Chapter 412: Wait Until Tomorrow
"I can eat by myself."
Xion was sitting on extra pillows while his husband held the cutlery. The golden sunbeams entered through the open window, shrouding the silver-haired elf in a magical hue.
Sometimes, it was hard to believe this dangerous man could look so tender, just because of him.
What a sight it was. Xion would trade anything for this warmth.
"I know," Darius said, holding a spoon to Xion’s pouting lips. "I just want to feed you. Now open up."
Open up...
Heat rose to Xion’s cheeks as he tried hard not to let his thoughts turn to the previous night when the Archduke had spoken the same words but with a completely different meaning.
He parted his lips, allowing the spoon to touch his mouth.
It wasn’t the first time he wondered this, but Darius really seemed to like feeding him.
It wasn’t just that.
Dressing him up, bathing him, selecting ink for his notes, Darius enjoyed doing everything personally.
So, Xion let him be.
It wasn’t like he had to pretend to like it. Xion did, from the bottom of his heart.
The flavours of the food melted beautifully on his tongue. They were so attuned to his taste buds that the single meal alone had told him just how meticulous Darius was when it came to the things he preferred.
"I want to cook," Xion suddenly blurted out, chewing the last strip of roasted root.
Dipped with thick gravy, the taste was really delicious.
He licked the corner of his lip and nearly hissed. It was bruised just like his entire body.
Darius was quick with his hands, already holding a glass of water. "Okay. I’ll ask the kitchen to prepare ingredients for you."
Xion drank the tall glass like it was his mission to finish it, and with the way Darius was keeping an eye on his every bite, it certainly was.
"I want to go on a walk in the castle."
"Okay." The Archduke had an indulgent smile, as if whatever came out of Xion’s mouth would be allowed, no matter how atrocious the request was.
Then again, there wasn’t anything more atrocious than demanding to kill someone. A priest, no less.
As Darius wiped Xion’s lips with a silken handkerchief, the healer muttered again, "I want Zen."
"Okay— No, Xion. That thing is dangerous."
"That’s why I want it. Just trust me on this one," Xion grabbed Darius’ hand, slipping his fingers between his. "I don’t want something to affect the way I think. Ever again."
"I know," the Archduke sighed. His thumb traced lazy circles over the delicate hand.
"I also don’t want you to fight with it alone. So, tell me what your plan is."
Plan? It was simple, really.
"We need to kill Michael, preferably without alerting him. And he has his spies in the castle."
If not for that, Michael wouldn’t have somehow found his way inside Darius’ mind.
"I’ll send someone to see what that priest is up to. Until then, you take care of yourself."
Xion yawned all of a sudden. Well, the night wasn’t spent exactly sleeping. Though it was very pleasant, it left his bones rattling under his skin.
The elf noticed it. Of course, he did.
With a gentle tug, he carried Xion back to the bed. But didn’t set him down.
Instead, the silver-haired man decided it was best to keep Xion on his lap.
They were still in their bedclothes, and by that, Xion meant him dressed in Darius’ robe with only his undergarment beneath, while Archduke had his pajamas on.
"I want trousers, too," Xion had demanded, only for Darius to peck at his forehead with a smile.
"Don’t," Darius smirked.
There was no mistaking it. Darius was half-caregiver, half-predator. And Xion had long stopped knowing where one ended and the other began.
The next words proved what Xion had been thinking.
"You will fall asleep again, anyway. What’s the point? And it will make it easier for me to apply medicine to you."
By medicine, Darius meant tending to his lower body.
Due to the system’s special refreshing reagents, Xion had never used that kind of medicine.
He wouldn’t need it if he weren’t suddenly banned from using his healing abilities.
"Let’s not stress your ability for now. You barely recovered. What if the poison spreads again? Or there is some backlash? I don’t trust gods enough for that."
Looking at the blatant worry, Xion had agreed.
Not that he couldn’t treat himself later.
Barely had he rested his head on Darius’ chest, when sneaky hands were roaming inside his robe. They undid the waist ribbon with ease before sliding over his back.
The electric touch made Xion shiver.
"Hey! I am still sore."
"I know, darling," Darius kissed the side of his face. "That’s why I am helping you rub it."
His voice was soft, but the weight in his hands betrayed the predator barely restrained beneath the surface.
Xion decided to let it go.
After all, the force of those calloused hands felt really nice on his numb waist.
A nasal groan rumbled in his throat when those sly fingers pressed over the dip of his hip.
"Like it? Or should I use more force?"
"This is enough."
Xion almost dozed off when Darius sneaked his hands inside his waistband.
The healer, too exhausted to even protest, ignored him. Anyway, what else hadn’t this brute done to him last night?
Even the thought of how Darius had forced him on his all fours before ramming in had his ears heating up.
As for the spanks when he refused to moan his name? Yeah... never talking about it again.
It was precisely this indulgence that had been allowing the Archduke to press further.
Every time, he would try to do something more to Xion, and Xion would let him.
He had gone from kissing to fucking, to tying, and now to more ruthlessness.
And yet, Xion was staying in his arms so obediently as he let his fingers cup the two mounds of flesh, grabbing them, kneading them.
From all the holding and spanking, they were marked with his fingers.
It was such a delight to put lotion over the red skin while Xion clung to him with shame burning that adorable face.
Like right now.
His Xion was trying his best to keep that sweet voice muffled. And when he almost failed, he had to resort to biting those delicious lips.
So, so cute. Xion was so precious that it was driving him up the wall. The wall of his sanity.
Utterly ignorant, the silly kitten had nearly buried his fluffy head in the crook of his neck.
"Bear with it, sweetheart," Darius cooed, fondness dripping from his eyes. "I’ll just apply the medicine on your hole. We can’t leave it so swollen, right?"
Xion merely rubbed his face.
So obedient. So utterly fuckable.
But Darius didn’t intend to do it. Not when Xion was already like this. His real intention was to simply apply the medicine.
As for his fingers teasing the warm flesh?
Well, that could be considered a little fee for his special service, right?
"Don’t squirm your ass, darling." He patted the bare flesh before moving to the bedside drawer.
The bottle lid popped open.
In an instant, the fruity, sweet smell wafted into the room.
Darius dipped his fingers in the small vial, letting the slimy blue liquid coat his fingers properly before eyeing his target.
As he had said, the hole was indeed swollen.
It would be a lie if he said he was in full control. And the result was the various marks glowing on his darling’s body.
When he bathed him earlier, he had traced every one of them, even the one inside those milky thighs and the bite marks at Xion’s ankles.
"Hold still. This might feel cold."
Sure enough, the moment his fingers came in contact with the feverish skin, Xion shuddered.
Darius didn’t stop, nor did he feel pity for those blue eyes watering up.
He was a monster. And at times like this, when his hunger would cross the boundaries, he would realize it all over again. That Darius Rael Darkhelm was a monster whose only obsession was this sweetly moaning darling.
After circling, he plunged his finger inside.
"It h-hurts," Xion whined.
Darius couldn’t help but push deeper, watching how the muscles clenched around his fingers.
Just a few hours ago, they were clenching around my cock, desperately trying to hold me inside.
"Just a minute, Xion. Bear with me," he said as gently as possible, while pushing in another finger.
Was there truly any need? No.
One finger was more than enough if he only wanted to apply the medicine.
And yet...
"Baby is taking my fingers so well. Makes me really wonder what would happen if I replace them with my cock."
"No," Xion bit his shoulder in anger. "You c-can’t."
Darius laughed. His kitten was showing his fangs now. "I was just saying. Don’t worry, my love. I will wait until.... tomorrow, I guess."
He was rewarded with another bite for his shameless words.