Chapter 79: Wickedly Yours

Chapter 79: Wickedly YoursZavren’s face shifted into a frown as he felt her body tense—an edge of fear still lingering in the air. He caught the faintest scent of it. The horse began to move. Ariana’s eyes remained wide in horror as the rain trailed down her lashes, dripping to her nose, lips, and chin. She just stared straight ahead until she heard his voice. "This...Vrazen will use all means to test Eltones and provoke me into striking first. He hasn’t forgotten the war. That drive was no werewolf, sweetheart," she heard him say, and her eyes widened. "And trust me—I don’t do anything without a reason. I will definitely fucking kill anyone who poses a threat to my wife," he added. Her body tingled at his words. He was trying to protect her and... The way the word wife rolled off his tongue—it sounded wickedly sweet through the rain. Her heart thudded softly at how her back was pressed to his Knowing Zavren, whatever it was that had happened would be wiped out by tomorrow—without a trace. Zavren was not the type to explain himself to anyone, and being misunderstood by his wife made him strangely uneasy. Even he was surprised by how easily the explanation had fallen from his lips—yet every word had been true. "Your hands on the reins, Aria," he said. She nodded, and he held the reins. Ariana noticed the horse picking up speed. Her breath caught lightly as the trees blurred past them. At this point, it looked like something out of an ethereal painting—Zavren riding shirtless, Ariana in front of him, as the horse charged through the storm. The sound of the galloping echoed in her ears. She realized just how fast they were going. Sticking out her tongue slightly, she quickly pulled it back in—this reminded her of her childhood. When it rained, she used to beg her mother to let her play in it. If she was lucky, she’d be granted a few minutes. Ariana never thought a day like this would come—riding under the rain, on a horse, with him. And for some reason, she finally realized how beautiful it all was. She let herself be gently embraced by it, as the horse raced beneath her. Then she noticed their movement had slowed. Her head tilted slightly toward Zavren, who noticed she was enjoying it and simply smirked before speaking. "We are arriving at the castle," he said, and Ariana nodded. The horse continued forward until they finally reached the gate. "Aria, take off the shirt. Use it to cover your front," Ariana heard him say. She shifted—as Zavren hand held her waist for balance while the other clutched the reins. Her eyes moved downward, and it was only then she realized how tightly her wet clothes clung to her body—every curve now clearly visible. The rain had begun to calm, no longer as heavy as before. Ariana removed his shirt, and she used it to cover her chest. Just as she did, they approached the castle gate. The guards standing outside looked stunned—they hadn’t expected to see the king. They quickly moved and opened the gate, all bowing deeply. Zavren ignored them as the horse continued forward. Ariana’s hand moved lightly to caress the horse’s neck. This horse truly was a good one. Without a doubt, she would come check on it tomorrow after breakfast. At last, they reached the castle entrance, and the horse came to a stop. The maids outside bowed deeply. A few of them who dared to peek had cheeks flushed pink—they had noticed His Highness wasn’t wearing a shirt. Ariana, catching their stares, curled her lips into a smirk—one she didn’t even realize she wore. It was a smirk that clearly said: ’He is mine.’ Zavren dismounted and guided Ariana down. Just as her feet touched the ground, her body gave a slight shiver. The rain had lessened, and now the cold began to settle in. Without a word, Zavren scooped her gently into his arms. The wind blew softly, leaving goosebumps across her skin as he carried her inside, his expression neutral. "Is her bath ready?" he asked, gaze still fixed on Ariana. The maid he addressed trembled slightly as she bowed. "Y-Yes, Your H-Highness," she stammered, knowing that no was never an acceptable answer. Ariana’s body shivered lightly, but the warmth radiating from Zavren calmed her. She just stared at him, unsure why her heart felt so warm. Even the view of him from above screamed perfection. The way his hair clung to his forehead only made him look even more ravishing. He opened the door to her room and stepped in, closing it