You wrap your name tight around my ribs

And keep me warm. I was born for you.

— Benjamin Alire Sáenz, To the Desert

In the hallway, Nami narrowed her eyes at the sight of a familiar face peering at her in her new blue moire silks. Zoro smirked when she scowled fiercer.

"Lost that bet, huh?"

She smiled. "How's your foot?"

He winced, but took a careful step back. "Much better after hearing the news. Lady Nami."

Her lip curled, but she sniffed, turning away. "So what are you doing back?"

"Making sure your face isn't leaving in your maid's clothes."

Conis stiffened behind her before she pouted at him. Nami hadn't expected her apology to the maid to go the way it had. "M'lady was distressed about all the changes! Don't tease her."

Face flaring, she avoided looking at Zoro when he snorted. "Distressed, huh?"

She wondered what they would say if she told them about those fangs in the other room. Unless they knew and thought it was normal? How had anyone ever come to worship him?

If he never dies, he can never be reborn as something better, so maybe he just got worse as he lived on. Was that how it worked? Nami had never been religious. Bellemere had tried to instill that into her daughters, but only Nojiko remembered much of the holy writs. Maybe those lines about the end of his reign would tell her more, but somehow, she doubted it. She wanted to check those books in her office, but a part of her wondered if he would pin her in there as well.

Something had to be true in it though.

When they finally arrived, Nami could ask them more about the god that ruled over them, until then …

Nami darkened as she headed for the dining hall, frowning as she realized Usopp was not there to greet her. If those petitioners were there, Nami would have to prepare herself. Sighing, already drained, she picked up her step.

She opened the door and stopped short.

The Lord Conqueror smiled from the head of the table.

"You're late."

Nami fidgeted in the doorway, her eyes sliding around the room, but it was just the two of them. He had a mug of wine, and a servant had set her meal at his side. She considered the empty hall behind her before she narrowed her eyes at him.

"You won't do anything fishy, will you?"

He grinned. "I'm fishy?"

"You're suspicious," she said, and he snickered.

"Was that before or after you wrapped your arms around me?"

She stiffened, leg twitching to come forward. But if she did, would he take her all over again? Nami scowled at the grin on his face. She glanced at the food.

"I'm here to eat," she said finally. "And not another damned thing."

The Lord Conqueror leaned on his hand, raising a brow. "Do you think I came in here for another reason?"

Scowling, she smoothed her skirts before she strode in, sitting to pick at her meal. Where was Usopp? Or even another servant? Did they expect the two of them to eat alone together? She supposed that's what married couples might do, but she always imagined nobles were served hand and foot every waking hour. And while she saw them a lot, she found that the staff gave her some sense of space now. It was nowhere near the freedom she used to take for granted.

As she took a bite, she eyed him.

He drank, and she frowned at the wine.

Wine?

A mug of wine?

"You're drinking early."

"Just something to hold me for now. You're distracting me."

Her brow pinched. What sense did that make? Nami sipped at broth while he watched her.

"Are you just going to stare at me?"

He smirked. "I was going to ask you that."

Nami darkened, stabbing a sausage with a fork to bite it, and he only laughed.

"After what happened, do you think that would do much to me?"

Chewing through juicy meat, Nami's mouth dried at the memory. A perfect chest with a blade stuck through it only for it to heal in front of her. In seconds. Yet, he had scars. When had he gotten them? Wasn't there anything she could do? She tried to recall any weaknesses that he might have, but all she could remember was that Bellemere was coming soon. And she might have the answers she wanted. Or at least, an end to answers.

"If you're hungry though, I might have another mouthful for you." As he tugged at his trousers, Nami flared.

So damned confident. Other idiots had smarmed and charmed, but he knew and exhumed. She glanced at the sausage, burning while she huffed. "Don't you know how to ask a lady properly?"

"You're no lady, right?"

She stiffened, gaping at him.

"Yeah, I think you like the firm hand."

Nami flushed and glanced at the door, but it was closed. No one was coming. She didn't think anyone would enter for a long while. Her eyes trailed over the sharp knives and forks in her reach, but the knife hadn't worked.

She tried to ignore him, watching him from the corner of her eye. Did he really think that he could beckon with his fingers and call her over? Yet, when she imagined it, trying to scoff, her face pinkened. Perhaps, he had some advantages going for him being a god.

As he downed his wine, Nami frowned at him until her eyes widened.

Wine?

"You drank …" Her words died off, and her jaw hung open. "They feed you blood? Who died today for you!?"

