She opened her eyes slowly and realised she wasn’t in her tent. She turned her head and saw Vasilis sitting next to her, staring at her with a curious mixture of regret, concern and something else she couldn’t define. Malek stood behind him while Hesta hovered over her like a mother hen.
‘Oh, my poor child! What you had to witness,’ the healer said.
‘Leave us,’ Vasilis said.
Malek immediately took his leave as Hesta fixed the blanket around Alex.
‘I said leave us,’ Vasilis said harshly. ‘That means, you, too.’
Hesta stopped what she was doing and gave him a small nod before hurrying away.
‘Your sister is fine. She knows nothing of what transpired. All the bodies have been moved and buried,’ he began in a grim tone.
Relief cascaded over her body. ‘And your guards? Are they…did anyone…’
‘We lost no one, but our youngest, Roarke, is without his left leg below the knee.’
She gasped.
‘We heal automatically,’ he continued, ‘but if you lose a limb, you have lost it forever.’
She raised a shaky hand to her mouth. ‘Oh my God. Poor Roarke,’ she whispered.
He leaned forward and braced his hands on each side of her body, his face close to hers. ‘I told you to stay in the tent. You could have been killed,’ he said.
She stared at his mouth, all thoughts disappearing from her mind. She should have been frightened of him, but she wasn’t.
‘I can protect myself,’ she said in a small voice. She couldn’t believe that from everything that happened, she had one thing on her mind. She wanted him to kiss her again.
‘Yes, you can, but not from my evil kind.’ He paused, his mouth tense as his gaze flickered to her mouth. ‘What if I wasn’t there to stop the two grey wolves? One could have easily jumped on you and ripped your throat. You die if you’re bitten by a werewolf on any night other than a full moon.’
‘Yes, but you were there. You saved me,’ she whispered as she looked into his dark, mesmerizing eyes. Their gazes locked and she held her breath as his expression darkened with desire.
‘Dammit,’ he said roughly, lowering his head. ‘I want you.’
Then his mouth crashed on hers. She moaned against his warm, firm, sensual mouth and drew her arms around his shoulders, kissing him back with a passion that startled her. His hands slid beneath her torso and he lifted her body against his. His chest crushed her breasts and she dug her nails into his shoulders. She felt a shudder go through him as he lowered her back on the bed, his mouth moving furiously over hers. Alex couldn’t get enough of him. She ran her hands over his back and quivered beneath the heat flaring in her limbs.
She heard him growl deep from within his throat as he slid one hand between them and found her breast. He kneaded and moulded it, her nipple hardening with pleasure and she groaned in his mouth as his tongue continued to pillage and plunder her.
An ache grew where her limbs met and she whimpered for a release she didn’t know how to get. He shuddered and dragged his mouth from hers with a ragged breath. He stared down at her, his face taut with desire and he shoved aside her shirt, nearly ripping the thin fabric as he lowered a hungry mouth over a breast.
She arched her head back and gasped with wild abandon at the pleasure he was inciting in her limbs. Her ache grew and she thought she would die if she didn’t get her release.
He continued to suck and lathe her breast and she thought her body would splinter in a thousand pieces at the exquisite pain growing in the lower regions of her body. Then he moved to her other breast and ravished it with the same intensity and passion as he did with the first one. Alex gasped. She couldn’t take it anymore. She grabbed his hair and pulled down, hard. She heard him growl and slowly he lifted his head, his eyes boring down on hers.
He was breathing hard, his eyes hooded, his face a dark shade of red.
‘This is madness,’ she whispered hoarsely.
He ran his gaze over her exposed breasts and rested it on her face. He was clenching and unclenching his jaw so tightly, she stared at the muscle throbbing along his cheek. He looked like he was in pain.
‘I can’t believe I…this was not…’ he began hoarsely, unable to finish.
Slowly she drew her shirt over her breasts and stared at his face. He looked tortured, pained. ‘What is it?’ she asked, her tone husky. Had he regretted what they’d done?
‘I hunger for you like no other,’ he said almost as though he was speaking to himself. He drew back slowly, rubbing a shaky hand at the back of his neck and gave her a look that melted her limbs.
