Forever Entwined

Mated

"Come," Caspian's voice was a low murmur, his hand outstretched.

Nix hesitated, a question forming on her lips. "Wait," she said, her voice a little breathless. "What's your name?"

A slow smile curved his lips as he bent down, his gaze intense. "Caspian," he murmured, his breath warm against her ear. Then, tilting his head, he brushed a soft kiss against her temple. "And what's your name, my love?" The last two words resonated, sending a shiver down Nix's spine.

"Nixie," she replied, a blush warming her cheeks as she self-consciously pushed a stray lock of dark hair behind her ear. Her name felt plain, ordinary, compared to the richness of his.

A magical warmth radiated from the stone fireplace, casting the room in a soft, inviting glow. Her gaze drifted to the magnificent wooden bed, piled high with luxurious furs that seemed to beckon.

A raw, possessive desire flared in Caspian's eyes. "I need to make you mine, Nixie. Now."

The intensity of his words mirrored the sudden heat that surged through her. This was it, her mate. Without a word, her fingers fumbled with the delicate bow at the back of her gown. The fabric pooled at her feet as she stepped forward, offering herself to him, naked and vulnerable. "Take me then, Caspian."

His nostrils flared, his gaze sweeping over her with a primal hunger. He inhaled deeply, as if drawing her very essence into himself. "Gods, you are beautiful," he rasped, his voice thick with longing.

Then, a shadow crossed his face, a flicker of regret in his dark eyes. "We can't," he said, the words a rough whisper.

Confusion and a sudden chill washed over Nix. Is he rejecting me? The thought was a sharp, painful twist in her chest. "Why?" Her voice trembled.

"Because," Caspian gritted out, his jaw tight, "we must have a witness to our mating ceremony, to the consummation."

"A witness?" Nix frowned. She knew little of fae customs, but Sally, a half-fae who sometimes visited her village, had mentioned ceremonies were usually for the higher fae. "Why? Are you… noble?"

He rubbed the back of his neck, a hint of unease in his posture. "Something like that."

"Well," Nix suggested, a desperate hope rising within her, "can't we just… pretend? For now?" She rubbed her thighs together instinctively, a primal ache building within her.

"No," he said firmly, though his eyes still held a trace of longing. "It must be done properly. By the book. But… we can have the official ceremony tonight, and the public one tomorrow."

"A public ceremony?" Nix was genuinely bewildered. She'd never heard of such a thing. "Why a public one?"

Caspian stood before her, his internal struggle evident in the tautness of his muscles. He willed himself to resist the urge to sweep her into his arms and claim her on the spot. "Because, Nixie," he said, his voice now carrying a weight of authority, "I am the king."

"I am going to take you to the Chapel." Before she could process the revelation, before she could even formulate a question, his hand settled gently but firmly on her shoulder. The world shimmered, and the warm glow of the room dissolved into the cool, ethereal light of a breathtaking building.

Candlelight flickered, illuminating walls crafted from a smooth, reflective white mineral unlike anything Nix had ever seen. A high priestess stood serenely at the altar, her gaze wise and kind. "Your Majesty," she greeted Caspian, a gentle smile gracing her lips as she looked at Nix. "You have found your mate."

"We wish to have the bond confirmed with the ceremony," Caspian stated, his tone brooking no argument.

"Your Majesty!" Nix exclaimed, instinctively crossing her arms over her bare chest. "I'm still naked!"

A hint of a smile played on Caspian's lips. "You don't need to call me Majesty, Nixie. Just Cass." He turned to the priestess. "I'm sure the priestess can provide a cloak?" The old woman nodded and offered Nix a rich velvet cloak.

"I sense a certain… urgency," the priestess said knowingly. "Let us proceed swiftly with the ceremony."

She took their clasped hands and gently wound a silken ribbon around them. "Let this ribbon symbolize the unbreakable bond that now ties your two souls together."

Nix gazed up at Caspian, his dark eyes holding a depth of emotion that both thrilled and intimidated her.

