Diplomacy: A Princess's Guide Pt 9

Hi there!

It's time for the next part of my favourite couple :)

I hope you enjoy it as much as the last ones.

xoxo,

Jackie

Disclaimer: All participants in sexual acts are over 21!!

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Aedan's POV

We left in the afternoon, riding through the forest on the direct way to Ester. It would take around one and a half day to reach.

We rode until sunset, barely speaking as I rode ahead, Enya close behind me.

When it was dark, we made camp. Together we set up the tent and started a fire.

Enya was preparing the food we took with us and I looked over at her. The campfire illuminated her beautiful face and her hair glowed in the dim light.

Her brows furrowed when she concentrated and she startled a bit, when a piece of burning wood crackled.

A smile spread across her face when she noticed me watching her.

"Dinner is ready," she said and took my hand, helping me up.

"Thank you," I muttered and took the plate she placed into my waiting hands.

We ate in silence and I saw, that she was nervous. She moved her feet, fidgeted with the spoon or her hair, while her eyes were glued to the fire.

I placed a hand on her leg and she glanced at me, a little flustered.

"Tell me what you are thinking about."

She sighed and her cheeks colored.

"I have so many questions and I don't know if you are willing to answer them," she replied quietly.

"Ask away, love," I smiled.

She fidgeted some more with her hands, before she looked over at me and started talking.

"I know it is silly and... Does it hurt? When you transform?"

I looked over at the fire and back at her.

"It doesn't really hurt, but it's not really pleasant either. It feels like you are stretching your muscles. It's sort of really natural."

She nodded.

"When have you transformed last?" she asked, a bit unsure.

"It was about... I don't know. 5 years ago?" I told her. Five years ago didn't feel like such a long time when it came to turning but for her it probably was.

"Years?" she blurted out, her eyes wide in shock.

"Yeah. As I said, I don't really enjoy the other form."

"Your other form," she corrected me.

"My other form."

She looked at her lap and then at me, before she took a deep breath.

"So, you are an Alpha wolf... right?" she asked carefully, like she was waiting for me to yell at her for her curiosity.

I arched a brow and smiled a bit.

"Yes, but I am not only the Alpha in that form. I am the Alpha in my human form as well. But my... Senses... Feelings and everything is so much heightened in my other form, it can be easily overwhelming," I explained.

Her hands fiddled with a loose thread on her blouse and she chewed on her lip.

She nodded again, but still looked very confused.

"Can you communicate in your wolf form?" she asked.

"With the wolfborn of my pack, yes. We can communicate mentally. But I can't communicate with anyone else."

"Hmmm. Could you understand me? If I talked to you?" she asked and looked into my eyes.

"Sure."

She pulled her knees to her chest, her arms resting on them.

"Do you feel different during full moons?"

"Yes. I'm more powerful at full moons and my senses are heightened. Sometimes it can be a bit much. During new moon though I am at my weakest, so yeah. You have your hormonal cycle, I have a moon cycle. Sucks to be a Wolfborn woman, though. Then you have both," I told her and looked at her. Her cycle luckily was a few days off. Her ovulation had been one day before solstice.

"Have you thought about...," she trailed off and blushed again.

"About what?" I encouraged her, cocking my head a little.

She blushed even more.

"About when you will show me?"

I brushed my hand over my face and rubbed my temples. Of course I understood her curiosity.

"Yes."

"So?"

"You won't let that go, will you?" I teased her and she shook her head, laughing.

"Never!"

I looked over at the fire, lost in thought and let out a deep breath.

"If you get scared, whatever you do, don't run, do you understand me?" I asked after I took her head between my hands.

She nodded, her hands resting on my wrists and I sighed, closing my eyes.

"Okay."

I stepped a few meters back, getting a bit of distance between us and transformed.

*****

Enya's POV

Aedan was gone and in his place stood a gigantic black wolf.

It was huge, its dark fur almost reflecting the flames of the campfire.

It had an aura of strength and power around it, not aggressive or intimidating but still very imposing. I had no doubt in my mind though that he could rip a potential enemy to shreds.

His beautiful eyes stayed the same, the same dark brown with the golden circle around the iris.

"You are absolutely beautiful," I whispered, not knowing how he would react, so for the moment I stood perfectly still.

His ears perked and his nose twitched, as he took in the campfire and my scent.

I smiled as the realization hit me. This was Aedan. In a different form, but still the same wolfborn I had fallen in love with.

"You smell even better," I heard him and looked at him in utter confusion. He hadn't talked loudly but I heard his voice in my head. Deeper and rougher but definitely his.

"I can hear you," I whispered and tears filled my eyes. I took a step towards him and he towards me. I was able to hear him although I wasn't a Wolfborn. This whole moment was absolutely magical, at least for me.

"I want to touch you," I tried to say inside my head, hoping he would hear me, too.

I didn't know how long we looked at each other, before Aedan stepped forward and placed his head against my chest.

I smiled and ran my hands through his fur.

He was massive and his shoulder was higher than mine, so I couldn't reach very far. But he was incredibly soft and beautiful, as black as the night.

His warmth engulfed me and I looked down into his dark, shining eyes.

"This is incredible," I mumbled and kissed his forehead.

"Feels so good," he growled inside my head and I scratched the area behind his ear.

I moved around him, my hand brushing over his huge side and flank, feeling the muscles under his coat tense.

"Aedan, your wolf form is magnificent," I whispered and moved over to his front side, rubbing his face.

Slowly I sat down and he lay down beside me, his massive head in my lap.

"How do you feel?" I asked mentally and brushed my fingers through his fur.

"Better," he answered.

We stayed like this for a while, before he stood up quickly and growled at something behind me, his ears flat to his head.

I stood up and moved to his side, where I could see an animal running away in the distance.

"Okay wow, you are even more overprotective in this form," I chuckled and he nudged me with his nose.

"You are everything," he growled and laid down, "come."

I moved beside him, lowered myself to the ground and curled into his side, before he put his large, fluffy tail around me.

"Sleep," he ordered and I looked at him, into his beautiful eyes. Okay, so he was able to communicate in this form, but his sentences were pretty short. Not that I minded that, I was happy that we were able to communicate at all.

"You really want to sleep like that?" I asked.

"Can protect you better like this. Sleep," he said again, his tone leaving no space for argument.

So, I rested my head against his neck, feeling the soft fur.

"This is incredible," I whispered, "it's so soft and warm!"

"Hmm," he rumbled and let his head fall to the ground, his heavy tail curling tighter around me.

It didn't take long for me to fall asleep with his warm body protecting me.

*****

When I woke up the next morning, it was almost sunrise. Aedan was sleeping beside me, still in his wolf form and I took him in. He was absolutely breathtaking and if he weren't my mate, I would be scared to death.

I tried to blink back the images of my dream. My very hot dream and shifted a bit.

"Stop thinking," he said and I furrowed my brows.

"I didn't actively think about it, I can't help my dreams," I shot back and he stirred, before he got up.

"Need to transform," he growled.

I nodded.

"Thank you, for trusting me enough to show me, Aedan. And to let me... touch you. I know you must not have felt very comfortable...," I started and he changed while I was still talking.

"Fuck, your scent when you are aroused in my other form is... Fuck!" he muttered and I blushed deeply.

I bit my lower lip, when his eyes went over my body and I stood up.

"Are you okay?" I asked him.

"Yeah," he said, looking at the ground, his hand fisted.

"Really?" I asked.

He looked at me again and grinned.

"Yesterday was perfect, Enya. It was absolutely magical. You feel so... different but the same in an awesome way, when I am in my wolf form. But your scent this morning? Goddess...," he rambled.

I smiled, relieved.

"Now are you going to undress yourself, because Selena help me, if you are not naked in ten seconds, I will just push your pants down and move the panties aside and fuck you against the nearest tree," he growled.

Goddess! That was the hottest thing he said in... forever!

"Five, four...," he counted down and I pulled my shirt over my head, my nipples hardened as a breeze rushed over the bare skin of my stomach.

"Three, two...," he growled again and I slipped out of my pants.

"One," he finalized and I felt his hands on my thighs, hoisting me up and pushing me against a nearby tree.

I yelped in surprise, as he pushed me against it. The bark was scratching the skin of my shoulders, but I didn't care.

He checked if I was wet enough and slammed into me, biting into my shoulder to prevent himself from groaning. He was still so raw, so... animalistic and dominant.

It drove me insane and as if sensing that, he started thrusting faster, his lips and teeth still attached to my shoulder.

My nails scratched his back and as soon, as the dull pain registered in his brain, his hand moved between us, finding my nipple and squeezed it to a nearly painful level.

"AHH~~!"

Holy fuck!

I wrapped my legs around his waist, giving him a new angle and he took it, hitting deep into me and hard, while his free hand held me firmly against the tree.

His teeth still had a piece of the skin of my neck between them, so I couldn't really move and it was fucking amazing.

All I could do was hold onto him, the rough bark scraping against my back and his weight pressing against me. His deep growls reverberated in his throat, his body almost vibrating with his restrained force and my God, it was turning me on.

I felt him speed up, felt his muscles bunching up and he started fucking me in earnest.

I was so close, so fucking close, but I couldn't reach it.

He rolled my nipple between his fingers and electric shocks jolted through my body.

I was going to come, but I couldn't.

I yelled out in frustration, when the waves of pleasure were building up, but never reached that final step.

And then it hit me. He needed to say it. He had trained me, that fucking bastard.

"Please!" I begged and he chuckled.

"You want to cum, Enya?"

I whimpered and moved against him in response.

"Not quite yet, love," he rasped and bit me again.

My nails dug into his back harder and I heard him growl, his movements growing frantic.

"Goddess, Aedan. Please," I whimpered.

He released the skin on my shoulder and moved his hand from my breast to the back of my neck, holding it tight, really tight.

"Look at me! Fucking look at me!" he hissed and I opened my eyes, meeting his gaze.

His eyes were blazing with lust, his jaw clenched, so raw, so... nearly feral.

And it was breathtaking!

He moved his hips harder, hitting me deeper and his hand on my neck forced me to meet his gaze.

"Cum, Enya," he growled and as if a switch had been flipped, the wave of ecstasy washed over me, pulling me under, deeper and deeper.

"Fuck!" I groaned and threw my head back against the tree, while my body quivered and I convulsed against him.

My legs trembled and I gasped for air.

Holy fucking hell!

I saw the tendons in his neck bulge as he was breathing heavily, before he moaned, pressed me against him and against the tree as hard as possible, releasing himself inside of me.

