King Malrik was seated on his throne as the elders gathered to hear him in the throne room. Malrik smiled, looking like an animal that had just found the key to the creamery.

"We will be visiting my dear brother’s pack soon," he announced. An elder sat up straight and asked, "Why, Your Highness?" Malrik’s smile was jagged, filled with secrets and dark intentions.

"We will see what terrors the shadows have caused. I sensed a strong power," he said, standing and walking slowly with his hands behind his back. He paused and continued, "That power must have been the shadows, meaning the human girl is certainly dead, and my brother’s pack has been wiped out and destroyed."

He turned swiftly to the elders and smiled, "So ready yourselves, elders. We shall be paying him a visit while the damage is still fresh."

...

The scent of ozone and shadows was replaced by the thick, sweet aroma of jasmine and cedarwood. Steam curled against the vaulted ceiling, turning the golden candlelight into a soft, hazy blur. Valex moved with quiet, focused intensity. He didn’t call for the servants; he wanted no eyes on her but his own. Testing the water with his wrist, he ensured it was hot enough and gentle enough for her. When he turned to help her, his hands remained steady, and his eyes stayed focused on her frail body.

Odesse sat on the edge of the marble tub, her legs trembling. The silence of the palace felt heavy after the Spirit’s singing voice. As Valex helped her slide into the water, she let out a long, shaky breath that was finally free of mist. The heat hit her skin like a physical shock. Valex, his eyes never leaving hers, asked, "Is it too hot?" Odesse replied with a soft, grateful smile and a faint sigh, "No... it feels like I’m finally coming back to life. I thought I’d never be warm again."

Valex leaned down to brush a wet strand of hair from her face. "I’ll forever keep you warm, if I have to," he said. Odesse blushed and replied, "You’re making a lot of promises, my king."

A slow, soft smile bloomed across his face as he gently placed his hands on her shoulders, conveying how much he meant it. He began to massage her gently, and her shoulders relaxed under his touch. He continued, "A king never breaks his promise; that is why we are always cautious. But for you, Odesse, I would make a promise in a heartbeat."

Her eyes widened, and color flooded her face, erasing her usual pale complexion. "Isn’t it weird, but oddly magical?" Valex said, snapping her back as she heard him speak again. "I felt myself being drawn towards you, and I couldn’t even explain it. I thought you had cast a spell on me." Odesse burst out laughing with a humorous expression "A spell!"

Valex replied. "Of course, I wanted to stay away from you by keeping my distance until this happened." Odesse looked down, her expression a mix of sadness and excitement. "But whenever I saw you with that horse keeper boy, it made me feel something I didn’t think I would." She turned to face him. "Wait, you were jealous of Eryx?" she laughed.

"He’s just a friend," she said, facing forward. "He was the first person to talk to me like he didn’t hate the sight of me, and it made me happy. But I don’t like him like that. In fact..." She paused, and Valex noticed the tension on her shoulder. He released his hands from her it and sat on the edge of the tub. She looked at him and continued, "I’ve never liked anyone romantically since I was little. Some men approached me when I came of age, but I declined because I couldn’t feel anything for them. So, Your Highness, you’re the first man to ever touch me or open my heart, and it’s because our destinies are tied together. Although there is a curse upon you, and that is why I am here to help you."

She looked down. "A selfish and inhumane part of me is happy you do have it and that you lost all your wives because I get to have you all to myself now. I know I can’t really say that, but..." He lifted her chin to meet his gaze. "I wouldn’t want it any other way if it didn’t lead me to you." A warm smile crept onto her face. "You don’t have to be jealous of Eryx. He’s just a friend. It’s not like he’ll suddenly steal me away."

"Well, if he tries to, I’ll guess it will be bye-bye to Eryx," he said, letting out a small, huffed laugh. As he spoke, he tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, his fingers lingering against her skin just a second too long for it to be a joke. Odesse laughed softly, and Valex watched her longingly.

"When do you think we should get married?" Valex asked. Odesse replied, "I’m not really sure. I can’t think of a date." Valex stood up and stepped into the tub, causing the water to rise and spill over the marble edge in a heavy splash. He sat behind her, his long legs framing her, pulling her back until her spine was pressed firmly against his chest. Odesse let out a ragged sigh, finally surrendering the last of her strength as she leaned into him. His arms reached around her, his hands resting flat against her bare waist. His skin felt like a branding iron against hers.

Valex lowered his head, resting his forehead in the curve of her shoulder, his breath hot and uneven against her neck. For a moment, they simply stayed there—two heartbeats trying to find a shared rhythm in the steam. "How about in two days’ time?" he suggested. Her eyes opened wide, showing both excitement and shock.

As his hands began to slide upward in a slow and deliberate path toward her breasts, the air in Odesse’s lungs vanished. Her breath hitched, caught in a throat that had grown tight with an electrifying anticipation. If the moon had made her feel infinite, Valex made her feel intensely and vibrantly small. Her heart wasn’t just beating; it was thundering against her ribs, a wild thing trying to break free. She could feel the heat radiating from him, a deep flush staining his neck and tipping his ears a dark crimson.

"Odesse," he whispered, his voice a low, gravelly rasp that vibrated through her entire body. "I have you here, and I want you here with me forever; that is all I want." A smile lit up her face, her cheeks pushing up as she replied softly, "Okay, let’s get married in two days." Valex tightened his grip on her waist, not forcefully, but in a comfortable, soft way, filled with excitement.

... 𝗳𝚛𝚎𝚎𝘄𝕖𝕓𝕟𝕠𝚟𝚎𝕝.𝗰𝕠𝐦

King Malrik and his elders had arrived at the Moonlight Palace. Malrik dismounted from his chariot, followed by the three elders. He looked around, and the words hung in the air, glittering and sharp, refusing to settle into anything resembling reality. He glanced back at his elders, then at the palace doors. One elder snapped him back to attention, saying, "Your Highness, even the palace is still intact. What has happened?" Malrik couldn’t reply; he walked into the palace alongside his elders, making their way to the state room. As they sat down, they awaited Valex’s arrival, but Malrik was too stunned to speak, his mouth seemingly glued shut.

An elder pointed out, "Your Highness, the aura of this palace feels different today."

"It must be due to the terror we encountered." They turned their heads to see Valex walking toward his throne, with Kael following closely behind. Malrik’s heart jumped at the sight of Valex. Valex sat down with a slow, deliberate grace, a smirk tugging at the corners of his lips, while Kael stood beside him, firm and unwavering. Malrik continued to stare at Valex, still unable to speak.

"Has a wild beast finally bitten your tongue with all your shameless scheming, brother?" Valex remarked teasingly, a pleased smile crossing Kael’s face. Malrik cleared his throat and sat up straight, a somewhat shaky smile on his face. "Oh brother, your jokes never get old." Valex ignored the formal words of his brother and asked, "Why are you here, Malrik? What exactly do you want that you couldn’t ask for permission before coming to my pack unannounced?"

Malrik smiled and replied, "I heard about what happened to your pack and was concerned for you, my dear brother. So, I, along with the elders, have come to see you." Valex scrutinized the elders and then turned back to Malrik. "So you’ve transitioned from hatred to concern? Make it make sense, Malrik. You have always wished evil upon my pack, so why the sudden worry?"

Malrik chuckled nervously, sweat slowly trickling down his forehead. "Well, people change, and our mother was worried." Valex laughed mockingly. "People change, yes, they do, but you are vile." He stood up and walked towards Malrik. "Do you really believe I do not know who released the shadows that attacked my pack?"