by Regine Abel
But her physical attributes weren’t the only reason I was growing so fond of her. Although not as bold and outspoken as Hilda, Astrid wasn’t meek or timid. There was a quiet strength about her. She possessed a serene elegance, laced with fierce determination and unwavering loyalty to those she loved. Her understanding of the servants’ reluctance to bond with her, and the dauntless way she was facing the challenge impressed me. Watching her play the harp for me was mesmerizing, and in a few hours, I would get to experience that pleasure again.
I rode my horse hard, eager to surprise Astrid with my early arrival. My guards were baffled by my unusual haste, but followed along in silence. As I reached the entrance of the castle, Tormund raced down the stairs to meet me. Before I could dismount, he informed me Astrid was in the greenhouse. I gestured for my guards to stay and raced toward it. Once at the cleared path, I dismounted, tied my horse to a tree and walked the remaining distance.
Standing by the glass door, I observed her through the window. Her lips moved and I could faintly hear the melody she sang. She wore a beige tunic dress with a bronze and gold embroidery. Her coppery hair flowed freely down her back. I longed to bury my face in its softness and inhale her lavender-scented perfume. Astrid finished organizing the sprouting pots on one of the tables, then took a step back to admire her work.
That’s when she finally noticed me.
Startled, she pressed a hand to her chest, right below the nautilus medallion that shone brightly with a pulsating glow. Her stunned expression morphed into one of such raw happiness that my heart tightened in my chest. I opened the door and marched toward her. Astrid’s eyes misted. Her lips formed the syllables of my name though no sound escaped through them. She ran the remaining distance and threw herself into my arms.
I crushed her lips with a bruising kiss. The fresh lavender scent I had so missed filled my nostrils. I embraced her voluptuous body while my tongue invaded her mouth. She buried her hands in my hair and gripped the strands almost painfully. Moaning with pleasure, she pressed her chest against mine. My hands slid down to her ass and held her tightly against my hardening shaft. Coming up for air, I covered her face with kisses.
“Eric… I need you…” Astrid whispered, her voice raspy with need.
“Astrid…” I moaned hungrily when she clawed at my clothes.
“I need you, Eric… Right now!”
She slipped her hands under my tunic and pulled the string of my breeches. Her face was flushed and her breathing labored. The raw need in her amber eyes, darkened by desire, sent blistering pulses of lust through my shaft, driving me over the edge. I lifted her in my arms and she wrapped her legs around my waist. Devouring her mouth in another passionate kiss, I carried her to the back of the greenhouse. I stopped in front of the workbench and swiped my hand over its surface, throwing a few gardening tools and a watering can to the ground. The sound of metal hitting the floor and splashing water barely registered in my lust-crazed mind.
I sat Astrid at the edge of the workbench and pulled down the top of her dress to suck an erect nipple into my mouth. She whimpered with pleasure and struggled to lift the long skirt of her dress.
“I want you inside me, Eric. Now… Take me, now!”
Without stopping to suck and lick the succulent treat, I helped her raise her skirt. Astrid lifted her ass from the workbench to allow me to pull her undergarments off. Leaning back on her forearms, she placed her feet on top of the workbench, spreading herself wide open for me. I slipped two fingers into her cleft while feverishly freeing my aching cock from the confines of my breeches. She was soaking wet. Astrid shouted my name when my thumb grazed the swollen nub between her legs. That sexy-as-hell sultry voice of hers, the intoxicating scent of her musk, and the urgency with which she pulled at me drove me insane with need. I pulled her ass to the edge of the bench and shoved my cock into her welcoming heat in one powerful thrust.
“Ah God, yes! Eric… Yes!”
I pounded into her with a punishing pace. Our moans and shouts of pleasure couldn’t fully drown out the creaking sound of the workbench under my frenzied assault, nor the clinking of the seed containers on top of it.
“Astrid… My Astrid… You’re so tight, so wet… You feel so damn good.”
