*smut warning at the later parts*

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∞ | Chapter 24 - Skin | ∞

Antro Tower, Carvensland

Adrastea stared out of the windows, noting how hard the waves were crashing against the rocks at the coast.

It had been three days. Three days since she had been kidnapped by her brother and tortured. Three days since she had cried like a fool in Rhydderch's arms. Three days since Edmond died.

To be frank, she felt nothing when she remembered a hazy memory of seeing her brother's motionless body on the ground.

Was it bad to be glad that your own sibling was dead?

She didn't think so.

But she had hated him. There was no way she would forgive Edmond when he belittled her every chance he got, or when he left her to die during the siege of the Sage Cliffs and not to mention the glaringly obvious part where he kidnapped her for the enemy and stood by while she got tortured.

The very thought of that day made her flinch and she couldn't help but look down at her arms to see the thin ugly cuts on her forearms. She closed her eyes and visibly shuddered. Despite them healing rather quickly due to many folk and traditional treatments, she knew they were going to scar.

It would be a constant reminder of how her brother had betrayed her for what? Prestige and power? She had gone through enough to know that they were ever-changing and fickle.

Besides, only those who were brilliant and influential managed to possess those. Someone like Rhydderch. Edmond was way too stupid and impulsive to keep those anyway, she thought cruelly.

She remembered the day when she realised that Edmond had been alive all along. It had given her a sense of security to know that she wasn't alone anymore. That she had someone to depend on and trust in a world full of traitors and liars.

She had been a fool.

It was almost ironic that the person she had come to depend and trust were Rhydderch, her soulmate. Someone who she was initially distrustful of due to his too perfect smile and impassive blank features and impersonal manner.

Adrastea shook her head and closed her eyes.

She had been so blind to not see that Edmond hadn't really cared or bothered much about her. He hadn't really shown any concern towards her, nor had he made any effort to get to know her. In fact, she highly suspected that he was willing to connect with her due to her connection with Rhydderch.

And when that failed and led to a hallway full of closed doors, he had taken matters into his own hands. He had become a spy for Vlad and betrayed those who had taken him in and showed him what a second home was like.

Honestly, how had she been so blind to not see his true self? Maybe it was true that she was a hypocrite on a certain level. She had always prided on her ability to read people from the first few impressions she had gained. Wasn't that how she had deduced that Rhydderch was manipulative and scheming?

Maybe, she had chosen not to see Edmond's true colours. Maybe, it was her fault for choosing to close an eye where Edmond was concerned and maybe, she could have prevented it all.

Adrastea moved away from the window and sunk onto the settee in the room and her eyes landed on her hands. Her bone shattered free hands.

Rhydderch had arrived on time. How he had realised she was gone, she didn't know, yet. Well, it would take a complete fool to not realise Edmond's hand in things, but she was thankful nonetheless.

The rebellion had successfully taken the Carvensland but the downside was, Vlad and a few of his most loyal had escaped. Most probably due to secret tunnels and passageways that they hadn't known and anticipated.

She knew that they were out there plotting on how to win back their city.

And as for her, she had been on strict orders to rest. In fact, Adrastea had been confined to her room for the past four days and it was driving her mad. There were two armed men outside her room, something she realised when she tried to leave.

She reached out for the cup of hot tea resting on the table in front of her and took a small sip, relishing in the warmth that it provided.

Thankfully, the injuries that she had sustained were healing quite nicely. The Medic that had attended to her had pronounced her head injury mild and the cuts on her arms were surprisingly shallow despite the blood. But she knew the emotional and psychological trauma were deep.

Placing her tea back on the table, she turned her head to see that the sky was dark. Glad that she had lit numerous candles in the corner of the room, Adrastea turned back to the front and surveyed the room she was in.

It was one of the nicer rooms in the Antro Tower that was meant for Affluents or official visitors from the other four cities. It consisted of two settees, a well-stocked desk that contained stationery, a big luxurious bed with an adjoining washroom.

The door opened and she didn't have to turn to know that it was Rhydderch.

Things between them hadn't been the same since her kidnapping.

