Mated: An Enemy King

Taking Care Of You

Was there such a thing as a walk of shame when one had spent the entire night with their mate? Because my early morning trip back to the ancient castle of Wrenyth felt pretty much like I was making one.

"You aren't exactly walking, Aryn." My mind was quick to point out the fact and I blushed all over again, wishing I could disappear altogether. Thanks to my legs that had done more than they should have and chose the worst time to protest, together with my overly thoughtful and demanding mate, I was not allowed to walk back to the castle.

I could ask Eugan to put me down, but like every other time, he would simply glare and inform me that unless my request involved asking him to make love to me all over again, he would not be granting me a damn thing. It had been the same answer he'd given when I demanded he leave, before pulling me right back in his embrace and shutting his eyes. My attempts to escape him were met with possessive growls and him tightening his hold until sleep overwhelmed me.

Resigned to my fate, I wrapped my arms around his neck instead and hid in his chest. Not that that would make it any better, but I needed to do something... anything to avoid the many pairs of eyes that fell on us the moment Eugan emerged from the woods with me nestled in his arms. It was still dawn and while the sun was not yet up, the first lights in the sky and the wolf vision everyone possessed were enough for anyone to witness the sight as though it were in broad daylight, which only deepened the embarassment I felt.

Eugan had made me all better. The rage, the heat, had all been banished by his kisses, his touch, him being buried deep inside of me, but as glorious as it had been, it'd not served me from all the feelings of embarassment that came with the memory of how I'd shamelessly offered myself to him.

"Good morning, your majesty, my queen." A guard from Leif greeted and I did not miss how he addressed me. I waited for his king to correct him, but Eugan merely nodded and kept walking towards the castle's doors.

"Will you not correct him? I'm not exactly your queen." I retorted and whatever response I expected from him, it was not the glorious sound of his possessive growl that dared me to say anything of the sort again. I was about to, but a familiar figure that came rushing out of the castle doors drew my attention.

"God, Aryn, are you okay? What happened?" Alad fussed as he looked me over before glaring at Eugan. "I thought you said she was fine and not to worry." He'd let everyone know I was okay and not to worry? The idea of it had heat crawling up to my face. And who exactly was everyone? I hoped to God that meant Alad only.

"I'm fine, Alad." I quickly said when I felt Eugan stiffen at my sworn protector's accusation. "Just... will you help me? His majesty was just leaving." Prefering to lean on my best friend than being carried into the castle by Eugan, I held out my hand for Alad to take, but a deep growl rumbled from my mate's chest, leaving Alad frozen while I scowled. But if Eugan noticed my reaction, he did nothing to acknowledge it even as he marched into the castle.

"Is everything ready?" Eugan stopped to inquire. Not knowing who he was addressing, I craned my neck to get a clear view. I caught Rinarii in a respectful bow, together with two other maidens I knew where from Leif.

"Yes, your majesty. Just as Lord Zakariel had requested."

Lord Zakariel? "I'm sorry, but what is going on here?" Rinarii's eyes widened, as if she was only remembering my presence now.

"Good morning, my lady. Good to see you unharmed. You shouldn't have taken off like that." Was she scolding me instead of answering?

"I believe I asked you a question- hey, I was still talking to her." I glared at Eugan when he decided to continue walking before I could have my answer. "Did you suddenly become hard of hearing?"

"If you don't have a bath soon, you might really become sick. I can't have that." He eventually mumbled and I could argue with that, but that would mean me praising him for keeping me so comfortably warm I did not miss my own bed. "Why do you care if I get sick? And whose fault is it that I stayed out the entire night?" I huffed as he made his way up the staircase.

"Naturally one's mate cares if their mate gets sick."

"Naturally?" I scoffed. "It didn't seem to bother you when you rejected me." I mumbled under my breath, but of course with his wolf hearing, I might as well have been screaming. His sudden stiff posture and clenched jaws gave him away. He, however, said nothing as he stepped into my bed chambers and walked past my bed and into the bathroom and only then did he let me down. A sweet scented steaming hot bath awaited me and only then did I realize what it was he'd asked of Rinarii.

"What are you doing?" I panicked when he did not turn to leave but laid his hands on my gown and began undoing it.

"Taking care of you-"

"I can do this on my own. Besides I have maids. You are free to leave-"

"Do not ask me to leave." He growled even as annoyance marred his features. That, however, only lasted a moment before Eugan headed for the door. And for whatever strange reason I longed for him to stay then. "Zakariel will stay here-"

"I don't need him, I have my own sworn protector-"

"Seeing how easy it is for you to slip his watch, I doubt he can take care of you. Besides I see how you look at him. I have no doubt that if I was not your mate, you'd want nothing more than him to be." I blinked at his assumptions that were awfully correct? Had he perhaps heard me that night? And why the hell was he being this strange?