When I came back to reality, I still felt Aedan in me, his hips moving slowly.

He leaned in and kissed me, his lips brushing over mine, before he pulled out and put me down.

*****

Aedan's POV

That was fucking careless of me, I should have calmed down after I transformed into my human form but fuck!

I hurt her. I looked at the bite mark and luckily I hadn't drawn any blood. That could have been... problematic.

After my transformation my mind was still pretty... primal.

And I smelled blood, fuck!

I had pushed her against the tree so hard that her back had scratches.

Fuck!

I was angry and confused, I had never let myself go like this in the past years and now this. With my mate of all people.

The one person I wanted to protect at all costs.

Fuck!

This time I was a fucking asshole, had practically attacked her without talking it over.

"Oh my fucking Goddess! I am so sorry, Enya," I said and pulled her to me, "shit, are you okay? I didn't mean to lose control, I..."

"I am okay, Aedan. I didn't expect it either but that was... insanely sexy. Thank you," she said, blushing again. Sexy? Sexy?!

I sighed in relief and placed a kiss on her forehead.

"Still, I am so fucking sorry, Enya. I promised to control myself and well.. that went fucking wild."

She smirked, running her hands through the hair on my neck.

"There is a lake over there's let's get cleaned up," I suggested and took her hand. She followed and entered the water with me.

"Goddess, that is fucking cold!" she gasped, her face shocked, her mouth gaping in surprise.

"Will you tell me what you dreamt about?" I asked her with a low voice, as we both stood naked in front of each other, our bodies close.

"If you tell me, why you absolutely lost it?" she countered. I smiled and cupped her cheek with one hand, brushing my fingers down her beautiful face.

"You know, I can smell your arousal. But smelling that in my wolf form is very different. It's as if a thousand nerve cells in my body light up at the same time. There is an instinct telling me to take you hard, fast and wild. Your blood is singing. When I said yesterday, my feelings, sense and everything are heightened, I was not joking. You should have seen... How you affect me," I explained.

Normally when you mate with another Wolfborn you can just fuck while being transformed but obviously it was different with her.

It took every ounce of self control in my being to not fuck her senseless in my wolf form, like the feral animal I had become. And that was physically impossible.

But turning into my human form had not really lessened the arousal she projected onto me.

"So, what did you dream of?" I asked and arched my brow, a sly grin spreading on my face, while her blush deepened.

"I had a very hot dream where you... did things to me and it drove me crazy!"

"What kinds of things?" I asked and cupped a bit of water to let it trickle down over her shoulders.

She ducked her head.

"Oh, you shy princess of mine," I whispered and brushed my lips against hers, "can't you tell me, what got you into that aroused state? If you tell me, maybe I can help you make them true."

Her breath caught and she put her hands around my neck, burying her nose against the crook of my neck.

"Come on, don't be shy, Enya, tell me," I breathed into her ear, pressing myself against her.

"Pretty much like earlier, but different. You didn't even bother undressing that stupid dress, I was wearing," she started and I hummed in approval, encouraging her.

"You bent me over a desk," she whispered into my ear, sending shivers down my spine, "you told me, not to move. Then you lifted my skirts up to my hips. You rubbed and touched my cunt, never touching my clit but teasing me... oh Gods," she breathed and I felt the warmth of her face, buried against my neck, even in the cold water of the lake.

"Fingers?"

"Yes," she said, her voice breathless.

"Continue," I encouraged her, but also really fucking liked where her dirty little mind was.

I bet her mind could cook up some very sexy scenarios.

"When you noticed I was ready you shoved yourself inside of me, fully and then..." she trailed off and her fingers twiched at my nape.

"Then?" I prompted, wanting to know what she had dreamt of.

She shook her head and turned a deeper shade of red, as her breathing was getting quicker.

I already was intrigued. I loved how she was sometimes confident in bed and then a blushing, stuttering mess.

"You took my wrists and held them behind my back... with just your hand. I was trapped like that and you fucked me roughly... You bit me, like you just did, and... Oh Goddess, I came so hard! Your grip was so tight, I could barely move and had to take you, even through my orgasm, you didn't stop or slowed. You took your own pleasure and used me."

I grinned and nipped at her ear, making her shiver.

"Well, thank Selena, my dear naughty princess, you told me. Because the things I will do with that knowledge...," I whispered and took her chin between my fingers, tilting her face upwards.

I took in her blush, her swollen lips and her hooded, sparkling blue eyes.

"I like, when you look at me like this," she stated and a cocky smirk formed on her lips.

I chuckled, and gave her a quick kiss.

"Come on, let's wash up. We still have half of the journey ahead."

*****

Enya's POV

Galia quickly took a look at my arm and smiled wryly.

"So you've awakened a part of your powers," she muttered, her voice raspy, but firm and sure.

I didn't say anything, because Aedan leaned closer.

"Who are you?" he asked and narrowed his eyes.

"Nobody you should be afraid of," the woman replied, "do not be afraid, young alpha. I only want the best for my people, all the humans and the wolfborn in Moira and for our beloved forest."

Aedan sat up a bit straighter and crossed his arms.

"I can sense, what happened to princess Enya. I felt her powers awakening the first and the second time. Her magic is special," she said and her gaze turned on me.

I felt her stare. Her gaze felt familiar... warm and safe. Like when my mother comforted me as a child, but different.

"How did you know?" I blurted out.

"You share an... affinity for the spirit of the Goddess Selene. My abilities lie in sensing and seeing what will happen, who you are. My powers are weaker than they used to be, but I can still... know, and you, child, are very unique."

Aedan tensed slightly next to me and she looked over at him

.

"Do not worry. As I said, I only want the best for our peoples," she repeated and placed a hand on his.

"Is there... more coming? I mean, will I awake any more powers?" I asked and shifted in my seat.

Galia's eyes became dark and serious.

"Oh, that's different," she stated and I shivered, when I felt her hands around mine.

"You will manifest them as soon as you are bonded to your wolf. Only then can you fully become who you are meant to be," she said.

"That will not happen," Aedan growled and Galia's hand grasped his.

"What is she talking about?" I asked, more to him than her.

"Bonding. Which will not happen, because I will not put her in danger! Ever!"

Bonding? But we were mated.

"We are already mated..." I stated, a bit unsure.

"Yes. You two are mates but not bonded. To bond would be... the last step," she replied, as her gaze rested on his eyes.

"And like I said, it won't happen! The things... It's too dangerous," Aedan exclaimed and was about to stand up, when she gripped his hands harder.

"She won't awake her full powers unless you do and she will need them to fight whatever comes. Besides, that was always what was meant to happen," she countered, before she continued in a language I couldn't understand

Her voice sounded hollow, empty as she recited and both me and Aedan gaped at her.

"What does this mean?!" Aedan gritted through his teeth. He was definitely irritated, angry even.

"In order to fulfill the prophecy, to save this land, you will bond with her. And she will do so willingly, young Alpha. Trust and guide her, because a dangerous path lies ahead."

Galia sat back into her chair, suddenly seeming much older and frailer.

"Thank you for your help, we will see what we will do," Aedan replied and got up, helping me off my chair.

"Goddess be with you," Galia mumbled and bowed her head.

Aedan quickly walked out, pulling me along.

"Aedan, are you alright?"

"No."

"Talk to me," I pleaded. "What did she say?"

He pressed his lips into a thin line, when he helped me up on the saddle and a growl left his throat.

"Not now, I can't have that conversation now," he said, the muscles of his jaws bulging.

I knew better than to insist, so we rode in silence. I wondered what made him react like that.

*****

Aedan was quiet the entire ride.

The bond thing got me thinking. Why was he so pissed about that, what had caused such a strong reaction from the very second Galia had mentioned it?

We arrived in the capital of Asteria at sunset and he immediately went up to his chambers, closing the door behind him.

I huffed, rolled my eyes and entered as well. I was confused, really, we were mated already... I didn't get him, as he paced the room, his hands buried in his hair.

"So, what is this bonding? Why are you pissed? I mean we are mated," I said calmly, but loud enough for him to hear.

"She is right though, we are not yet bonded," he muttered, almost sounding absent and sat down.

I dropped my stuff and went over to him, sitting on his lap and put my arms around his neck, earning a low growl.

"Tell me what has got you like that," I asked quietly, playing with the dark hair at the nape of his neck and kissing his temple.

"Bonding is... different. It's not just sex," he rumbled, the vibrations from his chest travelling down his body.

"Then tell me what it is," I said and placed another kiss on his neck.

"You... Enya stop, please, let me talk," he groaned and pressed his forehead to mine.

He let a deep breath and looked into my eyes, his gaze open.

"By bonding you connect the souls with each other, even more so than mating. You can't sever that bond anymore it becomes permanent. But that's not what makes it dangerous."

He paused again, his eyes darkening, while a frown furrowed his brows.

"If wolfborns mate and bond it's not dangerous per se, because it's meant to be that way. You bite each other in your human form, exchange blood, then transform into your wolf from and... have sex. During the physical part and the exchange before that... well... there is something going on that allows you to create a deep rooted bond. Bonds like those can usually only be broken by death."

I had listened intently and his tone told me something was different.

"But I'm a human. With no ability to turn into a wolf, how will we..." I trailed of and he nodded.

"This is exactly what pisses me off! Having to bond you means I have to transform and... I... You... There is this... "

Well, yeah. Obviously our bodies were not compatible once he had transformed. So how... Oh my...

"If I bond you, I will need to be in my wolf form, while I..." Aedan cursed, and closed his eyes, as his cheeks reddened. He would basically split me in two. I shivered a bit, imagining the scene. It was hard enough when I imagined him and his rather large size while he was human. When we are mated in this way... That could cause quite some trouble.

"Isn't there another way? I mean we could be physical without... You know?" I stammered and I swear I had never seen him blushing like that.

"Without penetration? I don't even fucking know. And how is that supposed to work! We'd have to get off roughly the same time and... shit, Enya," he finished off, burying his head in the crook of my neck.

"Can't we... ask anyone? Are the rules written down somewhere? They have to be, right?" I reasoned and he sighed, rubbing the bridge of his nose.

"There are but... Noone could confirm whether they are true," he mumbled and looked at me.

"But that would be a start, wouldn't it? We could at least try to find some useful information?" I asked, arching a brow and he nodded.

"Yeah, I suppose you are right. Still, you have to be aware, there would be a whole lot of people present who would all see... You in this... kind of situation. Because there is this... ceremony attached to it, I think."

"Yeah, well, it's not like it's the first time people watch me having sex is it?" I quipped and grinned.

He grunted.