She supposed it was Rhydderch blaming himself for not doing something about Edmond. But in her opinion, it was definitely her fault for having an emotional breakdown in his arms. There were embarrassment and shame for losing control of her emotions and she still couldn't believe that she had cried into his chest when she knew that he was someone who was highly uncomfortable with emotions of the softer side.

She had been so horrified by that action that she acted uncomfortable and awkward whenever Rhydderch was around.

Strangely, Rhydderch hadn't brought it up much and his behaviour towards her didn't change and she was highly appreciative of it, but that didn't mean she was truly over everything.

So yes, it was her fault things were out of sync with them.

"You're up," he stated.

She looked up and nodded. "Yes."

It was the second day that she was conscious for the whole day and not in bed and being the opportunist that she was, Adrastea had taken the chance to think and analyse her feelings and thoughts.

She had even managed to neaten the ends of her hair from the ragged mess it had been before.

An awkward pause began and she watched as Rhydderch sat in one of the matching chairs opposite her. His blue eyes were piercing as he regarded her with narrowed eyes.

"Do you want to talk about it?"

"No, like I said yesterday, there's nothing to talk about," she said shortly before taking another sip of her tea.

"He was your brother."

"No," she said in a hard tone. "He wasn't. My brother died when I was two."

"Regardless," he pressed and she lifted her head to glare at him. "I don't want to talk about Edmond."

"How's your head?" he asked.

She didn't know what was wrong with her but she just felt...off. Irritation bit her and she gritted her teeth. "It's fine, the Medic was here earlier and she just told me to take it easy. Meaning, no running about to hit my head on the wall," she snarked.

Rhydderch's stare hardened and his nostrils flared. "I don't appreciate your sarcasm."

"And I don't appreciate you treating me like I'm some sort of fragile object," she retorted snappishly before making her way to the adjoining washroom to take her bath.

God, what on earth was her problem? She sank into the tub of water and grabbed at her face.

Yes, Rhydderch had been relentless in ensuring that she was confined to her room and on bed rest. Yes, he had been ridiculously overbearing for the past few days. Yes, she had been getting sick of it all but she regretted voicing out her frustrations in that manner.

Adrastea groaned silently, wishing that she had been more patient with him. After all, he had good intentions behind his actions while she was acting like a spoilt brat.

However, in her defence, all she wanted was to be active. Leaving her with nothing to do, her mind had replayed the horrors of that day on loop. She didn't want to think about the ordeal, she just wanted to do her job, taking care of others and to save lives.

Subconsciously, Adrastea traced the long thin scars on her forearms as she began to think. She would let Rhydderch know that she appreciated his intentions but it didn't help her mental recovery.

And hopefully, everything would be fine between them after. She wanted things to go back to the way it had been before. Before the rift between them widened.

Done with her bath, she got out of the tub and towelled herself down. With that done, she slipped on her nightgown and took a quick glance into the mirror.

Eyeing the length of her hair, she fingered the ends and sighed inwardly. The length of her hair was now just an inch below her shoulders. She didn't look too bad, it was just...different. But she did prefer her hair long.

Not to mention that Rhydderch had a preference for it too when he was tugging at her hair hard as he pounded away in her.

Her face flushed.

No, no thinking about that now. There were more important things to handle.

Adrastea was determined to set things right between her and her soulmate but seeing Rhydderch at one of the settees reading, she noted that he was clearly focused on ignoring her. She bit her lip in regret, Rhydderch really didn't deserve the snappish tone nor the attitude she had adopted towards him.

Slowly, she moved towards him and as if Rhydderch could sense her quiet movements, she looked up to see that he was watching her intently, eyes narrowed and his body in a stiff posture with his arms folded across his chest.

Once she was facing him, she looked down at him and bit her lip, not sure on how to start.

Rhydderch was the type to be perfectly happy to remain silent while she struggled with what to say. Sometimes, she really hated him.

"Rhydderch," she began and swallowed. "I'm sorry."

He raised a brow as he tilted his head. "Sorry? What are you sorry for? For being related to Edmond? For getting yourself kidnapped? Or are you sorry for being rather unreasonable and rude? What exactly are you apologetic for?" he challenged as he got to his feet and stared down at her.

