“Yes,” I answer breathily, the wetness slick between my thighs, the echo of Rian’s wild roar from across the field still fresh in my ears, driving away the black cloud of my impending marriage to the elf king.
Somehow, when I was with Rian, when he took me, claimed me, I forgot about my responsibilities. Pushed away the idea that I would ever surrender to my fate.
But, now, in the morning light, that gloom has returned. How can we break the curse before my nuptials? I do not know, but there must be a way.
There has to be.
“Did you hear that? The guards sent me to check on you early. There was an animal or something. Growling or roaring. Nothing like they have ever heard before. They fear there are wolves or bears near.”
From behind her, the fluttering butterflies of my ladies in waiting come through the tapestry, staring around the room like frightened finches.
But today, instead of my usual indifference, I’m annoyed.
“Leave me,” I bark, and they all stop as if frozen in place, looking from one another to me, then to Meina. “You heard me. You do not need to look at her to do as you are commanded by the Princess, do you?”
Meina gives me a questioning look, but turns and nods, waving the others back toward where they entered. “The candles are fine. I will re-fill the torches. Go. Prepare breakfast.”
“No.” I turn, pulling the loose fabric around my body, suddenly chilled as I step away from the sunlight of the window. “Today I will find my way downstairs for breakfast. I will no longer take meals here in my room. I’ve languished here long enough.”
“Princess, I do not…”
“You do not what? Think I am capable of deciding when and where I eat?”
“No, I’m, I—” She stutters, fussing with the bedding, straightening a pillow before cocking her head to the side on a shake. “You seem different. Did something happen?”
Yes, something very big happened. I’m still sore, bruised, but happier than I’ve been since…well, since I was a little girl and thought dreams could come true.
“I’ve woken up with new purpose, is all. I am done pining. I am done feeling sorry for myself. You will help me dress, then, you are dismissed for the day. I will no longer be bereft by this curse. Odette has taken enough from me, I will not allow her to take more.”
As I speak, a warmth is already spinning again inside of me. I think of how Rian’s taut skin and hard muscles felt under my hands, how I had to stuff his mouth with my breast to keep him from shaking the castle’s foundations when he roared with his pleasure. How the mating lust with Rian overtook me, turning me nearly feral without propriety or inhibition. My body shows the marks of his claiming. Bruises and scratches, and I relish each and every one.
I shiver, even as the heat tickles me down low, a rushing need for more of what he gave me, even through the pain of it all, looms everywhere.
Like a new curse, but a beautiful, forbidden one. One that makes me understand what makes the drunkards in town go back to the whiskey over and over. They need it, good or bad, and no amount of reason or clear thinking can rend the desire for their demon from them.
Meina objects, but again I wield my power, stepping behind my dressing screen and slipping on a long white sheath before she helps me into a dress, this one red with intricate gold needlework on the bodice, tightened so my bosom is overflowing from the top. Her fingers move through my hair but I shoo her away.
“Enough.”
I want my hair as it is. Messy, out of order, uncompliant. Today is mine.
No.
That’s not right.
Today belongs to my mate. I belong to my mate.
My mate. The words are almost unreal. Humans aren’t supposed to have mates, at least not anymore. There are stories that all the races were one once, but where the elves became small and cunning, and the orcs became huge and warlike, humans became strangest of all. More in control of their own destiny, able to defy their natures when they want. Fate doesn’t tell us who to mate with, we choose for ourselves.
But Rian said that I was his mate. And moreover, I feel it, deep inside my chest. I am his and he is mine, we are bound to one another.
“Well, I suppose that’s a good thing,” Meina says as she stands in the doorway. “Just don’t shut me out of your life completely, your highness. I don’t want to lose my best friend.”
I smile. How can I not? I can’t tell her about me and Rian yet, not until we find a way to break this curse, but I swear to myself right now I’m going to end this engagement to the elf king.