Chapter 7

As I stirred from sleep, the first thing I heard was the whispering of leaves in the wind. My eyes fluttered open, gradually adjusting to the dim room around me. The first faint light of dawn was seeping in, indicating the early hour.

I lay motionless, my mind a whirlpool of confusion. Where was I and why was I naked?

A sudden tightening around my waist made me tense, and then the memories came rushing back. That’s right. Navine had brought me to his palace to be his wife, and last night was our first time together.

My Dragon was still in slumber as I gingerly turned to face him. He looked so peaceful and handsome in his sleep. It was a stark contrast to his usual guarded demeanor when awake, even with me.

I couldn’t help but wonder if Navine had experienced things that still haunted him. I want to understand him better, I thought, gently pushing his hair back and tracing my fingers over his face. I want to know everything about him and maybe even fall in love with him one day.

It was a sobering realization as I lay there. I knew I didn’t love Navine, not yet anyway. All of this was because he had chosen me.

“Why are you so tense?” Navine suddenly asked, his voice steady and his eyes still closed.

“Oh!” I quickly withdrew my hand. “I didn’t realize you were awake.”

“I’ve been awake for a while, but it was too comfortable to move, and I was enjoying your touch,” Navine replied. Even with his eyes closed, he effortlessly caught my hand. “Please continue. It feels nice.”

My tension eased, and I smiled, planting a kiss on him before resuming my gentle strokes through his hair.

“I’m sorry. You just startled me a bit, but I’m glad to know you’re enjoying my presence.”

“Why wouldn’t I?”

“I guess you have a point.”

Navine slowly opened his eyes, a content look on his face as he gazed at me. “You’re not in any pain this morning, are you?”

“No,” I reassured him. “I feel good, even though it’s still quite early. At least, it seems to be.”

Navine shifted to lie on his back, glancing toward the partially open windows. “It is. I’d say it’s around six o’clock in the morning.”

“Looks like it. It’s quite windy too,” I observed.

“That’s because a storm is likely on its way. They often roll in from the sea this time of year.” Navine turned his head toward me. “Come here. Let’s enjoy our early morning together.”

“What about your wings? Are you comfortable lying on them like this?” I asked him.

“I’m perfectly fine. Now,” he pulled me closer so that I was lying against him, “let me feel you against me, my beautiful one.”

I snuggled against him, resting my head on his shoulder and closing my eyes. This was incredibly comfortable. I felt like I could easily drift back to sleep.

Navine’s fingers lightly traced over my back and down to my waist, gently exploring my skin. His touch sent pleasant shivers through me, just like the night before. It was so beautiful that I wanted to experience it as much as I could.

But I held back. He might need to get up soon, and there would be plenty of time for that later.

“Do you have a lot to do today?” I asked after a few minutes.

“Just a few minor things, but I can stay here to do them. I’d rather not go out on stormy days, plus I want to continue enjoying my time with you.”

I giggled. “You sound a bit insatiable.”

“I could be,” Navine teased, shifting so that he was lying on top of me, his strong body pressing down on mine. I could feel his arousal pressing between my legs, already hot and hard.

“You’re so excited already,” I murmured.

“I am,” Navine said, kissing my neck and sending a wave of desire coursing through me. “You’ve excited me from the moment we met, and I plan to indulge in these pleasures as much as possible with you.”

I couldn’t deny that I wanted the same. I’d never experienced such profound pleasure as I had with Navine. This only reinforced my belief that I’d made the right choice in accepting him.

“We can indulge in each other as much as you like. I am yours forever,” I whispered.

His kiss was a blazing answer to my silent plea, and I clung to him, my mind sinking into that familiar sensual fog as my legs coiled around his waist. Screw the slow burn. I needed him inside me, right now.

Navine’s low, amused chuckle tickled my ear as he whispered, “In a hurry, are we?”

“Maybe you’re just too good at making me want you,” I shot back playfully.

“I’ll take that as a compliment,” he murmured. His breath hitched as he nipped at my earlobe. “Normally, I’d prefer to take our time, but I woke up in a rather…uncomfortable state. Since you’re the cause, you can also be the cure.”

I didn’t mind being his remedy. His thrust into me was pure bliss, reminiscent of the previous night. I wondered if he’d always have this effect on me. But that could be a good thing. Mutual satisfaction could be the key to keeping our relationship strong.

We lost ourselves in each other for a while before we both reached our climax. Exhausted, we fell back into sleep for another hour.

When I woke up again, the sky outside was heavy with clouds and the wind was picking up. Navine was getting out of bed to shut the windows.

