"An author is merely a conduit
When the ink has dried,
When words have ceased to be written,
The stories you have cherished
Live on without paper and pen
In the hearts and minds,
Of those who took the journey with them"
Poem - CallMeByYourName97

(Suggested song - Sofia by Aurora)

Spice - O - Meter: 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🍬🍭🍬🍭🍭🍬🍫🍫🍫🍩🍪🍪

Aera
(yes it changed to 1st pov just work with it)
🥀

We were back where we started.

In a literal sense, with Taehyung and Leila sitting high above us in the glittering throne room.

Except, things were a little different this time.

Jimin held onto my hand, trying to appear collected but failing. I could feel the nerves in the slip of his palms and the sound of his fluttering heart beat.

We had a week to practice what he was going to say to the couple before they got back from their getaway. Jimin stayed in my room, and we no longer cared that the others giggled and gave knowing looks when we passed by.

To him, no words felt like it was enough.

The King and Queen watched, curious, but I no longer cared.

I gripped his hand even tighter, sending two pulses. One for good luck, another to tell him that everything will be okay.

Jimin looked up at me, dazed, and then broke out into the most dazzling, heartfelt smile.

It took the air out of my lungs and stole the anger from my heart.

"Well, it worked didn't it?" Leila announced, clapping her hands together. Wherever they went had a lot of sun. The woman was radiant and glowing shades of gold deeper, "I told you so."

She nudged Taehyung with her elbow, who hid away his smirk terribly. His hand came to rest on his wife's thigh, affectionate.

I was nearly shocked to the ground when Taehyung addressed me with concern.

"Aera? Are you okay? I knew Jimin felt that way but I never said anything because I thought you..."

I held up a hand, stopping him. "No worries cousin. I can handle myself just fine."

Leila sat forward in her seat as Taehyung lifted his nose. "Cousin?"

Taking a deep breath, I explained everything. How my mother Daria was Sorina's sister. How Taehyung and I were cousins, and played together as children when Jae would go visit the family. How Sorina was the daughter of the moon, meant to create eternal night and Daria was meant to be the vessel for Nox's long lost love.

How the Priest has been hiding within these walls as Namjoon, probably since the day Jimi killed the Old Queen. And we killed him.

Namjoon luckily was found by Hoseok and Jin. Yoongi and Lily had been making up for lost time. Copiously.

I spoke of the starlight goddess, our ancestor and how we sent her home.

Leila was nearly in tears, holding onto Taehyung tightly as we explained everything we went through.

"Leila I-" My chin fell, as I scrambled to find the right words. "Azita was..."

The Queen shook her head, her eyes glassy. "Setareh told me. You had no other choice."

"Well, it's not like we didn't enjoy it." Jimin muttered, kicking at dirt on the ground.

Aera turned, gritting her teeth at him. "Stop being insensitive! You're still on thin ice."

Leila lifted a brow, "This is what you want?" She looked back and forth between the pair.

Jimin looked unbothered by the question. He just puffed up his chest, feeling prideful.

"He gets on my fucking nerves." I admitted. Then frowned, "Just less than the rest of you do."

"Really?" Taehyung asked, a knowing smile on his face. Probably remembering all the times where Jimin absolutely ruined my day and I his.

"No. But I like him enough to tolerate it." I added, smiling at the preening man.

Jimin sighed, finally speaking directly to his brother and Leila. "Isn't she so romantic? She knows how to make a man feel on top of the world."

"Jimin." Taehyung drew back the light in the room, his expression severe.

Aera knew love, and she knew the King was feeling it then. It was just conflicted.

The love of his brother and best friend was still coated in silver blood. There were few ways to come back from almost watching Leila die by his brother's hand.

Jimin knew, and he stepped forward. Towards Leila.

"While I know that bastard beside you is more angry and wants my explanation first, I am giving it to you." He looked up at the woman, whose expression was unreadable. "I do not intend to make excuses, because you were right when you told me that the love of a friend should be enough. It is not everyday that someone makes a friend like you." Jimin smiled at her shakily, before speaking again. "It shouldn't have been when I hurt Aera that I woke up. It shouldn't have gone that far. I should have cherished you and everyone else more, instead of wallowing in the bitterness of my birth. Instead of thinking my life was over when—"

The man turned his head, looking back at me. My heart leapt in my throat.

"I thought I lost everything when I went to find you on Taehyung's orders. And you were one of the people that helped me and cared for me even when I didn't deserve it. I took your trust and love as one of your first friends and used it against you, and I am sorry beyond words. I know it isn't enough but—"

Leila stepped down, taking his hands in hers. "It is enough. I hope one day it can go back to the way it was."

