Euphoria was jolted from sleep with a knock on the chamber door.
"Who is it ?"
She asked scanning around with her eyes finding no signs of Avien around, maybe he had left to do his duties.
"Milady it is i, Orax"
Euphoria threw herself up from the bed and flew to her mirror, her morning hair was akin to a wild bush and she definitely didn't want Orax to see her like this, she used her hands to straighten a few streaks as she patted the hair in place.
"Come in Orax the door is unlocked"
Orax opened the door and went in, she curtsied and greeted the princess.
"Good morning Princess Euphoria"
Euphoria flashed Orax a wide smile and replied to her greetings, she tapped on the side of her bed for Orax to sit down.
"Have you seen Avien around, when I woke up he wasn't here"
"Ah yes, his highness had been up before dawn, he is awaiting you at the dining table so you both can have breakfast"
"Before dawn, we slept very late last night, if he woke up before dawn then I guess he is a really light sleeper"
Orax entered the bath room and poured some lavender oil and soap suds in the bath tub preparing Euphoria's bath while Euphoria stepped into the bathroom sink and brushed her teeth.
"No princess, his highness is an insomniac, ever since he first woke his dragon and tapped into his abilities he hasn't been able to sleep, as first the king thought it was a temporary condition so he looked for the best physicians and therapist far and wide but nothing they did worked"
Euphoria's eyes widened as she listened to Orax, from the tales she had heard Avien was rumoured to had woken up his dragon at a very young age.
"Are you telling me that Avien hasn't been able to sleep since then?"
Orax lay the towel she brought on a the side of the bed as Euphoria undressed and stepped into the ivory tub.
"Yes, I heard it was serious at first when he was still young but now his highness adjusts to it just fine, he is constantly awake but yet his body shows no sign of sleep deprivation"
Euphoria figured it must have been the dragon keeping his body sane, she couldn't imagine not being able to sleep for several years of her life, she felt bad that she slept like a baby the night before while Avien just couldn't, she was definitely going to give him a whole slice of her mind pertaining to why he hid such a thing from her.
"I can see you're concerned about his highness, yesterday you wanted to break his bones but now your eyes dilated on mention of his insomnia"
Euphoria took a deep breath as Orax spoke, she was rinsing the soap off her body as Orax handed her a towel facing backwards.
"Well, we talked things out and he explained the reasons for his actions"
She slipped herself into a deep red floor dress, it had a high V-neck and a beautiful corset design, the glitter patterns around the long sleeves made it simple but elegant, one of the things she admired about the dress was the side slit which started a little above her knee on her right thigh.
"It was about his lust awakening, wasn't it?"
Euphoria eyes turned to Orax as her cheeks started turning red to their usual tomato mode.
"You knew and you didn't tell me"
Orax laughed seeing a pout on the princess's face.
"I'm sorry princess, but it wasn't my place to tell you, but I'm glad that his highness had explained it to you".
Euphoria combed her hair and packed it into a bun at the back of her head after doing a big braid at each side of her hair, Orax watched in awe as the princess easily slipped her hair between her fingers and got it plaited.
"You look beautiful princess, I just hope his highness will still be able to fight the urge not to claim you"
Euphoria was feeling heavily shy at this moment.
"A-and h-how can you say for sure that his highness hasn't already claimed me?"
Orax laughed at Euphoria's attempt to cover up, the princess hurriedly stood up from the dressing mirror and wore a pair of high black sandals which she was more comfortable in than heels.
"Both you and your highness wedding rings are still visible and there is no mark"
Euphoria's tried to hold back a blush as she used her sandals to randomly draw figures on the floor, Orax turned to two guards positioned at the hallway.
"Escort the princess to his highness at the dining hall"
Euphoria whined and turned to Orax
"I thought you'd escort me, you know I'll miss you too much if you leave"
Orax turned to the princess and waved.
"Same here princess, I have matters to attend to but I'll always be around if you need me, for now you have to bond with your husband"
Euphoria nodded understanding and waved back to Orax as she exchanged greetings with the guards who led her to the dining area to meet Avien.
