Chapter Text
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The revel was still going on at full throttle when Jude slipped out of the room. Partygoers danced, drunk on wine and excitement. The room was loud and a little overwhelming, and Cardan had tried to drown out the noise with the wine goblet in his hand, his 5th that night. Still, even under the influence of the wine and the encompassing distractions in the room, his heavy gaze was still trained on Jude. She mingled a little with the guests, but she stayed tense, prepared for anything that may happen. And so, her exit from the room was the first thing he noticed. She slipped out, without so much as a glance in his direction. She spoke to no one in her leave, almost seeming in a trancelike state, and for that, Cardan pushed off his throne. He began to make his exit to follow her.
“Jude?” he called into the hallway that led right outside the revel, but with no response.
Odd since she had left merely seconds before him.
He headed In the direction of their rooms, glancing down hallways as he strolled. The wine had muddled his mind and filtered his eyes with a cloudy gaze, so he made his way toward his room.
Upon the arrival at his door, Cardan greeted the guard that stood in front, who gave him a curt nod in response.
“Is Jude in there?” he asked.
The guard nodded again, “She just arrived.”
Cardan swung the door open. He was eager as always to see his beautiful Jude. All her fearsomeness and bravery could never diminish her beauty. No matter what the others said, about her appearance or about having a mortal girl as queen. Cardan believed that there was no one better suited for the job, and no one he would have preferred to work alongside.
Still, her beauty never ceased to take his breath away.
Jude was standing in all her elegance and grace, in front of a mirror, taking down her delicate hair pins.
Her dress that evening was one of his favorites, he decided now. It was a blue paler than the sky, yet still impossibly bright. The fabric cascaded down her body, shaping her perfect curves with its silky material. A high slit cut up her leg, revealing the knife strapped at her thigh, in easy access in case some harm was thrown at her. The dress was embellished with golden accents that matched the loop of a golden stem at her neck and earrings that dropped almost to her shoulders. Her silky auburn hair was tied up into a bun with little ringlets curling about her shoulders, and fastened with blue and gold hair pins that were shaped like fallen leaves buried under fallen snow.
She was positively radiant, glowing in her tanned-goddess way.
Jude had yet to notice his admiring gaze, his eyes sweeping from the slit at her thigh all the way up to her soft hair.
His gaze turned hungry. As much as he loved the dress, he wanted it off.
“Oh! Cardan, I didn’t see you there.” Her knowing eyes met his through the mirror, and the little smile at her lips was irresistible. He wanted to throw himself at her and tear her clothes off—
“Hello my sweet.” Cardan said, stepping closer to her. His voice dripped with desire.
Jude closed the gap and made her way over to him, the remaining hair pins forgotten. She pressed her lips to his. A gentle kiss that could easily turn to more. Cardan tried to deepen it and part her lips with the touch. He wanted to taste her and to feel her mouth on his. But Jude pulled away before he could do anything else.
“Cardan, have you had too much to drink? You’re practically sweating wine right now.”
“Perhaps, but not too much, my nemesis. I’m not nearly as intoxicated as I am of you, and that, I could never get enough of.”
Jude shook her head at the foolish comment, but a smile danced upon her features. He wanted to kiss that smile off her lips, but she pushed off his chest, making her way back to the mirror. Cardan stepped up behind her, helping her take down her hair. his fingers trailed down to the ribbons corseting her dress.
Jude met his eyes with a playfully scolding glance in the mirror.
“I think you need to get some rest.” she said softly, turning and pressing her lips to his cheek. Oh how she ruined him, he was practically crumbling to dust in her arms.
“How you wound me, my dear. I dont need it, im wide awake.” Cardan said, draping his arms over her shoulders and leaning into the embrace.
“Well, I do. My brain feels a little foggy from all the wine I had today. But
Cardan, if you want to stay longer, go back to the revel, I won’t stop you.”
“But Jude, it’s no fun without you.” Cardan whined in response.
“Then don’t go. But don’t expect me to stay up.”
Cardan sighed, weighing his options. He could go back to the revel and get properly drunk, or he could lie with his beautiful wife. He undoubtedly chose the latter.
Jude finished preparing for bed. A silky white shirt that was most definitely his was thrown over her body, it looked better on her anyway. She jumped under the oversized covers in the massive bed and was asleep before Cardan could make his way next to her.
Jude looked so young on the massive bed. With all her fearsomeness she obtained in her wake, she usually appeared older than she actually was. Her closed eyes and softened face aged her backwards to her actual years. She, although fae queen and merciless slayer, was still a mortal girl. But she was his mortal girl.
Cardan quickly undressed and wiped off the gold sheen that brushed his cheeks. He crawled into bed next to Jude, and curled his body around hers. She subconsciously molded to him and tucked herself away into his chest.
Cardan thought he could live or die, as long as this moment never ended.
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Cardan was suddenly awoken when he heard the distinct shing of metal swiping through the air accompanied by an explosion of fire across his chest. He heard a cry that might’ve come from his own mouth. He felt the rustling of sheets and knew Jude was up in an instant beside him, lunging out of bed to destroy the attacker.
The pins and needles and agony in his chest were nothing compared to his fear for Jude’s safety. Still he could feel himself slipping out of consciousness.
This is the end
Cardan thought miserably.
He could feel the pain in his chest spreading throughout his body. His heartbeat throbbed at an unnatural pace. He needed to find Jude. He looked and his eyes felt open but all he saw was black
bla ck
b l a c k n e s s .
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