Adrastea glowered up at him before biting the inside of her cheek, knowing that she deserved his barbs. "I'm sorry alright? I'm sorry for being unbearable these past few days. I was trying to deal with being helpless on that day and you know how I feel about that."

He was silent as she spoke and she flitted her gaze to her surroundings before meeting his eyes.

"In addition, I had that emotional breakdown in the infirmary that day and I didn't like showing anyone even you how out of control I was. I'm sorry," she said before biting hard on her lower lip.

Rhydderch's eyes were dark as he regarded her. "Perhaps," he paused as he studied her, breaking the silence. "I should punish you for being rather insolent."

"Punish me?" She sputtered, missing how Rhydderch was slowly cornering her against the wall.

"Yes," he shot her a supercilious look. "Don't you think it's appropriate?"

She gaped at him as he leered at her and suddenly, she realised what he wanted.

Was it bad that she wanted it too?

Slowly his hands slid up her thighs, dragging the silky material of her nightgown along with them. Her breath hitched in her throat as she stared at him, mesmerised by the sheer intensity in his blue eyes.

"What punishment?" she breathed out, hands curling to prevent them from reaching out to him.

Rhydderch ignored her as he dipped his head forward and when she felt his lips press against the pulsing artery on the side of her neck, she shuddered involuntarily. Butterflies erupted in her stomach from the mere sensation of his mouth on her skin.

She couldn't help but also note the way his body was crowding her against the wall. Now, there wasn't any space between their bodies and she could even feel the warmth emanating from him.

His scent filled her senses and his rough calloused hands on her thighs made her knees weak. The sensation of his rough hands dragging on her skin was driving her wild but she was not going to admit that to him.

She felt drugged.

Her gut clenched and she bit her lip hard when he tilted his pelvis towards her, trapping the material of her nightgown to the top of her thighs as one of his hands slid up her body to her head and fingered the ends of her hair.

Adrastea couldn't help but let out a little moan when his hands had brushed the sides of her breasts.

"It's a lot shorter," he noted.

"It is," she replied in a low tone as she met his gaze.

The corner of his mouth tilted up in what seemed like appreciation. "The length suits you too," he commented huskily as his hands began sliding up her nightgown, bunching them up to her waist as his fingers brushed against her bare skin.

"But I want to see my mark," he demanded roughly, eyes daring her to protest.

Receiving none, he lifted her nightgown and she watched as his eyes immediately landed on the black script on her ribs below her breasts. She trembled and inhaled sharply when his thumb reached out and caressed the mark on her pale skin.

She had been a fool to initially think that she and Rhydderch could ignore each other and go their separate ways. There was no way she could have avoided the attraction between them nor the sexual tension that sparked when there was an argument or a debate.

She gasped as the sensation of him using the tip of his finger to trace the mark on her skin caused goosebumps to break out all over her arms and shivers to dance down her spine. His eyes flicked back to hers and a wicked smirk formed on his handsome face.

"Don't you find it curious that my mark is somewhere no one else can see except for me?" He questioned lowly, his voice taking on a seductive quality as he spoke.

Her eyes were locked on his but she couldn't seem to think straight due to his intoxicating scent filling her senses, his being so close to hers and his hand tracing the mark on her ribs. Of course, it didn't help that his right knee had parted her legs and was resting on the apex of her thighs.

Feeling that muscled limb nudge her right there made her want to collapse onto the floor like a puddle of jelly. She knew she was getting wet and clearly, he knew it too. Would it be bad if she moved against his leg to cause friction that would lead to her reaching that indescribable sensation?

Maybe.

If he did move his leg away, she wouldn't be surprised if there was a noticeable wet spot on his trousers that came from her arousal.

Now, his eyes had fallen to her heaving chest and he smirked at her lack of response.

"It is intriguing, wouldn't you say?" he questioned silkily as he dipped his head towards hers once more.

What on earth was he saying? She could barely understand what he was talking about.

His touch was wrecking havoc on her senses and it certainly wasn't helping that both his hands rested on her waist. They felt hot and the rough callouses on his fingers made her want them to be dragging all along her sensitive body.

