Rosalia’s grip tightened fiercely around Max’s hand as her father’s words landed. He could feel the soft tremble racing through her body, feeding his own nerves until his pulse hammered in his ears.

The second they stepped onto the podium of dried wheat and wild flowers, purple ice flames exploded around them in a blazing circle. Rosalia inhaled sharply. Her eyes flared with ancient power, her body shifting smoothly into her draconic hybrid form. Purple flames licked up from her fingers, wrapping Max in a warm, protective embrace.

"By the spirits of the old gods, I, Rosalia, swear to be a loyal wife and love my husband until the day my body returns to the very same ground the flames birthed me from."

Her smile was soft, secret, and only for him. She finally raised her eyes to meet his. The brilliant purple glow in them hit him like a strike to the chest. She was too beautiful. She was his.

To Max’s slight annoyance, no one had bothered to warn him about any of this. So he copied her vow and made it his own.

"By the spirits of the old gods, I, Max, swear to be a loyal husband to protect, care for, and love my wife for all eternity, even after the day my body returns to the same ground the flames birthed me from."

He took her other hand, locking his gaze with hers, refusing to look away.

Their voices rang out together, pulling wild, thunderous cheers from the entire clan. All except William, who stood deathly still with a blade pressed hard to his throat, forced to witness the moment in bitter silence.

"Kiss! Kiss!" The chant tore through the roaring flames. Henry watched from the edge, a faint, satisfied smirk on his lips, proud of the decision that had changed everything.

"Shall we?" Max whispered, gently pulling her closer, his face drawing near.

Rosalia didn’t hesitate. She rose onto her toes, and their lips met in a deep, sweet kiss. Two hearts slammed together as one. The purple flames around them surged wildly, twisting higher and hotter the instant their mouths touched. Even the ancestral beast roared in approval, its voice shaking the sky.

For the rest of the day, Max and Rosalia sat together at the long wooden table groaning under mead, ripe fruits, and more meat than the village had seen in years. No one complained, not today. Not for the wedding of their protector.

The newlywed couple spent every hour receiving praises and heartfelt wishes for a long, blessed life. The once-quiet village had become a thundering celebration, its joyful roar echoing across the hills for miles and miles. 𝒇𝙧𝙚𝓮𝙬𝙚𝓫𝒏𝓸𝓿𝓮𝒍.𝓬𝙤𝓶

-----

As the sun set, Max and Rosalia were led away from the party that would easily last until morning. Henry had prepared his hut for them and them alone. He would not return there until the morning.

A soft, large bed rested in the middle of the room, the finest the entire village could offer.

Two hearts beat wildly, both of them knowing exactly what this night would bring. Neither had any experience in adult matters, but the alcohol and the fire growing between them burned every trace of awkwardness away.

"You look so beautiful, Rosalia," Max whispered, pulling her closer while they were still standing.

Her face flushed deep red. She was back in her human form, her gray eyes searching his for the same fierce heat she felt pounding in her own heart. She dropped every last defense, letting Max pull her waist until his firm hand pressed her body tight against his.

Their lips met.

Sweet saliva mixed as Max’s tongue slipped in awkwardly, yet he did not dare push too far, letting her tongue slowly massage his.

Rosalia could feel his greed and burning desire. It made her head spin. This was the man she had secretly fallen for. It was finally happening. She was afraid, but with him she felt safe enough to bare everything.

It did not take long before Max’s fingers slowly pushed the dress from her shoulders, the fabric sliding down and revealing the smooth, naked skin beneath.

Soft moans escaped her lips. She could feel the scorching way he desired her, and it tore down every last defense she had. Her arms wrapped around his neck, pulling him in deeper as their slick kisses pushed and pulled, greedy and wet.

Max was the first to break the kiss. The heat raging through him was too hard to control. He wanted to taste all of her, every single inch she possessed. His lips dropped to her naked neck.

"Ahhn~ Max... that’s..." Rosalia’s fingers sank into his hair, grabbing him firmly as his lips tickled and devoured her neck. The sensation made her body shiver violently, like lightning shooting down her spine straight to her soaking entrance. She had never felt this way before. Each kiss on her neck dragged heavier, hotter breaths from her throat.

Her knee brushed against his leg as she struggled to control the flood of newfound pleasure.

"Maybe we should take it slower. Mmmhh~ I—I can barely stand, Max~"

The way he devoured her neck, the way his fingers slowly explored under her dress, rubbing her belly before sliding up to claim her breasts, made her feel as if her whole body had been set ablaze.

Max could smell the intoxicating sweetness rising from her skin. Her neck tasted like warm honey, and he could not pull himself away no matter how hard he tried. His crotch burned with raw fire, his already erect cock throbbing and threatening to tear straight through his pants.

But he refused to rush. She was too perfect, like the finest gourmet meal, and he wanted to taste her slowly, to savor every inch. Feeling her shaky legs, Max lifted her fully into his arms.

She clung to his neck with desperate strength, her legs wrapping around his waist with power that threatened to split him in half. Her dress shifted aside, revealing the thick, pale perfection of her thighs. Not a single hair touched that smooth skin, and the incredible softness made Max’s mind melt the moment his fingers sank deep into the warm flesh.

He moved lower, teeth tugging the dress down to her breasts. Her dark pink nipples slipped free from the thin material, bouncing softly until the left one met the hungry heat of Max’s tongue.

"Aaahngh~!" Rosalia’s body tensed violently. She had never known her nipples could be this sensitive. The instant his tongue licked across it, a lightning shock of pleasure slammed straight into her pussy. She could feel herself leaking, soaking through her panties.

"Max—haaaah~ Max, please... I want you to take—take me to bed..." Her voice cracked through the moans. In that exact moment Max’s body felt baptized by pure fire. A surge of wild energy he never knew he possessed flooded every vein as he took a powerful step forward...