His beloved witch

Chapter 16: Negotiations and agreements

-Blanche-

I laughed.

"That is good." I thought Andre would laugh with me. However, the Lycan King stayed serious and did not change his facial expression. I blinked several times, trying to focus, trying to understand what he just said.

“You cannot be talking about war… I am mean, against who?” I felt my anger rising in my blood.

“Blanche…” He started, and I sensed Andre implied a war against the werewolves, my friends… Silvia's family!

“How dare you?” I screamed, pushing away from him, and to my surprise, Andre did not pull me back into him. "I was going to offer to stay with you for a couple of weeks, but look what you have done!”

“Were you?” He asked with a smile, extending a hand to touch me. I slapped his hand away.

“Now, I do not want to!” I crossed my arms and turned my back to him.

“I am so sorry, Blanche, but it is imperative to take you home.”

“Home? I choose where my home is!” I turned, only to glare at him with all the anger I had inside.

"You are irrational about this. Your home is with me,” Andre complained, annoyed with me this time.

“I am not irrational, you are!” It feels great to scream, but I should calm down and try to reason with him. I took a deep breath in so I can explain my point.  

“Just imagine I show up in your territory and tell you: Andre, you are my mate... Come live with me, even if we are not of the same species. Leave everything behind, family and friends, and come with me. Do not think about it... just come.” I tried to use his tone, but I failed. Deep voices are hard to imitate.

"I am a Lycan. Your scent would tell me you are my mate."

I facepalmed myself. Infuriating Lycan!

“Okay, then imagine I am the Lycan, and you are the witch or warlock, whatever… Try to wear my shoes.”

“They are not my size.”

“Not funny, you understand what I mean!”

“Blanche, originally, I planned to approach you differently. I was going to act with a little more discretion to convince you to come home today. However, I claimed you openly. That warlock touched you, and I could not help myself… "

“Your Lycan guards were covering us from other’s view, and few people heard what you said.” It is not precisely the truth because Andre roared I was his, but I will not admit that. "It should be fine. Besides, I can take care of myself alone.” I am very good at escaping. I have saved some tricks inside my pretty… Crap! I am not wearing a bra under this dress, and I have no purse with me now.

I will have to ask myself twice before choosing a pretty dress. At least this dress was worth it.

“I will not accept any risk, Blanche. You are invaluable to me, to my Kingdom. Therefore, you must move in with me for your safeguard… "

“My protection? I am perfectly fine living in this territory.” I interrupted him, raising my voice, not yelling again... yet.

"And for us to start the bonding process… " Andre continued with this smirk on his face that vexed me even more.

“Bonding?” I glower at him. “You have threatened those who are like family to me. Do you have any idea how mad I am right now? I have no intention to bond with you at all.”

Andre looked at how my chest raised and fell with every breath I took. I was fuming, yet his eyes turned red for a second, and a lustful smile appeared on his face.

"You got to be kidding me! Do you find this a turn-on? Really?" I tried to stay away from his reach.

Andre licked his lips, and I saw his chest expand as he took a deep breath of air.

“I do not want to break my treaty with this Kingdom, but if you stay and something happens to you, then it is war. Even if it was not their fault. And do try to lie, Blanche. You said it yourself... you care for them as if they were family to you. Especially the Luna Queen of Stefan. At the slightest discomfort and you rushed to her. You even protected the young Clara for a couple of years, hiding her from FDL. Besides, you were the maid of honor for Silvia and Clara. Therefore, they care deeply for you as well… I saw how much you respect Stefan. And he respects and appreciates you.” He was analyzing me! “I understand you do not want any harm towards your friends, the werewolves. Even if I do not start a war, our treaty represents protection for them against vampires.”

I try to be open about vampires and their culture, but they scare the s**t out of me. I do not want to expose my friends to any risk. Clara is close to delivering her babies; she will be vulnerable and her mate, too. Silvia wants to have another baby. They need the extra protection.

“Fine, I will go!” I rolled my eyes at him.

I will act as if I agree, and then I will escape. There are plenty of places to run and hide, and it will not be my friend’s fault.

Since Andre smiled at me, I smiled falsely at him. Then I turned my face, avoiding his stare. That will teach him to never impose his will on anyone, especially someone like me.

“Blanche…” Andre approached me, cornering me against a window, only to hold my chin between his thumb and index, lifting it to make me look at him. His green eyes shined, and I wavered for a moment. My heart leaped, betraying me. Damn hot Lycan! This magnetic pull I feel when Andre is this close is driving me crazy.

“If you ran away from me, war. If you hide, war. If you slip or someone touches your hair, war." He is impossible!

Smart asshole! I glared at him, and I felt anger running thru my veins, burning me inside.

“You are a resourceful witch, strong and very independent. I can see that. But I must protect you. In no time, everyone will know you are my mate. And my enemies will try to harm you… I have placed you in danger.”

"That is an excuse, and you know it!”

