✧FRIGHTFUL MORNING✧

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There were only a few moments that Rhea had felt alone, or alone enough to seek another task to occupy her time. And that is how Orion found her, it was so early in the morning that he hadn't trusted his own eyes when he caught the den's light at the top of the stairs.

He didn't want to scare Rhea, so he made his steps creek on the staircase as he turned the corner and called her name. But that was all pointless as her entire body jolted at the sight of him.

"Merlin, you scared me."

"It's Orion, actually...It's nearly morning, Rhea."

"I couldn't sleep." She replied, and that was utterly clear. As was the parcel that she was responding to now. He was thankful for catching her now, given that he would get an earful if he hadn't done his duty and watched his sister.

"And you won't be getting any sleep if you start getting your mind active...How about some of that sleepy tea of yours?" She shrugged her shoulders but Orion had moved along towards the small kitchen regardless. Here he made himself dozens of drinks, mostly filled with alcohol. Though it did mean something more to help his sister back to bed.

"You want to know something funny I just thought of?" Rhea scoffed as she turned towards him. "I'm not sure if I want to know. Is it naughty?"

"Rhea, Merlin. Get your mind out of the gutter. What I was trying to get at is that it feels like you're staying over like the previous times—When your parents were off in France."

"Ah, when I was still betrothed to that bastard. Yes, I'd like to say we both grew from that." She bustled, all while he continued to get both of their cups of nightly brew.

She graciously took it in her hands and hummed in smelling the familiar brew, though remained cautious to the temperature. "That bastard is on probation with the Death Eaters last I heard."

"I truly do not want to know, Orion...My brother claimed he would be brought to the Dark Lord, but I do not want to talk about all that." The wizard had felt the tug of curiosity that he had to push a little further, and why not when Alphard wasn't here?

"May I ask why?"

"Why what?"
"Why you do not wish to speak or hear about anything regarding the Dark Lord?... His changes are rather advancing." Rhea shook her head and tried to give herself a moment to ignore the question with another sip.

But his eyes were locked onto her.

"Advancing?... If that were the case I would've been engaged the moment I was seventeen and not waited until I graduated. Whether that was to Alphard or not, I wouldn't be working or touching anything regarding the funds. Not to mention my child would be groomed so early on? No thank you." She responded, and Orion tried to digest what had happened.

"Name one good thing that's come from the Dark Lord rising. I can promise you those rallies of his aren't anything special. If I ever have a daughter, I wouldn't want any of those wizards near her." His eyes flared with what she was hinting at, as Dolohov's actions once again.

"I don't think I'll ever get that image out of my head...When I found you where I did."

"Yes, and it nearly ruined sex for me."

"Don't tell me what Alphard actually waited for the wedding night." Rhea's eyes shot up to the ceiling as she couldn't help but turn away, a blush taking over. Was it that strange to think of?

"I cannot believe this."

"That I stayed pure for my wedding night?"

"Well, yes—I suppose that's how it came out. This has been rather hilarious." It wasn't really on her end of it all, so she leaned further into the cushion she took from her bedroom and turned to face him properly.

"Do you have any stories about Alphard?... I think that would be much more entertaining."

"A year of marriage and you're just now coming to ask me this?" And sure enough, he had plenty to fuel her with a bit of laughter and company—She couldn't wait to nag at her husband about what she's learned.

Though now Orion was helping her back up the stairs to her own room, as the tea had now managed to kick in causing her to fumble at bit with her balance.

"Can you stay with me?" She whispered, and at first, the man wasn't entirely sure if he heard her correctly. But she kept the blanket open with an expected look in her eyes.

"I am not sure that is the best idea, Rhea."

"Keep a pillow here." She claimed, attempting to wrap herself with the blanket after removing her robe. Leaving him the perfect gaze of his nightly routine of Alphard.

No wonder the man was so adamant about leaving!

Corin was a beauty in her own way, and even now she was in the back of his mind. Yet Rhea was here and needed some comfort, was it wrong?

Nothing would come of it, but he would enjoy it all the same.

"I—I suppose. Just for the night." He conceded, coming to join her after slipping off his house shoes. Only to find that she was already pressed up against the blocking pillow.

