Mariettedr’s Comments (group member since Sep 06, 2014)

Mariettedr’s comments from the Write, Wrote, Written group.

“I thought it was supposed to be a surprise?” Bear asked and played with the crystal glass in his hand.
“After the state you saw her in last night, I decided she needed some good news sooner,” Blaise said and took the empty glass out of Bear’s hand. “More brandy?”
He nodded his head and watched as the king of Upovia poured them each a drink with a hefty hand. They were in the city and drinking in the private quarters of a questionable tavern. The place was called the Burning Blink and it was not much to look at, but Blaise oddly enough found comfort in the old tavern. Accepting another glass of brandy, Bear sat back and watched as the finely dressed king settled himself in a ragged chair. His curly hair was a mess and his eyes were red from drinking all night.
“It’s getting late,” Bear observed, keeping his eyes on him.
“I think I am old enough to decide for myself when I should return home.”
“Of course,” he agreed and decided to leave it.
Bear have shared many nights like this with his friend, drinking and mostly sitting in silence. Bear was not one for words, not like the Alabasters. They were talented with their tongues, being able to charm anyone out of their boots. But Bear preferred the silence.
Taking a mouth full of his brandy, Bear thought back to the night before. He had grown up with Mabel and Blaise, and he could honestly say that he would fight ten more bears for them. The two siblings were so much alike, but also so different. They both were confidant in their ways and ruled the country in a way that the world had not seen before. But despite their power of being royalty, he was concerned about Mabel. She was only nineteen years old and her life had been a full one so far, a life of loss and hurt... But he had also learned that she was not someone he should underestimate. There was a side to her that not many people knew and it was a part of her that Bear did not necessarily like.
The rose might be beautiful, but her thorns stung like hellfire.
“I have a question,” Blaise said, breaking the silence between them. Not looking at Bear, he took a sip of his brandy and then tapped his lips with his finger.
“I’m listening.”
Swaying his brandy around in his glass, Blaise lifted his gaze towards him. “Why do you follow my sister around?”
Bear cleared his throat loudly, holding the king’s stare. “She treaded far into the city by herself. We both know it’s dangerous, considering everything… Would you rather have me leave her to protect herself?”
“Of course not,” Blaise simply agreed. “I am merely wondering…”
Annoyed, Bear took a gulp of his brandy. It was late and they had had a lot to drink. It was not the time to provoke Blaise Alabaster. He had a famous temper and Bear was not in the mood to see it slip.
“What do you wonder, Blaise?” he asked anyway.
“Do you fancy her?” he asked, daringly staring in his direction.
“I do not fancy your sister. But I do care for her safety.”
“Good,” he said. “She is not just another woman, my friend. I know we have our fun, but you won’t be having fun with her.”
“I don’t have any intentions of bedding her,” he said and held Blaise’s stare. “And I mean it.”
“I believe you,” the king said after a long silence. “Let’s finish our brandy and head home.”
They drank the last of their beverages in silence and Bear could feel his friend’s gaze curiously trailing over him from time to time. They have been the best of friends for most of their lives, but still Blaise struggled to completely trust him. Mabel was probably the only person in the world that Blaise fully trusted. But Bear was not sure if he fully agreed with his choice. Mabel was unpredictable in many ways. She was so…uncontrolled.
It was about midnight when they left the Burning Blink. Walking side by side, they made their way back to the castle in the centre of the city. Before they reached the castle, Blaise stopped in front of the statue of King Agustin Alabaster. The statue of his father had been erected in his honour a month after his death. The people of Upovia adored the statue and many left flowers at Agustin’s feet. Bear stood a few paces away and observed as Blaise stared up at his father’s face. Ultimately, Blaise reached down to open the front of his pants.
“Blaise, please don’t…” Bear pleaded to his back but the young king simply ignored him as he pissed on his father’s feet.
Closing his pants again, Blaise took a step back and pointed up at his father’s face. He spoke with a shaking, overwhelmed voice. “Fuck you for leaving me,” he uttered and stumbled away from the statue. Bear caught hold of his friend and steadied him on his feet again. He expected him to push him away, but to his surprise, Blaise reached for him and clutched both his hands down on his shoulders. The king’s amber-brown eyes were dark in the dimness of the night, but the pain in them was unmistakeable. Clutching his shoulders even harder, Blaise took in a wobbly, unstable breath.
“He left me… He fucking left me…” Blaise said with a strained voice. Bear did not have words for the loss that had taken hold of his friend’s life, so he merely nodded and listened. “He is supposed to be here, Bear… He’s supposed to protect Mabel because I am not strong enough to do so myself… I cannot protect her. I can’t…”
Bear remained silent and ultimately Blaise softened his fierce grip on his shoulders. Lowering his head, the king rested his brow on Bear’s shoulder. Giving Blaise the chance to find control over his emotions, they stood like that for a while. The minutes ticked by as his friend leaned on him for strength. Ten more bears, he thought then. He would take ten more for the friend and king that stood with him in the silence of the night.

She had always shared her father’s love for poetry. She had spent many hours of her life with paper and ink in her hands, trying to compose the words her father had been so talented with. He had written about many topics, but romanticising the words on the page had been his favourite. It was not lost upon her that he had used every one of those lines to win the hearts of many women in Upovia. He had used his talent to charm anything that wore a dress… But she loved his poetry nonetheless.
With a longing heart, Princess Mable Camilla Alabaster sat in the small, historic theatre and listened as an older woman read one of her father’s pieces out loud. Her velvet voice carried Agustin’s words to her, causing Mabel’s throat to swell. She knew the piece by heart, could still hear her father’s voice as he had read it out loud to her for the first time. In the dim lighting of the theatre, Mabel’s sorrow overwhelmed her as she shed tears for the father she had lost.
This particular piece was about loving a woman enough to make her your family, how a good woman’s love can change any man’s heart. It was one of her favourite pieces and Mabel had always wondered if her father had written it for her mother. She had never truly known her mother since she had been too young when she had passed away. But after losing her father, she found herself longing for the woman, longing to know her and why her father had chosen her to have a family with.
Tears freely ran over her cheeks as Mabel listened to her father’s poetry. She cried for him and for the mother she never knew. They were completely alone now, she thought with grief. The rest of the Alabasters had abandoned them… Blaise was all she had left. Touching her mouth to stop a sob from escaping her lips, Mabel drenched herself in her sorrow.
Her soft crying ceased the moment someone placed a hand on her shoulder. Not caring to wipe her tears away, she glanced at the man behind her. There was only about a dozen people in the theatre and behind her sat her brother’s oldest friend. His name was Daniel Waymont, but they had always called him Bear. When Daniel and Blaise had been mere boys, a bear had stormed Blaise. Daniel had daringly jumped in between the animal and his friend, taking the onslaught on Blaise’s behalf. The bear’s attack had almost killed him and left him today with scars and marks all over his body. Just above the collar of his shirt, four lines crept out where the bear’s claw had caught him over his neck and upper chest.
Staring at him through tears, Mabel shrugged his hand off her shoulder.
“Leave me alone,” she said and looked back at the woman on the stage.
“You are too far from Alabaster grounds…” Bear murmured to the back of her head. “You are not safe here.”
“Leave me alone…” she pleaded.
Bear did not touch her again and neither did he say anything, but he stayed. She knew he would not leave her behind in the theatre and he would follow her for the rest of the night. No matter where she went, he would often follow close behind. Clutching her eyes shut, she wished her brother would stop asking him to shadow her so much.
She pulled in a breath and when she opened her eyes, she stood from her seat and made her way out of the row of chairs. Once she reached the isle between the rows of seats, she peered over at the reading woman one more time. Longing to stay and listen to more of her father’s words, she turned away and left the theatre. With Bear not far behind, Mabel made her way back to the safety of Alabaster grounds.