She screamed as she exploded around my cock. Her inner walls clamped down on my shaft, but I wasn’t ready to cum – nowhere near. I still wanted her too much. While she rode the waves of her orgasm, I continued rocking back and forth inside her quivering slit, laving her breasts with my tongue and nipping at her nipples. What a magnificent vision she was, her hair splayed about, her eyes glazed over, her lips swollen by my kisses. Even in the ebbing throes of her climax, the mere sight of her turned my blood to molten lava. When she seemed to have regained enough of her senses, I pulled out of her. After getting Astrid to her feet, I turned her around and bent her over the workbench. Burying my cock to the hilt, I slipped in and out of her with renewed vigor.
Astrid shouted my name, over and over again in a mantra. With her palms flat on the workbench, she arched back into me. I fondled her breast with one hand while the other slipped between her legs to rub her engorged clitoris. The crashing sound of glass shattering as one of the sealed containers fell off the workbench mingled with our gasps of pleasure. Sweat dripped down my back from the exertion and the burning early afternoon sun through the glass ceiling. Astrid’s legs began to shake and I could feel her inner walls convulsing around my shaft. She was on the verge of another climax and I would be riding this one with her.
My movements became erratic as blistering coils of pleasure unraveled within me. Astrid shouted and arched violently into me as she once more found her release. I hollered in response when my own orgasm overtook me. With my cock buried deep, I spilled my seed inside her in blissful pulses. I held her close, covering her neck and back with soft kisses.
She collapsed on top of the workbench and I leaned over her, supporting my weight on my forearms on either side of her. Astrid turned her face to the side and I nuzzled her cheek and neck. We savored the intimate embrace in silence, while catching our breath. I eventually pulled out of her. Getting up, I tucked myself back into my breeches, and helped Astrid readjust her clothing.
“Wow,” I said, looking at the disaster area we had created around the workbench.
“Welcome home,” she whispered with a naughty smile.
Chuckling, I rested my forehead against hers. “It is good to be home.”
* * *
The absence of Astrid’s warm body against mine woke me up. She was sitting on the couch in front of the fireplace, staring blindly at the dying embers within. Her fingers absentmindedly toyed with the nautilus medallion hanging from her necklace. Now fully charged, it glowed like a miniature sun. Frowning, I sat up and wondered what somber thoughts had driven her from our bed. The motion snapped her out of her musing. She turned to face me. The serene expression on her face alleviated some of my fears.
“Hey,” she said with a gentle smile.
“Hey,” I said, smiling back. Getting out of bed, I went to sit beside her. “Is everything alright?”
Nodding, Astrid snuggled against me. She lifted the medallion, showing it to me. “It’s shining so bright it woke me up. I guess it’s ready now?”
“Yes, my darling,” I said with a soft voice. “You have completed the first month. Before nightfall, you will need to activate the first seal.”
“Can we do it now and get this out of the way? I don’t want to spend an entire day anxiously awaiting the moment I’ll have to touch that door again.”
“Absolutely, Astrid. Whatever makes you feel most comfortable.” I caressed her silky hair and placed a gentle kiss on her temple.
We got dressed quietly then headed to the dungeon. Our footsteps echoed in the empty hallways since the servants hadn’t arrived yet. However, the silence wasn’t ominous. The rising sun was still low on the horizon, and with it, a sense of peace – hope? – settled over me. I stole
a glance at Astrid. She walked purposefully, a look of determination on her pretty face. Pride and gratitude blossomed in my heart. With most of my previous wives, this first seal had been a trial in and of itself. They were forced to interact with the very object that they were otherwise bound to avoid at the peril of their lives.
Temptation had ensnared some of my previous wives from the moment they saw the necklace and heard of the door. Most of the others started showing the first signs of weakness to its lure by the second week. In the entire month since her arrival, Astrid had felt no compulsion, not even during the nights she was completely alone in the castle. I didn’t want to read more into it than there was, but my mind had a will of its own.
We climbed down the dungeon’s stairs and made our way to the Sealed Door. Astrid stopped a couple of feet in front of it and turned to me for guidance. I approached her and indicated the face of the medallion with the pulsating gem.
