Serene’s POV

(This Chapter is dedicated to @Kezhar thank you dear for always sending power stones and golden tickets. I am humbled by your support.)

Agatha entered with a food tray followed closely by Suri. His globes revealed his excitement seeing me and he jumped on the bed, his tail wagging behind him as he licked my face, showing his affection. I stroked its soft fur and it noticed Zeph sitting beside me, and began to hiss at him.

"Don’t you dare hiss at me, she is mine." Zeph glared at him and draped his hand around my shoulder, trying to make it jealous, Suri nudged at his hand as if forcing him to remove it. I rolled my eyes at them and shook my head.

"Agatha place the food on the table. Has the room been arranged?" I addressed Agatha who was standing there with the food tray.

"Yes, Princess Serene." She replied while placing the tray on the table.

"Thank you, Agatha. You can go." After she left I focused my attention on Zeph and Suri. Both seem to be throwing daggers at each other.

"It wants you all to himself," Zeph declared a bit sarcastically, not removing his hand from my shoulder.

"Yes, he has been quite antsy after the incident. He doesn’t leave my side very often. I think it senses my sadness." I confided in Zeph as the big creature touched its face with mine, trying to get my attention and I found it difficult to hold him still.

"Easy Suri, I am alright. Go settle down on the rug." I pointed to the rug I had placed in my room, especially for it. Licking my face with its wet tongue for the last time, it climbed down from my lap and pranced to the rug, settling down on it. Staring at us with its intelligent eyes.

"Zeph, you should eat. You didn’t eat with the rest of the guests as well." He got up and brought the food tray to the bed. It had chicken, beef and rice. He cut up a small piece of chicken and placed it on the fork. He offered it to me first.

"Let’s eat together, I am not sure when you ate last." Warmth engulfed me, his words held so much care. I couldn’t deny him and instantly opened my mouth so he could feed me.

I took a huge chunk of meat from the plate and offered it to Suri, who began to gobble it down with small growls escaping his mouth.

We ate in silence, and Zeph fed me. After finishing the food we went and sat by the window. Night had fallen outside and stars shone brightly today. Zeph wrapped his arms around my waist and I leaned on his chest, snuggling into the warmth he offered. He pecked on my temple as we watched the stars from my window.

Everything was peaceful today, no monsters appeared, enemy stayed at bay, it was like the universe had granted us a free day to bury grandma.

"I wish it was always this peaceful," I whispered bringing his hand to my face and placing it on my cheek so it would rest on it.

"We will have peace again, darkness is always followed by light." Zeph breathed in my ear.

"I hope so," I remembered he was about to tell me about the bruises he had so I asked: "Tell me how you got injured?"

"I don’t want you to worry, Serene. You are already under a lot of stress. It’s not a big deal." He spoke softly to me, his knuckles brushing my cheek.

"Please, Zeph. I want to know." I pleaded and looked back into his mesmerizing eyes.

He then went on to explain his journey home from the portal, making me gasp. I shivered under his hold and he tightened his grip, pulling me closer. "We are fine, this much is expected now. We have to be vigilant and prepared."

"I will be dispatching guards with you, I don’t want you getting injured again." I caressed his hand on my cheek, the thought of him getting injured had disturbed me. I wasn’t sure I could survive the heartbreak of anything happening to him.

"You are worrying again. Just relax now, and leave all the worries for today. You have done enough of them."

"Grandma wanted to meet you. I wish you had met her, Zeph. She would have loved you." Tears brimmed in my eyes again at the thought of her and one of them slipped to land on his hand.

"Hey, no more crying." He turned me towards him and placed his hands on both sides of my face, leaning forward he kissed the trail left behind by the tear right up to my eye. His succulent lips soaked the salty water from my eyes like a sponge and pulled me closer to him in a warm hug.

My face rested on his chest and I could hear the steady drumming of his heart. The rhythm calmed me down, lulling me to sleep. I hadn’t slept in days and yet his embrace had that effect on me.

Soon, I drifted off to sleep. The next morning I woke up early to find myself in bed. Suri was nudging me and I realized he needed to go out. I patted its head and got up to open the door, he trotted off.

Last night flashed in my mind and I couldn’t even remember when Zeph laid me down and went to his room. I decided to go check on him. I showered and changed and wearing my shoes which he had lined neatly on the side of the bed I wandered to his room.

Reaching the room he was staying in, I knocked lightly. His sleepy voice sounded from inside:

"Who is it?"

"Zeph, it’s me. Can I come in?"

"Yes," he replied groggily.

I turned the doorknob and entered. Curtains were drawn so it was dark in the room. I could make out his silhouette on the bed. Closing the door behind me the room was plunged into darkness.

"Come here," he called out to me, his voice seeming raspy. I followed his voice and approached his bed.

He extended his hand and pulled me down on the bed. An ’ahh’ escaped me as I landed beside him and he heaved me closer to his smouldering body. I realized he wasn’t wearing a shirt, and the thudding of my heart became louder as my body began to tingle under his.

His silky hair brushed my face as he loomed over me. Brushing aside stray wet hair from my face, his sumptuous lips found mine in a fervent kiss. Mine molded into his as I returned it, his hand found mine and he raised it above my head, kissing me deeper. His tongue roamed freely in my mouth as his heat seeped into me, burning me too.

His lips finally parted mine, leaving me utterly breathless, as he seductively whispered: "Good morning, Serene. You smell delicious." Flickers of light filtered through the curtain and illuminated his hauntingly handsome face. His lips twitched in a slight smirk as he watched me like a hawk, ready to devour his prey. I couldn’t take my eyes off his handsome face.

"How can I help you, my princess?" He inquired with a meaningful smile.

"Well, you can start by letting me go." I was feeling overwhelmed by being pinned down by his naked torso and yet something in me wanted to touch him too.

"What if I don’t want to do it?" He raised his eyebrow at me and I gulped. He took my other hand and placed it on his bare chest and I shuddered from the feeling. His muscles were toned and his body was blazing hot like an oven.

"You are so warm," I spoke with my breath hitching and he chuckled at my words.

"Let me make you warm too." With these words, he rolled me on top of him and pressed me into his heat, turning my face and ears red.

"Zephy, let me go." I squealed and he slightly laughed. His touch was provoking so many emotions in me and it was hard to resist him. He kissed my hair and finally let me go so I could climb off him.

"You alright," he asked clearly seeing how flustered I was at his sudden actions, he was enjoying himself.

"Yes, you took me by surprise. Come on get ready so we can catch breakfast and I can show you around our realm a bit." He planted a kiss on my cheek before slipping out of bed and sauntering off to the bathroom. His back muscles rippled with every step he took.

We spent the rest of the day walking around, I showed him our crystal trees and he was mesmerized by them.

Father and Kilamin joined us for a while as they went patrolling. They were in better spirits. The funerals for all fallen fae soldiers were being held tomorrow, jointly. He asked Zeph to attend it with us. Zeph vehemently agreed.

Father then wanted to take Zeph with him on his patrol, so they could have a man-to-man talk. He seemed a bit reluctant but I reassured him that my father wouldn’t make him feel ill at ease. Leaving me by the lake the three men sauntered off and I watched them go from the bank. The most important three men in my life.