The Bastard Prince

9 Being with her mate.

Karic walked back to the room he’s been given in the servant quarters. He paced the length of the small room feeling like a caged animal, because he couldn’t do what his heart told him to do.

Go back into that house, and rip Phillip’s heart out.

How dare he threaten Bella? How dare he tell him what to do?

Fuck…he screamed through clenched teeth, knowing very well that Phillip will do what he set out to do if he didn’t kill Bella’s brother.

A thought filtered into his mind. He could run away with her. They could just run. He knew she would say yes, if he explained everything to her.

Karic shook his head, because he knew that King Stefan will find him anywhere. He had time and the resources. And he would only be putting Bella in danger. And his father was not known for his mercy.

No. He had to kill her bother.

But she’ll never forgive him. He didn’t know her well, but he knew this. She will never forgive him, if he so much as touched a hair on her brother’s head.

Fuck… his stomach clenched painfully, and he felt like he was about to vomit.

Karic folded down until he was sitting on the floor.

How can fate be this cruel? Give him a glimpse of what his life could be if he was lucky enough to find someone who could love him, someone who would want him.

Damn…and she wanted him. And he wanted her.             

Karic closed his eyes, and touched his lips as he remembered the sweet kiss they had shared. It had been something out of a dream.

Something he will never forget for as long as he lived.

But now he had to betray her.

Oh God…Karic sank his fingers into his hair, clenching tight until it hurt.

He needed the pain, because nothing is going to hurt more than seeing Bella and knowing what he did to her.

For her, this is for her, he reasoned as he got to his feet and started to pace again. He was doing this for her.

He kills her brother and she lives, Karic thought coming to a stop in the middle of the room. He knew she’ll never forgive him, but at least he would have saved her.

He walked to the bed, and sat down as he thought about how he was going to do this. He will go see her tonight. They will talk, and perhaps share a moment that will hold him for the rest of his life.

And in the morning when all else was quiet and people were still in their beds, he will take her brother out into the forest and kill him.

His heart clenched in his chest painfully. Prince Killengly seemed like a kind man. It was a shame that his fate will end like this.

Karic dropped down on the bed, and closed his eyes. His heart and head ached, because he couldn’t think of any other way to get out of this.

How did he even care about a woman he didn’t know so deeply?

“s**t,” he said to the empty room, because he knew without a doubt he will kill for her.

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Bella turned this way and that, trying to see herself in the mirror to make sure that her nightshirt sat just right. It was made of silk and it came to just below her knee.

A well born lady shouldn’t meet a man at night in her room dressed in something like this. But she was meeting her mate.

It shouldn’t be a problem. She just wanted to look good for him.

At times like this she regretted not bringing her maid. But she couldn’t pull Safrina away from her new found husband. It wouldn’t be fair.

But she wished she was here none the less. Now she doesn’t know if she looked good for her mate or not.

She wanted another kiss from him, and not just on the lips.

She shivered as she remembered how it had felt when he ran his tongue along her neck. 

Damn…she covered her face with her hands as she blushed.

No, they had to talk first. And perhaps she had to find out his name first.

I don’t even know his name, Bella groaned embarrassed. She needed to use her brain for a few minutes before giving into the demands of her body.

“Find out his name,” Bella said adamantly to herself as she turned this way and that making sure she was decent. She looked good, she thought as she smoothed her hair down her back. She moved to the bed, and sat down because she would continue to fuss if she remained in front of the mirror.

She took a deep breath and smoothed the silky smooth cloth of her nightshirt down her thighs. She trembled slightly in anticipation.

Shit…she needed to calm down. They were only going to talk.

Okay, she thought taking a deep breath and then another but she still wasn’t relaxing. Maybe if she thought of something else.

Her mind turned to the delicious dinner that the duke had served. It had almost been perfect accept everyone seemed to be nervous.

She knew that the Grand King was due to arrive tomorrow. She was also nervous too. It would be the first time she met the man who killed her family but she wasn’t going to concern herself with that. War was war, and her family had fought their fair share of them, in order to protect their kingdom, they even kept slaves. So she didn’t feel any ill will for the Grand King. He was only increasing his power and protecting their lands.

 Bella just didn’t understand why the duke seemed to be nervous the most.

