Chapter 71: Chapter 71

“Come feed!” Rima looked at Henry with shock and disbelief, perplexed as to why was he asking her to feed on the man who was fidgeting and trashing in his hold, trying to free himself from the human’s clutches, his amputated arms dissipated into ashes while new ones were in the process of forming, the battle was nowhere near done yet Henry was asking her to feed? Rima couldn’t see the purpose behind Henry’s demand, nevertheless, she couldn’t deny the fact that she was very tempted to go and sink her teeth in the man’s neck, suck every drop of the thick blood dripping out of his neck, so warm and inviting, tickling her senses with it rich smell, it was different from human blood, she thought, this one held more power in it, more life, just what her drained body needed.

However, she stopped herself from going there no matter how dry her throat felt, her hesitation not only caused by the fact that they were still in battle but because she didn’t want Henry to see her in her most raw, animalistic, ad undignified state while she feeds after so many days of starvation.

“Just Come!” hearing his words, Rima gulped, her hesitation intensifying with the way his eyes looked at her, caringly and lovingly, she didn’t know whether he would still see her the same if he saw her devouring a man in front of him, it may disgust him, it may scare him, her throat was tightening painfully, her insides steering with pain and hunger while her meal was just a step away from her, but her heart was afraid.

“Don’t think, just trust me and come!” looking into the blue orbs, Rima knew that Henry was aware of her inner turmoil, but even so, he still looked at her with the same warm gaze, doing as he asked and trusting him, Rima’s legs ate the distance until she was standing in front of him, and with his acknowledged nod, she dropped on one knee until she was on the same level as Mao.

Being that close, the blood’s scent was intoxication, clouding her mind with how delicious it smelled, licking her lips, she stopped resisting the urge and buried her face in the man’s neck, her mouth enclosing on his ripped vein, once the first drops of blood made contact with her tongue buds, a wild sensation exploded inside of her, an animalistic need and uncontrollable urge, her conscious self was pushed to the back of her mind and only her instincts were left to rule over her being, compelling her to do as they pleased, and suck the blood out of the unfortunate creature as if he was her last meal, moaning at how delicious and satisfying the blood was, how good it felt on her tongue and how good she felt while drinking it, no longer drained and tired, but strong and alive.

Looking down at the woman on her knees, burying her head in another man’s neck, drinking his blood and enjoying it, not holding back her moans, Henry felt a weird dark feeling erupting inside of him, something as raw and uncontrollable as the woman he was looking at, in that state, with her brown locks spread messily around her head, her complexions regaining their natural color with a pink flush on her cheeks, her eyes closed, and her voice satisfied, almost erotic, her hands holding the man’s head and pulling it closer to her, she was the complete the dignified lady she knew, but rather a mass of desire and craving, submitted to her basic instincts, taking what she wanted savagely, it was a side of her that he saw for the very first time, a side that riled up the beast inside of him, the bare male stripped out of the layers of manners and taming to his core, his naked nature.

Swallowing his saliva, Henry fought to contain the urge to push the man aside and have her on her knees for him, moaning in satisfaction and pleasure while tasting him, his lips on his skin, and not on some bastard’s neck.

That thought alone filled him with indescribable rage, one which he couldn’t control, if anything he wanted to rip her lips off the man’s neck and throw the bastard away and have her all for himself, however, he knew it was the only way to make her regain her powers while killing the undying men, the woman he had no more doubts that he wanted her as his, needed another man, and it was then when Henry knew about the little green monster inside of him called jealousy.

“Feed on them!” Henry gave the order without taking his eyes of the woman who was still engrossed in having her meal, she must have been so thirsty, he told himself, but did she have to moan for everyone to hear it? Did she have to announce how much she was enjoying the taste of another man? Pushing the dark thoughts aside, Henry focused back on the bastard’s body, noticing how pale and thin it turned, as he expected, it was the way to kill the ascendents, instead of injuring them, they should just drain them out of their lives, the demons were more than happy with the new information as they were all craving a hot meal of their enemies' blood.

Hearing the blissful sigh, Henry turned his eyes from the raging battle and looked at Rima who was licking her lips of the traces of blood, they were no longer dry crannied but full and smooth, like ripe strawberries, her tongue peeking out to collect the after taste of blood and savor it, the small gesture making his heard pound loudly against his ribs, wanting to grab her tongue with his teeth, bite it in punishment before sucking off all traces of the other man’s taste on it and replace it with his, however, his dark thoughts stopped when she looked up at him, rising slowly, her eyes much clearer than before yet still clouded with an undenounced anxiety.

She was afraid, Henry thought, of what he didn’t fully understand but she looked vulnerable, needy, something that pulled him in even more, she was fidgeting, gulping, searching his eyes for answers to questions she didn’t ask, and it all drove him beyond the edge of sanity.

Pushing the man’s body to the side, Henry stepped into her personal space, the metal of his armor making contact with the metal of hers, separating their chests, but not their hearts which craved the other, and Henry wanted nothing but to claim her lips in that second and just devour them, burn her soul with the heat he was feeling, the one she initiated with her moans, calling out the beast in him, however, he stopped himself.

She wasn’t a random girl he could kiss in an empty corridor, she was the ice queen, the lady of the frozen edge, kissing her would have consequences, ones which he understood perfectly and was more than willing to bear, but what about her? he wasn’t the man to force himself on a woman, and he couldn’t stop himself from wondering whether she wanted him back or not, whether the fear and anxiety he saw in her eyes were due to what he thought it was or not

Seeing the hesitation in his eyes which were darkened with an obvious desire and need, similar to the ones she was feeling, the ones he failed to read, or maybe overanalyzed, typical him, she thought, a small smile gracing her lips, this man!