"So that's a yes? You are willing to bond with me? Even if we don't know how to execute it? If there is any danger at all and the risk?"

"Yeah, Duh! I love you and there is nothing I am surer about than you and I, the connection between us. I want it!" I replied.

I cupped his face with both hands, my thumbs stroking his temples. He moved his head and his eyes were fixated on mine.

"Fuck! Goddess damn it!" he groaned and grabbed the back of my neck, kissing me fiercely.

He pulled me closer and brushed his tongue across my lower lip. I opened my mouth, granting him access, before his fingers moved over to my hips, pulling the shirt over my head.

His gaze lowered to my pointed nipples and his mouth met my skin.

"Holy fuck!" I swore when his lips closed around them and his beard scraped against my soft skin.

He sucked on them and swirled his tongue around and when I arched my back into him, a deep rumbling growl emitted from his throat, the vibration sending shivers down my spine.

"Pants off, now!" he ordered and I stood hastily, taking them off, as fast as possible, while he did the same.

Then, his hands pushed me onto the desk, face down, knocking over some papers and other items. He pushed a knee between my legs and pushed them apart. His hand grabbed my wrists and held them behind my back, keeping me immobile. My breast was pressed into the wooden material of the desk, my nipples hardening from the coolness.

I moaned softly, his demanding behavior driving me insane, lust pooling between my thighs. He leaned forward and brushed his hard cock against me, before he thrust inside me.

I yelped. It was sudden but still felt amazing, because he filled me so completely.

A moan tore from my throat, when his body slammed against mine.

My skin started tingling and my inner walls clenched, and I was pretty sure he had to drown in the scent of my arousal.

His pace was forceful, his fingers pressing into the flesh of my hip, holding me down and making me take it.

He pounded into me, thrusting relentlessly, hitting deep, taking what he wanted.

And Goddess, did I like that!

I moaned and wriggled under him, unable to free myself, unable to meet his movements.

"You have nowhere to go, love," Aedan growled behind me, pushing me even deeper into the surface of the desk.

He hit my G-spot over and over again, making me moan out in pleasure.

"Fuck, I'm close... Fuck!" Because of my dream I had an idea about how good this could get but experiencing it first hand was beyond my expectations!

"Cum!"

As if someone had flipped a switch, my orgasm hit me, nearly blacking me out. Aedan's relentless pace wasn't stopping or slowing, though.

And the orgasmic energy couldn't go anywhere but my pussy, as I couldn't move, so the sensations heightened again. I clenched so forcefully around Aedan that I felt his cock spasm and spill his seed inside me.

His hand tightened and a strangled cry escaped his lips, while I convulsed.

"You have no idea how sexy that was," he whispered, his breathing erratic, his heart beat rapidly pounding against his ribcage.

"Yeah... Now... fuck," I whimpered.

Holy crap. That. Was. Good!

"Hmm," he hummed and stayed where he was for a few moments longer.

"Okay," I mumbled, still face-planted to the table and he chuckled, before he pulled out.

"Stay like that, I'll clean you. Don't move," he commanded.

"It's not like I could move if I tried. What the fuck did you do, Aedan, that was insane!"

I was exhausted, my body spent, like I had fought a huge fight. So I just let my head rest on the table, while I tried to keep my knees from giving out under me.

"Hmm, yeah, I feel that too," Aedan chuckled and grabbed some water and a clean towel, gently cleaning the mess between my legs, then lifting one leg, to make sure to get everything.

He carefully placed that leg onto the desk as well, sliding a finger between my nether lips.

My head rested on my arm, the light breeze hitting my heated skin and I felt my lower lips being parted by Aedan.

"What are you up to, Aedan?" I croaked, my throat dry, as a shiver rushed through my body.

From the corner of my eyes I saw him bend down.

"Your clit didn't even get attention earlier," he said, "and it's so swollen."

"Yeah, but it doesn't need..."

But before I had the chance to finish my sentence his mouth latched onto my clit and the only thing I could utter was "Shit!"

He alternated between sucking lightly and brushing his tongue across it and he held my hip tightly, not letting me squirm away.

He broke the contact and watched my reaction.

"Would have been a shame to just let your beautiful and swollen little nub be unsatisfied."

"Uhu," I mumbled incoherently and heard his deep chuckle.

***

Aedan's POV

Oh and her clit was swollen! Of course I had known that her clit swelled when she was aroused but seeing it and smelling her arousal all over my room while it was still so close to a full moon was still a very sensual experience.

"Uhu," she mumbled and I chuckled, while I saw her clit throb, glistening from the arousal and my mouth on her.

"Do you want me to stop or to continue?" I asked because on one side, I was aware that she could still be oversensitive, but on the other side I just wanted to hear her to ask for more.

"More?" she replied after a few seconds of hesitation. I growled in response and leaned down, grabbed her hips and lightly licked her clit. She shivered, a shaky moan coming from her mouth.

"More?"

"Goddess damn it," she cried.

"Ask me!"

"Please," she begged.

"Please, what?" I coaxed, running my fingertips down her back.

"Please more," she whined and her muscles tensed.

So, I wrapped my lips around the throbbing nub and sucked, the way I knew she liked, making her cry out loudly. I could feel her pleasure building. She was incredibly sensitive and responsive!

As I continued, the muscle tensed beneath my lips and her inner thighs vibrated.

"Do you wanna come?"

"Aedan... Please!" she stuttered.

"My love, you have to ask for it!"

"Goddess, damn it, please, may I?"

A growl rolled in my chest at the way her voice trembled. I would've laughed, but I could not bear the wait any longer.

"You may."

And then my lips closed around her clit and I sucked hard, flicking my tongue back and forth, until she came undone, moaning in sheer bliss, her body convulsing under my mouth.

After the first few aftershocks, her hips pushed away from me and her limbs became limp, lying bonelessly on top of the desk.

I picked her up and carried her over into the bed, covering us with blankets, then pulled her to my chest and kissed her forehead.

She shivered, the aftermath of the massive orgasms had left her in a state of utter exhaustion. She quickly fell asleep in my arms.

I closed my own eyes and started thinking.

Galia had mentioned the bond and a prophecy, had known she was a healer even before her arm even had the markings.

But bonding with her delicate body would be dangerous. There had to be another way.

As a young wolfborn, I had learned the basics, like how bonding worked or how I had to control the urges, so I wouldn't jump and rip apart everyone who pissed me of. But all the actual details? Not really.

And to bond in our current circumstances would mean I would have to be very gentle, probably not at all able to lose myself and be all dominant. And she probably had to... yeah no, I had no idea.

So, no fucking way I would put her through something so potentially dangerous.

No, I would do my absolute best to would keep her save. I had to find a loophole in the ancient books from the library, maybe there was one.

*****

The next morning, Enya woke and cuddled closer into my body, pressing her face to my bare chest.

"Morning," I said.

"Morning," she sighed and shifted slightly, so she could look up. Her hair was a beautiful mess and her skin glowed, in contrast to her disheveled state.

"Do we have to leave the bed anytime soon, cause if not..." she trailed off and closed her eyes again.

"Yeah, about that... I'll look for any possible information in the library today, you could either join me or you could train or whatever," I offered and a smile grew on her lips.

She stretched her lean body and arched a brow at me.

"This will require me wearing more than this, right?"

"Love, you are not wearing anything, so unless you intend to make an appearance around Asteria with your sweet and delicious ass hanging out, yeah."

Enya gasped, playfully offended and I laughed, burying my fingers in her messy hair.

I pulled her close to me and buried my nose into her neck. She had become accustomed to my sometimes overly protective actions, which seemed a bit much even for a wolfborn, but since we would both have to deal with an increased amount of hormones and emotions, that was quite understandable.

"You are lucky I like that beard of yours, because it tickles," she laughed, brushing the stubble on my cheek with her fingers.

I growled and smiled against her neck, before she wriggled her way out from beneath me and got dressed. I couldn't help but stare at her naked form, those slender legs, the junction between of her thighs. She turned around, a questioning look on her face. She had already put on panties and was just pulling up her pants.

"Like what you're seeing?" she joked and a grin spread across her lips.

"Uh-huh. I think, we should forget that I wanted to try and find useful information in dusty old books and spend the day, doing something a lot more fun," I mumbled and she giggled, her hands moving to her waistband to button her pants. I stepped close and covered her hands with my own, looking down and catching her gaze with mine. I kept her fingers still, resting against the material of her pants and waited a moment. She tilted her head.

"What?"

"Don't move" I purred and slowly pushed her hands down, so the pants slipped and fell to the ground.

I repeated it with her underwear, slowly pushing the silky fabric down and exposing her.

For a moment she didn't do anything, just waited and watched.

"You know that if we start we don't stop? And we have to search for that bonding thing in the library?" she asked and grinned.

"Yeah, I know..." I turned around and walked to the dresser. I picked out a blue dress and slid it over her head.

"There, done dressing!" I stated with an impish grin and Enya shook her head.

"Panties?"

"What are those?" I replied and started laughing, as her jaw dropped and the shock registered in her expression, "Come on love, I'll accompany you, don't worry."

She huffed, a faint blush creeping over her features.

I dressed quickly while she squirmed in her dress, her arousal thick in the air.

We went downstairs and ate quickly before continuing to the library.

"Your Highnesses!" The librarian said.

A man in his late fifties approached with a kind smile. He was tall with sandy blonde hair and an enthusiastic look. He had the build of a soldier, his lean body showing the hours he had spent in the training ground.

"Hannes! It's good to see you! Could you lead the way to the old books about bonding?"

Hannes hesitated for a moment, looking between Enya and me, obviously thinking the same we were thinking about the subject.

"O-Of course, your Highness! This way," Hannes said and made his way towards a secluded area, shelves full of ancient, dust covered tomes. He took three big books and handed them to me, who was now inspecting him closely.

"Thank you, Hannes, we will call you, if we need your assistance," I dismissed him and with a quick bow, he was out of the room.

"Which one do you want to read?" I asked Enya and motioned at the pile in my arms.

She sighed and took the first one.

For two hours we were both in total silence, the only sound in the room our occasional pages being flipped.

She sat opposite of me, her legs were stretched beside me, while mine were laying beside her.

"Found anything?" I asked and brought her feet to my chest to massage them.

"Very, very explicit drawings of the act in wolf form, or the male in wolf form before the act... or how to draw blood for the ritual... hmmm that felt good," she hummed in response and relaxed as she enjoyed the touches.

I put one foot beside my hip and lifted the other, causing her dress to slip a little, reminding me that I told her not to wear panties. I ignored the feeling for now and went on to massaging her ankle.