The man was usually bubbly and a conversationalist, but tonight he was quiet and critical of everyone, including his daughter who was openly staring at Phillip, and not paying any attention to Dominic.

Not that Dominic noticed. He was also preoccupied.

Bella had focused on her dinner ignoring everyone else. She had other things to worry about. Like the fact that her mate didn’t know that she was a hybrid vampire.

Bella took a deep breath trying to relax. She’ll have to see what happened when she told him. There was no use worrying about it now.

A few moments go by before there was a knock at the door. Bella jumped to her feet and then went to open the door.

“Princess,” Micah said as he moved aside to let her mate through the door. She watched him as he walked through the door. He had changed into a simple tunic shirt that fit him to perfection and long pants that hugged his thighs. His boots shone with a clean gloss. He was simply dressed but he was gorgeous.

It was clear he wasn’t a rich man, and he could clearly be prince Phillip’s servant, but Bella didn’t care. He was her mate, that’s all she cared about.

Micah closed the door for them, and then they were left all alone.

Damn… tingles ran up and down her body making her so aware of him.

Bella nervously clasped her hands in front of her. She followed her mate’s every move. He moved with grace and a sureness that she loved. She wished she could run into his arms.

But they had to talk first.

“May I ask for your name?” she asked walking to the bed and sitting down. Her mate turned and faced her. His eyes crawled up from her naked feet up her legs, her thighs lingering in places until they settled on her face.

Bella was breathless by the time he looked into her eyes.

“My name…” he stared at her as if he wasn’t sure he wanted to give her his name. “Karic, that’s my name.” He said moving closer to her. “It’s strange that we’ve already kissed and you don’t even know my name.”

“Yes,” Bella said looking down at her toes. Of course she knew why. She just had to tell him.

She sat down on the bed, and pointed to one of the two chairs in the room. She needed him to sit down for this.

Karic turned to the chair, and then moved to sit down.

Please don’t reject me, Bella sent a prayer above and then opened her mouth to speak. But Karic moved towards her.

“You’re too far,” he said coming to sit next to her. His arm came around her and he pulled her close. “We are doomed you and I,” he said in a tortured whisper.

At his words, Bella felt her heart squeeze.

Why would he say something like that?

She turned to face him.

Was he rejecting her already?

“It’s not…”  Bella begun, but Karic closed his mouth over hers.

“For tonight, baby, don’t talk. I want to touch you, because tomorrow is not promised,” he said pulling her down with him onto the bed.

Bella whimpered allowing him to lay her down on her back.

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She whimpered. The sound did something to Karic.

Karic let it. He let it drown out the doubts, and render his mind unthinking, because if he started to think he would stop touching her. He shouldn’t be doing this, he knew.

But he couldn’t help himself.  

He growled deepening the kiss, flicking his tongue against hers in a carnal move that had her melting into the mattress. He ran his hand over her body going down to her thighs until he had the nightshirt scrunched up in his hand as he pulled it up to her waist. He ran his fingers over her soft skin, desperately wanting to touch her skin.

“You’re so soft,” he said loving the feel of her. He wanted savor this moment for the rest of his life.  Karic kissed down her body, his hand that had the nightshirts scrunched in his fist pulled up to under her breasts, until his lips met with her soft skin.

“Karic,” she moaned his name arching into his mouth, and Karic flicked his tongue against her skin tasting her the way he’d dreamed of doing.

He licked down her body until her was met by lacy panties that enticed him to no end. He kissed around them seeking her honey.

Bella whimpered as he let go of her nightshirt and pulled on her panties. Her fingers sank into his hair mumbling incoherently as he kissed her thigh.

And then he stopped.

Fuck…

He can’t do this to her. Not like this. Karic closed his eyes, feeling his entire body rebelling. He should finish what they started in the forest it urged him…he had to…now!

But he couldn’t do this!

He couldn’t make love to her and then turn around and kill her brother.

But then she will die, a small voice said to him.

Shit… he pulled away from the bed, and walked to the door.

“Please don’t leave,” Bella begged. She wasn’t ashamed to beg him. She needed her mate, badly. A craving so painful bubbled within her mingling with the desire that was pumping in her veins.

“I have to,” Karic said walking out of the room. He felt his heart pull. And he could have sworn that he left it in that room with her.