Lich Boyfriend (complete)

Bound forever, eternal being, no light shall illuminate thee. Cursed between, hollow within, let no mortal set its sights on you again.     

That is the inscription on the tomb in the cemetery that my father and I take care of. It was the first thing I learned to read, and yet the meaning of it still eludes me. The tomb existed here before there was a cemetery before there was a church. These things grew up around the tomb. No one knows how long it has been here or even whose remains rest inside. The crypt is as old as the land that surrounds it, unexplained and evermore. 

My father is the pastor of the church, he also takes care of the graveyard. We live in the small space above the church, just behind the steeple. It’s got more than enough room for the two of us, but sometimes the confines are quite close. Although, neither of us are there often. Father spends most of his time in the church, and I tended to wander. 

Beyond the graveyard, there is a forest, and I like to go there. I follow along the river that leads to the lake just beyond the trees. My mother would take me here on days she was feeling well. We would sit by the lake, and she would read to me. She showed me how to skip stones across the surface. I go here when I need to feel close to her again.

I skip stones, trying to hit the tall stone in the middle of the lake. It just out from the surface of the water like a sore thumb. Ever since I was little, it has been my goal to strike that stone with at least one pebble. I’m not sure why this desire lingers, I’m not even sure where it came from. All I know is that it is what I want.

When Mother died, Father got me a kitten, hoping it would help with my grief. The small thing was all black with a single white spot around its left eye. I named him Lucien after one of the gravestones.

For all these years, it has just been Father, Lucien, and me. My father chose not to remarry, he loved my mother too much, and he felt that, now that he was such an important figure in the village, it would not bode well for him to date or attempt romance. 

As the daughter of a pastor, I had no own limitations in terms of romance. No one wanted the pastor’s daughter. It was too risky. She’s too pristine. She’s a prude. I don’t think any of these things are true, but people have their own reasons for believing things.

My father hires young men to dig the graves, and every time, he invites them in for dinner. He has me cook, and he brags about me to these men the entire time. I know his game, and quite honestly, I hate it. 

After one such dinner, as my father washes the dishes and I clear the table, I decide to put an end to it.

“I want you to stop talking about me,” I tell him point blank.

He looks up at me as innocently as possible. Of course, he doesn’t think he’s doing anything wrong. He’s just doing what he thinks is right of a father. 

“Maria, what brings this on?” Ok, he’s acting far too innocent.

“Asking the men to dinner, having me cook, and then talking nonsense about me between scriptures,” I shake my head and roll my eyes. “I know what you are trying to do, and I can’t stand it anymore. I am asking you to please just stop.”

He looks at me like I’m crazy. “I only want what is best for you.”

“Well,” I huff, “this isn’t it. Obviously, you’re bragging doesn’t work. None of these men have come back knocking on the door or stop me on the street. They don’t like you trying to pawn your daughter off on them.”

It seems to click in his mind. He stops and turns, bracing his hands on the basin. “Is that what you think I’m trying to do?”

“I know it is,” I grumble. “The men can too.”

He sighs and turns to me. “I’m sorry if it feels like I am overeager. I just want you to be happy, Maria.”

“And I am,” I snap. “I don’t want to get married off to some asshole in the village. You say trust in God to do what is right for us, so that’s what I’m doing.” I hold out the drying cloth to him. “God has his plans, and you’re meddling in them.” I turn towards the stairs. “I’m going to go find Lucien and bring him in for the night.”

I go down the stairs and head outside. Lucien usually finds his own way back inside, but I really don’t want to be around my father. I hope I made my point and it sticks. I don’t like using God as a point of argument, but sometimes it is the only way my father will listen.

It’s dusk out, and the air has a hazy purple hue to it. I walk out into the graveyard, gliding my fingers along the stones there as I click my tongue calling for Lucien. I hear a shuffle, and the slither of dry grass being walked through.

“Lucien,” I call out. “Is that you, boy?” I kneel down, hoping to see him wandering through the aisles of stone.

I then look ahead, seeing Lucien rubbing himself against the old tomb. As I approach him, he looks up at me, eyes all wide. He seems to smirk at me, rubs against the base of the tomb, and then he slips inside.

“Lucien! No!” I snap at him. I don’t reach him in time as his puffy tail slips into the cracks of the door.

“Lucien!” I hiss, kneeling down to peer into the tomb. “Lucien! Bad cat! Get out here right now!”

