The Crimson Snow (A Realm of Chaos and Void #1)

Chapter 34

The Playful Fox

Hidden within the realms, the gates to other lands lie veiled,

Once open to creatures of every kind,

Now sealed and concealed from most eyes.

Yet certain eyes may still find these doors.

Will they dare to cross into the unknown,

Or retreat to the familiar yet twisted dangers of the known?

Retrieved from Golden Tales from the Otherworld

by Galen Sorrowspring, Ch. 22, p. 93.

One Day Before the Incident

Evren Wraithwood

Seraphine and Theron came from Dorah’s with information, and it seemed like they all had different ideas. Theron was against trying this out, and Raggart sided with Theron, suggesting they should check other sources.

“I have an idea,”

Seraphine said, looking at Raggart and Theron. “An idea I would like to discuss with Evren in my chambers, if that’s okay with you both.”

Oh, for the Ancients, this sounds like a problem.

They both nodded, and Seraphine moved quickly to their chambers. As soon as they were there, she muttered, “I have a theory.”

Her voice was filled with excitement and anticipation. Evren expected her to be mad, but she seemed smitten.

She gently pulled Evren down onto the bed, straddling him gracefully. Her dress slid up her thighs, revealing just enough to make his breath hitch. Now, Evren understood why she wanted to discuss this alone with him. She was using all her tools to move him to her side.

“Do you?”

Evren rasped, wrapping his hands around her delicate waist and pulling her closer. She nodded and smiled mischievously.

“Would you like to know my theory, prince?”

she purred, her voice sweet and melodic, as she brushed her gloved hand around her chest, fingers lingering near the delicate lace of her dress. “Let’s make a deal,”

she said, her eyes locking onto his with a playful glint as she slowly played with the knot there.

Evren gulped. “What is it that you want?”

He was captivated. The way her crimson eyes lit up and sparkled was enough to make him forget everything else.

“If you help me unlace this here—”

she mentioned, pointing to the upper part of her dress that was tight and left nothing to the imagination. “I will tell you my theory.”

Ah, this is all a trick.

However, it was one he would happily fall for.

So, he pulled the knot and unlaced her dress, the upper part falling and pooling at her waist. Her shoulders and neckline were exposed, the fabric no longer hiding her perfect form. When he moved his hand to caress her upper body, Seraphine playfully swatted his hand away.

“No, no. Let’s make another deal,”

she teased, closing the distance between them. “I will tell you the theory and my plan, and if you agree with it, then…”

“Then?”

She licked her lips slowly, moving her head to whisper something in Evren’s ear. He gripped the sheets tightly, struggling to maintain control. “You can have me.”

“In what sense? You are quite the trickster,”

he said, caressing her cheek with his nose, inhaling her intoxicating scent.

Fearless as she was, she said, “All. You can have all of me and do as you please for tonight.”

“Only tonight?”

he asked, his voice a mere whisper.

She hummed and pulled away slightly while Evren fought to keep his eyes from drifting to her exposed skin. “Yes, you are right. I am being unfair to you,”

she muttered, looking him in the eyes with a smoldering gaze. “Tonight, tomorrow, in the morning, on the desk, in the library, in this bed, in every place, at every moment. For as long as I live and wherever you are. I am yours.”

Evren’s breathing hitched, and his heart beat so fast that he feared she might hear it. “Deal,”

he said, pulling her by the waist, his hand moving up and down near her waist, taunting her with feather-light touches. “Tell me your theory and plan, and I shall see if I wish to agree to your generous offer.”

Seraphine sighed softly, biting her lip. Ah, sweet torture.

“The bracelet’s rubies should trigger some kind of door, just like the blood we give to the nightsith roses,”

she explained, touching the bracelet. Six crafted rubies rested there.

Evren moved his hand down her waist toward her navel and below, making her gasp and move toward his hand without realizing it. This time, she gulped. “So, the bracelet can be used multiple times since just one ruby is enough to open the entrance.”

He smiled. “You want us to go first and test it out, don’t you? Before actually going.”

He moved his hand lower, and she whimpered. He loved how responsive she was in every sense.

