'Her fingers itched to reach out for him, to touch him.
He was hers. All hers.'

-Hanleigh Bradley, Cursed By The Crown
***

Lynette saw a fuming Gillian making his way back to the arena.

She immediately rushed to him, careful to keep away from the roving eyes of others.

“What is wrong?”

Her words caused Gillian to quickly compose himself.
A soft smile replaced the wretched frown of his face.

He took her hands in his, squeezing them reassuringly.

“Nothing, Lyn.”

However, his words did little to soothe Lynette’s apprehension.
She had seen him leave the arena with the chieftain’s daughter. And as far as she knew, Gillian had long held a dislike for the woman.

Lynette had heard all about Rayna's interest in him. She wouldn’t be surprised if Rayna desired Gillian.

Who wouldn’t? He was perfect.

She knew she was the luckiest girl to have his love.

“But what about Rayna?”

Gillian’s face hardened at the name.

“Do not think about her. She was just up to her old antics.”

He brought a finger to stroke her cheek lovingly, willing himself to forget about the unpleasant past few moments.

“You just be ready for tomorrow. I will be asking the chieftain's permission for our marriage. And as soon as he agrees, I will make you mine.”

Lynette’s face flushed as she held his gaze.

“I cannot wait.”
______________________________________

Rayna stared at the clear liquid as she poured it into the tumbler in her hand.

She saw the drops disappear with the golden richness of the mead, all the while donning a satisfied smile.

“How many drops was it, Olga?”

Olga, who had been standing, keeping a watch by the flap of the tent’s entrance, stuttered her reply,

“Th-Three drops. The healer said that three drops were enough.”

Rayna grinned as she continued to empty half of the vial in the mead, much to the chagrin of her companion.

She sighed and tucked the vial in the belt of her dress, holding the tumbler against the torch’s light.

“Three drops. Three drops to bring your man to the heights of passion. Add the whole bottle to send him reeling close to unconsciousness. But half?”

She looked at Olga’s pale face before continuing,

“Add half a bottle, and your man is just about aware of what is happening. His body knows what to do. His mind though… that is something he has no control over. Sometimes, I am in awe of my own astuteness!”

Olga blanched further at her words.

“But, Rayna! Surely, you cannot be thinking of making Gillian drink that!”

Rayna’s smile turned sinister.

“What if I am? I gave him a chance. He threw it back at my face.”

Olga knew that nothing she could say, would ever have any effect on the woman.
She had already dug herself a deeper hole than she could ever imagine, by helping Rayna in her plot.

Rayna was quick to note Olga’s disquiet. She moved closer to her, smiling at her encouragingly.

“Do not worry, Olga. As I had stated earlier- you do your part. Now, take this drink.”

She pushed the tumbler in Olga’s hands before continuing,

“And make sure that Gillian has his fill of it. Then, you simply have to get your husband to guide him back to his hut.”

“What?”

Olga’s eyes widened with shock, the instant she heard Rayna’s instructions.

“But, Rayna, I-I cannot possibly!”

Rayna clicked her tongue disapprovingly.

“You have helped me so far, Olga. Do not displease me now. Be a good friend and do this one task. After that, make sure that not a single word is ever spoken about our plan. If you do that, I will be sure to ask father to exempt Kane from the next excursion. Aren’t you both getting ready to welcome your child next winter? It will be difficult not to have him by your side when you give birth…”

Olga knew she was cornered.
If Rayna could make sure that her dear Kane gets to be home next winter, instead of freezing in the cold like the other warriors, then she had to do this.
It was too late to back down now.

She looked down at the tumbler in her shaking hands, before looking back at Rayna’s expectant face. She could see the woman’s smug smile.

Gulping down her fear, she gave a firm nod.
______________________________________

Olga let out a sigh of relief when she spotted her husband with Gillian, along with the other warriors.
This instantly made it easier for her to accomplish her task.

She took a few steps closer to them, trying to act as natural as possible.

Kane spotted her when she was a mere two feet away from them. She motioned for him to come closer.

His grin widened and he immediately excused himself from his company. She saw the others pass him suggestive winks and smiles, before going back to their conversations.

Kane gave a sound smack on her cheek, as soon as he neared her, causing Olga to chuckle despite her nervousness.

“How come you are here, beautiful? You are supposed to be resting.”

Olga looked down from his loving gaze, to see his hands stroking her belly.

They had just discovered her condition, and Kane had been acting more attentive than ever. She was not even supposed to be at the celebration tonight. He had asked her to rest at home.

But of course, he didn’t know what Rayna had asked her to do.

“I know. I just wanted to come out and have some fresh air.”

Kane spotted the mead in her hand, and frowned. He pulled the tumbler in his own hand and looked at her enquiringly.

“What do you have this for?”

Olga set aside the guilt of lying to her husband and smiled mischievously.

“This is not for me, silly! This is for Gillian.”

“Gillian?”

Kane cast a confused look at a preoccupied Gillian behind them.

“Yes. You know how Rayna is… She wanted to offer this to him; but hesitated at the last moment. She said she was sure that he would refuse.”