It took an absorbed amount of control not to look to his side. And truly, he wanted to make sure she was okay—But damn everything to hell, how was he meant to do good when the bad was tempting?

It was utterly cruel, for a wizard who had sought his own pleasure by his hand for a long while was used to it. But the attention and time he had spent with Corin had undoubtedly made him spoiled.

Even now, he was struggling to get his breathing under control, until he too finally surcame to the tea they shared.

When morning finally approached, Rhea felt her body ache from the extra hours she signed up for. Hoping that it would fill the time until Alphard returned, but her disappointment came when she realized this was her day off.

As Maverick wouldn't sign for any more hours. He even threatened to tell Alphard!

As she curled further into her pillow, she realized that it wasn't a pillow but a person. And excitement flared in her body, had Alphard returned earlier than promised?

It happened so fast that she started with a few nips at the side of his neck in earnest for his planned departure. She knew it would be happening more frequently, but she still didn't necessarily like it.

"I missed you..." She whispered, rubbing through his pajamas in hopes of getting to touch a bit of skin—Only then did she pepper his face with an array of adoring kisses.

Mornings like this were blissfully sweet, but it surprised her that he hadn't woken her up with the same amount of excitement as he had in prior nights alone.

Perhaps he was exhausted, Alphard was a busy man and deserved a bit of pampering. And she was certainly in the mood for it as well. Her hand started to slip down the better half of his waist as she soon found the confidence to grip his cock at the same moment she pulled herself up and over him.

Her lips had taken in his gasp, but this time firm hands had taken her by the shoulders to push her back—But only slightly— "Rhea?!" The voice was not at all like Alphard, and damn her excitement, but she had forgotten entirely that he was not here.

This was not Alphard.

This was Orion. Not Alphard.

She had just kissed Orion!

It startled her to the point of no return, not only did she have to unhand his cock, but she threw herself from above him. In doing so, she wrapped herself foolishly into the blanket and took a tumble down to the other side. "RHEA?!"
This had caused him to throw the covers over as well as he stood on the opposite side of the bed. "Are you okay?!"
"Okay?! I thought you were Alphard!" She shrieked, the blush on her cheeks completely and utterly prominent as she peeked out of the blanket she was hiding in.

Not daring to move and she couldn't find the will to look at him again.

"Merlin—I—You're a bloody devil in the morning, aren't you?!" She let out a shriek again as she tucked herself further into the comforter to hide. "Is that what you surprise your husband with every morning?"

"ORION!"

"What? I'm simply giving you a taste of your own medicine, since you favor the practice so much. What's wrong sister? You've touched my cock, tell me, what do you think?" She uncovered the better half of her face as she started to howl with laughter.

"I don't know Orion, how did it feel?" It was such a Ravenclaw move to redirect the taunt, as he was feeling the urge once more. It was a new type of torture to find himself in.

"Damnit, Rhea! How do you do that?"

"Well excuse me! I forgot you joined me last night!"
"You forgot, how could you forget?!" His voice was anxious. Anxious, and confused. Damn her! How could things get possibly worse?

"I just woke up! I don't usually have wizards in my bed, Orion! Why didn't you stop me?!"

"Damnit, Rhea! I thought you were Corin!" She groaned into the mattress and huffed this was not how she wanted to start the day. Not with her hand on his—

"This is an absolute nightmare..." She spoke, and Orion had laughed, but it was more out of fear. "A nightmare? Alphard is going to absolutely murder me!"

"Murder you?! He's going to—" Rhea was far too exhausted to even think of what her husband would do, but at the first measure of tears that Orion had caught, he sighed.

While funny in its own right, it truly did not mean anything. It was an honest mistake, wasn't it?

"Alright, alright—This is an innocent mistake, right?"

"That was hardly innocent!"

"Well we're not continuing it, are we? The best thing we can do is stop and..."

"And what?! Oh gods, I think I just ruined morning sex for the rest of my life." She groaned, hiding further into the comforter that Orion truly could not bare to think things through any longer.

"Should we nip this in the arse and tell him?"

"Tell him?! I just had my tongue down your throat, Orion! I can't look at my husband ever again!" She cried, frustration digging further into her head as she bumbled up the covers and walked off towards the bathroom in hopes to push this situation away.

