The parade felt a bit tedious and took quite a long time. The whole trip around the heart of Arboris, from the palace gates to the border gate, took over an hour. Soren and Lucian were sitting quietly in a carriage with no roof, decorated in bright colours. Both were dressed to the nines. This time, Lucian had swapped his big crown for a smaller, more subtle one.
It wasn't a very pleasant experience.
Soren remembered the times he'd been in the middle of victory parades, when his troops had successfully defended their territory or when his unit had been honoured by King Caelum as the strongest force in Arboris. In those parades, he rode his beloved horse, Alberon, with dignity. Dressed in his armour and hearing his name being sung by the crowd made him feel proud and emotional all at once.
But now, he sat so neatly in a horse-drawn carriage, wearing a silk tunic of dazzling colours and exquisite embroidery. He was sitting next to a pale, red-haired guy who looked really fragile. People didn't call his real name anymore. Now, they're calling him the consort of His Majesty King Lucian. He was now being called His Majesty the Queen.
Watching the people cheering from the throne of the carriage that carried him, made Soren feel a strange sensation that slowly crept into his chest, and it hurt him deeply. He was starting to realise that he'd become a queen, tied to Veridian by the sacred marriage pact. As Father Silas repeated the vows in front of the Mother Tree, Soren's wish to come back to Dreadmoor after giving birth to the heir was instantly pushed to the back of his mind.
There was nowhere he could go back to, as he'd vowed to the king.
And now, he was in the king's bedroom.
The King's bedroom was a very private space, hardly ever used by the Queen, let alone his other concubines. The room was a silent witness to the ruler's solitude when he wasn't visiting his consort. In Veridian, a sacred tradition known as "planting" only happened when His Majesty the King went into the Queen's chambers or his concubines' chambers, and not the other way around.
But this time, Soren was asked to come and wait in the King's chamber. The room was made of cedar and filled with silence. The rest of the palace was decorated with colourful floral tapestries, but this room was much simpler. There were stone walls, solid oak furniture and hundreds of white candles flickering in the gentle night breeze that Soren couldn't feel.
In the middle of the room, there was a silver bowl full of a dark purple oil that was sparkling. Soren had heard from Mrs. Aethel that the alchemists had prepared the oil for several days prior for a "planting" ritual.
The High Alchemist Malakor had been through this many years before, and he'd spent ages getting everything ready. The Alchemist also knew that for a man of Soren's size to receive the King's, purple oil would require a generous amount. The purple oil wasn't some kind of magic potion, but it was supposed to make intercourse easier.
Compared to the sexual dynamic between a woman and a man, the one between two men is a lot more complicated. Even though Soren's insides have changed because of the uterus, the anus, which is used for penetration, hasn't become like a vagina with its own lubricating fluid. Just before entering the room, Soren had a quick clean of his backside, with a little help from the maids.
This wasn't the first time Soren had slept with a man. But it was his first time being on the receiving end.
Soren was sitting on the bed, arms crossed. He was wearing a thin nightdress and no underwear. He stared at the door to his room, the large window half-closed, letting in the night breeze, which played with the white curtains. He felt a bit nervous, he wanted this ritual to go as quickly as possible. Soren had been there for 30 minutes, but Lucian still hadn't shown up. He let out a sigh.
"I don't know if this is going to work or not." He muttered.
His mind was now completely swamped with endless anxiety, an inner struggle where rational thought and feelings were completely out of sync. His rational thought was fighting an inner battle with his feelings of pride. He had been used to being in charge as a commander, giving orders rather than receiving them, and always in control rather than having to follow orders. He knew that the honour he held so dear wouldn't save Mordessa, his beloved sister. But deep down, he was still fighting against the fact that he had become a submissive and powerless person.
"His Majesty the King has arrived!" Soren jumped in his seat when he heard the exclamation, and the nervousness he'd felt at first now spread to every part of his body. He felt a bit sick.
The sturdy door swung open, allowing the red-haired ruler to step inside, wearing a jet-blue nightgown. The sweet jasmine scent hit him right away, filling the room with its familiar scent, which had previously been dominated by the cedar and candle scents.
Soren's eyes widened when he saw Lucian. The King walked purposefully, his robes fluttering in the night breeze, and then he closed the door behind him firmly. When he looked up, their eyes met and they both just said nothing for a moment.
How beautiful. Soren's thoughts echoed again in the silence.
He couldn't deny that the man in front of him had a stunning look, with his curly red eyelashes, beautiful wavy hair, and pale skin that made his red lips really stand out. Like freshly ripe cherries.