I propped myself up on my elbows, watching him move, admiring his muscular form. For the first time in a long time, I felt a sense of contentment. I wondered if it was because I finally felt like I’d found where I belonged.

Maybe I was getting ahead of myself, but I wanted to believe it.

“Is the storm coming?” I asked him as he latched the last window.

“Not yet, but the wind’s picking up. I’d rather keep everything shut. It’ll get too cold otherwise,” Navine replied. He returned to the bed, sitting next to me and brushing my hair back.

“I have a few things to take care of, so I’m going to freshen up and head to the library. You can sleep in if you want, and when you wake up, you can make whatever you want for breakfast.”

“I’d rather have breakfast with you, so I’ll get up now,” I told him.

“I’d like that, but I have some urgent matters to attend to, so it might be a while before I can join you,” Navine confessed.

I scooted closer to him. “That’s okay. I can make breakfast. Do you want to bring your work to the dining room, or should I bring breakfast to the library?”

Navine looked taken aback. “You want my company that much?”

“Of course I do,” I tried to keep my cheeks from turning pink as I continued. “I didn’t agree to be your wife just for the perks. I care about you, and I want to take care of you. That includes making your meals and helping around the house.”

I meant every word. I wanted to be a good wife to him, to show my gratitude for everything he was doing for me.

Navine smiled softly. “I appreciate your thoughtfulness. I can bring my work to the dining room. It wouldn’t hurt for you to get a sense of what I do. You’re my wife now; your opinion matters to me.”

“But did last night make it official?” I asked.

“It did, but I still need to make a formal announcement. There’s no rush, though,” Navine replied.

“You seem pretty adamant about that. Any particular reason?” I ventured.

“We don’t need to get into that,” Navine said, then kissed me quickly and headed to the wardrobe. “As I said, I’m going to freshen up and get my things. I’ll see you in the dining room, love.”

I nodded, watching him gather his clothes before leaving the room. Once he was gone, I let out a long sigh, reflecting on the whirlwind of the past few days. My life had taken a dramatic turn, but I couldn’t say it was a bad one.

I had a beautiful home and a handsome alpha husband who cared for me. Things were definitely looking up.

I couldn’t shake off the feeling that something was off. Navine’s insistence on keeping me hidden from the other Dragons was puzzling. Was he afraid of something?

I remembered the conversation I overheard between him and Lord Niles yesterday. They had mentioned Lord Dominick, hinting that he was a source of trouble. Could that be the reason Navine was so protective of me?

If that was the case, I needed to be cautious around Lord Dominick and possibly the other Dragons.

With these thoughts swirling in my mind, I got up and walked over to the wardrobe Navine had gifted me. I began to sift through the dresses hanging inside. It wouldn’t hurt to wear one of the dresses he had made for me.

A white dress caught my attention, and I pulled it out for a closer look. The dress had a plunging neckline, quarter sleeves, and an asymmetrical skirt.

Deciding on this one, I picked up my undergarments from the dresser and headed to the washroom. The room was warm, filled with the soothing scents of flowers and sage.

The washroom was spacious, with white marble floors that sparkled under the soft light from the crystal chandelier. A porcelain sink with a large round mirror was to my right, and a glass-enclosed shower was directly across.

At the end of the room, a claw-foot bathtub sat under an arched window. The bathtub looked tempting, but I decided to save it for later when I could truly relax. For now, a quick shower was the best option.

The warm water was a welcome relief, easing the tension I hadn’t even realized I was carrying. After cleaning up, I got dressed and returned to the bedroom to fix my hair. Once I was ready, I made my way downstairs to the dining room and kitchen.

The palace was eerily quiet as I descended the stairs and entered the dining room. Navine wasn’t there yet, but I had a feeling he would be soon, so I continued into the kitchen.

I had only been in the kitchen twice yesterday, once when Navine was giving me a tour and the other time to clean up after dinner. It wasn’t as large as the other rooms, but it had a spacious pantry.

The stove and icebox were the most modern I’d ever seen, and the cooking utensils and pots were neatly stored in cabinets near the stove. I stood in the middle of the kitchen, pondering what to cook. This was my first time cooking for Navine, and I wanted to make something he would enjoy.

There was just one problem. I should’ve asked him what he likes!

But it was too late for that now. I figured he would only keep food he liked in the house. I just needed to be creative. After all, I had cooked plenty of times with Anika and had become quite good at it.

After rummaging through the pantry, I decided on omelets and sausage. It didn’t take long to prepare the breakfast, and I felt a sense of accomplishment as I looked at the plates. Now, all that was left was to see if Navine would enjoy it.

