Married To The Dragon Prince Against My Will-Chapter 246: PLEADING WITH HER

"My queen..."

Ashen’s voice was low as he stepped into the chamber, his footsteps careful, as though he feared the floor itself might betray him. He took a step toward her.

Lumina’s hand shot forward at once.

"Do not come any closer to me."

Her voice trembled, sharp with anger and hurt. The words rang through the chamber like a warning bell.

Ashen paused for half a heartbeat, then smirked faintly, the kind of smile he used when trying to soften her.

"My love," he said gently as he continued forward. "I promise I will sort this out."

"I am serious," Lumina shouted, her chest rising and falling erratically. "Do not take another step. I am not going to believe anything you say anymore."

She swallowed, her throat burning. "You want a concu..."

Her words were cut off as Ashen closed the distance and pulled her into his arms.

She gasped, fists pressing weakly against his chest as he held her tightly, as though afraid she might disappear if he loosened his grip.

"I am sorry," he whispered. "I truly am." Her body stiffened at hearing him.

"You are not even promising me that you will not take another woman," Lumina said hoarsely. "If you cannot promise that, then stay away from me."

Ashen froze and slowly, painfully, he stepped back. The sudden absence of his warmth stunned her.

"Did you... Did you just step back?" Lumina asked, disbelief seeping into her voice.

Ashen lowered himself slightly, bringing his face closer to hers without touching. His eyes searched her face, lingering on every tear she had not yet wiped away.

"I do not want to promise what I may not be able to keep," he said quietly.

Before he could say more, Lumina grabbed the front of his shirt and struck his chest.

"I hate you!" she cried, hitting him again and again, her strength fueled by grief rather than anger. "I hate you so much!"

Ashen did not stop her. He stood still, letting each blow land, his jaw clenched as though each strike carved deeper into him than steel ever could.

When her arms finally weakened, he reached for her wrists gently.

"I will leave for now," he said softly. "Until you calm down."

Lumina stared at him as though he had just shattered something sacred.

"So that means you are really going to make her your.." Her legs gave way.

The world tilted violently as her strength abandoned her, and she collapsed toward the floor trying to understand the fact that she was facing now.

Ashen reacted instantly and caught her before she hit the ground, sinking to his knees with her cradled against him.

"I thought you loved me," Lumina whispered, tears spilling freely now. Her fingers clutched at his sleeve desperately.

"I love you," Ashen said, his voice breaking for the first time. "I love you more than my own life."

"Then why does this feel like you are leaving me?" she sobbed.

He pulled her closer, her face pressed against his chest as her shoulders shook violently. Her cries were no longer restrained. They tore out of her in raw, broken sounds that made his chest ache.

"I do not have a choice," he said softly, his hand cradling the back of her head. "Please try to understand. I need you to support me in this."

She shook her head frantically. "Do not say that. Do not say that to me."

"She will only be a concubine," he continued, desperation creeping into his tone. "Nothing more. I will never love her." Lumina’s sobs deepened.

"I cannot do this," she cried. "I cannot watch you belong to someone else, even in name."

Her fingers fisted in his tunic as though holding on was the only thing keeping her alive.

"I... I am cursed, is that the reason why you don’t want me by your side!?"

Ashen pressed his forehead against hers. "You are not cursed."

"They see me as one," she said bitterly. "They want to control you because of me." His arms tightened. "They fear me.."

"Ashen I don’t want to lose you, I promise not to have that ambition anymore," she whispered.

Silence fell between them, and Lumina pulled back just enough to look at him. Her eyes, hidden behind the blindfold, still felt like they pierced straight through him.

"If you ever love her," she said slowly, each word trembling, "then consider us done." Ashen’s breath caught.

"If your heart even leans toward her," Lumina continued, her voice barely above a whisper, "do not come back to me."

Pain flashed across his face. "I swear to you," he said urgently, "I will never love another woman."

She laughed weakly through tears. "Swearing is easy."