"Good?"

She nodded, while she kept reading, biting her lip and blushing furiously, as she noted I had an unobscured look right up her legs.

Quickly she adjusted the dress again, hiding herself, before she returned her attention to the book again.

"Did you find anything?" she asked and smiled softly.

"Several passages about how we have to bite each other, what we have to drink, but no passage about how I'm not ripping you into a million pieces when I'll be balls deep inside you, fucking you without holding back."

Enyas face changed within moments, a lovely flush creeping across her features.

"Does it say anywhere you have to transform?" she asked and ran her fingers through her loose hair.

"Transforming is mentioned several times, but it doesn't necessarily state the necessity."

"Ok," Enya whispered and nodded her head, biting her lower lip, like she always did when she had to contemplate a question or problem.

"Aedan, will you bite me while you are in your human form?" she asked carefully, her bright eyes focusing on my own.

I sighed and stroked my neck.

"If we really find a way to bind, then yeah. Ideally I don't have to transform at all, Enya," I explained.

"Does it say anywhere that the sex has to be in Wolfborn form? You have to be transformed?" she continued and her eyes held no hesitation and determination. "Or does everybody do it that way because it's always been like that?"

"Yeah, you are right. We'll take another look," I said and wanted to resume reading, but got distracted when she shifted and her dress revealed her glistening pussy again.

I put the book aside and crawled up, making her furrow her brows in the process.

"Aedan, what are you doing?" she asked when I pushed her thighs open and settled between them.

"I need a snack." With that I lowered my head and licked a broad strip up her pussy, savoring her juices on my tongue.

"Aedan, I, ahhh~~~"

"Quiet love, this is still a library," I reminded her, then teased her a bit, enjoying to see her struggle to keep quiet. Of course I could have made her cum pretty quickly, but this was a little treat for me.

So I licked over her clit occasionally, nibbled on her labia, peppered her with kisses and licked up her juices.

The smell of her arousal was so thick it made my head swim.

"Aedan, please," she whispered when I placed another kiss to her clit.

"Please what?" I prompted and had to hold back the laugh as she groaned exasperated.

"Can you make me cum, please? This is... I can't..."

She inhaled sharply when I pulled the hood of her clit back and let my tongue swirl around the exposed tip.

Her hips twitched as she held back from arching into me.

"Sensitive?" I prompted although I already knew the answer, but I wanted to tease her.

"Very," she breathed, then spread her thighs further, "so good!"

I smiled, then kept her hood pulled back and closed my lips around it. Without moving my lips and pulled my head back and moved it forward again, basically making the blowjob motion on her little nub.

Her clit throbbed violently and her hands fisted in the cushions next to her. This was probably nearly overwhelming her but I tried to keep the sensation light. Her pleasure slammed down the bond and I groaned around her, making her hips tremble. She was close, so close and either she was trying to sneak an orgasm without asking for permission or she was holding back to show me she wasn't affected that easily.

I let my tongue brush over the sensitive underside and she whimpered.

"Can I please cum? Please?"

"But I'm having so much fun!" She cursed when I repeated the motion. Her body was so locked up, I wondered if she held back or if she just couldn't tip over the edge for some reason.

Because if that was the case, I'd hit the jackpot.

Lick.

Lick.

Lick.

"Aedan, please, I can't..." she whined, her back arching, thighs trembling violently.

Lick.

"Can't what?"

Lick.

"Can I cum? Please?"

Lick.

"I don't know. Can you?"

Lick.

Her clit throbbed violently as she clenched, trying so hard to tip over the edge. But she didn't. Apparently she really couldn't.

I took my mouth from my favorite snack and looked up at her.

"You really can't, can you? You can't cum until I allow it?" I asked and the look she gave me screamed murder.

She was livid. Though, through the bond I felt her arousal, her pleasure, the devotion that came with surrendering to me. She hated me in this moment, no doubt, but secretly, she enjoyed it.

"Say it."

"I hate you."

"No, you don't. Try again."

I wet my thumb and brushed it over her exposed clit, rubbing small circles.

Her head fell back and she cursed vividly.

"Aedan, please!"

"Tell me what you need, because I'm giving you everything your body needs to cum."

"I need..." Her hips bucked when I pulled my finger back. "I need permission."

"Such a good girl," I praised, then brushed over her clit again. "Cum."

Her body convulsed violently, as her orgasm washed over her. Wave after wave of pleasure rolled down the bond as she tried to hard not to cry out.

I watched her in awe, my love, my princess, my mate.

When she came down, I licked up her juices and covered her up again.

"Now, we can continue."

*****

Another hour later we took a break and had lunch.

"I bet it was quiet without us, wasn't it?" I heard Kass behind us and whirled around.

"Kass! How come you are back already? Didn't you want to stay with..."

"Asher!" Enya exclaimed and rushed forward to hug Asher, who was now standing beside Kass.

"Easyyy, En!" Asher laughed and hugged Enya back.

"What are you doing here?" I asked, eyeing him and Kass.

"Well, King Ailos ordered Asher to make sure Enya is safe at all cost."

Enya gasped, looking from Kass to Asher and back.

"He ordered you to watch over me? Is he not aware I can take care of myself?!" she spat, annoyance lacing her voice.

"He knows that, but you are still his daughter, En. But come on, is it really that terrible, I'm here?" Asher retorted and grinned.

"Not the point, Ash. But of course not, I missed you, you idiot," she mumbled and gave him a quick kiss on the cheek.

"It's good to see you, honestly," I said and gave Kass a hug, before I bumped Asher's shoulder. "Do you want to eat something?"

"Yes, please!" she and Asher said in unison and all four of us were on the way to the dining hall.

"So what's the plan now? Have you talked to the old Lady?" Kass asked, but Enya remained quiet and her cheeks became redder and redder the more Kass spoke.

"Hmm?" Asher pressed, once Kass had stopped.

"Let me get the books from the library and move over to the living area, and then we can talk about it. Here isn't exactly... uh, it's not private, to say the least," I replied, cleared my throat and tugged on Enya's hand.

"Uh huh, we will bring some wine with us. I can't wait to hear why Enya blushed that furiously," Kass snorted, before turning around.

*****

Enya's POV

We made our way to the living area, bringing two bottles of wine with us, while Aedan went to the library to retrieve the books.

I got four glasses and Asher poured some wine.

"So, Carr stayed in Moira?" I asked casually, but Asher cocked an eyebrow and smirked.

"Yeah, someone had to. And your father is not gonna mess with him."

I heard Kassandra snort into her wine glass.

Aedan arrived and took one of the glasses and had a large sip. His eyebrows rose appreciatively before he put it back down.

"So, what did the Lady tell you?" Kassandra asked and gave Aedan an amused grin.

"Well..." Aedan started, running his hand down his face. "She told us about a prophecy, that we have to fulfill and..."

"A prophecy! Oh, now that's intriguing!" Kassandra quipped.

"I'm not so thrilled about the prophecy bit. There's this... whole thing called 'bonding' and..."

"You can't do that," Kassandra interrupted him instantly, a worried look on her face.

"Exactly my point and the main reason I was pissed. Still am, in all honesty," he mumbled, frowning.

"Care to elaborate?" Asher asked, obviously confused.

"Basically bonding entwines our souls permanently, but the process is... problematic to say the least," Aedan huffed and emptied his first glass, grabbing the bottle for a refill.

"Problematic, Lex? Really? You'll fucking split her apart, fucking her while in the wolf form, no less," Kassandra said and her eyes were wide, a mix of worry and shock in her look.

Asher looked utterly shocked at Aedan, who frowned.

"Yeah, no shit, Kass! That's why I wanted to check, whether it can be done in my human form. But sadly there's not a single word in those dusty ass books," Aedan growled, frustration dripping from his voice.

"Wait, wait. Can you explain the whole process? I don't think I'm fully understanding it," Asher asked and focused his gaze on Aedan, who sighed heavily.

"Okay. Bonding is the last step of the mating process. At first we will have to bite each other to drink each others blood, than we transform in our wolfborn form and have sex. And with that the bond is completed. That's the short version, there is obviously a lot more to it. But, like I said, Enya cannot transform and our bodies are not... compatible, once I have transformed. So yeah," Aedan explained slowly.

I swallowed audibly and tried my best not to blush.

"So we are looking for a way around the transformation, or around the... well, as you said, the sex part," I asked, trying to distract from the weirdness.

"And what exactly have you found? Nothing?" Asher pressed.

"Not yet, but we have read those books all afternoon. So if it's there, we will find it. Otherwise we are completely fucked," Aedan told him, shaking his head.

"Well, maybe, you should not only read the texts, but ask the elders. Or the ones, that are already bonded?" Kassandra offered and refilled her glass with more wine.

Aedan sighed heavily and rubbed his stubble.

"Yeah, that will be a good discussion! Excuse me, Elders, is there a solution where I don't have to split my girlfriend apart, while fucking her? That would be wonderful!" he pressed, sarcasm spilling out his words.

I snorted at the visual and quickly sipped on my wine.

"If I can make a suggestion? Do your research and when you can find no loophole, then go to the Elders," Asher said and sat next to Kassandra.

Aedan threw his head back and groaned loudly.

"I would rather fight a legion of demons than asking them for help with that," he muttered.

"So, it's not even bedtime yet, so all of you get a book and try to find something!" I chirped in.

"Goddess, help me!" Kassandra stated dramatically and I looked at my wrist.

Goddess Selena.

'The mark can protect you, when nothing else can' she had said. But that would not be applicable for that... situation.

"Aedan?" I asked and he looked up.

"Hm?"

"Could we go to one of Selenas Crypts? Tomorrow?" I pressed and his brows furrowed.

"Sure we can, but why? Did she talk to you again?"

"No, not right now, it's just... I have this feeling...," I trailed off and bit my lower lip.

"It's fine, love. We will visit the closest one tomorrow," he confirmed and kissed my cheek.

We spent the remainder of the evening reading books about bonding, searching for the smallest hint.

After what felt like a few hours, Aedan stretched.

"I'm going for a run, anyone coming?" he asked, pushing the heavy book away and stretching, his t-shirt pulling up and exposing his defined hips.

"Count me in," Asher agreed and also pushed his book away.

"No thank you, I'll stay here," Kassandra yawned. "That is if you don't leave me alone with all these books, Enya," she quickly added.

Aedan bent down and kissed my forehead, "We won't be long," he whispered.

Asher pulled himself off the couch, and he and Aedan walked towards the door and down the hall, talking and joking.

Once their voices died, and they were gone, we sat together in silence for a couple of moments.

