Witch's Daughter And The Devil's Son

After successfully escorting the drunk Arlan back to his guest mansion and ensuring that Slayer, who was drunk with just one fill of alcohol, made his way back to his room after, Drayce finally returned to his awaiting wife.

Drayce appeared drained, not physically but mentally, thanks to the exasperating banter of his two intoxicated friends. Their audacity in questioning his manhood due to his delay in consummating the marriage left a deep furrow on his brow.

If Arlan and Slayer were not his friends and were not drunk, he would have strangled both of them to death.

Seren, who had been patiently waiting for his return, observed his somber demeanor. She gracefully rose from the bed and approached him, concern etched across her face. "Dray, what happened? Are you alright? Ahh... Dray..."

In the blink of an eye, it felt as though her body had been propelled through the air at the speed of lightning, and she found herself pinned beneath Drayce's robust form on the bed. The transition from standing by the door to lying in her own bed was bewildering, but the more pressing matter was understanding the source of her husband's discontent.

He fixed his intense gaze upon her, firmly holding her hands above her head while his other hand began to trace the contours of her figure. "Dray, what's going on?" Her voice barely rose above a whisper, her perplexed eyes searching for logic in his.

Drayce continued to study her beautiful eyes, his dignified tone laced with frustration. "My ability as a man has been called into question."

"W-What do you mean?" Seren tried to wrap her head around the situation, her thoughts racing. "To me, you're the finest man, the strongest, and the wisest."

Drayce addressed her doubts directly, his voice firm, "My inability to consummate our marriage."

Her eyes blinked rapidly, embarrassment washing over her beautiful face. She swallowed hard, her heart fluttering erratically. "Do... you want to?" she asked nervously, her voice trembling, "Tonight?"

She couldn't remove her veil, and the desire to reveal her face to him might remain unfulfilled for now. There was no reason to delay further.

"I'm dying to," he confessed, his voice hoarse with desire.

His body pressed against hers, the sensation of her softness beneath him fueling the smoldering fire within him. He had restrained himself for far too long, and each passing day had become a torment. The provocation from his drunk friends was merely the catalyst he needed to surrender to his desires.

"Then... we should," she said shyly, her words finally escaping her lips.

Drayce swallowed heavily, his breaths turning ragged as he gazed at his willing wife.

However, she was still weak, her delicate body still recovering from the aftermath of the outburst of her that dangerous power sealed inside her.

Could he, in this moment, be rational and tender towards her? After all, he was a man driven by desire, and she, a delicate woman.

He shut his eyes, his longing intensifying, aware of the beast lurking within, his darker instincts threatening to emerge. Erebus, his inner demon, would exploit any vulnerability in his state of mind.

"Dray," a gentle voice called out to him.

He reluctantly opened his eyes and met Seren's gaze, the darkness in his eyes receding. Seren noticed the transformation but wisely chose not to comment, understanding the root cause – his inner darkness that she would eventually have to embrace. She patiently awaited his words.

"Seren" he began, his voice tinged with uncertainty, "I'm afraid you won't be able to endure me."

Seren felt a surge of worry at his words, but she placed her trust in Drayce. "I... believe I will manage."

"You haven't fully recovered," he tried to reason with her. "Your body is still weak."

"I feel well enough," she responded, locking eyes with him, her determination unwavering.

He continued to present his case, struggling against his own desires. "I have warned you."

"I heard you," she reassured him, her resolve firm. "I'm not afraid."

In an instant, the room plunged into darkness, accompanied by the distinct sound of clothes being torn. Seren found herself completely unclothed beneath Drayce, a sudden escalation that caught her off guard. Unlike their usual pace, Drayce preferred to be slow and gentle with her, ensuring her comfort at every step.

Something was amiss; he seemed different now.

Before she could draw any conclusions, her veil vanished, and her mouth was forcefully sealed by a pair of overly aggressive lips. Her hands were once again pinned above her head, rendering her powerless beneath Drayce's weight. It was clear that something had changed.

Erebus. It had to be him.

Though Seren had never been afraid of Erebus, she couldn't help but feel a sense of dread at this moment.

Would it be Erebus, not Drayce, who would consummate their marriage? Would Drayce feel hurt if it were to happen this way? Was Erebus going to claim her as his mate tonight, marking her in a manner she hadn't anticipated? The books had explained the process of marking as a beautiful gesture between mates, but this didn't feel like it. She hadn't given her consent for Erebus to mark her yet.

It should have been Drayce who consummated their marriage, while Erebus could mark her later. Although she had never voiced it to Drayce, Seren had resolved to treat both sides equally, not wishing for Erebus to encroach upon Drayce's rights as her husband, while Erebus could exercise his claim over his mate.

These thoughts swirled in her mind as the relentless force on top of her devoured her mouth. Normally, she might have relished this rough intimacy, much like their previous encounter on the ship, but not this time. Right now, all she yearned for was Drayce.

Erebus released her mouth and descended to her neck, causing her to gasp loudly as he forcefully sucked on her skin without any mercy. A shiver coursed down her spine.

"Is he going to mark me?" she wondered with trepidation. "I need to stop him."

"You cannot mark me without my consent," Seren declared loudly, despite her ragged breathing that he had left her with.