This was written as part of the 50 kiss prompts for smellerbeee, who requested number 6 and Adrienette. I was really stumped on this prompt and ended up going an AU route. (And then it just grew from there and became multichapter. Oops.) Anyway, I hope you like it.

6: Wild, breathless kisses brought on by a heartfelt gift.

Big thank you to mozzy's studio for letting me use her picture as the cover art!

A Maiden's Sacrifice

Marinette had read stories about maidens who were sacrificed to appease the gods. She had just never expected that one day she would choose to become that sacrifice, nor that it would mean marriage to a god whose name she could never know.

Names had power. If he told her his, she would be able to control him. No god would willingly let a human do that.

"Are you sure you want to do this?" he asked her, looking like an angel and demon in one with his unearthly beauty and sharp, dangerous claws. "You will never be able to return. Never see your friends and family again."

"Will it save my kingdom?" she asked.

"Yes."

"Then I will."

So he snatched her away from the land of mortals and took her to a place where death and magic was tasted in every breath. No one attended their marriage except the god who officiated—a terrifying being with eyes cold as ice. Just being near him felt like sharp scissors grazing her life thread. That god did not smile once.

The ceremony itself was a perfunctory affair. No decorations, no special dress. Her husband-to-be wore the same dark cloak of shadows as he had when he'd met her, and the ring he placed on her finger was black as night and chilled her skin. She supposed it a fitting wedding ring from a god of chaos and destruction.

"You may kiss to seal your vows."

He stepped closer until he towered over her. She'd expected his proximity to feel cold like the other god, but he was as warm as any human.

Their eyes met. Her heartbeat quickened into a fumbling rhythm in her chest. He had such green, green eyes. They were brighter than jade and made her think of summer grass. That was a relief. It would be so much harder to be with him if she had to look into soulless chips of stone.

"May I?" he asked.

She might have laughed had it been any other occasion. A god asking permission? Unheard of. As it was, she had to struggle with the sudden anxiety and doubt that scratched at her chest. She had agreed to this deal. There was no way to rescind that now. She knew that. Just like she knew that she could not turn her back on her kingdom, her people. It was just … a part of her still cherished dreams about the man of her fantasies—sweet, gentle and kind. Certainly no tail, cat ears, or claws. They'd have three kids together, though first they'd fall madly in love …

That dream was shattering before her eyes and being crushed underfoot.

"Speak, mortal," the officiator prompted. Or more like ordered with all the lashing of a whip.

She jumped and looked once more into those summer-green eyes. "Yes," she whispered. "You may."

Gracefully, he lowered his head and pressed his lips to hers. Her breath caught. The kiss only lasted a second, yet it was as if he had brushed against her soul, stirring scattered pieces of something deep and half-forgotten.

He pulled back, his brow creasing as he met her gaze.

Had he felt it too?

"It is done," the officiator declared.

A warm hand closed around hers. "Come," her husband said. (For, yes, that was the correct term for him now.) "I'll take you home."

oOo

The palace was vast and shaped into a mountain shrouded in mist. Cold. Dark. Silent. Her heartbeat drummed in her ears. Every step echoed.

"Is anyone else here?" she asked.

"Just us."

She swallowed. "Oh."

"Does that bother you?"

"Would it make a difference?"

Something shifted in his gaze and he averted his face. "This way. I'll show you to your room."

oOo

Her stomach wouldn't stop churning. The bed was right there, large enough to fit six people and draped with velvet. It was her wedding night. She knew what was supposed to happen. But her husband had not approached or said anything about it.

Did he expect her to make the first move? Shed her clothes like a gift unwrapped just for him?

She couldn't. Wouldn't.

But he was a god. He was a god, and she had promised herself to him to spare her kingdom from destruction. Consummating their marriage was just part of the deal.

Shakily, she reached for the ties at the back of her dress. The thick fabric slipped down her shoulders, baring her thin petticoat. His eyes widened and he stepped forward and caught the sleeves of her dress before they could slip further and expose anymore of her.

"What are you doing?" he asked.

Heat spilled over her cheeks. "I … I thought you …"

"My wife." His hands were warm on her skin as he gently pulled her dress back up. "That won't be necessary. The kiss we shared was consummation enough."

"Oh."

Her hammering heart steadied in its rhythm. Phew. That was one fear settled.

Wait.

Her head tilted and she looked him up and down. "Do you … not do that then? Though I guess you're immortal and I actually don't know how gods are born …" A new thought came to her and her eyes bugged like a wide-eyed child. "Wait, can you even?"

Maybe he didn't have all the necessary, ahem, parts.

Spots of pink formed on his cheeks. "Er, no I can."

"Oh."

Was it her then? Did he just not want to be with a human, despite the fact he'd married her? That was weirdly hurtful.

Perhaps her thoughts showed on her expression, as he gently cupped her face with his hand, guiding her head up so he could hold her gaze. "You are a brave woman, Marinette Dupain-Cheng, and I respect you for the sacrifice you have made. But we do not love each other. There is no need to force ourselves just to satisfy a tradition that holds no relevance here."

Her mouth formed a small O of surprise.

He smiled softly and brushed his thumb against her cheek in a small, reassuring caress. Then he bid her goodnight and left her alone in the room.

I know this could arguably be considered a marichat AU, but I promise it's adrienette. More to come!