She closed her eyes as she felt his hands move up to slide the sleeves of her nightgown down her shoulders and soon enough, the silky material pooled like a puddle onto the ground, baring all of her to Rhydderch much to his satisfaction.

Through half-lidded eyes, she locked them onto his and through that single gaze, she could see a myriad of emotions in those blue eyes of his.

"Rhydderch," she breathed out and gasped at the very contact of his hands on her sensitive flesh as his hands rose to her breasts and weighed them in his palms. His hands were a little cold and the contrast made her burn hotter.

Slowly, he trailed kisses down from her neck to one of the peaks before enveloping his mouth over one of her nipples.

Stifling a moan at that action, she knew that Rhydderch was going to make it a goal for her to become more vocal with his ministrations due to one of his hands pulling her closer to him.

Her heart pounded.

As he began laving attention to the hardened peak, she grasped at his hair before beginning to pant when his other hand began trailing down to the junction between her legs.

She was close.

Somehow, Rhydderch could always bring her to the edge with a few simple strokes and kisses.

It really wasn't fair.

A sudden moan left her lips and she jerked against his body when a finger slipped into her. Her back was arching and she pulled him closer, hands wrapping around his neck and she could see the smug satisfaction in his eyes from her reactions.

Not wanting to be the only one unclothed, Adrastea reached out to push his jacket off his shoulders before eagerly tugging at his shirt, wanting it off his body as soon as possible.

She wanted him on her.

Skin to skin.

With nothing separating them.

And as if Rhydderch could read her mind, he began sliding his clothes off and it wasn't long before they were on the bed, his mouth on hers, bodies sliding against each other roughly and hands leaving bruising marks.

One thing that she knew was that her soulmate liked to tease. She had been so close to the edge on more than one occasion until his fingers had slipped out of her, causing her to meet his hungry eyes with her desperate ones.

"Stop teasing." She glared but its effect was ruined when he gave a sharp nip to her inner thigh, causing her to moan from the slight haze of pleasure and pain.

The sound of a wicked laugh met her ears and she grabbed his face, causing him to meet her pleading gaze.

"Rhydderch," she growled in annoyance, her body pressing closer against his to tempt him into giving her what she wanted now.

He smirked, "I like that you want me this much. But there is still the matter of your punishment."

She scowled. Was he really still on that?

"Punish me later, fuck me now!" she snapped and ground herself against his shaft.

Maybe later when she wasn't drunk from desire for her soulmate, she would cringe in embarrassment from her words but now, she simply couldn't give a damn.

She wanted him.

She wanted him to slide in her deep, giving her the pleasure that she knew would come from the desire that he had ignited in her. She wanted him to fuck her hard, to erase all the horrid memories of that day. She wanted him to remind her of what being alive meant. That being alive didn't just mean death and torture and pain but of this.

But most of all, she wanted him because she needed him.

She needed him like a drug addict needed a fix or how an alcoholic needed their drink. She could never explain or describe this desperate need she had for him. Neither did she think she could ever stop needing him.

His eyes widened a fraction and before she knew it, he had aligned his cock with her sex and with a sharp roll of his hips, he was in her.

Finally.

She let out a long breathy moan from the fullness of him, of how he felt like stretching her full. Arching her back, her fingers curled into his broad shoulders while he gripped her hips hard enough to bruise before he burrowed his face into the crook of her neck, his mouth beside her ear.

And he began moving.

The pace was hard and quick - just the way she liked it.

"You're wet," he observed with a sinful smirk. "In fact, you're soaking. You're even dripping."

She shuddered and wrapped her legs around his waist, somehow taking him even deeper and urging him to quicken his pace.

"You feel so good, so wet and tight," he hissed in her ear as she dug her nails deeper into his back. "You like it don't you? Branding you with my cock over and over again. You want me to go as deep as I can, giving you pleasure that only I can provide."

She could only moan in response despite knowing that Rhydderch preferred an answer.

"Don't you?" Abruptly, he stopped the movement of his hips to watch her and she let out a desperate cry.

"Yes, you know I do."

"Good." His mouth formed a wicked smirk, "You want me," he paused before continuing huskily, "to fuck you raw, don't you?"

Her cunt clenched at that.

