Chapter 64: The Warmth after Sevan Days

[Shadow Manor — The Next Day — Morning]

Pale sunlight slipped through the enormous obsidian windows of the Shadow Manor, spilling silver across the dark chamber.

The candles from the previous night had long since burned away; only the quiet warmth of morning remained. Kael stirred beneath the heavy black-and-crimson blankets; his body ached.

Every movement reminded him of the nights, and a faint groan escaped his lips as he slowly opened his eyes. For several heartbeats, he simply stared at the unfamiliar ceiling.

Then he realized he wasn’t alone; a strong arm was wrapped securely around his waist. Kael slowly turned his head. Lytharion was lying beside him, his long black hair scattered across the pillows, his golden eyes already open.

Watching him and waiting for him to wake.

"Beloved..."

The single word was soft, far too soft for the Lord of Darkness. Kael blinked sleepily as he realized he was completely wrapped in Lytharion’s arms, his head resting against the deity’s chest while a thick blanket covered them both.

Kael twitched just a tiny movement, and a soft groan escaped him.

"Mmm..."

He leaned forward, instinctively, guided by hunger, by habit, by the fading fire of rut...but stopped halfway.

His breath shook against kale’s forehead as he shut his eyes hard.

"I must calm myself...no matter how much my beloved tempts me... I cannot exhaust him further."

The beast inside him clawed at that restraint, but Lytharion forced it down...forced himself down...holding Kael tighter instead, as though that alone could silence the hunger still boiling in his blood.

Kael twitched again, this time in a small, pained sound. His brows tightened, and he instinctively burrowed deeper into Lytharion’s chest, seeking the warmth he always gave, even when he didn’t realize he was seeking it.

His swollen lashes trembled...fluttered... And slowly, heavy with exhaustion, his eyes opened.

Cloudy, drowsy, and extremely beautiful. He blinked a few times, the world blurry, trying to remember where he was.

He tried to move, only slightly, and winced at the ache still lingering deep in his bones. He felt arms tighten around him immediately. Lytharion lowered his head, brushing a feather-soft kiss to Kael’s damp forehead.

"You’re awake, beloved?" His voice was low... soft... yet trembling with restraint.

Kael looked up at him.

At the man he had spent weeks, wrapped in heat and hunger and instinct that felt older than the empire itself.

He remembered the fire of rut, the shaking, and the huge cock of his husband. The way time bent and broke between their bodies until only heat and breath remained.

He exhaled slowly, eyes half-closed.

"You’re a monster..." he whispered weakly, still drowsy in his sleep, voice hoarse from nights of crying and calling his name, "...I am bonded...with a monster..."

Lytharion stilled, blinked, and smiled faintly. ’Too adorable...’

Then he bowed his head until his forehead touched his.

"I apologize, beloved..." he whispered, breath trembling against Kael’s lips, "...you have to endure a monster inside you."

His hold tightened, protective and reverent, as Kael opened his eyes fully and recalled the nights with Lytharion.

He winced in pain as he exhaled softly, half-accepting his fate—until—

"Beloved..." Lytharion’s voice poured over him like warm molten gold as he held a cup of warm water and frowned deeply, asking, "Does it still hurt, beloved?"

Kale blinked at him and froze, because Lytharion looked...radiant, glowing, and bright, like he had swallowed a sunbeam.

His skin gleamed, his usually sharp eyes softened into molten warmth, and his long hair shimmered with a ridiculous, unfair post-rut shine.

Kael tried to sit up but...

"AHHH—!!" His whole body jerked, and he winced so hard tears pricked his eyes.

In an instant, Lytharion reached to hold him, but Kael pressed a shaking hand to the emperor’s chest, his whole body covered with red bruises.

"What... what are you doing? Is it not enough for weeks?"

Lytharion blinked innocently, but now a shadow king trying to act innocent was... a sin, as he said gently, "I was merely trying to hold you; your body must ache from... the nights."

Kael’s face reddened instantly. "Please...do not hold me for a while. You held me enough..."

Lytharion blinked as if he was hurt, saying, "Are you punishing me now, beloved?"

Kael looked at his hurt expression, saying, "No...I was—you can hold me."

Lytharion smiled; he didn’t wait; he scooped Kael into his arms. Kael slumped helplessly against his bare chest, breath shaky, and he was still naked.

Then—

"Beloved..."

Lytharion’s voice shifted, soft, thick, and heavy with guilt. Kael looked up, and what he saw made his breath soften. The lord of Darkness, a shadow king, an immortal god...looked guilty.

Truly guilty or pretending to be. His brows furrowed, his golden eyes lowered, and his lips parted in quiet remorse.

