Chapter 5 Thick Tension

The next morning, Azalia woke up alone in her immense quarters.

Even if the large bed she was on had to be the most comfortable bed she had ever tried, the Lavan princess hadn't particularly slept well. How could she possibly, with everything going on?

All night long, she had kept remembering what had happened yesterday in the King's quarters. She couldn't get Melech's ruby eyes out of her mind. Nor the way they had looked right into her soul, nor how it had made her breathing stop and her heart race inside her chest.

It also didn't help that the rare times she managed to fall asleep, the same red eyes were filling her dreams. Her vision was still the same as before, with her and Melech lying on a bed together, black silky sheets covering their naked bodies.

However, what made it different than usual was that Azalia now knew the man of her visions. She had seen Melech with her very own eyes yesterday and that certainly changed everything. It was as if she had finally realised that her visions weren't just a dream but a glimpse of her future instead.

It made things feel even more real than they had ever felt before. Azalia kept waking up breathless from her dreams, her body still feeling warm from the love she could feel coming from Melech in her vision. In the end, she had barely managed to get a few hours of sleep when the sun had finally begun to rise...

She was tired, and already knew this day would be just as complicated as the last, but it was just the way things were. Azalia couldn't afford to break down because she hadn't slept well. She had to stay strong, for her sake and for the sake of all the people she cared about.

She eventually left her bed, her long wavy hair held up in a messy bun and her naked body only covered by an elegant night gown made of white silk. She was about to head toward her private bathroom, which was adjoined to her bedroom, when she heard a knock on her door.

Instantly, her heart began to beat faster inside her chest. She didn't know who it was but the Lavan princess couldn't help but wonder if the Adom King would be as bold as to come to see her in her quarters this early in the morning. Still, Azalia didn't think Melech would even bother to knock before entering her room. The King seemed to think himself above everything else, rules and politeness included.

Another knock could be heard before the door opened, revealing two young women instead of the Adom King.

"Temira." Azalia sighed in relief at the sight of her friend. She was happy to see someone she could trust, even though her Lavan attendant seemed to be accompanied by another female servant Azalia didn't know.

"Pardon the early intrusion, princess, but the Adom King has asked for you to be ready in one hour." Temira said and Azalia easily brushed off her apology. "That's okay." She wasn't responsible for Melech's orders, and getting prepared early wan't a problem since Azalia had already been awake.

"And who are you?" The Lavan princess finally turned to the female servant she had never seen before. She carefully observed the new comer, taking in sight her green eyes, rather short brown hair and slightly pointy ears. It was clear she came from the Yarok Kingdom.

"I'm Shai." The servant politely bowed her head to greet Azalia. "I've been assigned as your second attendant." She explained and Azalia slightly frowned at the information. Of course Melech wouldn't leave her unsupervised. The King had probably assigned Shai as her second attendant to spy on her...

But it wasn't like Azalia could refuse, and so it looked like she just had to get used to it. "I see. Nice to meet you."

"The pleasure is all mine, princess." Shai sweetly smiled at her in response. She looked quite nice, which was to be expected since Yarok people were known for their gentle nature just like Lavan people. They were close to Mother Nature and to all of her creations, especially living creatures such as animals which who they could usually communicate with.

"I will run a bath for you." Shai stated before disappearing into the adjoined bathroom.

Since she was born, Azalia had always had servants helping her to bath and to dress. She was royalty, after all, and definitely wasn't going to change her morning routine just because she wasn't in the Lavan Kingdom anymore. It was a good thing that Temira had followed her to the Adom castle, because the Lavan attendant at least knew what kind of special treatment she was used to.

Azalia only took bathes filled with milk to make sure her skin stayed as white as snow. All the lotions she used were utterly expensive and only made of the most luxurious products, her skincare routine so flawless her skin was always incredibly soft at the touch. Her white hair was meticulously brushed and combed everyday, until her long waves looked absolutely perfect falling around her angelic face.

She was high maintenance, that was for sure, but she was a princess and wasn't ashamed to admit it.

All of her clothes were made of the finest and rarest fabrics that could be found in the whole land. The dress she chose to wear today perfectly fitted around her body as if it was made for her, showing off her curves and emphasising her beauty. The jewellery going with the clothes were made of gold and sapphire stones, reminding and bringing out the stunning blue of her eyes.

Anyone that set eyes on her would be rendered speechless at her beauty.

"You look breathtaking..." Shai said in awe, the Yarok attendant understanding why the Adom King wanted Azalia to be his wife. She was gorgeous, and definitely had the stature and charisma of a queen.

"Thank you." Azalia smiled at Shai's compliment.

"How's your wrist?" Temira asked her and Azalia looked at the place where Melech had gripped her yesterday. "It looks great. Thank you for having healed it." There was no mark left, not even where her skin had been slightly burnt, and it was all thanks to Temira's amazing talent at the healing arts.

"I'm glad I was able to help." Temira answered with a soft blush covering her cheeks. She had always been a little timid and never knew how to react to praises, something Azalia never failed to find endearing.

"What would I ever do without you?" She teased her friend in a soft chuckle. "I'm sure I would be lost in a day or two." And it was the truth, too. Temira and Emet always were the one to help her whenever she got herself into a difficult situation. Her being traded to the Adom Kingdom actually was the perfect example.

