Chapter 148: _Take Off Your Clothes Elian’s POV
Kyren dragged him back to the palace, taking him to the top floor where his room was. Once they got into the dimly lit room, Elian let his eyes scan through the place with awe. The room had a blend of red and black designs, and even the bed was king-sized with plush bed sheets and a large black bedpost. There was a single crystal chandelier hung on the ceiling, reflecting with dazzling red light that made Elian feel a certain kind of way. "Uhm, Kyren." He managed to get back his composure, clearing his throat and shaking his head. His mind almost went way too far for a second there. [Way too far? Girl, check your little soldier downstairs. You’re already in horny town, a few miles east of "rail me, daddy" city.] Elian’s face heated with embarrassment as Kyren slowly turned from his bed to face him, arching a brow. "Yes?" Dear gods, those crimson eyes ALWAYS made him weak in the knees.
Kyren dragged him back to the palace, taking him to the top floor where his room was. Once they got into the dimly lit room, Elian let his eyes scan through the place with awe. The room had a blend of red and black designs, and even the bed was king-sized with plush bed sheets and a large black bedpost. There was a single crystal chandelier hung on the ceiling, reflecting with dazzling red light that made Elian feel a certain kind of way. "Uhm, Kyren." He managed to get back his composure, clearing his throat and shaking his head. His mind almost went way too far for a second there. [Way too far? Girl, check your little soldier downstairs. You’re already in horny town, a few miles east of "rail me, daddy" city.] Elian’s face heated with embarrassment as Kyren slowly turned from his bed to face him, arching a brow. "Yes?" Dear gods, those crimson eyes ALWAYS made him weak in the knees.
[Are there any of your mates’ eyes that don’t get you "weak in the knees" at this point?]
’I hate you, I swear to the moon.’
[Aw, I love you too, pookie.]
Elian ignored the system, forcing a smile as he continued speaking to Kyren. "You... you mentioned war out there. And I... I was wondering if that would be extreme?"
Kyren blinked at first, but then his forehead creased with a frown. "What?"
[Yeah, fruitcake. What?]
Elian swallowed hard, raising his hands and stepping forward. "I mean, you came to Lunaria to discuss possibilities of peace deals with Arcadia."
Kyren scoffed, his eyes never leaving Elian. "Yes, but that was before I found out the Dark Hand is being sponsored by the Alpha king and that they’ve infiltrated the entire continent, including my domain here in the Dark Lands."
Crap, right...
The more they discovered about this conflict the more complicated things seemed.
"My own father might be the leader of the Dark Hand, Elian." Kyren went on, stepping toward him this time. "At this point, war with Arcadia would be the easier route. Gods help me that I don’t drag Lunaria’s ass into this and blow the whole thing up!"
Elian jolted when he raised his voice, his eyes scanning through the room nervously when the lights flickered.
Thunder rumbled in the clouds outside, the sky getting thicker and darker.
[Ouuu, looks like someone got daddy mad.]
Kyren’s eyes flared... but only for a moment.
He soon let out a sigh, rubbing the bridge of his nose and shaking his head. "I’m... I’m sorry for that outburst."
The thunder ceased faster than it came and the light became stable again. Elian brought his eyes back to Kyren’s face as the rogue king finally got in front of him, placing his right hand on his shoulder.
"It’s just... I’ve kept the Dark Lands out of the power struggles between Arcadia and Lunaria all these centuries. A land known as nothing but cursed and abandoned." Kyren’s voice was soft now, his fingers warm. "To see that peace I’ve built slipping away is infuriating. I’ve never struggled so hard to keep my impulses in check."
This was one of the only times Elian had seen Kyren show such vulnerability.
It felt... raw. Sincere.
Elian couldn’t help but smile despite how serious the conversation was, raising his right hand and cupping Kyren’s right cheek.
His fingers brushed over the black scorch mark on his cheek which already seemed to be healing rapidly.
"You should do more of this." Elian finally muttered, looking into his eyes.
Kyren tilted his head. "Do more of what?"
"Being vulnerable. Being soft. It... suits you. Probably not as much as seeming like a god of death, but still."
Kyren’s eyes seemed to soften, just for a second.
But then—
"I don’t do soft." He grinned wolfishly, grabbing Elian’s waist with his right hand while raising his chin with his left.
Elian’s breath caught in his throat, his heart thudding nervously as Kyren’s eyes seemingly peeled through him, layer by layer.
"Then... then what do you do?" Elian managed to ask even though there was a lump in his throat.
The proximity was tempting, his legs already aching as his length hardened underneath his pants.
[Didn’t even last five minutes...]
Kyren’s grin widened further, a low growl rumbling in his throat.
"This..." With that, he claimed Elian’s lips in a wet kiss, his tongue sliding into his mouth.
Elian’s eyes widened at first but he soon gave in, grabbing Karen’s shoulders even tighter and raising his right knee. His knee brushed the cold surface of the rogue king’s armour, searching for his dick underneath all that metal.
But that soon became a non-existent issue.
Kyren’s armour disappeared into smoke, leaving his exposed naked body to Elian’s view.
Elian’s breath hitched when the last wisp of smoke faded and left Kyren’s bare chest gleaming under the red light of the chandelier.
Broad, carved, flawless—every muscle flexed like the man had been moulded from obsidian and fire. His skin radiated heat, and Elian swore the room got ten degrees warmer just from standing this close.
[Whew, Michelangelo could never sculpt this level of "ruin me now" detail.]
’Shhh!’ Elian snapped mentally, though his fingers were already twitching to reach out and touch.
Kyren smirked at the obvious conflict painted across his face. "You want to," he drawled, his voice thick and dangerous. "But you’re still hesitating."
Elian’s throat bobbed. "I-I wasn’t—"
"Liar." Kyren’s hand slid from his waist to the small of his back, pulling him flush against that burning body. The contact nearly buckled Elian’s knees, his length twitching against Kyren’s thigh.
The rogue king’s lips brushed over his ear, sending shivers racing down his spine.
"You’ve spent too long being told what you are and aren’t allowed to want, little flame. But in my bed... " Kyren paused, letting the silence drag, "...you’ll never have to ask permission."
[HELLOOO?? Did he just say the kinkiest line of the century??]
Elian whimpered and Kyren chuckled darkly, the sound vibrating through his chest.
Then, with a deliberate slowness, Kyren stepped back. Not far... but just enough to force Elian to feel the sudden absence of that heat.
His crimson gaze raked down Elian’s body, molten and hungry.
"Take off your clothes," Kyren ordered, his voice like velvet-wrapped steel.
When Elian’s eyes widened, frozen in shock, Kyren tilted his head and smirked wider.
"Or," he drawled, his hand pressing against Elian’s chest and nudging him downward. "Kneel... and I’ll take them off for you."