The Morning After

Marcus was still standing at the window, one leg propped on the sill, while Princess Liriel clung to his back, her cold eyes drilling into him.

His thoughts were racing.

Shit, what the hell do I do now? She’s a full-blown yandere! One wrong word and I’m dead meat… Better play along for now…

“Uh, n-no, you’ve got it all wrong, I wasn’t trying to run away! I just needed some fresh air, that’s all!”

Her eyes narrowed as she studied him closely. Marcus forced a nervous smile, then blurted:

“And… I was doing some stretches! Yeah! Don’t wanna pull a muscle on my wedding night, hahaha!”

Awkwardly, he bent forward, trying to touch his toes, but barely reached his knees.

All at once, her expression softened again. She smiled sweet as honey, as if nothing had happened.

“Oh, I see… now I understand.” Her voice turned gentle as she slid to his side, caressing his arm tenderly.

“Look, beloved… the stars are shining so brightly tonight.” Softly, she guided his head toward the window. Hesitant, he followed her gesture.

“The stars? What are you onto, outside it’s completely overca...”

Clonk!

A sudden, sharp blow from a candlestick cracked against the back of his skull, Marcus’ vision blurred, colorful sparks exploding in front of his eyes.

“Oh wow… the stars… you were right, babe… beautiful…” he whispered, then hit the floor like a sack of bricks.

When he came to, his skull was pounding.

He blinked left and right, then down at himself.

Tied up. Naked. On the canopy bed.

The princess stood at the foot of the bed with a look of tender concern, her thin silk gown fluttering in the breeze that drifted through the open window.

“Ah, you’re finally awake, my love. I’m sorry I had to tie you up. But I… I simply can’t risk losing you.”

She leaned over him, golden hair brushing against his chest, her lips grazing his ear.

“Don’t worry… I’ll protect you. Forever. In every. Conceivable. Way.”

Marcus laughed nervously, tugging at the makeshift restraints knotted from bed sheets.

“Ehehe… I mean, I’m usually totally down for some bondage roleplay, but shouldn’t we maybe, y’know, take it slow, princess? We literally just got married and...”

With lightning speed, she straddled his stomach, slashed her nails across his chest, leaving bloody red streaks.

“Fuuuuuck! Careful with the nails, that shit hurts!“

Her face twisted into a mask of icy rage.

“Princess!? You still dare call me that?” Her claws dug deeper as she loomed over him.

“My name is LIRIEL. Say it!” One hand gripped his chin, forcing his eyes to meet hers, blazing with madness.

“Liriel!!!” Marcus yelled. “LI-RI-EL! Happy now!? Jesus!”

“Good…” she panted, dark delight in her voice. 

Her hands slid behind her back as her body ground against him.

Marcus groaned as he saw her pull something out. “Oh, …please no strap-on, please no strap-on…”

Then she pulled out a long, curved knife that gleamed in the pale light.

“Oh… fuuuck me…”

Her lips stretched into a grotesque grin. In her wide, unblinking eyes burned hunger and obsession.

Marcus squeezed his eyes shut, bracing for the killing blow.

But instead, he felt the ropes around his wrists being cut, as he opened his eyes again.

“…Now be a good husband and don’t do anything stupid, alright, my love?”

Her voice was a twisted cocktail of desperate affection and cold possession, and yet there was a frightening warmth in it too.

Marcus only nodded.

“You’re my hero… my man… my property. And I will never let you go.”

Holy crap, she is completely nuts! The moment I get a chance, I’m out of here… out of... of...

Marcus’ frantic thoughts screeched to a halt as Liriel let her sheer silk gown slip from her shoulders, pooling soundlessly on the floor.

Her body was revealed in full; skin like pearl, flawless, soft, almost glowing.

Marcus swallowed hard.

Okay… now I’m scaroused.

Her thighs, full and smooth, pressed against him as her knees sank into the mattress.

Get it together, man. No matter how hot she is, remember what Gus always said: 'never stick your dick in crazy'!