Chapter Two

“Eye contact is more intimate than words would ever be,” Blaise Alabaster murmured, staring into a pair of smiling, brown eyes. They were soft, deer-like eyes, but the tinge of lust that shone behind her kindness told him she was not as innocent as she made the world believe. The woman in the chair in front of him had long and light brown hair. She had fair, soft skin and smiled with a pair of full lips. With her elbows on her knees, she folded her hands together in front of her to lean her chin onto them.
“I can sell tickets for staring into your eyes…” he whispered after a lingering silence.
Her smile slightly changed as playfulness touched the sides of her perfect mouth. She had not said much since they had met earlier the day, but the way she had openly stared at him was all the permission he had needed to pursue her.
Squaring his shoulders in anticipation, he boldly held the woman’s gaze as he wondered what her name could be. But her name was not what mattered…
“Anything specific that my eyes are saying now?” the woman mused, her voice soft.
Blaise narrowed his gaze, beholding the stunning creature in the opposite chair. “You’re young…” Blaise began, his voice low. “But you have lived a full life.”
“Do they tell that many stories?” she asked. Her eye contact slightly faltered as she looked away for a quick second before meeting his gaze again. She had many secrets, he realised. Secrets that she probably wanted to keep private.
“Yes…” he murmured. “They tell lots of tales, many that I would like to hear, but not tonight… You did not approach me today because you wanted to tell me about your burdens and regrets.”
She calmly licked her lips. “You surely do know people, don’t you?”
“People I know… But it’s animals that I understand.”
Her deer-like stare slowly travelled over his shoulder and rested on the bobcat that was lying on the end of Blaise’s bed. He did not have to look back at the wild cat to know that she had just lifted her head the moment that the woman had decided to look at her.
“She’s beautiful…” the woman said, more to herself than to him.
Her admiration of Rosy, his beloved bobcat, made her even more attractive. It urged him to lean forward in his chair and reach for her face. At his closeness, her lips parted in surprise and made her pull in a quick breath. He cupped her face in his hand and brought their heads closer together. It made her blink rapidly for a second or two, her breathing accelerating. She was nervous, he realised, but she daringly held his eyes nonetheless. In a sense there was beauty in the electrifying anxiety she felt. She was beyond nervous but the lust in her eyes did not fade for one moment.
His smile broadened. “Rosy,” he said out loud, talking to his bobcat. “Would you please excuse us?”
The lazy beauty softly wailed as she stepped off the bed, telling him what an inconvenience he was being. Once she trailed out the bedroom door, Blaise stood from his chair and offered his hand to the woman. She shyly took it and allowed him to pull her to her feet. Standing in front of him, she slowly stepped closer to reach her arms around his neck. She pulled in another breath, bracing herself for what is to follow. She was not flawless in her seduction and it gave away her inexperience. But the shyness to her eyes and small smile held all of his attention.
She was more alluring than she knew and she surprised him completely when she reached up to take two fists full of his curls into her grip. Deliberately, he waited for her to be the one to pull their lips together. He smiled once she eagerly kissed him and his body responded satisfyingly at the way she firmly held their mouths together.
Ultimately breaking their kiss, he knelt before her and boldly reached his hands in underneath her yellow sundress. Sliding his hands up the sides of her thighs, he brought her dress up with him. Trailing his hands over her soft skin, he moved them over her hips and up over her ribcage. Ultimately lifting the dress over her head, he discarded it to the floor. Even though she stood naked before him, he forced his eyes to remain fixed to hers. Ignoring the perfect breasts just a few inches lower, Blaise closed his eyes and pulled her body into his arms. Keeping his eyes closed, he moved his mouth over her collarbone and into her neck. She released a heavy breath as her body arched back, inviting him to taste more of her. Grinning, he pulled her lips to his again, making her moan softly into their kiss.
Heat rose to her cheeks, leaving them a rose-pink colour. Taking a handful of her hair, he brought her burning cheeks to his mouth. Kissing every one of her burning features, his body stirred in response. Her heavy breathing filled his ears, inviting him to do with her as he pleased. Blaise took hold of her naked hips and groaned into her neck before biting down on her earlobe. The woman gasped in response, reaching for the buttons of his shirt. Subtly, Blaise allowed himself a look at her full, inviting breasts while she made work of his clothing. He could not take his eyes off her soft, clear skin. As she dropped the last of his clothing to the floor, she stole a look at his naked form as well. It made the woman blush, her ears turning a bright red colour by now. He reached forward to take her flushed face into his hands. Staring into the depths of her brown eyes, Blaise could see the want and lust that had taken hold of her virtuous heart.
He kissed her deeply then, holding their bare bodies close together as he pulled her back to his bed. Lowering her onto the covers, he now openly stared at her flawless chest and body. He climbed onto the bed with her as she opened her legs to reach them around him. She did not hide her desire for him and shyly, she smiled up at him with blushing cheeks and red ears.
She was the young deer, he thought calmly…
She was taunting him to have all of her, to chase her through the wilderness and to catch her…and so, licking his lips…the lion complied.

When Darrius became aware of his surroundings, he found his hands and feet to be tied together. He opened his eyes and stared around in a windowless, crammed room with a wooden floor. Next to him was his bobcat, Clara, and a woman with blonde hair that he did not know. They were both unconscious. Pulling on his restrains, Darrius noticed the circle that had been etched into the wooden floor around them.
“Clara?” he whispered in his cat’s direction.
“I know better than separating an Alabaster from his pet,” a voice said behind him.
Jerking his head back, he rested his eyes on the dark woman he had met in the great hall. She was standing just outside the circle. “What do you think you are doing!” Darrius demanded.
“Like I said… I have made Agustin Alabaster a promise.”
To his own surprise, Darrius laughed out loud at her words. “Agustin Alabaster?” he asked with bemusement.
“I have finally decided that your mother might have been the only woman that Agustin truly loved. I knew Dayna quite well. Your mother had always been fierce and stubborn… She hated me, of course.”
Darrius shook his head with certainty. “You do not know what you are talking about.”
She lowered her head and sighed loudly. “We only have a minute or two before midnight, Prince Darrius. I would advise you to spend your time with me wisely. Do you have any questions before you go?”
“Go? Go where?”
“The portal will take you to Upovia once midnight arrives.”
“Portal?”
“The circle around you.”
“That is not possible!”
“Any other questions?”
Starting to shake, Darrius tugged on his restraints while he spoke. “How can I trust anything that you say?”
“I have no reason to lie to you,” she said simply.
His next question even surprised himself. “How did you know that I am Agustin’s son?”
“I wasn’t sure that you were,” she admitted. “But the bobcat – she gave you away.”
“The cat?” he asked with a frown.
“The Alabasters adore their wild pets. Your father liked the bobcats as well. So does your brother.”
“Brother?”
“Blaise Alabaster… The black seep of this century.”
“And the current king of Upovia...”
“Yes,” the woman said in delight. “You know his name.”
“Doesn’t everyone know the Alabaster name?”
She shrugged light-heartedly. “We all know it for different reasons.”
“And what is your reason for knowing it?”
“The Alabaster family and my family have hated each other for centuries.”
“Then why are you making promises to an Alabaster and keeping them?”
“Agustin was different than his family. So are his children.”
“I don’t care,” he muttered. “I truly don’t care! Now untie me, woman!”
“You know…” she said, softly. “I am shocked to find that you know about your true lineage. I did not think Dayna had it in her to tell you.”
“Don’t talk about my mother,” he snapped, angrily tugging at the ropes around his wrists.
“You remind me so much of him…” she continued. “Of your father.”
“Why did you promise him that you would take me to Upovia? It’s not like he is there anymore!”
The woman suddenly shook her head. “I can’t tell you. I play with your fate by telling you.”
“My fate?”
“You need to listen to me…” she said, her voice lowering. “You must concentrate and allow the portal to guide you to Upovia.”
“Portal?” he asked again in confusion. “But I have no desire to go there!”
“If you fight against it, you will be lost in the portal. You must tell it to take you to Upovia, otherwise it might take you weeks or even months to get there.”
“You’re insane,” Darrius muttered.
“You must let Tretia Country go, Darrius. Otherwise it might take you even longer to reach Upovia. Do you have any other questions?”
“Untie me.”
“Suit yourself,” she said and slowly circled around them. “The woman next to you will meet you there. It’s important that you convince her to stay in Upovia. Keep her close to you and your brother.”
“Who is she?”
“Her name is Ophelia Evans,” she said, a hint of admiration in her tone. “I have spent many years of my life on finding her. But be warned, Tretian Prince…she is quite the wild one.”
“Why is she important?” The woman did answer his question, but her voice had suddenly gone muffled. “What?” he demanded as his sight started to blur. “What is happening!” he cried out as panic clenched his heart.
His hearing had been the first to go and his sight quickly followed. Slowly being deprived of his senses, Darrius suddenly felt tired beyond measure. Just before darkness sucked him in, he tried calling for Clara. Leaning to the left, he groped for his cat to lay his hands on her pelt. Finding comfort in having her close to him, he allowed his head to slump to the floor with a loud thud.

On King Eliass Dontea’s day of funeral, nobles all over Tretia Country and their neighbouring countries came to sympathise with Darrius and his brother. Even though they had known their father’s days had been numbered, losing him had still been a shock to them both. As he had expected, Eli did not take the death of their father well. Eli was completely overcome by his grief and he never seemed younger to Darrius than in those days that followed their father’s death. Eli was eighteen years of age which made Darrius eight years older than him and an age of twenty six. Even though the death of Eliass Dontea had wrecked his heart, he stood firm as Eli leaned on him for strength. The death of their father had brought them even closer and Darrius cherished the bond they shared. They faced each day after their father’s death together. Wherever he would go, his young brother would follow beside him.
The funeral had lasted for hours as each king of their neighbouring countries took a turn to say their farewells to the late king. Eli had decided that he wanted to speak as well, but as his turn came he was unable to voice the heartfelt words he had written down for their father. Darrius had taken his words and had read them aloud on his brother’s behalf. That moment they shared as brothers had brought tears to every eye in the great hall of the castle.
As the day had faded and after hours of grieving, they had shared a feast of fine foods with the nobles. The two princes remained in the great hall until every noble had stopped at their table before departing to their chambers. At the end, they were the only two left. The servants moved around them and cleared the tables one by one. Soon they were gone as well and the castle quieted down around them.
Staring at the empty tables and lifeless hall, Darrius loosened a breath before turning his attention to Eli. He glanced at his red eyes and swollen face before lowering his gaze again.
“Your coronation will take place while the nobles of Tretia are visiting the castle,” Eli said softly, finally breaking the silence between them.
“It can wait while we grieve our father,” Darrius replied.
Eli shook his head. “We should not show weakness now. It leaves us vulnerable. We should crown you and make sure the lands of peace know that they have a king.”
“And keep the peace,” he confirmed.
“Our lands are known for it after all… But sometimes I wonder about the fragile peace we keep.”
“Fragile peace?”
Eli was quiet before he spoke again. “I should not question father’s ways.”
“I am the only one listening. You can speak freely.”
Eli hesitated a moment longer. “There is unrest in the East… With father gone it is only going to get worse.”
“Once I am crowned, I will meet with our neighbours to the East and settle it.”
“Some kings find peace to be tedious,” Eli stated. “They are challenging our traditions and customs. They want change. War is the only way to get what they want.”
“Killing thousands of people are not the way to bring about change… Besides, they don’t have our numbers and they know it.”
“They have enough numbers to create chaos. Father once told me some kings flourish when their countries are in disorder. Maybe that will be true for our neighbours.”
As he listened to his brother speak, a young face stopped in the entrance of the great hall. Her light blue eyes moved back and forth between the two of them as a grin touched her thin lips.
“We’ll take the matter up with our council in the morning. For now you should tend to your woman,” Darrius said. Lady Rosali waved at him and Eli, her eyes ultimately resting on his brother. She was fair and had long, burning red hair, but her young spirit was Darrius’ favourite quality of her. At the sight of the lady at the door, his brother’s sullen mood seemed to be lifting. A small smile caught Eli’s mouth as he stood from his chair.
“She’s lovely,” Darrius murmured between the two of them.
Eli looked down at him with a broadened smile. “She is the woman I am going to marry.”
“Thinking of marriage at your young age?”
“Love does not care about age.”
“Love?” Darrius wondered out loud.
“You should allow yourself to explore the sensation thereof,” Eli said shamelessly. “Or are kings not allowed to love freely?”
Even after Eli and Rosali had left the hall, Eli’s words still lingered. He had always thought of himself as free, but after the conversation he had had with his father a few days ago, he was not sure what it meant to truly live and love freely. He had led a controlled life within an environment of tradition. He valued his customs, cherished every one of them, but maybe Agustin Alabaster had been right to break free of the norm. He had openly declared traditions as the restrictions of life. Maybe he had been right, but Darrius could not imagine his life without the customs that his forefathers had embodied.
Sitting alone at their family’s table, Darrius allowed his grief to find him. Wrought with the loss of his father and king, Darrius closed his eyes and rested his head on one of his arms on the table. Clutching his burning eyes closed, he listened to his heart beat in his ears. As if Clara could sense his sorrow, the bobcat came trailing into the great hall. Darrius could hear the wild cat moving closer, coming to sit next to his chair. With his head still resting on his arm, he reached down with his other hand to touch her head. Clara had been a gift from his father and she was about a year old by now. Fingering her behind her ear, she softly began to purr. The sound of the cat’s appreciation for his touch offered him a sense of comfort that he could not explain.
They remained next to each other for quite a while, finding comfort in one another, but ultimately Clara growled next to his seat. Startled, Darrius lifted his head.
“I did not know that kings could cry,” a woman said, sitting in a chair at the opposite side of the table. Alarmed, Darrius looked the woman over. She had inky, black hair that rolled down her shoulders and her dark brown eyes looked at him in wonder. It was too late at night for a stranger to be roaming the halls of the castle. “I am sorry for your loss, Prince Darrius Dontea,” she added.
Darrius did not care to wipe away the tears that rested in his eyes, he kept them there as he watched the woman in front of him. “It’s late…” he said. “What can I help you with, Stranger?”
“There are loads you can help me with… But you won’t do any of it willingly.”
“How did you get in here?” he asked, eyeing the long, dark dress she was wearing.
“I have my ways…” she said in a soft voice. “Ways you are not going to like or understand.”
“What do you want with me?”
“It’s not really about you and me, Darrius Dontea. It’s about a promise I have made to your father.”
“I have made many promises to the king as well. Promises I intent to keep.”
The woman rolled her dark eyes and snorted mockingly. “Dear boy…” she said in a dangerous voice as she rose from her seat. “Your king has been able to keep you away from me for a very long time… But the time has finally come for us to meet.”
Darrius frowned at the woman, ready for whatever she might challenge him with next, but she completely surprised him by winking alluringly before throwing black powder across the table and into his face.

