Chapter 66: Love in the Air 1

Lyra’s shock broke into something softer. Her voice came barely above a whisper. Her hand still over her mouth.

“A-Auryn… when did you do all this?” she asked In a slow stammer.

He moved toward her in silence, a calmness that pushed her heart rate up by several beats. Reaching for her dusty travel cloak, he ran his fingers around the helm.

“Who would have thought two days would feel like two weeks.” The admission came easier than he’d expected.

“I wanted tonight to be special after sending you away on business,” he added.

She was still looking around, taking in everything. he’d rearranged furniture, creating space, the specific dishes on the table. Her favorites. Her eyes glowed with emotion she was too tired to fully guard against.

Then she crossed the space between them and wrapped her arms around him.

Auryn held her, feeling dust on her clothes and exhaustion in how she leaned against him. But also warmth that flowed across their bodies making her joints loosen.

“Come eat,” he said quietly, guiding her toward the table. “You must be starving.”

—

Lyra sat and immediately reached for the roasted Salmons subconsciously. Auryn sat across from her, not eating yet, just watching her enjoy the meal. This gave him greater satisfaction than he’d expected.

The candlelight caught in her hair, softened the weariness in her features. It was like he saw her in a new light. A brighter one.

She noticed him staring and paused mid-bite, suddenly self-conscious at that moment.

“Eat,” he said, smiling.

“I’ll have plenty later. Right now, watching you is enough.”

Her cheeks grew red but didn’t look away. Holding his gaze for a moment before returning to her food with a small smile playing at the edge of her lips.

After a few minutes and comfortable silence between them, Auryn leaned forward.

“How did your family receive you? Did your father give you trouble about the seeds?”

Lyra swallowed and shook her head. “Actually, he was quite eager to help once I explained your plans.” She paused to take another bite.

“My family has always been good with agricultural innovation, but we’re minor nobility without much political leverage. Being asked to partner with a Dragon prince elevates our status significantly.”

Auryn smiled. “Our?” he questioned.

“You’re my wife. Your family status was always elevated,” he continued.

Lyra looked at him for a second before taking a glass of what she believed was water. She drank and her eyes puffed in astonishment.

“What is this,” she asked without fail.

Auryn laughed softly. “How is it?”

She looked at him and then at the glass.

“It’s magnificent!” She spoke with a sharp tone.

“That’s a margarita,” Auryn answered. “Made it myself,” Or atleast he tried to.

The servants got everything for him and all he did was mix and let fizz.

Lyra raised a brow. “Yourself?”

Auryn nodded proudly with a smile.”Of course, but tell me more about your journey. What were you able to secure?”

Lyra took another sip of the drink before she continued.

“I got three varieties of drought-resistant grain that should thrive better than what our farmers currently plant. Also vegetables that can survive harsher conditions.”

“Like in the northern district?” Auryn asked in intrigued.

“I think so. But maybe not in Ashen grove,”

She set down her fork, eyes brightening as if saying. “I did good. Tell me I did good”

Auryn smirked like he could read her mind.

“That’s amazing,”

Lyra continued, her voice carrying even more enthusiasm. “Father is also going to send one of his best administrators, Fez. She’ll arrive next week upon your approval, to teach our farmers improvement techniques they’ve developed over generations.”

Auryn listened, genuinely impressed. Noticing the change in her words.

“And in exchange?” He asked knowing that such tidings always had a price.

“Aurelia shares a percentage of the improved harvest as a partnership, not charity. The family benefits economically while the province gains expertise.”

Her eyes narrowed slightly for the first time.

“You didn’t just fetch seeds.” Auryn’s voice carried real admiration. “You’ve given us an edge,” He finally tossed the stump of the apple from earlier.

“You’ve done well,” he praised.

Lyra flushed with pleasure at the genuine compliment. “I am your wife. Your success is my family’s success.”

“No.” He leaned forward. “You’re brilliant, and I’m lucky you’re my partner in this. Not just my wife.”

The bond flared warm between them. She looked down, but she was smiling. He joined her and they continued eating in momentary silence.

—

A few minutes later, the plates were empty candles burning lower, and something else had been building throughout as Lyra’s voice echoed in surprise.

“An Artisan Quarter?”

“Yes, an entire district dedicated to workshops, craft halls, a central marketplace that will rival anything in the Eastern Province and the empire as a whole.”

Auryn was leaning forward now, hands gesturing as he spoke. Real interest in his choice of words.

Lyra watched him with proud eyes. He was really into improving Aurelia just as he promised.

“But here’s the crucial part. I’m not building for Aurelia as it is now. I’m building for the city it will become in ten years, twenty years, maybe even a century.” His voice carried conviction he hadn’t let himself feel in months.

“I’ll build in a way that leaves room for more,” he concluded with a smile.

“You’re thinking long-term?” Lyra asked though she was overwhelmed and was just waiting for dessert at this point.

She waited while still drinking the wonder that was margarita.

“Of course, I am,” his voice came with conviction like he would do anything to get what he wanted.

Lyra’s eyes shone with love. A love deepening into something neither of them had quite acknowledged yet.

“Then we’ll build it together,” she said quietly bringing a spark in Auryn’s eyes.

—

Lyra’s eyes remained on Auryn but it was different now. The exhaustion she once felt had completely burned away, replaced by an entirely different type of hunger.

She could tell he felt it too. His eyes were eating away at her body as she stayed motionless like a piece of art being appraised.

Suddenly, he stood and offered his hand.

Lyra took it without hesitation. The bond flared hot between them as he pulled her up and against his body. Her hands slid up his chest as she felt his fingers tangled in her hair, and their lips met.

Lyra felt her entire body melt into the kiss. They stayed there for a few minutes but with each breath she felt every inch of her body burn with want.

Her voice escaped with a whisper.

“A-Auryn,” even as his lips drew pleasure maps around her neck line and just about the top of her expanding cleavage.

Before Lyra realized, she’d fell into silk sheets. Her arms stretched out calling for him even as her legs quivered.

The bond wrapped around them, intensifying every sensation, connecting them deeper than physical intimacy alone could reach.

Outside, the sounds of construction had finally ceased but within these chambers, something else was building between them, something as real and lasting as any structure rising in Aurelia’s streets.

The candles burned lower and the night deepened while the castle reverberated with the symphony of her growing moans.

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