Page 104 of Semper

One by one, they extinguished, leaving the room bathed in a thick, oppressive darkness. The chanting, which had been an ever-present hum in the background, ceased abruptly the moment her head hit the floor. For a brief moment, everything was still. The only sound was our ragged breathing, the scent of blood thick in the air, clinging to our skin, to the very walls around us. I clenched around him as it all registered.

“Alex,” I moaned.

He began to move again, each thrust more powerful and relentless than the last, his dominance stealing the air from my lungs.

I released the handles, no longer able to hold on, my hands clawing at him in desperation, desperate for every inch of him.

I came begging him not to stop, my nails digging into his back, leaving angry red marks. He swore through gritted teeth, gripping me even tighter. His voice was rough and raw as he finally growled those three words that shattered everything, I thought I knew: "I fucking love you."

His declaration pierced through the chaos, reaching deep into my soul. I believed him with every fiber of my being. I reached up and pulled his mouth to mine, desperate to taste the madness between us.

We didn’t stop.

Not for what felt like hours.

We moved together until we were both drenched in sweat and covered in dried blood. When we finally collapsed, spent and breathless, I couldn't move. My body felt shattered, and yet, I had never felt more alive.

He found endless amusement in it, his chuckle vibrating against my skin as he held me close. I hadn’t even realized the disciples had left. Clarice, too, was gone. The only trace of her presence was the saturated sheets, and the mess on the floor—a blood-soaked reminder of the sacrifice she'd made for our union. Without a word, Alexander cradled me in his arms, carrying me to the tub facing the view of the lake. He stepped in first, settling into the warm water, then gently pulled me down with him.

It had to of been close to scalding before to still be so warm. My head leaned back against his chest as the water soothed my battered body. The view outside was calm and peaceful—a stark contrast to the storm we had created inside. I felt a strange sense of peace, as though I had been reborn in that blood-soakedceremony. I felt it in my bones—the binding, the submission, the ownership.

Despite the weight of what this all meant, I didn’t regret it.

"You were incredible,deliciae,” Alexander murmured, his voice thick with admiration. “I’ve never seen anything more beautiful.”

I turned my head and smiled at him, warmth filling me. "What are they going to do with the head?" I asked, my voice raw from moaning and coming, but also casual, as if this was a normal thing to discuss after a night like ours.

He kissed my temple, his lips lingering. "Take it back to the Chapel as a show of our last binding."

"Interesting," I mused, the concept sitting strangely with me, but I didn't feel the revulsion I might have had months ago. Perhaps I was more his now than I even realized. We fell into easy conversation after that, as we often did. He asked me if I felt any different after the Rite, his voice curious but knowing.

"I don’t know… I feel more..." I trailed off, searching for the right words. "Complete, I guess."

He chuckled. "I knew you would."

I shifted in his arms, turning to face him fully, leaning up slightly so I could meet his gaze. "I need to tell you something," I said softly, heart pounding against my ribs.

His lips curved into a playful smirk. "You love me too?"

I blinked, caught off guard by how casually he asked as if he already knew. "I do," I whispered.

His expression softened for the briefest moment, something vulnerable flashing across his face before he masked it. He hadn't expected me to say it, not yet. "Do you?" he asked, his voice low and teasing, but I could hear the genuine curiosity beneath it.

I settled my hands on his broad shoulders, looking deep into his eyes. "What else could explain this?"

He grinned that devilish smile that always made my heart skip a beat. "A lot of things, actually," he said, chuckling when I scowled at him. He pulled me closer, my chest pressing against his. "Of course you love me. I told you that a long time ago," he murmured, his breath warm against my skin.

"And now you finally get to hear it," I replied, my voice soft but filled with meaning.

He gazed at me for a long moment, his hands firm and comforting on my back, as though he never wanted to let go.

I took a deep breath, feeling the weight of what I was about to say. "Alexander... I’m pregnant."

His stare didn’t falter. He didn’t flinch or pull back. Instead, he just studied me, his amber eyes flickering with something I couldn’t quite place. Then, after what felt like forever, he spoke. "I’ve been waiting for you to say it out loud."

"And?" I was almost afraid of what his reaction would be, though I knew deep down that he already knew and had wanted this.

He cupped my face gently, his thumbs brushing against my cheeks as he kissed me, softer than I’d ever expected from him. When he pulled back, his voice was steady, almost reverent. "Our life will be everything I’ve promised you. The Isle will rejoice for our child, and you—" he paused, his lips curling into a satisfied grin, "—you will give me everything,deliciae. You already have."