Lucian stopped for a second, completely speechless as the silence in the bedroom grew ever denser. They didn't say a thing, just this awkward silence. The fierce look that had been on his face had gone, replaced by a fragile expression like a lost kitten. He started to walk slowly, dragging his legs towards the bed where Soren sat still, waiting for him.
"You look… so beautiful…" He whispered with a pair of perky lips that trembled violently.
Soren frowned, feeling a weird sensation stabbing at his chest. He'd never had anyone say he was beautiful before. Moreover, with the many scars on his face.
This person is crazy with small talk, He muttered.
"Are you planning to stay there all night?" Soren asked, kinda sarcastically, while pointing at Lucian, who was standing still a bit too far away from the side of his bed.
"Ah-Uh.." Lucian stood there, rooted to the spot. Soren looked unimpressed as he watched Lucian, who looked like he would be blown to pieces if the wind changed direction.
"Your Majesty, I've been living out of unit tents for half my life," Soren's voice sounded hoarse, low. "I've done loads of things like this before, but this is the first time I'll be the one receiving it. So, don't stand there like a wimp. You bought this moment with a bottle of sap. Let's just get it over with." Soren ended his sentence, pulling the thread from the robe he was wearing, letting it fall to the bed, revealing his naked, toned body.
Lucian's eyes widened at the sight before him, then he quickly looked away. The golden lines on Soren's body looked majestic and captivating in the dim candlelight, making the King swallow hard.
Soren took his time as he studied every inch of Lucian's face. The way Lucian reacted wasn't like he was rejecting him or looked disgusted, "I'm not trying to be rude, but, don't tell me you're still a virgin?"
Lucian clearly taken aback, as he heard the question.
Soren took a deep breath, "Oh, seriously. I get that you spent your childhood in the church, but isn't having a sexual relationship with someone of the opposite sex a sin?"
"If you haven't tied the knot, it's a sin," Lucian replied so quickly.
Soren gave him a hard stare, "So, you're actually still a virgin then?"
Lucian pressed his lips together tightly, then gave a quick nod, clearly feeling embarrassed.
"Ah fuck," Soren let the curse out of his mouth, then threw himself down on the bed and stared at the silver bowl, "the oil, Majesty. All of it." He said while pointing to the silver bowl.
Soren could see Lucian awkwardly making his way over to the bowl of purple oil that the alchemists had prepared. He carried the bowl and went over to Soren, still wearing his robes, even though Soren was completely naked.
"Dip your fingers." Soren said, gesturing towards Lucian, who was still a bit puzzled.
His fingers went into the bowl, and the purple oil stuck to his pale skin like liquid silk.
"What..what should I do again?" He asked, stuttering.
Instead of answering, Soren found himself lost in Lucian's beautiful, doubt-filled eyes. He lay on the bed with a very slow movement, spreading his legs wide allowing his pair of eyes to capture the silhouette of the King's face that was increasingly reddening like a lit ember. There was a slight lift of the corners of Soren's lips, creating a subtle expression that conveyed deeper sentiments.
Oh, this is fun. He muttered.
Soren took a few drops of oil, which oddly smelt of a mix of jasmine and something else. Without taking his eyes off Lucian, he guided the King's shaking hand to follow him, forcing the young king of Veridian to feel the warmth and realness of his body.
With the skill of a trained soldier who had enjoyed all kinds of physical pleasures with both men and women, he started getting ready, his fingers working quickly and efficiently. He showed Lucian how to use the purple oil on his anal canal without any awkwardness. The way he moved his fingers showed both honesty and practice, and the King's breathing became faster and louder.
Soren put a finger in his deepest chamber and let out a soft moan that shuddered Lucian's body, before he guided one of the King's fingers to go into the same hole. Soren let out a moan, and Lucian clenched his jaw and bit his lip, swaying as the feeling grew.
Soren had never thought that their first night would be so interesting. At first, he thought it would all be over in a flash, and there'd be no trace of pleasure left. But actually, the young king's innocence was a bit entertaining.
"Ah…" He moaned as Lucian's finger went inside him again, playing around in preparation for his own entry.
Soren bit his lip for a second, then let out a soft moan, his eyes fluttering shut as he savoured every drop of pleasure he'd never tasted before. In the dim light, he caught a glimpse of Lucian's robes becoming more obvious, a damp shade beginning to spread. He smiled a little when he saw that the young king was now completely consumed by desire.