Temira was about to answer, surely to humbly deny everything like she perfectly knew how to, only for a loud voice to interrupt her:

"Is she still not ready?" Someone asked and Azalia instantly recognised the dominant tone of Melech, her her heart skipping a beat at the sound of it. Her blue eyes quickly landed on the Adom King walking into her quarters and her breathing instinctively hitched, memories of yesterday flooding her mind.

"M-my king, we just finished." Shai stammered in a small voice. She looked terrified of her King, the Yarok attendant avoiding his crimson eyes at all cost, her behaviour making Azalia wonder just what Melech had done for his own servants to fear him.

"Good. Leave us." Melech ordered and Shai wasted no time obeying. Temira looked at Azalia before doing anything else, the Lavan attendant following Shai out of Azalia's quarters once Azalia had given her friend her silent agreement.

It meant Azalia was now all alone with Melech.

She couldn't help but feel her heart dangerously race inside her chest at the situation. The Adom King looked even more intimidating than yesterday now that he had a black cloak on his shoulders and a sword fastened to his side. His chest was still bare under his cloak, his impressive muscles on display for everyone to see.

He was sinfully handsome, but the distrust Azalia now felt toward him prevented her from falling for his charms.

"Don't look so on guard." Were the first words Melech said as he approached her. "I won't try anything today."

It made Azalia scoff in disbelief, the Lavan princess feeling once again impressed by the nerves of the King. "And how do I know if I can trust you?" She asked him in a voice devoid of any tremor. Asking her not to be on guard was preposterous after the way Melech had treated her yesterday.

She slightly stiffened as Melech stopped right in front of her, the tall King towering over her shorter stature and reminding her just how defenceless she actually was against him. No matter what she said, Azalia was no match to Melech's raw strength. Power and dominance was oozing out of the King, his only presence enough to trigger Azalia's fight or flight instincts.

"You can't." Melech simply answered before reaching out a hand to Azalia's face, the sudden touch making her breathing hitch. She could feel the same wrath, chaos and anger coming from Melech's body, this time laced with interest, lust and desire. She still didn't move as Melech softly caressed her cheek, nor did she avert her gaze from the King's intimidating crimson eyes.

Melech contently hummed as he looked Azalia up and down. "You look stunning." He complimented in a low voice that made shivers run down Azalia's spine.

"You already said so yesterday, before trying to assault me." Azalia reminded him. She held her breath when Melech slowly trailed his hand down to her neck, her heart starting to beat faster inside her chest as the King softly brushed her jugular with his thumb.

Choking her to death would be so easy for him...

"I wouldn't have assaulted you." Melech unexpectedly told her. "I do know it isn't proper to do so before a marriage's ceremony."

For a marriage as important as theirs, it was traditional to wait for the end of the sacred ceremony before consummating the union. Still, it didn't mean everyone respected the rules or that they weren't any loopholes to find. Only penetrative sex was forbidden, meaning every other forms of sex could be done.

"I don't know how you Adom people call touching someone without their consent, but it's considered sexual assault in my kingdom." Azalia stated.

"Lavan people are too prude and delicate." Melech replied with a mocking snort. "Besides, I'm allowed to touch what belongs to me."

"I do not belong to you." Azalia immediately corrected him. Her blue eyes were defiantly holding Melech's gaze, an amused smirk taking over the King's features at her words. "Not now and not when we'll be married either. I'll be your wife, the queen to your people and, maybe, the mother of your children." Azalia told him in a firm voice. "But I'll never belong to anyone but myself. I'll always be my own person."

The air was electrical around them, tension slowly but surely enveloping them.

"You say that now, but it won't be long before you'll get on your knees for me." Melech murmured in a low menacing voice. Their faces were so close his warm breath brushed against Azalia's skin, the sensation added to his words causing her to softly shiver.

"Oh, how I'll enjoy it." The Adom King continued to talk with red eyes burning into Azalia's blue ones. "You, the proud princess of the Lavan Kingdom worshipping my cock." He removed his hand from around Azalia's neck only to thumb at her full lips, the Adom King letting out a low hum as he imagined how his cock would looked between them.

"Your pretty lips will stretch around my girth." He seductively husked out. "You'll beg for my seed, just like they all end up to do."

"That's what you think." Azalia managed to answer in an unwavering voice. It was hard to act like Melech's words weren't affecting her when her whole body had started to heat up from the graphic image the Adom King was putting inside her head.

"That's what I know." Melech answered with a smirk that didn't end up staying smug for long. "Do you really?" Azalia taunted him. "Because, between the two of us, I already know who will be the first one to go down on the other." She told Melech in a confident voice, a small naughty smile grazing her lips as she pronounced her next words: "And it won't be me."

She seemed so sure of herself it actually took Melech aback. "Did you see this in one of your visions?"

"Maybe." Azalia simply hummed in response. "I'm afraid you'll have to see for yourself." She was playing with Melech, and Melech seemed to know it because he finally let go of her face.

"You only know how to bluff, little princess." He saw right through her game. "You should be careful, because I'm not the one who will get burned in the end." The menace was clear as day in his words and, for the first time since the beginning of their conversation, Azalia found herself unable to say anything else. She was scared, even though she wasn't showing it, and knew Melech's threat definitely wasn't to be taken lightly.

That's why she stayed silent, her gaze never once leaving Melech's, until the Adom King looked satisfied with her lack of response.

"You're going to accompany me to see the High Council, today." He told her as he started to head toward the door. "If you're going to be the queen of my people, just like you said yourself, then you have some learning to do."