I hear him meow inside and I roll my eyes. I don’t like the tomb, it gives me the creeps. I’ve never gone inside it, ever. But I know Lucien, and he will never come out of there unless I force him to.

I duck down, crawling through the small hole and then standing up inside. It’s pitch black save for the light coming from the hole in the door. 

“Lucien!” I hiss. I feel around blindly. “Lucien, you come here!”

He meows again, and I hear him skittering about.  

“Oh come on you fat shit,” I hiss at him. “Just come here.” I kneel down, shaking out my fingers for him to chase. 

I hear more pouncing and running about, and then I hear a thud above me. He meows just above my head. 

“Got you,” I grunt. I reach out like a viper to grab him. Only, I don’t touch anything fat, squishy, and furry. It’s hard and heavy and covered in cobwebs and dusk. 

“What!” I yelp in fright and chuck it onto the ground.

The thing lands in the wedge of sunlight coming from the light of the door. It’s a skull with massive gemstones in the eye sockets. Lucien appears, running towards it and swiping at it.

“Lucien, no! Not a toy!” I grab him up in my arms, and the skull snaps at me.

I scream and jump back. “What is that?” I cling Lucien to my chest as he struggles to wriggle free.

The skull laughs. It’s jaw snapping and clacking as it bounces on the ground. “At last!” A voice roars. “At long last!”

From behind me there is a rattling and shaking. The wall of the tomb is jerking and quaking. Doors open, striking me and I am knocked aside. I spill onto the ground and Lucien ducks behind me.

The tomb is filled with green light that spills out from the open doors on the wall. A thick, dark smokes spills from within. It doesn't move like normal smoke. It moves more like ink in water. I swirls and twitches. It stretches outward and bleeds into the air. The smoke grows long spindly fingers and reaches for the skull.

The massive emeralds in the skull’s eye sockets begin to glow, and the skull levitates off the floor. All the while the skull is laughing. I would say he was ‘laughing his head off,’ but there’s nobody.

The skull floats up nearly hitting the ceiling. Then, from the smoke, a body rises. The skeletal figure has scraps of cloth sticking to it, hanging from the limbs and ribs and ragging along the ground. The hands raise up, stretching out to the skull.

“Fan-fucking-tastic!” The skull laughs more. “Oh! Too long have I been sitting!” The skeletal frame places the skull back on the neck and the smoke swirls around them. It goes up their legs and around their arms. It swallows them up and then green lights bursts forth with such a force that Lucien and I are blown backward. Lucien takes the hint and leaves, screaming as he runs through the hole in the door.

“In your fucking face Balafelamona!” The skeleton shrieks and starts to cackle more.

Looking up, I see that the rags that had been clinging to the bones have become royal vestments and armor. The armor is encrusted with emeralds. The armor is built like lace, intricate and beautiful. The crown on his head is all green, as if carved from a single emerald. It sits atop a sheer cloth that flows down from the head and around the body like a fog. From within, the skeleton glows green. The light inside forms musculature and organs that remind me of the stained glass windows of the church. I gape in awe at him, both afraid and stunned. I cannot move from my spot. 

The skeleton sighs and wraps their arms around themselves. “Oh, divine form, thou art mine to embrace again!” His head turns and looks at me.

Our eyes lock for a moment, and I consider running out like Lucien did. 

“My savior!” The skeleton extends its arms outward. He kneels down and keeps his hand thrust out to me.

“I owe you a great debt,” he replies. 

I stare at him, not exactly sure what to say besides screaming.

“Have you nothing to say?” He asks. “Are you so stunned?”

I shake my head. “I uh...shouldn’t...shouldn’t you be thanking the cat?”

I am not sure how a skull grins, but he is doing it. “If we are splitting hairs on the matter,” he says in a low, grave voice. “But I much prefer to thank the beautiful maiden who has broken the infernal curse that was beset on me.”

“Curse?” I whisper.

He tilts his head. “Bound forever,” he starts with the same hushed voice, “eternal being, no light shall illuminate thee.” He rises up and lifts his fists into the air. “Cursed between, hollow within, let no mortal set its sights on you again.” He turns and looks down at me again.

“Once you saw me and the light hit my eyes, I was free.” He kneels again before me. “I told you, I owe you a great debt.”

It strikes me that usually when one is cursed and sealed away forever in a cell, it’s more than likely that had done something cataclysmically bad. Is this thing a devil? Some sort of demon? Obviously, he wasn’t human, he was just a skeleton. Or well, maybe he had once been human. Who knows? I don’t. For all I know I’ve just unleashed a plague upon the world.

