Mated: An Enemy King

I Take It Back

"What in God's name?"

"Your majesty, we came as soon as we could."

"Apparently not soon enough!" I said through gritted teeth to my own guard who'd come and bowed before me, breathless. The strange sight had been nothing but a cloud of dust that eventually cleared to reveal a foreign army marching towards the city gates.

I growled, staring at the long procession of soldiers whose banners were raised so high as though they had every intention to welcome me in my own land. The winged creature flying high on the wretched things let me know exactly who'd dared to waltz into my kingdom.

The pompous prick!

"Eldorians." Nuela sneered, clearly not impressed with the interruption caused by the presence of the univited guests. I shared in her sentiments too, but only because the fools had taken from me the perfect chance to be close to my mate. Now safe among her entourage, it'd taken Liira to convince Aryn that this was not a battle she should be partaking in. That she would choose to stand for Leif without a second thought had left me with a whole host of butterflies flapping their wings in my belly.

"What the hell" I ground my teeth as my own people who'd been gathered awaiting to have a glimpse of my mate were forcefully made to part as the armoured guards marched through with no intentions of stopping. The mere sight of it was both insulting and worthy of being a reason for me to wage a war against the kingdom of Eldoria and its king. It did not even matter that more than being allies, we would soon consider each other as family.

"I always knew he was insane." Koberic's displeasure at me ever having associated myself with the approaching wolf dripped with his words, but I was in no mood for his scolding.

"Bow. Light it." I linked Zakariel.

"Are you sure?" From where he'd remained ensuring that my mate was protected, my best friend raised a brow, yet not in protest.

"If he insists on being that careless, I won't be held accountable for my own actions." I hissed at the sight.

"As you wish." A guard appeared moments after with a bow armed with a flaming arrow. Taking it, I aimed and loosed.

The arrow hit my intended target and my lips curved as it put a stop to every movement except for those meant to exit the carriage that was now ablaze. The bewildered scream that followed also pacified the annoyance I and my wolf were currently feeling.

"Mythos! You shot him?!" Darla rushed to my side, for once displaying genuine emotions. I was only glad she was sensible enough to remember her place by my side instead of rushing out to comfort her own brother.

"Be glad it was not my canines you invited on his throat." I glared at her.

"You forced my hand." She defended. "Instead of caring for me, you chose to parade that witch-"

"And so what, you invite that imbecile to piss me off?"

"You cannot blame me when your days are now spent with your wretched-"

"Careful Darla." I warned, hand gripping her in a rough manner I had never used on her before.

"My sister, your chosen mate, is a foreign princess, and yet I see no procession being done for her. Not even a ball to celebrate her own engagement." The prince reached for Darla and soothed her before raising a brow in my direction. "Tell me why that is King Eugan."

"Mythos." I acknowledged him with no enthusiasm whatsoever, but if he noted that, that wretched face of his made no indication of it. He seemed unbothered by my fiery greeting too, but I found satisfaction in the annoyance he was desperately trying to hide. "Your sister maybe my chosen mate, but you cannot just waltz into my kingdom as though it were father's back yard." I was marrying his daughter, but there was no way in hell I was letting Gaden, the king of Eldoria, treat Leif as though we needed him more than he needed me.

"My sister's welfare aside, I come bearing gifts for his highness too." Mythos nodded to some Eldorian guards who brought forward a trunk. "Or perhaps I should be presenting these to the princess." A bloody sight once the lid was lifted sent the crowds gasping, but it was one particular sound and that alluring scent that had me snapping around to face my mate. Her gaze, however, was nowhere near me. "I hear they were after you, princess. Please accept my gift." The moment Mythos' lips touched my mate's hand, I knew the reason he'd risked making such a grand appearance, why he was here and I'd be damned if I let the imbecile charm my mate in any way.

"What are you doing?!" Aryn demanded as I dragged her away. "He's just delivered a worthy prisoner and are you just going to walk away?" The wretched intruders to attack my mate's entourage had evaded my men. Having one of them being delivered to like that should have had me interrogating him as soon as possible, but I had more important matters on my mind.

"Why did you not tell me that those barbarians were after you? And why in hell would you let that pile of filth lay his hands on you." I growled, caging the princess between me and the wall of her carriage.

"Because I can take care of myself and why do you care who lays a hand on me?" She glared, the swirl of anger in her eyes drawing me in, in a way it hadn't before. And now that I was paying attention, her scent held something more. something intoxicating.

"Because you are mine." I inhaled, a sudden pang of hunger for her hitting me all at once. "No one but me-"

"I'm no longer yours, you made that very clear-"

"Then I take it back." Because I couldn't stand it anymore, I dove in, taking her mouth with a furiousness she couldn't fight. I sought to make her mine again. To imprint myself on her soul, if only with my kisses. My lips curved when she did not fight me. When she let herself be kissed by me. Taking everything I was offering greedily, leaving me drunk on her and my world spinning out of control. Until it was not.