"Are you scared?" Kassandra asked softly and fidgeted with her empty wine glass.

"Of bonding? No. I trust Aedan with my life and he will not go through with the bonding if there is any risk of hurting me," I answered, setting my book down and rubbing my tired eyes.

"Do you want to bond with him? Are you ready for this? I know Lex and he is such a sweet person, but I know how wolves behave, how they interact, you know?" she probed further and I sighed.

"I really do. Well, without the 'getting split' part, obviously. It's more the wolf side, that I have not quite figured out, you know?" I confessed, refilling both of our wine glasses. "Can I ask you a personal question?"

Kassandra nodded and waited patiently for me to collect my thoughts.

"Do you have feelings for Asher?" I probed and the shift in her attitude told me the answer already. She turned a deep shade of scarlet and took a sip from her wine. "Because he is a really good man, honest and loyal and so so much more!" I quickly added and she sighed deeply.

"It's not like we'd ever be able to be something real..." she protested weakly.

"And why exactly not?!"

"I am... Wolfborn, not the usual 'guy's girl'" Kassandra tried and took another sip of wine.

"You think it matters to him? I'm pretty sure he couldn't care less, trust me," I replied with an eyebrow raised, remembering my last conversation with him.

"But to answer your question, yes. I do have feelings for him. More than friendship. But I bet I'll fuck it up like always. Not that it's going to work out, the Captain of Moira's guard and the Commander for Queen Orlaith being together? Pff!" she scoffed.

"I wouldn't give up hope just yet. Besides, Lex and I have a situation very similar to that," I told her and grinned.

"Two crazy bastards against the whole world, sounds very tempting actually."

"Kassandra, honestly. You deserve to be happy. And I can see how happy he is around you. Just try. But, for now, we have a massive book problem," I urged her.

And with those last words, I focused on the text in front of me again.

Please Goddess, let there be a way!

*****

It was the next day and a couple of minutes after noon when we arrived at the first Crypt. It was a relatively small building, with a large wooden door decorated with silver metal. In front of it, there was a large lake with a picturesque water fountain in the middle, with a sculpture of the full moon above a wolfs head.

The gravel underneath the soles of our shoes crunched as we approached the lake.

"It's so beautiful! So peaceful," I gasped and Aedan gave my hand a gentle squeeze.

"Yes, it is," he said, kissing my temple before he turned around and checked our surroundings. "We are safe here. No enemies can cross the lake without being noticed. The protections around this Crypt are the most powerful," he informed me.

We strolled closer and reached the door to the crypt.

Aedan opened the door and let us enter first.

Inside, it was cooler and smelled earthy and musty, but it was quiet. However I didn't really know what to expect. There were sculptures of Selena, showing her in different stages of her life, some showed her as a young woman with her mother, some showed her older as a wise and calm leader, other sculptures were showing her as a mother figure with her hands held out, like she was healing people.

"What are the Crypts, Aedan, I mean, aside from temples for Selena?" I inquired, as we continued exploring, studying the engravings in the stone walls.

"It's actually really complicated to explain, you could say they are basically where Selena's magic can be the strongest. Because they are not just for worshiping and prayers, as the official places are. The Crypts are places of safety and calmness."

I looked at my wrist, but the mark remained steady, not indicating anything.

"So, why did you want to come here?" Aedan pressed and we had started a circular round walk again.

"Hmm, I have no real idea. I just remembered yesterday, that she said, that the mark would protect me, when nothing else could. And I mean of course it can't prevent... you know, but... I don't know, I had this feeling," I admitted and frowned, stopping and turning around to face him. "Am I ridiculous?"

Aedan smiled gently.

"No love. You are not," he chuckled and brushed the back of his fingers along my cheek.

Suddenly the temperature dropped a few degrees, a heavy wind brushed through the narrow hallway.

A shiver went down my spine and the room got filled with a mist-like haze, slowly thickening until I could barely see a meter in front of us.

Aedan was very close to me, probably alert to whatever was causing that change.

"She's coming," I whispered and Aedan's jaw clenched tightly.

"How could you tell," he growled softly, but didn't break the position of having me secured behind his tall and broad body.

Then a voice suddenly appeared, echoing from the walls, giving the eerie surroundings an otherworldly ambiance.

"Althea," Selenas smooth voice seemed to fill every fiber of the structure, and every millimeter of the space between Aedan and myself, his body completely tense, waiting for any sign of a threat.

"Goddess!" I breathed and didn't dare to look up and around the hall, not trusting my eyesight after the room was filled with that kind of fog.

"Greetings Prince of Asteria," she greeted and made him freeze immediately.

"Goddess," he answered and his hands twitched on either of his side.

"Follow me," she instructed and when I tried to follow she said, "You, Princess. Only. Now."

Aedan flinched a little, a low growl escaping him.

"Hey," I breathed and turned towards him. "She said only me, I'll be fine," I added.

"I know," he grumbled and gently caressed my cheek before he let go and watched, as I followed her further inside the crypt.

I stepped into the heart of the crypt and noticed several benches were surrounding the center piece of the room - a giant statue of Selena.

And there she stood and gazed at me with those astonishing eyes, a benevolent smile spreading over her lips.

She smirked and cocked her head slightly, studying me for a few long seconds.

"Don't bow! You and me, we are equals, have been equal the very moment I blessed you, remember? Have you come to discuss a solution for the... little problem," her eyes sparkled playfully, knowing very well, that she was implying about the fact that Aedan and I have yet not bonded.

"I have. How could we manage it, without... you know," I grimaced, and she chuckled lightly.

"Have you read the ancient scripts?"

"No. We did research in the books," I countered, "there are ancient scripts?"

Her silvery blonde hair shimmered and moved softly, while she walked around a few feet, her silver, glittery dress followed her movements as if it was enchanted.

"Indeed. The ancient scripts were not handed down easily, nor shared lightly. These old manuscripts contain sacred rituals and wisdom, far greater and important than the knowledge within the books," her voice trailed off, while her eyes lost focus for a brief second, before they locked with my own.

"This Crypt is not only a sanctuary, it also hides one of those very documents, among other treasures. I'll lead you to them, but what I can already say is, since you are both blessed by me, you can... bend the rules slightly."

I blinked rapidly. Both? What did she mean by both?

"Both?"

"Well," the Goddess cleared her throat, "Aedan Alexander is blessed as well."

I narrowed my eyebrows and looked at her in confusion.

"He is? He never told me... I..."

My body moved before my mind followed as I turned around and walked off to the general direction of Aedan. I had to know, had to ask him. How could he keep that from me?

He was still standing on the exact same spot, watching me approach.

"He never told you, what?" he questioned as he had heard the last part I said.

"Aedan, why didn't you tell me, Selena had blessed you," I asked, stopping in front of him.

I noticed Selena following me, but I didn't care. I only saw him.

Aedan stood still, staring at the floor in front of his feet.

He looked up and met my gaze, before his lips parted a tiny bit.

"Enya, I am truly sorry. I couldn't tell you. Anyone really," he said. "At least not directly," he added.

"That doesn't really sound convincing to me," I crossed my arms, raising a brow at him and watching him expectantly.

"He wasn't supposed to tell, Althea," Selena said from behind us.

I heard her voice, but didn't move my eyes off of him.

"Did you know what would happen, when you kidnapped me? That I could be blessed and we could be mates? Is that why?"

I watched him frown and felt a heavy feeling settle into my heart.

"Oh I can't fucking believe you!" I yelled and pushed against his chest, backing off quickly as he looked down, before his eyes focused on my face.

"Selena told me, that I should find you. That you could be my mate. That you could inherit powers and help us end the neverending war. So yeah, that was my motive. Because otherwise, I would've never acted as I have, Enya," he stated and my mind was spinning.

"So it was all a LIE?" I was livid and hurt. How could he kidnap me with the pretence of trying to make peace, when he knew! And never told me anything?! That's why he was so kind in the beginning, why he didn't really punish me for anything. He knew I could become his mate, his partner for life before he even met me. So our mating bond was build on a lie he kept up since the very beginning.

"What? No!!"

Aedan rubbed the palms of his hands over his forehead, mumbling "Gods damn it! Of course it's not! It's just not the whole truth! I love you! You are my mate! That has never been a lie. Even if it's complicated and very messed up."

The air vibrated with tension. I was furious.

"You can trust him. Althea, you may not believe in that. But you have to, it's the only way. The two of you are connected so profoundly, so powerfully that nothing and no one will ever come between you."

"I don't know who to trust at the moment!", I snapped, angry with her as much as with him.

"Aedan did what I asked him to. He was tasked, chosen to bring balance and order to the realms by leading a united and harmonized alliance," the Goddess declared and took a step forward.

I turned, looking at her, hearing what she had said but not yet understanding it.

"But if he's blessed by you as well, why isn't he..."

"Famous? Marked? Let me..."

She walked to Aedan and his whole body was tense, his face hardened in a way I had never witnessed.

She gently reached out and touched his chest, making him flinch for a second.

"The mark has always been there. It was just not visible to anyone until the time was right. The blessing he carries, was always intended to stay hidden. Nobody was ever meant to see. Not even you, Althea," she announced, "until now."

Aedan lifted his shirt, revealing his trained torso and then I saw the mark. His left pectoral was covered in a same pattern that I had on my arm.

I didn't say anything, I just stared, too stunned to say anything.

"Now," Selena clapped her hands, "regarding your... physical problem. Alexander Aedan, you will have no chance but to transform, it will happen involuntarily, but you don't have to penetrate her."

Hearing her say such a crude word like penetrate left both him and I blushing furiously.

"As soon as you have the ability to, you can change back and have normal sex. Until then I trust you get creative," she grinned and walked backwards a little. "We will talk again when the time is right."

In the next second the mist in the room had vanished, only our rapid breaths and Selenas light chuckle filled the space.

Aedan's face darkened, while I turned around and went further into the crypt, looking for the stupid scroll.

"Enya, please!" he breathed, as he started to follow.

My nostrils flared with a deep intake of air.

"I don't want to talk to you right now!" I snapped, my steps echoing loudly in the sudden silence around us.

"Enya!"

I quickened my pace.

"Listen to me!"

I picked up the pace even more, entering another passage, surrounded by even more sculptures and other pieces of art.

I could hear him following and a few moments later he grabbed my shoulder, turning me around and forcing me to stop, with his tall frame right in front of me, blocking the path.

His shoulders and biceps looked bulkier in that stance, his jaw was locked tight and he narrowed his brows, breathing heavily.

