Soft Wind Before the Storm.

"Harder."

Magnus shouted.

"Is this much good?"

"More."

Adonis swung his hands hard.

"That's good."

It had been a week Magnus had started training Adonis on self defense. Adonis didn't seem to have exceptional strength but he sure was a fast learner. He quickly learnt all sorts of different tricks.

"Did you practice your hidden weapon?"

Adonis nodded enthusiastically.

"I did. I did it on the dummy."

"Really?"

"Ummm."

"Okay, that's it for today."

Holt was standing with a towel for Magnus. He gave it to him.

"People go to wedding venues and all sorts of things before the wedding, you see."

He gave a smile which was not a smile to Magnus and said,"At least not do this fight training."

Magnus wiped his sweat and looked at Holt and said,"People do not separate couples who are to be married like that. Keeping them in different rooms, you see."

He too gave a smile which was not a smile to Holt and said,"At least not follow them each and every second."

Adonis looked at them with amusement.

Magnus was dissatisfied with Holt for barging into his room and taking his beauty away from him. Taking him to another tower.

Rapunzel - Holt, Magnus and Adonis version.

He sneaked into his beauty's room time and again and stole some kisses but the witch Holt would have to knock at the exact moment and he had to run away from the window. 

It's okay, he'll wait till the wedding. Then he wouldn't let his beauty get away from his eyes, not even for a few minutes.

Magnus held Adonis's hand and said,"Wait, you still have some practice left to do. You said you didn't understand your hidden techniques well. Let me teach you."

Adonis said,"That I-"

"It's okay if you don't understand. I'll teach you."

Adonis was dragged away before he could even speak or understand anything.

Magnus looked at Holt and said,"Don't you have work to do? Go. I'll send him safely after I teach him the technique well."

Holt was about to stop him but then he just nodded and went away.

If his Master was starved for too long, it'll be him who's gonna get chewed with lots of work. So even if he couldn't have a meal, let him have an appetizer. 

Mangus led Adonis behind the training ground and pressed him in a tree.

Adonis, who had understood why his giant babe brought him there. But he decided to act coy.

Magnus leaned down to kiss him but Adonis pushed him.

"Duke, we cannot. Before the wedding, touching isn't allowed."

"Huh?"

"But-"

"We should follow the traditional and only kiss and do more after the wedding."

"Who cares about tradition?"

Adonis once again pushed the giant man who was leaning in.

"We should. Who knows what might happen?"

"Nothing will happen. I'll protect us all."

Adonis pouted and said,"But I don't want to."

This time Magnus himself went a step back and took a long breath.

"Okay then. Can I kiss you on the cheeks?"

"Okay."

Magnus leaned down to kiss him on cheeks but Adonis turned aside and captured his lips. He kissed Magnus deeply.

Magnus's hands were on his side, eager to hold Adonis but he didn't move it.

Adonis smiled into the kiss and guided Magnus's hands to his waist. 

As soon as Magnus got hold of his beauty's waist, he held it tightly. Feeling all over his clothes.

"Mmn…..Nnggg…...Hah."

His hands pulled Magnus towards him, pulling his hair.

Magnus groaned.

They pulled back for air. Both breathless. Both panting.

Adonis smiled at Magnus who was looking at him with the eyes of a predator.

Magnus kissed all over his cheeks, ear, chin to his favourite neck.

"Mmn...Magnus…."

Adonis moaning his name was the best music to Magnus's ear. If he could, he would want to listen to it every day, every hour, every second of his life.

He couldn't help but gulp at the thought of this beautiful man moaning his name under him after some days.

He rested his forehead on Adonis's shoulder as Adonis caressed his hair.

"Let's go to the Star Peak."

"Huh?"

"You said you like stars. Let's go there before our wedding."

Adonis was happy to hear that. Happy that this man listened and remembered things he said. He remembered what he liked.

Isn't love weird?

You'd get ecstatic over the very mundane thing if done by your lover.

Adonis nodded happily.

They sat talking under the shade of the tree. Adonis sat while playing with Magnus's hair and he laid with his head on Adonis's lap.

"I'll talk with Holt, let's go then."

"What if he doesn't agree? The wedding is in 5 days."

"You're talking like he's the Master and I'm the butler."

Magnus turned to the other side.

Adonis cupped his face and turned it towards him, pecking his lips.

"My mistake, Master."

Magnus stood up suddenly and spoke,"Who is there?"

His sense was very keen.

One of the Knights came out of the bush holding his sword.

"I apologize to the Duke and the Duchess. I seemed to have dropped my ring so I came to find it. I've been wearing it for a long time so it was precious to me. I apologize for disturbing you two."

Magnus was looking at his hands when Adonis smiled and said,"It's okay. Did you find it?"

"No."

"Then go search for it."

"Thank you so much, the Duchess is kind."

"No, no. It's only normal. Go and find it."

When Adonis turned to his side he saw that the other party was glaring at him with a dissatisfied look on his face.

He widened his eyes and asked,"What happened, Duke?"

"Don't smile at other men like that. They will want you. Look at him, already fallen for you."

Adonis was shocked.

"Duke. He was just flustered to have your and mine attention. People don't fall in love so easily."

"I did. You don't know men."

"I am a man."

"You are a good man."

"I am your man too."

Magnus was caught off guard because of that.

Adonis cupped his face and said,"I am yours like you are mine. So let's not care about others, okay?"

Magnus nodded.

He'll behead those who try to look at his wife inappropriately but that can be done without his wife knowing it. Right?

The next day, Adonis was looking around the garden when the Knight from the day before came to him.

"Duchess, that, the Duke has asked you to go somewhere."

"The Duke?"

"Yes."

"But he didn't say anything to me. Neither did Holt."

"The Duke asked me to not say anything- but he, he said he wanted to show you somewhere."

Adonis thought for a while and remembered Star Peak. 

That must be it.

"Okay, let's go."

He left with the Knight.

He got inside the plain looking carriage and they took off.

Adonis slowly opened his eyes. His body felt a bit heavy. He felt hazy. Where was he? He remembered being in a carriage, falling asleep and where was he now? 

But when his nose caught a familiar whiff of smell. A cold chill ran down his spine.

It was the same as the first Prince's Harem.