That showering would restart the morning, and thank goodness the wizard had left. But considering that this is his manor, he hadn't been far. Now dressed at the table with a bottle of booze right beside his cup of coffee.

"Are you headed into the office today?"

"Not today, as I was tasked with Alphard to take you out and about. Though I wouldn't see the harm of going out with your gals if you wish." It was tempting, given that it would get her both out of the manor and away from Orion.

"I was looking forward to the Opera." She pouted, taking the seat beyond the one beside him and sighing in relief when she caught her morning brew already prepared.

"Then we'll head to the Opera."

"I do have a few errands in the allies if you wish to join me."

"Sounds like a plan." He drawled, but it most definitely continued in this pattern throughout the day. Through every bookstore, small market or even in Knockturn Alley—With their hoods covering their identity, things hadn't managed to get better.

Rhea had barely given him more than a few glances, and so he sighed once more and reached for her hand—Demanding her attention. "Rhea, it truly is harmless. We'll be alright."

"It's still odd."

"Oh, I'm not saying it isn't, but don't you recall what your husband had said? It's better that it's in the family."

"And I told you that in my mind that feels worse...I don't know why I asked you to join me last night."

"I do. You were lonely. The only times you've slept by yourself is when Alphard was working late, but he would always come home, hadn't he?" She hated that Orion could pinpoint the issue, much like Alfie managed.

"I suppose...Though I would feel rather misplaced if the roles were reversed."

"When Cygnus had offered himself—I had felt similar when Durella did the same." He honestly admitted, and he had now caught her attention. "Druella?...She offered?"

"Yes. I'm not sure what Cygnus had told her about our customs. But they certainly aren't considered customs. But neither of our marriages are for love. You have to understand, Rhea, that consummation is to provide an heir. Not for pleasure." The woman frowned, but then a gasp had escaped her lips.

"Durella wanted Alphard's heir?" She croaked, and Orion had slowly nodded—Though his attention continued onward, further into Knockturn alley as he too wanted to check on a few pending orders. "What was he up to all this time? He could've joined you and my husband long ago to have his hand in the profits...I truly do not understand his motivations." Rhea claimed, but switched to a much more vague title upon coming towards another customer amongst the eerie alley.

"Your husband had asked multiple times, hell, even offering more money time and time again...I believe his cut among being a male in our family had taken a hit when you joined. That is what he was seeking to accomplish when seeking your attention."

"Goodness, this is giving me a migraine—Have you given the separation any more thought?" She asked, though it was not the time to be discussing such detailed life decisions in the open.

But Orion welcomed it all the same.

"I have. Even if it's forbidden in most circles...My name will be osterzied."

"I highly doubt that. Divorce is much more common, and if anything, I believe plenty of spouses in your position will envy it." That was a good point to make, though he would have to wait to make that a possibility.

As it was a promise to himself and his sons.

"I won't take any action until the lads are graduated from Hogwarts."

"You know, it won't hinder them if you do it now...I think Walburga is the worst thing that could happen to those two, Sirius especially—And I thought this way before the Christmas fiasco." Orion's sigh was audible, though he hadn't responded.

He was still torn between his promise and what he thought of Corin.

"You must think me a fool." He whispered, and Rhea's hand had taken to holding onto his arm. "Not at all. Look, I'm just now learning that Cygnus wanted more than just his hand in the pot of money—If I was pregnant with his heir, he would've gotten something of wealth. Same as Durella. I cannot even imagine what I don't know at this point." Orion felt rather guilty in being the one to explain all of this, but Alphard was much too distracted to backtrack such as this.

"Your entering into the family did cause a bit of shifting in ranks. But your child will be my wife's undoing."
"So why does she want me to have a child so badly? It's so hot and cold and I don't like it." Now that earned her a long and distracting sigh, one that didn't work in Orion's favor as she remained quiet—Waiting for a response.

"I won't pretend to know the convoluted thought process my wife has, but if I had to make a suggestion...She's petty." How simple could it truly be?

"Alfie thinks it's because their mother was difficult as well. I'm sure once a child comes, a whole new list of issues I didn't think would happen, will." Orion could only offer his support, and nothing more. Not when even he was not sure what his wife would be capable of in the future.

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Date Posted: 02/22/23

Time: 10:16

Words: 2735