It was why it was so important for me to walk in the light. To stay on the side of steadfast morality. I had the power to enslave people to my will. If I veered or wavered, I had the power to be the biggest tyrant any wolf shifter had ever known, something the royals in this kingdom had once hoped to use to their advantage.Hadused, actually, for too many years, by capturing people and tethering them to the crown.
“I would rather never have met her than to meet her and have to give her away,”my wolf whined. “Especially if we have to deliver her directly into danger.”
“She delivered herself into danger,”I said, hardening myself to the idea. I knew well I’d need to do it over and over again. I couldn’t let desire win; for this insatiable need for her to win.
“Our duty is to protect her.”
“Our duty is to protect our kingdom. She, unfortunately, chose to put our people in danger.”
“She is also incredibly rare. They say most people never meet theirs.Ever.And here she is, stashed away for safe keeping, waiting for us to find her. And we did find her, against all odds. Why would it happen if it wasn’t meant to be?”
“I don’t know,”I said honestly, suddenly incredibly tired.“A cruel joke by the gods? Karma? Take your pick. It seems like this life is bringing us one nightmare after another. Maybe if we can get through this one last trial, we’ll finally find some peace.”
He responded with a sardonic laugh and I appreciated him not sharing whatever comment he thought. Even now, I longed to go back to her. To revel in her beauty and free her of her troubles. To learn about her, detail by detail, patiently studying each curve and savoring each breath.
It was crazy to feel this way about a person I’d never met, but even so, I just wanted to hold her. To lose myself in her. To find an equal I couldn’t control with my will and didn’t have to stay so damn rigid with all the time. My role meant I constantly had to walk a fine line of dominance. I had to constantly prove I was trustworthy, and that I was agood guy. That I wasn’t asserting my will in an unethical manner, even with sexual partners.
It was exhausting.
Occasionally I just wanted to break free. I wanted to exult in my darkness and fuck like the world was burning around me.
But because of my past, I could not waver in my duty. Not even for something as incredibly rare as finding my true mate.
Chapter 4
Aurelia
Istared at the blackness for several long moments, still shaking with pleasure, my brain a stupefied, blissed-out mess. A boneless, sated puddle.
What a fucking ride! Ho-ly balls!
I felt the ghosts of his hands on my skin. His fervent kisses. His large, plunging cock...
I stood and dusted off my hands and knees before pulling up my trousers, looking back in the direction of the work shed. I wanted to try that flower again. It was important to know what exactly had prompted such an incredible journey, and how easy it was to duplicate. There wasn’t time, though. Granny was expecting her delivery and I’d be punished if she didn’t get it, despite it not actually being my job.
I crouched down and felt across the dirt for my lantern, finding it at the side of the path. Reviving it, I waited for the indigo light to glow before stooping to pick up Granny’s bag and continuing on my way.
Wouldn’t it be nice if cocks really did taste like candy.
Huffing out a laugh while shaking my head, I relished in the euphoria from two amazing climaxes. I followed the bend inthe path to Granny’s house. Once there, I knocked three times, indicating it was me.
Footsteps sounded on creaking floorboards and then the door swung open, revealing an aged woman with sharp brown eyes and curled, gray hair. A flowing dress covered her plump body, the few extra pounds not at all hindering how fast she could move, especially in wolf form.
“Aurelia, what a surprise.” Her tone was sharp. “Where’s Razorfang?”
“He wasn’t feeling well,” I said easily. “He asked that I bring this here so that he could go lay down.”
Her gaze traveled my face and then swept down my body, coming back up and pausing on my hair for a moment. Her nose flared slightly in distaste.
A rush of anxiety made me wonder what I looked like. I’d envisioned someone clutching it in a fist, yanking it. Hopefully that hadn’t been me doing it, projecting my desire onto a phantom hand. Hmm. I’d need to watch someone else take the journey and then recount their experiences to get a better idea of how it worked.
A strange pang of jealousy pinched my gut, thinking of anyone else ending up with my mind creation, touched in the way he’d touched me, kissed with those expressive lips.
“Are you okay?” she finally asked.
I startled, unable to stop myself from reaching up to smooth my hair.
“I’m not really sure actually,” I said honestly, my laugh shaky. “I think I’ve stumbled upon a new drug, created from the glowing flower I found. I seem to have accidentally administered it to myself.” I put out my hand. “I’m not totally sure how yet. I hadn’t realized I had until I was on my way here. I have a few suspicions but...” I shook my head. “I need to think about this some more. I have too many questions.”