Navine was already seated at the table when I emerged from the kitchen with our breakfast. He had brought some papers with him, which were stacked neatly on the table. He looked up from his reading as I approached.

“That looks and smells good,” he said.

“Thank you,” I replied, placing his plate and drink in front of him before setting down my own. “I hope you like it. I should’ve asked you what you prefer when I offered to make breakfast.”

“It’s fine, Raelina. I wouldn’t keep anything here that I don’t like. And I trust that you know what you’re doing since you offered,” Navine reassured me.

“Is that blind trust?” I asked, taking a seat next to him.

Navine chuckled. “Perhaps, but I have it nonetheless.”

“I’m happy to hear that,” I replied, a soft chuckle escaping my lips. “I hope you’ll enjoy it. I’m looking forward to cooking for you now that I’m here.”

“That’s sweet of you. I wouldn’t mind lending a hand in the kitchen when I can. I’ve heard it’s a great way to build connections,” he said.

“I can see that,” I said, resting my chin on my hand, my elbow propped on the table. “You sound a bit uncertain about some aspects of this.”

“Not uncertain, just adjusting. I’ve lived alone for so long; I want to make sure I can offer you more than just physical pleasure,” Navine confessed.

“That’s fair,” I agreed, my eyes drifting to the papers near him. “May I ask, are those requests that have been sent to you?”

“In a way, yes. As alpha under Jekia and his family, I often handle issues concerning this part of his lands. Some I deal with myself; others I delegate to the other Dragons,” Navine explained.

“I see. I remember seeing Lord Jekia with similar documents when I was a child at the palace. Are the ones you handle usually minor issues?” I asked.

“Most of the time, yes. But occasionally there’s something more urgent, especially with the larger ferals that roam these mountains and forests. Most of these are requests for services and expansions of the villages and towns they want me to oversee or approve,” Navine clarified.

“So, your typical day doesn’t involve much stress—just minor issues.”

“As I said, it depends on what comes up.”

Suddenly, a strong gust of wind rattled the windows, drawing our attention. The sky outside had darkened, and the wind had picked up significantly.

“Do storms get bad here?” I asked softly.

“Don’t worry. This palace can withstand even the harshest of storms,” Navine reassured me.

“Are you sure?”

“Do storms make you nervous?”

I couldn’t deny it. “Yes, they do sometimes. I’ve never been good with storms. Lightning and thunder have always scared me,” I admitted.

Navine nodded, offering me a comforting smile.

“It’s okay. If you’re scared, you can stay with me as much as you want,” he promised.

“I’d like that,” I replied gratefully.

The sound of a small bell interrupted our conversation. It was followed by a flash of blue light over the table. An envelope materialized from it, floating gently into Navine’s hand.

It looked like a letter envelope, sealed with red wax bearing a crest. Navine’s brow furrowed as he turned the envelope over and saw the seal.

“What the hell does he want?” he muttered.

“Who’s it from?” I asked. I hadn’t gotten a good look at the crest, so I couldn’t identify it.

“Dominick,” Navine replied. He ripped open the envelope and pulled out the folded paper inside. His frown deepened as he read it.

“I’d say he’s lost his mind, but that’s probably giving him too much credit.”

“What does it say? Is he asking something of you?” I asked.

“It’s nothing you need to worry about. I’ll handle it later,” Navine said, folding the letter and tucking it into his dark blue shirt pocket.

“I know you don’t want me to worry, but I have to ask. What is it about Lord Dominick that bothers you so much? You always sound so bitter when you mention him. Is it because he enjoys stirring up trouble?” I asked.

“We’re not discussing him. The only person you need to worry about is me,” Navine replied curtly. He stood up and placed his empty plate on the nearby tray.

“If you’ll excuse me, I need to finish up in the library. Feel free to join me when you’re ready.”

He didn’t wait for my response before leaving the room. I was taken aback by his abruptness. He’d never acted like this before.

But it only confirmed my suspicion that there was more to the issue with Lord Dominick. I understood that now wasn’t the time to press the matter.

I’d barely been here twenty-four hours, and the last thing I needed was to stir up trouble with Navine. But that didn’t mean I was going to let it slide.

Somehow, I was determined to uncover the truth about the tension between Navine and Lord Dominick, even if it meant standing firm and insisting on answers.

If I was going to strengthen our bond, I needed to know the whole story. What I failed to grasp then was how deeply I was already entangled in the whole mess.

And how this newfound knowledge was going to ripple through our lives from here on out.