"Venom, everything you did today... I didn’t like it," Aeltharion complained as they arrived at the Abyss at Sseraphis’s palace, a magnificent structure made of glass and built beneath the water.

Sseraphis removed the clothes he had worn outside and tossed them into a basket, leaving himself completely naked.

He walked to the wardrobe to look for something comfortable to wear at home, taking that moment to reply, "What did I do that displeased you, my love?" he asked, his venomous voice sweetened like honey.

Aeltharion looked away, trying to steady himself so his eyes wouldn’t wander toward Sseraphis’s bare body. Outside, fish of all kinds swam past, their bodies shimmering in the water.

"You showed Nytherael contempt. It was unpleasant to see that."

Sseraphis paused and shot him a sharp, venomous glare. "Don’t say that name in my house. I don’t want to hear it!"

"But you didn’t handle it well," Aeltharion insisted. "If we too stoop down to his level then, how are we better than him.

Sseraphis shut the wardrobe and walked toward him. His ink-colored lips tightened with anger, his violet-black eyes scanning Aeltharion from head to toe looking for the dragon he’d known in Nytherael’s absence.

He stopped right in front of him, blocking his view and forcing Aeltharion to look at him instead of at the view outside.

Aeltharion swallowed hard. His wife stood before him naked as if offering himself to be devoured.

"Why are you defending that traitor?" Sseraphis demanded. "He never once thought about us when he betrayed us for Ilyrien. We loved him with everything we had... and him?" ink-color tears slipped from his eyes.

Aeltharion found himself in a difficult position. His body heated at the sight of Sseraphis’ body, unguarded by clothes. His skin looked soft, and the red serpent-mark across his chest was mesmerizing.

Desire filled him. It had been two weeks since they last shared intimacy. His body ached for Sseraphis so much that he couldn’t answer the question. Infact, he barely registered Sseraphis’ voice.

"You have to admit the truth, Ae. Nytherael spat on our love. To him, everything we went through together meant nothing compared to his first love, Ilyrien."

Sseraphis spoke with deep sorrow. His gaze drifted to a painting above the bed, one that had been drawn on their wedding day. All three of them were in it, smiling happily.

"If he didn’t want this bond, why accept it in the first place? Why play with our feelings like that?" Even after a year and a half, he still couldn’t understand where it all went wrong.

With effort, he tore his gaze from the painting and looked back at Aeltharion. "Why are you so qui..."

The desire in Aeltharion’s eyes made him swallow his words.

Aeltharion breathed slowly, his heart pounding, his blood heating.

His body burned with the urge to take Sseraphis, to pin him to the bed beneath him and to taste every inch of his skin and mark him as his.

Sseraphis let out a shy laugh. "Ah... I...I forgot I took off my clothes. Sorry..." he turned back toward the wardrobe.

Aeltharion reached out and caught his wrist before he could move away.

Sseraphis froze, looking at him, his serpent eyes shifting as desire rose within him too.

"It’s too warm. If you put clothes on, you’ll feel uncomfortable," Aeltharion said in a low voice, his gaze roaming Sseraphis’s body.

A blush spread across Sseraphis’s face. He bit his lip and lowered his head, feeling shy.

Where Aeltharion held him, heat spread. The venom in his blood warmed, igniting something deeper within him.

"And you’re still wearing clothes," Sseraphis murmured, tracing the floor with his toes. "Don’t you feel uncomfortable?"

"I do," Aeltharion said, stepping closer until their bodies touched. "Can you help me take them off?" he whispered, licking Sseraphis’s ear.

Sseraphis shuddered as if struck by lightning. Heat surged through him from that single touch.

He bit his lip hard enough to draw blood, his fingers clutching Aeltharion’s clothes.

Aeltharion smiled, pleased with the effect he had. Their bond flared with shared desire.

"If you keep biting your lip in front of me... I’ll have to help you by biting it myself," he murmured against his ear.

Warm breath brushed Sseraphis’s skin, sending chills through him that only fueled the fire inside.

"Who said you shouldn’t help me?" Sseraphis asked, lifting his head, his eyes shimmering and drawing Aeltharion closer.

"Why are you so tempting today?" Aeltharion asked softly, cupping his face and pulling him closer.

His other hand wrapped around Sseraphis’s waist, lifting him slightly so their faces aligned.

Sseraphis rose onto Aeltharion’s feet to close the height gap.

The scent of gold emanating from Aeltharion filled his senses, intoxicating him. He loved that scent, unique to Aeltharion alone in the entire beast realm. And only he had the right to enjoy it.

He wrapped his arms around Aeltharion’s neck, licking his lips to draw him in.

"My body is yours. Do whatever you want to it," he whispered.

Aeltharion responded immediately, capturing his lips hungrily. He bit down, tasting him fully.