I clicked my fangs. Leila blanched. "You know what I mean! The platonic parts."

Jimin laughed, tapping Leila's hand with his own. He leaned in as they shared a joke gesturing at her, "I am sorry Leila I am unavailable anyways. My type is ferocious beast."

"Alright enough!" I yelled, tapping my foot.

Jimin nodded, turning to Taehyung. "As you just heard, I was not myself. Again, that is not an excuse. But I will explain, so people know the truth." He cleared his throat, nearly gagging. "I was jeal-jealous", the man groaned. "Do I have to do this?"

I didn't even hesitate, "Yes."

Jimin ground his jaw, "Fine. I wasn't jealous of you per say, as I am amazing in every way and the possessed Jimin forgot that fact. I was undeniably and loathsomely infatuated with Ihrin Marina Mare and I thought you would have her. It made me resent your title, your very being, no offense. Though I think it would have been very helpful if they mentioned before they all perished that you were cousins and the marriage was a farce and I would've been a lot less angsty—"

Taehyung glared at him. Jimin laughed to himself holding up his hands, "Fine. Long story short, I miss you. Brother."

Taehyung stepped off his throne. Slowly, surely.

I watched the dark angel of the two circling the man made of light. Opposites in every way, and paradoxical.

He stopped right before Jimin, black bleeding into gold.

"You all weren't here before." He sighed, looking at him directly. A deeper emotion in his eyes, "This is the Jimin I know, and that is the woman who brought it out of him." He clapped the man on his shoulder. "Glad to see you back."

Jimin embraced his brother back, before pulling away.

Immediately when he stepped beside me again, he grabbed my hand. I would sit through that frustrating and nerve wracking conversation everyday just to see Jimin as bright as he is right now.

Like the dark could never reach him again.

"Well," Leila commanded our attention, her smile like the sun, "Now that you've told me your relation to Taehyung I think it is time to give back."

"No that isn't necessary." I quickly remedied.

Leila shook her head, her wavy hair following.
"We are simply righting what has been wrong so the gods never use us again."

Taehyung nodded, "Jimin, your title as a prince will be reinstated. If you wish to have children, they will also receive a title. They will have a chance to be a leader as equally as our own. There will be a fair election."

Jimin's jaw dropped.

Holy shit.

Leila continued, "Aera for your bravery and intelligence, you will be given the same ranking. And you will receive our familial estate by the sea."

My mother's house. Sorina's house.

They have given me a name. A home. A place to call my own. Everything I was meant to do.

"I can't thank you enough." My words seemed to fail me.

Leila smiled, "Thank yourself. You are the only reason you've defeated the gods and broken another curse. You've saved us all, truly."

🩸🩸🩸🩸🩸
Two months later

It was that perfect shade of indigo outside. Gray and blue, but not dark. One of her favorite phases of the sky now that the sun has returned, where there was the suggestion of light but everything was cloudy instead of gold.

Aera stared stood on the edge of a cliff, staring out into the sea. Warm salty air whipped in her ebony locks, tangling them. Flower bloom sweetened the sky and seashells poked at her feet. Her thin, dark purple dress swirled around her like a conch.

The view here was much different than at the castle, at least for the two people who always felt like outcasts anyways. It was close enough that they could visit and perform their Immortui duties.

But there was something comforting about being alone.

Her family's seaside cottage was behind her, but the future in front of her.

Arms wrapped around her torso, lifting her slightly off the ground.

"I love this dress." Jimin sighed into her ear, nuzzling her hair.

I love you. He didn't need to hear it again, he was already too big headed. There was no need to add to his long list of brags.

Aera turned towards the male, facing away from the sea. Her hair lifted around her, brushing into her eyes.

Jimin smoothed it away, holding her head tenderly in his hands. His eyes softening in a way that made her feel like treasure.

"You gave me a chance to turn back time." She said, nervous. She was never nervous, not with him. But this felt larger than the both of them. "I think I should return the favor."

Jimin's scrunched his face, his skin golden from the sun and his white blonde hair a light blue from the glowing sky. His dark eyes took her in carefully. "You owe me no favors. I want only you yourself."

Aera smiled sweetly, "I know. I want this for us." Her mouth parted, "So please ask me again what you did the night you left. Do you remember?"

"How could I forget?"

The man's gaze grew intense, like the moments before he kissed her.

"If you had no expectations to meet, who would you choose to marry?"