The Lord Conqueror burst out laughing, slapping his thigh, and she scowled. Did he think death was funny too? Immortals didn't have to care about that after all.

But he said, "Pig's blood. Maybe that sausage's."

Nami stared. When he finally smiled at her, she stiffened as he licked growing fangs.

"I — I don't …"

"Not today. How about the wedding night? That sounds delicious." She shuddered when he hummed. "You on my lap while I have my first good meal in a long time."

"How about not that at all!"

"You don't think you'd like it? Then I'll ask for one bite."

Nami stared at him, shoulders hunching as her eyes grew wide. "How could I like it?"

"One of my wives said it was like floating. She always wanted me to bite her." His tongue drew out over a fang again, as if tasting that poor woman in that moment. Perhaps tricked or even tied down for his feeding. It was a lie.

"That's not possible."

"I've found people like a lot of different things throughout their lives. Another wife only let me bite her once a month." He smiled. "Well, no. Not bite."

Furrowing her brow, Nami tried to turn that over in her head. Once a month? But not bite? Nami opened her mouth. She was going to ask. She would have if the full weight of seeing that face between her legs didn't just pop into her head and …

She pushed herself to her feet. "I — I'll see you later! At dinner!"

He hummed. "We're having dinner together? I can't wait."

Nami spun away, face awash with color as she ran from the Lord Conqueror.

Nami rushed to them, flying across the courtyard when they came out of the carriage. She dove for Bellemere and Nojiko's arms in the next second, ignoring Usopp's shocked cry. They could help her finally. Once she could talk to them alone, everything would get better. Perhaps she might not even need to kill him.

They could run away.

She knew that was all ridiculous. He knew where they lived. The Lord Conqueror had all the resources in the world at his disposal after all. Running meant nothing.

Bellemere stroked her hair, beaming while Nojiko laughed and prodded at her shoulder. "Look at you in your finery, Mistress Fancy!"

"My Nami, the Lady Conqueror! Who would have ever dreamed it!" Bellemere pulled back, tears in her eyes.

"Not me," Nojiko said, grinning wider when Nami scowled at her.

Not that she had wanted to marry him. It had been the last thing she ever wanted in the entire world! But Nojiko couldn't help teasing her.

As she pulled back, she finally noted their dresses. Day gowns like her own. She couldn't tell whether seamsters had made them mock-ups like her first, but these were bounds and leagues beyond what they used to wear.

"Lord Conqueror, look at you, you're beautiful!" Bellemere wiped her eyes and pressed her back at arms' length with a smile.

Nami flushed as she straightened herself, thinking of practiced hands undoing her bodice over a kitchen counter before he had …

She checked her hair and covered cheek to cool the shocking heat. Nami knew the reddened cheeks had vanished days ago, but in front of them — the two of them — it flashed all in her mind once more. Nojiko raised a brow, smile regrowing while Bellemere glowed prouder than any red crest.

"You're stunning!"

"So where's the god?"

Bellemere smacked Nojiko's shoulder. "Really now! Be respectful. That's the Lord Conqueror."

Nami glanced back as Usopp edged closer. Now that he had become wary of her, he seemed wary of her own family as well. Their smiles had relaxed him for the moment however.

"Oh, it's you again." Bellemere swept forward to take his hands, shaking them while he gaped. "It's good to see you. Nami is a fine young lady at last! And the Lord Conqueror's bride! All thanks to you!"

Usopp's head bobbed in a nervous nod, eyes averting from Nami herself while Nojiko hid a snicker.

"Where is this groom anyway?"

Sighing, Nami glanced around, eyes searching any windows of the palace, but she could not spot his figure. She licked her lips before she said, "He's probably busy."

When she faced Nojiko though, her sister grinned so wide, Nami pulled back.

Nojiko whispered, "I won't tell Bellemere."

Gritting her teeth in a grin, Nami pulled her closer. "Bellemere isn't so dumb as to think it wouldn't happen."

"I bet you'll be reincarnated as one of those yowling cats that are always in heat."

"I would not!"

Bellemere leaned in. "What's this now?"

Straightening, Nami beamed with Nojiko, giggling. "Just silly stuff!"

"Exactly, we haven't seen each other in weeks now!"

"Well, let's catch up inside," Bellemere said as she raised a disbelieving eyebrow at them.

Usopp bowed. "I'll have someone escort you to your chambers."

"Oh, are we staying with Nami?"

For half a heartbeat, Nami wished for it, but Usopp's shocked glance told her before he said anything. "You two have your own apartments. They'll be next to each other though."

