Page 15 of Wolfsbane (Deadly Duet #2)
FIFTEEN
MOREL
Hesper’s body was wrapped loosely beneath the thin, silky sheet, her curves highlighted by the moonlight pouring in from the open windows. Her hair cascaded down her back, resembling the night sky as she lay next to me, my fingers tucking the stray stands behind her ear delicately. Her eyes were closed, a smile painted on her beautiful face as she slept peacefully. It felt like a dream, seeing her next to me, knowing she was mine. My wife.
Her body stirred ever so lightly as her lids lifted, those metallic irises staring back at me like liquid metal. She moaned softly, her hand touching my face as I held it, kissing her exposed palm.
“Were you watching me sleep?” she asked, her voice still lingering in her dreams.
“I was.” I lowered her hand, playing with her fingers. She moved, resting along my body as she lifted her head to look up at me.
“I’d think after everything, you’d be fast asleep by now. Is my king not tired out?” I laughed at her jesting.
“Before you stumbled into my life, sleep was not my friend. And now, I get more than I could ever need. Thanks to you, my little fallen angel.” Hesper smiled, kissing my chest.
“Shall I help you sleep now?” She kissed my body again, her eyes staring up at me as she did so. Her legs straddled my waist as she sat up across my lap, the sheet falling from her naked body as the dying flames in the fireplace glowed behind her. I gazed at her, admiring just how beautiful she really was, my hands tracing her curves as they landed in her grasp. I looked down at her left hand, feeling the wound with my fingertip.
“These will heal one day, turning to old scars.” Her eyes followed mine.
“But they will never leave us. And I will never leave you.” She raised my left hand to her lips, kissing the wound. “I am your shadow in this world, your wolfsbane.” My heart nearly skipped a beat listening to her.
“Hesper,” I whispered. “I have something for you.” Her head tilted as she gave me a confused look.
“What more could you give me?” I laughed at her words, gently laying her body back on the bed as I rolled, stepping from the bed towards my clothing on the floor.
“You are my queen. I will always gift you things.” My hands rummaged through the pockets of my tunic as she laughed.
“You make me sound like a spoiled queen.” I grabbed the small velvet pouch, clutching it in my grasp as I exhaled.
My hands tucked behind my back as I pranced back to her, listening to her giggles as I approached the bed. “The only thing I will spoil you with,” I smiled, “is my love.” Hesper grinned, wiggling to the edge on her knees as she gently grabbed my chin.
“Then I shall spoil you too, and we shall be known as the most spoiled monarchs in this world.” Gods, I loved her.
“Here,” I whispered, revealing the pouch as I held it between us.
Hesper looked down, gently taking the pouch as she began to open it, her smile instantly dropping as her fingertips removed the ring from inside. She fell silent, her response worrying me as I watched her closely.
“Hesper?” Her fingertips touched her lips, her eyes swelling as she remained fixated on the ring.
Did I upset her? Does she hate it? Doubt and fear flooded my mind as I sat there, waiting for her to speak.
“Morel,” she finally whispered, her eyes trailing to mine. “It’s—it’s—” She lifted the ring and placed it over her finger, raising her arm as the moonlight caught the stone, creating a spark upon her hand. “It’s as if a star landed on my finger.” Her smile returned as I exhaled, relieved she didn’t hate it. “Morel, this is too much.” She turned back to me, filled with emotion.
“Nothing is too much for you.” She smiled again, admiring the ring closely.
“Where did you get it?”
“It was my mother’s.” Hesper’s face shot up as she tried to remove the ring. “Stop,” I whispered, placing my hand on hers.
“It’s too much. You have already given me her crystal. I cannot take this too.”
“Yes, you can. You are a daughter of the night like her, but more importantly, you are my wife. My mother would have given you everything, just as I plan to do.” My hands grabbed her face. “My last gift to you, my love, will be my promise to do whatever I can to avenge your parents, to save Hellbore. I will ride into battle myself if I must and deliver Boletus’ head at your feet.” Hesper placed her hand over mine, fighting back tears. “If you wanted the moon, I would face the goddess herself, destroying the stars and heavens to give it to you. I would burn this whole world, drown in their blood, and sit at her feet as I watch you rule on my throne. I may be a king, but you, Hesper, you are my queen. My wife. And I will do anything for you. I would lay my life on death’s door for you, and smile from the darkness if it meant saving you. Wolfsbane,” I choked on my words as she cried, “my heart and my soul do not belong to me. They are yours.”
“Morel,” she cried, lunging into my arms, hugging me with all her strength. “I would destroy every soul on this Earth and fight death itself before I let you do such a thing!” I held her tight, our hearts racing in our chests, matching in rhythm. “If you think I would let you sacrifice yourself for me, you are a fool! Death and his lost souls should fear the day I step into the darkness to reclaim you. I would battle every demon, the devil himself. You are mine; death cannot have you!” she cried into my skin, the two of us embracing in passionate love.
“I guess neither of us can die, then, can we?” I teased. Hesper pulled back as I cleaned her tears.
“Never.” She tucked my hair behind my ears, her beauty and strength on full display. “Let us ride into battle together, side by side, a king and his queen. We fight as one, in every battle, until fate decides we are too much for this world.” My head tilted at her words, realizing what she meant.
“Hesper,” I wheezed, “are you sure?” She smiled, kissing me softly.
“As sure as I am that I love you more than life itself.”
Until the heavens fall upon the Earth.