Mated: An Enemy King

Desiring The Royal Wolf

The castle at Wrenyth was certainly not big enough for the two of us! Why did he have to move here? Why couldn't he have stayed at his own palace? I glared at the majestic thing in the distance, It stood as proudly as its owner had when announcing he would be invading my temporal residence. I had no doubt that the castle to house the king of Leif was bigger, adorned in more luxury than Wrenyth, so why the hell would Eugan choose to move here? The thing even housed his lover... Argh! The thought of Darla chose the worst moment to cross my mind.

"My princess, please. This is really not good for you." Rinarii, even though declaring her concern confidently, remained wary of my frustrated angry self. She stood a distance away from me, looking ready to bolt if at all I decided to bite her head off too as I had with the other maids assigned to me. "Should I call lady Liira perhaps-"

"No!" I fanned myself furiously, feeling the rage and heat boiling deep within spill over. Even when I stood on the balcony where a very cool breeze blew, my body refused to cool down. What was this? I gulped down another cup of cold water and yet it did nothing for my patched throat. If I didn't get the heat plaguing me, I was sure I would combust.

"A physician then?"

"Absolutely not!" I growled, waving my maid away. I may not have known what ailed me, but I was sure it was nothing needing some royal physician. "I just need to cool down."

"A cold bath, perhaps?"

"The stream-" I leaned on the edge of the balcony and peeked down below. The flowing water sparkled in the moonlight and instead of singing to me of my own failure to not fall for my mate, this time it beckoned me, promising me relief. I didn't need to be invited twice.

It was not exactly appropriate for a princess to be out there, flaunting her nakedness in the dark, neither was it safe, but I hoped to find a secluded part of the stream hidden by the woods that surounded the castle. "Come with me." I grabbed hold of my maid's hand and together we flew out of my bed chambers and past Alad who'd been in his his usual spot outside my doors.

"Princess?" Alad called, surprise lacing his tone, but there was no moment to explain.

"But your bathroom is back that way, my lady." Rinarii retorted.

"Forget the bath. I'll have a swim instead." As though my life depended on it, I raced down the hallway towards the castle's long winding staircase that led to the floors below.

"N-Now?" My maid froze, forcing me to a stop. "Forgive me, my lady, but I can not let you do this. Who knows what beasts could be lurking in the darkness of this strange land?"

"You are free to stay then." Driven by my predicarment and the peace the stream outside these walls promised, I let go of Rinarii's hand and scurried down the quiet hallway much to my maid's protest.

"Please reconsider, princess." Rinarii caught up and whispered beside me, maintaining the quiet that surrounded us, thankfully. I was in no mood or shape to entertain anyone who would be woken to my state. Especially not my great grandmother.

But of course when it came to my mate, the gods refused to grant me even the tiniest of wishes. Although, this time around, I was not sure if I should curse them or offer them the highest praise when Eugan's presence inspired a war within me. I wished to run to and away from him in one breath even as whatever ailed me intensified.

"What is he doing here? And who the hell gave him the right to parade himself around my castle naked?" I cursed as my feet ground to a halt at the top of the stairs. I was too damned hot and beholding the king of Leif in all his majestic glory and... more, threatened to incinerate every part of me.

"Technically, it's his castle. And he is hardly naked. That is a proper dress for a commander-"

"I didn't ask for your very expert opinion!" I snapped at Alad who'd finally caught up to me. And what was that? He was hardly naked? Easy for him to say. Eugan had is back to me while he conversated with his men, but God, just the way those muscles flexed as he pointed to whatever it is he wished for them to look at, left me shamelessly desiring the royal wolf to no end. I needed that swim before I made a fool of myself in a foreign land.

Grabbing hold of my gown, I descended the stairs, hoping not to catch my mate's attention, but as always I was in for a disappointment. I'd barely reached the bottom of the flight of stairs before he blocked my way.

"Princess, good evening."

I froze. Legs pressed together while my hands clenched into fists even as I hoped that that would be enough to keep me from reaching out and caressing the tempting torso. It was easier said than done as desire to do more raged the longer I stayed in his presence. Was he deliberately here to tempt me with that perfect body of his?

It was more than that, however. Now that I was this close, Eugan's nakedness was not the entire reason for my shameless behaviour, I realized. It was simply him...and his wolf?

I felt him, desired him, them, in a way I hadn't before. How was that possible?

"Are you alright-"

"Stay away from me!" He had to know and yet he pretended not to? Was he only interested in displaying how he could easily have me melting for him?

"Forgive me." Eugan raised his hands, but still came closer, his overwhelming and alluring scent a punishment I was not prepared for. I inhaled, right before I bolted for the woods.

"Aryn?!" Even his voice was enough to make me wish to give in, but I willed my legs to carry me to the stream. If only I could get there, then this madness would be over.