Chapter One

“You have summoned me, Father,” Darrius said and folded his hands in behind his back.
“Kneel before your king,” his father said in return.
Frowning, Darrius lowered himself onto one knee in front of King Eliass Dontea of Tretia Country. He glanced up at him before bowing his head low.
“You are my eldest and the king-in-waiting. Upon my death, you will be the king of Tretia Country,” his father voiced. “You may rise.”
Darrius rose and folded his hands in behind his back again. They were in the king’s library with a view of Lake Tretia before them. After his mother’s death, his father rarely used their bedchamber and mostly slept in his library. His father had always been organised, but of late he had become quite the messy old man. He was a man of sixty two years of age and the years had not been kind to him. His hair was fully grey by now and he was much leaner than he had once been.
The king shifted in his chair before looking past Darrius at the lake beneath. “Join me,” he said and kept his view on the lake as Darrius pulled a chair closer. He fixed his chair next to his father and stared out the windows of the Dontea family’s library.
“Is there a reason you have summoned me, my king?”
“Can a father not have a few minutes of his son’s time?”
“Of course, Father.”
Silence fell upon them and Darrius savoured the comfort he felt at his father’s side. The man to his left had taught him so much in his life and every moment spent in his company was something he cherished.
“I want to talk about the Country of Upovia across the Philantic Sea,” his fater stated and his stomach turned.
He swallowed in silence and frowned. “I trust you have a reason for bringing it up, Father.”
“The Alabasters of Upovia…” he said carefully. “What exactly do you know about them?”
Darrius lowered his head. “They are the royal family of Upovia.”
“And what do you know of the country?”
“It’s a small country with a loud voice. Quite different to the countries that surrounds it.”
“Different?”
“To me, it’s a country for the sinners.”
His father snorted. “For the sinners?” he asked, bemused. “Well, that is not true. Why would you say such a thing?”
“They drink to write poetry and they write poetry because they drink. The dance scandalously and their music is appallingly loud. They fornicate without shame… Shall I go on?”
His father’s smile slightly faded. “Do you know what it is called to live like that, Prince Darrius?” Darrius remained silent and waited for his father to continue. “It’s called being free, my son.”
“But I am free and everyone in our country is free as well.”
His father nodded. “Yes,” he agreed, “we are free. But we do not live freely.”
“I do not live freely because I do not drink and fornicate my days away?”
“Well, I at least know that you have fornicated a bit in your life.”
The words made his eyes close as he kind-heartedly laughed at his father. “Apparently the walls have eyes and ears,” Darrius observed. “Is this a lesson on my indiscretions? It will be a short one since I don’t have many.”
“This is not a lesson, Son. I am merely having a conversation with my eldest.”
Darrius nodded his head, a smile still present on his lips. “Why does our conversation include the royal family of Upovia? You know how I feel about them…”
“I know that you prefer not to talk about the Alabasters. It’s understandable… But do you know what Agustin Alabaster did with that country, Darrius?”
“He took a country from a king without a war,” he answered shortly.
“Agustin saw a country that was being ruled by selfish royals and nobles. But the nobles were only a quarter of the country. The other three quarters consisted of the poor and they lived in vulgar circumstances. With the masses on his side, Agustin Alabaster led a rebellion against the king and, as you know, he won.”
“Are you sure this is not a lesson, Father?”
“He was a leader of a rebellion that changed thousands of lives, Darrius. He brought movement and change to a corrupt country. He offered his people freedom and individualism. Once he was king, King Agustin Alabaster encouraged the arts and inspired the poets. He taught his people that they could live freely because their county could take care of them. It’s not a big country, but he was able to enrol all the children into schools within only a few years after he had been crowned king. He took it upon himself to cultivate his people. He had even built theatres for the writers of dramas and warehouses for the artists of the visual arts. He was a man with an endless passion for life.”
“Was it his passion for life that got him murdered?” Darrius asked, his voice low and raw.
He did not particularly enjoy the conversation they were having and his question had silenced his father. The king stared at Darrius with pity in his gaze, with sympathy that Darrius had not asked for. Whenever his father would bring up the Alabasters, Darrius would always get that same look from his father. It was the kind of sympathy that had always torn at his heart, even if he did not want it to.
His father cleared his throat before continuing. “The popular king of Upovia’s assassin had not been captured and I wonder if they ever would… But in the three years after his death, his son had been able to keep his spirit alive. The young Blaise Alabaster is a good king today. He is fair and he has continued his father’s ways, but he is different… more peculiar in his ways.”
“I was not aware of the vast admiration you had for the late king of Upovia and his children.” He hated that his toned sounded childish and jealous.
“I do admire the Alabasters,” his father admitted. “I have respect for the movement of freedom that they had led. I want you to remember that once I am gone.”
Darrius did not meet his father’s eyes, but solemnly nodded his head instead.
“But the reason I respect them the most…” his father continued. “It’s because their blood runs in your veins. As you know, you are an Alabaster yourself.”
Darrius immediately shook his head. “No… My name is Prince Darrius Dontea,” he insisted. “I am the eldest son of Queen Dayna and King Eliass Dontea. My family is here. My brother is here. I will never leave this country to cross the Philantic Sea and if I ever do, it will not be to unite with the Alabasters.”
“I don’t have much time left in this world, Darrius…” his father said softly. He lowered his head and they sat in silence for a few seconds. When he did not say anything, his father continued. “After your mother’s death, you and I were the only two left that knew of your true linage.”
He swallowed uneasily as heat touched his ears. “I’ve been thinking a lot about it… About that day she told me the truth - in this same library.”
“Sixteen years have passed since that day…” his father observing, shaking his head unbelievingly before looking at Darrius down the length of his nose. “You will be the only know that knows once I am gone. The only one carrying our secret.”
“To be honest, the thought thereof is quite unbearable.”
The king held his eyes while a silence stretched between them. “You have family in Upovia, Son.”
Darrius frowned. “Why are we even discussing it? You know I have never had any interest in knowing them.”
“They are a large family… You have a brother and a sister. You have cousins…”
Darrius shook his head fiercely. “I don’t want to know anything about them. My life is here, not there.”
“Don’t you like the thought of having more family?”
“No,” he said. “I’ve made my peace with the path that has been chosen for me.”
“Yes…a path that has been chosen for you.”
“I am going to be the king of Tetria,” Darrius said, his voice clear. “You have named me as your heir even though I am not your son by blood... You have chosen me and I have accepted it.”
“I named you my heir because, to me, you are my eldest. You are my son, blood doesn’t change that for me. I have raised you and I have shaped you. You are going to be an outstanding ruler and I regret that I am not going to be here to see it.”
“But what of my brother?” he asked. “Eli deserves the crown more than me. Your blood runs in his veins.”
“Eli Dontea would be the perfect king,” his father said carefully. “He is my son by blood, unlike you…but I have made my choice and I want to hold you to it.”
“Hold me to it?”
“There is nothing that stops you from abdicating once I am gone, nothing that stops you from handing your brother the throne.”
“To hand the crown to your true son would be the honourable thing to do. Is that not what you have shaped me into being? An honourable man?”
“An honourable man does not break promises and you have made many to me and your mother.”
“Are you worried that I would leave Eli? King or not, I will never leave my brother.”
“Promise me,” his father insisted.
“I promise you, father,” Darrius said without hesitation. “I will take care of Eli and I will take care of our country.”
“And what if temptation comes knocking?”
“Temptation?”
“The temptation of knowing the wild, untameable Alabasters.”
Darrius glanced at his father. “I have no desire to know them. We are too different, in fact, worlds apart.”
“If you ever meet them, you will feel different.”
“It doesn’t matter. I have made promises.”
His father was quiet for a long time before he finally nodded his head and ultimately met eyes with him again. “Remember your promises, Prince Darrius Dontea.”
He rose from his chair and bowed low in front of his king. Slowly lifting his head, he gazed up at his father. “I have sworn my loyalty to you. Nothing will ever alter my devotion to you or to this country.”
They held each other’s eyes for quite some time but looked away once the door to the library swung open. His young brother, Eli Dontea, stepped into the room and smiled with his olive green eyes once he noticed Darrius on his knees in front of their father.
“Well, aren’t the two of you quite the picture,” he said and closed the door behind him.
“Both my sons at my side,” King Eliass rejoiced as Darrius rose to his feet. “It truly is a wonderful morning. Prince Eli, come in, come in.”
Eli moved closer and joined Darrius’ side. He bowed low in front of their father and lifted his head with a proud smile. “You look well this morning, father.”
“I have both my boys with me, I am as happy as can be.”
The joy on his father’s face was returned by Eli’s smile. The two of them never looked more alike than in that particular moment. Eli had gotten all of their father’s features, sharing his ash brown hair and olive green eyes. They had the same build as well, tall and slender. Darrius had none of those features. He might have their tall length, but his shoulders were broader. It was a good quality to have for a king, but he longed to look like them, longed to share blood with the father that lifted his eyes to smile at him.