Sseraphis melted, exhaling sharply as venom laced his breath, but it didn’t harm Aeltharion; it only fueled the heat between them. 𝗳𝚛𝚎𝚎𝘄𝕖𝕓𝕟𝕠𝚟𝚎𝕝.𝗰𝕠𝐦

Aeltharion deepened the kiss, exploring every corner of his mouth.

It was a burning kiss, filled with emotions they couldn’t put into words. Their feelings poured into it. Their love for each other and their grief for the missing half of their bond.

Their lips moved together, wet sounds filling the room as they lost themselves completely, hands roaming over each other’s bodies.

For a moment, it felt like they were floating in a cloudless heaven.

Knock! Knock!

The sound pulled them back to reality.

"Master Sseraphis. I’ve brought Ilyrien as you had asked. Shall I come in?"

Sseraphis broke the kiss and stepped back, though Aeltharion was clearly displeased by the interruption.

"Later. Business first," Sseraphis said, dressing quickly before waving his hand. The door opened on its own through the force from Sseraphis’ hand.

A servant entered, dragging Ilyrien, whose hands and feet were shackled.

"Here he is."

Sseraphis sat by the window, while Aeltharion remained standing at the spot where Sseraphis left him. He kept his presence small, like a wallflower.

"Ilyrien, I have very good news for you," Sseraphis said, pouring tea infused with wild serpent venom into his cup and tasting it.

"There’s nothing you could say that would be good news for me," Ilyrien replied weakly, his body pale from the torment he had endured.

"You’ll like this one. Today is the first day of the second month. A good and auspicious day," Sseraphis said casually. "So, I have decided to grant you some news to please your heart."

"Out with it then."

Sseraphis set down his cup, licking a drop of tea from his lips. He smiled, a poisonous smile that made Ilyrien tremble.

"Your beloved Nytherael has returned to Lioris."

Ilyrien’s heart seemed to stop. His eyes widened as he stared at Sseraphis in disbelief.

"What did you say?"

"That traitor Nytherael Auryn is back. And your plans failed," Sseraphis laughed, clearly enjoying his shock. "Didn’t you say he’d never return? That if he did, it would take years if not decades?" He questioned in pure mockery. "Not even two years have passed, and he’s already back."

"That’s not possible!" He growled.

He had trapped Nytherael in the lake with his special technique; the eternal ice. No way the ice melted or broke to free Nytherael and as far as he knew, only he had the power to undo the technique.

"Oh, but it is," Sseraphis’ happiness knew no bounds.

"Don’t be so happy, Sseraphis. Nytherael won’t forgive you when he finds out you’ve kept me imprisoned here this whole time!" Ilyrien tried to threaten him.

"Hahaha!" Sseraphis laughed uncontrollably.

"W-why are you laughing?" Ilyrien stammered.

No one knew just how unhinged Sseraphis had become after Nytherael’s betrayal far more than him. Every day, the mad snake found new and creative ways to torture him.

"And who’s going to tell him that you are here?" Sseraphis asked.

Ilyrien tensed. The truth echoed in Sseraphis’ question and it hit deep.

No one knew Sseraphis had taken him and the nine-headed snake had gone out of his way to hide every trace of him. Even his family had been unable to find him.

"Most believe you relocated after failing to steal our husband. Others believe that you are one of the many unfortunate souls to be swallowed by the shadows," Sseraphis explained, Ilyrien paled.

With such beliefs, no one would come looking for him. And even if they did, they’d never find him in Sseraphis’ underwater palace.

"So, don’t dare dream that anyone is coming to save you. Because not even Nytherael has that ability."

A servant approached and handed Sseraphis a small glass bottle. Inside, a tiny creature writhed.

"I need fur from your tail," Sseraphis said, his expression turning cold.

"Again?" Ilyrien trembled. Extracting fur from his tail every two weeks was excruciating and dangerous to his health.

It could cause permanent damage to him. Irreversible damages.

The truth was that the fur from a three-tailed ice fox could cure any illness. But it had to be willingly given, or it turned poisonous. That was why Sseraphis kept him alive for so long.

"Who are you healing? Why do you need it every two weeks..."

He couldn’t finish. Sseraphis sealed the bottle’s opening with his hand, cutting off the creature’s air.

Ilyrien collapsed, gasping, unable to breathe as his shackles restricted him. His throat tightened, his heart pounded as death crept closer.

"I didn’t say you could ask questions," Sseraphis said coldly. "I want the fur, not your curiosity. When I let you breathe again, that’s all you’ll give me."

He removed his hand. The creature breathed again and so did Ilyrien.

"I’m a three-tailed ice fox, of royal blood—and you’ve linked my life to a mere insect?" Ilyrien spat, rage burning within him.

"I’ll reduce it to a maggot next time if your don’t start extracting fur for me!" Sseraphis warned, extremely serious.