‘I…I wasn’t exactly stopping you either.’
‘Why are you not afraid of me?’ he asked abruptly. ‘You haven’t said a single word to me about what I am.’
She rose slowly from the bed, straightening her clothes as he drew his towering height next to her. ‘The man who taught me the art of combat knew of your kind.’
‘And the Royal Contest? You are not afraid of being wed to a beast?’
She looked up at him and caught a flash of uncharacteristic vulnerability pass over his face. It was very brief, but she caught it. He called himself a beast. Her heart warmed with unbidden compassion as she thought of how gentle and caring he’d been with Ariel from the first moment he met her, not to mention how he’d risked his own life jumping between the two wolves to save her.
‘You’re not a beast, Vasilis,’ she said softly. She saw him swallow hard.
‘A few weeks after the night my castle turned two hundred years ago, my mother killed herself because she couldn’t live with a husband and son who were monsters. She was turned, too and had to take a silver dagger to her heart.’
Alex gasped and raised a sharp hand to her mouth. ‘I’m sorry. I didn’t know.’
‘It’s not your fault. She didn’t see us as human anymore and preferred death to living.’
Gently she placed her hand on his arm. ‘I’m sorry, Vasilis,’ she repeated.
He gazed intently at her. ‘I am still a man,’ he said quietly.
‘I know,’ she whispered.
He took her by the shoulders and dragged her up against his body as his mouth descended on hers. He kissed her hard and her knees went weak with desire. He released her before she could catch her breath.
‘Go to your sister. We leave shortly. When we arrive at my home, you and I will talk.’
* * * *
By mid-afternoon, the caravan entered the royal grounds and Alex couldn’t help but stare in awe at the castle atop the mountain. It was a magnificent structure with majestic towers, immense walls and turrets.
The wagon slowed as the caravan went through the village nestled below the mountainside. The villagers greeted Vasilis and his guards with smiles and cheers. Alex could see Vasilis up ahead, nodding and waving to the people on the side of the road and she couldn’t help but admire the love his people had for him.
Ariel sat quietly next to her in the wagon and Alex looked down at her. She smiled. Her little sister was staring up at the castle in awe.
‘It looks like a castle in a fairy tale,’ Ariel said.
She hugged her sister close. ‘Yes, I suppose it does.’
‘Alex, are you really going to win the Royal Contest?’
‘I hope so, baby.’
She glanced up ahead and saw a large group of women on horseback and on foot walking along the incline on the mountainside that led to the castle. The competitors, Alex thought. Some looked rather strong and athletic, wearing warrior garb and carrying weapons and she bit into her lower lip. She knew Hiroshi was a great warrior and he’d passed all his knowledge to her, but she couldn’t help but feel nervous.
She looked up ahead and saw Vasilis turn around. From one hundred paces ahead, their gazes met and a rush of warmth calmed her. He nodded slowly and returned his gaze back to the front.
Did he know she was nervous? Was that comfort he tried to convey to her amid all the welcoming cheers, curious crowds and contestants tossing confident glances his way?
Alex was confused. She knew he was attracted to her. She knew he even liked her on some level, but did his feelings run deeper?
As they made their way up the incline path, the contestants on foot taking the grand steps, her nerves grew. At the top, the caravan came to a standstill as a massive drawbridge rose. She heard Ariel gasp in awe beside her, but Alex couldn’t express the same sentiment. If she lost the contest, she’d never see Vasilis again. Worse, she’d never see Hesta the healer whom Alex wanted to look after Ariel.
But they’re Lycan, a little voice ran in her ears.
Alex lived with a real monster. Her stepmother, she thought grimly. A fact that made her accept Vasilis without fear. He wasn’t a monster. He had showed nothing but kindness to her little sister, and she knew he would never do anything to hurt them.
The caravan stopped in the immense inner courtyard and everyone started disembarking from their wagons and horses. She took Ariel by the hand and rose.
‘Come, honey. I think we need to go to that big tent where the women are lining up.’
She sprung down from the wagon and turned around, lifting her hands to take Ariel in her arms. Her little sister was so light and a spasm of guilt weighed Alex’s heart. She held her protectively against her breast and made her way to their horses. Gently, she placed her sister down.