"I truly apologize," Lytharion whispered. "I always feared the monster within me...but I never thought I was this dangerous, but...then again...you’re so tempting that I could not stop myself. Even now—"

Kael pulled the blanket a little higher around himself, hiding beneath it as though it could somehow conceal the warmth spreading across his face.

"Lytharion..."

"I apologize, beloved, but...I will not make you this tired enough next time."

Kael hesitated before murmuring, "I think...you should learn to control yourself a little."

For a heartbeat, Lytharion remained silent, then the corner of his mouth lifted.

"I apologize, beloved." His voice carried a rare softness. "Next time...I shall remember that my mate is not made of shadows and therefore requires considerably more time to recover from his overly enthusiastic husband."

Kael stared at him. "That is not an apology."

"It is the best one you shall receive from the Lord of Darkness."

"Lytharion."

The deity chuckled, then his expression softened. He reached for Kael’s hand beneath the blanket and gently turned it over, pressing a tender kiss against his knuckles.

"Will you forgive me, beloved?"

Kael looked at him for a long moment; the teasing had disappeared from Lytharion’s golden eyes. There was something almost vulnerable there, something Kael was beginning to recognize.

Love.

Quiet. Possessive. Ancient.

But undeniably real.

Kael’s fingers slowly curled around his as he whispered. "I am your mate; you have every right to love me, Lytharion."

Lytharion’s gaze softened further.

"But..." Kael added, his cheeks turning pink again, "please...calm yourself a little. I want to live a long life with you."

A low laugh escaped Lytharion’s chest. "I shall try."

"Please mean it."

"I mean it."

Kael narrowed his eyes suspiciously. Lytharion smiled, then he leaned down and kissed his forehead, a slow, lingering kiss.

Nothing demanding and nothing possessive, just warmth.

"I promise, beloved."

Kael’s expression finally softened as he shifted closer until his forehead rested against Lytharion’s chest. For several moments, neither spoke.

The ancient manor remained silent around them.

Beyond the windows, the Nhar’Zhul Veyth Forest stretched beneath the morning mist. Wolves howled somewhere in the distance, and pale sunlight slipped between the enormous trees.

Lytharion’s hand moved gently through Kael’s hair. Kael closed his eyes as he mumbled sleepily.

"We have to leave...the empire must be worried."

Lytharion’s fingers paused, then they continued, even gentler. "As my beloved says."

Kael smiled against his chest, for an ancient god who had once ruled an entire realm alone, Lytharion had discovered something far more precious than power.

A place to return to, a hand to hold and a husband who no longer feared reaching for him. Lytharion lowered his head and whispered against Kael’s hair—

"But rest for a while, my beloved. After that we shall leave."

Kael tightened his arms around him. "Hold me like this."

Lytharion’s golden eyes softened. "I will."

And beneath the quiet morning light, the Lord of Darkness held his emperor closer...as though the entire immortal world could wait, for this moment belonged only to them.

But far beyond the Nhar’Zhul Veyth Forest, the mortal world had begun to tremble.

Chaos had consumed the capital. For seven days, the throne of Qashmar had remained empty. The imperial council had gathered repeatedly.

The knights had searched the surrounding territories. Messengers had been sent toward every northern settlement. Riders had crossed the mountains. Yet there was no sign of their emperor.

The same question echoed throughout the empire.

Where was His Majesty?

Rumors spread through the streets. Some believed Kael had been kidnapped. Others whispered that the remaining Grimfang beasts had taken revenge. Some even feared that another kingdom had dared to strike against Qashmar.

The imperial banners still flew above the palace, but beneath them...the people were afraid.

Their emperor had disappeared, and no one knew where he had gone.

No one...except one man.

***

[Nhar’Zhul Veyth Forest — Outside the Shadow Realm — Evening]

Grand Duke Lior stood silently before the ancient boundary of the forest.

The trees rose before him like enormous pillars, their branches twisting together beneath the darkening sky.

His cloak moved gently in the cold wind as he stared into the darkness beyond the trees. He had received countless reports. He had heard the panic within the palace.

He had watched nobles begin whispering. He had watched soldiers prepare search parties, but Lior had never ordered them to search this forest because somewhere beyond those ancient trees...his son was safe with him.

"I wonder how many days he is going to keep him there?"

Then Lior looked once more toward the ancient forest. For the briefest moment, a distant wolf howl echoed from somewhere deep within Nhar’Zhul Veyth.

He simply stood there beneath the darkening sky...waiting for his son, and somewhere beyond the boundary that no mortal could cross, the Shadow King held his beloved closer—

completely unaware that the father of his mate is waiting for the emperor of Qashmar.