I tried to step around him, but he was faster and put his hands on either side of my head.

I was slammed against the wall behind my body, trapped between his, just a hair breadth away from my own.

"How could you not tell me," I snapped, tears filling my eyes and blurring my vision.

*****

Aedan's POV

I hated this whole fucking situation. So many time I had tried to tell her, but each and every time I was not able to. And now this. She had found out in the worst way and looked absolutely heartbroken, furious and hurt.

And that hurt so much more than a fist to the chest, than any bruise or fracture, than a wound from the enemies sword. It hurt to see her being this hurt because of me.

"Because I physically couldn't tell you! Do you really believe, I didn't want to tell you?! Fuck! I wanted to tell you! It destroyed me from the first second!"

She huffed, tried to push me away and even if she really put her whole body into her resistance, she had not managed a millimeter.

"I love you, Enya! If possible I would have told you a long time ago! And I was so incredibly pissed, that I couldn't! It was absolutely maddening. Especially after realizing you were my mate," I pressed out, gritting my teeth.

"Great," she scoffed.

This woman...

I closed the last distance between us, my lips a hair breadth away from hers.

"For fucks sake, Enya!" I snarled, my control slipping.

She didn't say anything, just lifted her chin slightly and waited, challenging me.

"I am sorry, Enya. I would have told you if I could. You are my life, my everything and more!" I shouted at her, frustrated and pissed off, while my chest rose and fell rapidly.

Our eyes were locked, while her features softened a bit, her nose scrunching.

"Please talk to me," I breathed out, relaxing my shoulders and shifting to the balls of my feet.

"I just need space right now," she grumbled and pursed her lips in anger.

I tilted my head slightly to the side, dropping my gaze, but my chest was still heaving.

"You are literally pushing me into a wall, Aedan. Give me some space!"

"Fine," I growled and stepped aside, not breaking our eye contact, while I retreated a few paces, leaving some space between us.

She just continued on her path, without looking back once.

I stayed where I was and waited a couple of long moments, trying to calm my raging thoughts and emotions.

It didn't help.

At all.

"Got it," she said after a few minutes and walked past me without looking at me, holding up her hand with the piece of paper.

I rolled my neck and cracked my knuckles, then followed her outside.

We stepped out and back into the warm sunlit noon air.

She quickly mounted her horse and was off towards the palace.

I knew she needed time, but the problem was that I wanted her to understand that I couldn't have done anything to prevent all of this.

But I guess all I could do was to let her be and wait. I felt horrible.

Once inside the stables, I returned the horse and walked back inside my room.

No Enya.

I felt my heart clench, because not being close to her was terrible.

I needed her by my side.

A knock on the door brought me out of my thoughts and I grumbled out a short "Come in!"

"Hey," Kass said, looking around. "Where's Enya?" she probed carefully and looked back into the hall.

I looked out of the window and bit down onto my tongue.

"We... had a fight," I hissed through gritted teeth.

"Uhhhh what, seriously?! Now??"

I snorted and closed the balcony door.

"I didn't tell her about Selena blessing me."

"Selena blessed you?! Holy Shit!"

"Exactly. I couldn't tell anyone. Literally was not able to. Magic or some shit, what do I know... Now she thinks I played her."

"Oh." Kass leaned herself against the doorframe and fidgeted with her black fingernails. "What are you going to do now?"

"I have no fucking clue, Kass. She needs space, I think. So I gave it to her."

"That's smart. Did you find anything? Aside from all the things that apparently went down," she asked carefully.

"Selena pointed us to a scroll, but Enya has it. No idea what's in it," I admitted, rubbing my forehead and feeling the familiar pain behind my eyes return.

Kass looked thoughtful, but said, "Can I help you with anything?"

"Do you have any ideas to fix this?"

Kass raised one of her dark brows.

"I know exactly how I would deal with an Asher with a similar problem..." she hinted.

"I probably would, too, but Enya is... different. She is so fierce, it's truly terrifying."

"Yeeaaahhhh," she hummed and looked over her shoulder.

"Is Asher around? Maybe I will just take it out on him in the sparring ring," I hissed, pacing through the room like a wild caged animal. Not being able to do anything was the worst, especially concerning my mate.

"Why do I have the suspicion he is not gonna stay whole? Oh, don't answer that, I'm coming along," Kassandra commented and shook her head before she led the way downstairs to the training grounds. "Just don't hurt him too badly, okay? He's a human after all."

*****

Enya's POV

My stomach was churning. He had asked me to believe him, that he couldn't tell me until then, because he just... wasn't able to.

I shook my head, feeling tears in my eyes, but I wouldn't cry.

"Stupid," I whispered angrily.

And I didn't know what to think or what to believe. Deep down I was sure I could trust him. He was my mate afterall.

So did I really not want to give him the benefit of the doubt? Was it really just not believable?

Goddess, I was so confused!!

Aside from all that, I felt even worse thinking about how he had taken the risk to make sure Asteria wasn't stuck in the constant fighting. He had been sent by her.

He had been chosen.

"Shit," I whispered under my breath.

I looked up at the sky and then at the scroll in my hand. It didn't have an outer title on it and the surface felt a little rough, probably because it was so old.

"Well, better than nothing," I huffed and placed it onto the ground.

Quickly, I unrolled the old, thick paper and stared down, while my heart threatened to beat out of my chest.

*****

Aedan's POV

My muscles strained from the workout and I grunted in concentration, as my fist collided with Ashers stomach, before I dodged his uppercut.

Kass stood a few meters beside the training circle, keeping her distance, but watching us intently.

We have been sparring for over a half hour now, exchanging hits as I tried to stay focused.

He used his full power, knowing very well how powerful of a fighter I was and didn't hold back at all, unlike most guards or knights did.

Not Asher though. I respected that and appreciated that immensely.

There was no reason or benefit to fight and spar someone who wasn't a real challenge for me, who wasn't putting an effort in the training, who didn't give their best.

After a few more blows from both of us, I smelled Enya, before I saw her.

The moment I was distracted, Asher managed to push his hand right into my chest and shove me back, sending me stumbling over my feet.

"Get your head back in the fight, Prince," Asher grinned, earning a glare from me, which was washed down by a deep chuckle.

"Gimme a minute..."

I just watched, as Enya walked past the training field without even looking in my direction and kept her gaze fixed on the palace, obviously rushing.

"Whatever you did, man, it's obviously pretty bad," Asher retorted with a lopsided grin, cracking his knuckles and rolling his shoulders to ease the stiff muscles.

"Tell me something new," I retorted, shaking my head.

"Will you fix it?"

"First I gotta find out how..." I muttered and walked over to the bench, sat down to grab my water bottle and drink deeply.

"Hm," Asher acknowledged, following me and doing the same.

"Any ideas? I mean you have known her longer, probably."

"Oh yeah. That's true, but when she's angry, no force can pull her out of it. She is the calm, nice and charming Enya on day to day basis, but if you make her mad? Run."

I laughed throatily, while taking another sip.

"Aedan," his voice turned a lot more serious, "if you hurt her again, I will make you regret it."

I heard the tone he used and looked him square in the face.

His posture was calm, his elbows resting on his knees and his whole attitude casual, but I knew better, Asher was dead serious.

"Trust me, man, if I ever fucked up again, I will let you," I replied honestly.

I was incredibly serious as well.

"Glad to hear we agree," he simply said and got back onto the arena.

Kass came over and sighed heavily.

"Should I go talk to her? I really want to know if she found anything in that scroll," she said, tapping her toe onto the earth.

"Sure, though she may be a little... less friendly than usual," I snorted and grabbed my bottle again to finish the rest.

"Nah, I will just take a risk. See you later, Lex."

As she turned, she jogged away and back into the castle.

I looked at Asher, who followed her with his eyes for a few moments, until she entered the palace and got lost inside.

Then, his eyes switched onto me and he lifted one of his eyebrows and looked at me challengingly.

"Well, we will need all the strength we can get. Want more?" he offered.

I huffed a laugh and dropped my shirt onto the wooden bench and smiled wickedly at him.

"Hell yes!"

*****

Enya's POV

"Enya? Can I come in?" I heard Kassandra call through the wood.

"Sure, the door is open!" I called out.

Kassandra stepped inside my chamber and leaned on the doorframe, a curious smirk plastered on her gorgeous face.

"If Aedan sent you to sway me, you can turn right back around," I grumbled, the scroll laying in front of me.

Kassandra arched an eyebrow, while her dark red lips curved into a soft smile.

"Actually I've invited myself. I'm curious if you found anything," she said, walked in and closed the door behind her.

She came closer and stopped to read the papers scattered on the table, cocking her head slightly to the side.

"I might have something, but..." I trailed off and puffed out some air and ruffled through my hair in frustration.

"Anything would be an improvement, dear," Kassandra said encouragingly and reached out to pat my shoulder.

"Well, it's more what Selena said before... That since we are both blessed, we can bend the rules a bit."

Her green eyes sparkled at that, her eyebrows moving in question.

"What did she say? Any details? Anything at all?"

I stood up from the chair and paced through the room nervously.

"Goddess, this is so uncomfortable to talk about," I blushed and covered my eyes with the palms of my hands.

Kassandra chuckled.

"Sweetheart, we have both seen each other in a lot more intimate situations," she teased and my face heated up even more, letting my cheeks turn a bright pink. I didn't need a reminder that I had seen her with Asher and she had seen me with Aedan.

"Well, she said that Aedan won't have a choice but to transform, it will happen involuntarily. But we don't have to do the... penetration, until he can transform back into a human. Until then, we have to get... creative," I babbled nervously, while talking quicker with every word, earning another low chuckle from her.

"Creative, huh? Any idea what you wanna do? I mean, he will be a giant ass wolf in heat... in heat for you!"

I was trying not to turn an even darker shade of crimson.

Kassandra didn't show any sign of being awkward, though. She just stared at me, smirking wickedly.

"Any... suggestions?," I countered carefully, watching her face lighten up in glee.

"Actually, yeah. But we both need more wine for that. But... you still want to bond him? Even after today?"

I lowered my head and blew out a long breath.

"Of course I still want him. He will have my whole heart for always and more," I whispered, feeling the lump in my throat expand a little bit.

"Then why did you not even look at him, earlier? You should have seen his face," she scoffed.

I sunk down onto the nearest chair.

"Because I just feel very... betrayed?"

Kassandra chewed on the end of her long nails.

"Have you tried to put yourself in his shoes?"

I groaned out, rubbing my forehead in frustration.

