Sacrificial Bride to the Feared Lord Hastings-Chapter 200: In your arms (1)

"He would kill the brother he shares a mother with?" Ophelia asked, finding Sebastian to be even more cruel.

"Right now, Sebastian is close to the second prince, but after a while, he will become a bit paranoid. Not everyone wants to see him as king, so they will side with another prince. It will get to his head and see his brother as competition. He might think to kill him," Dante explained.

"He would not be the first or last prince to do it. Edward’s push for the throne was just as messy. Battles in the palace often start with royals fighting for the throne. If you do not have strong allies, then you will perish," said Dante.

"I thank you even more for moving us out of the palace. If possible, I would not like to go back. Visiting the palace already feels dangerous. If we are forced to visit the capital, we must stay in the home there," Ophelia said, wanting to avoid bloodshed.

"Since you must attack before Sebastian is king, that must mean that you will have to leave with him soon. The king could die any day now," Ophelia said, realising a separation was bound to happen.

"Yes. Waiting could mean that we are the ones met with a surprise attack. I cannot wait for Sebastian to gather his allies and act with Joel to come after us. I am gathering supplies now and selecting the men who will join me. I want to leave in two or three days," said Dante.

Dante brushed his thumb along the back of Ophelia’s hand to comfort her. "I am leaving behind enough knights to protect the town and you. I will also imprison your mother before I leave."

"I am not worried about my well-being. I have never had to say goodbye to someone as they go off to war. I have seen ladies in the castle be emotional about it, and now I am in their shoes. This is why I do not mind that the beast isn’t completely gone," Ophelia said, finding comfort in knowing Dante had a way to protect himself.

"I have won many battles without the beast," Dante reminded Ophelia.

"Yes, but knowing that if your back is to the wall, you have another way of getting out of danger brings me comfort," Ophelia explained.

"I have never changed without a full moon, and I am only now getting used to what I am now," said Dante.

"Well, you have two days to learn how to do it," Ophelia replied.

"You are quite strict."

"Someone must be to keep this castle in order. You must watch your back with the duke. I have not made up my mind about him yet," Ophelia said, uncertain if Kaden was an ally.

Dante pulled on Ophelia’s hand to have her lie beside him. "I would never turn my back to give him the chance to stab me. Now, about what you said about seducing me. Can I hear about your plans?"

"I said it to upset your mother," Ophelia said, partly regretting she mentioned it to Dante.

"It would only upset her if it were true. You should go through with it to the end," Dante said, not wanting to let the opportunity pass.

"You would enjoy letting your mother know that you have been seduced. You are a strange one," Ophelia said, shaking her hand. "I was waiting for this to happen."

"For what?’

"For you to become a desperate man. The night we kissed was disturbed, and while we have been alone since, there was too much on our minds to think of intimacy. Now there is a war before us, and you will have to be away from the castle," Ophelia pointed out.

"I will return from the war," Dante promised. "Instead of speaking of what distracts us, we should focus on ourselves," he said, placing his right hand on Ophelia’s waist.

"I cannot fight my attraction towards you, but there is one concern I have about it. Theo spoke of children during the ride to the market. Intimacy brings on children if we are not careful, or do you still believe I cannot have your child? You never told me why you thought I was not pregnant."

"It is because I made sure not to seal the deal. It helped that you didn’t understand what needed to happen, or you were so focused on the discomfort. I made sure to pull away long before I could impregnate you," Dante explained.

"Oh. I truly did not pay attention to what you were doing. I only thought of when it would end. Now, this is placing a bad taste in my mind about intimacy," Ophelia said, not wanting to think about her wedding night.

"I apologise-"

"You have already apologised for it, and we both agreed that you were in the same position I was in when it came to our wedding night. Surely, since we love each other, it would be better. What? Am I wrong?" Ophelia asked, puzzled by why Dante looked so surprised.

Dante settled down from his shock and smiled. "You are right. I was surprised by how love rolled off your tongue. It will indeed be better now that we love each other. If you would allow me, I would prove it to you."

Ophelia tried to focus on what Dante said, but his fingers in her hair distracted her.

"This is where you speak, Ophelia. Use your mouth," Dante instructed her.

"I am a bit nervous," Ophelia confessed.

"It is expected. We didn’t care what we thought of each other back then, but we do now. We don’t need to rush it. We have plenty of time to be intimate with each other. Days before I am to leave might not be the best time," Dante decided, so he moved his hand from Ophelia’s hair.

Dante didn’t mind waiting. He didn’t want Ophelia to think it was all that was on his mind now.

"I think the days before you head off to war might be the best time, so that it brings me a little bit of comfort. I trust that you will return in good health," Ophelia said, placing her hand on Dante’s chest to push him to lie down. "I will give you a good reason to fight well to return home."

Dante didn’t speak as Ophelia straddled him.

"I have already told you not to turn me into a widow. I don’t want to be fighting with your family for this castle. You must be a good husband to return to me in good health, and in return, I will be good to you," Ophelia said, peering down upon Dante, who didn’t seem to believe the moment was real.