Duke of the Beast and the Vicarious Bride - Chapter 26

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※ This work contains depictions of coercive relationships, explicit language, and other graphic content. Reader discretion is advised.

Truth be told, until she confirmed it with her own hands, a lingering doubt had remained that he might truly be a beast or a monster. But the man she felt beneath her fingertips was clearly human in form. Two eyes, one nose, one mouth. That alone brought her great relief. Whatever else, she was grateful he had neither more nor fewer parts than expected. His face was not rotting, nor covered in fur, nor equipped with protruding fangs. Judging by bone structure alone, one could even say it was quite fine. Yet she could not fully relax.

His face aside, he hasn’t got four arms or sprouted wings, has he?

Driven by the boundless imaginings the darkness conjured, Fiona hastily slid her hands downward. As she stroked down along his strong neck muscles, she felt his powerful pulse and a low rumble in his throat vibrating beneath her touch. Then, placing her hands on his horizontally set collarbones, broad shoulders, and thickly muscled chest, she felt him inhale sharply with a krruk. But his continued docility encouraged her, and she used both hands to examine his arms. His forearms, raised and bound by chains, were taut with sinew and muscle.

“…”

No matter how she groped, her husband was a human just like her. Moreover, a man of impeccable, indeed excellent, physique. Realising this, a flush of embarrassment washed over her at having so brazenly explored every inch of his body, but the deed was already done.

With the final doubt that he might not be human dispelled, another difficulty now washed over her. It was time, truly, to perform the deed. Until this moment, the existence of her husband had been an abstraction in Fiona’s mind. The marriage, the consummation, even the eventual childbirth—all had been vague future events.

But now, confronted with this vividly living, breathing man of hot blood and flesh, the reality she had so long ignored crashed down upon her all at once. From this moment, she was to join her body with this man, and someday, bear his child. She had tried desperately to convince herself it was nothing, but that was like trying to hide the sky with one’s palm. This was an experience that would fundamentally alter her entire life; perhaps she would never return to her former self.

It was laughable that she only realised this after being trapped in this black cave, but Fiona now regretted having made all her decisions too lightly. But it was too late. Overwhelmed for a moment by the weight of the reality before her, Fiona shook her head and came to her senses. She could not turn back and flee now. If this was yet another trial fate had bestowed upon her, she must overcome it for there to be a next step. Unless she meant to drown herself in a dish of water here and now, she had to do what must be done.

‘Well, could it be worse than dying?’

That was what she always thought when life was painful. No matter how hard things got, being alive was still better than being dead. Even as a butcher ending the lives of innocent animals, she had paradoxically felt a yearning for life. She had come here prepared to die if necessary, but in truth, she wanted to survive. What awaited at the end of a life so tenaciously clung to, she could not know. Perhaps it would be greater despair, not the happiness she dreamed of. But even so, Fiona wanted to see it with her own eyes. After all she had endured, it would be a waste to let everything go now, trapped in a state of neither here nor there. And she had a sister to protect.

So, she had to be strong.

“From now on, I’m going to touch more sensitive places. If it makes you uncomfortable, make a sound. Give me a signal, and I’ll stop immediately.”

The beast growled the moment Fiona finished speaking. At first, she was relieved, thinking it was a response to her words, but soon she realised he was panting in distress.