VANESSA
As Lysandros had instructed, I made my way to his quarters, ignoring the curious looks of the guards lined up along the hallway.
One of them stepped out of formation, blocking my passage. Plenty of muscles but not enough brains.
"Prince Lysandros did not mention a guest coming to see him at this hour. It would be best for you to return."
I let my gaze sweep over his bulky frame. "If you don't get the hell out of the way, I'll make sure you don't have a position in the palace and your uniform. Wanna bet?"
He grasped the hilt of his sword, stepping close. "That's the order. Please comply or I'll be forced to—"
"It's okay, Nokai, let her through," Lysandros's voice came from behind him. "Why did it take you so long, my love?"
I flashed the guard a triumphant smirk as I walked past him to where Lysandros waited.
"A woman's appearance takes patience. I hope I didn't keep you waiting," I replied with a slow wink.
If anyone else bore any resentment toward my visit, they were wise enough not to show it.
When we were secured inside his chambers and out of the earshot of the guards, he came at me like a starved man.
"It's been so long," he groaned, pulling me close to himself like the greedy man he was.
But I slinked out of his hold. "That's not why I'm here. You asked me to meet so we could discuss you-know-what."
His hands hovered where I left them, fingers curving into fists before he let them drop.
"Could've fooled me into thinking you missed me," then quietly. "Just for a second."
The disappointment in his gaze was barely hard to miss. Whatever it was, I wanted no part in it.
"When I told you about my failure in killing Leonidas, you asked me to come. So I'm here. What do we do about that?"
He shrugged, turning away from me. "No idea either. Which is why I sought help from someone who would know what to do."
"You have no idea, yet you brought me here for what?" I shook my head slowly. "You are one handsome fool."
A muscle in his jaw ticked. "Well, forgive me for not knowing how to kill a monster who poses an existential threat to everyone but needing to do it for everyone's safety."
I marched over to him, snatching the cup he picked out of his hand.
"Do you even realize what is at stake here?"
"I do." He snatched it back. "And you need to start minding the way you talk to me. Even if we fucked before, it doesn't make me less of a Royal blood who's soon going to become King."
A humorless laugh bubbled up out of me. "That's not going to work if you're trying to threaten me. Remember, we're all in this and if I spill, the beast is going to have our heads."
It was his turn to laugh. "Don't tell me Nyra's most lethal weapon is scared of a man who howls at the moon."
"I'm not," I bit back, irritated at the thought.
The lines on his face hardened, eyes blazing with an emotion I never expected on the likes of a person like him.
"So why?" His gaze stayed fixed on me. "Why are you so obsessed with ratting us out to Leonidas? Suddenly developed a soft spot for him?" He spat.
Realization hit me like a damn truck. "You…you are in love with me," I revealed softly, amazed at the words coming out of my mouth.
The smile had long faded away from my face and Lysandros looked like he'd rather stuff the tumbler down his throat than admit it.
His gaze flitted over my head the same time that the door opened.
In breezed an older woman, dressed in bright tacky colors that could hurt my vision, dark kohl under her eyes and her hair styled like we were in the seventies.
"It is risky having the guards outside your door at such a sensitive time like this." She looked up and our eyes met. "And what on earth is she doing here?"
This old hag. I knew her.
The one who couldn't stop running her mouth at the private dinner after the ball.
The one who always had a problem with me for no good reason.
I gestured towards her. "She is the one we've been waiting for? The woman who's supposed to help us? This spiteful bitch?"
He headed towards the door. "Yes, and give me a minute."
The woman, however, took one step after another. And another. Until she'd planted herself right in front of me.
"If I were you, I'd hold my tongue before this spiteful bitch renders you permanently dumb," she threatened, giving me a once over.
The hatred lingered in the air between us both before Lysandros clapped his hands to call our attention.
"Rose, she's just a little girl compared to you. Let's focus on what we gathered here for." Then he turned to me. "Rose here is over a hundred years old and a powerful witch who could help us. Help you."
That was the only thing that forced me to back off and let the grudge slide. I'd revisit the situation after everything blows over.
She dug into her bag for an old book, talking as she thumbed through the pages.
"Lycanthropy is the oldest curse in history, dating as far back as the dark ages. My ancestor was one of the women who fought against it with magic, killing the last Lycan."
A hint of a proud smile tugged at the corners of her mouth as she spoke.
"I wouldn't be that smug if I were you. If your ancestor had not failed, we won't be here trying to work together," I spat, wishing for a moment that I could have my way with her.
The disdain for me shone so brightly in her eyes. I could say it was mutual.
"And that's why we're here to make sure it doesn't happen again. He can't be killed by an ordinary dagger except it has been imbued with dark magic."
Explained why my efforts crumbled to dust. My pride took a hit after that day.
"The main item I'll be needing is a lock of his hair," Rose's grey eyes found me, "and that's where you come in. Asides sucking royal cocks."
I almost lunged for her when Lysandros caught me by my waist fast enough, anger blurring the edges of my vision.
"Oh, you are so lucky!" I hissed, pushing Lysandros off. "Next time we're alone, I'll make sure to skin you alive with a bread knife."
She merely smirked, settling herself into a chair. "Hurry along, you have a King's cock to stuff yourself with. Grab that bottle on your way out and don't come back without what I need or you'll be skinning yourself."
***
Night quickly arrived and I wandered the palace again, making sure to end up not just in his chambers. This time, I went a step further to Leonidas's grand golden bath tub.
The water smelled a lot like him, soaking into my pores and causing a delicious ache to bloom.
Just when I leaned back and closed my eyes, I heard the door open and the sound of footsteps before it stopped. I grinned.
The footsteps continued until the door to the bath was opened. My eyes cracked open to find the man I'd been waiting for.
"What are you doing here?" He demanded softly, throat bobbing as he took in my naked, wet form.
God, his face was so fucking angelic with that ragged edge that had me rubbing myself to sleep every night, having explosive orgasms while screaming his name into the silence of my room.
"Glad you came on time. You were just about to miss me rubbing myself to the smell of your body." Slowly, I rose out of the water, my clit pulsing in excitement when I saw the look of hunger in his eyes.
"Y-You need to leave, Vanessa," he stuttered for words, snatching his gaze from my body. "This isn't right."
"But I'm your mate, you said so yourself. Or have you changed your mind?"
I was standing in front of him now, pressing myself against his solid form. He was so strong, so muscled, so…male.
And I'd have a taste of him even if it would be the last thing I'd do on earth.
A shadow of doubt crossed his features for a second, his breaths coming out shallow.
"You're still my mate, Psychi mou," he rasped, fingers curling around my neck so tenderly. Like he was afraid to break me. "I want you so much it hurts. A day does not go by without me thinking of how to make love to you. It fucking hurts."
"Then why not take the chance?" I took his hand and placed it right between my wet folds. He moaned at the contact. "Feel me. Wet for you. Isn't this proof of how much I want you? Should this not be enough?"
He yanked his hand away like I'd burned him, stepping out of reach while shaking his head.
When he raised his head to look at me, it was filled with so much pain I could almost touch it. For weird reasons, it made my heart ache a little.
"I can't. Not until I figure out a way to stop the beast from ripping out your throat. I don't want to repeat the same haunting mistake, kardia mou."
Refusing to let him go, not when I was this close to breakthrough, I went to him.
"If you truly love me, then keeping me safe from the beast won't be difficult because I trust you."
In his eyes swirled various conflicting emotions, ranging from lust to fear and back. I wrapped his hands around my waist again, melting into the heat of his body.
"But—" he began but I cut him short.
"No buts." Then tiptoed so I could whisper in his ear. "Just fuck me."