"I try, Kass, I do! It's not easy, though. Because he was set up, so to speak, to be with me. I don't even know what to believe. Does he even love me? Did he have a choice? Did he want me for me or just because I was destined to be with him?"

I kicked the desk and shot Kassandra a quick apologetic look.

She only shook her head and didn't move a single muscle in her position.

"Are you serious? Like, how long have you been here in Asteria? Haven't you seen, how he looks at you? How he acts around you? It's different. There is a whole lot of differences from the way he behaves around the rest of the people," she stated, crossing her arms across her chest and making it clear that she had to set me straight about a few things.

"He is utterly devoted to you. So, fuck what happened and instead look at what you have, Enya. The guy chose you. Not some random princess. You! Yes, maybe she made him pay attention. He would have never done the things, he did if it weren't for love. He hardly slept whenever you were unconscious, because he wanted to watch over you, be awake when you wake up, comfort you, love you," she stated matter of factly.

I let myself fall back onto the cushion on the bed, my eyes focused on the canopy over me.

Kassandra was right, of course. Ugh.

I didn't hate him. Of course not.

He was my other half and I would've followed him wherever.

No, I hated the way I learned it. Hated that I was angry because I wished he would have told me. Hated that I was frustrated, because that would imply that I felt doubt towards his love and mine.

Because I really didn't, I never have doubted it.

Ugh. Why did it have to be complicated?

I covered my eyes with my arms, blocking the light.

"UGHH. Kass, you are right. So very right. I hate it," I confessed in defeat and lowered my arms again.

"I usually am," she hummed, "and you know what, dear?"

I blinked a couple of times and answered: "What?"

"I know exactly what the Goddess had meant, by being creative..."

I grabbed a pillow from the couch and threw at in her direction and laughed, while she winked at me.

"I think I'll go and see Aedan," I decided, after taking in her words.

"About damn time. See ya later."

With those final words, Kassandra stepped into the hallway, waved at me before she closed the door.

I took a few deep breaths, before I walked down to the training field.

Asher and Aedan were training, shirtless.

My footsteps slowed as my eyes scanned the man in front of me.

And Goddess, he looked positively sexy with his half wet black hair that hung into his face, while his toned, now tattooed chest glistened with sweat, a fine sheen covering his six pack and defined arms.

They were standing in the ring, breathing heavily. As soon as they were aware that they weren't alone anymore, they stopped fighting and turned their full attention towards me.

"Aedan?" I called out softly.

His beautiful dark eyes met mine and for a moment I forgot that I had been mad at him.

"Would you give us a minute please?" I requested from Asher.

"Of course, En, I'll leave you to it, but remember that dinner is served soon," Asher informed politely before giving a respectful nod and turning on his heels.

Aedan's body seemed to relax as soon as Asher left us alone.

He exhaled and blinked a couple times, before stepping down the arena, picking up a cloth and his shirt and put it on.

Slowly I walked towards him and he followed my every step with his gaze.

As I stood right before him, I fisted his shirt and punched his chest lightly a few times.

"Damn. You," I cursed under my breath and placed the flat of my hands onto his broad chest, the muscle under them immediately hardening under my touch.

"You know, I hated the way I head to learn the truth. But, I realize now, that it wasn't your fault."

I saw him let go of the breath he was holding, his eyes boring into my own.

"I love you, Enya. And believe me, if I could, I would have told you myself. And a lot sooner of course." His voice was hoarse, while he brushed his callused thumb over my cheek.

I swallowed the lump forming in my throat.

"I know. Trust me, I do! I should have given you a chance to explain. But I was shocked and hurt. I'm so sorry," I breathed, wrapping my arms around his waist and pressing close to him, inhaling his earthy and spicy scent.

"I should probably shower first, though, before you wrap yourself around me," he huffed out and I could feel his chuckle resonate through his chest.

"Nope, I think you're perfect."

Aedan's strong, muscular arm wrapped around my shoulders.

"Why don't you join me in the shower, princess?" His voice was sultry and his dark brown eyes were fully blown with need and desire. "We can discuss some of our options together."

The gold ring in his eyes started to glow, while I brushed one of my fingers over his stubbled chin.

"Options, hmmhh?" my tone matched his.

He moved me a few paces back until I hit the wall of the castle.

I sucked in a breath, while Aedans hand's grabbed my hips firmly, but not so firm that it was painful.

He trailed featherlight kisses down my neck and I instinctively tilted my head to the side.

A soft moan escaped my lips, feeling his lips caress my skin.

"Always so responsive," he chuckled and his mouth reached my collarbone and gave it an equally tender kiss.

I blushed and looked into his eyes with the glowing golden band around his pupils.

"Come, Love," he whispered, reaching down for my hand, wrapping my fingers with his, interlacing them.

My whole hand was small in comparison to his, feeling warm and secure.

With that we walked into his room.

Or at least we wanted to.

*****

Aedan's POV

We had nearly reached my room, when I heard a voice behind me.

"Prince Alexander?"

"Yeah?" I said and didn't care at all about the guard, I just wanted my mate naked in front of me.

"There has been news and I figured you might want to take a look."

No, I absolutely didn't want to. I wanted to fuck my mate into oblivion under the shower and then some more after we ate.

"Can't the Queen deal with it?" I grumbled.

"Prince," the guard breathed out, looking obviously more than uncomfortable about our interaction, but he was trying to find a polite way to say something.

"What is it?" Enya asked softly.

"I'm sorry, Princess, but one of the village people just arrived. There have been problems in Viera. He is downstairs waiting."

I rubbed my hand over my forehead and felt a pounding headache setting behind my eyes and temples. Viera was not too far, maybe a five hour ride. What was he doing here, though?

I let my gaze wander over Enya and kissed her knuckles gently.

"Stay," I told her softly, "I'll check on him and if it is nothing big we could meet for dinner."

She tilted her head slightly and looked at me.

The silver in her eyes was calm, her entire presence now showing the years of diplomacy and control she had practiced. While my mind was still hung up on her curves and scent, her mind was already working on a potential problem.

"I could come with you, see what the issue is."

I shook my head and caressed her soft hair with my free hand.

"Thank you. Let me see what it is and meet up later. You can study the scroll in the meantime. It could give us the answer we're looking for."

Her body tensed for a moment, a sign of her hesitation, but it disappeared again a split second later.

She squeezed my hand slightly, stood on her toes and pressed a sweet kiss on my lips.

"Take care, Aedan. I will check on the scroll, maybe we will find a clue. Call for me, if something is wrong, though," she pressed another quick kiss to my lips and her arousal scent engulfed me like a blanket.

Gods, she was gorgeous, perfect in every way and so damn sexy and all of my blood flowed down towards my cock.

Great. Fucking great. Just what I needed to worry about right now.

I needed to leave.

Now.

I nodded at the guard and we parted ways.

*****

Enya's POV

Damn it. I saw him leaving, the shirt still clung to his muscles and... oh. Oh. Shit.

I huffed out a long sigh. I did not only just tell Aedan to go instead of showering with me.

But duty was duty. And I was raised to make the right decision and serve my people the way I could, whenever possible.

If he didn't want that, he wouldn't love me the way he did. I knew. But damn! He made me horny.

Slowly I walked over to his room and sat cross-legged onto the bed, the scroll in front of me.

"Let's do this," I mumbled under my breath and read.

Some time must have passed because the sun was starting to set and I had worked my way through nearly half of the document, when a soft knock at the door brought me out of my concentrated state.

"Hello?" I wondered and got up from the mattress and quickly rolled the script up again.

Kassandra walked in.

"Lex will take a while, so I brought a bottle and we can talk about the 'getting creative' part, what do you say?" she chuckled and lifted the bottle. It was a shame though that Aedan was still occupied.

"Oh, yes, sure, uhm... wine."

She came inside and lifted a brow, before eyeing the script on the bed.

"Wait. Was that what we talked about? The option Selena spoke of?"

I nodded slowly, looking at the bundle and huffing out a frustrated breath.

"Hmhh. It's not very... straightforward, though, is it?" she hummed and sat down next to it.

"Definitely no," I admitted, a little blush creeping its way onto my cheeks.

"Are you... nervous," her voice was hesitant.

I squeezed my eyes shut for a moment before replying.

"Kind of," I chuckled, the sound dry and not all that joyful, "because, to be honest, I have no clue what will happen. Or what we should do... or not... it's hard to explain!" I grumbled and took the bottle, to take a generous sip. The red wine tasted fruity and rich, the tingling flavor of alcohol and other berries lingering on my tongue.

"Yeah, well, do you have ideas? Do you want to tell me yours, or should I start with mine?" She probed and plopped down on the couch.

"Please start," I huffed, the lump in my throat expanding.

"Well, you know he will be in his wolf form, and he won't fit in you. Obviously... and..."

"Wait, how big exactly are we talking here?"

A mischievous grin spread on Kassandras full red painted lips as she looked at her forearm and lifted it. Then she took her hand and wrapped it around it to show the girth. Between her fingertips were at least another 5cm. And she had pretty long fingers.

"What? No!"

"Yes," she nodded, lifting the bottle for a sip.

"What am I supposed to do with it? Or he with me? How even?" I wondered and huffed out a breath, just at the thought.

"Here let me show you something, to, well, prepare your mind and body a bit, shall we say," Kassandras lips curled up, revealing her brilliant white teeth. She grabbed a pillow and sat on it, the pillow between her legs and started rocking her hips back and forth.

"Huh?" I probed.

Kass and shrugged, biting her lower lip as the motion sped up a bit, the fabric of her leggings between her legs moving over the cushion.

"I mean this is all about creating friction. You can just glide over him, rock back and forth and see where you end up. And I'd advise you take control, because if he does, he may go at you, too forceful and neither of you want that."

She tossed me the pillow and motioned at my hips and I caught it.

Slowly I followed suit, placing the cushion between my legs, my hands leaning on it.

"Trust me, it feels better without clothing," she said with a wink and I started rocking, the fabric feeling soft and cool over my bare skin.

Oh, yeah, I could imagine it feeling better without clothing.

"You can practice until then, find an angle you like. Because when you are out there on this stone pedestal, there will be so many other impressions that could make you lose focus," Kassandra said and pointed at her temple, "because after all, at some point you have to cum, so... figure that shit out before."

"How long will he be in his wolf form, though?" I wondered aloud.

"I dunno? I would assume maybe 15 minutes? Maybe he has to cum first, so... I don't know."

"And if I cum... too early? While grinding on him?" I asked, embarrassment flooding through my entire body.

Kassandras grin got even wider, her green eyes twinkling, while her dark brown hair hung freely around her shoulders.

