It was strange. Even though she often starved before coming to Agartha, it never felt this intense but this…this was something else. She could trust Reya's words that it was because of the bond completion.
This kind of overwhelming hunger, she had experienced when she woke after Draven's marking. For the next few days, she used to feel hungry all the time, as if she had been starved for ages.
This bond process, from start to its completion, sure makes one like a hungry ghost.
Ember started to eat the food on the plate, and she didn't even realize when her utensils hit the empty plates. She had eaten it all—no, she had wolfed them all down. Once again, she was surprised at her own appetite.
"Shall we bring more, Miss?"
"Uhm…"
"Don't worry. The kitchen prepared more servings than usual for tonight."
Once Ember's stomach was fully satisfied, the servants cleared the footed tray off the bed.
"Miss would like to freshen up or rest for some more?" Reya asked.
"How long did I sleep?" Ember asked as she carefully stretched her limbs. Last time, after her marking, she slept for two days.
"About an entire day? Maybe less? We don't know exactly when you slept the previous night…" Reya answered hesitantly.
Ember understood she didn't sleep for too long, only a day this time. She sure had a need to wash up and relieve herself, but just as tried to move, her muscles refused to listen well. "Reya, Clio, please help me get out of bed."
Her servants hurried to her side to help. It was not simply her muscles going numb; they could see she was in pain.
"Maybe, Miss, you would like to sit in warm water so your muscles will relax and feel better," Clio suggested.
Ember could only groan in agreement. Fortunately, she was able to stand up despite the weak feeling in her legs. Not to forget how she was hurting in various places.
With the help of her servants, she walked slowly towards the side chamber where they prepared hot water for her inside the stone pool.
"Miss, let me help you take off your clothes."
Ember nodded and then realized she didn't remember wearing them the night prior.
"These clothes…?"
"Ah, Miss. Lady Cornelia was here to visit you today to check on your body, but you were unconscious so before that, His Majesty asked us to clean you and put fresh clothes on you," Clio answered.
Ember sighed as she didn't have any more energy left to think as she wanted to bury herself within that captivating pool of steaming water. She didn't know what mess she must have looked like when her servants were cleaning and putting clothes on her.
"I will undress myself. Leave me alone for a while."
Clio and Reya nodded and left. Ember removed her sleeping robe, and with slow footsteps, walked inside the pool to sit in the hot water. She could not deny her body was aching everywhere and she wanted it to feel better.
Carefully, she lowered her body on the edge of the pool, and only after she made herself comfortable amidst the water did she look down at herself. She could see so many marks on her body, and she knew what they were and how they were made. Those coloured bruises and teeth marks everywhere reminded her of how wild her mate was the night prior.
Shivers ran down her spine as she closed her legs. In the end, she folded her legs in front of her chest and circled her arms around them.
Each and every moment of that intimate night flashed in her mind. The way he kissed her, loved her and cared for her, everything was fresh in her memories, along with those cold warnings of punishment…
Though she knew she felt good, there were moments when she felt the pain that she didn't want to ever feel again.
'That sure hurts. I won't be doing that again.'
Her heart was overwhelmed with so many feelings at the same time. She felt embarrassed but then felt scared to repeat it again. Most importantly, now she didn't know how to face Draven after what they did. She wondered how it would change their relationship.
'I don't know…I really don't know…'
When Ember returned to the main chamber covered with a robe, her servants helped dry her body before leading her to her wardrobe room, where they helped her get dressed into a simple dress. Although it was nighttime, as Ember had just woken up, she had no plans of returning to sleep anytime soon.
As Ember sat in front of the mirror, Clio pulled back Ember's long hair from her shoulders and neck in preparation of brushing her hair. Her eyes lit up in wonder.
"Miss, you have a beautiful bond mark."
"Oh, you are right! It is beautiful!" Reya also remarked.
Ember glanced at her own neck in response. She had seen that crimson blossom on her neck many times, and so did her servants, so why were they praising it again?
Upon observing the mark this time, she realized there were changes. She leaned closer towards the mirror to see it more clearly with the light coming from the lamps. In addition to that crimson blossom—
'What is that black thing?'
As she observed carefully, she realized it was a small black dragon wrapped in between that crimson blossom.
Seemingly noticing her surprise, Clio explained, "Miss, after the completion of the bond, the female gets her mate's true form in that mark. You have a beautiful Black Dragon added to that crimson blossom. That Black Dragon is His Majesty's true form…beast form."
She had heard already that Draven was a Black Dragon, and now she saw that mark, she could somewhat imagine how he must look in his beast form but…was she ready to see him in his true form?
"Now everyone can see you are the mate of the Black Dragon."
"How thrilling it seems."
She heard her servants chatting with joy but Ember could not find it in herself to join in. What she was feeling…she still had no idea. She simply observed that mark, briefly touching it with her fingers.
They had completed the bond, now what?
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Chapter Dedicated to Reader/Moderator "DespinaNY" Thank you for the gifts.
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