Roxanne's third climax of the night built with terrifying speed. When it broke, it broke violently her entire body seizing, walls clamping so tightly around him that Cassius roared. He thrust twice more and then buried himself to the hilt, flooding her a third time with thick, hot pulses of seed until it spilled out around his cock and down her thighs.
Even then he did not immediately withdraw. He remained deep inside her, grinding in slow, shallow circles, as though determined to push every last drop as far into her womb as possible.
Only when his cock finally began to soften did he ease out of her. A thick rivulet of their combined release followed, dripping onto the sheets.
Cassius gathered her trembling body against his chest, one heavy arm locked around her waist, and pressed a surprisingly tender kiss to her damp forehead.
"Rest while you may, little mate," he murmured, voice still rough. "For I am not yet finished with you this night… and the domain will hold us until I am satisfied."
Cassius woke first.
He lay still for a moment, eyes moving across the room in their usual sweep before settling on Roxanne beside him. She slept deeply, her breathing slow and even, her hair spread across the pillow in long silver waves. The evidence of the night between them was plain and undeniable.
He did not move. He simply watched her in a particular silence.
Then the sun arrived.
Its first rays crossed the floor and climbed the bed until they reached her face, and Roxanne stirred. Her eyes opened slowly, adjusted, and found him already looking at her.
She went still.
"You did not leave."
"I could not," Cassius said. His voice carried its usual flatness but something underneath it was quieter than normal. "One thing led to another rather quickly."
Roxanne sat up slowly, taking inventory of herself and the room with a gaze that sharpened the more awake she became.
"I do not know exactly what happened," she said carefully. "But from everything I can see it is clear that we slept together." Her eyes moved to him, direct and demanding. "What did you do?"
"My wolf took over," Cassius said. "And in doing so he pulled your wolf to the surface as well." He held her gaze steadily. "When wolves are in that state they operate on two instincts only. Reproduction and protection of each other. Neither of them consults reason."
The room was quiet.
Roxanne looked at him for a long moment.
As I said before," Roxanne began, her voice steady and unhurried, "when can we dissolve this marriage? I do not want this happening again." A pause, deliberate and pointed. "Especially not with you."
"We can discuss that later," Cassius said.
Roxanne looked at him for a moment longer than necessary.
"I hope you have not grown attached," she said. "We addressed this already. If feelings enter the arrangement, the plan falls apart. All of it." She moved toward the bathroom door and rested her hand on the frame. "And do not be here when I return. I will not have you found in my chambers. I have a court to attend."
She stepped inside without waiting for his response.
Roxanne sat before the large mirror as her maids worked around her in quiet efficiency. Silver jewels set with blue gems were fastened at her neck, her wrists, her ears, each piece catching the morning light and throwing it back in cool flashes of colour. The blue gown came next, fitted and immaculate, every seam precise against her frame. Finally one of the maids lifted the crown, silver and blue, and set it upon her head, stepping back to assess before giving a small satisfied nod.
Roxanne looked at herself in the mirror.
"Your Grace, it is time to walk to court with His Majesty the King."
Roxanne rose. Her ladies in waiting fell into position behind her, quiet and perfectly arranged. She moved through the corridor until she met them, Vangelis and Fiona side by side, and dipped into a composed bow.
"Your Majesties."
Vangelis looked at her with something warm and slightly apologetic behind his eyes.
"Your Grace, I had intended to visit you last night and present you with this personally." He reached into his coat and produced a small velvet box, opening it to reveal a ruby ring that caught the corridor light like a drop of deep red fire. "Unfortunately my Queen was unwell and I could not leave her side. Please accept my apologies for the delay."
Roxanne's eyes moved from the ring to Fiona.
Fiona stood with her arm threaded firmly through Vangelis's, her posture the picture of a queen entirely at ease. She held Roxanne's gaze for just a moment.
Then she winked.
Roxanne looked back at the ring.
So that was how last night had gone.
The realisation settled over Roxanne quietly and completely.
Fiona had not been unwell at all.
She had kept Vangelis at her side the entire night with nothing more than a performance and a well timed ailment, ensuring he never made it to Roxanne's chambers. Simple. Effective.
Roxanne almost smiled.
"I do hope Her Majesty is feeling much better this morning," she said, her voice carrying the warm and measured concern of someone who meant every word. "As Duchess, my foremost priority is the wellbeing of the Queen and her child above all else." She turned to Vangelis with a gracious nod. "And truthfully my lord I am glad you could not come. I was utterly exhausted by the time I reached my chambers. The moment my head met the pillow I was gone entirely."
Fiona smiled serenely and tightened her arm through his.
"Then allow me to place it here," Vangelis said. "May I have your hand?"
Roxanne extended her hand without hesitation. He took it carefully and slid the ruby ring onto her finger, the deep red stone settling against the silver and blue gems already adorning her wrist like it had always belonged there.
He held her hand a moment longer than necessary.
Then he released it.
"Shall we, Your Grace? Today marks your first day at court."
Fiona moved to his side naturally, her arm finding his, her two ladies in waiting falling into step behind her. Vangelis led at the front, Fiona beside him. Roxanne followed a half pace behind them, her own maids positioning themselves beside her, the quiet hierarchy of the procession arranging itself without a word of instruction.
They moved through the corridor, the King and Queen leading, the Duchess a composed presence at their back, the sound of their footsteps merging into a single steady rhythm against the stone floor.
Roxanne kept her eyes ahead.
On her finger the ruby ring caught the light with every step, burning quiet and red against her skin.