Prologue

Darrius sat in boredom, staring at the tutor in front of him with his brow creased. The man was about thirty and wore odd, brown-rimmed glasses that hung low on his nose.
His dull green eyes regarded him over his glasses. “Don’t give me that look,” his tutor scolded him. “Read the piece again and tell me what the words mean.”
“It’s gibberish…”
“At least try.”
“How would words that rhyme help me lead my country one day?” Darrius challenged.
“Boy…” the man said with a loud sigh. “Your mother wants you to discover the arts… I trust that there is a reason for it.”
Boy…
He truly disliked being called by that word. He was a prince. Not a boy.
He leaned forward in his chair, allowing his feet to touch the floor, to place his hand on his tutor’s arm where it rested on the bundle of poetry doodles he had kept Darrius busy with for most of the morning. “I do not care about art or discovering whatever hidden meaning lies beneath the words of poems that have been written by fools.”
We should end this session and tell my mother it had gone well.
His tutor’s eyes flickered. “You’re right, Prince Darrius. We are done here for the day,” he said and stood. Darrius pulled his hand back from him. “Your mother would be glad to know how well it had gone.”
Darrius smiled up at the man, willing his eyes and his grin to look older, to be that of a grown man. He wanted to intimidate him. Like a king would be able to.
But the moment Darrius’ eyes left his tutor’s he regretted the smug smile.
Meeting his mother’s glare, he sat in silence as she shot a look at his tutor, dismissing him. The man left without another word.
Darrius reached for a pile of books in front of him, wanting to rise and put them away, but the books suddenly flew off the table – pushed away in front of him by his mother. He opened his mouth to protest but the moment his mother pounded both of her fists down on the now empty table – he closed his mouth and stared up into her dark blue eyes.
“Do not ever do that again,” she uttered at him in disgust.
He could only stare at her, his face motionless.
When she did not get a response from him, she gritted her teeth and grabbed him by the lapels of his shirt. Speaking into his face, she gave her warning with a dangerous, whispering voice. “You are good. Gentle. If you ever again force your will on another living being…”
A strand of her dark hair slipped from behind her ear and into her face, but even as the piece of hair fell over her nose, she held her glare directed down at him.
“Dayna,” a voice said calmly behind her.
She reached for her strand of hair and tucked it in behind her ear before she turned around to look at his father standing in the doorway. Darrius slipped off his seat and circled around his mother to stand next to his father and king.
The king of Tretia Country placed his large hand on his shoulder. The weight of that hand felt… Safe.
And gentle – like his mother wished him to be.
“He is just an eleven year old boy, Dayna. He will never understand the things you attempt to teach him because he does not know the truth… For him to understand who he must become, he must understand where he comes from.”
His mother’s features softened and ultimately tears touched her eyes. She had always been so beautiful to him, with her blue gaze and dark hair. Both features she had passed down to him. Seeing his mother’s sadness paled his heart but he kept quiet and trusted his father to lead their conversation.
“Tell him,” his father breathed out behind him. When he glanced at his father, his heart froze over at the sight of the tear that dripped from his chin.
His mother took in a breath, took a step towards him and knelt in front of them both. Staring at Darrius, she beckoned him closer. The hand on his shoulder guided him towards her.
His mother placed both her hands on his shoulders, fixing their metal blue gazes together. “Can you keep a secret, Darrius?” she whispered.
He nodded.
“It’s a secret you won’t ever tell anybody. Not even your little brother. Promise it to us.”
His throat bobbed and he glanced at his father. Only when his king nodded his head, only then, did Darrius look at his mother to nod his head once more. “A true Tretian never breaks his promises,” Darrius murmured as a proud smile touched his mother’s face.

ฬเll๏ฬรђเภє wrote: "This book is amazing! I love it so much! You are an amazing writer!"

Hi Willowshine

So glad that you like it ;) Any questions so far?

Thanks for reading
Mariette

Ed wrote: "I didn't realize the entire (?) book was here. Frankly I don't enjoy reading on a computer screen. What I did read I liked very much and you should publish it. Creatspace costs you nothing and is a..."

Hi Ed.

The entire book is not on here yet, still busy editing the last part of it. Will post it once I am happy with it.

Its my first complete story and will definitely look into Creatspace. Thanks for telling me about it.

Thanks for reading.
Mariette

Ed wrote: "I'm not into Fantasy but this is pretty good. You should definately write an entire book and publish it."

Hi Ed

Have you read the entire story so far? I have completed the entire book and I am posting it bit by bit.

Anything that is unclear? Any advice for me? Please feel free to give me your opinion on the characters and tell me if there is anything I need to improve.

Thanks for reading ;)
Mariettedr

The Duchess escorted Nayeli into her sunroom where a table was being served with more food than was necessary for two women. But Nayeli’s stomach was turning in hunger and she could surely devour most of the food on the table. Her Tiger agreed.
Leilani’s chamber consisted of a large sunroom and a bedroom that led off to the left. Nayeli had found that Leilani visited Adarmar Castle often. Most of the times when Nayeli had come to visit the castle, she had found Leilani here. She looked around the decorated sunroom. This chamber was strictly used by her. She practically lived there.
Nayeli set the thought aside, turning towards the table of food. Leilani chirped around her, showing her to her seat. She took off her cloak and hanged it on the back of her chair. Nayeli might dislike Leilani, but she must acknowledge that the woman was at least trying to restore the fragile bond. Years of reigning together would lie in front of them and Leilani knew it. Nayeli admired her effort to restore order and peace between them.
“Wine?” Leilani chirped. “I’ve noticed that you like it.”
Not having the courage to dismiss her notions, Nayeli nodded her head. “Thank you, Leilani. I appreciate the effort you are making. It’s important that we form a bond in union.”
Leilani smiled broadly. “Why, yes, it is.”
She placed Nayeli’s wine in front of her. To no surprise, Leilani was not drinking with her. Clearly emphasizing their differences, Leilani poured juice for herself. Nayeli refrained from groaning.
“Time to eat,” Leilani chirped and sat down across the table from Nayeli. “I hope that you are hungry?”
On cue, servants emerged and brought even more food to add to the table. It smelled wonderful and Nayeli’s stomach welcomed the aromas. As all the servants left the room, Nayeli allowed her Tiger’s sense of smell to take in the food they were about to consume. To her delight, there was a sweetness to the smell.
“I hope the food will be to your liking,” Leilani said and waited for Nayeli.
“I am sure it would. Thank you, Duchess.”
Realizing that Leilani was waiting for her to start, Nayeli started plating for herself. Leilani smiled in joy, starting to do the same. The silence stretched between them, Leilani’s smile still on her face.
Nayeli picked up her cutlery. “Is there something specific you wanted to discuss, Duchess?”
“You haven’t had any of your wine,” Leilani observed, placing her plate in front of her. “I would like to start by apologizing for my brother’s actions in Eldenwood. It was not necessary to kill that poor animal.”
Nayeli placed her cutlery back unto the table and reached for her wine. “I overreacted to say the least. Let us put it behind us, Duchess.”
Nayeli brought the wine to her lips but before taking a sip, her smile faltered.
The creature of her heart recoiled at the sweet smell that touched her nose. Her stomach turned.
Fully aware that Leilani was watching her, Nayeli subtly closed her mouth and titled the wine against her closed lips. The wine licked her skin and fell away once she lowered the glass again. Nayeli swallowed a knob in her throat and reached for her napkin to lightly dap over the wine on her chin.
Drogonflower…
There was Drogonflower in her wine and it was burning her nose.
She lifted her eyes towards the Duchess that was watching her intently. The false smile that was always present on Leilani’s lips was gone now. Nayeli met her stare.
“Anything else you would like to get off your chest, Duchess?”
“I realized he would never love me,” Leilani said and shook her head.
Nayeli knew she would be talking about Aiden. She lifted the wine to her lips and feigned drinking another mouthful. Leilani’s eyes shone with enjoyment.
“Who would never love you, Leilani?”
“The King, of cause,” she purred and stood from her chair. “You should know that I’ve offered him a different path, but he didn’t want it. He didn’t want it because you were in my way.”
Nayeli rose from her seat as well, Drogonflower burning on her lips and through her nose. She touched her uneasy throat and glared at the beautiful Duchess Kubovy.
“Are you feeling alright?” Leilani chirped.
Nayeli’s blood pulsed through her animal heart, her anger rising. As each second passed and Leilani’s smile broadened, Nayeli could feel her hold on her creature slipping. She pushed the creature down, taking control of her fury. What would come next, she wanted to be fully aware of. She wanted to remember this.
Nayeli pushed her chair away from her and made her way around the table.
Leilani yelped in surprise as Nayeli approached.
If she had drunk the wine, she would be on the floor by now, suffocating from the effect of the wildflower. Leilani shouted something at her but she ignored it as she reached for the woman. With all the strength her Tiger body possessed, she swung the woman onto the table. Food scattered away from them. Nayeli’s hand came down on her throat and held her to the table.
Leilani screamed.
Nayeli ignored it and tightened her grip on the woman’s throat, cutting off her screams. With her other hand, she found herself tucking off the Duchess’ dress. Leilani protested in horror, kicking at Nayeli. Nayeli ripped her shoulderless dress down and the woman shouted once her chest was bare. She shouted at Nayeli, fighting against her Tiger strength.
But Nayeli had to know and it was her discovery that pushed her past her own control. The animal that shared Nayeli’s soul snarled at the sight of the snake tattoo next to Leilani’s left breast.
“Snake,” Nayeli growled into Leilani’s face, her eyes burning in their fury.
Nayeli slipped her hold on Leilani’s throat, giving her the chance to scream for her guards at the top of her lungs. When her mouth was opened to its full width, Nayeli clenched her teeth and reached for her wine to plummet it down the Duchess’ throat.
Leilani choked on the wine and Nayeli released her. The woman fell to the floor and clutched her gorge. She convulsed and Nayeli was shocked at how quickly the poison influenced her.
Nayeli stared down at the gasping woman as the Castle’s Guard banged on the door. Stricken with panic, Nayeli ripped her cloak off her chair and pulled it on over her shoulders. She touched the anti-poison in the hem of her hood, her eyes on Leilani again. The woman was jerking on the floor, her throat hoarse as she tried sucking in air.
When nobody answered, the door to the sunroom sprang open. The guards wore the Kubovy family’s dark green and their eyes widened at the sight of their Duchess on the floor.
Life found Nayeli’s heart and she found herself running into Leilani’s bedroom. She threw open the door to her balcony. She was over the rail of the balcony before she could think it through. Guards were screaming after her as she dropped to the ground. It hurt. She tasted dust and blood in her mouth, but she couldn’t stop.
She scrambled to her feet and fled.
She was bewildered beyond reason and her heart was pounding in her ears. She had to get out of the Castle. She needed to find Hael. But without realizing where she was going, she found herself pressing through Akira’s chamber doors.
“Akira!” Nayeli cried out. “Akira! Where are you?!”
She heard the shouts of the guards that were following her but ignored it and ran into Akira’s room. What she found there ripped her heart out of her chest.
“No, no, no!” Nayeli screamed and fell down next to Akira on the floor.
Akira’s eyes were still open and staring at Nayeli in horror. She was clutching her throat and struggling to breathe. Her lips were blue and her eyes were starting to close.
Screaming her groan of hate, Nayeli ripped open the hem of her hood. The packet of anti-poison fell out and without thinking, Nayeli emptied the packet’s content into Arika’s mouth. Akira reacted immediately and whatever she had drunk or eaten came back up her throat. Nayeli fell away from her as the Princess started puking profusely.
Tears of relief pierced Nayeli’s eyes, watching as the guard in dark green scrambled into the room. She got to her feet, ready to fight, ready to defend, but there were too many of them. They had her to the floor before she could even think of guarding herself. They were screaming and cursing at her, condemning her for the loss of their Duchess.
With the smell of Drogonflower and vomit in her nose, she welcomed the taste of blood on her lips as each blow struck her. She was the perpetrator that had killed the beautiful Duchess Leilani Kubovy and each blow they rewarded her with reminded her of how good it had felt to throw the wine down that snake’s throat.