Bellemere raised a brow at this before she shot an admonishing glance at Nami. A promise that she would get answers. She sighed, but endured the look. It was for Bellemere's sake that she didn't blurt out how she shared a bathing room with the Lord Conqueror himself.

Not that she had shared it with him yet.

Or that she was curious.

Camie almost danced around the room herself. With two new women to robe, she and the maids had a delightful time bouncing from one lady to the next. Interspersed, when Robin or Gatherine were taking care of them, Camie would turn to Nami.

"This would be wonderful on you as well!"

Their apartments were smaller than Nami's, and while they had their own chambers, Bellemere had insisted on having the draping done in her bedroom chamber. So Nami sat back while they both awed over the silks and velvets.

When Camie raised a pink crushed velvet to Nami's face for complexion comparison, Bellemere sighed. "Oh, I can't wait to see your wedding gown, Nami."

Nami froze, eyes widening before she glanced at Camie questioningly. They wouldn't make that without her input, would they? The seamsters had so many gowns in the works, she wasn't entirely certain that she had any say in most of them. Her only input had been for those first two gowns. Now ruined strips of fabric and fabric roses on a gown she had shoved to the back of her closet to forget. It was a wonder that she liked any of the gowns now that she thought of it.

Camie pouted at the pink before tossing it aside. "Well, it wouldn't be in this shade."

Nojiko twirled with a bolt of dark golden honey satin before she smiled at her. "Nami wants black, I bet."

"Lord Conqueror, even Nami wouldn't go so dark," Bellemere said with a sniff.

She wouldn't — though her mood felt as dark. With all the colors strewn across the room, their drapery measurements notated by giggling assistants, and Bellemere and Nojiko both glowing like the sun, Nami could only smile in turn.

Nami had a feeling that any attempt to tell them of the danger would fall on deaf ears. To them, she would be selfish. The Lord Conqueror was their king and even more than that, their god.

But isn't that selfish of him? Nami held back a scream. He really was a monster. When the time came, he would suck her blood and leave her a dry husk. Weak constitution? Accident? She itched to find out what had happened to all the other wives. How had they died? It wasn't a coincidence in the slightest that they were dead and he drank blood. Couldn't he have stuck to killing monsters like in the holy writs instead of women? How far back did his lies go?

She frowned. What were those monsters anyway? Had he tricked them all along? Had he killed all the monsters so he could partake in all the blood he liked without competition? What had those 'monsters' actually been? Yet she knew nothing about the matter, so she relaxed eventually. Worrying over nothing would be silly. Besides, in the paintings, the stained glass, she knew the World Eater had huge claws. So the monsters they had created would be the same, wouldn't they?

When she glanced at Bellemere, she had a feeling that talk of religion would have to wait. It wasn't like they talked about mythical creatures all the time in their sermons anyway. She had never heard her talk of the monsters much beyond that they should be thankful that the Lord Conqueror had saved them all. How much had he told his followers about it? Bellemere murmured with Camie over a fashion plate, the two smiling almost as if sharing a secret.

Nami tensed before she sighed and shook her head. If Bellemere wanted to offer input on her daughter's wedding gown, then so be it. She only wished that the wedding wasn't to an actual monster.

What was her plan then?

It was becoming clear that the ceremony would be inevitable. And now her mother and sister were in the palace in the capital city of Ruskaina.

If she left, she would sacrifice them to his whims.

Her shoulders sagged.

She couldn't even mention any distress, could she?

Bellemere and Nojiko were ecstatic. Nojiko shot her teasing glances and a side comment now and again about the wedding night while Bellemere gave Camie fabrics to compare to Nami, saying which highlighted her beauty more, and the seamster beamed.

Nami pursed her lips before she forced herself to relax.

So I'm the sacrifice.

She put on a smile, hands folded on her lap, watching Bellemere declare that Nami would have a train five meters long until Camie giggled. "Just five?"

Nojiko jumped in. "Fifteen!"

Nami laughed.

In the end, she couldn't say anything. Not during their talks, or during supper. Someone else had always lurked nearby. And Bellemere and Nojiko had talked of nothing else but their happiness — and Nojiko's bemusement — for her. So near the end of this long day, Nami slunk into her foyer where she waved at her maid.

"I can take care of myself, Robin. I'll see you tomorrow."

She curtsied with a soft smile, having caught her family's mood. "Good night, Lady Nami."

When the door shut though, Nami stood in the foyer still, picking at the lace on her bodice and skirt. They rippled as she swished her skirts, a pleasing wash of colors in the moire silk.

Should she have worn the pearls?

The ones he had given her?