Her hands pinned his shoulders to the bed. She leaned down, and crushed her lips onto his, shoving her tongue into his mouth with desperate hunger.

When she finally pulled away, her breath was ragged, her eyes blazing with ecstatic obsession.

Marcus’ heart thundered, and it didn’t take long before he changed his mind.

“Ah, fuck it!” he shouted, springing up and flipping her over, surrendering himself to the ecstasy.

The night dragged on. 

Soon the guards standing watch in the palace halls were red-faced, drenched in sweat, struggling to stay upright.

The princess’s cries of pleasure and wild screams of lust echoed not only through the corridors but all the way to the royal chamber, where the king sat in bed, pressing a pillow desperately over his ears, to absolutely no effect.

Hours later, as the first light of dawn colored the sky, the chamber door finally creaked open.

Marcus tiptoed out, stumbling, hair sticking up in every direction. His body was covered in scratches and bite marks, like he’d gone ten rounds with a rabid cat... and lost.

He dragged himself down the corridor until, by sheer luck, he spotted Gus leaning lazily on the railing of a wide balcony two floors below, his demon arm twitching restlessly.

When Gus noticed him, he rubbed his bleary eyes.

“…Marcus?”

The newlywed grabbed him by the collar, yanking him close, his voice a panicked whisper.

“Dude, we need to leave. Now. With the Golf. To Ironmaw!”

“What?” Gus blinked, baffled. “That’s not until next week. And what the hell are you even doing out here? Shouldn’t you be with your elven bride right...”

“You don’t get it!” Marcus’ voice cracked, his hands trembling. “She… she’s...”

But then, from behind, came that sweet, honeyed voice.

“Marcus, darling! What are you doing out here?”

He froze, turned slowly, forcing a nervous smile.

“Oh! My dearest wife! I was just… uh… getting some fresh air and, uh, bumped into my old buddy. That’s all.”

Liriel tilted her head, her violet eyes sparkling. “How lovely to see you so close… Gus, isn’t it? I do hope you’re taking good care of my husband.”

Gus blinked, startled, then forced a polite smile. “Uh… sure.”

“Excellent.” Her smile never wavered.

Marcus cleared his throat, sweat beading at his temple.

“Well, um… honey… Gus was just telling me that we… uh… absolutely have to leave for Ironmaw sooner. Urgently. No delays possible!”

Her smile remained flawless, but Marcus saw it, the tiniest twitch at the corner of her lips, enough to make his blood run cold.

She turned her gaze sweetly to Gus. “Oh really? And why so suddenly urgent?”

“Uh…” Gus raised his brows, clueless. “What the hell are you talking about, we...”

Marcus stomped hard on his foot.

“Ow! What the fuck!?” Gus hissed, then scrambled. “I mean... yes! Right! Our dwarf friend said if we don’t leave by tomorrow, uh… the winter storms could block the roads! Yeah, that’s it!”

Liriel’s smile stayed perfectly warm, her voice dripping with sweetness. “Oh, I see. Well… I suppose it can't be helped then.”

She turned gracefully and glided back into the corridor.

Marcus exhaled in relief, while Gus stared at him, brows furrowed, silently mouthing: Why!?

He opened his mouth to explain, but Liriel’s sing-song voice floated back from the hall:

“Oh, darling! There’s still so much time until tomorrow morning. Come back to our chambers, we mustn’t waste a single hour.”

Marcus’ face fell. “Y-yeah… honey…” he croaked, forcing a smile.

He leaned in to whisper to Gus: “Everyone wants a wife with a huge sex drive. Until they actually get a wife with a huge sex drive…”

Then, with a heavy sigh, he trudged after her.

Gus crossed his arms, shaking his head. “Damn… that guy’s fucked.”

And while Gus roused the others, pushing their departure forward and packing their bags, the only sound drifting from the royal bedchambers above was the rhythmic squeak of a canopy bed, driving sweat onto the foreheads of the guards standing helplessly below.