Kane’s face relaxed and he grinned.

“Yes, knowing Gillian, he certainly would! Poor Rayna, she really does fancy him.”

Olga nodded her head with a sad smile.

Kane shared a good friendship with Gillian, who was the commander of the warriors.
He was also aware of the infatuation that Rayna had shared for the man for years.

“Yes, she does. And she made it so lovingly, that I felt bad for her. I told her that I would get him to drink it in her stead.
But now, I don’t know how to do that! Would you please take this to him, and ask him to drink it, Kane? It will make Rayna really happy. Do not tell him it is from her, otherwise he won’t drink it.”

Olga swallowed her guilt, as she lied.
She loved Kane; and pulling him into this sinister plot was not something she had ever wanted.

But she also knew she had to do this. She had to do this for their family.

And for Rayna.

If not for Rayna, she would have never gathered the courage to approach Kane.
He had just been this marvellous man she had admired.
It was Rayna who had orchestrated their meeting, and subsequently helped her attain his love.
She was also the one who had helped them gain an approval for their marriage from the Chieftain.

She owed a lot to Rayna. It would be selfish of her to refuse to do this.

Kane took the tumbler form her hand with a fervent smile.

“Of course, I will. Gillian is just clueless. He doesn’t know how to appreciate a woman’s affection. I will make sure he drinks it. He wouldn’t know it is from Rayna.”

He gave her forehead an affectionate kiss, and went back to his retinue.

Olga stood there for another moment, watching her husband shove the drink in front of a mildly amused Gillian’s face.

She kept still, watching him empty the entire tumbler in a single gulp, as the rest of the men cheered resoundingly for him.

As a visibly enthused Gillian swiped his hand across his mouth, Olga turned to move back to give the news to Rayna.
______________________________________

Rayna ran her hands down the length of her dress, pressing at the folds, as she stood at the entrance of Gillian’s hut.

A dull beat of the drums could be heard from a distance, hinting at the ongoing celebrations.

It had only been a few moments since Kane had carried a stumbling Gillian here.
As she had expected, the concoction had not taken long to show its effect.

The site of Gillian’s hut, significantly distant form the rest of them, only served to her purpose.
Almost everyone was back at the arena. The vicinity was lit by the silver moonlight, with not a single torch in sight.

There was no one there to spot her. And even if they did, they would only assume it to be the secret meeting of two lovers; which was exactly what she intended this to be.

As for that girl, Lynette, she had left Olga to make sure that she doesn’t catch a drift of what is happening.

Olga would surely not allow her to leave the arena.

Reassuring herself for the last time, Rayna opened the door softly.

Once inside, she found the hut lit by a warm glow of the fire from the logs in the fireplace.

Rayna ventured closer to the bed kept in the middle, to find the sprawled figure of the man she vowed to have tonight.

Her heart thumped in her chest as she admired the soft rise and fall of his chest. His eyes were closed; his sooty lashes fluttered with each breath he took.

Her will almost wavered when her gaze dropped down to his muscular chest, exposed to the perusal of her eyes.
She found his tunic thrown carelessly across the bedpost.

Rayna felt herself pulled towards the bed. She dropped down beside him, seating herself at the edge.

Oh, how magnificent he looked!

For a second, she forgot about her plan. She could not remember why she was here.
That was until she heard his soft groan.

Rayna jumped up with a startled gasp, as she saw him twitch his body.
She waited for him to stand and lash out at her, reminding her of his hatred.
However, nothing of the sort happened. Gillian’s eyes remained blissfully closed, unaware of the woman who stood staring at him.

She held her palm against her thrashing heart, trying to calm herself.

This was not the time to stall.
She had to accomplish her task before she got caught by anyone.

Or before Gillian regained his senses- something that was highly unlikely at the moment, considering the amount of concoction he had drunk.

Still, it would be better to be vigilant.

Rayna took a deep breath, climbing on top of the bed. She kept her eyes on Gillian’s face as she threw one of her legs across his pelvis.
She now sat astride him, revelling in the feel of his muscles beneath her.

“Oh Gillian!”

She breathed out his name and leaned down his torso, keeping her hand on his chest for support.

She shuddered with excitement.

So close!
She was so close to him!

After all these years, she finally had the chance to feel his skin under hers.
Bringing one of her hands to his face, she traced it with her finger; trailing it along the length of his jaw, his thick brows, his high nose… and finally to his luscious lips.

Rayna’s breath hitched as his eyes flew open at the very next moment.
She kept still, expecting to be hurled across the floor.
Though, to her astonishment, Gillian smiled languidly.

Was she dreaming?
It couldn’t possibly be true!

But then she remembered the herb.

Yes, the herb… He must not be aware of what is happening.

The knowledge helped Rayna regain her confidence, and she smiled seductively, looking straight into Gillian’s drunk eyes.

He seemed just as oblivious, simply staring back at her with his dazed smile.

Rayna pushed her body along the length of his, with nothing but the soft fabric of her dress separating them.

She imagined them in love; imagined him reciprocate her feelings.

His breath played across her lips as she leaned in further, till her breasts brushed against his chest.