Aera placed her hands at his chest, running along the soft material of his shirt. Feeling for the cold, unyielding skin underneath. She angled her face just next to his, his breaths scathing along her cheeks, her jaw. His eyes grew darker as his pupils dilate, drinking her in.

"You, Jimin. There is no one else. There never has been."

The man's chest quickened in haste. He leaned impossibly closer, just as he had that day on the cliff. His black eyes trailed between my eyes, lips, and back. Cursing, he licked his lips as he fastened himself to her waist. "Did you know then just how terribly I wanted to kiss the wrath out of you?"

Aera breathed shakily, falling into him. "No. But I need you to show me now."

He didn't push me off the cliff this time.

The man fell to his knees, keeping eye contact while carefully pulling off his long black cloak from around his neck. He lifted the fabric in the air and let it gently flow down, then smoothed the surface with his hands.

"Jimin?" Aera let out a soft sound.

The man looked up at her, serious and impassioned as he started to lift the material of her dress. The same expression on his face the day he cut her dressings from her on the boat.

She saw it now, his need. His disbelief that someone could make him feel the way he does. How he hated her for giving him a weakness.

But he wanted it all the same.

"Aera." He breathed upon her knee, his hand running up the back of her calf and siphoning goosebumps.

Her heart pounded in her chest as he continued his path to her. His hands were so careful, so decadent her heart broke and reformed a thousand times over.

When she was fully uncovered, he pressed his lips into her upper thighs. Once, twice. He eyed her with awe, taking in every reaction as he then lovingly embraced her hip bones with his mouth.

She sucked in a winded breath when he paused right at her center.

"How lucky am I to know you." The man looked up at her through his lashes, before placing a simple open mouthed kiss over her that sent electricity up her spine. "And to continue to learn you."

His thumbs brushed over her hips, holding her steady before he smiled deviously, pulling her into him.

Aera buckled, her hands dropping to his shoulders as he began to devour her earnestly. He moaned into her, digging his fingers into her flesh to let her know he liked that she became weak at the knees from his just his mouth.

The sea mimicked their passion, ocean water spraying across their body. Jimin became a wet mess, his white shirt soaked to the point she could see his body clear through it. He paid no mind, but she certainly did. Aera shakily with one hand slicked back his hair so she could see his pretty face.

The dark prince knew she liked the sight a little too much. He changed pace, letting his lips envelop her slowly, a dangerous promise in his onyx eyes. His tongue moved vivaciously over her center, tasting her at a pace that tore her thoughts to ribbons. Aera drowned in sensation, with need and an emotion so strong she could barely name it.

He didn't stop. Not when the sea became waves, nearly pushing Aera and him to the ground. Not when the wind stole their breath. Nothing would keep him from her.

"I love you." He declared between bites and licks. His hands moved to the back of her thighs, bringing her onto his face. "I love you scent, I love your taste. I love the feel of your skin, the sounds you make." He let out a rough noise in the back of his throat when he added his fingers along with his mouth, making Aera tremor. "Gods I love how I can feel how much you want me."

"I-" Aera was at a loss for words, for breath. Every touch was bringing her closer and closer.

Jimin grew diligent, knowing she was nearing the edge just by her starry eyed expression. He slammed his hand into her harder, slower. His mouth worked over her like he was licking honey off her body, a sweet contradiction.

The pure need and devotion in his eyes to make her shatter was what made her break.

He held onto her, working her with his hand and he pressed kisses into her lower stomach. Calming her, tending to her as she came crashing down. He held helped her down slowly from standing into his arms, their bodies entangling on the cloth he laid on the ground.

Aera took time to catch her breath, and Jimin watched her while caressing her hair. She turned to him, nearly spent.

"This is where I belong."

"Between my legs?" Aera lifted a brow, still catching her breath.

The man sent her a heated look that told her that was true. Still he said sweetly, "By your side."

Aera looked between them, needing to touch him. He was hard, but still had not asked her to the return the favor.

She loved him so much that she was tired of waiting.

It's my choice now.

"When are you taking me your mate?" She asked, nearly offended.

The man laughed at her brisk nature, placing a soft kiss onto her forehead. She scowled deeper.

"You already are." He swallowed, looking nervous. It made her want to tear off the rest of his clothes then, and lick the droplets from his skin. "I was waiting for you to ask."

A gentleman. To prevent herself from crying from the feeling of being so deeply cared for from a man that did not care about much, she made light.

"Well, what are you waiting for? Or are you too afraid to wrangle the beast?" Aera tempted him, recalling what he said to Leila.

She got up onto her knees, slowly taking off the wet thin fabric from her body and leaving her naked. Her pleasure rising again as Jimin followed the movement, his face and neck flushing.

