamant that I look. So, I looked. My mouth became dry with... uncertainty? Awe? I know not, but he was powerful in his naked state — so much so that I balked at the size of him. I had heretofore watched the hounds copulating within Nørdragorr's confines. I knew which part went where... and it did not bear thinking of, just yet!

Lucian, growing impatient, reached for my chemise and pulled it firmly from me. It was a flimsy thing and had not hidden much from his view, but I had felt safer beneath it despite the dearth of protection it afforded me.

"What is that!" The anger was back in his voice. Was it ever truly gone? He was staring at my bandaged forearm with an intensity of a thunderstorm.

"Naught but a scratch!" I demurred, but he remained focused on my arm. "Not now, Lucian." He seemed on the verge of arguing so I assumed an air of confidence I did not feel. "Come here," I coaxed him.

With that his eyes collided sharply with mine and I scooted back with wide eyes as he stalked me onto the mattress. He was neither slow nor tender as he swiftly brought his lips down on mine in a crushing kiss. He had kissed me thus before, the very first time, but I did not mind it as much now as I had then. I returned it with as much gusto as his response deserved.

Within seconds I was as mindless as I had needed him to make me. His ardor was most contagious. It infected me with a feverish vehemence I had not thought myself capable of. His lips gradually inflamed a path toward my neck and then further down...

My hands came up to halt his progress, but he moved them easily aside with only one of his, and held my arms above my head. Thus restrained, he captured a distended nipple with his fierce mouth and moved his unemployed hand lower still. I could no longer oppose his exploration in my current situation, constrained as I was, and so could do naught but feel. He trailed a heated, stelliferous pathway along my sensitive skin, drawing a line of puckering flesh wherever he touched me — he was relentless.

I became aware of a deep, all-consuming pulse at my apex. My legs became slack, opening of their own volition, as my body arched into Lucian. I craved something palpable but yet unattainable. I yearned to plummet over the precipice into that euphoric void that lay just out of reach.

Then, unexpectedly, came the white-hot pain, piercing and violent. The searing force of it caused my nails to dig harshly into Lucian's back, drawing blood from him as he had done to me now. I lay rigid, my eyes no longer unfocused and glazed over, as I stared up into Lucian's stark, fiery gaze: an intense conflagration in his irises that I was sure would burn us both into cinders. These were no mere mortal's eyes, yet I was strangely unafraid just then. He stilled within me, his arms straining either side of my rib cage.

I could not look away. I should feel horrified by their unholy glow. I should be screaming, running from the chamber, or fainting dead away, but I did none of that. A strange calm had descended over me, obliterating all my logic — perhaps the effect of the vestige of the passion that had reigned before the pain.

He watched me carefully, devouring every bit of my face as I relaxed gradually. In doing so, I was thereby able to take him further into me, his length increasing unbearable with each inch he conquered from me. Still, he waited and soon the pain had receded to a dull throb.

When he began moving again it was with the ardent ferocity of before. He hid naught. Held nothing back. Astonishingly, the rapture, I had thought lost forever, returned full force and with an unyielding vengeance. I was on the verge of combustion, my fingernails digging into the backs of hands where he held mine fast, the blood between our twin wounds still pulsing with life where they still touched.

The agonizing sparks gathered brightly into my core and finally exploded into waves of ecstasy that carried me into boneless abyss. Lucian soon followed me there with a low, euphoric growl.

The last thing I felt, as I relinquished myself to the fog of contented lethargy, was the feel of warm lips upon the exposed side of my damp neck, and then a soft kiss to my injured hand.



🌟Were you expecting more, you pervs?😏 Yeah, I bet you were!🌟