ROME
“Your Majesty! Your Majesty!” Rome heard a familiar female voice cry outside his study’s doors. “Please let me in, I need to see his Majesty.”
He turned to the doors and sent a look to Teriel who moved at once to check what was going on. He returned his gaze to the large map of Alkarod spread out on the table before him.
He was in a meeting with his enforcers he had spread out across the regions where there were still rumored slave trader habitations but so far they hadn’t been able to catch anyone. Almost as if someone had been feeding them insider information.
Teriel rushed back in with a worried expression on his face. He sent a look that had Rome dismissing his men.
“What is it?” Rome asked, apprehension filling his belly.
“Your Majesty…I don’t think…”
“Don’t play those games.” He warned, interrupting him. “What happened?”
“Try not to overreact,” Teriel answered, sighing. “It’s Elora…”
Even though Rome had been praised for his ability to stay calm even in the worst emergencies, his supreme self-control failed him now. He rushed forward and grabbed the man by the lapels of his jacket.
“What happened to her?” He asked nearly shaking the man.
If his advisor was surprised by his sudden concern for her, he said nothing. His worry for Elora seemed more important than his king’s strange outburst.
“Her lady’s maid reported that she and her siblings are being beaten by some of the…”
Red filled Rome’s vision as his beast struggled to break free.
How dare they hurt his mate?
He wanted to rage and tear them to pieces but he needed rational thought.
“Send for Skye and direct her with her guards to meet us there.” He directed Teriel. “Where is her lady’s maid?”
“She’s outside. She…”
Rome didn’t wait to hear his musings and stepped outside as worry and anger filled him in turns.
He pushed the emotion down when he saw Elora’s maid standing worriedly outside, held back by his guards. He would need to apply rational thought if he was to be of any help.
“My King! Please…”
“Take me to them.” He ordered cutting her off.
The longer they stood there, the more damage they could do to them.
He heard the screams before he entered the room and all rational thought fled him as he kicked in the doors to find Elora, bloody and bruised yet standing strong in front of her siblings.
Rome was taken aback by the powerful aura she radiated. The sight of the blood on her, hair in a wild array and fangs bared sent white-hot lust through his blood that had him enthralled.
How had she managed to hide this warrior spirit for so long?
He glanced around and took in the scene. There were a few slaves with bad scratches made by Elora’s claws, some were even on the floor, but they were still outnumbered. Most of the slaves in the room looked like the ones they had just rescued.
Had they forgotten what she had done to help them?
The slaves still hadn’t noticed his presence or had chosen to ignore him because they crowded closer to Elora and her siblings. One of the bolder ones rushed forward, tackling her to the ground. She easily threw him off and stood but with her back turned to them, she was at a disadvantage.
Everything that happened next happened so slowly, Rome felt it was forever ingrained in his memory. He watched the rod hit her head and send her to the floor.
Red filled his vision as he darted forward, grabbing the bastard that had dared hurt his mate by the throat. He felt their struggle and scratch at his hands but he was far beyond showing mercy. His beast growled in support inside him, his claws and fangs lengthening and craving the kill.
“Your Majesty!” He heard voices yell as hands grabbed him, pulling him off the bastard that deserved a phase worse than a quick death. “You’ll kill her. Stop!”
The red haze cleared from his gaze as he looked down at the bleeding mess before him but he was way past remorse. His anger was fuelled by his beast’s desire to get revenge for its mate. He couldn’t understand why he had acted so absurdly.
He looked around the room taking in the startled gaze of everyone in the room. Skye’s guards restrained all the slaves that had hurt Elora and her siblings.
His eyes looked for the woman and found her looking over her siblings even with the blood on her.
The children looked no worse for wear but she looked like she needed immediate medical attention. As if sensing his gaze, her eyes snapped up to his and the feral hunger in her gaze stole his breath. Gods, she was beautiful. He saw the emotions flicker across her face ranging from gratefulness to fear to anger.
Could she possibly be angry with him?
Why?
He stood to his feet and walked towards her, nearly whimpering as he saw the fear in her gaze. Did she think he would hurt her?
He stopped before her and ran his eyes over her. Her wounds already looked like they were healing thanks to the burst of strength at her releasing her wolf.
He turned to glance around the room and looked back at her, scooping her up and straddling her into his chest.
“I want all of you to listen to this and listen well.” He growled out, “This woman is mine. She and her siblings are under my protection now. Anyone that tries to hurt her or her siblings will be facing charges of treason. Have I made myself clear?”
Not waiting for their response, he pulled her out of the room. Teriel and Skye would wrap things up.
“Your Majesty, wait.” She called as he dragged her. “Your Majesty, please. My siblings.”
He didn’t answer her until he had carried her into his chambers, locking the door behind him.
“Your Majesty. I…”
Rome didn’t know when or how he moved but he found himself grasping her in his arms, forcefully capturing her lips in his in a deep kiss that had his beast fighting a storm inside of him.
The smell of blood about her and the taste of the adrenaline on her tongue was a heady nectar that had him feeling drugged.
Her sigh as she gave into the kiss was a soothing balm to the flames licking up his skin.
If he didn’t think so before, he finally realized that he was a man hanging on the brink of ruination.
******
ELORA
I sighed into the kiss, burying my fingers in the mess of dark curls on the king’s nape. He had surprised me by coming to my rescue even though he had frightened me with the sheer bloodlust he had radiated when he had strangled the woman leading the slaves that had cornered me and my siblings.
I couldn’t help but admit that his pronouncement and the way his blazing gaze had held mine had sparked flames of desire that had grown into a raging inferno inside me.
I felt my pulse quicken as my sex became damp with desire. It was always like this with the king. One look from him or even just being around his intoxicating presence had me on the brink of madness.
How could I be so wanton?
His hands stole downward to grasp my buttocks in his hands, pulling me forward and grinding me against the evidence of his desire. Heat pooled low in my belly with the knowledge that he wanted this as much as I did.
When he pulled away, I heard myself whimper.
“Why are you always getting into trouble, little wolf?” He asked looking down at me, eyes glinting red in the dim lighting.
I wanted to make a joke but I could feel something so potent between us I didn’t want to ruin it so I just looked up at him with the full force of my desire.
He sucked in a breath and took a large step back, putting so much distance between us.
The adrenaline from the fight I had just been in had me speaking before even analyzing what I wanted to say.
“Why do you always do that?” I asked glaring at his back.
He turned to look at me, confusion and surprise written plain across his face.
He hadn’t been expecting me to speak.
“Why do I always do what?” He asked once he schooled his features.
“Pull away from me,” I answered stepping closer to him.
He took a step back again.
I raised a brow at him and he paused mid-step.
“I do not.” He answered looking mortified at the thought. “Why do you think so?”
“Every time we’re in the same room, you find a way to leave. Every time you kiss me, you always pull away first. It’s almost as if you can’t decide how to feel about me.”
He stared blankly at me, completely void of emotion.
“Do I repel you that much?” I asked feeling the workings of tears behind my eyes. “Do you hate me, your Majesty? If you did, then why…”
I hadn’t expected him to move as quickly as he did so I stumbled back when he suddenly stood in front of me, so close I could touch his chest with my nose.
“I don’t…I don’t hate you.” He muttered, his voice sounding thick as if he were swallowing back a lot he’d like to say.
“Then why don’t you touch me?” I asked looking up at him, fueled by something deep within me. “Why don’t you make love to me?”