With shaking hands, Nayeli slipped the necklace around her neck. The wolf locket rested between her breasts, the thought of it burning her mind.
Hael.
She needed to find Hael.
She got up from the bed, her heart bewildered. “Keep the wolf close,” she found herself saying.
She opened the doors to his chambers, refraining from running. She needed to see Hael’s face, needed to throw her arms around him in terror. She rushed down the hall, her heart running away with her chest.
Great Seas, Aiden was a wolf.
“Princess Nayeli!” someone exclaimed behind her and Nayeli jumped around. Startled, she rested her eyes on Duchess Leilani Kubovy. “There you are! I’ve been looking for you this entire day. You weren’t in your chamber and nowhere else to be found.”
Nayeli swallowed and tried to regain her composure. “Duchess Leilani,” she said and bowed her head. “Is something the matter?”
She neared Nayeli and waved her question away. “Should there be something wrong for me to want to talk to you, Princess?”
“Of cause not, Duchess.”
Leilani folded her hands together in front of her, watching her. “Princess Nayeli, as you know, matters between the Kubovy family and the Princess of the Maya Isles has not been at best. I was very pleased when you accepted our invitation to the ball. I did not have the chance to talk much with you at the ball, but I would like to do so now. I think it is important that we share a vast friendship, don’t you?”
Nayeli nodded her head. “I agree, Duchess.”
“It’s settled then,” Leilani chirped. “I’ve arranged a feast for us in my sunroom here at the castle. This is a matter to be discussed in person, not in the great hall. My servants are ready to serve us with the finest cuisine.”
“Now?” Nayeli blurted.
Leilani frowned at her. “Yes,” she started. “If you don’t have more important matters to attend to, I would like to restore a relationship between the Kubovy family and the Maya Isles.”
Guilt clutched her heart. Leilani was right and she knew it. She would have a quick meal with the simple Leilani before seeking Hael.
“Of cause I have time to dine with you, Duchess. It would please me to restore our friendship to the fullest. Would Duke Leynar be joining us?”
“My brother went with the King,” she explained. “Let us leave the men to their bidding and deliberate lighter matters. Follow me?”
Nayeli nodded her head and found herself trailing along next to the Duchess. She truly was beautiful, her feature so fine and subtle. Her blond hair was pulled into an elegant chignon. Nayeli felt quite aware of her wet and loose hair, she had not even pulled a comb through them. How she must look to the Kubovy family, she had no idea.

Nayeli woke hours later when a cold nose touched hers. Her eyes flew open and she was faced with a pair of round, dark eyes inches away from her own. Those eyes were complemented by the sweetest little pink nose and pale, white fur. The cat watched Nayeli, her tail thickening.
Nayeli sat up with a smile.
“Well, good morning, Princess,” she said and reached out to carefully rub the cat behind her ear. The cat’s hair rose slightly, sensing that she was not the normal girl in her master’s bed. It made Nayeli smile, trailing her hand over the cat’s back. She began purring, nestling herself closer to her.
She let out a pleased sigh and turned her head towards the ocean view. The sun was high in the sky and she realized she must have slept most of the day away. But she did not care. She wanted to stay in Aiden’s bed until he came back. Between all his things she felt closer to him. The sheets still smelled like him. Pulling the covers into her arms, she repeated the events of the night in her head. She felt her cheeks blush. Thoughts of Aiden made her stomach knot and her veins burn.
And the feeling was wonderful.
Nayeli rubbed the sleep from her eyes and noticed the clothes on a nearby chair. Kindly slipping away from Princess, she got out of bed. Aiden had arranged fresh clothing for her, she realized. She stopped next to the chair, impressed by the clothes he had chosen for her to wear for the day. He even had her white cloak hanging over the back of the chair. There was a note to her excitement.

Beautiful Princess Nayeli

I hope I have chosen clothes to your liking. I have never made the association of the white cloak to your white Tiger’s fur. I enjoy learning more about you every day.
Please, no fighting Warriors until I am back.
I hope to return to you soon.

Please stay.
Aiden

She smiled at the note and trailed her finger over the piece of paper. He had asked her to stay. She was not sure what he had meant, but she wanted to.
Nayeli stepped into the King’s bathing room and enjoyed herself thoroughly by soaking in Aiden’s tub. She welcomed the water on her skin, her eyes closing in appreciation. She could get used to this, she realized. She could stay in these chambers if it meant she could wake up to Aiden’s face every day.
The thought was haunting and she dreaded voicing it to Aiden. She had left this man, broke their engagement and now she was finding herself wanting to live in his chamber. She shook her head to clear the thought and lifted herself out of the tub. She dried herself, stepping out into his room again. She dressed in the clothing Aiden had picked for her.
With a smile on her lips, her eyes rested on the velvet pouch on the bedside table. Curiosity flared in her and she reached for the pouch. She sat back onto the bed and picked at the velvet, feeling it between her fingers. It had belonged to his mother. Nayeli had never known how much she had meant to Aiden. In his letters Nayeli could feel his long for his mother. She was Therian like them. The thought frightened her more than she would admit. The Estrella Blood truly was powerful.
She opened the pouch and dropped the locket out onto the bed. Her ears warmed at the gift Aiden had given her. It was such a personal gift to give away. She felt guilty in a way, remembering that he had wanted to give it to her on their wedding day. A day that had never happened.
Taking in a breath, she picked up the locket. It was attached to a long, silver necklace and it was beautiful. She touched the locked and turned it over.
Nayeli’s smile faltered and her heart screamed at what she saw.
Her brow was touched with sweat as realization set in. She had been wrong. Terribly wrong.
The wolf of Akira Estrella’s dreams was not the Aemazon Warrior…but the leader of the Pack.
Nayeli gaped down at the wolf on the locket.



* * *

Chapter Twenty Two - The Leader of The Pack



Nayeli woke when Aiden shook her shoulder. It was the next morning and she had spent the entire night in his bed. Sun travelled into the room, the smell of the ocean finding its way into the open windows.
“Good morning, Princess,” Aiden said and smiled at her.
She rubbed her eyes and sat up. Aiden was fully dressed, sitting on the side of the bed with his eyes on her.
“Are you going somewhere?” she asked, pulling her hand through her hair.
“Unfortunately yes,” he said.
“Are you taking me with you?”
He smiled at her words. “I would have liked to, but no. I need to go to Glance.”
“Glance? I was there two days ago.”
Aiden’s smile disappeared. “Well, I’m glad you were gone by the time trouble started in the town.”
Nayeli frowned. “What kind of trouble?”
“Domain folk have been spotted in the town and sounds like they’ve made quite the mess of it. I will see what the damage is when I get there.”
Nayeli swallowed. “Aiden, I think there had been Domain folk in the town when we passed through it. But I’m not sure. Where is Eiric Whittaker?”
“He has not been seen since the ball. I believe he has either returned to the Domain or he would be with the men in Glance.”
“Oh,” she said and looked at him in concern. “Will Akira be going?”
“Of cause not.”
She frowned. “Are you sure you must go there?”
“Don’t worry. I will be back by tomorrow night.”
“You mean to say that I would have to spend a night without you?”
He smiled at her. “You will survive, I’m sure.” He leaned forward to plant a kiss on her lips. “Now go back to sleep, it’s still early.”
She touched her lips where he had kissed her and slipped back in beneath the covers. “Hurry back,” she mumbled and watched him leave.
Her eyes closed and she drifted back to sleep with the thought of Aiden’s lips against hers still fresh in her mind.