“Speak up, maiden,” he says.

“What have I done?” I whisper. “Who are you and why were you cursed, to begin with? What will you do now and will it haunt me for the rest of my life?”

He hums. “A very reasonable set of questions.” He rises up off the floor. “But first,” he waves his hands, and the great stone doors swing open as if they were made of paper. The light of the setting sun fills the tomb.

He takes a deep breath, I guess, and he raises his hands out towards the sky. “This day I have been blessed, and by the night I will live again. I am reborn.”

I stand up and stare at him. I don’t want to run away as I feel responsible for letting him free. If he is a prisoner and sealed away for his crimes, I will be his warden.

“No,” he turns towards me. “To begin answering your questions.” He folds his arms behind his back. “I am Theodred of the Black Lake. Lord of the Boiling Knights and ruler of the emeralds.”

You furrow your brow, none of these feels good. Boiling Knights? Black Lake? Neither of those sound like good things.

“What you have done is released me from this misery. For centuries I have been sealed in this tomb and kept from my life,” Theodred snarls, raising his fists before himself. Green lights and fog swirl around his wrists like chains and he spreads his arms apart, breaking them. 

“People don’t usually wear chains unless they’ve done something bad,” I retort. “And I highly doubt you were a slave, being lord and ruler and all that bullshit.”

“Astute, aren’t you?” Theodred smirks. He taps his fingertips to his jaw and teeth. “You would be correct in that. I have done many foul things in the name of conquest.” He lowers his arms to his sides. 

“I still have not answered all your questions,” Theodred whispers. “And that is what I will do now.” He taps his index finger to his mouth. “I will continue my work.”

“But will it haunt me?” I insist. “Will this follow me to my grave? Will I carry guilt heavily upon me?”

“Guilt and the grave,” he scoffs and looks around, noticing all the tombstones surrounding him. His eyes then cast upwards, and he gazes at the cross and the steeple. 

“What divine comedy is this? What the hell has happened?” He snaps.

“Don’t change the subject,” I snap at Theodred.

“A church!” Theodred scoffs. “On my lands?” He clasps his head between his hands. “Oh Balafelamona, was your joke not cruel enough already?”

“Shut up!” I roar at him.

Theodred gasps and turns towards me, emeralds in his eyes alight from within. 

“Tell me your motives! Now!” I snarl. “Or I will spend my life trying to send you back into your grave!”

Theodred stiffens and stands erect. It only just dawns on me now that he stands at least eight feet tall. He takes a step towards me, his first outside the tomb. 

“You have a lot of vigor,” Theodred whispers. “I like that.”

“Answer the question,” I snarl through gnashed teeth. 

He tilts his head to the side. “I plan to take this world and make it mine,” he replies. “What is it now? What do you call this place.”

You glare at him. “The Ruby Empire has enough people wanting to take it over and rule it.”

Theodred seems offended. “RUBY Empire?” He balks and turns to me. “Is that really what it is called?”

“Yes, and it does not need you in it,” I reply. “So it would be best if you just left it.”

“Idle threats do not worry me,” Theodred growls. “You are just a woman. Powerful for a human but nowhere near me or the welp who shoved me into that tomb.” He juts his arm backward, pointing inside the crypt. 

“How would you ever propose fighting me? Hm?” He leans down, getting into my face. “With your good looks? Perhaps.”

For some reason, I am taken aback by his comment. I clam up and shake my head as my cheeks start to burn. 

“You could marry me,” Theodred replies. “It would be two birds with one stone!” He gasps, almost laughing. “It would repay my debt to you as well as keep me in shackles!” He throws his head back and laughs, slapping his knee as he does.

I scowl, taking a fallen limb from the ground and striking him. His head goes flying off his body, crashing into the woods.

His body turns towards me, snapping their hands to its waist.

I scowl at it then run ahead, racing it to locate the skull in the forest.

“Over here!” Theodred shouts. 

You’re lucky, the body slams into a tree and you’re able to scoop up the head. You run ahead while the body gives chase, taking your worn path towards the lake.

“What do you hope to accomplish with this?” Theodred scoffs.

“I don’t know,” you huff. You come to the lake, and the body is closing in on you. With your last ditch effort, you chuck the skull.

Theodred is screaming something as he goes flying. To you shock, he lands on the stone in the center of the lake. Two birds, one stone.