Nami touched her throat where the fangs had been, where his tongue and lips had danced before he had kissed her. She licked her lips, but the flavor was long gone.

A few short years of that? She wanted to tear her hair out. Didn't he know that wasn't fair for her? He chose all those brides, and for what? To watch them all die while he lived eternal? What horrible sort of life was that? Nami wrapped her arms around herself, shivering in the crackling flames of the fireplace. It wasn't fair. Every muscle in her body shrieked. Just how was she supposed to kill a god? Could he even be killed?

I should have asked Bellemere about how his reign supposedly ends or something. Maybe say I want to learn more about the religion. I should have said something!

It all seemed like a joke she could not understand. Why her out of all those women?

Water sloshed in the next room, and Nami blinked, her mind filtering through what that meant. She turned to the door where a bath chamber waited.

Where a monster waited.

Nami held her breath. He didn't know she had returned. The Lord Conqueror would not expect her to come for his throat. However, she still had no weapons to fight him.

Chewing her lip, Nami listened to the gentle licks of water on the side.

A bath sounded nice though.

In the heat.

Against his.

Gritting her teeth, Nami worked at her bodice and skirts, wiggling out of them before she could step out of her hoop skirt. She dropped her corset and stripped her drawers, but she stopped at her chemise. She took a deep breath. Nami listened to the sound on the other side. The gentle slosh of the beast bathing.

Biting her lip, she turned to go before she halted from an idea.

What other scars did he have? Would they hold a clue?

Fists in her chemise, Nami went to the door where she braced herself before she opened it. On the other side, the Lord Conqueror raised his head, the water steaming around him. But an impossibly tall attendant with an afro sat by the door as well. She flushed, raising hands to cover herself in her chemise. Of course, he would have someone nearby!

"Out," he said, and the attendant ran first before Nami could decide whether or not that was for her.

But why would it be?

Nami burned darker, but she stepped inside, letting the door shut her in with him.

The Lord Conqueror lounged in his pool of hot water, eyes lazy as he watched her with a smile. "Aren't you bold."

She swallowed hard, hands in her chemise. All she needed to do was strip down, so she could hop into the water with him. He had seen her before. Nami told herself she was being silly. He had taken her already. But his eyes bore into her, and Nami shifted on the edge of the tiled tub in the floor.

"Coming in?"

When he splashed the water, Nami pouted at him before she sniffed. Damn him and his flirts. Nami threw off the chemise, and he relaxed back into the water with a sigh.

"You won't get clean out there."

Nami pursed her lips. "I'm doubting whether I'll get clean in there."

He chuckled, but slapped the water lightly again. She thought about waiting for a proper answer, but the longer she stayed naked out of the tub, the more he could ogle her. The water had a form of protection anyway. And inside, closer, she could search for more of his scars.

Stepping into the tiled tub, Nami shuddered from the heat. The Lord Conqueror appeared to like it burning hot. The bath was wide enough for them to sit on either side and never touch. So when she strode toward him, his eyes widened before he hummed.

"Come to sit on my lap?"

Nami stopped before him, a hand still crossed over her nipples at least. He didn't reach out for her.

Standing before him, Nami dredged up every last wile from her memories that she had used on men like Sanji who only had a head for one thing. The only head they used. She cocked her hips to the side, smiling. "Do you want me on your lap?"

When she looked at the Lord Conqueror though, something about that image seemed off, and she could not figure out what it was. She shifted slightly, and he smiled, but something was odd.

"Wrong question."

She frowned, eyeing him through the water. He wasn't standing for her. That wasn't too odd. Some men needed stimulation, and perhaps an immortal needed it most of all — though she shot down the memory of the kitchen. He had been rather ready then.

"What's the right question?" She raised a brow. Nami needed to get to the point; she had come to get a closer look after all.

"Do you want on my lap?"

Nami gaped, stiffening as her arm tightened around her breasts.

The Lord Conqueror laughed. "No, not yet." He splashed her thighs. Nami pouted. He was just teasing her! So she leaned over in front of him, giving him a lovely view of her cleavage — naked or not, men adored that, it seemed to her.

And that's when she saw it.

His eyes locked on hers.

Oh, he had glanced down, but dark, black eyes moved back to her face instead. He seemed to look at something inside her. For a moment, Nami froze, staring back, uncertain for once. Could he read minds? Is that how he knew she had run to the kitchen to escape? Except, she had found out that another maid had discovered Conis only moments after Nami left her. She had informed Lord Conqueror, and thus, he had moved accordingly. Those kitchens were the best place to run to after all.

