My wedding dress – bloody red. That was what I called cool. It would catch anyone's eyes as even for me this masterpiece was intimidating.
Ash escorted me to the throne hall that was busy with the bustling of the crowd gathered to witness the inauguration of their new queen. I felt cornered as their gazes found their way to my form. Ash wasn't touching me, but his sole presence was enough to comfort me.
Golden lights erupted as the ceremony was held in a sunny-kissed hall. Tall archways exposed magical gardens ignited by lightning orbs and shimmering fireflies. Unique flowers peeked in the gallery as they curled around arches. This place had drastically changed since I had first visited it. I remember the dark palace as it gave me goosebumps, but now I was speechless because of a radically different reason.
The Dragon clan's kingdom was enthralling.
"You're doing great, love," a low voice soothed my nerves. I glanced at the throne area to be met by the man murmuring sweet things in my ear. Axel was standing there with all his glory. He wore a blue dress shirt that was so loose I visioned I would touch the sea waves.
Judging eyes of society scrutinized me. The people from the Dragon clan studied my every inch, movement, and facial expression.
"Hold your head high," I couldn't explain how Axel's firm words assisted me. His assurance dripped in my head and into my fingers as I fisted my hand and raised my head.
Soon enough, people bent their knees to meet me.
I softly smiled as I saw Grey extending his arm to help me climb the stairs to my throne. I hadn't seen him for a while and admitted I had missed his trusting grey eyes.
"Your majesty," he addressed me and bowed his head.
I glanced back at Ash, who gave me a jerk of his head. His flawless figure wasn't neglected by attending women, but his honey brown eyes kept fixed on mine as he slipped all his confidence in me.
"Wear it," Ash winked at me, showing off his charms that would never bore me.
I nodded, and Grey led me to the king.
"Meet your new queen!" Axel declared as he held my hand and gently clutched it from time to time. "Rebel Wu."
I scanned the sweeping view as people rose to their feet and gave me applause. My eyes lingered on a blonde woman with a flat face. Gosh, was that Femme?
She climbed the stairs and directed her burning eyes at me. A white floating dress complimented Femme's lissome body. Her hips swayed as she neared us.
"Rebel Wu of the River kingdom, I announce you as our new queen and king Axel Kek's rightful wife. May your bond be intact, and even death wouldn't separate your souls. Let this wedding chain your fates together."
Her words struck me as Femme left me stupified. She slithered out a utensil filled with a pink liquid. She opened it and wet her fingers before placing them on Axel's and then my forehead.
"She's ready, your majesty," Femme bowed at Axel and leisurely withdrew backward.
Before I knew it, Axel turned me to meet his gentle eyes and flashed me an alluring smile.
"From now on, you are my queen."
His seductive voice translated his words into another thing. My cheeks flushed as his grin widened.
"Respect, love, and cherish your queen," he addressed his people, "any complaints from my queen, and I will set your lives in her hands."
Axel handed me tremendous power as an inner demon inside me reveled in it while I prayed to god it wouldn't change me and my morals.
Then he leaned in, and my heartbeat sped up as my breath quickened. He was going to kiss me.
A devilish smirk appeared on his face as Axel inched towards my side instead and whispered in my ear, "Not yet, Rebel."
Axel waved his hand as the wisps of smoke materialized into a glowing tiara. The bloody rubies and brilliant diamonds adorned the twisted ends of the silver crown. Axel raised it above, never terminating our gazes. Gently, he placed it on my head, and I couldn't hide my gratification as a smile crept to my reddened lips.
"You look amazing," he murmured before faintly gesturing to the crowd with his head.
I turned to face the vast hall packed by fascinated souls, my subjects. I raised my head, and the hall burst in encouraging exclaims and enthusiastic applause.
I was a queen.
Ash, Grey, Danu, Harley, and Fuliko shouted and whistled for me as Axel, and I exchanged gazes. In the next second, we burst into laughter as we couldn't compress amusement and joy.
***
"Take it!"
"Ouch! That was painful!"
"Shush, boys, just left the room."
"Why? We are giving them the wrong idea?" Axel mumbled as he smirked and caged me under him. Don't worry! Unlike that pervert, I was in my pajamas – silver shirt and shorts. On the other hand, Axel wore only his grey sweatpants that did nothing to cover the outline of his thick shaft. His solid chest and eight pack on display for hungry eyes.