The body grabs you and lifts you into the air. You scream and kick but then the ground quakes. You gasp and watch as the rock rises from the water. The lake splits open, and something starts to rise from beneath. 

A castle grows from the waters, and Theodred’s skull swoops down, getting into your face as his body holds you aloft. 

“Did you not hear me mention something about a lake?” He laughs. He tosses me into the water.

I struggle to get to the surface. As the castle rises, it creates a suction that pulls me down. I stretch my hand out, trying to reach the sun. Something grabs my hand, but I do not remember reaching the surface.

I wake up in a bed with green sheets and a heavy green blanket on top of me. I rise from the bed and see I am wearing a nightgown I have never seen before. The fabric is silky and is like I am wearing nothing at all.

As I part the canopy, I see Theodred standing at the window with a chalice in his hand. He turns towards me, a glint in his eye as he smiles.

“Welcome back,” he strides over towards me and hands me the chalice. “I would have drank all this already, but it has a way of going right through me.”

I stare at him and his strange grin. “Was...was that a joke?”

Theodred scoffs and turns away from me. “Saved you frown drowning, the least you could do was give me a pity laugh.”

“You threw me into the lake!” I snap at him.

“It was an accident,” Theodred huffs. “I wasn’t trying to kill you, just scare you. Forgive me, I beg of you.”

“I don’t know how to take you seriously,” I tell him. 

“I suppose you wouldn’t.” He walks back over to the window and gazes out. “My Black Lake,” he murmurs, “my home. It was all still here.”

I gasp and rush to the window, pushing Theodred aside as I gaze out. I am overlooking the lake, the forest. I see the church and the graveyard, I see the village. 

“Oh my soul,” I cup my hands around my mouth as I step backward.

Theodred puts his hands on my shoulders. “A beautiful sight, is it not?” He whispers. “And it can belong to you.”

I turn and glare up at him. “Are you going on about that proposal?”

“I told you I owe you the debt,” he says. “And if you are so desperate to keep an eye on me, then what better way than being my bride?”

I furrow my brow. “But you’re a skeleton!”

He tsks and wags his finger. “I am still a man,” he whispers. “And not just any skeleton, but a lich.”

I frown and glare up at him. “If I agree to this,” I whisper. “Then you do realize I will do everything in my power to keep you underfoot?”

“I have always expected that from marriage. It would be nothing new.” He waves his hand around in the air. Smoke and green lights whip around and form a ring in his hands.

“I will treasure you,” he whispers. “If you say yes to me, you will never hurt, you will never worry, and you will come to love me.”

I stare at him like he’s mad. “I don’t see how that will be possible.” I hold my hand out. “I will be your bride, but as a chain only.”

He slips the ring onto my finger. The ring is black, and the emerald on it might as well be a weapon. “My bride, my queen,” Theodred whispers. His bony fingers brush against my cheek.

The green and smoke swirl around me, crawling up my body and fitting around me. As it dissipates, I look down, seeing I am wearing a gown to match Theodred’s own attire. 

“I shall love you until my dying breath,” Theodred murmurs then chuckles. “Which will be never,” he grins. “So you are the luckiest bride in the world.”

I frown. “Yes. Lucky me,” I snarl through gritted teeth.

Looking back on that evening I have to laugh at myself. It started with an argument with my father about not wanting to get married and that God had a plan for me. In a way, I cursed myself. Because there was a plan, and there was a husband for me, but it was far from anything I could imagine.

Theodred had been born so long ago even he has a hard time remembering. He built his power as a young man, transforming himself into a lich during war. He amassed an army and a fortune with his brother, who had also become lich. Together they joined forces with a sorceress named Balafelamona. They split up the three riches of the land, namely sapphires which went to Theodred’s brother, Albion, the emeralds went to Theodred, and the rubies went to Balafelamona. 

The brothers had a falling out and went their separate ways with Albion creating a stronghold for himself in the north. Theodred stayed in their homeland with the emeralds. Meanwhile, Balafelamona kept to herself after the brothers had tried to convince her to become a lich-like they did. 

One day, Balafelamona approached Theodred. Since Albion had left, Theodred’s methods had become less restrained and more cruel. Balafelamona had come to ask him to put a stop to his ways, and Theodred refused. It was then that Balafelamona took fate into her own hands and sealed Theodred away in the crypt with his curse.