Aiden pushed her back into the bed, his mouth coming down on hers. He kissed her rough and pinned her body beneath his. She groaned in agreement, returning his urgency. Aiden broke their kiss to loosen her belt and placed her sword aside. Then he started with her muddy tunic, wanting to get it off her and off his bed. Nayeli chuckled when he pulled it off and threw if over his shoulder. She laid back naked onto his bed, watching him. Holding her eyes, he lowered his mouth to trail his tongue over her stomach. She shivered slightly underneath his touch and it satisfied him vastly.
Taking in a breath, she forced him back and he stood up from the bed. Coming to sit in front of him, she stole a glance up at him before lowering her eyes again and starting to take his riding clothes off. Aiden fell silent, watching her work with his body. Obediently, he moved with her as she undressed him.
Once she dropped the last of his clothing to the floor, her gaze slowly returned to his. Their eyes tied together and he had to stare at the naked sight that was looking back at him. His desire for her was a burning flame and he hoped his feelings were not too obvious on his face.
He touched her rosy cheek and leaned forward to plant a kiss on her lips.
“Have you seen my view of the ocean’s magnificence?” he asked.
“Yes, it’s beautiful-”
“Look again,” he ordered and she yelped in surprise once he flipped her onto her stomach. He climbed onto the bed with her beneath him. Nayeli loosened a heavy breath once his body pressed against her backside. He leaned into her neck and brushed his lips against her ear. Another breath escaped her mouth, her body stiffening underneath him.
“You will not go onto the Aemazon Fighting Fields without me present. Do you understand? You will not fight Warriors without me there,” he said into her ear.
“What about off the field?” she asked, her breathing jagged.
“Don’t taunt me, Nayeli,” he warned. “You know I don’t like to be played with.”
She titled her head back at his words, her body responding to his hot breath in her ear. He enjoyed watching her lips part and her body squirm underneath him.
“You were right,” she breathed out. “The view from your room really is magnificent-”
He took hold of her and swung her around again. With a wind of legs and arms, she fell back onto her back and looked up at him. He leaned over her, glaring down into her eyes.
“You will not put yourself in harm’s way without me near. Do we understand each other?”
“My King’s wishes are my command,” she said with a teasing smile and wrapped her legs around his middle.
Aiden held her stare, glaring down at her bemused smile. This woman was going to drive him insane. He was truly going to go senseless in her company.
“Would you like me to help you wash off the mud you’ve come to acquire during your time on the fighting fields?”
She chuckled underneath him and leaned her head back to stare out of the window. “Or we could stay here and enjoy the view?”
His heart lightly pounded in his ears as he spoke his next words. “Yes, maybe you could stay here,” he agreed.
She stiffened at his words, picking up the uneasiness in his voice. Slowly she returned her gaze to his. She did not say anything, her eyes fixed on his.
“Would you like to stay here, Nayeli?” he found himself asking.
To his dismay, she started blinking away tears in her eyes. He leaned forward and kissed each eyelid, wanting to rid her of her tears. He did not want to see her hurt and he definitely did not want to be the cause of it. She mumbled his name and lifted her mouth to his. Taking his head into her hands, she opened her mouth to his.
“I want to stay,” she breathed against his lips. “I am not sure what you mean by it, but I want to.”
“Then you’ll stay,” he said simply, trying to sound calm. But inside his chest, his heart was touched by Wildness full of delight. His Therian companion will stay. Neither of them was sure what they had agreed to, but the creature in his veins droned its approval.
Nayeli stared up at him and her face changed, the moisture in her eyes was gone. The way she looked at him was Wild and daring. Could she feel his creature, he wondered. Nayeli wetted her lips and pulled him into a kiss. Her mouth was urgent against his and soon he found himself being pushed onto his back. Nayeli traded places with him, taking away the control he cared so much for. His Royal Blood wanted to lead, but Nayeli was on top of him and was claiming his lips. She sat down on his hip, holding her body daringly against his. She was driven by Wildness and he could taste the lust on her lips.
Evidently she broke their kiss and sat back onto his hips to suck in a breath. Aiden could not take his eyes off her as he waited and when she opened her eyes, his wait was rewarded.
Two soft, illuminated blue eyes stared down at him.

Aiden was standing in his sunroom and waited for Nayeli. Great Seas, what was she thinking in fighting an Aemazon Warrior? It felt like he knew nothing about the woman he was betrothed to for ten years. She was sparring with Warriors and the thought gave him chills of anxiety. Thinking of her getting hurt worried him beyond measure.
He wondered if it was the Tiger of her heart that yearned for fighting.
Nayeli came into his chamber and his eyes widened at the sight of her torn and muddy clothing. She had a sword on her hip, her hand resting on the hilt. She met his eyes, not a care in the world on her face. She was a beautiful stranger, he thought.
Before he could stop himself, he marched over to her. He stopped in front of her to glare at her but her features were touched by a bemused smile. She merely found his anger bemusing.
“Welcome back, My King,” she said and tucked her hands in behind her back.
He could not believe her audacity at smiling at him.
“I hear you’ve been busy while I was away for the day.”
She licked her lips. “So very busy.”
Aiden narrowed his gaze on her. “Glowing your eyes at Aemazon Warriors?”
Nayeli laughed, her blue eyes looking up at his. “Is there a reason you’ve summoned me, King Aiden?”
“Of cause,” he snapped and stepped towards her.
Cupping the woman’s head into his hand, he kissed her. He had not planned on kissing her once she came to his chamber, but he couldn’t refrain from it any longer. Her letters had forced him back earlier than he should be and quite frankly, he could not stop thinking about her lips the entire ride back to his castle. He claimed her mouth as his own, their tongues entwined.
He broke the kiss once he tasted mud on her lips.
“You fought Jon, didn’t you?” he demanded at her.
“How did you know?”
“He likes throwing his opponents into the mud.”
“It took him quite a while to get me there,” she said and played with the hem of his shirt. His eyes travelled down to her hand and then back to her face again.
“Since when can you yield a sword?”
“I have received training in the Maya Isles. Just like you have received training here. Don’t you think it is important for me to be able to defend myself?”
He caught the hand that was fumbling with his clothes and lowered it away from him. “There are so many things I don’t know about you.”
“Our letters held our personal thoughts. I would say you are getting to know me quite well.”
“So we are sharing secrets now?” Aiden mused.
The smiled at his words and nodded her head. She seemed to be pleased and so was he. He pulled her into another careless kiss.
“I have something I would like to give to you,” he said against her mouth. “I was planning on giving it to you on our wedding day. It belonged to my mother.”
Nayeli lifted her eyes to stare up at him. “No,” she said with a frown. “I can’t accept it.”
“Why not? I want you to have it.”
“What is it?”
“Follow me,” he said and let go of her.
She followed him into his bedroom and he noticed that her eyes kept travelling through his room. She had never been in here before, he realized. After all the years he had known her, this was the first time she had come to his chamber.
“My chamber consists of my bedroom, my sunroom and my library. It belonged to my mother and father before me. Do you like it?”
She smiled, her eyes fixed on something specific. He followed her gaze and turned to look at the leather band and blue feather that hung on his coat hanger. It was the band she had worn the night they had kissed in the greenhouse.
“Is that mine?” she asked, her voice soft.
“Yes,” he admitted, feeling slightly humiliated. “You dropped it in the greenhouse the night of the Courtas Ball.”
“You kept it?”
“Why, yes.”
Nayeli walked closer to him, lifting her gaze away from the feather and looking up at him. The way she looked at his was rewarding in ways he could not explain.
“It’s not the only thing I have kept,” he found himself saying. “I still have the cat we had found in the gardens. I named her ‘Princess’ and she is quite the busy little thing.”
Nayeli’s mouth turned up into a smile, her eyes lit with joy. “You named her Princess?”
Aiden had to laugh at Nayeli’s expression. “Yes, and my biggest fear is that she will have kittens in my room. A King with a room full of kittens just won’t do.”
“What more than kittens to strike fear into the hearts of your enemies?” she mused.
“I don’t take kindly to being laughed at,” he warned her with a smile.
“Yes, I know,” she said and tip-toed to plant a kiss on his mouth.
He took her into his arms before she could pull away again. He took her head into his hands and kissed her thoroughly. Every time she allowed him to kiss her felt unbelieving to him. They’ve been fighting for days and suddenly he could not take his hands off her.
And he knew why he could not stop.
There was a Therian standing in front of him. A strong and beautiful creature that demanded all of his heart. After his mother’s death he had thought he would never be this close to a Therian again. After a lifetime of longing for someone to share his secret with, she was finally here. The creature of his heart hummed in his veins with approval. The pull towards her was undeniable and he knew very well that they were bonding in a way that went beyond mere ordinary.
He broke their kiss and found himself taking her into his arms. Very un-kinglike, he embraced the woman in front of him. He hugged her tight in his arms, resisting the urge to blurt all of his feelings for her into her hair. He held onto her and closed his eyes. He could not remember the last time he had held someone in his embrace the way he as holding Nayeli now. To his relief, he heard her breathe his name into his neck. Her arms tightened around him, holding him close to her.
Gods, how was he ever going to let her out of his arms again?
But evidently he had to loosen his grip around her. She looked disappointed when he let her go but he quickly caught her chin and gave her a peck on the lips.
“Time for your gift,” he said.
He moved towards his closet and felt her eyes on his back. He was nervous to give the gift to her, his heart beating slightly faster than before. He retrieved a velvet pouch and turned around to face her. He moved closer with the pouch in his hand.
“I don’t want you to open it in front of me,” he started.
“Why not?” she asked and frowned.
“It’s very personal and I don’t know if I would be able to bear it.”
“If it means that much to you-” she started to protest but he cut her off.
“No, I want you to have it. It’s a locket.”
She smiled at him. “A locket that belonged to your mother,” she observed. “Are you sure you want me to have it, Aiden?”
“It would please me greatly if you would accept it.”
Nayeli reached for the pouch and he let it go reluctantly. She did not open it, as agreed, but she stared at the velvet pouch like she could see through the fabric.
“I don’t know what to say, Aiden,” she murmured up at him. “But I’ll guard it with my life. I promise.”
The sincerity in her eyes was pushing him down a path that petrified him in more ways than one. His feelings for Nayeli were clutching his heart in a burning grip. His gaze dropped to her lips before it returned to her eyes again. She caught onto his travelling eyes and a smile touched the corner of her mouth.
“See anything to your liking?” she whispered up at him.
“I do,” he said, holding her eyes.
Nayeli moved past him to place her gift on his bedside table. He turned to look at her. She stared back at him. He could only marvel at the sight in front of him. His curtains were open, his view of the ocean unfolding behind her. The sun was gone from the sky, the horizon dark on the water.
Nayeli sat down on his bed.
“I’ve made a lot of mistakes, Aiden.”
“So have I,” he admitted.
“I don’t know how to apologize for mine,” she said, lowering her eyes to the floor.
He moved towards her and lifted her chin to look at him. “Then don’t.”
“But Aiden-”