softly behind them. Then, he moved to open the bathroom door. Before she could say anything, Zavren gently placed her atop the pavement on the other side of the bathroom. Her eyes stretched slightly as she sat, her hands instinctively gripping his bare arms. She could feel the muscle beneath her fingers, and her breathing quickened just a little as Zavren moved. "Let me strip you. We wouldn’t want you catching a cold," he said. Her eyes widened as Zavren reached for the shirt she had used to cover herself. She immediately pulled her hands to her chest, shielding it. Zavren’s eyes rested on her face as he gently placed his hands over hers, removing them. "This is the reason why you won’t," he murmured. "Now let me do it." He moved to the side straps of her gown as he removed it, his touch careful. Her heart thudded. She knew he was doing this to prevent her from falling ill... yet, why was her heart racing like this? Zavren held her gently as he lifted her to her feet. He slid the gown off her shoulders and carried her back to sit. Ariana’s face flushed deeply—now she was left in only her bra and panties. But she realized the cold wasn’t so bad anymore; her damp clothes had been the real culprit. Her lips parted and closed again as she stared at him—and to her shock, Zavren moved. Click. Her bra was unhooked. Her lips parted even more as it slipped off and her breasts came into view, nipples hard. Zavren’s eyes rested calmly on her, but her nipples hardened further—as if inviting him. She turned her head away quickly, her eyes snapping down just as she felt his hands rest on the waistband of her panties. Her lips pressed together as her gaze locked with his steel eyes. Silence stretched between them. Zavren finally removed his hands, and a sigh of relief escaped her lips. She moved to stand, but as she did—her panties slipped to the floor as she realized both sides had been torn in straight line. Her eyes widened. Her gaze shifted to Zavren, silently demanding an explanation. He said nothing—only stared with a teasing glint dancing in his eyes. T..This man had tricked her. But how had he done it? Then, he gently lifted her once more and lowered her into the warm bath. Ariana knew that if this man kept doing even the simplest things for her, she might just forget how to walk altogether. Warmth enveloped her, soothing her cold body into calmness. Her hands moved quickly—one to cover her chest, the other to shield her lower half. "There’s no need to hide from—" Zavren’s voice trailed off, his eyes locked on her hands. Ariana noticed the change in his expression and followed his gaze. What’s wrong? she wondered, confused. "Where is your ring?" His voice came out low, calm, and clear—but his eyes had narrowed coldly, demanding an answer. Ariana’s lips pressed together as she calmly pointed to the pavement beside the drawer. To her surprise, Zavren stood. His eyes flashed with slight displeasure as he walked toward the drawer. He opened it—and there it was, placed just as she had left it. Ariana had dropped it there that morning and forgotten to wear it back—probably due to her overthinking. Now, if only she had placed it somewhere visible, she could have worn it earlier. The warm water married her skin into comfort as Zavren returned. His eyes were calm as he knelt beside the tub. He took her hands in his, their eyes locking, and slowly he slid the ring back onto her finger. Ariana’s lips parted, her heart thudding. Her eyes darted to his hand, which was still holding hers—and for some reason, she realized she hadn’t paid much attention to his ring until now. The way her chest bloomed with joy was... satisfyingly beautiful. Zavren’s hands still held her as he spoke: "Never take this off—no matter what happens. In your sleep, when you wake... morning, afternoon, evening... no matter the time of day." His eyes rested on her shocked ones as he added, "Do I make myself clear?" Ariana’s gaze remained locked with his; she hadn’t expected that. "Do I make myself fucking clear, Luna Ariana?" Her head moved slightly as she nodded, and then a slow grin tugged at his lips. His eyes still fixed on her, he leaned forward and gently kissed her knuckles—just atop the ring. Her body shivered as her stomach flipped from the softness of his lips resting on her knuckles. Why did it feel like some silently bound promise? "You are mine, and will forever be. And once you have your wolf... I will show you my hell."