Sometimes I sit with myself and think about how 99.99% of Elfhame knew that Jude and Cardan were obsessed with each other since their school days, and I just know they were SICK of their shit.
I know some of those freaks (Bomb and Roach specifically) earned some good money when Cardan announced her as his wife in QoN.
The gasp of shock wasn't because they were married. That gasp was because "OMFG THEY FINALLY ADMITTED IT"
every time someone complains about cardan's tail, oak's hooves, or wren's teeth an angel loses its wings, a baby cries, someone stubs their toe, a bird stops singing, a squirrel loses its acorn, et cetera
sure yeah Jude is Madoc's daughter, when are we gonna talk about how Taryn is Oriana's daughter.
maybe it's just as simple as Taryn was the most agreeable of the sisters, and Oriana grabbed hold of any daughter that would stay in her hand long enough to mold. to make her understand the rules, to pursue a marriage, a place in Faerie in the right way, to serve Madoc in the right way. teaching her to be a beautiful woman on the arm of a man, and to only have power in the small, acceptable way she's allotted.
and above all, teaching Taryn to always be terrified of the shifting tides of courtiers, and never be the one making waves. Oriana knows so well how fickle and rotten the Court truly is, and she'll be damned if she can't impress that danger and fear onto at least one of those daughters.
☾ warnings: 18+, smut, throne sex, oral [fem receiving], soft/dom ish Cardan?, i'm awful at tagging we know this by now.
☾ wc: 1.6k
☾ read on ao3: here | ☾ masterlist
☾ heyyyy long time no smut. soooo i found this in my notes from a year ago... have fun :)
With its usual throng of courtiers finally departed from their night of revelry, the throne room was the last place I'd thought to look for Cardan.
Except there he was, relaxed across his half of our throne staring out to the empty room. His attention caught as I sneaked through the oak door, making my way to where he lounged. Soft footsteps echoing off the walls.
My skin growing embarrassingly hot under his fixed gaze, watching my every movement while bringing a fresh glass of wine to his lips before setting it on the ground upon my approach.
Climbing the steps of the dais, I lower myself into a mock curtsy, "Hello, my king."
Greeting me with a smile, there's a glint I can't quite read in his dark eyes as he leans forward, reaching to cup the backs of my thighs - spreading his slightly, to pull me to stand between them.
"Come on," Cardan chuckles softly. "I know you can go lower than that."
I only shake my head at him playfully, running my fingers through the thick of his hair, gripping soft curls to tilt his head back a little further.
Resting his chin against the bodice of my dress, that familiar burn shooting to my core at the deep sigh which escapes the back of his throat, any last residual tension fleeing his body. His tail coming to snake around the bottom of my calf, making sure I don't turn away.
As though sensing my desperate yearning to close the gap between us, insistent hands guide me to settle myself onto Cardans' lap.
With his body flush against mine, my voice comes out barely above a whisper. "I didn't expect to find you in here."
"Were you looking?" Our faces merely a breath apart.
"What if I were?"
There's a beat of silence between us and I know he won't give me his answer until I surrender mine.
"Yes." I admit, my eyes flickering to his lips, feeling much too vulnerable to keep our eye contact. “Yes, I was.”
Cardans' smile seems to widen further at my admission, leaning in so his lips can brush against mine. "Well, then I'm glad you found me."
An ache that I cannot suppress burns through me as gentle hands stray from my waist to roam the rest of my body. One moving to trace the curve of my hip, as Cardan entwines the other among my hair.
Nails grasp at my skin as I kiss and nip along Cardans jaw and down his neck, little bruises materialising in my wake. Soft moans blessing me as I arch myself into him further.
A startled gasp escaping my throat as Cardan adjusts his hips below me, his own desire evident against my core, despite the multiple layers of fabric separating us.
Far too many layers, I realise, the wild need to shed every inch of his clothing becoming overwhelming.
Moving to pull at the laces of his trousers, Cardan pauses me. Bringing my hand to his lips to kiss the light scar running across my palm, before lifting me into his arms to settle me gently on the edge of his throne, before taking to his knees before me.
Cardan Greenbriar, High King of Elfhame, who kneels before nobody but his Queen.
Golden rays from the rising sun gleam through the thin panes of crystal, bathing his skin. Morning beams accentuating the gold rims of his irises and the smeared metallic atop his cheekbones. Though he is on the floor, he appears no less powerful. Maybe even more so, the smirk he wears a reminder of the power he holds in this moment.
"It is you I revere, my Jude." Whispering against the fabric of my dress.
My chest heaves as Cardan continues his devotion down my body, pulling the fabric at the front of my dress to expose my breasts. Grasping one into his hand, squeezing my nipple while circling the other with his tongue before taking it into his mouth.