God, if only he knew how his words were causing her to reach her climax even sooner. But she wouldn't allow this as a power-play for him.

They were equals.

"Yes," she panted and wrapped her arms around his neck. "But you like it when I allow you to take me this way, with me begging for you, pleading for you to fuck me hard," she paused to press her lips against his mouth before biting hard on her lower lip.

"You like that I let you use me in any way you want," she shot back through pants and she could see the effect on Rhydderch. His eyes were half-lidded and gleaming from lust and from how tense he was, she could tell he was close.

Good, she was close too.

She clenched her nether regions tight and from the hoarse groan that escaped his lips, she knew that the sensation for him would be as incredible as it did for her.

"Maybe," he hissed before speeding up his thrusts. " I'll actually fuck you hard against the wall after this, as part of your punishment." He gave a rather brutal thrust into her to make his point and she could feel herself let out a shriek at that.

But back to his threat, she rather liked the sound of that, actually.

Would it still be considered a punishment if she liked it?

"Or maybe," he panted, gritting his teeth, eyes dark with promise as his forehead was dotted with perspiration from his efforts. "I'll take you over that desk you like as I spank you hard on your perfect arse."

The visual for that in her mind and coupled with the pinch on her clit made everything turn white as stars burst into her eyes. It was intense and unbearable.

God, she was a slave to this mindless pleasure. How could something like this ever feel so good?

To ease the edge off, she leaned up and bit down hard on the tendon of his neck as she went taut from her orgasm. It felt like she was soaring through the skies and only Rhydderch was anchoring her down.

She never wanted to leave.

Rhydderch was right, he was the only one who could bring her to this point. To a gasping creature of sensation and desire.

He, in turn, let out a hoarse shout as he emptied himself into her as he continued quick shallow thrusts to prolong his orgasm.

Eager to make him feel as good as she did, she met his thrusts as she trailed her hands on his back, sucking him hard on his neck as she held on tight to him as he gradually slumped on her. His hands were on her hips and she knew there would be bruises there tomorrow.

Adrastea closed her eyes and wrapped her arms around him as Rhydderch burrowed his head into the crook of her neck. She always enjoyed the intimacy after such an act.

It was always after their lovemaking when Rhydderch was mostly free from his inhibitions and the filter on his mouth.

Her body felt like it was boneless as she lay on the bed. In fact, she was still trembling from how intense and perfect that orgasm was. Her blood was pounding through her veins as she attempted to catch her breath and with Rhydderch on her, she felt comforted and safe.

She shuddered and hissed when his cock twitched in her, causing her walls to flutter when he slid out of her.

Together, they lay in silence, basking in the afterglow. She lay on his chest while one of his hands lay across her waist and drew patterns onto her skin.

Mustering all the effort she had, she turned to look at him. Rhydderch had his eyes closed but she could tell that he was more at ease and his mouth was curled up into something that looked like satisfaction.

Adrastea also noted that his hair - his usually perfect dark hair was mussed up.

However, she noted that there was still a strain under his eyes.

"What's wrong?" she whispered, hands reaching out to smooth away that line.

He opened his eyes and raised an eyebrow. "Nothing."

"What's wrong?" she repeated. "You may be fantastic at hiding your true thoughts and intentions from everyone but not with me. What is it?"

"It's nothing."

"You're lying," she pointed out with a frown.

He glared at her, clenching his jaw. "It's finally sinking in that you almost died."

She stared at him, unsure of how to respond. "I know," she said quietly.

"Don't put yourself into that kind of situation again," he ordered roughly.

Despite that rather overbearing sentence, she could see the emotions in his eyes. The worry, anxiety and rage that she had been kidnapped, injured and had been on Death's doorstep really didn't sit well with him.

"I promise," she murmured grey meeting blue and Rhydderch relaxed.

He tightened his hold on her waist and she curled closer to him. And for the first time in awhile, she felt more at peace, despite everything that was going on.

* * *

A/N: Yes, you guys. THE chapter with THE smut. FML. Yeah, I had to rewrite it twice because I just couldn't get it right but I'm done with it and please let me know what you guys think. Idek what the fuck I was writing but there and its done. HA.

Chapter dedicated to @avi_96 :)