                “You can call it in the way you prefer. Your safety is not negotiable for me.” Where have I heard that before? “Now, name your terms.”

“What?”

"I got what I wanted from the start. You agreed to come with me. So... Tell me, what do you want?”

"I agreed? Is this voluntary? This is practically kidnapping! I might even develop the Stockholm syndrome because of this!"

Andre chuckled but did not move away from me. Why am I dizzy when he gets this close? I like it.

“I doubt so. You will fight the bond, even when your body is telling you to surrender.” I did not push him away to my deepest irritation. “So… name your conditions to move in with me, and I will do as you ask.”

“Really?”

"I am sure I can give you whatever you want. If not, we can compromise. The only non-negotiable… " His lips were again dangerously close to mine, tempting my soul. "Is you... I need you. I will die if you are not with me from now on.”

Lycans and werewolves are so intense about fated mates.

My mother used to tell me, be careful of what you wish for! I have wanted so many times a soulmate like werewolves have. I wished for the devotion they felt for each other. However, I should have noticed that children of the Moon are possessive of their mates. The higher the rank, the worst is their obsession. Witches and warlocks are free beings of nature. We are not like them about a partner.

"That is an exaggeration," I complained. I moved away from him and Andre gave me space.

“You do not believe me, but it is alright.” Andre seemed to be amused. “Now, let’s discuss those terms.” Is he negotiating a treaty or what?

Andre took my hand, and we sat down facing each other. Stefan's office is perfect for this negotiation.

"I want my room."

“Fine.” That was easy. I thought he would ask me to sleep in the same bed at least, and then I realized where the trick was. Lycans!

“I mean, I want my own room with my own bed, to sleep by myself, alone. I am not sharing my bed.”

Andre smirked.

“You can always invite me in, or you can come to my bed. I do not mind snuggling with you whenever you want.” I blushed. “And we need to wait before having s*x… So, it is fine.”

“I do not want to feel like a prisoner. I want to come and go to your territory and others freely. I want to visit my friends whenever I want.”

"Fine. However, there is a condition. You must always take a team of guards with you if I cannot go with you."

“I dislike that."

"As my mate, you have become a target. Never alone, Blanche." Andre seems sincere about his concern. I wonder if it is dangerous for him if something happens to me? 

“Okay.” Just in case.

“I want personal spaces for me. I want a room to set my laboratory and another room with access to a garden or scenery. I like to paint.”

“Consider it done.”

“You cannot touch me.”

“No… That is too much…”

I almost laughed. Andre looked outraged.

"My body, my rules, my King." I lifted an eyebrow at him. "I am forced to move in with you; it is only fair."

“Maybe we can negotiate this.” He tried again. “I want one hundred kisses and fifty hugs per day besides… "

“What about zero? No kisses, hugs, rubbing, humping… In summary, no physical contact at all if I do not initiate it or allow it.”

“But…”

“You want me to give a chance to this mate bond thing with you, or just keep me under your thumb?”

“Fine.” Andre frowned but accepted.

“My last condition is time.” He looked at me, puzzled. "I will live in your territory, with you, just for one year."

“What?”

“We both need a way out. You do not know me, and I do not know you. Under the spell of this mate thing, you might think everything will work out without considering other factors.” Andre does not know what my curse consists of or how I was cursed. Who knows how is he going to react after learning about it?

"I am a Lycan. You are my mate. You will always be my mate." He is so sure...

"We have spoken about negotiable and non-negotiable things. Witches have long lives; I do not want to chain myself to a long, painful life by your side, making you miserable while you make me miserable.” He still did not want to agree. “I am not stupid, my King. Consent is also important for Lycans." Touché. I dated a Lycan before. Oh s**t! Leon! Leon is his Minister of Defense. Would it be a deal-breaker? Do I want it to be a deal-breaker?

Andre smiled at me again.

“Fine. I accept the challenge.” Andre took my hand and kissed my palm. I narrowed my eyes at him.

“Challenge?” I questioned him.

Andre snickered.

“I will make you fell in love with me, witch.” Andre kissed my forearm, pulling me over to the table that separated us. He stood up and took a seat next to me.

“It will be a long road," I said and shivered at his closeness… Andre kissed my arm.

“Hey, you have just agreed not to touch me…” Andre kissed my neck softly.

“You are allowing me…” He smiled against my skin. Why am I not stopping him? How are my arms around his neck?

“Tell me to stop, and I will.” Andre kissed my jaw.

I know the answer to my question. I cannot lie to myself. I do not stop him, because I like his hair, his smell, I like him… and I am hungry. This Lycan is so yummy.

“Andre…” I moaned while his lips trailed kisses from the vein of my neck to my face.

“We must seal our agreement.” He said against the skin of my cheek before he pulled away to look at my eyes.

I was lost in his eyes and drawn by his smell. I nodded while Andre leaned over me, reducing the space between us. And I allowed him.

“I will earn your trust, Blanche.” He said solemnly before kissing me to close our negotiations.