4. Punishment

Lost in my own memories, I don't notice when King Ikyn sits on the bottom steps. Blinking a few times, bringing myself back to the present, I find myself looking around for him, just as I looked for my dragon many years ago. I look behind me, walk towards the main entrance, scouring behind every pillar. When I turn around again, I spot King Ikyn waving at me across the hall. Annoyed, I straighten my back and slowly walk back to this tyrant of a king.

"Did you recall?" He asks me, yet again taunting me.

"Yes, Ikyn. Also known as, 'my dragon', also known as, 'my dark knight'."

His eyes are glimmering. I can't tell what this man is thinking. He stands and walks toward me, meeting me in my path. "You lied, then."

Completely unable to hide my confusion, I ask, "I beg your pardon?"

He takes my right hand in his left. "You lied to me."

"I absolutely did not! When could I have possibly lied to you in these ten minutes of us being alone?"

"You lied, when you told me you had the faintest idea of why I chose you to be my queen."

"In the moment," I protested, "I had the faintest idea. I had to dig deep into the locked vaults of my memories to remember that day."

He smiled devilishly. "Regardless, you lied. You know what happens to liars on my land?" His hand slips up to my wrist.

My fear came back. Is he going to kill me before we even get married? Before he even properly proposes? Before I can defend myself, King Ikyn pulls me with him. I rack my brain, trying to think of something - anything - to say. He pushes the main entrance door with his free hand. Damn, is he THAT strong? Yeah, I'm dead. I am definitely dead. Goodbye, Father. Goodbye, Mother. Goodbye Gwen, traitorous Lumi. Farewell sweet Odina and baby Orestina. Goodbye, Aadrik. I will be watching over you from the heavens. May the Gods please rest my soul, make this swift and painless.

As I mentally say my goodbyes, I'm led through a long hallway. There are many turns we take until we reach a large staircase. We begin the climb up. King Ikyn's grip is tight on my wrist, as to be sure I don't run away. However, it isn't so tight that he hurts me. He's going to push me off the top of his tallest tower. He's taking me to the roof to feed me to his kin. He's going to... To... I don't know, eat me? Do I even taste delicious? What does a human taste like to a dragon? Wait, why do I care now?

My eyes are shut and I'm saying my prayers. We enter a room and suddenly I'm swung around. He lets go of my wrist and I feel myself falling. Just before I can let out a scream, my back hits the softest bed I have ever felt. I open my eyes, but King Ikyn's face is inches from my own. He takes hold of my wrists and pins them above my head. He quickly lowers himself on to me, and starts to kiss me. My body responds before I can process what's happening. My eyes close, again. My mouth moves on its own, kissing him back. His kisses are rough, but I don't mind. I've never kissed a man before, but he tastes sweet. He tastes like the richest of wines.

I let a moan escape, enjoying these new sensations. For the first time in ten years, I've forgotten I'm with the Taker of Life. Just as quickly as his kisses began, he's off of me. I flutter my eyes open, not seeing him above me. Propping my elbows against the bed to lean up, I find him getting comfortable at the desk. "Wha-..." I pause, clearing my throat, gathering my thoughts. "What was that?"

"Hm?" King Ikyn doesn't even look my way. He's engrossed in lighting a candle... With his finger? I watch in awe, now intrigued. He opens the drawers, pulling out some papers, ink, and a feather. "What was what?"

"Your... Assault. It was... Odd."

Now, he looks at me. His dark eyes scan me, scrutinizingly slow. His gaze makes me shiver. "Closest thing to a punishment without laying a finger on you." He turns back to his papers and leaves me to my thoughts. Two of his servants come in, bringing us trays of food. One of them draws the bath while the other hands us our individual trays.

I eat, I take a bath, then I lay in the middle of the bed, ready to fall asleep. However, I lie wide awake. My thoughts swarm over King Ikyn's kiss. "He mentioned a punishment. How is that a punishment? A punishment is torture. It's agonizing. It's hurtful. How can a kiss be-... Then it clicks. The kiss is a punishment, because now I can't stop thinking about it. His lips are consuming my thoughts. The heat of his body I could feel separated by only our clothes. I shiver again. My stomach swirls, my heart is pounding. I can feel embarrassment rising to my cheeks.

Realization hits me. I am going to marry this man. There will be a lifetime of kisses. A lifetime of touches. A lifetime of intimacy. I have never been intimate with anyone. I have had a few secret stolen kisses, but nothing lasting. Nothing meaningful. Continuing to think of King Ikyn's skin against me makes me restless. My thoughts are interrupted when I feel the bed dip next to me. Turning myself to look at the dragon king, I find him shirtless. Black silk pants hang low on his hips. His hair, still damp from his bath, falls loosely. I take in the wall of muscle blessing my eyes.

"My Queen," he says, licking his lips, forcing a hitch in my breath. "You appear to be restless? Having trouble falling asleep?" His face is blank but his eyes shine mischievously.

Pulling my arms next to my body and folding my fingers together, I can only nod. Between my impure thoughts and my soon-to-be husband almost completely naked in front of me, I am flushed speechless. I want to reach out and touch him. I want to feel his body against mine again. I want more of him.

He only nods back. Sliding in the bed next to me, he turns his back towards me. I have never paid much attention to men before. Then again, I've never seen a man's naked back before. Even King Ikyn's back is toned with muscle. Two scars, almost perfectly parallel to each other, stain his smooth skin. Without a second thought - and to satisfy my need to touch him - I run my finger down one of his scars. I feel him tense beneath my touch.

King Ikyn shifts, turning to face me. "What trouble are you causing now, Eira?"

"Your scars, My-... Ikyn... What are they from?"

"My wings," he answers quickly.

"Do they hurt? The scars, I mean."

A smirk is stuck on his face. "Why do you care?"

My cheeks burn red. "I do not, My Lord," I say, turning my back on him. His hand snakes over my waist and he pulls me back against him. I stifle a squeal. My body fits snug against him. "And now I'm back to thinking of the kiss. Yes, exactly what I need now. I can feel his chin at the top of my head. His breath tickling my hair. He says nothing else. Soon, his breathing falls steady. His grip loosens, but I choose to stay as close to him as I can. This will definitely be a sleepless night.