********
Euphoria was wowed as they walked through the castle, the dining hall was vast with high ceilings, it had a harmonious combination of modern and a slight ancient mix, on entering the dinning hall she saw Avien was seated on the table with his long legs crossed, he wore a pair of black coloured shirt and black leather pants, Euphoria couldn't believe how breathtaking he made casual clothes look.
Avien's gaze was glued on Euphoria as he motioned for her to have a seat opposite him, Euphoria exchanged greetings with him and just as she was about to scold him the cooks laid varieties of mouth watering- stomach celebrating buffets on the table.
Avien gave a signal to the meal servers who exited the hall leaving Euphoria and Avien alone to their breakfast.
Euphoria didn't need a prophet to tell her to dig in as she picked a fork and took one of everything on the plate making her plate look like a mountain, she figured... why not eat now and scold Avien mid way.
Avien had a smirk playing at his lips as he watched Euphoria, she was moaning at every bite she took, the way the chicken glided over her lips and the way her tongue stretched and licked the chicken sauce off her lips made him hot.
They ate silently for a couple of minutes but Avien had finished way before Euphoria who was still eating as if she had a secret store in her stomach somewhere, Euphoria finally slowed down feeling Avien's intent stare at her as her face flushed.
"This morning I noticed you had risen early, didn't you sleep for long?"
Euphoria asked arching her eyebrow, maybe Avien would actually tell her that he had sleeping problems but judging by his smile, hell no it seemed he wasn't going to.
"I'm just an early riser that's all"
Euphoria's clamped down on her lower lip with her upper teeth, she didn't appreciate being lied to, even if it was a harmless lie she didn't like it.
"Are you sure you're an early riser or on insomniac?"
Avien didn't reply her as he shoved a slice of chicken in his mouth pretending to be busy munching.
Euphoria calmly stood up from where she was seated and made her way towards Avien, she stood behind him and with her hands on his shoulder she bent down beside his ear and whispered.
"I don't appreciate you not telling me you have a serious case of insomnia, I felt so bad knowing I slept so soundly while you couldn't"
Avien stiffened as her warm breath fanned across his neck, he turned towards her trying to retain his composure.
"I'm sorry, I just didn't tell you because I thought there was no need for it, my apologies"
Avien stood up and patted her shoulder smoothening her sleeve, Euphoria's skin felt tingly where he touched, she stared at him as his eyes were purely fixated on her, the tension was so thick you couldn't hack it open with a chainsaw, she cleared her throat mentally shouting at her mind to focus on having a normal conversation with him without her eyes trailing his body.
"Is there anything that can be done, I read in a book about dragon bloods that your dragon might deprive you something or in your case sleep........ when you firstly tap into it's abilities"
Avien nodded affirmatively leading Euphoria by the wrist into a nearby garden where they could converse freely.
Avien already knew how to put an end to his insomnia but he needed Euphoria to give him permission for the mating rite, only during then could he tap into his dragon's demon's core, he explained everything to Euphoria.
"Why didn't you tell me this since, I didn't know me dragging on the mating rite would affect you this much"
Avien twirled a flower petal from the garden between his fingers with a reassuring smile gracing his lips.
"It's fine, Princess I've dealt with my insomnia for a long time"
Euphoria stepped forward and blocked his path with her soft fingers poking his chest while she was scolding him.
"No it's not, you're battling with the marking urge and insomnia all by yourself and the only thing your prioritizing is me, you're putting yourself in discomfort for me"
Avien could see the way her cheeks fell and the guilt in her eyes, he used her fingers and lifted her chin to face him.
"Everything is going to be alright Euphoria, just have faith in me I'll be okay"
Euphoria nodded her eyes becoming teary, she wasn't okay with Avien's decision on still fighting the urge and his insomnia but she had to pretend to agree with him for the time being, if the mating urge was as strong as she read then sooner or later he would have no choice than to claim her.
Author's note :-Just Incase the chapters are sounding too sexual or cringy sorry y'all I'll work on it.
Love you all my awesome readers, have a fantastic day🖤.