Bound To The Ice Dragon King
Chapter 191: Marriage proposal

Chapter 191: Marriage proposal

Rhea’s heart raced as she sprinted towards the healing pool without a lamp or a robe, the anticipation of confronting Draven about his feelings sending a surge of energy through her. Panting heavily, she didn’t notice the pool fence until she collided with it, a jolt of pain shooting through her head. But undeterred, she pressed on.

As she approached the pool, she found Draven soaked in the milky water, his head was leaning back at edge of the pool with eyes closed. He didn’t even seem to notice her presence. The exhaustion of his fight was evident on his resting face. Dark circles betrayed his weariness, and she couldn’t help but notice the wounds at his upper chest area.

"Draven," she called, and his eyes immediately snapped open, revealing surprise mixed with a weariness that tugged at her heart.

"When did you get here?" he asked, confusion lining his tired expression, he hadn’t noticed her at all until she called him. Ignoring his question, Rhea cut to the heart of the matter, "Why didn’t you tell me... you love me, too?"

Draven’s surprise deepened, but before he could respond, Rhea stunned him with her next words, "Will you marry me?"

Draven couldn’t believe his ears. He turned around in the water and just stared at her in silent disbelief.

Rhea, sensing his disbelief, felt a twinge of uncertainty. Had Lilac been wrong about his feelings? She had made up her mind on her way here that she would settle for no causal relationship of desire, she had decided that if he loved her, then it was best to get married and mark him as hers forever. But now she was uncertain of her choice with how silent he was...

Draven’s gaze remained fixed on her without speaking, and she hesitated. Then, with determination, she spoke, "Draven, you once asked me if I were the one you met centries ago, what would our life be like now. But I didn’t answer that question because I thought you didn’t love me," Pausing, she continued,

"If I were the one you met then, our life would have been a happy one now. There wouldn’t be betrayal nor revange, because I would only shower you with love and a blissful life along with children born from the fruit of our love. You wouldn’t have anything to worry about except who is courting your daughter in secret."

A smile threatened to break apart Draven’s lips at her words but he didn’t smile and stared at her in silence.

Rhea waited to hear him say something, but even after minutes passed, he continued to stare at her with a blank unreadable expression. Rhea’s patience ran thin, she took off her shoes and stepped into the pool. Without hesitation, she hooked her arms around his neck, she leaned forward and gently bit down on his lower lip. She stuck his lip in between her teeth playfully, then she used her tongue to seductively lick the lips, "You want me, don’t you?" She whispered against his mouth and deliberately pressed her body against his naked body underwater.

Draven muffled a groan as he felt her body pressed against his aroused body. And without hesitation, he wrapped his arms around her and crushed his lips on hers in a hungry demanding kiss.

Before Rhea could lose control of herself in the kiss, she quickly pulled away before he deepened the kiss. "Stop," she said breathlessly, "You have kissed me many times, you have seen my naked body underwater, you have held me to sleep on your bed. You have to take responsibility. Will you marry me?" She asked as she glanced up at his desire filled blue eyes.

When he didn’t answer, Rhea leaned in and teasingly licked his lips but she didn’t not allow him to capture her mouth in a kiss. "Answer me." She urged as she continued to lick his lips eliciting a teasing tingle.

Draven couldn’t believe she was deliberately tormenting him for an answer. He threw his head back and let out a roaring amusing laughter that broke the silent night. "You are as shameless as I’ve thought in the past, and that’s the bold Rhea I know." He said between laughter.

Rhea smiled but didn’t deny his words, she was indeed bold. She jerked his head down, "Stop laughing, if you don’t agree to marry me, I will turn away from you forever,and never bother you again." She said seriously.

Draven immediately stopped laughing, he gazed down at her with his intense gaze. "Never," he warned seriously, "joke with that again. You will stay with me forever."

"Then will you marry me?" She asked again with a frown.

Draven leaned down and pecked her lips, "Yes, I will marry you." He pecked her again, "I will be your husband."