"I will win," I declared as I pushed on his chest, and he let himself fall on the bed with a chuckle.
His smile was so genuine and pure, like a child's.
I straddled the giant man beneath me and stabled myself on his chest. Axel kept smiling at me as I danced in triumph.
"Okay, you are quite good in wrestling," he admitted.
"I know, right-AH!"
I was pushed down on my back as Axel pinned my wrists above my head.
"You jerk!" I retorted and started wriggling in his hold but was cut off as Axel captured my lips in a demanding kiss. Our tongues swirled and my body heated up. I felt anticipation as something tightened in my core. His mouth was so skilled as it evoked butterflies in my stomach. I was embarrassed but needy at the same time.
"Dancing on me won't go unharmed." Axel separated our lips as he bore into my green eyes.
My body screamed for me to look away, but his playful gaze hypnotized me. Narrowed blue eyes tempted me for something sweaty and delightful, while a leisure smile that lingered on his face let me know his lewd thoughts. Axel had a nose sculpted by the god as it was perfectly straight and thin. Damn, you!
"You shield your thoughts, baby. Impressive." Axel growled.
Then he dropped his head in the crook of my neck. "We can wrestle as much as you want, little one."
"W-Whhaat ab-bout your p-powers?" his lingering and soft breath on my skin made it harder for me to form a coherent sentence.
I felt the corners of his lips turning upwards against my skin, and I predicted it would become my favorite thing.
"Don't worry about it. My current power's enough to wipe the whole of humanity. The other part of it is immense, yes, but I am more than capable of protecting everyone as I am now." He lifted his head to stare into my eyes.
"Then, PROTECT YOURSELF!" I bumped my head into him as adrenaline hit me. Axel bent his neck and gazed down. My eyes widened as I fathomed that I could have hurt him, "Oh my god! Oh, my god! I'm sorry!"
"Good try," he said smirking and swiftly smashed his lips into mine again.
I was happy. I felt content and joy, comfort and cozy, safe and cared about. I felt at home.
***
I drifted off as Axel wrapped an arm around my waist and scooted me closer to his chest. Was this really how I was going to live my life? Because I loved it! I feared it would end soon. And my thoughts attracted this possibility.
"Wake up, damn it!" A high-pitched voice interrupted my peace.
My eyes shot open as I found myself in a pink room.
"The hell!" I jolted in a king-sized bed. This wasn't my room! No shit, Rebel.
"Rebel, calm your tits, baby."
I snapped my head to the source of that voice and halted as dread filled me. Pink-haired Rema Han was grinning down at me. "Greetings, princess, or should I call you 'queen'?"
My eyes darted from one corner of the room to the other. Satisfied, Luke and Helio were sprawled on the white sofa parallel to the bed with their legs spread open. Abigor stood in the middle of Rema and Mira. Why did I remember six of them?
"Hey, doll. You didn't forget about me, did you?" The voice that ghosted my ear shell made me jump as arms wrapped around me.
"Fuck!" I cursed under my breath as I registered my position.
I was sitting between someone's legs. I twisted my neck to acknowledge the person behind me. Smirking, Mizu flashed me his pearly whites. "Hi." He mumbled.
"The hell!" I snapped at Abigor.
"My queen, my apologies we couldn't make it to your wedding." He snickered at me with mockery-drenched eyes.
"I said I would cooperate with you, but this exceeds all the limits!"
"Sweety, don't sweat yourself," Rema interjected, "we are your nightmares." He threw his head in laughter.
"Stop it, idiot," Mira scolded him and then turned her attention to me, "Rebel, we never told you how we would work."
As she finished, her brother went on and circled my arm on my stomach to soothe me, "In the daylight, you will be in your palace as the queen. But in the night, you will be transported with us."
I shivered, but Mizu didn't stop. He only reached for the white furry blanket and capped my knees with it.
"At night, you will live with us, Rebel. Double life, remember?"
My eyebrows twitched non-stop as I couldn't cover up my distaste and antagonism towards their obscure ways. Did my happiness last that long?
"You will take pills to refill your energy and would require only three hours of sleep. Got it?" Abigor explained as every word he uttered fell on my deaf ears. "Your clone will remain by the side of your beloved husband, while the real you will party with us every night as the clock hits two."
"Now, now. Let's congratulate our queen, shall we?" Luke suggested as Helio licked his delicate lips.
This wasn't going to be nice.