Emperor Of The Abyss

Chapter 5

Kane traced the edge of the frame with his thumb. He'd seen this painting before, but he never stopped studying it, searching for... what? Proof that she'd been a monster? Or proof that she hadn't been?

His mother wore a dress of deep crimson that seemed to glow even in the painting. Her hair was black as midnight, falling in waves past her shoulders. Her skin had a slight olive tone, darker than most Valthornians. And her eyes,amber, like firelight, like honey held up to the sun. Those were the demon eyes everyone talked about.

But when Kane looked at the painting, he didn't see a monster. He saw a woman smiling up at his father with such love that it made his chest ache. His father gazed back at her the same way, like she was his entire world.

They'd been happy. Whatever else was true, that was real. Kane could see it in every brushstroke.

"Did you really kill him?" 

Kane whispered to the painting. 

"Did you use your demon blood to murder the man you loved?"

The painted face stared back, frozen in that moment of joy, offering no answers.

Morgana swore she had. The court had believed it. They'd executed Seraphine in the public square, burned her while crowds cheered. And baby Kane had been allowed to live only because someone had to inherit the throne and there was no one else with a legitimate claim.

But Kane had spent twenty-two years wondering. His father had loved her so much. How could she have…

The door behind him creaked open wider.

Kane spun around, his heart jumping into his throat. His hand fumbled with the frame and he quickly set it back down on the table with a soft clatter.

Valerie stood in the doorway, her head peeking around the edge. Her eyes darted left and right down the hallway, checking to see if anyone was watching.

"Val?" 

Kane said, confused.

 "What are you…"

"Shhh!" 

She pressed a finger to her lips and slipped inside, closing the door behind her with a soft click. Her eyes were bright with mischief and something else,something heated that made Kane's pulse quicken.

"What are you doing?" 

He asked, lowering his voice. 

"If someone sees you…"

"Then they'll think I'm visiting my future husband." Valerie said, moving toward him with slow, deliberate steps. 

"Which I am." 

She glanced around the dusty room and wrinkled her nose.

 "Although I was hoping for somewhere a bit less creepy. Come on." 

She grabbed his hand and tugged him toward the door.

"Where are we going?"

"Your room." 

She whispered, pulling him out into the hallway.

Kane followed because what else could he do? His heart was pounding now, and it wasn't from fear of getting caught. Valerie had that look in her eyes, the one that made his brain stop working properly.

They hurried down the hall, trying to look casual but probably failing. A servant passed by carrying a tray and Valerie suddenly slowed, linking her arm through Kane's and chatting about tomorrow's ceremony as if they were just taking an evening stroll. The servant bowed and continued on without a second glance.

The moment they were alone again, Valerie picked up the pace. She practically dragged Kane to his door, shoving it open and pulling him inside.

Kane barely had time to close the door before Valerie pushed him backward. He stumbled, his legs hitting the edge of his bed, and sat down hard on the mattress.

"Whoa." 

He said, laughing despite his racing heart.

 "Be gentle."

But Valerie wasn't laughing. She stood in front of him, her chest rising and falling quickly, her cheeks flushed. Slowly and deliberately, she reached up and began unfastening the buttons of her dress.

Kane's mouth went dry. 

"Val..."

"Take off your clothes." 

She said quietly, her fingers working down the line of buttons.

"Are you..." 

Kane swallowed hard. 

"Are you sure? Right now? What if someone…"

Valerie let her dress fall to the floor, pooling around her feet in a shimmer of green silk. She stood before him in just her thin white shift, and Kane forgot how to breathe.

She climbed onto the bed, straddling his lap, and took his face in her hands.

 "Yes." 

She whispered against his lips. 

"I'm sure. I want this. I want you. Right now."

Then she kissed him, and Kane stopped thinking altogether.

His hands found her waist, pulling her closer. She tasted like wine and honey, and when she made a soft sound in the back of her throat, Kane felt like his whole body was on fire.

They moved together, fumbling with the rest of their clothes between kisses. Kane's shirt came off, then his belt. Valerie's shift joined her dress on the floor. The world narrowed to just the two of them, skin against skin, breath mixing with breath.

"I love you." 

Kane murmured against her neck, his hands trembling as they traced the curve of her spine.

"I love you too." 

Valerie breathed. 

"I love you so much."

They came together slowly and carefully, Kane watching her face to make sure she was okay, that he wasn't hurting her. Valerie's eyes fluttered closed, her lips parting in a soft gasp.

"Okay?" 

Kane whispered.

"Yes." 

She said.

 "Don't stop."

So he didn't.

They moved together in the growing darkness of the room, the last light of day fading through the windows. Valerie's fingers dug into his shoulders. Kane buried his face in her hair, breathing in her scent, trying to memorize every sensation, every sound.

"Kane." 

She gasped. 

"Kane, I…"

"I know." 

He said. 

"Me too."

He felt it building, that pressure low in his belly, spreading through his whole body like lightning.

 "Val, I'm... I'm going to…"

"Yes." 

She moaned, pulling him closer, her legs wrapping tighter around him. 

"D

o it. I want you to."

The world went white. Kane's whole body tensed and then released, pleasure crashing through him in waves that left him shaking. He heard Valerie cry out softly, and felt her nails rake down his back…