Jon entered his chamber and hoped to find Akira on his bed. He had promised her he would be waiting for her when she came back. Disappointed to find his room empty, he hung his sword up and started taking off his fighting tunic.
To his surprise, he heard something move in his bathing room.
Jon opened the doors to the room and when he entered, he found a goddess in his bathtub.
Akira pouted her lips, looking away from him. “You said you would be waiting on the bed for me.”
Jon smirked. “I was held up by the Princess of the Maya Isles.”
“Yes, I’ve heard,” she said and leaned further down into the tub. Her innocent little eyes peeked over at him.
Jon continued taking off his tunic. “She challenged me to a fight.”
Akira’s eyes widened slightly before looking away from him. With her cheek turned on him, she loosened a breath. “Can I give you some advice, Warrior?”
Jon dropped his clothes to the floor. “I’m listening.”
“When you find a naked Princess in your company, don’t start talking about some other Princess.”
Jon stepped closer and trailed his eyes over her gloriously naked skin. Feeling his eyes on her, she finally peered up at him again.
“Jealous?” he teased.
“No,” she mumbled and a shy smile touched the side of her mouth once she realized he was completely undressed.
“Do you have room for me in that tub?”
“Depends.”
“On what?”
“Whether or not you’ve missed me today.”
Jon crossed his arms and caught Akira’s eyes drifting down his body. “You are the only one I’ve been thinking about this entire day.”
Akira pouted. “And did you not think of the Princess of the Maya Isles when you fought her?”
Jon tiled his head back and chuckled. “I was only thinking about defeating her. That is all.”
“And did you?” she asked, openly staring at his body now.
“Of cause.”
Her gaze lifted to his eyes, wetting her lips. “I think your body likes the way I am looking at it.”
Jon’s back stiffened slightly, resisting the urge to turn away from her. Boldly holding his stance, he grinned.
“And what are you going to do about it, Princess?”
“Oh, Jon,” she murmured and leaned to her side to lowered her chin onto the rim of the tub. She looked up at him. “I can stare at you for the rest of my life.”
Pleased, Jon found himself moving towards the tub and stepping into the water with her. Akira yelped in delight once he joined her. He sat down behind her, pulling her backside closer to his chest. With a smile on her lips, she turned to look up at him over her shoulder. He leaned forward and claimed the smile on her lips, tasting it on his mouth. Akira spun around and sat on her knees in front of him. Without delay, she reached her arms around his neck and joined her mouth to his.
“I’ve thought about you the entire day,” she mumbled against his lips. “Of all the things you’ve done to me the night before. My cheeks kept reddening at the thought of them. Every time I imagined your touch on me, my heart raced and my breathing wanted to go uneven.”
“I like your breathing uneven-”
“And it likes being uneven. Especially when it’s you that is making me pant.”
Everything south of Jon’s stomach stirred at her words. She was so young, so inexperienced, yet she was able to awaken ways in Jon’s mind and body that he couldn’t explain to himself. Without asking permission, he pulled her lips onto his. He kissed her carelessly. Akira responded like he had hoped. She pulled his hair into her hands and groaned in appreciation against his lips. She kissed him like she might just never get enough of him and Jon savored every moment of it.
But in the back of his mind he thought of Ember.
He knew nightfall will come and that she would ask for it. For how long would he be able to persuade her out of it by distracting her with his kisses?

Chapter Twenty One - Maybe you could stay

Nayeli smiled as the handed the letter to the boy who had been back and forth with their letters. Aiden’s letters had made her day every bit so brighter. She felt confident and was on her way to seek a challenge. She was dressed in a fighting tunic and long, brown pants. Her sword hung at her side, her hand resting on its hilt.
She was glad to find Jon May on the Aemazon Warrior fields. He was standing between a few men from the Warriors, sharing a conversation with them. Jon grinned at one of the men but his smiled was wiped off his face when she came to stop in front of him. He looked her up and down, raising an eyebrow at her.
“Scared to lose in front of your friends?” she said and lifted her chin.
Smiles touched the faces of the men surrounding Jon. The Pack was clearly interested in seeing Jon fight a girl. Jon looked around at the smiles around him before he returned his eyes to Nayeli.
“I hope you don’t mind getting dirt on your face,” Jon challenged and unsheathed his sword.
Nayeli smirked. “Careful now, Master May, you don’t want me to give you another black eye.”
He smiled his wolfish smile at her as the men laughed around them. “You are going to regret that remark, Princess.”
The Aemazon Warriors made way for them on the field. Every eye turned their way and Nayeli could feel them all on her. She must be mad for challenging Jon to a fight and she knew she would never win. But it was exhilarating to stand on a fighting field with an ocean of Warriors watching her.
Jon came down on her like he had never done before. Their playful fights in the past were nothing compared to the way he was challenging her now. His sword came her way in a speed she had not known he possessed. She couldn’t look away from him for a second, his blows came her away like spears of lightning.
She was a fool to think he would go easy on her.
He was the voice to the Warriors that surrounded them, even if he did not want to admit it. Surely a man of his status was not going to allow a Princess to make a fool of him. To her delight, her Tiger strength filled her veins and she met his blows. The surprise in his eyes told her his how strong the Tiger in her veins was.
But Jon only pushed harder. Remembering the few tricks he had taught her, she danced around him. Due to his size, he could not move around as freely as her. She used it to her advantage. Jon May was used to fighting Warriors and Kings, not flexible young women like her. She tilted her body backwards to escape his uncomfortably close blade and heard his sword tear through a piece of her tunic. She ignored it.
Jon muttered something at her but her heart was pounding too loudly in her ears to listen. She forced herself forward, her sword in hand. Jon grinned at her bravery, satisfied that she was continuing their fight. Jon snickered in enjoyment when their swords met again. She had to admit, she was enjoying herself immensely.
The Warriors around the field was cheering for them, shouting all kinds of things at her and Jon. Jon gave a few men a few displeased looks at what they were shouting. Nayeli tried to ignore the voices, refusing to be distracted.
But she suspected that it was the remarks from beside of the field that inspired him to end the fight. Carelessly, Jon struck her sword out of her hand and came forward to push her to the ground. She collided with the mud of the field, tasting it in her mouth.
“And that is what you get for challenging an Aemazon Warrior,” Jon said down at her with a smug smile on his face. She wiped her hand down her face and spat mud out of her mouth.
“Did you have to throw me to the ground?” she asked and held a hand out to him.
He pulled her up with a smirk on his face. “It’s how I end a fight.”
She wiped her mouth on her shoulder. “Now I know.”
“Yes,” Jon said, still beaming because of his win. “Now you know.”
A few of Jon’s Warrior friends stepped closer to congratulate him and to her surprise, she received a few pats on the back. In a few eyes she thought she might have caught faint signs of admiration but the thought was so impossible that she decided to let it go.
One of the Warriors picked up her sword and handed it back to her with a kindhearted smile touching his features. Her thoughts travelled to what these men’s lives must have been like in the slave pits of the Domain Kingdom. Seeing them as free men now satisfied her in a way she couldn’t explain.
“A message for the Princess Nayeli,” a familiar voice said behind her and she turned to find Aiden’s message boy. She took the letter from him with a muddy hand.
She opened it.

Dear Maya Isles Warrior

Come see me right now.

Your King

For some reason Nayeli found herself smiling at the words even though she knew she was in trouble. The messenger boy explained to her that Aiden and Akira were back at the castle and Nayeli was being summoned by the King.
She couldn’t help but notice Jon immediately made his way off the field as well.
“Going to see Akira?” Nayeli fished out.
“I am merely returning to my room,” he explained innocently. “And if Aiden asks, I was not the one that covered you in mud.”

* * *

Nayeli took the letter from the servant boy at her door and closed it again. It was late morning and she was about to go the visit the Princess Akira. She opened the letter and frowned when she saw it was from the King.

Good morning, Princess

Once I realized I have left the castle without notifying you, I decided to send you this letter. I would like to inform you that I will be away from the castle today and that I am at the Jefken’s Estate outside Adarmar City. I took Akira with me, but we will return by the end of the day. I have promised Lord Jefken that I would visit his Estate weeks ago and I could no longer postpone my visit. He is the man I bought your Ploca Stallion from. If I remember correctly, Hael Young would like one of his own. Do you think I should buy him one?
I would have liked to see you this morning. After our encounter last night, it feels like there are words left unsaid between us. Because I am the King of Adarmar and busy as always, I want you to write to me and ask me all the questions your heart desires. I am just outside of the City and the message boy would deliver our letters back and forth. I’ve paid him well for his services of the day, so I truly hope that for once you would write me back.
What would you like to ask me? I hope that you do not ask what my Therian form is however. That is something I will like to show you in person.
I have not met another Therian after my mother’s death. So I hope that you understand how curious I am about you.
I never experienced the fevers you have. My mother might have mentioned them so many years ago, but I never had them and therefore did not recognize your Therian blood until I met your Tiger in the Seneca Woods.