"Well, well. Now you ask some of the better questions. Well, nothing happens. You both have to cum eventually, so if and how doesn't matter."

I couldn't help, but picture Aedan and my core clenched.

I blushed a deep crimson.

"And how to get him off? I mean..."

Kassandra leaned forwards, holding a strand of hair between her fingertips and locking her eyes onto me.

"You have a tongue, sweetheart, no?"

I laughed heartily, until I slapped the mattress and held the sides of my stomach.

"Dear goddess," I croaked out.

"Enya," she sighed, "You will both be extremely horny and super hyped. I doubt it will take much to make him cum, not with the way you'll smell."

"Hhmmm," I pondered aloud, "any more advices?"

Kassandra paused and looked out the window, thoughtfully.

"No, not right now, actually. You will be fine. Trust in Lex and yourself."

I let myself fall onto the mattress, while Kass stood up.

She walked over to the door but turned, before opening the heavy wood.

"Call for me if you have any... further questions," she winked and closed the door with a low thud.

I nibbled at the nail of my thumb, pondering over the words in my head, thinking about everything Kass and I had just discussed.

*****

Aedan's POV

There were only one and a half weeks left until the bonding and this time there only two other couples bonding. So there would be a lot of attention on us as well.

And the fact, that Viera faced an urgent problem didn't make anything better. I sat and tried to concentrate on the task before me.

With a frustrated groan, I threw the pen across the desk, which bounced off and landed on the floor.

For a moment, I closed my eyes, tried to collect my thoughts, clear my head.

I felt arms come around from behind, closing in front of my chest.

"Can I help you with anything?" Her gentle voice immediately cleared up the muddle that clouded my brain.

I let my head lean back against her chest. We hadn't really spent much time the last few days and her presence already helped the tension to leave my shoulders and the pounding headache behind my temples lessening.

I sighed. "Not really."

"May I read?" she probed quietly.

I nodded, then reached over and picked up my notes and showed her. "There is the drought, some strange sickness, the village still has enough food but not for long..." I grabbed her hands in mine, drew them tighter around my chest, leaning further back, resting my head between her breasts, feeling her heartbeat and warmth.

"But it's autumn already, isn't rain expected? Won't it help?" Enya asked gently.

I lifted my hand, running it through my hair, remembering the last two months and how desperate the last few weeks had been for the citizens.

"Usually yes, but it's been the driest year, possibly, in 120 years..."

She moved around the table and straddled my lap, wrapping her arms around me. I wrapped mine around her and relaxed into her embrace.

"Have you had anything to eat since I saw you this morning?"

I looked up, meeting those blue eyes with the silver swirling camly. "I-"

She laughed and her whole body shook. "Liar," she accused, and leaned down and brushed her soft lips against mine. The kiss was soft and gentle, not leading up to anything, just to ground myself - or her.

"You can't change the weather, Aedan. Let's get some food into you and then we can look into this problem."

I took a deep breath, leaning my forehead against her own. "But... maybe..."

She drew back a little bit. Her lips curved softly, her nose scrunching in a cute little way. "Don't make me go all Royal Highness on you," she warned.

"Is that supposed to scare me?" I teased.

She gave me a mock pout, stood and smoothed her dress.

"Very funny. But you will eat now or so the Goddess help me," she laughed, grabbing my hand and hauling me into the kitchen.

I blinked at her several times, baffled by the command in her tone and pulled her closer into my side and gave her a swift, hard, kiss. "Whatever my future Queen demands."

She giggled and led the way.

*****

"So, have you been going through every step that will happen?" Kass asked, when we met with the others in the evening. She was casually lounging in Asher's lap, who looked equally relaxed with one hand trailing along her thigh. Her smell had changed slightly but I didn't really know why. And at the moment there were so many things going on that I couldn't really care.

I gave a small snort and said, "I would say she can recite every single detail, in every variation, now."

I gave Enya a loving squeeze.

"I just love to be prepared," she huffed a breath and chewed on her lower lip in nervousness.

"You don't think they will make her drink the full cup of the Asterian forest pear brew, do you?" Kass asked thoughtfully.

Asher raised an eyebrow.

"The what of the what now?"

"It's a brew, which consists of fruits growing in our forest. It's known to... arouse even the least sexual person into a kind of... well a mood to be, ummm, interested," I explained and added, "I sure hope not. I've seen the effects it had on grown ass wolfborn men, if they make her drink the whole cup?... Well."

Kass laughed. "And now, imagine what that could mean for the tiny Princess."

"I am not tiny!" Enya objected, her small mouth turning into a pout, but earning a small giggle from both Asher and Kassandra.

I grinned and whispered, "Yes, you are," earning me a fake gasp, as she crossed her arms over her small and very soft breasts.

"But you are right, Kass, if Enya has to, it might... challenge my self control," I mused and traced Enya's spine, causing her to shiver slightly, her mouth pressed in a thin line. Her face had turned a lovely shade of pink. She still wasn't used to talking about sex the way we Wolfborn were.

"Your self control?" she asked and I smirked, before I leaned down to whisper into her ear.

"I will transform only moments later and you know I fucking love your scent when you are aroused, especially when I am in my wolf form. I will not be able to think straight or have any self control at all."

The blush spread a little to the back of her neck, while her eyes glazed over.

"I see," she squeaked, biting her lower lip again and my grin widened even more.

Kass cleared her throat.

"Will you follow the tradition and spend the night before apart? What about the robe she will wear? Please let it be silver and...," she squealed in excitement.

Enya's eyes got really wide.

"Excuse me?? The robe?"

Kass took Enya's hand and rubbed her knuckles tenderly,

"Oh sweetheart, you will be stunning in a long silvery robe. You won't wear anything besides that, as it will come right off anyway. It is tradition."

"That's... okay," she replied and squeezed her eyes shut, obviously picturing the whole scenario.

She reached to my side for her glass and took a few generous sips.

Asher tilted his head slightly, narrowing his gaze and a slow smirk spread on his full lips.

"Hmm, a silvery robe, Kass? Something similar to yours? I liked the thin fabric and the lace and how you could almost look through it..." he drawled lowly and trailed his fingertips across Kassandra's shoulder blades.

Her dark red lips curved up slowly into a knowing smirk and a low giggle escaped her lips.

She shrugged nonchalantly, brushing her fingers along Asher's forearm.

"I dunno, I believe you weren't able to actually look through the robe, because you were far too focused on ripping it off..." she teased and nipped her lower lip, Asher immediately flashed a lopsided smirk.

Slowly, he brushed her hair from her shoulder and placed a teasing kiss to her exposed skin.

Kass shivered and placed her hand onto his thigh.

Enya rolled her eyes and pinched the bridge of her nose with an amused grin, while I couldn't contain my smirk.

"Can you please focus on the present again and save the bedroom fun for your free time? We can still hear every word..."

Asher looked up for a second and Kassandra tapped his upper leg.

He kissed the soft spot beneath Kassandra's ear, whispering a low apology, "I'll be good from now on..."

Kass just rolled her eyes.

"We could make out and fuck right here and you'd enjoy the show, Lex."

"I'm not gonna deny that, Kass," I chuckled in amusement, "on a serious note though, if Enya has to drink the whole cup, I won't know how much self control I can muster, I swear."

"Just immediately walk to the pedestal lie down, let her do the rest. Don't approach her first," Kass advised matter-of-factly.

Enya stiffened and grabbed my hand, that was lying on her stomach.

I looked her directly into the eyes. They shone bright, the silver restless in her iris and her pulse quickened slightly. She smelled uneasy.

"Sweetheart, we will manage, trust me, okay?" I reassured her and interlaced our fingers.

She just squeezed my hand and pressed a chaste, but deep kiss, onto my lips.

My cock sprung to life within seconds and my whole body instantly grew hot. I was utterly ridiculous so I took a long and deep gulp from my glass and willed myself to cool down and forced the blood flow into my head again.

"Never thought you of all people would get bonded, Lex..." Kass said with a serious expression.

"Me neither, trust me," I admitted, while playing with one of Enya's waves. It felt like silk between my fingers.

"I haven't even heard of bonding until recently, so it's... interesting being in it without having even seen it before in person," she pondered with a smile.

Kass took the glass from Asher's hands.

"Yes, well, even if you have not attended a bonding, you had plenty of time to read, prepare, get a grasp of things," she huffed and took a sip from Asher's drink, "and I bet you know a lot more than the people who have witnessed at least one in their lives."

Asher's scent had shifted a while ago, he was horny and so was Kass. The thick air and her floral and exotic scent were impossible to miss.

"Maybe we should call it a day. The bonding is in two days and Enya and I should sleep as soon as possible," I interrupted and glanced over to Asher and Kass.

Kass leaned up against Asher's chest and let out a long sigh, her dark, beautiful, green eyes were clouded and the golden ring around her iris was much thicker than usual.

"Ugh, we should, too. Come, Ash," she pulled at Asher's arm, until he got the hint and stood.

He looked at me questioningly.

"See you tomorrow," I replied with a wave and relaxed back.

I turned slightly in order to see Enya and found her looking up at me, with one raised eyebrow.

"You are tired? Really?" she asked when Kass and Asher were out of hearing range.

"More the opposite, honestly. You looked so exhausted though and I figured you'd need some sleep." I slowly trailed a finger along the edge of her cleavage and her eyes lit up instantly and her cheeks flushed a slight pink.

"It's our last night together... unbonded... right?" her voice sounded nervous but also huskier.

I tucked some hair behind her ears, gently. "Right..." my voice was almost a whisper.

Her eyes gleamed and she climbed further on top of my lap, placing her thighs on each side of mine and wrapped her arms around me, the whole length of our upper bodies touching and pressing against each other.

She placed her lips on mine in a lingering, gentle, but very deep and very erotic kiss, and our tongues collided, while my arms gripped her firmly.

She moved her hips slightly, making my blood pressure shoot sky high. My whole body was instantly on fire.

Slowly, she drew away, and cupped my face between her small, soft, warm hands. "Bed," she ordered firmly and pressed herself close to my chest, while I rose and started carrying her to the stairs.

"Mhh, what do you have in mind, Princess?" My voice was rough and my heart slammed wildly. I couldn't believe my luck and gratitude towards the Gods and Goddesses and the stars for her.

Her fingers had tangled in my hair, and her fingers scratched lightly over the skin on my neck. It was electrifying and sent sparks all the way to my cock and it twitched involuntary.

I adjusted her in my arms and hurried up.

The door to my chamber swung open and Enya left a trail of soft kisses on my neck, sending even more blood southwards, a fact she noticed.