Only after hearing those words did Rhea smile, "Let’s get married as soon as possible," she said, Draven was going to say they should wait until everything settles down, but as if knowing what he was going to say, Rhea seductively pressed her body against his aroused crotch, "I want you as much as you want me, but I won’t allow you do more than kiss me if you don’t marry me."

Draven cursed under his breath as he felt her body against him, and desire swelled into his veins and blood, he was using every bit of control to restrain himself from pinning her down right there and then. And without hesitation, he spoke, "Let’s get married as soon as possible."

Rhea’s smile widened and she slipped her arms around his waist and hugged him tightly.

Draven also smiled at her happiness, he hugged her back and pressed his lips on her fragrant hair, "Rhea, I hope you won’t regret this?" He asked. "If you are going to regret your decision to get married to me, you_"

"Shut up, I will never regret marrying you." She cut him off. How could she regret marrying someone she loved? She had no one to call family now, and if there was one thing she desperately desired; it was having a home of her own with someone to call family. She wanted to build a loving family she never had. She wanted to have a home with Draven.

***

The next morning, Draven didn’t waste time in announcing his decision to marry Rhea as soon as possible to king Henry and the Princes. Although he could have a quiet secret marriage with Rhea, he didn’t want that. He wanted everyone to witness their union together. And despite the uncertainty in his heart about the thought of a wedding after what had happened twenty years ago, he still wanted to marry Rhea.

Rhea wasn’t Alina, she would never betray him or do anything to hurt him. She loved him, truly and boundlessly. And that was enough to push him to make the preparations to bind himself to her forever.

In the brightly lit king’s chamber, Draven sat surrounded by the five Princes. The air grew heavy with silence after he announced his decision to marry Rhea. The king finally broke the stillness, his voice cutting through the tension.

"Draven, are you certain about this decision? After what happened twenty years ago, are you truly ready to take such a step?" The king’s gaze bore into Draven’s eyes.

Without hesitation, Draven met the king’s gaze and replied firmly, "Yes, I am sure. Rhea is not like Alina. I’ve made up my mind."

The king sighed, "If you’re set on marrying her, why not wait? Ensure we’re certain about what Alina is up to this time, though she hasn’t made any moves after we left her, but after the death of her lover, you know she would blame you for it and seek revange."

Draven was aware of that, but then his own heart was not as darkened with revange as it was in the past. And even though he knew Alina would want to take revange for Enzo’s death, he didn’t want his life to only revolve around worrying about her and her plans. He wanted to move on from her completely, he wanted to be happy for awhile before she decided to face him again. He wouldn’t seek her out, but if she attempted to take revange, he would face her then.

Draven shook his head, determination in his eyes, "I won’t wait. I’ve decided. The wedding will be in two days."

The king was taken aback by Draven’s decision, but then he wasn’t in the position to not allow the wedding or insist that he wait some more. He nodded his head, "Very well, Draven. You can do as you wish, as long as you’re happy."

Draven sensed a disapproving glance from his friend prince Zack.

Draven excused himself from the chamber with Zack in tow, seeking the solitude of the balcony. The two men stood in silence, the tension lingering. Finally, Draven spoke, "Zack, I value your opinion. What’s troubling you?"

Zack hesitated before expressing his concern, "Draven, I don’t want you to make the same mistake you made in the past. Take your time and be cautious."

Draven looked at Zack earnestly, "I appreciate your concern, but Rhea is not Alina. She won’t hurt me."

Indeed, prince Zack had seen how much Rhea loved Draven on the day he told her not to step out on the red moon night, but she still risked her life and went to him. Indeed, she wasn’t anything like Alina, but he just couldn’t help but be wary of humans after what had happened twenty years ago.

After a moment, Zack sighed, "Alright. If you’re sure you want to marry her, then you have my blessings. Just be happy." He patted Draven’s shoulder.

Draven smiled, grateful for his friend’s understanding, and then turned to Zack, "By the way, about the wealth you once told me that you managed to save for me twenty years ago in my ruined palace..."

Zack interrupted, "I kept them safe. You’ll need them for the grand wedding you’re planning to have."

Draven chuckled, "Exactly. I want to make it a celebration to remember."