He rose onto his knees and met her, their wet bodies colliding. Aera slid over him, staring to untangle his buttons. One by one.

"I don't want that." The man of shadow clenched his jaw, his words provoking as he slid his hand into the back of her hair and lightly tugged so her lips hovered over his. "I want you just as untamed as you usually are underneath me."

Aera scoffed, nipping his jaw with her teeth, "More like how you are when you're tasting me—"

The man rolled his eyes. "Always a fight." Jimin smiled as he fully bit Aera's lower lip, effectively shutting her up as he slightly pulled on the flesh.

Aera started ripping at his clothes. The time for teasing was over. He helped her, while taking liberties with his mouth.

He quickly shoved aside the material and pulled her into him, his arms like a vice around the small of her back. She caressed his jaw, feeling every movement as he kissed her like a mad man.  The gripped each other so tightly it hurt, making up for time that was lost between them. Aera ran her sharp nails into his shoulder blades, and he hiked her leg over his hip, allowing him to grind his length against her center.

"It's nearly too much." He ground out, swollen and breathless against her.

Aera ran her nails over his neck, making him curse several gods. "It's never enough."

Jimin conquered her mouth again, groaning onto her lips. He cradled her head as his helped lower them both flat onto the ground.

He hovered above her now, his eyes shining.

"You want me? This time? Without any excuses I could come up with?" His cheeks flushed further at the concession.

Aera smirked, "Don't remind me you pretended you only wanted to do me a favor and nothing more. Like it was a chore for you."

Jimin eyed her, taking a bold taste across her collarbone, his body tensing over hers. "Can you see how untrue that is?"

He went to kiss her again, and spread her thighs. Aera placed a hand on his chest stopping him.

"Is everything alright Aera dearest?" He asked, his ocean wetted face worried and beautiful.

Aera bit her lip. "I want to do it the traditional way."

It was her way of saying she trusted him. She did not have to see his face to know she was safe. She would always be protected with him.

Jimin knew the gravity of the decision, and kept it in his heart. "Alright then Aera dear." His voice dipped lower, his lips brushing over one peak of her chest and licking. She arched off the ground. "Turn around for me my love."

Aera turned over laying on her stomach and arching. Jimin waved over her, moving her long hair to the side. His lips traced along the skin of her back, her shoulder blades, her spine, making her shiver. His thumbs found a home in the simplest of her back. She ground herself against his length, making him take breaks by pushing her gently away with his hands.

He whispered helplessly into her skin, "Aera I need you."

"I need you too." Aera answered, just as frantic.

Jimin slid one arm under her chest, and lifted them up so they were both on their knees. Her back was fully pressed against the entire length of his front, his hard warmth pressing between them. She panted as the boundless expanse of the ocean roared and crashed before her, still nothing was as exhilarating as the man behind her.

"Bite me first love." Jimin whispered into her shoulder, running his nose along the flesh.

Aera moaned lowly as he entered her from behind, letting her adjust. She nodded her head, his arm around her chest tethering her.

With his free hand, he grazed from her left shoulder all the way down to her wrist. As gentle as a spring rain. He circled her wrist, bringing it gently to his face to rest.

Aera couldn't help it. Her feelings for him overflowed, and she bit into the smooth skin of his wrist.

Jimin winced, though not in pain, and began to rhythmically move inside her. He traced his tongue around the inner part of her wrist, suckling sweetly before biting into her flesh. Aera met his slow and languid thrust, desire and passion bursting like splintering ice between them.

"My gods." Jimin faltered in her ear, his mouth covered in red. She devoured more of him hungrily, her tongue tracing his skin with every inhale. "Aera. Aera, Aera, Aera."

She wound her hips into him, circling like her soul depended on it. Jimin met her just as eagerly, but in a way that showed his reverence of her.

The man dropped her wrist, and Aera finally let go of his, his sweet blood flowing within her system. Some of it dripped onto her front, which the man smeared into her skin like an animal, and captured her even more tightly against him.

"Aera." Jimin said her name tightly, like he was on the brink of losing his sanity. "Can I take you..." His licked along her neck, caressing over the wetness with his mouth. "Like this?"

"Please." Aera cried out, her hips still grinding against him. "I want you to have every part of me. I want you to consume me. I need—"

She gasped loudly as the man bit into the space between her shoulder and her neck, simultaneously rolling his hips into her.

"Fuck, oh fuck I need—" Aera couldn't get out the words, as they cut off and shook with every try.