After that, rubies became the main currency, and the birth of the Ruby Empire had begun. Balafelamona was the progenitor and mother of the empire, destroying Theodred’s Boiling Knights and making sure Albion never used the same tactics as his brother.

Now, all Theodred had was me, his castle, and the emeralds. To my surprise, Theodred asked my approval for everything. He wanted to start his army and bring back the Boiling Knights, I said no. He wanted to reach out to the Warlord Demir and destroy him, I said no. And even more shocking, he obeyed. 

I often left the castle, going back home to spend time with my father and Lucien. As much as I tried to get them both to come with me, they wouldn’t budge. Lucien would follow me to the lake, but he wouldn’t step foot inside the castle no matter how much I baited him.

Anytime Theodred would come to fetch me from the church, my father would assault him with holy water. He would toss is at Theodred, and it entertained me greatly. Theodred sputters and tries to stop my father but to no avail. Eventually, I agree to return to the palace with, but only after I am amused. 

Theodred neither eats nor sleeps, but he still goes through the motions with me. He joins me at dinner, watching me as I eat. In the evenings, he comes into my room to bid me goodnight. Each night he asks the same question.

“My love, my bride,” he starts, “may I kiss you?”

“No,” I answer.

He obeys me. “Then you will not allow me to share your bed?”

“You will not,” I tell him. “Now goodnight, Theodred.”

“Goodnight, sweet wife,” he says as I close the doors on him.

I am growing more used to him, and sometimes I even enjoy his company. He’s strange, and his ways are old. I have had to show him much of the new world he inhabits. I have become a teacher in history, going through tomes and records to reveal to him his place in the world. I have also became a master in geography, as I go over the kingdoms and lands with him. So many kings and queens, rulers of this world. 

Theodred learns well and is eager for it. He tells me his plans, his desires to continue his work as a conqueror. He pleads with me to let him continue, to build his army, to create his own kingdom. And when I tell him no, he obeys in agreement.

“You are right love. Now is not the time. We are still on our honeymoon. I will ask again later.” He replies with the chipper upbeat attitude of someone who has not heard the word ‘no’ fifty times that day alone.

He is kind to me, he listens to me. For a man taken from so far in the past, his mindset and attitude towards me is enlightened. He calls me his equal, his better, without a hint of sarcasm in his voice. Yet every night I still answer his questions the same way. 

“My love, my bride,” he starts, “may I kiss you?”

“No,” I answer.

He obeys me. “Then you will not allow me to share your bed?”

“You will not,” I tell him. “Now goodnight, Theodred.”

It has become the ritual and the norm for both of us. 

One morning as I am enjoying my breakfast and coffee I look across the table at Theodred. He is gazing out the window with a solemn expression on his skull. I am not sure how a skull can show any expression, but I have learned him well enough to translate his body and ways.

“What is wrong?” I ask him. “You look troubled.”

“Because I am,” he sighs. “We have been man and wife for three months, and yet you still keep me at arm’s length. Am I not doing what you want? Am I not handsome to you? Have I been unkind?”

“You did almost drown me on our wedding night,” I toss at him.

Theodred glares then looks away. “Besides that. I did end up saving you!”

“You have not done anything wrong, exactly,” I answer him out of pity. “As for your looks, I still have no clue how to place them. You’ve been a diligent and loyal husband, and I am grateful for that. But you must see I do not see you as my husband. You are simply a person I share an old castle with.”

Theodred stares at me, taking in a sharp breath. “I see,” he whispers. “This does answers some questions,” he taps his fingertips to his teeth.

“I’m sorry,” I tell him. “That’s how I feel.”

“It is because we never had a wedding!” Theodred exclaims and leaps up from his seat.

I wave my hands in the air. “No, that really has nothing to do with-”

“I should have known!” Theodred laments. “I never gave you the proper wedding! We never said our vows. Of course, you don’t look at me as a husband! I have just been some wishful suitor at your door all this time! Damn my eyes.” He walks around the table to me and clutches my hands, kneeling on his knee before me.

“I shall throw you a lavish wedding. Anything and everything you desire I shall do it. I want you to see me as your groom, your equal, if this is what it takes, let me do it.” He squeezes my hand.

I sigh and pet the back of his hand. “It is not the wedding that is missing,” I tell him. “I simply do not feel those feelings for you. I married you out of responsibility, not romance. I barely knew you a few hours. Only insane people agree to get married in that amount of time.”

“Oh,” Theodred whispers. “I see.” He pulls his hand back. “Then, there is no hope for us, is there?”

