The Gilded Bride

Chapter 20: Before the storm breaks

King Demitri saw the sadness first.

Not the hidden fear in Queen Elowen’s eyes.

Not the trembling hands gripping the edge of her cloak.

Not even the exhaustion shadowing her face.

No,

he saw the sadness.

Deep.

Quiet.

Devastating.

The kind of sadness carried by someone who already convinced themselves they were unwanted.

And god,

it shattered something inside him instantly.

Demitri stood motionless near the chamber doors while rain whispered softly against the towering windows behind her.

For one terrible moment, Elowen looked as though she expected him to condemn her.

Like she had already prepared herself for rejection.

The realization made his chest ache violently.

Then he noticed how thin she had become.

His expression darkened immediately.

The softness once returning slowly to her cheeks had vanished again. Her wrists looked fragile beneath loose sleeves, and even beneath candlelight he could see faint exhaustion beneath her eyes.

She looked like she had been slowly disappearing these past days.

And no one told him.

Rage sparked instantly.

Not at her.

At himself.

Because while he drowned himself in investigations and court politics, Elowen had been suffering alone again.

Demitri crossed the room without hesitation.

“Elowen.”

His voice came lower than usual.

Softer.

She visibly tensed.

God.

She thought he hated her.

The realization nearly made him feral.

“Have you been careless about your health again?”

Elowen opened her mouth.

Nothing came out.

Her throat tightened painfully.

Because she did not know how to answer him anymore.

Not after those silver eyes looked at her with hesitation three days ago.

Not after the palace began whispering around her again.

Not after realizing she might destroy everything Demitri built simply by existing beside him.

Her silence alone was enough answer.

Demitri’s jaw clenched tightly.

Then suddenly,

he reached for her.

One arm wrapped firmly around her waist while the other pulled her directly against his chest.

Elowen froze completely.

The warmth of him surrounded her instantly.

Solid.

Safe.

Familiar.

Demitri buried one hand gently into her hair while holding her like someone terrified she might disappear.

“You are trembling,” he murmured quietly.

Elowen’s eyes burned immediately.

This made no sense.

None of this made sense.

She thought he would question her.

Accuse her.

Instead,

he held her like he had missed her desperately.

“I thought…” Her voice cracked softly.

Demitri pulled back just enough to look at her.

“You thought what?”

“That you hated me now.”

The words came out so quietly it nearly destroyed him.

Demitri stared at her for several long seconds.

Then something dark flashed through his eyes.

Not anger toward her.

Toward everyone who ever made her believe love disappeared so easily.

“Elowen,” he said softly, firmly, “I have never hated you.”

She looked unconvinced.

God.

That hurt.

“I questioned the situation,” he admitted honestly. “I considered every possibility because I had to.”

Elowen lowered her gaze immediately.

“But I never believed you betrayed me.”

Her breath caught.

Slowly, uncertainly, her eyes lifted toward him again.

Demitri cupped her face carefully between his hands.

“I know you.”

The simple certainty in his voice unraveled something inside her entirely.

“I know how you think,” he continued softly. “How you speak. How you hesitate before revealing even the smallest political detail because loyalty is carved into your bones despite how poorly Norwasia treated you.”

Elowen’s eyes shimmered dangerously now.

Demitri stepped closer still.

“You could never be cruel enough for this.”

A tear slipped down her cheek before she could stop it.

Demitri looked ready to kill someone at the sight alone.

Unbeknownst to Elowen,

he already nearly had.

The court session earlier still burned violently inside him.

The nobles demanding her death.

Execution.

Trial.

Punishment.

As though she were some disposable inconvenience.

The thought alone made him murderous.

Demitri wiped the tear away gently with his thumb.

“The court wants your head.”

Elowen visibly flinched.

“But listen to me carefully.” His voice lowered dangerously. “I will destroy every last noble in this kingdom before I allow them to touch you.”

Her breath stopped.

And god,

that was exactly what terrified her.

Not for herself.

For him.

For Delmatia.

Because kings were not meant to burn kingdoms for one woman.

Even if that woman loved him desperately.

“You cannot do that,” she whispered shakily.

“I can.”

“You are their king.”

“And you are my queen.”

The words echoed heavily through the chamber.

Demitri’s expression softened only slightly.

“I chose you the moment I brought you here.”

Elowen’s heart hurt unbearably.

Because no one had ever chosen her before.

Not truly.

And now this man stood before her ready to go against an entire kingdom for her sake.

Warmth spread painfully through her chest.