He let out a loud growl, knowing exactly what she needed. She grabbed onto his hand, and biting his middle finger and sucking it into her mouth. She remedied the torment but licked his palm, and then cutting it open with a fang. She drank from him, letting it drip into her mouth as he moved inside her until her body moved without thought and time.

She felt weightless and ravenous all at once.

"You love this don't you Aera." Jimin hummed wetly into her neck, watching with all as she made love with his blood. "You're taking all of me so well." He pulled back just enough to watch their bodies meet, before diving back into her neck.

They writhed together without limits. Blood and water soaked between them, making them slide and fall together and the friction so unbearably divine.

Their bodies grew limp as they matched intensity. Aera fell to her stomach and Jimin followed, holding her as he entered her from behind. His stomach rolled against her back, careful and intense as he took his time loving her. She arched into him, crying out in need and pleasure.  He whispered words of praise and worship into her shoulder, his head resting in her hair.

"I love you." Jimin professed again. "I love you more than anyone and anything. I have loved you since I knew what love was." His hips lost their rhythm as he neared his end, feeling her get impossibly tighter as she yelled underneath him. "Aera, my Aera."

Never would he have to let go of her again.

***

After mating through the night and all through the morning, they both lay in bed watching the sun set over the ocean.

"You know? I will choose you over and over until you believe it." Aera said, breaking the lovely silence. For once. He couldn't be quiet, even when they bedded each other.

Jimin grunted, his dark eyes rolling. She played with his white hair, liking how it took on whatever color the sky decided to be.

"Well, now you're actually stuck with me." He meant it, as his arm tightened around her. "But it was your choice this time, my hands are tied."

Aera bit his shoulder softly, watching his eyes grow dark. Again? Not that she was complaining.

"Your hands are tied?" Her jaw ticked, annoyed by his phrasing.

Jimin's smile was wide, a single dimple appearing at the side. "Aera, my rose with mostly thorns." He laid his chin on her shoulder, bringing her into his chest. "Let us fight later."

Aera smiled, accepting his surrender.

They had tomorrow and forever after all.

<><><><><><><><><><><><><><>
(A/N:

For the first time I am a little speechless. If silk sheets is my baby, then the world of Solace is an  entire family tree.

It's the first story that I wrote for me. My favorite genre is fantasy, because I often find myself wanting to escape the reality of this world. So I wrote for you all this book and other world where you could get lost and immerse yourself entirely.

It is the first book (original + sequel) that I am truly proud of. I am grateful for silk sheets, but the absolute joy and connectedness of the comments in both ruthless and solace is what writing is truly about. People have created edits, sent me pictures that reminded them of the story, and even changed their user names haha (I saw you Ignis Lunae). It made me feel like more than a fanfic writer (obviously nothing is wrong with that) but an author author. You all made me feel appreciated for what I write and not who I write about, and I hope in turn I gave you stories that you will cherish.

I wrote Ruthless because their story wasn't over yet. And the more I wrote the more I realize my character's stories are never over. They are memories, they are their own imprint in everyone's mind. They have a life of their own outside of the words I write. Maybe it's just be coping, but I like to believe that because I will simply miss the characters I created and have been writing about for almost two years now. 🥺🥺

Yeah that's pretty much the point of what I am saying. This is my favorite creation, my favorite story I have told. I will miss writing about them dearly, and I am a little sad about it. I hope I can post a special chapter every once in a while.

Thank you so much for supporting Solace, and now Ruthless 💗💗💗💗. I cannot thank everyone enough.

Insider info right here👀👀👀:

Technically, if you read my new novel Tantalize, it is set in the same world after the sun returns ~ but I cannot make that connection in the other book do to other reasons out of my control so you're reading this here now as a special insider note :) You might be able to tell by how I name some things hahaha 🙂‍↔️🤩🤩

Some tropes that will be in the new story that I can share:
-forced proximity
-forced marriage (kinda)
-jealousy tropes (a lot)
-morally gray, snappy, witty  (hot) male lead
- a new kind of female lead that isn't like anyone else I've ever written
-enemies to enemies to enemies to lovers? Will they?
-wanting to touch but can't
-training / fighting eachother 🤪😜🤪
-secret obsession
-slow!! burn!!! Like longer than solace just for a kiss hahaha
-unbearable tension
-"you belong to me" -the weekend...that's all yall need to know HAHAHAH

I will be posting quotes from what I have already written in Tantalize probably on a weekly ish basis to keep yall excited and informed. Just please be patient with me for a couple months 💕💕💕 it is very very exciting and I hope you'll be as happy as I am when you realize what this story means.

Tantalize will be the #1 priority and I will update Eden Rising when I can. Thank you all -