Devannie emerged from the bathroom, clutching a towel that barely shielded her body. "Can... can I wear your clothes? I... I don't have any," she murmured, her head hanging low in shyness.
"Thankfully, there aren't any scars on my body," she mused silently. "Otherwise, he would have loathed me already."
Evarion stood up and closed the distance between them. "My Queen, if I didn't know better, I would think you were trying to seduce me like this," he whispered. He nipped gently at her ear, sending a powerful shiver racing down her spine.
"I..." She gasped, her left eye fluttering shut as she leaned into the unfamiliar sensation. "What is this? It feels so good," she wondered, her face flushing a deep crimson.
"Does my Queen like that?" Evarion queried softly.
Devannie kept her head lowered and offered a small, hesitant nod.
Evarion let out a dark, melodic chuckle. "So cute," he remarked. He swept her up into his arms and carried her toward the wardrobe. When he swung the doors open, the racks were already overflowing with exquisite female attire.
Devannie's eyes widened in shock. "So many beautiful clothes," she thought, but a sudden frown touched her lips. "Why does he have women's clothing here?" She turned a questioning gaze toward him.
Evarion easily read the suspicion in her eyes and laughed. "What, does my Queen suspect I've entertained many women here before?" he teased.
Devannie shook her head vigorously. "As long as you don't hate me, you... you can do anything," she stuttered.
Evarion sighed, his expression softening. "These clothes were prepared specifically for you. Do not allow your thoughts to wander so far," he clarified.
"They are all for me?" Devannie nearly exclaimed, her eyes shimmering with excitement. "Re... really?" she breathed.
"Of course," Evarion chuckled. "Which one would you like to wear? If none of these satisfy you, I can dispose of them all and find something better."
"I... I like them all!" Devannie replied instantly, a giggle escaping her. Her eyes darted back and forth between the silken fabrics, paralyzed by the choices. "I don't know which to pick. They are all so beautiful... can you choose for me?" she asked, looking up at him expectantly.
"Hmm..." Evarion pulled a dress at random. "If you want my honest opinion, I would rather you stayed naked," he confessed.
Devannie's face burned even hotter. "If... if you don't want me to wear clothes... I won't," she offered in a small, delicate voice, her shyness reaching a peak.
Evarion laughed, his gaze darkening with intent. "Do you have any idea what would happen if you didn't?" he challenged.
"You... look?" Devannie asked, her voice barely a whisper. She looked incredibly fragile and tempting in that moment.
"Is it just looking, I wonder?" Evarion muttered, leaning closer.
Devannie's heart began to race. "I... I don't know what comes next," she admitted truthfully, meeting his gaze with pure curiosity. "You tell me what is next."
Evarion let out a ragged breath and lowered his head. He felt as though he were burning alive; the more he tried to suppress his hunger for her, the harder it became to control. She was simply too much for him to handle.
Finally, he exhaled and looked up, a warm smile masking his desire. "My Queen... you should get dressed. Breakfast is ready," he stated, giving her a fleeting kiss on the lips before turning to leave the room.
Devannie bit her lower lip, a permanent smile etched on her face. "This is the first time someone has ever treated me so well. I won't ever make him angry with me," she vowed. She looked at the dress Evarion had picked. "But how am I supposed to put this on?"
As she stood there lost in thought, a firm knock sounded at the door. When she opened it, she found a young woman dressed in sharp black attire. The woman stood with the rigid, joyless discipline of a soldier.
"Young Madam," the woman greeted, dropping immediately to one knee.
Devannie was tongue-tied. "Um... hello," she managed. "You are...?"
"My name is Sofie. I am your maid. You may tell me anything you require, Young Madam," the woman explained.
Devannie studied her for a long moment. "She looks more like a warrior than a maid," she thought, offering an awkward smile. "Um... I'm actually having some trouble with this dress. Can you help me?"
"Yes, Young Madam," Sofie responded, rising to her feet and entering the room.
Downstairs, Evarion sat like a king at the head of the table, his expression terrifying as he spoke into his phone. The atmosphere around him was so chilling that the household staff gave him a wide berth.