But fear followed immediately after.

Because people depended on him.

Delmatia depended on him.

A king could not afford weakness.

And Elowen feared she was becoming exactly that.

Before she could voice any of it,

Demitri kissed her.

Hard.

Desperate.

Like a man who spent days restraining himself beyond reason.

Elowen gasped softly against his mouth, startled by the sudden intensity while his hands gripped her waist firmly enough to pull her fully against him.

The kiss stole coherent thought immediately.

Not gentle tonight.

Not teasing.

Hungry.

Possessive.

Demitri kissed her like reassurance and frustration and longing all tangled together.

As though touching her was the only thing grounding him after days of chaos.

“Elowen,” he breathed against her lips.

Then kissed her again before she could answer.

The force of it pushed her backward slowly until the backs of her knees met the edge of the bed.

Demitri guided her down carefully without breaking the kiss once.

Rain continued softly outside while candlelight flickered gold across dark sheets and tangled shadows.

Elowen’s heart pounded wildly beneath his hands.

Every touch from him tonight felt sharper somehow.

Needier.

Demitri hovered over her briefly, silver eyes dark and overwhelming while his thumb brushed gently across flushed cheeks.

“You frightened me.”

The confession stunned her.

Demitri leaned down again, kissing slowly along her jaw this time while one hand slid carefully along her waist beneath layers of fabric.

Elowen inhaled sharply.

His touch felt everywhere.

Warm.

Heavy.

Possessive.

Demitri kissed lower slowly, lips lingering against the sensitive skin of her throat where faint bruises still remained from nights before.

A quiet sound escaped her before she could stop it.

Demitri nearly lost control hearing it.

God.

This woman would ruin him entirely.

His mouth returned to hers briefly while his fingers traced slow circles against her hip, coaxing more soft reactions from her with terrifying ease.

Elowen’s hands tangled instinctively into the front of his shirt as though grounding herself against the overwhelming warmth of him.

Demitri swallowed harshly at the sight.

So trusting.

Always so trusting with him.

Even now.

Especially now.

He kissed downward again, slower this time, taking his time exploring every soft gasp and shiver he pulled from her.

Elowen’s face burned impossibly hot.

Everything felt sinful.

Dangerous.

And yet,

she never wanted him to stop.

Demitri’s restraint frayed further each passing second.

God.

He wanted her.

Wanted to bury himself inside every inch of her life until she never doubted belonging again.

But he promised himself,

no matter how badly he burned for her,

he would wait until she chose him fully.

Until she was ready.

So instead he tortured both of them.

His lips trailed slowly along the curve of her neck while one hand slipped upward carefully, fingers brushing against her waist and ribs with enough intimacy to make her breath uneven instantly.

“Elowen,” he murmured softly against her skin.

She barely managed a shaky hum in response.

“You blush everywhere.”

That only made it worse.

Demitri laughed quietly beneath his breath before pressing another lingering kiss near her collarbone.

Elowen turned her face away immediately, overwhelmed beyond reason.

“You enjoy embarrassing me.”

“I enjoy you.”

The sincerity behind the words made her chest ache.

Demitri’s hand tilted her chin back toward him gently.

Silver eyes searched hers carefully.

Always checking.

Always making sure.

That tenderness somehow affected her more than the kisses themselves.

Then his mouth found hers again.

Slower now.

Deeper.

Elowen melted against him entirely this time, shy fingers clutching weakly at his shoulders while Demitri kissed her like he intended to erase every doubt she ever carried.

Outside,

the rain softened.

The storm easing into quiet drizzles against palace windows.

Inside the chambers, breathing grew uneven while candlelight flickered across tangled blankets and flushed skin.

And then,

a knock sounded sharply against the doors.

Demitri froze.

Elowen blinked dazedly beneath him.

Another knock came immediately after.

Urgent.

Only one person in Delmatia possessed enough courage to interrupt the king twice in one lifetime.

Demitri closed his eyes briefly.

“Caion,” he muttered darkly.

A third knock sounded.

“Your Majesty,” Caion called carefully through the doors, “I would not interrupt unless absolutely necessary.”

Demitri looked moments away from committing murder.

Elowen, meanwhile, looked seconds away from dying of embarrassment.

Her hair was a mess.

Her lips swollen.

And Demitri still hovered dangerously close above her.

God.

Demitri exhaled slowly through clenched teeth before pressing one final kiss briefly against her forehead.

Then very reluctantly stood.

“Caion,” he called coldly, “you have exactly one minute to justify your continued existence.”