“You must place the medallion here,” I said, pointing at the nautilus-shaped recess in the door, “the gemmed side facing in, then turn it counterclockwise. Remember, always to the left. Turning it clockwise means death. It would release the seals and open the door.”
Astrid shuddered at my words and swallowed hard. With a stiff nod, she turned to face the door. She couldn’t hide the slight trembling of her hand as she raised it to place the medallion in the socket, but she didn’t falter. A soft gasp escaped her when a shimmering glow pulsated for a couple of seconds along the vine-like carvings on the face of the door, then faded away. Astrid licked her lips nervously then rotated the medallion as per my instructions. The lowest carved tendril that sprouted from the socket to the left side of the door slowly filled with a silver light. It bled over the doorframe and into the bottom seal embedded in the stone wall around the door.
The first seal came to life, filling with light as it absorbed the medallion’s energy. Astrid groaned, as if in pain. Suddenly unsteady on her legs, she slapped a hand on the face of the door to support herself. I watched helplessly as Astrid rested her forehead on the door with a whimper and started panting. Though her knuckles were white and her hand now visibly shook, she still firmly held the medallion in place in the socket. At last, a blinding glow and a hollow clicking sound indicated the transfer was complete. The first seal was fully activated.
Astrid heaved a breath of relief and nearly collapsed against the door. Now that the process had ended, I could finally wrap my arms around her in support. She leaned against me. The expression on her face was a mix of exhaustion and gratitude.
“It’s done, my darling.” I softly kissed her brow. “You can remove the medallion.”
She nodded groggily and removed the nautilus from the socket. I picked her up in my arms and Astrid curled into me, almost in a fetal position, her face buried in my neck. With one last look at the Sealed Door, I turned around and headed for the stairs out of the dungeon.
Tormund stood on the landing, a concerned look on his face. I gave him a reassuring smile and he relaxed. A quick glance at the now dim medallion resting on Astrid’s chest provided him with all the confirmation he needed. Tormund gave me a short bow before moving out of the way, but his eyes had been on Astrid’s face. In truth, it was her he was thanking. Brushing past him, and under the curious, but discreet stares of the servants who had begun trickling in to work, I took my bride back to our room.
CHAPTER 6
Astrid
Already eight months had gone by since the fateful day I had disobeyed my father and presented myself as an aspiring bride to King Eric Thorsen. Eight months of facing a challenge that didn’t feel like one, except on the first day of every month. Activating the seals was not only draining, but also increasingly painful, like a part of me was being torn out. Eric assured me it caused me no harm. Indeed, aside from the short-lived pain during the activation, and the bone deep weariness in the hours that followed, I seemed to suffer no aftermath.
It confused me that it was so easy when twenty-seven women before me had failed so miserably. Ariana, Eric’s last wife, had managed to last four months longer than everyone else for a total of six months. Was the effectiveness of the curse waning?
Fall slowly imposed itself and drove me out of my greenhouse. Over the past two weeks, I had gradually shut it down and stored the seeds for next year. I would miss my little haven and the wondrous fragrance of the fresh flowers I brought back to the castle almost daily. The servants still avoided me, but they no longer systematically averted their eyes when they met mine.
Eric was the perfect husband. Despite his numerous responsibilities, he always made time for me. That was especially true now that I spent most of my time within the castle. He was kind, tender and attentive. Eric sought every opportunity to spoil me. While I wasn’t materialistic, his little presents touched me deeply because they were personal. Knowing my passion for botany and books, Eric had brought back the best gift from his last diplomatic travels. It was a full collection of illuminated books on the caring and growing of exotic plants in a northern climate. Whenever possible, he would also bring me rare seeds, and the finest gold and silk threads for my embroidery.
Though he sought my advice or opinion on some matters, Eric didn’t involve me in the affairs of the state. However, as his queen, I would be expected to carry part of the royal burden, mainly through social events and diplomatic visits. I should also nurture harmonious relations between the people and the crown, counsel Eric, and support him in whatever capacity he required. But with the sword of Damocles hanging over my head, I would remain in the shadows until the trial was over. There was no point in forming friendships with allies and other counterparts if I was to be replaced weeks later by another.
