If Gideon is really serious about treating me well, sending his concubines away is the bare minimum. I know that now, but if I were the same Serra as before, this piece of news would have made me very happy. But now, it did nothing to quell my need for revenge. “Children, huh...” I whisper. “We don’t have one...” “We can have one, if you like.” He kneels before me and takes my hands in his again. “When I lost you, I needed to sire heirs, but now that you’re back, we can try again.” It was not so long ago that I was desperate for a child, but now, every thought of it fills me with hatred, remembering how the child in my belly died due to all the stress and pain of being his wife. “I can’t, right now,” I answer in a small voice. “I don’t want my child to get embroiled in an inheritance war, especially with all your other concubines...” He squeezes my hand. “They won’t be!” ‘They?’ Don’t tell me he plans to have more than one child with me?! The thought alone repulses me! “Only you
Gideon’s voice breaks me out of my trance and I glance up at him with a small smile. “Thank you, Gideon,” I say. Queen Marinella looks between the two of us with a doubtful expression on her face. “It seems like there is more to your story than meets the eye.” Gideon chuckles lightly and reaches for his glass of wine. “There’s nothing more to say, mother,” he says smoothly. But Queen Marinella doesn’t look convinced. “Well then, how about we play a little game?” she suggests. I feel a knot form in my stomach as I turn to look at her. What kind of game is she talking about? And why does it sound so ominous? “What kind of game?” Gideon asks. “A truth or dare game,” Queen Marinella declares, her eyes still fixed on mine. The thought of the childish game almost makes my heart leap — that is, in its stupidity. Was I really this gullible that she thinks I will reveal all my secrets in such a foolish game? “Okay…” I answer, as soft as possible. Queen Marinella claps her hands togethe
I roam the once-familiar corridors and grand halls of the palace. Gideon has sent me an assistant named Claire. She is mid-thirties and is supposed to help me acclimatize to the castle’s inner workings. This castle, the same place where I felt both unimaginable happiness and pain, will be mine soon — or sold, or destroyed. Anything. As long as in the end, Gideon and his family will live like slaves amidst every piece of rock and stone of this castle. As I pass through the different offices and rooms, Gideon’s closest kin watch me as if I am some kind of apparition. Their glances are a mix of curiosity and disdain. Claire then leads me into a room filled with luxurious furniture and paintings adorning the walls. “This is where the King and his Council members hold important meetings and negotiations,” she explains, gesturing towards a large mahogany table in the center of the room. I nod, taking it all in. “These paintings weren’t here before,” I say, pointing at one depicting a ster
-- Gideon Dunkerson’s POV -- The great dining hall of Dunkerson castle was ablaze with the warmth of firelight. I sit at the head of the oaken table, while both Queen Marinella, my mother, and Serra sit on both my side. My mother is telling tales about the valor of knights and cunning dragons. She looks bright as she continues to speak, but I know my mother. When Serra returned, she had already raised her worries to me. She fears that Serra might have another agenda. I pushed it aside. Serra is nothing like that. She’s the type to get tired of politics. Petty schemes are not really her forte. Serra is bright, but the type of straightforward smart who works diligently and focuses on the things they excel at. For her, it’s her master-level skills in magic. Some call it genius-level though. “Gideon, isn’t that right?” My mother’s voice pulls me back into the conversation. “Hmmm?” I answer my mother. I have been gazing for far too long at Serra, but I still didn’t shift my attention.
-- Back To Serra’s POV — With Marinella around, I’m careful about using my magic to fake the blush on my cheeks. I also make sure that I don’t use too much glamour or else she will notice all the magic that I am using constantly, and even when I am unconscious. I tiptoe towards Gideon while my eyes are still closed. Earlier, I saw the delight in the way he looks at me, as if he is living in his past. And in this past, he is not an asshole-cheating-jerk-of-a-husband. Gideon presses forward, and I place my palm against his chest. His body is still rock-hard, nice to look at, but never good at cuddling. Nothing is lost, though. For me, cuddling is never his utility. Besides, even before, he had never been the one to cuddle. After our copulation, he will never snuggle next to me. He would even evade my touch and so I learned not to pester him with it. “Gideon...” I whisper. “Can I kiss you?” he asks. I nod faintly. “Yes,” I respond. “Please...” I feel him shudder under my palm. He l
Before I can ask what he means, Gideon is kissing me again, drowning out all thoughts and filling me up with a whirlwind of pleasurable sensations. His hands are everywhere, tugging at the fabric of my clothing, exploring the expanse of my skin. Each touch is calculated and precise, as if he’s memorizing every inch of me again. Soon, I realize that I am naked underneath him and he is nibbling on the skin between my breasts. I gasp when he suddenly sucks on one of my peaks while he plays with his finger with another. A soft moan escapes from my lips as I arch my back, inviting him deeper into my territory. He groans in response, a low sound that vibrates through me, making my core throb with anticipation. But he never stops, alternating between my peaks, as if enjoying it. Then I feel his fingers going between my legs and cupping my throbbing heat. “Gideon!” I scream, twisting away. The sensation is electric, sending my nerves into a frenzy. “Shhh, it’s okay...” he whispers, and I
The sound of my voice uttering his name seems to stoke the fire within him even more. Gideon groans — a deep, guttural sound that vibrates against my skin. “Patience,” Gideon murmurs, his voice rumbling. Then he smiles, a wicked grin that promises delight yet to come. “The night is long.” His fingers trace along the length of my legs. He spreads them further, his touch leaving lingering traces of warmth. He nuzzles my inner thighs, and my breath hitches as his lips move dangerously closer again to my heat, each kiss an unspoken promise of fervor and passion yet to be spent. “Gideon...” I plead, blindly reaching out to tangle my fingers in his hair. He chuckles at that. His hot breath is warm against my thighs, which draws another sharp intake of breath from me. “Do you know where I want to kiss you now?” he asks, his eyes focused on my face. “Anywhere you want,” I whimper, my chest heaving up and down with anticipation. He looks at my center and I spread my legs even wider, expo
Slowly, Gideon sinks into me with a quiet groan, his forehead dropping onto mine as he savors the sensation. “Oh goddess,” he whimpers as he shakes his head to try to control himself. As he begins to push, I feel the tip of his shaft slide against my opening, teasing and prodding at the entrance while my body shivers in anticipation. He nuzzles his face into my neck, kissing and nipping softly until finally, he pushes forward slowly but surely. My inner walls greet him warmly, and his eyes flutter shut in pleasure as he sinks deeper with every inch. His hips flex with each movement as he buries himself inside. The friction between us is almost unbearable, yet exquisite. His hands grip my waist tightly while he takes me slowly, but surely. And when he’s completely in, hitting a certain spot inside me, my body arches into him with a soft cry, my lips parting in delight. He still feels so good inside — warm, hard, and full. “Serra...” he murmurs