บท 36: His hand on her ass?

Adrian's pulse quickened, sensing that he was treading on dangerous ground. "Perhaps I can help," he offered cautiously. "What is it that you desire, Alannah?"

The queen's smile was slow and sultry, her eyes gleaming with a mix of mischief and longing. "I desire… freedom," she whispered, her voice laced with a deep, hidden yearning. "To be free of the constraints of my position, to live without the constant weight of responsibility. But such desires are… impossible."

Adrian's mind raced as he listened to Alannah's confession.

The queen's vulnerability, her desire for freedom, was something he hadn't expected.

Yet, Lilith's words echoed in his mind, urging him to use the queen's desires against her. He knew he had to be careful, to tread the line between empathy and manipulation with finesse.

"Freedom is a powerful desire," Adrian said softly, his hands continuing their soothing movements over her abdomen. "But even within the confines of power, there are ways to find it… to create it."

Alannah's eyes narrowed slightly, intrigued by his words. "And how would you suggest I do that?" she asked, her voice a mix of curiosity and skepticism.

Adrian paused, his hands stilling for a moment as he chose his words carefully. "By surrounding yourself with people you can trust," he began in a thoughtful tone. "People who can share the burden, who can act in your stead when necessary. High officers, advisors… people who can give you the space you need to breathe."

Alannah's gaze sharpened, and Adrian could see the wheels turning in her mind. "And where would I find such trustworthy people?" she asked.

Adrian met her gaze. "You've already found one," he said in a steady voice. "I've proven my loyalty to you and your kingdom. Allow me to serve you in a greater capacity, to help ease the weight on your shoulders. I could act as your advisor, your right hand in matters where you need someone you can trust."

The queen's lips curled into a slow smile, her eyes gleaming with something that looked like satisfaction. "You're quite the strategist, Adrian," she murmured, her tone both admiring and slightly teasing. "I'll consider your offer… but you'll have to prove that your loyalty is to me, and me alone."

Adrian nodded, his heart pounding as he realized he had successfully planted the seed. "I understand, Alannah," he replied, his voice firm. "You won't regret it."

For a moment, the room was silent, the only sound was the crackling of the fire in the hearth. Alannah's gaze remained locked on Adrian's, searching for any sign of deception.

But finding none, she finally relaxed, a contented sigh escaping her lips.

"Very well," she said softly, her voice carrying a note of finality. "I'll consider your proposal, Adrian. But for now… finish what you started."

Adrian nodded and continued the massage.

When he finally finished the massage, Alannah lay on the bed for a moment, her body completely relaxed. "You've done well, Adrian," she murmured, her voice drowsy. "Now, go and enjoy the rest of your evening. We'll speak more in the morning."

Adrian bowed slightly, a gesture of respect as he stepped away from the bed. "Thank you, Your Majesty," he said, his tone polite as he moved toward the adjoining bath chamber.

He needed to clear his head, to wash away the scent of jasmine and the lingering tension in his muscles.

The bath was quick, the cool water helping to calm his nerves. He dressed swiftly and exited the queen's chambers, his mind still buzzing with the implications of their conversation.

As soon as he stepped outside to find Lilith, however, he was met with a different kind of tension as he approached where she was. The sound of a sharp slap reached his ear, followed by a muffled groan of pain.

Adrian paused in his tracks as he took in the scene before him.

Just a few paces away, Lilith stood with one hand on her hip, her eyes blazing with fury. In front of her was a disheveled man clutching his cheek, his eyes wide with fear and humiliation.

"Don't you dare touch me again," Lilith hissed in a dangerous voice.

The man, clearly regretting his actions, stammered an apology, but Lilith wasn't interested in his words. She shot him a look so cold it could have frozen the air around them, and the man backed away, trembling visibly.

Adrian quickly approached them, his brow furrowed in concern, his eyes shifting between Lilith and the man who now seemed desperate to escape. "What's going on here?" He asked calmly but with an undercurrent of authority.

Lilith turned to face Adrian, her expression softening slightly at his presence. "This creep thought it would be a good idea to grab my ass," she explained sharply. She didn't bother lowering her voice, ensuring the man heard every word.

The man's face turned a deep shade of red as he sputtered, "I-I didn't mean to—"

"Didn't mean to?" Lilith cut him off, her voice dripping with sarcasm. "Then maybe you can explain how your hand just happened to land on my ass." She shot him another withering look before turning back to Adrian.

