章 8: Dangerous Allure

It had to be a dream. Or at least a drunken haze.

Otherwise, why would she be so brave? Perhaps it was not bravery but complete madness.

No, she was not brave at all.

Even tonight, when she got ready to leave the royal palace and visit the Gypsy tribe, it was not the poison she wanted to get. She would never kill herself. She could never do anything.

After having that unsettling dream last night, Lorelai woke up––she really did; she felt as if she finally woke up and saw everything clearly for the first time in her life. And once she had learned that she was to marry Duke Kalder, it hit her like a freezing ocean wave.

She was sold into this marriage, traded like cattle.

Lorelai had nothing of her own. Even her life did not belong to her.

It belonged to the king, to the queen, to the crown prince, and to her kingdom... but it did not belong to her.

Nothing belonged to her. She had nothing at all.

So tonight, Lorelai wanted to get something entirely hers. Something that no one else would be able to know about. Something that no one else would be able to take away from her and trample before her very eyes.

Tonight, she wanted to rebel and be free. And this man might just be able to grant her this wish.

It had to be fate. The same pair of bright amber eyes she had seen in her dream might save her once again. Even if only for one night.

"Will you..." she finally parted her lips, complying with his request. "Will you sleep with me tonight?"

There, she did it. She asked him again. There was no going back from here.

For some reason, the man swallowed dryly, and the princess noticed something almost animalistic glisten in his eyes.

Although Lorelai had already noticed how powerful the man's build was, now that he was leaning so closely over her, facing her in all his glory, the ample difference in their sizes was impossible to ignore.

His strong, wide shoulders and broad chest cast a shadow over the woman's petite body as if she were sitting under a mighty tree.

For some reason, the princess felt embarrassed by the stark contrast in their frames. The man must have noticed, as his lips slowly twisted into a faint smile again.

Then, he moved his hands slightly forward, leaving only a few inches between their bodies, and intentionally placed his face under the wide strip of moonlight, making sure the woman before him could see his face more clearly.

What Lorelai saw was glowing, tanned skin, dark brown hair, and deep yet fierce eyes.

In that cold moonlight, his piercing amber glare remained clear and bright, reflecting the wildness of that incomprehensible animalistic trait that slept deep within him.

The more Lorelai looked at him, the more fascinating he seemed. Though angular, his features were brutally beautiful. His beauty was almost exotic and possessed a dangerous combination of a harsh masculine aura and a surprisingly warm and even affectionate look about him.

Suddenly, her heart raced like a wild horse. Her throat dried as a realization hit her.

The man leaning over her was not entirely human.

'Could he be..?' She thought unconsciously to herself.

Her lips trembled so slightly as that thought rushed through her already confused mind. Dark skin, huge physique, and that unique amber glow inside his eyes with intensely colored pupils... He had to be one of them. Lorelai was sure of that.

But how was it possible?

Humans were unique creatures in their nature. They were born with different colors of skin and hair, but there was only one distinct trait that signified that they were entirely human––their eyes.

Humans could inherit any eye color. Their eyes could be as blue as the clear ocean wave, or as green as the fresh spring grass; they could be as dark as the fertile garden soil, or as light as the morning fog.

But there were only two colors that human eyes could not inherit unless their blood was mixed: red and golden.

Red eyes were a feature that only vampires and ghouls could possess while golden eyes... belonged only to beast shifters.

But the man before her was not a beast. He did not have golden eyes, his eyes were clearly amber, even though there was a sharp golden glow within them.

But if he was not one of them, who was he? Mixed blood? A Gypsy mixed with a beast?

Lorelai had been lost in her thoughts for so long, that she failed to notice that she had stayed quiet while staring intently into the man's narrowed eyes.

Perhaps tired of waiting, or maybe even slightly amused by her stupor, the stranger raised his dark shapely eyebrows and offered the princess a light nod as if he knew exactly what Lorelai was thinking about.

"So? Are you scared?"

He wasn't entirely human. Now that Lorelai was thinking about it, even his voice sounded different than others.

'Yes,' she finally admitted to herself internally, 'I am scared.'

Humans did not like anything that was different. Especially if they knew it could pose a threat to them.

The beasts' blend of mixed––or even pure––blood coursing through their veins was perceived as an anomaly—a dangerous fusion of human guise and predatory, animalistic strength and instinct.

Their lineage was rumored to carry the blood of wolves, foxes, and cats, rendering them with an inhumane and incomprehensible nature. For centuries, they had been viewed as impulsive, indulgent, and perilous creatures, guided solely by their primal instincts.

Yet, amidst these descriptions lay an envy-inducing trait: their unparalleled physical strength and beauty. No human could rival their allure, despite the monstrous tales whispered about what lurked beneath their bronzed skin.

This allure ensured that, even in their marginalized state, the beasts remained objects of tabooed desire.

And now Lorelai, too, was subjected to that dangerous allure.

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章 9: Shame

Lorelai had the misfortune of encountering more than a few half-beasts in her lifetime, and none of those encounters had ever been pleasant. Not because she disliked them, but because of what she had seen others do to them.

"…"

She wanted to say something—anything—but her lips stubbornly refused to move. Instead, her body acted on instinct, retreating until she felt the soft mattress against her back. A shiver ran down her spine, leaving her with an unsettling sense of being trapped.