The priestess produced a delicate glass knife and made a small, precise nick on the index finger of each of their free hands. "The sharing of blood signifies the acceptance of each other's very essence, a joining that transcends the physical and binds you for eternity."

Caspian brought Nix's bleeding finger to his lips first, his gaze never leaving hers as he gently sucked the droplet of blood. A strange intimacy bloomed between them. Then, she mirrored his action, the metallic tang of his blood a surprising and profound connection.

"Are you a virgin, child?" the priestess whispered kindly to Nix.

Heat flooded Nix's face as she nodded, unable to meet the priestess's gaze. "Yes."

"There is a consummation chamber nearby. Because of your purity, I will not need to witness the act itself, only the evidence afterward." She offered a reassuring smile and silently led them down a narrow passage.

They stopped before an arched doorway, ancient fae script glowing softly above it: 'Royal Mating Chamber'.

"Caspian?" Nix hesitated at the threshold as he stepped inside. The priestess had vanished as silently as she had appeared.

"My love?" Cass turned back, his eyes softening as he took in her cloaked figure bathed in the warm candlelight. He could barely contain the fierce longing to finally claim her.

"I… I come from nothing," Nix stammered, her voice barely a whisper. "I'm not made for your world. I'm not a royal fae, not even a high fae. I'm just… a girl who came to the city with nothing but six silver pieces and the hope of finding my mate."

A warm, genuine smile spread across Caspian's face. "And here you are."

"But what if you regret claiming me?" The fear was a tight knot in her stomach.

"Never," he said, his voice firm and unwavering.

"You say that now, but… I don't know the social rules of being royal. I don't know how to dress or talk or… anything really," Nix's voice rose with a touch of panic.

"I don't care, Nixie," Cass said, his gaze filled with a fierce tenderness. He reached out, his hands framing her face before sliding down to her waist, pulling her gently into the room.

He lifted her effortlessly, carrying her to the plush bed and laying her down with infinite care. His eyes roamed over her, a silent appreciation in their depths.

"Are you sure about this?" Nix asked, her voice small and laced with lingering worry. She bit her bottom lip, a nervous habit that sent a fresh wave of desire crashing through Caspian.

"More than sure," Cass growled, his control finally snapping. The need to possess her was a tangible ache.

Nix parted her legs, an unspoken invitation. The sight of her, vulnerable and open, sent his blood roaring in his ears. Her chest rose and fell rapidly, the soft swell of her breasts and the delicate dusky pink of her n*****s a potent lure.

His hand traced the smooth skin of her inner thigh, his touch sending shivers through her. Slowly, deliberately, he slid a finger through her slick folds.

"I just need you inside me," Nix gasped, her hips lifting slightly, her impatience evident.

"I don't want to hurt you, my sweet," Cass groaned, his own desire battling with his tenderness. But the sight of her open to him was too much to bear. He shifted, his body aligning with hers, and with a slow, deliberate thrust, he buried himself deep within her.

Nix cried out, a sharp intake of breath that quickly morphed into a moan of pure sensation. The fullness, the completeness she felt was unlike anything she had ever imagined. The initial sting was a small price for this profound connection.

"Are you alright?" Cass whispered, his hand gently stroking the long, dark strands of her hair that fanned out across the soft mattress.

"Yeah," she breathed, her eyes closed, her hands clenching the silken sheets. "Just… adjusting."

As the initial discomfort eased, Nix took the initiative, rocking her hips against him, reveling in the deep, intimate slide of his c**k within her. She could feel the insistent pulse of his head deep inside.

"f**k, you're so tight," he groaned, his rhythm increasing, the wet sounds of their joining filling the silent chamber.

Cass reached down, his fingers finding her slick c**t, stroking and teasing until her breath hitched and her body began to tremble. He watched her face, his own pleasure intensifying with hers. Her release came in a series of shuddering gasps, and in the same instant, he surged deeper, filling her completely with his seed until it spilled over her thighs.

The sight of her, slick and sated, filled with his essence, was almost enough to bring him to the brink again.

"f**k," Nix gasped, her body limp with satisfaction as she collapsed beside him, their bodies still intimately joined.