I can’t tell him no. I already have a heavy weight upon me. I feel bad for Theodred. I don’t want to hurt his feelings.

“I wouldn’t say that so readily,” I murmur. 

He looks at me, something glowing in his emerald eyes. “Then what should be said?”

I look at him as I search my mind for something at all to say. “You-” I start then stop myself. “All you have asked for is kisses,” I reply. “But you have not done anything romantic to win them.”

Theodred gasps. “You mean wooing?” He asks.

“A date,” you chuckle. “But yes, something like that.”

“Oh,” he gasps, “oh yes!” He stands up and bows before me. “Tonight I will start trying to win your heart.” He smiles at me. “I will romance the socks off of you.” He whisks away, and for the rest of the day I do not hear from him or see him at all. 

He does not join me for lunch or tea. I go to my room after lunch to lie down, and I find a dress laying on my bed. It’s a pale green dotted with emeralds all over it. The green fabric is overlaid by antique lace. It’s beautiful and soft, and wearing it I find it is comfortable and fits perfectly. As I’m posing before the mirror with it on there is a knock at my door.

Opening it, Theodred is there with a bouquet of flowers for me. “Good evening,” he says. “I’m glad you like the dress. I knew it would suit you.”

I take the flowers and chuckle. “Ok,” I reply. “What is this?”

“I fully intend to win you over,” Theodred replies with a curt sniff. “I will not a suffer a loveless marriage.” 

I’m a bit surprised, why had I not considered that?

“I have an evening set up for us you won’t forget,” he holds his hand out to me. “If you’ll join me, that is.”

I set the flowers down and take his hand. “I will,” I reply. 

Theodred leads me away, taking to the staircase. It shifts and spins, leading up in a different direction than it had before. We go up, and we step out onto the roof. There’s music playing, but I can’t find where it is coming from. There is a table set up with candles floating all around it. 

“This way,” Theodred says, leading me to the table.

I sit down, and Theodred serves me wine. He then fixes my plate and sits down across from me. “Is everything to your liking?”

“It’s quite good,” I answer. “It’s beautiful up here.”

“Would you like to dance when you’re done?” He asks.

I chuckle. “Dance? Really?”

“I did used to love it,” he answers. “Do you not like it?”

I shrug and take a sip of wine. “I’ve actually never tried,” I admit. “I may not be the best dance partner.”

“Then I will just have to teach you,” Theodred replies. “Much like you’ve been teaching me this entire time.” He touches my hand, his bony fingers stroke the back of my hand. “But I will have to hold you to do it.”

My cheeks start to burn, and I have a hard time swallowing the bite in my mouth. After I’m done eating, Theodred takes me out to dance. The music swells, growing louder as he puts his arms around me. His hand lays on my waist, and he takes my hand.

“Ok, move slow at first until you know what to do with your feet,” he says.

“I uhm-” I keep looking down at my feet, worried I am going to step on his. His fingers then slip under my chin, and he has me look up at him.

“Don’t worry about me,” he tells me. “All I want is to see your lovely face.”

I smile sheepishly up at him and the more we move, the easier it becomes. He shows me how to dance and moves me. At one point, he lifts me up into the air and spins me around. I squeal and laugh, clinging to Theodred as he sets me down.

I realize how close we are, and I feel like I should step back, but I don’t. I like being close to him. 

“Your cheeks are flushed,” Theodred whispers, brushing his knuckles against my skin. “Is it cold up here?”

“No,” I whisper. “That’s not-” I swallow the lump in my throat. “That’s not what it is.” I look up into his eyes.

He chuckles and leads me off the dance floor. “We should still go inside, it’s late. Did you enjoy your evening?” He asks.

I nod. “I did,” I glance up at him. “Dancing was fun.”

“Then I shall make note to do it more often,” Theodred takes me to my door, and I already know what he is going to say.

“My love, my bride,” he starts, “may I kiss you?”

I hesitate. I don’t want to say no. I swallow and take a step closer to him. “You may.”

Theodred suppresses and excited noise, and he bends down. He presses to my lips, and I touch his cheek. I kiss him, feeling a warmth from his bones that takes my breath away. I pull back, looking into his eyes.

I open my door and take hold of his hand. 

“Wait,” he whispers. “Are you sure?”

I shake my head. “I’m not, but the kiss has me confused. I would like to do it again until I am sure,” I tell him.

Theodred squeezes my hand and follows me into my room.