Seraphine nodded. “Let’s check if there is a door, and if there is, let’s just leave and keep our research about the Underworld. We cannot go unprepared. I—”

Evren touched a very sensitive part of her, and she closed her eyes. “I won’t risk you or anyone without confirmation. There are still a lot of books in the forbidden section.”

Evren hummed, his fingers gently exploring her while she moved to the rhythm of his hand. “Not sure if I should accept,”

he teased, knowing she wanted this just as much as he did.

She opened her eyes, her gaze locking onto his with an intensity that made his mind stutter. “What a shame that would be, prince.”

Slowly, she lowered her own hand, her fingers grazing over her breasts, sending a shiver down his spine. Seraphine continued her descent, tracing her fingertips along her abdomen, feeling the soft curve of her navel until she reached his hand.

With a wicked smile, she moved his hand away. “A shame for you, of course,”

she said, her voice filled with playful seduction. She then placed her own hand between her legs.

Evren’s eyes widened as he watched her. Her fingers moved with a rhythm that made her back arch slightly. He could see every detail, the way her fingers glistened, the soft sounds of her pleasure. Her breath quickened, her moans growing louder as she continued.

For Nemera…

Then, she whispered his name.

“Deal,”

Evren said, and she smiled knowingly. At that, he pulled Seraphine onto her back and moved to undress her fully and himself.

The world was filled with kisses and touches. Evren kissed her tattoo that bonded them together, the constellations of beauty marks and counted each of them. When he kissed her below the navel, she breathed his name, and he kept whispering hers.

Everything was her, all was her, and she was his, and he—he had always been hers.

Evren kissed his way up, paying special attention to her, kissing her softly. Seraphine arched in a way that made him plan how it would be in the morning, the day after, and during their whole life. Moving together, their bodies were in perfect harmony, and the sensation was overwhelming. Her warmth enveloped him completely.

“You feel incredible, my undoing. You are perfectly made for me,”

he whispered, savoring every moment.

“Don’t stop,”

she pleaded, her voice a sweet symphony. “Please, don’t stop.”

He had no intention of stopping. Evren moved with her steadily, their connection deepening with each tender movement. “You’re perfect,”

he said, his lips brushing against her ear. “Absolutely perfect.”

“Evren,”

she cried out, her body trembling.

He felt her tighten around him, her release approaching. “Come with me, Seraphine,”

he urged softly.

Her release came in a wave, her cries filling the room. Evren followed her into bliss, his own release coming over him as he held her close.

They stayed together, their bodies molded perfectly as one. Her gentle tremors sent shudders through his body, each wave echoing hers. Evren could feel every soft breath, every heartbeat, as they shared this intense, intimate moment.

As they began to come down from their high, Evren buried his face in her neck, breathing deeply. “You are delirium, Crimson Eyes,”

he said under his breath, pressing a kiss to her damp skin.

She smiled, her fingers gently tracing patterns on his back. “And you’re mine,”

she replied softly, her voice filled with love and contentment.

“Why are you hiding?”

Seiren said again, sitting in her usual spot in front of the waterfalls.

He moved slowly, his tail brushing across the bushes, his fur making a soft sound. Seiren looked at him as if he wasn’t a wolf.

She looked at him, knowing he was so much more.

Seiren smirked. “Smelly, muddy wolf.”

He barked in response.

She laughed, and her eyes lit up. “Oh, is a scary wolf like yourself afraid of a human like me?”

Moving closer to her, he wondered how unafraid she was. How can a human be so absolutely enchanting and wicked? Once in front of her, Evren felt her caressing his furred ears, giggling. “Want to hear a tale?

Evren hadn’t dreamt about that in decades. He smiled at the tender memory of her.

Seiren.

Seraphine this time.

She was sleeping, her hair a messy halo on the pillow, looking peaceful. The soft rise and fall of her chest with each breath captivated him. Her long lashes cast delicate shadows on her cheeks, fluttering slightly as she dreamed. Evren could watch her for hours, painting her serene form bathed in the gentle morning light filtering through the curtains. He smiled even more after remembering last night. Seraphine moved, and he noticed she was still wearing gloves.