"Investigate the village thoroughly," he ordered emotionlessly. "Wipe out every single family involved in the maltreatment of my Queen."
There was a long silence on the other end before a voice crackled through the speaker. "Don't you think we should inform her first? What if she still harbors affection for them? If she finds out later, she might be furious."
Evarion's brows knitted together fiercely. "She won't have feelings for them. Do as I commanded, or face my wrath," he snapped.
A heavy sigh came from the phone. "Fine then," the voice conceded before the line went dead.
"No one hurts my bride and lives to tell of it," Evarion muttered, his eyes flashing a dangerous crimson for a fleeting second.
The rhythmic clicking of heels suddenly echoed through the hall. Evarion turned, and the breath left his lungs.
Standing on the stairs was a vision of absolute beauty. Devannie was dressed in a floor-length red sleeveless gown that showcased her porcelain shoulders. Her hair had been styled into an elegant, slightly tousled bun, making her look breathtakingly sophisticated.
Evarion rested his chin on his knuckles, staring at her with unshielded hunger.
Devannie's heart began to gallop again. She took slow, careful steps toward him, terrified of tripping in her new heels.
"Eva," she called softly.
"Is this dress... suitable for eating?" she inquired gently.
Evarion stood up and pulled her by her slender waist, crashing his lips against hers in a deep, possessive kiss. When he finally pulled away to let her breathe, he kept her close.
"After breakfast, I am taking my Queen somewhere," he announced.
Devannie's eyes went wide. "I... I can go out with you?" she asked, stunned.
"Of course," Evarion replied, kissing her cheek. "My Queen can go anywhere she desires. No one would dare stop you."
Devannie tried to speak, but tears escaped her eyes instead. She threw her arms around him, hugging him tightly. "You... you're so good to me," she sobbed.
Evarion patted her back gently, his jaw tightening. "Damn those bastards for making her so fragile," he thought. "She is a Queen; none of this should be new to her." He took a deep breath to keep his internal rage from frightening her.
"What must I do so you won't cry again?" he asked tenderly.
Devannie wiped her eyes with the back of her hand, looking like a bullied child seeking comfort. It was a sight that stirred a primal need in Evarion to protect her with his life.
"You... do that again," she said, pointing to her lips.
Evarion raised an eyebrow, a smirk playing on his mouth. "So... my Queen is obsessed now, is she?" he teased.
"I... I just want to stop crying," Devannie murmured, burying her face in his chest. "Why can't I control myself? I'm just saying whatever comes to mind. He won't dislike me for being like this, will he?"
Evarion chuckled and nipped her ear again. When he tilted her head up, her face was as red as a tomato. "It seems I have found a true treasure," he commented.
"I... I was just feeling hot," Devannie stammered.
"I might as well cool you down then," Evarion whispered. "Or, if you prefer, I can fire things up even more." He kissed her eyelids gently.
Devannie's heart felt like it was going to burst. "Eva... I... I think I'm about to explode," she panted, her expression turning to one of genuine panic as her pulse quickened. "I don't want to die yet! I don't want to leave him!"
Evarion placed his hands on her cheeks and sealed her lips with his, moving slowly and soothingly. Gradually, Devannie's heart rate returned to normal. When the kiss ended, a look of pure satisfaction spread across her face.
"My Queen must be starving. It is time to eat," Evarion declared. He swept her up and carried her to the dining table, settling her into a chair before sitting beside her.
Devannie stared at the spread of food. "I can eat this?" she asked cautiously.
"My Queen can eat whatever she wants. You never need permission for anything here," Evarion assured her.
A radiant smile broke across her face. "I'll be eating delicious food too," she whispered to herself.
"What would my Queen like first? Allow me to serve you," Evarion offered.
Devannie bit her lip, her eyes locking onto his. "I... want... you," she blurted out. Realizing what she'd said, she slapped her hands over her mouth. "Why can't I just control my tongue? Did I anger him already?"
A dark smirk spread across Evarion's face. He stood up and leaned over her, trapping her against the chair with his arms. He leaned in until their noses touched.
"My Queen already has me," he vowed in a low, seductive drawl. "Or... was there something else you had in mind?"