ELORA
In a few days, I formed a routine that kept me from going insane.
During the day, I visited the royal beautician to prepare me for my meeting with the king even though he never showed up but I continued as Lucy said it was very necessary as my body has to always be ready for the king’s use.
Then, after hours of tugging on my hair and applying various pomades, I took a stroll to the royal library, with a guard breathing down my neck, of course.
When it was darker, I snuck to the staff quarters to visit my siblings. They were also terrified that they wouldn’t see me again and asked questions about being the king’s breeder, questions I had no answer to.
After delightfully visiting my siblings, I retired into my room and ran a bath with the special soap the beautician recommended. The night time bath lifted my spirits. I would grab a book and settle down with it.
The sunset seemed especially beautiful tonight so I grabbed a book with a beautiful cover from the shelf. It was a collection of poems from around Bale moving to stand on balcony so I could admire the stars. Looking downwards towards the town, the world seemed so tiny. Standing outside, the balcony gave me a sense of power like I was the powerful goddess admiring her creation from high up.
If I were indeed a goddess, life for me would be different. I sighed as my mind went to Alma and my mother. I still hadn’t gotten a response from her and it bothered me. I had no reply when my siblings asked about mother.
Was she dead?
My chest tightened as I thought about the possibility.
I opened the book and decided to distract myself by immersing myself in a different world, one where love came by without pain, but the feeling of being watched stopped me.
I pushed the thought out of my mind as I was in the Royal Quarters and this was a safe place, no one could just waltz into my room. I continued reading until the hair at the back of my neck stood. The feeling was stronger; indeed, someone was watching.
I turned to look behind me, struck by a most surprising sight. I couldn’t help my gasp when my eyes took in the King. This time, he wasn’t dressed in his usual royal suit but in silk trousers and a robe lazily worn over his bare chest.
His bare chest!
My face burned as I took in his still wet ginger hair that glittered with the light of the moon. It seemed he just got out of the bath. The thought of this man being naked and sitting in a bath had me blushing to the roots of my hair.
Oh, goodness.
Today of all days when I had decided on wearing a risqué silk nightwear. I was aware of how much skin I was showing and how inappropriate it was, my fear worsening when a strong breeze lifted the hem.
“Your Majesty.” I bowed, trying to cover what skin I could but the nightwear seemed hell-bent on exposing me as it dipped dangerously low in front.
I didn’t want to move for fear of drawing his attention to my chest but a tingling sensation told me he noticed and was probably still staring.
I didn’t get a response and snuck a glance at him, my head snapping back down when I caught a glimpse of bright blue eyes with a ring of gold just outside the irises.
What was he doing here now?
Had I done something wrong?
He took a step forward, placing a finger on my chin and I nearly exploded from the bolt of electricity that shot through me. My body buzzed with a foreign feeling and I couldn’t bear to look straight at him. I closed my eyes trying to calm my thoughts.
There were so many questions going through my head and I couldn’t answer any.
Was it time to carry the king’s child?
I wasn’t given a heads-up. I hadn’t prepared!
Oh, Lucy.
I needed her guidance desperately.
“Look at me.” His voice sounded like a growl. It was so commanding that I didn’t know when my eyes flew open. I was looking at him dead in the eye. His sapphire eyes sparkled. I was beholding a god.
I couldn’t help the gasp that escaped me as his finger trailed from my jaw to my neck, skimming the tops of the neckline of my nightwear. My heart beat so fast, it felt as though it was soon to go bursting out of my chest.
I sighed when his hands cupped my jaw, thumb rubbing my cheek softly. My inner wolf pushed me to nuzzle against his palm.
He suddenly let go and took a step back, looking at my hand with an elevated brow.
“Where did you get that?” He asked still looking at the book.
“Uh. I– there’s a bookshelf in the room assigned to me. I picked it up.” I replied hoping I hadn’t overstepped.
Was I wrong to have read the books?
“Interesting.” His sharp jaw tightened and my nipples hardened at the sight.
I bowed my head, ashamed of my wayward thoughts. I hoped he couldn’t see how red my face was.
“Here, Elora.”
At that moment, a light wind blew in my direction, scattering my hair around my face but I didn’t dare brush it off for fear that I would melt. I slowly raised my head to meet his gaze.
“Come.” He commanded quietly but sounded like a growl.
The gold in his eyes had gone brighter and I could smell power coming off him in waves that had my knees trembling as I walked toward him. He looked dangerously handsome against the backdrop of the dark sky with only the moon for light stealing the breath right out of my chest.
He took a step toward me, closing the gap between us and bending his head to my level.
I stared straight into his eyes, unable to look away even if I sensed it wise to but the gold had begun to pull me in so I found my mouth feeling dry.
I darted out my tongue to wet my lip but it seemed the wrong thing to do as his jaw tightened again. My heart beat a frantic rhythm and I gave up trying to steady it. If I perished in this being’s arms, then so be it.
He leaned in and I swear I felt time stop around us when his lips brushed mine.
It was a feather-light caress that I was sure I imagined but I gasped unable to control myself. My wolf sighed and I was flabbergasted. My wolf hadn’t been this active in a long time.
He stole all the thoughts from my head when his lips captured mine between his in a snow-drugging kiss that had me wanting to spill my deepest secrets to him.
His pace increased and I found myself gripping the lapels of his coat just to stop myself from pulling closer or burying my hand in his hair that teased me constantly.
Everything in me buzzed to life when I felt his tongue tease my lips, my mouth opening of its own accord to accept his caress.
He tasted like every erotic dream I’d had since I’d attended the nude party with Lucy, the mix of coffee and tart berries combining in a heady mix that eased a moan out of me.
I felt wanton as his hands moved behind me pulling me closer.
I gasped again as I felt the evidence of his desire against my belly, my sex burning with need.
This was what I had been missing out on all this time.
I nearly passed out when he pressed me against the cold stone walls of the castle hoisting me up on his thigh, pressing the spot where I sensed he needed to be.
I moved to try to ease the discomfort I felt but nearly screamed at the pleasure the friction shot through me.
His thigh pressed into my sex again and I nearly cried, my hips moving of their own accord as he gripped my waist.
Suddenly, he stopped, storming off barely looking at me as he left, leaving me dazed and frustrated and soaking with need.
Was it something I had done?
Did I perhaps bite his tongue or had I been too forward?
Was the kiss not enjoyable?
I felt hot tears well up in my eyes at how stupid I had been.
There was no way he would want me like that.
He must have been imagining I was his former Queen.
I fought the tears, somehow moving to lie on my bed but in the later hours of the night, I let the tears go free.