‘Stay close to me, honey. I just need to get out horses.’
Quickly, she grabbed their reins and wrapped them around her waist, giving the horses enough room to trot beside them. Then she turned around and stretched her arms out to Ariel.
‘Come here, baby. These crowds are too thick. I want you close to me.’ Ariel automatically raised her little hands and Alex lifted back into her arms.
She then made her way slowly to the big tent. A royal guard stood a few paces from the tent, waving the palace’s flag. ‘All contestants! Come here and get your assigned tent for the night! You will be sharing quarters and the tents are limited, so first come, first serve!’ he commanded in a loud voice.
Alex looked with dismay at the line-up. There were at least thirty women waiting. Also, for the first time, she was able to look beyond the big tent and noticed there were thirty smaller tents lining the courtyard. Well, it was nice of the king to offer accommodations, she thought. She was about to take her place at the end of the line when she heard a growl followed by a loud curse behind her.
‘What do you think you’re doing?’
She spun around with Ariel still in her arms and looked up at Vasilis. He looked irritated.
‘I’m…I’m going to register for my sleeping quarters.’
Grim-faced, he reached for Ariel, taking her gently out of Alex’s arms. ‘You’re sleeping in the castle,’ he said firmly, as he held Ariel against his massive chest.
Alex saw Malek a few paces away giving them a curious look. She returned her gaze to Vasilis. ‘The tents look comfortable. You’ve already done more than–‘
‘I’m not asking you, Alex. I’m telling you. You’re sleeping in the castle.’ He turned his head sharply to his chief guard. ‘Malek!’ he roared.
His chief guard stood to attention. ‘Yes, Your Highness?’
‘Take her horses,’ Vasilis barked out.
‘Aye, Your Highness.’ He immediately came to Alex and untied the reins from her waist.
She knew people were beginning to stare at them, especially the contestants from the line-up and she wished Vasilis would keep his voice down. ‘This isn’t necessary. Ariel and I will be comfortable here.’
He gave her a hard look, his jaw clenched and he turned on his heels. ‘Come with me.’
He was immoveable and she knew she’d better follow him if she wanted to avoid a scene. Besides, he was carrying her sister and she didn’t want Ariel out of her sight.
Ariel peeked her little face from the side of his massive, chiselled arms and shot her a grin. Alex unravelled and smiled at her, knowing her sister was thrilled she was going to sleep in a castle.
Every head turned as Vasilis strode through the courtyard with Ariel in his arms, Alex walking alongside him. She caught the satisfied gleams of Krako and Ortega on their faces. Vasilis stopped before two immense doors that were slowly opening.
Out strode the king flanked by two guards on each side and Alex nearly swooned. Good God. She thought Vasilis was a huge man, but the king was bigger by a head and wider by a hand. His face was more rugged and fierce looking and just as ruthlessly handsome.
She couldn’t get over the resemblance between father and son. The king’s hair was a bit shorter, but just as black with only a smatter of grey at the temples. His eyes were so dark they almost looked opaque as he halted before her and ran his gaze over them.
His black gaze went from his son to Ariel to Alex and then back to his son again. He wasn’t smiling, but Alex could detect a hint of warmth growing in his eyes.
‘You made it back on time, son. I am pleased.’ He gave Alex a thorough sweep of his gaze and raised a brow when he looked back at his son. ‘And who do we have here?’
Vasilis motioned his head to one of the guards next to his father. ‘Take them to the bower and make sure they are settled. Notify Hesta where they will be.’
Alex stifled a gasp. The bower? Was he serious? From what she knew, the bower was intended for the lady of the castle who used it as her private withdrawing-room and bedroom.
Vasilis brought his gaze back to the king. ‘Father, this little one is Ariel and this is her sister Alex, the woman I am going to wed.’
Alex was stunned as Vasilis turned and placed Ariel gently in her arms. She looked up at him in a daze, his expression revealing nothing.
‘Go with the royal guard,’ he said, his tone brusque.
Numbly, she nodded up at him. As she walked away, she heard him say, ‘Father, we need to talk. Now.’