As she struggled to suppress her emotions, the man remained motionless, an amused glint flickering in his dark eyes. He watched her intently, waiting, as if savoring the moment she realized there was nowhere left to run.

Then, with deliberate slowness, he leaned in closer, their bodies nearly touching. Lorelai's breath hitched, her thoughts scattering as his presence filled the space between them.

In a smooth, unhurried motion, he reached out and brushed a few loose strands of soft blonde hair from her face, his fingertips lingering just long enough to send another shiver through her. His gaze locked onto hers—deep green against unrelenting darkness—studying her with an intensity that made her pulse quicken.

Though still fully clothed, Lorelai couldn't shake the feeling of vulnerability beneath his piercing stare.

His eyes swept over her, lingering on the delicate curve of her slender neck, the faint line of her collarbone peeking through the loosened folds of her black cloak. He noted the gentle rise and fall of her chest with each shallow breath, taking in every detail as if committing them to memory.

"You don't seem very experienced at this." His hoarse voice cut through the thick silence, jolting her back to reality.

Lorelai straightened her shoulders, forcing the tension from her body. Instead of arguing, she parted her lips and calmly responded with the first thing that came to mind. "I don't think such useless observations are appropriate right now."

Her words carried confidence, but deep down, she wished she could disappear. It was painfully obvious—she had never been in a situation like this before. But why was he taking his time? Was this some kind of game? Did he find amusement in teasing her simply because he knew she was a virgin?

"Useless?" His lips curled into a slow, mocking smile, as if savoring the way her words betrayed her true emotions.

"That is what I said," she replied, her gaze unwavering. "You agreed to my request, but I don't recall asking for your nonsensical comments."

"…."

The princess left him momentarily speechless. To him, she was nothing more than a trembling bunny, waiting to be devoured. And yet, her feigned confidence—her sheer audacity—was utterly amusing.

Though he had more questions, he chose not to press her further. Instead, he studied her in silence.

Lorelai, on the other hand, was growing increasingly flustered. The weight of his gaze made her heart pound violently against her ribs. Embarrassed, she lowered her eyes.

If he truly enjoyed mocking her obvious innocence, then he was in for quite an entertaining night. And judging by his body language, he had no intention of letting her go anytime soon.

The silence stretched between them, thick with tension, until Lorelai decided she had hesitated long enough.

With trembling hands, she grasped the edges of her cloak and lifted it slightly, unintentionally revealing her pale legs. She had already made up her mind—there was no point in being afraid, even if the man before her carried the blood of a beast in his veins.

As she slowly lifted her gaze, her eyes met his, locking onto the sharp amber hue that gleamed with predatory intensity. His pupils had narrowed, giving him the unmistakable look of a hungry hunter. Seeing it up close was both terrifying and strangely mesmerizing.

Lost in the moment, Lorelai barely registered the passing seconds—until a deep, throaty chuckle shattered the silence.

Snapping back to reality, she instinctively pushed against his chest, trying to create some distance between them. But he didn't budge. The attempt was so ineffective that it only seemed to amuse him further, his lips curling into a slow, knowing grin.

This is annoying, she thought, frustrated. I was the one who initiated this. I shouldn't be the only one feeling this way.

Exhaling softly, she forced herself to speak, her tone firm. "I don't think you understand what's happening right now. If you don't want to do this, then stop joking around and leave."

Irritation bled into her voice—she hated the way he looked at her, as if she were the one getting paid for this instead of him.

Yet her bluntness only seemed to amuse him further. Another laugh escaped his lips, low and rich with amusement.

I cannot believe this!

There was no turning back now. With hands trembling from a mix of frustration and fear, Lorelai slid off her cloak, letting it pool onto the bed. Then, she began unfastening her corset, her fingers fumbling as the stiff buttons refused to slip through their loops.

The struggle was maddening. She just wanted this to be over.

As she wrestled with her clothing, the man finally leaned in, his hot breath grazing her skin. The sudden warmth made her hands freeze mid-motion.

"Stop," he murmured, his voice low and commanding. "Let me do it instead."

Before she could protest, strong hands lifted her effortlessly, cradling her as if she weighed nothing. Suspended in his arms, their faces now level, she found herself staring into his piercing amber eyes. Her lashes fluttered as she struggled to steady herself, her breath uneven.

He held her gaze, his voice softer this time. "Are you still scared?"

The question barely had time to settle between them before he tossed her onto the bed. Her body bounced slightly, and for a moment, she thought her head might hit the wall. Before she could react, he was already on top of her, caging her in beneath his broad frame.

With practiced ease, his fingers tilted her chin upward, his thumb brushing over the soft curve of her lower lip, pressing gently against the flushed skin.

His voice was rough, edged with something unreadable. "What do you expect to happen now?"

Lorelai swallowed hard, her throat tightening. Meeting his gaze, she whispered, "Just do what you have to. I have no expectations."

A low, humorless chuckle rumbled from his chest.

"Shame," he muttered under his breath.

His amber eyes darkened with something dangerously unreadable, a flicker of restrained desire passing through them. Then, leaning in closer, he whispered against her lips, his voice dripping with seduction—

"Alright then. Open your legs."

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