VI

Ilena didn’t know when sleep took her after the long pleasurable night she spent with the King of the North.

She blinked her eyes to get used to the brightness from the sun rays that illuminated the room. Her eyes widened instantly as she noticed the embarrassing position she was in.

She laid nude and exposed on the bed but Dreg was nowhere to be found, the thought of him waking up and seeing her in that state made her face burn red.

On cue, the door to the room opened revealing a shirtless Dreg who had a tray of food in his hands. Ilena quickly scurried to cover herself with the sheets with her head bowed but this time in shyness.

Dreg walked over and placed the tray of food on the table. “Good morning.” He noticed as she shrunk herself further into the corner and struggled to cover herself.

“Good morning.....my lord.” She muttered out just above a whisper.

Dreg scoffed at her choice of words. “Back to ‘my lord’ are we, that’s not what you called me last night....”

Ilena’s face felt hot as the memories of her pleasurable night flooded into her head. She remembered when he had warned her to call him by his name but here she was agian, disobeying him.

“Forgive me...my- D-dreg.” She bit her lip in embarrassment.

Dreg chuckled at how beautiful she looked being flushed. “Come eat, we would be leaving once you’re done.”

He made his way to exit the room but stopped once he heard his name from her sweet lips.

“Uh...Dreg...the food may be too much f-for me to finish.” Ilena states as she eyed the tray filled with food on the table.

She had never been given such amounts of food even though she had lived in the castle all her life, the food in front of her was definitely a feast.

Dreg’s brows scrunch in confusion as he made sure to serve the same amount as Sulcarn women ate but it seemed like there’s a large contrast between Eastern and Northern appetites.

“I will join you to eat then.” He made his way back to seat beside the table.

The air was awkward for Ilena, Dreg’s body mass took more space beside her but it provided her with warmth. The creamy custard and the bread tasted divine, it was better than the scraps they fed her in the castle.

Dreg held back his appetite to watch her eat more, she needed more flesh on her skin. He wasn’t hungry for food instead he craved a hunt which would fill his beastly appetite.

Once they were both done eating, they got dressed and left the cabin to the carriage. Ilena flushed red once she noticed the stares that the men gave her as they seemed to sniff the air as she passed by.

They rode for a long time and about six hours later, they made it to the boarder of the North. Ilena peeked through the window of the carriage and was in awe at the beautiful scenery.

All the rumours that had been spread about the North being a place filled with barren lands and barbarians were not true. She had never seen such vast green fields before, not even back in Thanes.

Wow....how beautiful is this place...she thought in awe.

The boarder guards bowed their head in respect, welcoming them into the land. She avoided the curious eyes of the Sulcarn men who couldn’t seem to stop looking at their new queen, peeking from the carriage’s window.

They go further into the North and faint melodic tunes and singing were heard. She wondered if it was to welcome them back into the kingdom.

“I want to see....” She mumbled to herself in anticipation.

The carriage halts suddenly and the door to her carriage opened, revealing a grinning Dreg which caused her heart to pound faster with how handsome he looked.

Dreg was elated to hear her say she wanted to see, he stretched out his hand for her to take. “Don’t you want to see?”

Ilena smiled and took his large calloused hand to step outside into the warm sun. She took in a deep breath of fresh air, as the vast trees swayed by the gently breeze.

“Your home is beautiful....” She smiled in awe of the beautiful land.

Dreg’s heart pounded hard beneath his chest, he felt a sense of pride fill his chest from her compliment. “It is our home now.”

She squealed as he lifted her up onto his horse and joined to sit just behind her. Her heart pounded with nervousness by their close proximity.

They rode in further and Ilena started to get a glimpse of the Sulcarn citizens, some were little children and woman who sang melodic tunes while the little children danced and praised Dreg and the Sulcarn men for returning back safely.

More cheers were heard as they passed through the main city with colourful flower petals raining down on them as they passed through.

Dreg couldn’t take his eyes off of his beautiful wife who smiled and with the look of excitement in her eyes. He was pleased to see how accepting she was of his culture.

They reached a large field that seemed to be decorated beautifully for the arrival of the Northern King and his new bride. Ilena giggled as she watched the children dance from the singing of the Sulcarn citizens.

She tensed in shock as she felt the hot breath of Dreg on her neck and flushed red from the tingling feeling.

“Let’s come down and join the rest.” Dreg whispered.

She nodded and allowed him to assist her down from the horse. The other Sulcarn men had joined the feast at the field with a few of them dancing with women in a manner that almost made Ilena’s heart burst from culture shock.

Dreg chuckles at Ilena’s shocked expression, knowing how conservative the East was, this must be shocking for her to see.

The dancing Sulcarn women surrounded Ilena and dragged her towards the center of the field to dance while people cheered and joined them in dancing.

Ilena’s heart pounded with joy of how welcoming the people of Sulcar were, it finally felt like she belonged somewhere after so long.

Her stiff and awkward movement filled bubbles of laughter beneath the chest of the Sulcarn citizens. Children and women danced with Ilena who was lost in happiness unknown to the deep heated stare from the Northern King.

Dreg watched his new bride from afar, his heart filled with so much adoration at how beautiful she looked as the fire illuminated her features in the dark night sky.

“You are staring too much.” Levion states with a mischievous smirk on his lips.

Dreg shrugged, he wouldn’t hide his love for his new bride. “She is beautiful, why won’t I adore and admire her beauty?”

Levion hummed a reply. “When do you plan on revealing our true nature to her?”

Dreg clenched his jaw in slight annoyance. Truthfully, he was anxious that his true nature would scare her so much that she wouldn’t accept him but that was just a small part of him.

“The mateship ritual is tomorrow, she would find out then.”

Ilena was so lost in the festivity and joy that she doesn’t notice the deep heated stare that the King of the North had on her, oblivious to the effect she had on the ruthless warrior king.

‘Maybe having hope wouldn’t be such a bad thing’ she thought.

Unknowing to her about the dark secrets hidden in the true nature of the Northern kingdom of Sulcar.