Forever Entwined

Secrets and Silks

The warmth of Cass's sleeping form beside her was a comforting weight, yet a different kind of heat pulsed within Nix. Even in slumber, Cass's desire was evident, his c**k a proud, firm ridge beneath the thin sheets. A tremor of longing ran through Nix. She bit down on her lip, a silent battle waged between curiosity and a nascent sense of propriety. Slowly, cautiously, she slipped her hand beneath the covers, her fingers trembling as they neared the velvety shaft. It was thicker than she'd imagined, her fingers barely able to encircle it. A daring impulse took hold. Leaning forward, she flicked her tongue against the smooth, sensitive tip. A low groan rumbled from Cass, his body instantly tensing, no longer fully lost to sleep.

Emboldened, Nix took more of him into her mouth, the silken skin surprisingly soft. She traced the length with her tongue, savoring the salty tang, before returning to the crown, nipping and sucking gently.

"f**k, you're so good!" Cass finally gasped, his eyes fluttering open, glazed with arousal.

"Yeah?" Nix looked up at her mate, a surge of pure joy blossoming in her chest at the sight of the pleasure etched on his face.

"I need to be inside you," he growled, his voice thick with urgency. In one swift movement, he scooped her up, turning her so she straddled him, facing away. She braced her hands on his chest as he guided his engorged length, inch by agonizing inch, into her waiting heat. A strangled moan escaped her lips as he filled her completely.

Cass's hands slapped her rounded backside, the sharp sound echoing in the quiet chamber as he watched her ride him, her movements becoming more frantic, more desperate. The world narrowed to the slick friction between them, the rhythmic thrust and parry building to a fever pitch until Cass cried out, his body convulsing as he spilled his seed deep within her.

Nix collapsed against his chest, a sigh of profound satisfaction escaping her lips, the feeling of being utterly filled leaving her languid and content.

"I can't wait to see you round with my child," he murmured, his breath warm against her ear as she rolled off him, a possessive gleam in his eyes.

What? With child? The thought struck Nix like a physical blow. In the throes of passion, the possibility of consequence hadn't registered. Seventeen. She was only seventeen. The world stretched before her, a tapestry of unexplored adventures and freedoms. A baby… that felt like an anchor, tethering her to a life she barely understood.

And Cass… she barely knew him. Their connection was forged in primal urges and royal decree, not in shared histories or whispered confidences. Yet, even in her naivete, she understood the weight of his words. The king was expected to produce an heir. Her body, it seemed, was already a vessel for that expectation.

"When will we be back in the citadel?" Nix asked, the carefree mood of moments before dissipating like morning mist.

"Well, I thought we'd stay here for much longer," Cass replied, a flicker of surprise in his eyes at her sudden desire to return to court.

"Well, I don't mind," she hedged, trying to sound nonchalant, "besides, Millie was talking about throwing a masquerade ball!" Nix's eyes lit up despite her inner turmoil. She'd never experienced the glittering spectacle of a ball, but the idea of swirling gowns and masked intrigue had always captivated her imagination. She loved to dance, though her steps were more impulsive than practiced. But Millie would teach her; she was sure of it.

"Well, if that's what you'd like," he conceded, a hint of amusement in his voice, "you can get dressed, and we could go now."

Less than half an hour later, they stood together once more in the opulent king's bedchamber.

"I'll go to my chambers," Nix said, pressing a quick kiss to Cass's lips before slipping back through the concealed passage, the weight of her secret already a heavy cloak upon her young shoulders.

Back in her suite, the vibrant silks and intricate embroidery of her royal wardrobe suddenly felt suffocating. She rummaged through the garments until she found the simplest linen dress and her old, worn leather slippers – relics of a life before crowns and kings.

With a furtive glance at the door, she slipped past the guards stationed outside her chambers and navigated the labyrinthine corridors towards the servants' quarters, a path she'd begun to memorize in her restless wanderings.

A prickle of paranoia danced on her skin. Each passing servant, each hushed conversation, felt like a knowing gaze. But the truth was, stripped of her crown and the king's imposing presence, she was just another face in the sprawling citadel. Who would believe the girl in the plain dress was their new queen? Not yet, not while she was still an anomaly in this strange, gilded cage.

She weaved through the bustling chaos of the market stalls, the cacophony of voices and exotic scents a stark contrast to the hushed reverence of the royal court. Finally, tucked away in a shadowed corner, she found a small, unassuming apothecary.

"I need something to prevent me from becoming with child," she whispered to the wise-looking man behind the counter, his eyes crinkled with age and knowledge.

"For how long?" he asked, his voice a low rumble.

"How much will what you have last?" she countered, her fingers nervously twisting the hem of her simple dress.

"If I gave you my whole supply today, it would last you six moons, perhaps a little more," he said, reaching for a large, earthenware jar filled with a dark, fragrant mixture of dried herbs. "Only use an ounce of this mix with a cup of hot water, once a moon cycle. Any more than that, and you could cause… problems." His gaze was knowing, his tone a gentle warning.

"How much will it cost?" Nix asked, her heart pounding in her chest.

"Ten silver pieces."

Relief washed over her as she counted out the coins from the small allowance Cass had given her – a pittance compared to the kingdom's wealth, but a fortune to her at this moment.

"Thank you," she murmured, offering the man a small, grateful smile.

By the time she rushed back to her suite, the heavy jar concealed beneath her shawl, Millie was already there, perched on the edge of her bed, her eyes sparkling with anticipation.

"Oh, what's that?" Millie asked, her gaze drawn to the bulky shape Nix tried to subtly hide.

"Just a type of tea I missed from home," Nix replied, placing the jar on her dressing table with a dismissive air, hoping her sister-in-law wouldn't recognize the earthy scent or discern its true purpose.

"Well, anyhow," Millie continued, her previous curiosity forgotten as her eyes lit up, "Caspian told me you were excited about the ball I'm planning?"

"Oh yes!" Nix squealed, forcing an enthusiasm she didn't entirely feel. "I've never been to a ball! You'll have to teach me all the dances, but it will be so much fun to design our dresses! We could even have matching ones!"

"Yes!" Millie clapped her hands together, her excitement infectious. "That's a great idea! We could be swans, one black and one white!"

"Ohhh," Nix leaned over Millie's shoulder as her sister-in-law began to sketch out some rough ideas, the delicate lines on the parchment hinting at gowns both breathtakingly elegant and surprisingly… erotic. The image of swirling silks and hidden desires momentarily eclipsed the heavy secret she now carried.