She hadn't been as clever as she had anticipated.

Nami chewed her lip, and he ran his tongue over his chops. A hot sheen formed over her face in the steam, but she knew it wasn't the heat that did it. She didn't feel particularly clever now either.

Dancing had stoked the flame, but in the kitchen, it had gone from bad to worse with his body pressed against hers.

Inside and aching.

She straightened before she went to sit, to avoid him in the corner close by so she could watch him instead. While she did, his head tilted just so before that warm smile returned. He splashed her, barely a flick of water. Nami blinked before she scowled and sent a force of waves at him.

He laughed, arm raised and watching. Eyes sparkled while he dodged.

"You don't have to sit on my lap," he said once she had her fill.

Nami thought about sending another splash his way, but dunked her hair instead with a sniff. "Oh? You don't want any canoodling?"

"I didn't say that." Her eyes widened when he slid closer, and she gaped at him while he stroked her cheek. "How about I climb on top of you instead?"

She wanted to say that was ridiculous. That he was much too large for her lap.

Yet as he straddled her, Nami reminded herself of her mission. To protect Bellemere and Nojiko, she had to find a weakness. If something had scarred him, she could use that against him.

Nami tried to inspect what she could see of his body before her, but his chest drew on her eyes in a taunt. As she gazed at him though, his smile warmed. A glance down showed his ready cock.

He did not need stimulation tonight at the very least. Her cheeks fried when he leaned closer, and her lips parted before she could give it any thought.

The Lord Conqueror closed the gap, and Nami shuddered as his tongue thrust into her mouth. Lips molded in a claim for her. Nami clutched his shoulders and yanked him closer. His chuckle against her lips made her pull away with a pout.

"Idiot, don't laugh!"

He chuckled. "But you wanted to kiss me so much."

Her brow twitched before she pushed him back. "I did not!"

"And you pulled me against you. Did you miss my touch?" All at once, he grabbed her nipples, twisting, and Nami's body arched with a cry.

"Lo — Lord Conqueror!"

Growling, he pulled, and her toes curled as she clutched his wrists. "My name. The only thing you'll cry is my name."

Nami's face erupted in heat and shame. His name again? She bit her lip through a whine, her body pulsing to his fingertips ravaging her nipples. Yet, to call his name again? That curse? She covered her mouth, but he smirked and tugged.

She gritted her teeth, hissing through them as her body arched in an attempt to relieve the tension on her teats.

"Say it, Nami. Or are you going to cum like this?"

Turning her head aside, she whimpered, writhing as her eyes widened. An orgasm with just—? Nami sobbed and clutched at the edge of the bath. Her thighs tried to spread even though his legs prevented her. Hips arched as if she might receive him, but his tongue ran over her lips. His cock pressed to her belly. Scorching her.

"That's a good look. Tongue out, mouth wide. If you were good, you could have a taste of my cock. But you're being bad." Another tweak, and Nami jolted, staring at his smile. "Say my name, and you can cum with a mouth full of my cock."

Her jaw unhinged, but she could only manage a croak.

"Whatever you want."

The Lord Conqueror pulled, and Nami shattered, wailing with tears streaming down her hot face. Ecstasy pooled in her womb, like a line drawn, pointing straight at the source and need. When she flopped back, his mouth crashed onto her throat, and Nami whimpered into his hair as the after effects rippled through her.

He lifted her onto the edge of the tiled bath where she splayed her legs wide, and he gripped her hips to lay claim once again. All she could do was tighten, fingers scraping weakly at his arms with a hiss. That line — the arrow to her pleasure only raged inside. His cock pounded for her womb, the spot that needed it, and Nami dissolved in the hot spray within.

She blinked at the ceiling, panting as she realized it was tiled too.

A silly thing to notice until he moaned, collapsing into her. Nami shivered before her arms wrapped around him. Brow creasing, she listened to his sigh of pleasure. Inside still, he softened, but she could still feel that raging ache for more. Could he rise again? Did she want it?

What she wanted.

Nami squeezed her eyes shut, moaning as his tongue laved over her throat. As her eyes cracked open, she shivered at the vision of his muscled shoulders and back. Soon, she would lose herself again in the sensation, but there was some kind of mark she hadn't spotted before. Brow furrowing, she panted into his ear while she tried to focus her eyes.

He nipped her ear, and she blinked.

A bite mark in his shoulder stared back at her.

She went still against his chest, brows furrowed, but she tried to search again. Closer, perhaps, she could see something. Bite marks on his elbow had her staring. Wondering.