CONTENT ADVISORY 16+
(nothing concerning rella. to know you should already know)

Auden couldn't sit still. Post-adrenaline energy surged through him, leaving him giddy and light-headed in the aftermath of whatever concoction Sea had made him drink and dance to in the moonlight. Sea, on the other hand, struggled to keep up, her body weighed down by bone-deep exhaustion. All she desired was a comfy bed and Auden's company was an added bonus.

In the chamber, bathed in the ethereal glow of the moonlight filtering through latticed windows, the air was thick with the heady scent of jasmine and rose petals. A gentle breeze danced through the room, carrying the fragrant aroma, while a pond in the middles, surrounded by flickering candles and cascading ivy, shimmered like a liquid mirror reflecting the celestial beauty above.

Sea had prepared the warm, fragrant bath herself, though Auden's attention may have already shifted away from the idea. Rose petals delicately floated on the surface, their vibrant hues contrasting against the pale moonlight, creating a dreamlike scene that enveloped the lovers as they embraced each other.

The bed beckoned, adorned with silken sheets and plump pillows, inviting them to sink into its embrace. Sea collapsed onto the mattress, and Auden pounced, his knees digging into the duvet, sharp elbows and dainty wrists encircling her as he covered her body with his own. He was all hard angles, slimmed down from the burdens of being the heir, yet it had been two and a half years since Ada's departure.

They kissed, laughter mingling with their breath and Auden's teeth caught Sea's bottom lip, tongue intertwining with hers now given permission, claiming her his luxury to conquer.

Sea yielded, allowing herself to be taken. A surge of emotions welled up within her, intensified by Auden's gaze, overwhelming and ocean-deep.

Their bodies pressed together, igniting fireworks between them as he moved himself in sync with hers. She caught glimpses of his honeyed skin through the gaps in his shirt buttons.

"Do you know what's utterly intoxicating?" Auden's words hung in the air as he began to work Sea out of the layers of black and white silk she had been wrapped up in, his touch reverent--Sea could think straight no more.

Sensing her dazed condition Auden punctuated the question with another sweet laugh as he kneeled up to strip himself, efficient as ever.

"Do you know what's utterly intoxicating? The sight of your body, laid bare before me, like a goddess descended from the heavens."

Sea's giggle fluttered through the room, her cheeks flushing with warmth. "Oh, stop it, you're making me blush."

Auden lowered himself over her, his gaze fixed on her form. "I can't help it. Every curve, every dip, it's as if you were crafted by the gods themselves to drive me wild with desire."

He looked at her as though he had just unwrapped the greatest treasure and for a moment she felt she should be as precious as gold, as rare as diamonds, as captivating as sapphires. She swore no one could have looked at her body with more adoration.

"And what do you plan to do with this body that drives you so wild?" Sea asked, her voice laced with anticipation, her finger tracing teasing patterns over his toned chest.

"Explore every inch, lose myself in the heat of your skin, and drown in the ecstasy of our passion," he replied with a husky intensity, his gaze smouldering with desire.

And then he kissed her. Slow and deep, his lips igniting a fire that blazed through her veins. As if to prove his point.

His kisses trailed along Sea's jaw, down her neck, caressing every curve and dip of her body with a reverence that left her breathless. She sighed with pleasure, her slender fingers finding solace in the contours of his back.

"You make me feel beautiful, like I'm the only woman in the world," Sea managed to whisper amidst heavy breaths and soft moans.

Auden's lips lingered on her skin, his murmured response sending shivers down her spine. "Because to me, you are, Sea. You're my salvation. The light that guides me through the darkness."

He kissed lower, lower, so his mouth could follow her body down. They both knew where his lips were headed, but his mouth took the journey tantalisingly slowly, each touch igniting a spark of desire until finally, finally his lips found what they sought, and they both surrendered to the intoxicating dance of their passion.

***

Sea's eyes fluttered open, drowsy and heavy with pleasure, as Auden shifted slightly above her. The heat between them was intense, her clenching around him tight enough to elicit a rough moan from his lips. Auden eased himself fully into her, barely moving, savouring the moment.

She had rolled over onto her stomach, a soft murmur escaped her lips as she buried her face into the pillow, the world around her blurring at the edges. Auden's concerned voice broke through her haze.

"You alright, love?" he asked, his face etched with worry.

She found it endearing, a gentle smile tugging at her swollen lips. Despite everything he had been through since Ada's departure, Auden remained considerate and kind. She marvelled at his resilience, knowing that if their roles were reversed, she might have burned the world down.

And in a way, she was on that path now. This moment, entwined with Auden, was just a small part of her larger plan, even though he remained oblivious to her true intentions. He would have to stay in the dark for a little more, for everything to work out according to her agenda, for the boat she launched to take them to the opposite bank safely.

Since she had suggested the idea of summoning a demon to fulfil his desires, he had been restless. It relieved her that he remained unaware of her true allegiance to Gan.

Sea intended to respond to Auden, but sleep and euphoria pulled at her like a dark ocean current, lulling her to oblivion, rendering her speechless. She drifted under its weight, only to awaken again with a gasp, pleasure coursing through her veins.

Auden grunted, leaning in to press a kiss to the nape of Sea's neck as the tension coiled tighter in his gut. He chased the intoxicating feeling, unaware of the depths of Sea's deception. He was eager, fueled by desire, and she knew he would follow her lead, unaware of the darkness lurking beneath her facade.

***

If there was one thing Noaelle Sea had learned in her nineteen years of life, it was the imperative need to survive. Life, to her, was a relentless battle against her infamous upbringing, a relentless struggle to snatch each breath and witness the sunrise of another day. She knew, without a doubt, that the moment she ceased fighting, she would perish. They would ensure it, just as they had done for her mother.

"So, you're certain this will work?" The young hire's gaze was fixed on her delicate features, his fingers gently intertwined in her silky, wet hair.

The contours of his toned chest glistened with a subtle sheen as he half-submerged himself in the water. After a night filled with passion and heat, Auden had finally decided it was time for the bath Sea had prepared for him, though now the water had cooled and tingled against the girl's sensitive skin. It offered relief, soothing the soreness in her lower body leaving no room for any complaints.

"Yes. It's been practised since the dawn of time. Dark entities exist, willing to do our bidding for the most insignificant of sacrifices," she explained, her hand trailing through the water's surface, adorned with rose petals that concealed the ripples she created. "You just need to summon the right one."

"But how do you even do that? We're not supposed to dabble with the dark side," Sea witnessed his expression darken. "Ada had to leave because she broke that rule."

"I don't understand why the elders are so concerned. If you're careful and do everything right, nothing can go wrong. We're not going to betrothed the demon here like Lady Romersai was trying to do. She's a very different case," she remarked, disappointment evident on her face.

Her master tsked. Of course he would still take offense in her badmouthing his sister -- after everything she had put him through. Sea's lips formed a serious, offended pout and she could feel Auden's eyes on them, admiring his handiwork -- so much effort had gone into giving those juicy plums that tempting scarlet shade.

"Alright, alright," he leaned casually over the edge of the pond, his gaze lifting to witness the full moon filtering through the round crystal placed in the middle of the high-arched roof. "I'll think about it. I'd rather align with darkness to accomplish my goals than let it consume me entirely."