Raven King’s Bride

Fate Chain

Freya scurried to the back of the bed, her knees drawn up to her chest, trying to calm her racing heart. Rion stood near the bed, his large frame tense with barely contained fury. She could feel his anger radiating, he was a living, breathing entity that made her chest tighten.

His dark eyes flicked over his shoulder, catching hers. She froze under his gaze, the intensity in his expression sending a chill down her spine. He wasn’t just angry; he was simmering, dangerous, the kind of fury that made the air thick and hard to breathe.

Freya shifted, moving toward the edge of the bed as if distance might shield her from his wrath. His gaze followed her movement, roving over her body in a way that made her feel both exposed and powerless.

“Stay,” he said softly, his voice low but filled with warning. It wasn’t a shout, but the weight of the single word pinned her in place.

Her breath stopped as the door opened, and Mila entered cautiously. The young maid’s usual cheerful demeanor was gone, replaced by unease. She carried a small jewelry box, her hands trembling slightly as she approached Rion.

“Your Highness,” she murmured, bowing deeply and extending the box to him.

Rion didn’t respond. He took the box from her with a curt nod, and Mila fled the room as if she couldn’t bear to be in his presence a moment longer. The heavy door slammed shut behind her, leaving Freya and Rion alone once more.

The silence stretched between them like a taut string, ready to snap. Freya watched as Rion opened the box, revealing a delicate necklace with a single red gem suspended on a thin silver chain.

“What is that?” she asked, her voice trembling.

He didn’t answer. Instead, he turned toward her, his expression dark and unreadable. His movements were deliberate as he motioned her, the necklace dangling from his fingers.

“Come closer,” he commanded, his voice deep and quiet.

Freya shook her head, her throat tightening. “No. I’m not coming any closer until you tell me what that is.”

Still, he didn’t answer. His gaze burned into hers, and before she could react, he climbed onto the bed.

“W-what are you doing?” she stammered, trying to scramble back, but there was nowhere to go.

Rion moved with the precision of a predator, his knees sinking into the mattress as he leaned over her. Freya squealed as she tried to push him away, but he pinned her wrists effortlessly, his body pressing her into the soft bedding.

His face hovered just inches from hers, his breath warm against her skin. She shivered, her heart hammering as his eyes locked onto hers with an intensity that stole the air from her lungs.

“What are you doing?” she whispered again, her voice barely audible.

“Ensuring you don’t try something so foolish again,” he murmured, his voice low and rich, sending an involuntary tremor through her.

Freya’s breath quickened as his knee brushed against her thigh, the heat of his body overwhelming her senses. His gaze dropped to her lips for the briefest of moments, and her heart stopped. He was so close—too close.

“Please…” she started, but her voice faltered as his fingers brushed her neck, featherlight and deliberate. A soft moan escaped her lips before she could stop it, and her cheeks burned with embarrassment. His face was so close now, his lips almost touching hers. She squeezed her eyes shut, unable to bear the intensity of his gaze.

But instead of his lips, she felt something cold press against her throat.

Her eyes snapped open as he secured the necklace around her neck, his fingers grazing her skin in a way that made her shiver. His touch was slow, deliberate, and maddeningly gentle, as though he were savoring every second of contact.

Freya’s chest heaved as she tried to pull away, but his grip was firm, his body still pinning her down. “What is this?” she demanded, her voice breaking.

He leaned in closer, his lips brushing against her ear as he whispered, “A Fate Chain.”

Her body tensed, the words sending a chill down her spine.

“It will tell me where you are at all times,” he continued, his voice dark and intimate. “And if you try to run too far from me, it will burn you.”

Freya gasped, her hands flying to her neck as she tried to pull the necklace off. “No!” she whimpered, tears stinging her eyes. A collar. He had put a collar on her like a dog. Despair filled her.

Rion caught her wrists, holding them in one hand as he tilted her chin up with the other. His eyes burned into hers, his voice low and dangerous. “Don’t even think about it. Only I can remove it.”

Her chest heaved as she stared up at him, tears streaming down her face. “Why are you doing this to me?” she sobbed, her voice breaking.

He didn’t answer immediately. Instead, he leaned down, brushing his lips against her neck in a gesture so soft and unexpected that it stole her breath. The warmth of his mouth lingered on her skin, sending a shockwave through her entire body.

Freya’s heart raced as she felt his lips press against her neck again, slower this time, his breath hot against her skin. Her body trembled beneath him, and she bit her lip to keep another moan from escaping.

“Because you’ve been a naughty girl,” he whispered against her skin, his voice dark and sensual. “And I can’t let you endanger yourself like that again.”

With one final kiss to her neck, he pulled back, his expression softening slightly as he gazed down at her tear-streaked face. “We don’t want your pretty neck to get bruised, now do we?” he said softly, brushing a strand of hair from her face.

Freya couldn’t respond. She could barely breathe. Her hands flew to the necklace, her fingers trembling as they clutched the chain.

Rion stood, his towering frame casting a shadow over her once more. “Don’t test me again, Freya,” he said, his voice low and commanding.

With that, he turned and walked out, his wings folding neatly behind him as the door slammed shut behind him.

Freya sat on the bed, her body trembling as silent tears streamed down her face. She clutched the necklace, her fingers wrapping around the cold metal as though she could will it to disappear.

This was it. She was truly trapped now. Bound to him, unable to escape.

Her tears fell harder, her sobs muffled as she buried her face in her hands. For the first time since arriving in this strange, impossible place, the weight of her situation hit her with full force.