Hellbound With You Chapter 929: Alicia & Zeke Side Story 5

~4 minute read · 932 words
Previously on Hellbound With You...
Zeke slaughtered demons in his throne hall and brutally executed a traitorous high demon Duke by stabbing his eyes, enforcing his zero-tolerance for betrayal amid the fearful silence of survivors. Alone afterward, he discarded his bloodied clothes, gazed at his wedding ring, and reflected on the numbing darkness of endless killings, the cunning Prince Argon holding his mother hostage, and the burden of protecting the weakened Gavriel. Grounding himself by kissing the ring and whispering Alicia's name, Zeke dismissed his subordinate Ruka's report of a captured silver-haired woman claiming to be his wife—until her familiar voice pierced the air, calling 'Ezekiel!!'
Zeke's heart trembled upon seeing a silver-haired woman positioned a few steps behind Ruka. His whole body stiffened at the vision. He couldn't accept what his eyes were showing him. For an instant, his pulse, thoughts, and all senses ceased functioning, locked in suspension.         

Only after he blinked forcefully several times to sharpen his sight. This couldn't be… it was… utterly impossible…

He thought his eyes were deceiving him. He must have longed for her so intensely that his mind created a strikingly vivid image of her, so convincing that he even caught her voice! That seemed the sole rational reason he could grasp now. Yet… his inner self began to quiver. Her appearance alone upended his world in a flash. A torrent of countless emotions erupted within him. Awe. Thrill. Stun. Perplexity. Skepticism. Unease. And… boundless love.

His legs started moving on their own, before his brain could catch up. His stare remained fixed on her form. Not blinking once, terrified she might vanish in a heartbeat. Even if this was merely a stunningly realistic mirage, he yearned to gaze upon her just a moment more. Just a little more. That would suffice for him.

Holy hell… she resembled his Alicia so flawlessly. And she appeared so… tangible. What manner of magic was at play?

Zeke resisted speeding up his steps. The dread that she would fade away the instant he approached and reached to touch her swelled rapidly, making his heart quake in his chest.

All else faded from his world. Now it was only him and his goddess there.

And right then, he begged fervently in his heart that this enchantment wouldn't cease yet. Gods… show him mercy and grant this dream a bit longer.

"E… Ezekiel…" The woman resembling Alicia parted her lips and spoke his name once more, her tone matching his wife's so perfectly it sent his heart racing. He observed her face shift. Tears gathered in her eyes as her lips quivered, prompting Zeke to widen his eyes in shock.

"A… Alicia…??" he finally whispered her name, letting that faint hope ignite that she was genuine and present with him. Then she dashed forward, slamming into his embrace.

Zeke squeezed his eyes shut amid eager hope and nerves. He expected reality to shatter the illusion as her form passed through him like smoke. But no. She collided solidly, forcing him back a few steps from her momentum. Her body… her… holy hell…!!

His arms shot out to grasp her shoulders, easing her back to study her face.

Sheer incredulity still filled his staring eyes. "Are… you real? H-have I lost my mind?" he stuttered. Meanwhile, his hands slid along her arms, petted her hair, and stroked her cheeks - confirming beyond doubt that Alicia stood truly before him, alive and solid!

"I'm real, Ezekiel…" she grinned then chuckled, tears streaming silently down her face. "I'm real… oh heavens… I'm finally with you again, my beloved husband."

The moment those words escaped Alicia's mouth, Zeke pulled her fiercely close, encircling her in a firm yet tender hold that no one else could break.

"Oh, Alicia…" he rasped in a raw, urgent tone as he pressed his face into her hair, then nestled into her neck's curve, inhaling her longed-for fragrance deeply. "Don't vanish… please… let me behold and embrace you a while more… please…" he pleaded in a quivering whisper that shook Alicia's heart. She shared his desperate wish. She too craved more time with him, to cling and confirm his well-being.

"Ezekiel…" his name was all she managed as she clutched him tightly. She couldn't fathom holding him like this now. How often had she fantasized about this reunion? And now, through strange fate, her dream came true.

Struggling, Zeke pulled back slightly from their soul-stirring clinch. His eyes roamed every part of her. Having verified she wasn't a hallucination or lifelike trick, new concerns arose. Like why she was here at all. Though overjoyed to see her, unease and queries flickered in his gaze.

Alicia spotted the transformations in his body straight away. He appeared tougher, more unyielding, and somehow even a bit taller than earlier, though that seemed impossible. He resembled a wild yet majestic sovereign dreaded by every being. No… those words fell short of the truth. Her Ezekiel had shed the image of the serene half-vampire prince embodying perfect poise and elegance. Instead, he radiated the aura of the deadliest, most perilous dark sovereign.    

"My wife… how did you… how did this happen? Have you been hurt?" he questioned in a frantic voice. Right then, neither his tone nor his face hinted at the ominous, feral strength enveloping him.    

"I'm fine, my love." Alicia responded at once, eager to dispel his fears as she raised her palm to cradle his cheek. "Please don't worry, I am not hurt. I'm stronger than that." Her smile grew even brighter.    

His eyes probed hers until a profound sigh of relief flowed from his mouth. Zeke grasped her hands and lifted them to his lips.    

"God… I can't… believe this. Please tell me this is not a dream…" he murmured while pressing kisses to each of her hands in turn. "No… I don't even care if this is a dream…"    

Cradling her face in his palms, Zeke leaned his forehead to hers before claiming her lips in a fierce, electrifying kiss.