Soren was feeling bolder and started to gently touch Lucian's private parts which were hidden under the hem of his trousers with the tips of his toes. A muffled groan escaped from Lucian, who immediately closed his eyes tightly and bit his lip, swaying in the overwhelming sensation.
"His Majesty the Queen.." He said, trembling.
"Gosh, you're really still pure..." Soren smiled widely as he felt the tips of his toes were now wet with Lucian's semen. Meanwhile, his own was now fully erect, with drops of lubrication beginning to appear at the tip of his penis, showing how much he was starting to get turned on.
Lucian didn't say anything, and his face was all red. Even though he'd already had an orgasm, his penis was still fully erect..
"Go on, stick it in…"
Lucian gasped, "I think it's going to hurt…" He murmured softly.
"Don't stop once you've started, Your Majesty…"
Lucian swallowed hard, then with a quick swipe of his fingers, he yanked his pants completely off. The King's penis looked really huge, bigger than Soren's own, and more like a deadly weapon of war than a human anatomy. Its colour was amazing, a sort of pink colour with a big vein pattern. Lucian slowly started to slide in, exploring Soren's ready anal canal.
"Ah, Uh.." A muffled groan escaped Soren's lips, as his feeling as the tip of Lucian's penis began to penetrate and touch his anal.
As Lucian finally started moving, guided by Soren's rough, experienced hands, the Bond lit up. The golden lines on Soren's abdomen glowed beautifully, but they were too busy to notice. Lucian let out a loud moan as his penis finally entered Soren's anal canal.
Soren's head was thrown back, his eyes were wide and his lips were gaping open as he felt Lucian's massive penis plunge deep into him. It wasn't just the physical penetration that did it, it was the psychological impact too. The King's energy felt so pure and ancient, and also really powerful. Soren was able to absorb every magical vibration generated by the sacred pact forged by the Mother Tree's majesty.
SPLURT. He reached the peak of ejaculation so smoothly that it was as if his breath was trapped and caught in his throat. He felt a symphony of pain and pleasure unlike anything he'd ever felt before, spreading through his body and into every nerve cell.
Lucian's movements were reckless and shaky, creating a new sensation for Soren. His penis carried on roughly ravaging Soren's body, giving him a pleasurable sensation he couldn't describe. The jasmine scent was strong, and now it was mixed with something else….A scent of desire.
"Ah Ah!" Soren screamed at the top of his lungs, which was a bit of a surprise, but he was loving it. He hadn't planned for this, but the pleasure made him keep letting out sounds he had never heard before.
Lucian took off his robe without stopping his hips from moving faster and faster. Now, their bodies were completely naked.
Under the dim dancing candlelight, Soren's eyes wandered over the King's gradually exposed anatomy. The figure that had seemed so fragile actually had the charm of a very beautiful body. In fact, his waist was slender and seductive, but far from thin and fragile. Instead, his body looked stunning with a toned stomach, and although it was faint, it still showed real strength. As Soren gripped Lucian's arm as his penis penetrated deeper, he had a new thought. Lucian's arm wasn't as small as he'd thought. Under that slim body, hidden muscles were toned and beautifully sculpted, a silent proof of the strength he had kept hidden.
Soren was sure that the King hadn't just been cooped up in the boring monastery all this time. Lucian had worked hard on his physique. The muscular lines under his pale skin weren't just a coincidence, but the result of years of intense training.
Lucian pressed his body against Soren's, putting his weight on Soren under him, and his thrusts were getting faster and faster, which made Soren accidentally sink his nails into Lucian's back as he gripped his shoulders.
"Ah, Your Majesty the Queen, I.. I…" Soren heard Lucian groaning like he was begging for it, and the King's body was shaking like a leaf above him before he finally let loose, flooding Soren's deepest chambers in a perfect symphony of release.
The air in the room seemed to disappear, replaced by the strong smell of jasmine and Northern snow. Soren could feel the King's deep, melodious apology whisper against his neck. It was like a rhythmic prayer that vibrated to the very core of his bones.
The fiery gold had faded, replaced by a cold, shimmering and hopeful silver. The week-long wait was on. He could feel the magic taking root in his tissues, claiming the space where his power once resided.
He was no longer a Commander. He was no longer a Vane Delve. He was a seed vessel for an empire that had taken everything from him except his sister's life.
Outside, the frost of Arboris seemed to have stopped, winter going away for a while as the Veridia Offspring started growing slowly and secretly inside the iron vessel of the North.