ELORA
I let out the breath I didn’t know I was holding, leaving the library in a dark mood. I had started my day off happily, hoping I would find comfort in the aged leather-bound tomes this library housed but alas that was not to be so.
“Elora, wait up,” Gael called out, jogging up to catch me. “Are you okay?”
I slowed my steps as I finally remembered that I hadn’t been alone.
“Oh, yes,” I answered after a long minute. “I’ll go to my room now. I feel a little tired.”
It wasn’t a total lie as Riley had sucked out all the energy I’d gathered from seeing my siblings earlier.
“I’ll walk with you.” He smiled, “I don’t feel comfortable leaving you alone.”
I shook my head slowly.
“It’s fine, Gael.” I protested, “I release you from your duties today.”
He ignored me and walked on, stopping when he was a few feet away from me to send me a look.
I sighed and stopped protesting, walking up to him.
“You should know that I find it impressive how you handled the situation with the…” He trailed off, shaking his head. “You’re really strong.”
I laughed humorlessly.
Strong indeed.
I just wanted to curl up in my bed and cry.
“You should go and get breakfast, Gael,” I suggested as we neared my chambers. “You’ve done enough for me today.”
“But, my Lady…”
“I’ll be alright on my own.” I smiled already feeling the familiar sting of tears behind my eyes. “Besides, you have medicines to take. I don’t recall pronouncing you fit to work. You need to strengthen your wolf.”
I tutted and slapped his hand playfully.
“Go on.” I laughed shoving him.
“It’s my job as your guard to worry about you and not the other way around.” He laughed then leaning forward, he squinted at something in my hair. “There’s something in your hair.”
Instinctively, I ran my hands through my hair trying to pick it out.
“What is it?” I asked when I didn’t feel anything.
My breath caught in my chest as he stepped closer than was proper, his hands moving to my hair. From this distance I could appreciate the elegant proud arch of his dark brows, furrowed in concentration as he looked down at my hair.
The golden glow of the sun behind him added a golden hint to his features that highlighted just how handsome he was.
My eyes roamed round his face as I took him in, eyes landing on full pink lips that pouted slightly. I giggled, pushing him away from me.
“I’ll do it myself.” I laughed, opening my chamber doors. “See you later, Gael.”
******
ROME
When Rome decided to clear his head on my balcony he didn’t think he would see Elora and her so-called guard in a compromising situation. The cocky bastard was standing so close to her with his filthy hands on her hair and she was staring up at him with the same look Rome had seen her give him when she thought I wasn’t looking.
What the fuck was he doing with her hair and why the fuck was she standing there staring into his eyes?
She was his mistress for fuck’s sake.
His hands balled into tight fists at his side as his beast growled. Red hot rage flared up in him as blood clouded his vision. He could feel his fangs and claws elongate and the familiar tingle of his spine when he was close to transformation warned him.
He gripped the banister of the balcony, letting the cool metal distract him from his murderous line of thoughts even though he wanted so strongly to tear the man from limb to limb. He didn’t deserve to live after touching Elora.
Rome’s anger grew further when he noticed Elora’s dress. The neckline of the offending garment plunged too deep for his comfort, giving any one a clear view of her creamy smooth skin. Creamy smooth skin that was meant for his gaze alone.
He was surely going to give her beauticians a piece of his mind.
When he felt he couldn’t stomach thee sight any longer, he turned to leave to summon Skye and question her about Elora’s new guard but the bastard’s voice stopped him.
“Do you remember when Ethan found out you were mates?”
Rome frowned as a thousand and one questions ran through his mind.
Elora had a mate?
Or better still has a mate?
He saw her shake her head firmly and the bastard stopped speaking.
How in hell was she his mate if she already had a mate?
Could she have two mates?
His anger grew with his confusion.
He stormed into his chambers, about to pull the bell to summon his messenger but spied Teriel reading a book on his special couch.
“Teriel, send someone to summon Noel!” He barked.
“Yes, your majesty.” His advisor answered but not before glaring at him for his rudeness.
Rome stood, stamping his foot impatiently for the few minutes it took Noel to arrive. The man looked to be in a rush as if he’d hurried over.
“Good day, your Majesty.” He greeted.
“Check my mistress’s ovulation again,” Rome ordered.
He didn’t bother to explain as the two men stared at him as if he’d grown two heads. He reclined on his special lounge chair, ignoring them.
“Yes, your majesty,” Noel answered after a long minute.
He waved him off without looking, letting memories of Elora flood his mind. He welcomed the image of her brightly smiling face when she had been heavily inebriated. She had glowed with health and beauty, radiating a light that could have only been coming from inside of a pure heart.
Could she really have done all those terrible things she had claimed she had?
He thought back to the times he had seen her act selflessly, she hadn’t seemed at all like the heartless slavers they’d seen in the auction house.
She had stood up for her lady in waiting as his bastard stepsister beat them into a pulp and had been a constant help at the infirmary since they’d rescued the slaves. Plus, she had shown natural motherly instincts in the way she cared for her siblings. She even went as far as teaching the palace staff to read and write even when no one was looking.
Why had he been angry when he realized she was his mate?
Was it because she was a slaver’s child and he ideally shouldn’t have anything to do with her?
Anger filled him at the thought that she had a mate. Had he touched her? Had he marked her? His beast growled again inside him and it took all he had not to march over to her and demand answers to these questions.
He stood up and paced around thinking of the moments he found her reading a book at the royal library. She was so engrossed in those books and seemed so happy that it felt palpable. Many of those times, he watched her silently and walked away, not wanting to ruin her happy moments.
Last night was different, she smiled so wide that he had wanted to capture it for himself. The sight had had him forgetting he’d vowed to stay away from her and the conflicting mess of emotions she stirred up in him.
“Gah!” He yelled, scolding himself for forgetting she was a slave. “Teriel, summon Elora’s beauticians!”
He didn’t hold back his anger with the ladies and told them to dress her better than the exposing clothes they had made for her. When he was done, the women were nearly in tears but he ignored them as he turned to Teriel.
“Where the hell is Elora’s former guard?”
“Oh, I’m sorry for not informing you earlier, Your Majesty. Her former guard got caught in an accident. He lost his leg.”
“What? When?” He asked frowning.
“Her new guard is a part of the rescued slaves and we found out that he is from her pack in Elora. Darwin pack.” Teriel explained. “When he offered to be her guard, Skye didn’t see a reason to disagree and Elora was okay with it.”
Rome’s nose flared in anger.
Did she know him from Alkarod?
That would mean they were even closer than he thought. Jealousy, a foreign emotion he had always written off as a foolish thing, filled him but he didn’t know what to do.