His beloved witch

Chapter 23: Our first bedtime story

-Andre-

Blanche is everything I could have asked for and more. f**k, so much more! And now, I can hear her heart even from far. If I could sleep with her every night, I am sure our mating process would fasten up, and she would accept the claim of my Lycan sooner.

I took a quick shower and got ready. Adela was at my door, already waiting for me.

“Please, report as we walk," I asked her on our way to my office.

“We need to schedule the interview for the new Minister of Defense, your Highness." Adela is always on top of everything.

“Who is it?”

“The old general…” I remember him. Octavio Mongrut, a former general.

“Remind me, why Octavio was not our first option?”

“Mr. Mongrut is enjoying his retirement with his family, Your Highness. And you wanted someone young who could connect with younger generations of our military forces. Disregarding his age, he is loyal and willing to serve.”

“Fine, schedule the interview with him tomorrow.” I cannot interview him on the ground as I did with the others, but this will have to do.

"In urgent matters. There was an accident in a factory at one of our borders. The Minister of Production got involved."

“I think the Minister of Labor should be involved as well. We need to make sure the employees are taken care of. And that the company has complied with all regulations and permits for its operation.”

"Yes, sir." Adela smiled while taking notes.

"And I want reports… "

“Yes, you will have them on your desk tomorrow morning, Your Highness.”

“Good.”

I used twenty minutes to check my emails and sign pending contracts. My work only piles up. And I need spare time to be with Blanche. I should learn to be more efficient with my time.

“Your Highness, there is a request from Mr. Charles Reyes for a visit tomorrow.”

“The reason?”

“He wants to discuss the treaty for free commerce of wheat and potatoes with our Kingdom.”

“Does he have that kind of power in the Council Magic?” I was told it was impossible because witches and warlocks consume what they produce only.

“If they send him to do it, Your Highness, he should come on behalf of the Council.”

The Commerce Chamber has filed that request for decades, and my father tried once, but they say no. My minister tried again but told me they did not want to even discuss it. I find it odd that the Council Magic sends someone like him regarding a dead issue now.

“Do you not find it suspicious? My engagement with Blanche is public… Would that visit be related to that instead?”

“We will know once he is here, Your Highness. Maybe Miss Blanche is bringing us good luck in that aspect, too." I would love to sign that agreement.

"Fine. Schedule it." I agreed, and my Lycan got anxious. "Please, can you try to find out information about him?" I hate surprises.

The anxiety of my Lycan increased out of nowhere, and the face of Blanche appeared on my mind, taking all my attention from my documents. I needed to see her.

"We can continue tomorrow at seven." I train from six in the morning. I usually have a light breakfast at nine. What would be the habits of my Queen?

I was almost running to her room. Stupid Cara set the room of my mate to the opposite wing. But if she thinks that would stop me, she got it totally wrong.

When I was about to knock at Blanche’s door, she opened it.

The soft smile on her lips reached her eyes when she saw me. She hugged me like we had not seen each other in a while.

"Did you miss me?" I asked, teasing her but hoping it was true.

Blanche snorted, but instead of a clever response, she buried her face in my chest. I took it as a sign to kiss the top of her head, and she only hugged me tighter.

Goddess, Blanche smells even better now. However, my nose told me someone was close to her.

"Cara was here. What did she do?" I held her arms, inspecting her, sniffing her in case Cara did something to her. It was in her hand where the scent of Cara was stronger.

Blanche pulled me inside of her room.

"Yes. Cara came... What a nose you have!"

“What did she want?” I feel the anger burning inside of my stomach.

“She convinced me about taking those noble ladies.”

“You do not have to accept anything from anyone. Not even from me.” This is ridiculous. I warned my father. Did he not pass my message to his mate? “I will make it clear to her.” I was about to leave when Blanche grabbed my forearm, keeping me in place.

My witch caressed my cheek with affection. All my anger evaporated looking at her amber eyes.

“You are so young, so passionate about everything.” She almost whispered. “I am worried about you. If what she says is true, your enemies…”

“Blanche, please trust in me. I know what I am doing.” And one of those ladies is a psycho, while the other is a spy.

“Cara said you are picking fights with nobles with power and money. Are they dangerous to you? Do not hide things from me. I want to help you… I can help you, damn it!” How endearing is her kittenish anger!