Adrian's eyes darkened as he turned to face the man, his jaw tightening with barely contained fury. The audacity of this fool, to lay a hand on Lilith—of all people—was beyond comprehension.

He could feel the rage building within him, but he forced himself to maintain control, though his voice dropped into a low, dangerous growl.

"You touched her?" Adrian's voice sent a shiver down the man's spine, making him tremble the more.

Without another word, Adrian extended his hand, and from his back, a fiery chain curled out, the molten links crackling with intense heat.

The man's eyes widened in horror, but before he could even think to run, the chain shot forward, wrapping around his wrist with a searing hiss.

The man screamed in pain as the fiery links bit into his flesh, creating multiple gashes that oozed blood.

The chain didn't sever his hand—Adrian wasn't in the mood for that level of retribution—but the burns and deep cuts were enough to serve as a permanent reminder of his offense.

Adrian yanked the chain back, watching as the man collapsed to the ground, clutching his injured hand and whimpering in agony. "You're lucky I'm in a good mood," Adrian spat.

The man, his face a mask of fear and pain, struggled to his feet, his body shaking uncontrollably. "P-please, I'm sorry!" he stammered, his voice choked with terror.

He barely managed to stay upright as he staggered back, desperate to escape Adrian's wrath. "It won't happen again—I swear it!"

Adrian stepped forward, towering over the man, and his expression softened just enough to let the man know he'd been given a chance—one chance. "Now leave," Adrian ordered, his tone brooking no argument, "before I decide you deserve more than just a few scars."

The man didn't wait for further instruction. He turned and bolted, clutching his bleeding hand to his chest as he disappeared into the shadows, leaving behind only the scent of burnt flesh.

Lilith, who had been watching the exchange with a mix of satisfaction and amusement, let out a low, appreciative whistle.

"Well, that was… intense," she said, her tone light but with a hint of admiration. She moved closer to Adrian, her hand resting on his arm as she looked up at him with a smirk. "I could've handled him myself, you know. But I have to admit, I like seeing this side of you."

She eyed the direction the man had run in. "You know, men like him give the rest of you a bad name," she muttered, her irritation still evident.

"Are you alright?" Adrian asked, his voice softer now that they were alone.

Lilith's lips curled into a small, appreciative smile, her fiery demeanor cooling slightly. "I'm fine," she said with a shrug, though there was still a spark of defiance in her eyes. "Just annoyed, that's all."

She reached out and grabbed Adrian's hand, pulling it toward her. "Here," she said, guiding his hand to her ass, helping him to grab the supple flesh of her backside. "He did it like this." Her voice was teasing now, a playful smirk tugging at the corners of her lips.

Adrian's eyes widened slightly at the sudden contact, and he felt a warmth flood his face as his hand made contact with the firm curve of her ass.

The unexpected intimacy sent a jolt of awareness through him, but he quickly regained his composure and gently pulled his hand away.

"Lilith," he began, a note of exasperation in his voice, "you can't just—"

"Relax, Adrian," she interrupted, rolling her eyes playfully. "I'm just messing with you. No harm done." She gave him a mischievous grin, clearly enjoying his discomfort.

Adrian sighed, shaking his head in amusement.

Lilith's smirk softened into something more genuine, her fingers brushing lightly against his arm. "You're sweet, Adrian," she murmured. "But I think you've done enough damage for one night. We wouldn't want the whole castle talking about the fiery knight who nearly burned a man alive, would we?"

Adrian gave a half-smile, the tension in his shoulders easing as he felt her warmth beside him. "No, I suppose not," he agreed.

Adrian's half-smile quickly vanished as Lilith's playful demeanor shifted, her eyes fluttering as she let out a soft sigh. "I'm exhausted," she murmured. "Let's go in for the night."

Adrian nodded, ready to lead them back to their quarters, but they had barely taken a few steps when Lilith suddenly faltered. Her knees buckled, and before she could collapse to the ground, Adrian instinctively reached out and caught her in his arms.

"Lilith!" Adrian's voice was sharp as he cradled her limp body against his chest. Her usually vibrant skin grew alarmingly pale, and her breathing was shallow and uneven. "Lilith, talk to me," he urged, his heart pounding as he tried to shake her awake.

Lilith's eyes fluttered open weakly, her gaze unfocused as she struggled to form words. "I… feed… need to…" she mumbled faintly as her eyes began to close again.