Placing her palms on his shoulders, Rima stood on her toes to match his height, her eyes shifting between his blue orbs and his pale lips, slowly inching forward until they deliciously made contact.

Smoothly, lightly, like a feather caressing his lips, sending leaving behind a trail of warmth and sparks, Henry thought as he kissed her back, following her pace, it felt like a kiss of encouragement, reassurance, relief, comfort, one which they both needed after the ferocious battle they just had, one that warmed and calmed their trembling heart and helped them find some peace, one which they both needed to see things clearly.

And clearly, he saw, he still wanted this woman, Henry though while one of his arms circled her waist and his hand found it way to her hair, even when the dark rage and the infuriating image of her lips on the man’s neck, he still wanted her just as hard, he needed her, just like he needed air in his lungs.

Tightening his hold on her, Henry felt her hand going to his hair, telling him that she wanted it, wanted him, the same way he wanted her, and it was all he needed to lose himself in lust, kissing her with all his might, sucking on her lips and biting them, entering her mouth and colliding with her tongue, fighting with it for dominance, just like a queen, she refused to give up easily, and instead went head on head with him, but dominating her wasn’t his first priority as much as claiming her was, she was his, and everyone, including them both needed to know.

Finally breaking the kiss when they were both out of the air, Henry and Rima rested their foreheads on each other’s, both panting and both smiling, being the taller one, Henry was able to keep an eye on her, her cheeks were almost red and her lips were swollen, and with the dull pain he was feeling he knew his were no better, she was mirroring his actions, claiming him as hers and leaving proof that he was hers, the thought brought immense joy to his heart, she was such an extraordinary woman, one who would kiss him with the fire of the flames deep and then shy away and look at their joined chests like she was doing in that exact second, this woman who took his hand on a rainy night, and walked with him in a path they were both discovering for the first time, step by step, only to find each other at the end.

“Look at me!” seeing the flatter of her long lashes, Henry waited patiently as she slowly raised her beautiful rubies to look at him, tens of emotions crossing her face all at once, most of which he didn’t understand, but it wasn’t a problem as she looked happy, he had the time to discover that mind of her little by little.

Running his thumb on her swollen lips, with additional pleasure, as if wanting to feel the dull pain he was feeling, the one he found so delicious, he watches as she closed her eyes briefly to savor his touch, her actions warming his heart even when her body was slightly colder than his, she wasn’t warm like human women but he didn’t mind, this was her, the ice queen, the one whose heart was a burning coal yet smelled like winter mornings, the one who was so strong yet so vulnerable, the vulnerability he saw not minutes ago in her eyes, to him, she was the queen of everything, including that stubborn part of him.

“Does it hurt?” Henry asked teasingly, expecting her to shy away like before, but instead she arched her brow at him challengingly, her lips curling upwards as she asked “Does yours hurt?”

Unable to hold back the chuckle, Henry allowed himself to laugh, breath out for the first time in so long while pulling her to his chest, hugging her softly as if she was going to shatter if he applied too much pressure, even when he had just kissed her like beast not a minute ago, for he understood that it wasn’t just her body he was hugging.

A throat clearing made Henry and Rima look away from each other, not feeling surprised at all as they saw the shadow demoness who interrupted them before standing on top of the second man’s body, the corner of her lips bloodied, her eyes cunning as they traveled from the human king to the ice queen, like a child who discovered a secret and planned to spread it.

“We have captured the archers!” the demoness announced proudly, not missing the way the human king pulled the ice queen closer to him, as if declaring she was his.

“What do you mean? Who gave you orders to?”

“I did!” the demoness announced proudly, her chin held up defiantly.

“Who do you think yourself to give such orders without coming to us first!” annoyed, Rima stepped out of Henry’s arms, her eyes glaring daggers and her body emitting a scary aura, one that made the shadow demoness take a step back by instinct, it was easy to know who was the strongest between the two, and even when Rima understood the girl’s grief over her lord, whose whereabouts were still unknown, she couldn’t tolerate disobedience nor disrespect, and the girl was showing them both.

“Pardon me!” Andrea lowered her chin a little, angry at how her body submitted to the ice queen, but even if her body did, her words didn’t “Both of you were a little ‘caught up’, and as the second in command after my lord and the one with the highest rank after you too, I ordered the shadow demons to invade the forest and catch the archers, ten of them, I also informed the rest of the army, they are waiting for your order to land back on the shore.”

"Did you kill them?” Henry asked, sensing the animosity the shadow demoness was emitting but not taking it seriously, the girl was obviously still upset about her master, but he didn’t see her as a threat.

“No, they died on their own!”  died on their own, Henry frowned, wondering if they killed themselves to void the interrogation or if it was the Gods’ doing, whatever it was, it ruined his plans in learning more about the island and the Gods.

"Very well" nodding at the demoness, Henry turned back to Rima, pulling her back to him and kissing the tip of her nose, something the ice queen found childish but still loved, especially while the demoness was watching.

“I need to go to the location; I want to confirm something.” Henry said while pushing a strand of her brown hair behind her ear, knowing that he didn’t need to say anything else.

“Alright, then I will wait for the troops and then join you!” smiling back at him, Rima pecked his lips before stepping away, knowing that it was the time to focus back on their quest.

"I will lead the way your highness" Rima narrowed her eyes at the way the demoness kindly offered her help, something told her she was up to something, while o the other hand, Henry nodded approvingly before looking back into the eyes of his favorite queen.

"Stay safe"

"You too"

And with that, Henry took off with the demoness, while Rima waited for the troops, an unsettling feeling taking over her heart, telling her that something was going to happen, and the ultimate happiness she was feeling was about to turn into ashes.