13 Claim It

Mineah did her best to try and calm her drumming heart. 

She was trembling a bit, but she couldn't afford to show him that she was nervous. 

She signed up for this, this was her choice and it was only proper that she showed enough confidence to back up her claims. This was bound to happen anyway. They were now husband and wife.

She sighed, not tearing her gaze away from him as she regained her composure. Seeing him smirk she forced herself to get comfortable as he spoke. 

"That's more like it. You said it yourself that no one forced you into marrying me. Instead, you offered and volunteered yourself willingly for it, so I expect that you'll be confident enough to share a bath with your husband," Nikolai confidently stated. "After all, we'll do more than this soon enough."

Shameless… 

Preventing herself from rolling her eyes, she managed to give him a smile as she said, "Don't blame me if you die on me then."

It was a reckless remark to make, but for some reason, she was feeling comfortable enough around Nikolai to voice out some of her genuine thoughts despite how rude she might sound. Maybe it was because she was now his Queen and she deemed that position as high enough to casually talk to him.

Funny… Her initial plan was to play submissive to him, and yet, like one of her Shadow Maidens, Zaila, suggested, that might just be a boring approach.

Nikolai chuckled, and Mineah found his tone so enticing that she had to blink to distract herself from gawking at the man before her. He looked so perfect from every angle. 

He had a fair complexion, and he had muscles in all the right places giving him a combination of a brusque and majestic look. For sure, many women had been swooning over him for years, and yet Mineah never even heard of a single rumor of him being involved with a woman. Maybe later she would find out more once she was finally at Valcrez.

Instinctively, she turned her gaze and stared at the floating petals in her bath instead. She was cursing in her thoughts as she tried to think of ways to dodge Nikolai's advances if he ever attempted to consummate their marriage. 

"I'm looking forward to discovering how you plan to please me in so many ways," he hummed and she didn't bother to reply nor dare turn his way. 

After a few moments of silence, Mineah felt movement in the water, indicating that Nikolai had already joined her in the tub. Finally, raising her head, she froze upon seeing that Nikolai's face was now just an inch away from hers. One wrong move and their lips would most certainly touch.

'Relax,' she told herself, feeling her throat suddenly dry up as she felt the air leaving her lungs.

Was it even normal for her to feel this way? She had never felt this way before.

She took deep breaths to calm herself, making sure that she maintained her composure despite her situation.

"Milord," she managed to utter.

"Lai," he corrected, his warm breath fanning against her lips. He was staring deep into her eyes. "You told me you'd call me Lai."

"Lai…" she obediently hummed.

"Interesting," he murmured while looking intently into her eyes. She blinked. She didn't feel that same sensation of being hypnotized or compelled.

"Aren't you really scared? Worried? Are you going to? Are we going t-to d-do… it here?" she gasped and stuttered.

No! They must not yet! 

"Do you want to?" he asked with a smirk as he lifted his hand and gently started to caress her shoulder blades, his touch slowly making its way to her neck.

"No," she firmly stated without blinking an eye. 

Nikolai had his usual gentle smile as he moved back to the other side of the tub, his eyes were still on her as he backed off. 

On her side of the tub, Mineah bit her inner cheek. She knew she was blushing, and she would really like for her cheeks to stop doing that.

"We're bound to do it eventually, but like I said… I won't force you into anything you wouldn't want. But you must also take note that I'm not a patient man, Mine," he stated, putting emphasis on the nickname he had given her as if reminding her who she belonged to, his burning eyes boring deeply into hers with desire. "I can't promise how long I can keep my self-control, especially when I have such a lovely wife before me."

"I'm just concerned about you, mi-" she stopped upon seeing how his brow rose at her next words. "Lai…" 

"Is that so?" he questioned as he gave her a genuine smile. "About me dying, correct?" 

Mineah nodded. She didn't trust her words at the moment.

"Have you actually proven those claims already?" he pondered out loud. "How do you even know that you were given that curse?"

"Our Seer said that a Seraph appeared in his dream giving him a warning, saying that death will come to whoever will tarnish the cursed child's purity," Mineah informed him, still bothered by the fact that she was both naked and in the same bathtub with the equally naked King!

"Hmm, but I will not tarnish your purity…" Nikolai bluntly stated. "I'll simply claim it."

Mouth slackening, Mineah couldn't fathom why the King was treating her curse lightly. Was he that perverted that he still want to consummate their marriage as if the curse and its consequences didn't bother him?

She opened her mouth to say something, but she couldn't find the right words to say.