CHAPTER 192: LETS CLEAR THE AIR

Lumina woke up the next morning to the soft light slipping through the curtains. Her body felt lighter than the night before.

The fever had eased, though her limbs still ached from exhaustion. What comforted her most wasn’t the warmth of the sheets, but the steady heartbeat against her back.

Ashen was still there, he hadn’t left her side.

A small smile touched her lips as she felt his breath on her neck. "He never left," she whispered to herself, curling closer into his chest and inhaling the familiar scent that always lingered on him.

"You are awake," his deep voice rumbled softly behind her, vibrating against her back. She didn’t reply. Instead, she pressed herself closer, clutching his hand as if doing so would keep him there forever.

"Good morning...." he whored so close to her ear and she only responded with a smile.

"Do you plan to proceed with the silent treatment today?" She only snorted in return and he smiled against her neck.

Just then a knock came on the door disrupting their moment. "Speak," Ashen spoke, already having that irritation in his voice.

Then Ero’s voice sounded from outside. "The Queen’s condition has worsened, my lord. His Highness demands your presence at the palace."

Lumina’s fingers tightened around his waist immediately. Her heart sank at the thought of him leaving.

Ashen sighed quietly, brushing his thumb across her hand. "My lady..." he began, but she shook her head before he could continue.

"No," she whispered, her voice trembling. "Please stay with me. I don’t want you to leave me."

"Lumina..."

Her grip only tightened. "He will come again," she said suddenly, her voice shaking. "I am blind, Ashen. I can’t see him. I don’t know what he will do this time." She turned slightly, searching for his hand and holding it to her chest. "Please. Just this once, stay with me."

Ashen didn’t question her fear. He could feel the tremor in her body, the way she clung to him like the world might fall apart if he left. His arm wrapped firmly around her waist, his lips brushing her temple.

"Send a message to the King," he declared after a pause, raising his voice toward the door. "Tell him my wife is unwell. I will come later."

"My lord..." Ero hesitated, clearly shocked. "But..."

"Send the message." He cut Ero off.

Silence followed immediately then the sound of retreating footsteps.

Lumina had a full smile on her face, her body finally relaxing in his arms.

"Next time... tell me you need my attention not using some herbs that might backfire." Lumina scoffed; if she had been told there would come a time when she would act this childishly, she wouldn’t have believed it.

"Ashen..." she murmured, tracing his wrist with her fingers.

"Don’t be mad at me next time." She let out that Adam had only gained that easy access to her because her husband was late and wasn’t vigilant. He doesn’t even know Adam was the cause of her current predicament and now she needs to suffer in silence because she knew he would misunderstand her if she talked about Adam.

Ashen lifted his brow at her. "Mad at you?" he asked.

"I don’t like seeing you angry," she whispered. "I only wanted your attention." A low chuckle escaped his throat. "Says the woman who reminds me every day that our marriage was rushed and unwanted."

She turned her head slightly, a confused look passing over her face. "What do you mean?"

"Didn’t you say you complained to my sister about you being forced here?" he teased, brushing his lips near her ear.

Only then did Lumina recall her conversation with Aurelia that day, she couldn’t believe this was the reason he was mad at her.

"Ashen!" she yelled, hitting him, but he quickly grabbed her hands, stopping her.

"I never meant it."

"But you said it... in fact, it’s so obvious you don’t care about me, he argued."

"Ashen... please don’t say that," she muttered. Her voice softened, and she took a deep breath before speaking again. "Fine, I admit it. I am falling for you and these days, I can’t bear it when you’re angry with me. It feels cold, empty. I just want my husband back, the one who teases me, protects me, and makes me feel safe. I don’t like seeing your other side."

Ashen froze for a moment. Her words caught him off guard. ’Protection.’

That word had never meant anything to him. No one had ever protected him now, not even when he was a boy. But hearing her say it, hearing her confess she found safety in him, it made something heavy in his chest loosen.

He pulled her closer, his breath warm against her ear with a huge grin.

"Then expect it every day," he assured her. "I won’t let you out of my sight again. Only took my eyes off you for a few minutes and this happened." he passed for some seconds now thinking about it, Serena had said someone tampered with whatever then she took.

"Who was the person that..."

But Lumina cut him off by kissing him. His words died against her lips as her hands found his jaw, tracing the stubble along his cheek before settling at the back of his neck.

Her touch was hesitant but wanting, Asgen didn’t waste any time his hand slid around her waist, pulling her in until her body melted against his.

Her skin was warm under his palm. The thin night robe she wore did little to hide the curve of her body, and his breath hitched when she shifted closer.

Well, when taking care of her the previous night they needed to remove almost all her dress just the thinking linens remaining.

Ashen needed to use a huge duvet to have her covered but she wouldn’t sleep if she never felt him by his side, which explains why they woke with half of his body covering hers.

Lumina crazily climbs on him with a full grin of victory on her leaving Ashen speechless.

"Lumina..." he murmured, his voice roughened with restraint. "What are you..."

She placed a finger against his lips, fumbling slightly as her fingers brushed his face. In searching for his mouth, she accidentally poked his eye.

"Agh..."

"I am sorry," she said quickly, giggling softly. Then she leaned in, kissing the corner of his eye in apology. Her lips brushed his skin lightly, moving down to the bridge of his nose until she found his lips again. Before she could deepen the kiss, he caught her finger between his teeth and bit lightly.

"Ow!" she gasped, pulling back. "That hurt."

He smirked. "Good. Don’t make me mad next time... take that as your punishment."

She narrowed her eyes, feigning annoyance before leaning forward and biting him on the neck in return so hard that her teeth sank into his skin.

Ashen chuckled at her boldness, his hand gripping her hip as if to remind her who she was teasing. When she finally pulled away, a faint mark had formed on his skin.

"There," she said with a grin. "Now we are even." This was the kind of moment she didn’t want to see all the light but her husband’s face, but fate wasn’t playing fair with her.

Ashen looked at her, amusement flickering in his eyes. "You are getting too bold, my lady."

"I am also mad at you," she said with a playful pout.

He laughed quietly, brushing a strand of hair from her face. "Seems the only time we don’t fight is when we talk instead of assuming things."

She nodded, her expression softening. "Then let’s talk." He raised a brow. "About what?" he asked, already having a mixed feeling.

"About?"

"Is it going to lead to another fight?" he asked, interrupting her and Lumina ticked her tongue at this.

"It’s you going to the Abyss Land because of my sight," she let out slowly.

"You knew that the realm was forbidden, long forgotten, and banned. Yet you went anyway." Ashen’s teasing smile faded.

She wasn’t angry but filled with concern, after all she also needed to see badly because it had always been her wish, especially before she turned twenty.

She reached for his hand, her thumb tracing the scar near his knuckle. "You could have been killed, Ashen if you had gotten caught." she let out another heavy sigh.

"Were you planning to forget that you got a wife here?" He looked down at her, his eyes blank for a moment. "So we are cleaning the air now?" Ashen asked and she nodded her head.

His lips curved not kindly. "Then let’s clean it all," he murmured, his voice low. "How about we talk about you being an enchantress... but refusing to help save my mother?"

Lumina took in a deep breath, not only out of shock but the fact because he already knew this but is also mad at her because she is refusing to save his mother.