She met his disoriented eyes and smiled entrancingly.

“I have been waiting for this moment for years, Gillian. Why couldn’t you see me the way I see you? Why can you not love me?”

Her questions went unanswered; but Rayna did not care anymore.
She had him with her- beneath her. That was all that mattered.

She wished they could have done this while he was fully aware of her; while they both whispered sweet nothings to each other.

Nevertheless, she wasn’t going to let the disappointment of that, dampen her mood.

She pressed a soft, tentative kiss to his mouth, tasting the mead on his lips; then stiffened, hearing his soft moan.

In another moment, she was trailing her lips down the length of his body. Her skin quivered with the knowledge of getting to taste him at places she could only imagine….

Rayna ran her fingers through the coarse hair on his chest, only to follow them with her mouth.

When she had reached the waistband of his trousers, she hesitated.

Was this right?

Then, she remembered his hurtful words; she remembered him with Lynette and how close she was to losing him to her.

Yes, it was.

With the last shred of her hesitation gone, she slowly undid the ties of his trousers; pulling them down with ease.
As soon as she was done, she gawked at what lay underneath.

She had never seen a grown man naked; never even experienced the touch of another.
All through the years, she had vowed to save herself for Gillian.

She wanted him to be the first man to touch her, feel her…love her.

Yet now, as she faced his throbbing member, a strange fear enveloped her.

Olga had informed her all about what the human coupling involved.
She knew what to do.
And the herb she had given him, already made him more than ready to receive her.

But would she be able to do it right? Would it really hurt?

Olga had told her it would.

It is a small price to pay, Rayna.
Do you want him to do this with Lynette instead?

The thought was like a splash of cold water on Rayna’s face.

The repulsive image of him and Lynette, bound as one, flashed through her mind, steeling her resolve.

She would gladly take all the pain, if it meant claiming Gillian as hers.

With a shuddering breath, Rayna pulled the hem of her dress up to her waist. The cold air hit her bare skin, causing her to shiver.

She fixed her eyes at Gillian’s face, seeing his features contort as he moaned.
His skin was flushed and he looked to be in pain.

She immediately took him in her hands, positioning him at her entrance.

Biting her lip, she pushed herself down his length, wincing at the sharp pain that seemed to tear at her insides.
She panted with the shock of his girth, struggling to fit him inside her walls.

Was it really supposed to hurt this much?

Gillian’s tortured groan caused her to concentrate more on her efforts. She could feel him pulsating inside her.

She just had to do as Olga had told her.

Gathering all her strength, Rayna gritted her teeth as she seated herself fully on him, till her buttocks touched his plexus.

She rocked her own hips in the motion Olga had taught her, fighting the tears of discomfort that pricked at the corners of her eyes.

She drew in a sharp breath when she felt Gillian’s hands at her waist, guiding her motions.

She wanted to laugh at the absurdity of the situation.

His eyes were scrunched, his face the vision of torturous pleasure.
She knew he was enjoying this; could see it in the veins that stood at his hands and neck; or the puffs of breath that came out of his parted lips.

His pleasure granted her the encouragement that she needed, causing her to fall in a primitive rhythm- a rhythm that her body seemed no reminder to grasp.

She looked down to where they were joined; the sight causing her breath to hitch.

If only she could feel an ounce of the pleasure that Gillian was feeling, instead of this sharp pain…

Gillian thrust his hips forward, seemingly in tune with hers.
His movements became ruthless, his member filling her to the brim with it's heat.
His fingers dug deeper into her flesh.

His ministrations caused Rayna to bite her lip till she could taste the coppery taste of blood in her mouth.

Yet, she did not cry.

That was until the moment she felt his muscles spasm and his warm seed spill inside her womb.
She saw the rapture of his face- his features relaxing with ecstasy.

Her heart soared- and then dropped- when she heard him cry out her name.

Lyn.
Lynette.

Rayna’s face turned to stone as his arms loosened their hold and fell beside him.

His member felt limp inside her- no longer thick and throbbing; but Rayna couldn’t move.

She sat there, straddling him and looking at his spent face.

She was the one who gave him her innocence.
She bore the pain to bring him this pleasure.

And what did she get in return?
The name of another girl from his lips...

Rayna did not wince as she detached herself from him.

She did not wince when she spotted the blood caking his member and thighs- her blood.

She also did not wince when she felt the sharp ache between her legs.

Her expression remained stoic as she removed the clasp binding the front of her dress through her shoulders, letting the fabric fall at her feet.

Quietly, she lay beside Gillian, keeping her palm on his chest, after pulling a thin sheet over their bodies.

It would be the last time- she reminded herself.

The last time the name of that girl could escape his mouth.

The last time.

For he was truly hers now.
______________________________________

Author's Note-

Hello to all my wonderful readers!

So, what did you think of the chapter? 😅

This is my first time writing something so explicit🥴 But since the story demands it, I had to do this.

It also got my story a mature rating so... 🤷‍♀️ Proceed with caution.

What is your take on Rayna's plan? Do you think she will be successful?

Let's wait and see Gillian's take on this in the next chapter!

Till the next time 👋