Chapter 8: Aftermath

The battlefield was quiet now, the last cries of war replaced by the somber hum of rebuilding. Richard and his court had been executed, their reign of greed and neglect brought to an unceremonious end. The kingdom stood on the precipice of change, and at the center of it all was Charmaine.

She wandered the courtyard, her steps heavy with the weight of what had transpired. The people bowed to her as she passed, their eyes filled with a mix of respect and curiosity. She had gone from being an outcast to a Savior, but the sudden shift left her unsure of her place.

Did he mean it? Charmaine was battling her feelings. Would he be another Marx? Was he just going to use her?

They were lovers now but that was it. Could they become more?

Later that evening, in the quiet of Regus's newly claimed throne room, Charmaine found him seated on the edge of the dais, gazing at the kingdom through the wide windows. He turned at the sound of her footsteps, his dark eyes softening.

"Charmaine," he said, his voice steady but warm.

"Did you mean what you said?"

Rexus frowned. "I always mean what I say."

She approached slowly, her heart pounding. She whispered, her voice trembling, "Don't break my heart, Rexus. Let me know now that what you said, you said in the heat of battle."

He stood, his gaze never leaving hers. "It is not," he replied firmly, closing the distance between them. His hand reached for hers, rough but gentle. "You are my equal, my partner. Without you, none of this would have been possible."

He leaned closer, his eyes searching hers for any sign of doubt. "If you think I will betray you, here." He reached into his belt and handed her a dagger. "Pierce my heart. End it all now."

Charmaine's breath hitched as she stared at the blade in her hands. Her fingers trembled, but her resolve remained. She looked up at him, her eyes glistening. "I can't."

Regus's expression softened further. He took the dagger from her hands and tossed it aside. Gently, he cupped her face and kissed her, a tender declaration of the feelings he could no longer contain. "You are mine and I will make you my queen."

"But that isn't what I want." She tried to turn away but he held her.

"What? I will conquer all the lands to get you what you want."

She shook her head. "All I want is love. I want the trust and loyalty that come with it. I want the happiness when I enter a room and you'd smile."

Rexus smiled. "You have that. You have my love."

"Really?"

He nibbled on her fingers. "Even a Dark Lord knows what love is." He took her hands and guided her to his bed. "You have all of me, Charmaine. You have my love, my laughter, and my body.

"Oh!" He tore her skirt and exposed her tight little panties.

Using his teeth, he bit her panties and pulled them down and exposed her. He stood to take off his armor and the rest of his clothes. 

Charmaine gasped when she saw all of him. He was glorious. Scarred in battle but muscled in all the right places. She trembled involuntarily. What would he feel like inside her?

"I will make you ready first."

Ready? Her mind couldn't comprehend, especially when his tongue dove inside her. It short-circuited at the pleasure. He seemed to have loved her taste. She didn't know how long he was down there but she was so wet and thoroughly licked.

"I'm about to enter you."

"I'm r-ready…" She was still trying to catch her breath and failed because his body was doing all kinds of things to her. 

His hands made her feel so warm. His tongue sent her fire. The visual impact of his manhood made her melt like ice cream.

Rexus slowly sank into her. It felt like heaven. He'd never felt like this before. It was addicting. Charmaine's body was heaven. So open to him, he loved it. He was already thinking of ways to make it inventive for her.

Slowly, he pumped into her faster and faster. He wanted to go slow but the feel of her was driving him mad. One night would not be enough. It was a good thing he was about to marry her. She felt good and he'll devour her over and over again.

Was it her healing powers or was it her light? He didn't know but everything about her was so good. How could that bastard Richard and his court treat her like trash? She was a treasure. He was astonished by his good fortune. She fit him in every way. He never liked skinny girls anyway.

*** 

The next day, Regus introduced Charmaine as his bride before the assembled nobles and commoners alike. Those who did not treat her right were executed or thrown into the dungeon. The Dark Lord had found his queen, and the kingdom had found its new heart. The Dark Palace and Richard's court were now united.

Under their joint rule, the kingdom flourished. Rexus governed with a firm hand, ensuring law and order were upheld, but it was Charmaine's touch that brought warmth and care to the land. She reformed the agricultural system, ensuring that no one went hungry. She established social services to care for the sick and the poor, using her knowledge and her powers to heal the wounds of a kingdom once divided.

Her ideas fueled the kingdom's growth. Roads were built, trade expanded, and the people thrived. In time, Charmaine bore twins—two boys who inherited both their parents' strength and compassion.

Rexus, mindful of the lessons of his past, decreed that the kingdom would be ruled jointly by the brothers. He raised them not as rivals but as best friends, fostering a bond that would ensure the unity and prosperity of the realm for generations to come.

As Charmaine stood in the royal gardens one morning, watching her sons play among the flourishing crops and flowers, Rexus approached and wrapped his arms around her waist.

"Do you regret it?" he asked softly.

She leaned into him, a smile gracing her lips. "Not for a second."

Together, they watched the kingdom they had built—a kingdom of strength and compassion, where even the darkest of lords could find redemption in the light of love.

The End.