Chapter 137: A crown on her head.
After hearing what had happened, Kai summoned everyone to the throne hall. He despised that place, once, his father had sat on that throne. Yet, to rule... to make his people remember who he was before he departed, he had to make a certain move. One that would be brutal. They must know that it didn’t matter how far he would go, Shadow would watch everything.
In their chambers, he donned his royal attire. Ren stood nearby, her gaze fixed on the golden crown that had sat untouched for so long. It was simple, shaped like woven vine branches, with a single ruby at its heart, like a drop of blood frozen in time. And her husband as always stole her breath.
"Why don’t you wear it more often?" she asked, her voice soft. She could already picture how breathtaking he’d look with it resting on his head.
"To look like boastful humans who love to flaunt their authority over everything?" he replied dryly.
Ren chuckled. "That one," she said with a teasing smile. Rising to her feet, she cradled the crown in her hands and stepped toward him, eyes shining as she tilted her head back.
"Come, let me set it on your head."
"I should be kissing you and enjoying this evening," Kai growled, his voice thick with mischief and longing. His eyes gleamed, not with teasing, but with raw, unapologetic need.
Ren blushed, her heart fluttering. He never seemed to tire of kissing her, did he?
"Shush, husband. Here," she whispered, lifting the crown with reverence.
Kai knelt before her. Carefully, she settled the crown into his hair, her fingers lingering for a heartbeat. As she’d imagined, he looked every bit the King he was born to be. Her heart skipped, then quickened into a wild race, and Kai heard it.
He rose and bent down, capturing her lips in a kiss. A low growl rumbled from his chest into her mouth. "I had another plan for this evening..." he murmured against her lips.