"I swear on my life," he said. "On my blood. On everything I am."

Her sobbing softened into quiet, exhausted cries as she collapsed fully into his arms.

He held her there, rocking her slightly as though she were something fragile that had already cracked.

"I am so tired," she murmured. "I just wanted to be loved without conditions."

Ashen kissed her hair gently. "You are loved.."

"Then fight," she whispered. "Even if you lose." He closed his eyes tightly. "I will fight," he promised. "For you."

Ashen’s eyes met hers, his gaze steady and sure. "I would rather die," he replied, his voice a low rumble that sent shivers down her spine.

She remained in his arms, crying softly, the sound echoing painfully through the chamber. Neither of them moved for a long time, trapped between love and fate, holding onto each other as though letting go would mean losing everything.

As the night wore on, her tears dried, and the air between them grew heavy with something else entirely. The tension was noticeable, a living, breathing entity that pulsed with every beat of their hearts.

Lumina’s hands, once clutched tightly around the letter, now explored the hard planes of Ashen’s chest, her fingers tracing the tattoos that snaked up his arms.

She could feel the heat of his body through his shirt, the steady thump of his heart beneath her palm. She wanted him, wanted to feel his skin against hers, to lose herself in the sensation of his touch.

Ashen seemed to sense her thoughts, his hands sliding up to cup her face, his thumbs brushing away the last of her tears. "My queen," he murmured, his voice a low growl that sent a jolt of desire straight to her core. "I need you."

She didn’t respond with words, but with action. Her hands fumbled with the buttons of his shirt, her fingers trembling with urgency.

She needed to feel him, to touch him, to taste him, he was only hers and she wouldn’t leave him to anyone. Ashen helped her, his hands covering hers, his fingers deftly undoing the buttons before he shrugged off the shirt, tossing it aside.

Lumina’s breath hitched at the sight of him, his chest a work of art, a canvas of ink and muscle.

She leaned in, her lips tracing the lines of his tattoos, her tongue flicking out to taste his skin. Ashen groaned, his hands tangling in her hair, his head falling back as she explored him.

Her hands slid down his chest, her fingers tracing the ridges of his abs, the hard length of his cock straining against his jeans. She could feel the heat of him, the promise of what was to come.

She wanted him, wanted to feel him inside her, to lose herself in the sensation of him filling her.

Ashen seemed to sense her thoughts, his hands sliding down to cup her ass, pulling her against him.

She could feel his hardness, the promise of pleasure that awaited her. She moaned, her hips grinding against him, her body aching with need.

Ashen’s hands slid up her back, his fingers deftly loosening her robe. He pulled back, his eyes dark with desire as he took in the sight of her, her breasts bare, her nipples hard peaks that begged for his touch. He leaned in, his lips capturing one of her nipples, his tongue flicking out to taste her. Lumina gasped, her hands tangling in his hair, her body arching against him.

His hands slid down her sides, his fingers removing the lady’s piece of her robe.

He pulled back, his eyes meeting hers, a question in their depths, his fingers sliding down to cup her core. She was wet, her body aching with need, her clenching clenching around his fingers as he slid them inside her.

Lumina gasped, her hips bucking against his hand, her body begging for more. Ashen’s fingers moved in and out of her, his thumb circling her clit, his touch sending waves of pleasure crashing through her. She could feel her orgasm building, her body tensing, her breath hitching.

Ashen seemed to sense her impending release, his fingers moving faster, his thumb circling her clit with more pressure. Lumina gasped, her body arching against him, her orgasm crashing over her like a tidal wave. She cried out, her body trembling, her pussy clenching around his fingers.

Ashen pulled his fingers out of her, his eyes dark with desire as he brought them to his lips, tasting her.

Lumina watched, her breath hitching, her body aching with need. She wanted him, wanted to feel him inside her, to lose herself in the sensation of him filling her.

Ashen seemed to sense her thoughts, his hands sliding down to cup her ass, pulling her against him.

"Let’s have a lovely night."