Storm's Rapture | Storms Series: Book 1 (This is a Co-Write)

Chapter 85: Rosanna

AN: No Piarari Key needed this time. Be sure to drop some comments as you read. Enjoy!

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The first person I saw when I left the closet was Cyris. He was standing near our bed wearing an opaque silk robe of his own. He gave me a warm smile and held out his hand for me. As I walked closer I could feel everyone's eyes on me, I really hated this. And of course, the room was silent, making everything that much more awkward. Getting over to Cyris felt like a lifetime, but when I finally reached him and touched his hand, my heart seemed to calm a little.

"We'll begin with applying the marriage marks," the Priest stated. My eyes widened and I looked at Cyris. He said we didn't have to wait! He said we could mark each other whenever we chose! And we had! We'd marked each other already...in my mother's potion laboratory...when we exchanged our vows...

Cyris flashed me a cumbersome smile and rubbed the back of his head. Then he faced the council members. "Well, we've already done that..." he admitted.

"Going against tradition..." Lord Byron huffed.

"We weren't even sure we'd be alive to have a wedding," Cyris countered.

"No matter...with the circumstances surrounding the war, it's understandable that you marked each other," the Priest assured Cyris. "I suppose we'll proceed to the next part of the ceremony then. A marriage is not truly final until it is consummated. And here in the presence of Tasyn, the Goddess of Fertility, Nymera, the Goddess of Marriage, and Vadelia, the Goddess of Love, King Cyris Castellan and Princess Rosanna Castellan nee Aster are taking their next steps to solidify their union. May the Goddesses bless their union. Your Majesty, you and the Princess may begin."

Cyris glanced at me, and I bit my lip. He gently pulled me closer, and cupped my face in his hands. "Just do your best to focus on me... And I'll do my best to make you feel good," he vowed.

I nodded, and tried with all my might to relax. My husband moved to untie my robe.

"Please don't..." I pleaded softly. I had my reasons. One of them was of course the fact that I didn't want anyone to see my back. Another was that I wasn't willing to let these Lords look at my body. And there was a third reason...one that I hadn't told Cyris yet...but it was one that I needed to own up to...

Cyris gazed at me for a moment, and didn't say anything.

"Riofaltan women...married Riofaltan women...don't...don't do this...they don't expose their bodies in front of others like this... To them, the most skin they show involves dresses showing off their stomachs or legs or some cleavage, not like this...not their whole bodies. Riofaltan women don't even let anyone but family members and their lovers see them with their hair undone... Please...Cyris...I beg you...don't make me forsake that custom..." I told him. I bit my lip.

"Riofaltan customs have no place in this chamber! The ceremony should be performed as it's meant to be!" one of the Lords protested. I let out a shaky breath.

"The hell it will!" Kian cut in. Arissa held onto his arm, trying to ease his rage. He glanced down at her and shook his head. "No, she has the right, Arissa... Your Esporian King has chosen a Riofaltan Princess, her culture is important too!"

"Then we proceed with the robes on," the Priest declared.

"No we won't!" Lord Byron objected.

I kept my glistening eyes on Cyris, needing him to understand that this couldn't happen with my robe off or my hair undone. Cyris smiled and brushed his fingers against my cheek.

"Yes, we will..." Cyris decided.

"But Your Majesty—" Lord Pallis protested.

Cyris gave him this look, and Lord Pallis stopped talking instantly. "My word is final."

Cyris was normally very open to the Council, even though he knew that some of their views were outdated, and he could easily overrule them. But when he said those words...there was nothing anyone could say or do to go against them.

"Thank you..." I told my husband softly. "We can proceed..."

While I climbed onto the bed, Cyris removed his own robe, leaving only his underwear on. I got under the covers, and then he climbed into bed with me.

"Remember what I told you," he said. "Focus on me."

I nodded. He untied my robe under the blankets, and I could feel the warmth of his hands as he moved them down my body. I let out a soft sigh of contentment.

"Do you want me to take my time? Or would you prefer we just...hurry for them?" Cyris asked quietly.

"Maybe...we can take our time after when we're alone?" I replied softly. "I just want this ceremony to be over..."

He nodded. Cyris laid down on top of me, then began kissing on my neck a little. I knew that his action was more for his own benefit than mine, though it still felt good. He moved his hands to my breast and groped them tenderly. I could feel him stiffen between my legs as he pulled away from me.

"Are you ready?" he asked.

I nodded. His eyes started glowing deep blue, and he slid inside. I gasped loudly. The feeling was a bit painful and uncomfortable, and I grabbed a fistful of the sheets with one hand and squeezed Cyris' bicep with the other, letting him know that it hurt.

He didn't thrust right away, maybe he was too worried about my pain... I wasn't sure. When he did move, it felt like seconds before he... He got soft...! That never happened before, was he okay? What was going on in his head...?! I knew I shouldn't have, but I became even more self conscious.

"That's good enough, isn't it?!" Sidra questioned loudly.

I heard whispers, all of the voices sounded like the council members. There was shuffling and the door opened and closed as I assumed everyone left. Cyris rolled off of me, and laid on his back.

"Are you okay...?" he asked shakily.

"I don't know...it hurt and I feel awful about all this..." I admitted as my eyes welled up with tears. "I know it was to bless our marriage, but...that doesn't mean I'm okay with it...and to top it off...the Lords wanted me to go against my own customs... Are you okay?"

Cyris sat up suddenly, and swung his legs off the bed so that he was sitting on the edge of it now. He put his head in his hands. "No..." he mumbled. "I hurt you, Vasia...I did it again..."

"No Cyris...you didn't mean to..." I assured him as I dried my tears. "Don't blame yourself."

"But I do... I'm King, aren't I?!" he said more loudly, and glanced back at me. His eyes were black.

"Cyris...it's okay... It's not your fault," I assured him. "Calm down, love...it's okay... At least that ceremony only had to happen once."

As he gazed at me, his eyes changed back to their normal colour. I felt a little better now that he was more calm.

"I'm so sorry... Once I realized I hurt you, I just couldn't...go on," he told me.

"I understand...but tonight doesn't have to be ruined...we can still have a wedding night..." I told him, a plan forming in my head. "I'll go over to that closet, come out and we'll both go through the night as if the ceremony didn't happen. How does that sound?"

Cyris looked at me curiously. "It sounds amazing, but...what about you going into the closet is going to start this chain reaction?"

"Before the ceremony became a thing, I...I had a surprise for you as well..." I admitted as I bit my lip nervously. "Since you know...today is our wedding day and your birthday..."

"Really...?" he asked.

"Yeah. I mean I wore a piece of it under the robe. Just give me a minute and I'll go get the rest of it on," I told him. "In the meantime, get comfortable. Light the candles maybe?"

He nodded and I headed into the closet.

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AN: Be sure to drop some comments and vote!