I believed this was the reason Eric was so generous, giving me everything but himself. Granted, he seemed to genuinely enjoy my company and, far from waning, his insatiable hunger for me had increased over time. However, he kept his heart tightly closed off to me. I understood why he didn’t allow himself such vulnerability with this curse, but that didn’t stop me from wanting a real bond with my husband. I cared deeply for Eric. In fact, I was falling in love with him and I wanted the same from him.
We were in Eric’s study. The mid-November afternoon sun shone through the large windows. He was behind his massive desk, reviewing the amendments to some trade agreements with a neighboring state. I sat by the fireplace across from him, doing the gold work on a cloak I was embroidering for him.
“Astrid.”
“Yes, Eric?” I said, looking at him. I was surprised to see him still hard at work.
Raising his head from the documents he was poring over, he gave me a confused look. “Excuse me?”
“Err… You called my name. Did you need something?”
Eric reclined in his chair with a frown. “No. I didn’t call your name, Astrid.”
I stared at him for a moment, just as confused as he seemed. “Strange. I could have sworn someone called my name. Sorry for disturbing you,” I said with an apologetic smile.
I resumed my embroidery but his stillness drew my attention back to him. Eric, was still looking at me, as if seeking some kind of answer. Unnerved by the intense gaze, I squirmed on the couch.
“Was it my voice you thought you heard?”
“There are only the two of us here, Eric,” I said, gesturing at the room.
He waved an impatient hand. “I’m well aware of that, but that wasn’t my question. The voice you heard, did it sound like me?”
His strange behavior baffled me. “Well… Hmm… I didn’t really pay attention,” I said with a shrug. “I heard a voice calling me and automatically assumed it was yours since we’re alone here. But no, I can’t swear it sounded like you… not that it matters, since I clearly imagined it.”
The expression on Eric’s face could only be interpreted as sad. He rubbed his face with both hands before leaning back over the documents on his desk. There was something he wasn’t telling me.
; “What’s wrong? Why are you so troubled? It was just a mistake.”
His smile was meant to be reassuring, but he remained too tense for it to be believable. “There’s nothing wrong, my darling. Forgive me. These trade agreements are driving me to distraction. I should be done shortly. Would you care to join me on a ride afterward?”
“I would love that,” I said with genuine enthusiasm.
He nodded, apparently pleased with my answer and returned his attention to the documents before him. I resumed my embroidery work, not realizing that this moment had marked the beginning of a rift between us that would deepen over the following weeks.
* * *
While still being his charming self, Eric became distant. He spent time with me as much as he always had, but he wasn’t as affectionate anymore. He no longer randomly pulled me to his lap to nuzzle my nape while telling me of his day. There were no more impromptu visits to my boudoir just because he missed me. His smiles were less frequent, and no longer reached his eyes. He was still as passionate with me at night, but with an urgency that bordered on desperation. It reminded me too much of that first time he had left me alone in the castle for two weeks. When I asked him what was wrong, he kept saying everything was fine. We both knew it wasn’t true but I couldn’t call him out on it without calling him a liar. It was breaking my heart but I didn’t know what to do.
I started hearing voices calling my name or saying random, nonsensical things, more and more frequently. At first, it was every other day. Then it was once a day. Now, I stopped counting the occurrences. I wondered if I was going insane from lack of human contact other than with Eric. Maybe I had become so starved for social interaction that I had invented an imaginary companion. After all, the voices were more frequent when I was alone. I wanted to talk to Eric about it, but there was already too much distance between us. I didn’t want him thinking me crazy too.
Lying on my back, I turned to look at the sleeping form of my husband. We had made love tonight. As always, Eric had been a generous and passionate lover. But after we both found our release, he turned on his side, his back to me and went to sleep. Eric used to hold me close after our lovemaking. He would wrap himself around me and wouldn’t let go, as if he feared I would go away or disappear. But now…