“Blanche, I can manage those nobles. You worry too much.” Regardless, it feels great to be bathed in her affection. “I do not want any of those females around you.” I am dying to pull her to me.

“It is said, keep your friends close but your enemies closer…”

“What do you mean?”

“Let's take those ladies, but add another three chosen by Adela. People of your trust to follow them."

“What are you planning?”

“If we accept…” I loved it when Blanche talks that way about us on the same side. “Those noble families will have nothing against you. Then, I will cast the females out with a cause, and their families will lose face. As a plus, we can overhear what they are planning against you. I would call it counterintelligence!” A light of mischievousness sparked in her eyes. My witch enjoys these things.

I have the best mate, the best ally.

“I do not want to risk my Queen for anything in the world.”

"Do you play chess?" I nodded. "Well, the Queen is a fundamental piece to win a game because she can move in every direction and can be the perfect bait for the opponent.”

“It is too early in the game to risk my Queen." What am I saying? "I will not risk you.” I will let nothing or anyone close to her.

Blanche looked at her bed and then at me.

“Sleep with me.”

"Yes!" I said without thinking. I thought she would agree just to irk Cara about it. But this was too easy.

"Wait. Why did you change your mind?"

“Because that way I can protect you, and you can protect me.” My heart skipped a beat. “I will use protection spells on my bed tonight and my room tomorrow. Your palace is too big for my power. I will have to do it slowly.” Blanche looked around before looking at me. “I can claim this place as my territory, for the magic of another witch or warlock will not work here. You will be safe with me.”

"I am your territory. Claim me, too," I told her before kissing her. She cannot say those things and still expect me to do nothing!

"Andre!" she complained between my kisses. "Andre! Stop!" Blanche broke our kiss and pushed my chest away with her soft hands. I locked my arms around her. “Does it mean yes?” She asked, flustered.

“I am still against having those females close to you.”

“Why? Because one of them is your ex-girlfriend, Lydia, the crazy. And the other a failed suitor, Marcela. Did you have something with Lorenza Valois, too?”

“Are you jealous?”

“Do you want them?”

“No. I want you.”

“Are you committed to this new relationship with me?”

“Yes. I have told you; you are my soulmate. You are the only female in my heart.”

“Then, should I be worried?”

"No… but I dislike how you can be so rational about this.” Blanche giggled. "By the way, none of them was my girlfriend. I am not a saint, but I have better taste."

“Andre, I am not a sweet, weak lady waiting to be rescued. I am a witch, and I am a survivor." Survivor… There is more to tell each other. I want to know her story. If we sleep together, I will get to know her better. “I am not afraid of risks because I can manage them, and I can solve problems.”

The idea of those three ladies following her makes me nervous. Especially Lydia… However, if I can place my hands on them doing something wrong, it will be easy to defeat their families.

“If I accept, I want something else.”

She looked at me, outraged by my boldness. I am asking even more from her at this stage.

“Dude, I am doing it for your own good!”

I chuckled. Blanche is cute when she frowns.

“If you want to protect me by doing something against my wishes.” It is easier to see the mote in someone else’s eye but the beam in one's own. I have realized how much she cares about consent and independence. She winced, selling herself. The hypocrisy. I wanted to laugh. I want to sleep with her but for a less noble cause than hers.

“Alright, tell me your conditions so we can compromise about this matter.” Blanche is determined to protect me.

“I want to kiss you as much as I want. Hold you as much as I want.”

“You already do.” Blanche blushed and looked somewhere else.

I chuckled.

"Not even close!" I exclaimed, and she laughed. “Still, I want your consent.”

"Fine. I like you close, and I enjoy…" She looked at my lips and then at my chest, blushing. We are on the same page now, my Queen. "But if I say no, you leave me alone. Do we have a deal?"

“Yes, we do.” I tried to corner her and have my way with her before dinner. We need some satisfaction. “And I assure you, I will find a way around that witch’s promise.”

Blanche giggled and moved fast away from me.

My lips curled up in a smile.

I understood then, she could have escaped from me from the beginning. Blanche has accepted my kisses and my caresses all this time.

“We are late for dinner.” She walked to her vanity to fix her makeup. And when she turned to me, she had a tissue on her hand to clean my face. Blanche was ready for dinner when I showed up at her door.

The beast inside of me was at peace while she groomed me.

I asked Adela to move my clothes and key items to Blanche’s room by mind link. My staff should finish the task by the time we go to bed.