Shocks of pleasure radiating from deep within me, ankles wrapping around his waist pulling him closer. A silent plea for more.
"All you have to do is ask." Cardan chuckles against my skin, catching my eyes once more. "Tell me what you want from me, my love."
"I wan-."
Sentences swallowed by the surprised moan which escapes me. By the pressure of Cardans' fingertips forming circles against my clit, fingertips I hadn't noticed him sneaking under my dress.
Pulling my hand from his hair, clapping it over my mouth, attempting to stifle the sound which escapes me.
"None of that." Cardan affirms, pulling my hand away from my mouth. "I want to hear you, Jude, I will hear you. Now, why don't you tell me what you want."
The words struggle to form in my mouth, his hand between my thighs slowing down torturously the longer I don't speak.
Forcing myself to try focus, pushing past the vulnerability, "I want you."
"Oh, that I know." His gaze unwavering, as he slides a single finger inside me. "I can feel as much."
"Cardan." His own blush hitting his cheeks at the sound of his name, my voice a breathy mess, "Please."
Cardan, kneeling to a higher eye level and bringing his hand to caress the side of my cheekbone, "You're going to have to be more specific," his eyes that of a man seeing the stars for the first time.
"I want you to f-." His stare so intimate, I'd believe him if he said he could see straight through to my soul.
"I want to feel-."
"That's it, my dangerous wife." Finally adding a second finger, curling both inside me.
"I want to feel your mouth, your tongue." I breathe, involuntarily pushing my hips up against the pleasure; hoping to find some more friction.
Placing a single kiss to my jaw, Cardan continues his descent, a lazy smile on his face. "That wasn't so hard, was it?" His voice laced with sarcasm.
Cardans free hand slipping behind my thighs, resting them atop his shoulders to be cushioned by the feathered shoulders of his tunic. There is no attempt from Cardan to hide his smirk at every patch of red which is revealed the further he pushes up my dress. Kissing each patch, new and old, before swiping his tongue against my folds.
Hot pleasure builds in my gut at Cardans unyielding reverence, tongue and fingers at an inhuman speed.
"Look at me, Jude."
There is no glamour in his words, not that it would work, but I feel compelled regardless.
Pulling my head up, my gaze meets his. Hand pressed firm to my lower stomach, but still letting me grind against his tongue. He looks beautiful like this, kneeled before me ever so willingly, I know it would pain me I ever forgot this. His lips stained from both wine and my arousal, tears threaten to spill from my eyes as I'm scolded with shocks of pleasure.
"Cardan," his name a string of prayers on my lips only urging him on further as I continue to shake around him.
Refusing to let up only until I'm gripping for his collar, dragging him up my body, thighs dropping from his shoulders.
"Would you like a taste?" His fingers shining with my slick hover above my lips, "It's divine."
Insatiable hunger only heightened from the sweetness Cardan is pushing past my lips, letting me taste myself off his fingers.
"I need more. I need all of you." I barley manage, tugging to rid him of his tunic.
"Of course, my love." Helping himself out of the rest of his clothing before taking my place for himself and resting me atop him.
Bruising fingertips cling to my hips. Overwhelming pleasure drowning out the small burn of stretch as I sink myself onto him, a deep groan reverberating through his chest at the feel of me.
"Feel so good," Cardans' words slink down my spine. "Always so good for me."
Rolling his hips beneath me, until he is fully situated inside me. I cannot help but match his movements, tipping my forehead to rest against his own - a tangle of limbs together on our throne. Cupping Cardans face to capture his lips with mine, I am acutely aware that anybody could stumble upon us any minute, but much too bridled by sheer desire to care. My body alight as he repeatedly hits that spot only he can reach, throat hoarse from the sounds only he can illicit from within me. Beads of sweat drip from my brow, mixing with his own.
“Did you like the sight of me kneeling before you?” Cardans breath hot against my already burning skin.
Gods, I did. An abundance of visions flooding my mind of all the times he’s gone to his knees before me, and all the times he will in the years to come. Before, and after, he takes me. And he knows. Gods, he always knows.
A soft chuckle pulling from him as I can only whine in response before a blinding pleasure devours me and I’m pulsing around him, tears leaking from my eyes. His own movements becoming desperate, almost feral, before shuddering beneath me and spilling himself inside me. A final few thrusts to stop the sheer amount of his arousal leaking from me.
Dragging a finger along the panes of his toned torso, my exhausted muscles giving up on me, I collapse my head to rest between his collarbone & jaw. We should move. Should pull our clothes back on and make our way back to our room before someone discovers us. But with Cardan lazily fingering soothing circles into my back, gazing down at me, my body softening against his despite myself.
"You're beautiful." Speaking more to himself than to me, that stupid smile on his face, the softness in his voice a caress down my spine – we're not moving any time soon.