Evren frowned at that. Whatever connected Seraphine to the Underworld wasn’t something she should feel the need to hide. He had promised her freedom, and seeing her in gloves felt like seeing her in cuffs. Hopefully, they would find a way to help her control it and rid her of those gloves.

He smiled at that thought and kissed her softly once again. She slowly opened her eyes and smiled at him almost timidly. “Ready for a second round?”

Evren chuckled and held her close. “Always.”

There was a third and a fourth round too.

Seraphine Ashcroft

Seraphine stood in the middle of the library, wearing her new crimson cloak. It was late in the afternoon, and she was waiting for Evren. They had decided to try her plan. Theron, Evren, and she would go today to the place Dorah had marked on the map to see if there was indeed a way into the Underworld.

Safe and quick, she wanted to be back to continue her research in the forbidden section. And on Evren. There was so much to learn about him. She smiled at that thought and flushed immediately at the memory of last night and this morning.

“I hate lovebirds,”

Theron said beside her.

She giggled. “So, what happened between you and Dorah?”

“I fell in love with her centuries ago. She was the most beautiful aos sí.”

“Well, sorry to break it to you, Theron, but she is a hag,”

Seraphine said.

He looked at her. “She was an aos sí, but...”

Theron looked conflicted. “She did something unforgivable and paid the price with her beauty.”

Seraphine was surprised by such a cruel punishment. “And she lost you.”

He stayed quiet, and thankfully, Evren arrived in time. He was wearing a black cloak, his face fully hidden. She almost forgot that he was one of the most wanted beings in the realm. “Shall we?”

The group walked for about fifteen minutes until they reached a small forest near the edge of the Shadowmarket, the trees a beautiful blend of yellow and orange.

“She circled the whole thing here,”

Theron said, annoyed, uncertain of what they were looking for.

Evren wrapped his arm around Seraphine’s neck, playfully tugging at her new red cloak while rolling his eyes at Theron.

“Do not be so human, Theron.”

Seraphine pinched him on his side, and he laughed. “No offense, love,”

he muttered in her ear.

What a dreamlike word.

She sighed softly and moved Evren’s hand off her cloak. “Let’s just check the area and see if we find anything out of the ordinary. It can’t be that difficult to search this small garden.”

They all agreed, each one taking a different route. It was indeed a very colorful forest, small enough that she could sometimes see flickers of Evren and Theron. There was no fear of getting lost here.

Seraphine took her time, marveling at the beauty of the place. The trees were pretty plain, unlike the talking trees near the Shadowmarket.

She hoped Dorah hadn’t tricked her into this as revenge for wiping the floor with her while playing shadow chess a couple of days ago.

“Crimson, Crimson Eyes, come and play, you better hide,”

a light voice sang.

Seraphine’s spine stiffened.

“Crimson, Crimson Eyes, come and play, you better try.”

This time, she followed the voice, which seemed to come from a cluster of trees.

“Crimson, Crimson Eyes, come and play, you better pray.”

Where is it coming from? She looked around, her eyes trying to focus on the trees or anything that might give some clue about the source of the song.

“Crimson, Crimson Eyes, come and play, you better cry.”

An icy feeling enveloped her as she continued walking. The air seemed colder, and she wrapped herself in the cloak. Then, Seraphine saw a very thin tree with almost no leaves hidden behind massive and wide bushes.

However, this was not a regular tree. The few leaves were crimson red and heart-shaped. It looked like a sentinel tree but fearsome. When she approached the tree, she noticed a face carved into it, unmoving, with a big hollow resembling a mouth with sharp teeth.

This has to be it. Seraphine was relieved that Dorah hadn’t tricked them. She looked up and watched one of the leaves. It was crimson red and textured like silk. They just needed to test this out, return home, and continue their research. She turned around, ready to scream for Evren and Theron, but a voice stopped her.

“What an unexpected view. Weren’t you dead?”

A raspy and dark voice came from the shadow, and with it, a man appeared. His eyes were blue and gray, similar to the ones she had learned to adore, but instead of having white dots like snowflakes, they had dark dots like falling leaves. He was tall with raven-dark hair, dressed in fur, and menacing like a lion.

Like a king.

Seraphine knew who that was without a shadow of a doubt.

King Malvrek.