Dinner started well.

Most of my ministers are mated, and those who are unmated were sitting far from Blanche. She does not have my mark on her neck, and I feel as if those males look at her with desire. My Lycan side wants to kill them.

Would it be the mate bond? Or would it be my crazy and out-of-control Lycan? Richard and Josh warned me to avoid suffocating a child of nature like Blanche with my jealousy or my desire to protect her. And I am doing my best.

However,

I did not expect to find this dinner so difficult. She smiled at another male and I wanted to punch the guy. Who cares if I lose a minister or two? Blanche is mine! Mine!

I was dying to pick her in my arms and lock her in her room. Her eyes should be on me, and me only. But by some miracle, Blanche moved her hair and showed her neck. She is uncomfortable with the necklace; I know. And saw it, the hickey I left on her earlier. She is a witch; she does not heal as Lycans do… Damn. I should be careful with her. I could bruise her by accident.

"Thank you for your suggestions, my Queen. I find them enlightening." My minister of labor said, blushing. I am not sure if her intelligence or her beauty took aback him. He is single and young… What is he doing here? He should be at our borders attending the accident!

Calm down, Andre. We need to stop our jealousy. It is being just a couple of hours that I asked him to be involved.

Hearing Blanche talking about her company was a surprise for my father. Cara's face was priceless; she does not understand how to make money, she only knows how to spend it.

Blanche has years of experience as an entrepreneur and worries about her employees. Even though she sold her part of that company. Regarding our issue of increasing international commerce, she suggested asking the Chambers of Commerce or their equivalent in other Kingdoms with help from the Ministry o External Affairs, what were the surplus of products they would trade.

This dinner was a success.

My belongings were in Blanche's room, as I expected. But my confident witch was nervous about spending our first night together.

"Can you move the bed?" She had a small bag in her hands.

I had already taken off my shirt, and I found amusing her eyes wandering around my body.

Moving the bed was easy. Holding back the urge to pull Blanche under me on that bed was hard. She took off her shoes before performing the protection ritual.

Blanche drew on the floor a big circle with a perfect pulse, and then more drawings while chanting about health, power, and peace. Then, she lighted up candles on some spots in that circle. And inside she placed a glass of water, a small plate with salt, and another with pepper. Finally, she mumbled my name with her eyes closed and burned incense.

She pulled me inside of the circle and kept the incense in her hand while circling me with it. I liked the smell. It married perfectly with her scent. Between her chants in a low voice, I distinguished one in particular.

"Beloved Goddess and ancient forces of Nature listen to my prayer, grant your light and protection to Andre Carvalho. Please assess the virtue of his heart and the purity of his soul. He deserves your protection for which I offer my own." I wanted to ask what it means, but it did not seem appropriate.

The ritual ended, and I moved the bed back to its place. She was happy. Her goddess would protect me now.

When she went to change into her pajamas, her phone rang. I could hear her from our bed. Great hearing is an advantage when your mate has her phone always with her. Again, I need to tame the monster of jealousy.

“Francisco! How are you?”

Who is this guy? Calm down, beast! Just listen.

"Yeah, great! No… I mean, sure... I am fine… No, I can come and visit you instead… " What? “Oh, if you are so worried, come for a visit! I am sure Andre would not mind. Hahaha… No! Stop! Hahaha… Fine. See you tomorrow!” 

I was anxious and jealous. I have never experienced so many emotions in just one day.

“Andre, Francisco Moreau was my mother’s boyfriend.” She explained. “The news about our engagement got to the news. He is a friend and wants to be sure I am alright here." Blanche got to her side of the bed.

“Absolutely, I would love to meet him.”

I chuckled.

"How did you know this is my favorite side of the bed?"

"Lucky guess." I did not know. "It must be that we are meant to be together."

Blanche laughed; she is more receptive now to me.

“Francisco comes from a family of witches and warlocks, but has less magic than others. Some people like him can turn into bad guys, but not Francisco.”

“Is there a story you would like to tell me?”

“How sleepy are you?” She asked, getting more comfortable next to me. Her cheek was resting on her palm, looking at me.

“I have the energy to do a lot of exercise under the shits." I am not joking, but she laughs. "So, I can be up until dawn." I got closer to her.

“Then, our first bedtime story will be about my grandmother." She changed her voice to a deeper one. "Kassandra Lebrun. The evil witch of the east..."