I truly hope I would hear back from you.
Aiden Estrella

She smiled down at the letter and found herself sitting down at the desk in the corner of her room to write.

Dear Aiden

Your Native Princess has got so many questions, she might just faint due to her heavy heart. Thank you for writing and allowing me the chance to ask you questions I would never have the courage to ask in person.
The thought of seeing you in a Therian form alarms me. I am not sure I am ready to see you taken by your creature in the way I am taken by mine. The creature that owns me is a stunning, beautiful white tiger, but it frightens me to my core. If I Change willingly, I find that I manage to control it. But we both know what happens if I lose control and I Change involuntarily.
You spoke of your mother in your letter. She was a Therian? Do you share the same Therian form with her? I share my Tiger form with my great grandfather on my father’s side. My father and grandfather were not Therians and they suspected that the gene would not take in me either. Oh, how wrong they were. It was after my father’s death that I woke at nights drenched in sweat. The healers did not know what to make of my fevers, but in my heart I knew quite well what they might mean.
When I turned at eighteen years of age, my Tiger claimed me.
I know that you might not want to hear it, but I am very glad that I was not in Adarmar Castle the day I Changed for the first time. I’ve never felt as much pain in my life. I was screaming from start to finish. I don’t remember anything my Tiger did while I was Changed, but I know I woke to find Hael covered in blood.
Have you ever hurt someone?
Does anybody know about you? Does Akira know? Jon May?
Tell me about the first time you Changed.

Hael would never accept a horse from you.
Nayeli Faye

 

Dear Nayeli

Your letter made me smile. We should never talk again and only write to each other. Except I might miss stealing looks at your lips.
But before you scowl me for wicked letters again, I will answer your questions. They are not easy for me to write, but I’ve promised you that I will and therefore will keep my word to you.
Yes. I share my mother’s Therian form. Oh, she was beautiful, Nayeli. I wish you could have seen her. It is hard for me to think about her. She died when I was seven years old and it tumbled my world upside down when I realized I will never set my eyes on her striking Therian fur again.
The standard age for a Therian form to claim you are at eighteen, but my longing for my mother had sped up the process quicker than I could have ever imagined. I was fifteen when I was claimed. I can’t describe the pain I felt during my first Change. I don’t remember much but afterward I cried the entire day like a little boy in my room and called out for my mother.
I was ready for my Therian Blood and I never denied it. Ever since I was a child, I knew that I would be like my mother. At the first chance I got, I embraced the curse of being Therian. Unfortunately the loss of my mother made me too eager to be like her and the animal overtook me easily. There was a time I would spend days in my Therian form without returning home.
My father was the only one that knew about me and very soon he realized that he was losing his son. He took me from the Wild and pushed me back into a life of being a Prince and not an animal. He had to beat my Wildness out of me. I do not blame my father for his animosity towards me during those years. I know today that it was necessary. What I was turning into was not very Kinglike.
Since I have embraced the creature of my heart so openly, I have learned to control it at quite the young age. I Change at will and have full control of it. I have never hurt anybody since I’ve gained control so fast.
I sincerely hope that you will be able to control your remarkable Tiger someday soon.
After my father’s death, I have not had the courage to tell anybody about what I share my heart with. Losing him at the age of nineteen, I was thankful for the years I have had with my father to teach me the ways of being a King and not an animal.
You don’t have to be frightened of my Therian form. It’s not really a creature, Nayeli, but a part of who I am. Behind its dark eyes, I hope that you will recognize me. In the Seneca Woods I recognized you immediately, as exquisite as ever.
Tell me about Hael Young.

And why do your eyes glow when we kiss?
Aiden Estrella


 

Dear Wild Aiden

You like to look at my lips?
I did not have the privilege of knowing my mother. She died giving birth to her Therian daughter. From what my father had told me about her, I am glad she did not live to see the day her daughter had turned into a Tiger. I never told my father how I felt, but in my heart I knew she was not strong enough to face what I am.
My father had taught me about the ways of Therian Blood. He had not been Therian himself, so he could only tell me what my great grandfather had told him. My father had no idea how petrifying it would be to turn into what I am.
I was not prepared for what happened to me mere months ago. I still don’t know how to survive the Wildness that claimed my soul. I do not think I will ever fully understand this creature that overpowers me.
Hael Young is my Lunar Brother. It means we were born on the same day from different mothers. But our story is quite different.
For the nine months my mother had carried me, only one other woman had fallen pregnant in Maya City. Hael’s mother. For an entire city it was very unlikely to happen. Hael was born the same day as me even though his mother was only seven months along. They expected him to be a weak baby, but instead a healthy child had emerged to be born on the same day as the Princess of the Maya Isles. He was sent to the castle to be raised as my Lunar. After our births, the city had returned to normal and women had started expecting babies again.
It was a strange occurrence that nobody could explain. I have learned to accept it without asking why it had happened to us.
Please explain to me how you controlled me at the ball. What do you mean my Tiger knew what you were when I did not? Whatever you did to me, it made me lose time. I don’t remember much of the ball at all. What does that mean?

Oh, do not flatter yourself in thinking my eyes only glow for your kisses.
Nayeli Faye


 


Dear Beautiful Lips

Yes. I stare at them.
I am always in full control of my Therian Blood. When I decide to let my hold slip slightly, your Tiger can feel it. I did not control you, as you call it. I merely played with your Tiger senses. I was testing the strength of your wits.
You have not bonded with your Tiger yet.
You still fear the creature of your heart. Once you’ve stopped pushing it away, you will embrace each other. You will become one and you will be in full control. You will stop losing time and the creature’s strength and senses would be yours completely.
If I had known you were still so far from accepting your Tiger, I would never have played with you like I did.

What do you mean your eyes do not only glow for me? I don’t like the sound of it.
Aiden Estrella


Dear Aiden

My Tiger is strong and I don’t have any idea how I am supposed to fight it. My creature wants to control you. Have you noticed? It wants to be your superior. You should know that I do not share the notions. I have no desire to control you.
How can I accept the Tiger if we are so different?
The creature of my heart makes me reckless. It urges me into actions I would not have done years ago. How do I accept what I am when I am so utterly terrified of the Blood that runs in my veins?
Oh, Aiden. There is a lot that happens to my body that I don’t understand and my glowing eyes are one of them. I had hoped you might be able to explain them to me.
All I know is that when you kiss me, I am taken by a warmth that burns in my veins and invites Wildness to my heart.
In Eldenwood you had liked them, asking me not to hide them from you.

How do you feel about them now that you know they are due to my Wild Blood?
Nayeli

Chapter Twenty - The Exchange of Truths


Jon had a sheet wrapped around his middle, opening the door to reveal a servant on the other side. Jon peeked out at the boy, raising an eyebrow at him.
“Yer Majesty the King is seeking for the Princess Akira,” the boy said.
“The Princess is not with me,” Jon said, a smile touching a corner of his mouth. The servant nodded up at him.
“The King requested you inform him if you were to see her. He wants her to accompany him to Lord Jefken’s Esate outside Adarmar. Duke Daniel Parnell would be going with.”
Jon nodded. “I will inform the King if I were to come by the Princess,” he agreed.
The servant thanked him and quickly made his way out of the Aemazon Courtiers. Jon closed the door and turned around to look at the goddess that sat up in his bed. Her hair was loose around her shoulders, her face touched in pure harmony. She lifted a lazy eyebrow at him.
“I’m going nowhere,” she purred.
Jon moved closer and climbed onto the bed, bending forward to kiss her. She trailed her hand into his hair.
“If it were up to me, I would keep you in this bed the entire day.”
She hummed in agreement, kissing him some more. “Your kisses are wonderful, Jon,” she said to his lips. “So wonderful I didn’t even have dreams.”
“Why would you want to dream if reality is this perfect?” he whispered to her, closing his eyes and covering her mouth with his.
She pulled him back onto the bed with her, her kisses growing more urgent. He would never get enough of this woman, he realized. He would never tire of the way she kissed him.
“Duke Daniell Parnell of Panit would be very disappointed if you didn’t go with,” Jon played. “You enjoyed his company so much at the ball last night.”
“There were a lot of things I’ve enjoyed during my night,” she murmured. “Daniel Parnell doesn’t even come to mind.”
Jon smirked at her, pleased by her answer. “And what did you enjoy the most?”
A giggle escaped Akira’s mouth, sending her into a blush. “I think you know quite well, Master May.”
His eyes travelled over her naked form, a smile on his face. “You’re beautiful, Akira.”
“You’ve said that a thousand times,” she said smugly.
“But I mean it,” he said and leaned forward to kiss her on the stomach. She wriggled underneath him, her lips parting in anticipation. He had to grin at how responsive her body was, always ready for him.
Her hand travelled to his hair, staring at him with a smile. “How do you think I’m going to get back to my chamber undetected?”
Jon shook his head. “You’ll have to stay.”
She chuckled. “Do you think I would go unnoticed wearing last night’s dress?”
“My Warriors will say nothing, but I can’t guarantee what the eyes of the castle would make of this.”
“At least I brought a cloak,” she said and trailed her hand over his chest. “Do you think Aiden is still looking for me?”
“Probably.”
“Do you think I should go?”
Jon nodded his head and leaned forward to plant another kiss on her lips. “I’ll see you when you come back later today.”
“Alright,” she murmured to his lips.
She crawled out of bed reluctantly and retrieved her clothes from his bathing room. He laid back onto the bed and waited as she dressed. Soon she emerged with her cloak around her shoulders. Meeting eyes with Jon, she lowered the hood over her head.
“You don’t want to come with to the Jefken’s Estate?”
Jon smiled and shook his head. “I’ll wait right here for you.”
“You’ll wait naked?” she asked, her ears reddening slightly.
“You’ll have to see when you come back.”
She smiled, tucking some of her hair in behind her ear. “I surely would have liked to stay, but my brother has got different plans for me.”
She groaned kindheartedly and pulled her cloak closer around her.
“Ride safely, Princess,” he said, his eyes travelling her body.
“I’ll hurry back,” she chirped and opened the door to his room. “Good bye, Aemazon Warrior.”