Priests and priestesses from the north arrived within a week and Adeline witnessed it all. The castle was a lively affair more than it had ever been and all of the reasons pointed towards the king and the soon-to-be queen's marking ceremony.

Adeline sat in the corner of the room which appeared to be buried deep with rich fabrics of all kinds and from everywhere.

Each shifting realm had sent something for the ceremony of two souls officially joining and hoped to get the invite. At least that was what she had been told.

One thing that she did not like in the middle of it all were the servants who were working themselves to death probably. historical

"Are you sure that they don't need rest?" Adeline turned to Cassandra, "They look tired." There were a few faces which she remembered to see almost all the time and Adeline was pretty much involved in a lot of things which meant that they were here more than necessary.

Cassandra chuckled and shook her head lightly. "They would not go unless you order them to. Witnessing a ceremony like this and being able to take part in one is the highest honor. So, unless you order them to, they are not going from here."

"And by order," Adeline confirmed her thoughts, "you mean, me forcefully asking them to leave?"

Cassandra made an uneasy face, "yes. They do not want to go and when you say it like that, you are telling them to leave."

That was something Adeline could never do. "Where is Xavier?" she asked instead, maybe going to him might help.

"I do not know," Cassandra answered, "but I can ask a guard to lead you to him?"

For a guard to take her to Xavier might be better than her going and roaming around in the palace. She would definitely get lost.

"Okay," she agreed and got up just as Cassandra did. They walked outside the room where Adeline found a man quite familiar in looks. She must have seen him before.

"Adeline," Cassandra turned to the man, "This is Dasnag, the leading warrior of the luna's guard. He will take you there."

"Hello," Adeline smiled politely. "How are you?"

"Quite well, Madam. Thank you." he bowed lightly and it was comical to how he, a giant, was bowing down to her. "Shall I?"

She nodded and with him giving a final bow to the queen mother, off they went.

Passing countless hallways, climbing up the stairs they finally reached the hallway where Xavier would carry out his duties.

Dasnag pointed to a door, "The king is in his office, Ma'am. Allow me to-"

"No, no!" she shook her head instantly and denied the offer. "I will do it, don't worry."

Dasnag did not proceed further. "If you want to be escorted anywhere else, say my anime. I will be standing at the end of the hallway."

Only after a nod of confirmation, did he move away. As he had told Adeline, he soo at the end of the hallway.

Adeline turned to the thick wooden door and a sneaky smile came to her face. Moving closer to the door, she whispered, "Cutie patootie—"

The door opened with the speed of lightning and within seconds, she was pulled inside.

The next thing she noticed when she did not feel her head being dizzy was that she was pushed against the door and Xavier stood in front of her with his eyes narrowed down at her.

"What was that?" He grated out the words, his voice rougher than usual. "Did we not decide against this?"

"Against what?" she blinked innocently like she truly had no idea what he was talking about. "Did I do something wrong, mcsexy?"

"McDon—what?!" he looked away for a quick second before returning to her.

"Adeline, my love, this has to stop."

She shook her head, "Nope, i am still trying to find you a nickname."

"Just pick one,"

"I like cutie patootie," she shrugged, "I could always—"

"Adeline," he warned, his tone betraying the anger and frustration he felt. "Can we please agree to stop it?"

"Hmm," she hummed, "but you have a nickname for me and I don't. So, my macho man, this might have to continue until I find one."

His jaw ticked and she felt his eyes grow narrower than before. He was angry but all well because this time at Adeline had just the idea of what to do.

Standing on her tippy toes, she wrapped his arms around his neck. With her chest colliding with his, the tingles spread all over and the sensation was over them making them both fall silent.

Immediately when both started to breathe heavily as the mate bond clicked in but it was not overpowering enough for her to forget everything.

"I love you," she whispered in his ear, and slowly his frozen and stiff body returned to normal. "So, so much."

He sighed above her. "I yearned for your touch today," he admitted.

"Then, why did you not call me?" she pulled away. "I was buried in fabrics and flowers and gifts today anyway."

Adeline waited for him to answer but instead of doing that, he patted her hip, and on command, her legs wrapped themselves around his waist. He carried them over to the seat behind the desk and there, once he was seated and she was in his lap, he spoke,

"I wanted you to enjoy it for as long as you can. Otherwise, you would be working all day as I do and I would fucking hate to watch you do that."

Xavier turned his head slightly and his eyes, the ones which appeared dark almost always seemed to be lighter in color. "I want you to be happy."

She hummed loudly and broke their stare by looking around the room and pointing to the farthest corner.

The door was in the middle of the wall making the two corners on the side of it idle as the room was big in both length and width.

"I would be happy if my office was there," she turned to him with a cheeky smile, "and then we could pass flirty winks to each other." To press more emphasis, she gave a wink at the end of it.

"Really?" she chuckled and cracked a laugh at the wink.

"Yup," she popped the p at the end and then added with a saucy wink, "maybe you could fuck me over the desk..."