Page 46 of Her Royal Blood

I looked forward to the day when I could use magic easily and without physical consequences like fatigue and illness.

“Do you think you have enough strength to help me project an image onto the sky like Sire did for your wedding to Polonius?” Lex asked, fully dressed and looking hopeful and happy for the first time in a very long while.

“I hate that the world had to witness that.” A dark pit of pain formed in my stomach thinking that all of Tobran had seen me marry a monster.

“It was the hardest thing I’ve ever had to do and yet, we’re mated now. Nothing will be as hard again, Lex said with a kiss.”

If only that could be true, but Lex was still basking in the afterglow of our mating bond. We were both a little delirious after so little sleep and so much intense sex. His wolf was boasting and prideful for it, and I wouldn’t balk at his few opportunities these days to feel triumphant.

“I don’t see why I wouldn’t be able to do such a thing.” I’d have to make sure and catch up with Amadeus at some point in the day and practice. “It will give Amadeus and I something to work on today as well as me mastering my cloaking spell.” I slid him a smile as I pulled his tall muscular body into an embrace. “I like being mated to you,” I told him. “It feels good, like I’m finally whole.”

“You don’t understand how restless my wolf has been.” He kissed my lips and I had a very good idea what it must have been like for him, because my wolf felt that same disquieting unease whenever we were a part. “Now my wolf knows he’ll be able to stay connected to you, I can keep you safe…well safer, I still know you’ll take crazy risks.” He kissed me again.

“No more than you do,” I teased as I swatted his rear and thought again of how amazing it would be to have him as my king.

His eyes beheld mine for a beat, allowing the love to flow through us.

“I should probably go and see my father and give him our good news.” He moved his thumb over my cheek. “I want to make this official.”

“So do I.” I kissed his hand, the one that had been holding my face. “And I need to get dressed.”

“I wish you didn’t. I want you naked and ready for me all day,” he growled in my ear.

“Are mated males always this randy?” I giggled, thinking I’d actually like to be naked all day too.

The idea of laying with Lex and having him whenever and however I wanted him without any obligations sounded like bliss.

“Newly bonded mates are so randy, they usually don’t leave their rooms for days on end. While necessity made us hasty to bond, our wolves will demand that we sequester one day and let them have their fun.” He gave me a wicked grin. “A day I’m looking forward to. Until then you and I will only think about having sex with each other all the time until we do.”

“I can’t think of a better way to think of you.” I smiled.

“Nor I you. So,” he changed the subject or we wouldn't be leaving that room. I’ll meet you later today,” he said with a last kiss to my lips and I felt a little hollow in my heart at his leaving, but all I had to do was think of our bond and feel him as strongly as if he were standing beside me; that gave me comfort.

While Lex went off to make an official proclamation abdicating his place in the line of succession to King Helix's throne, I washed and dressed, then sought out my own father. When I found him, he was sitting alone in the main room eatingporridge and dried fruit, probably peaches. I went to the kitchen and asked for a bowl and was given the same portion of porridge and dried peaches which I brought with me to the table to sit and eat breakfast with him. There were other people in the room, people I didn't recognize but none of them had engaged with Amadeus.

“Did you sleep well?” I asked, seeing the vacant and far off stare and hoped that his mind hadn’t retreated again.

“I slept better than I have in ages,” was his answer as he took a bite of the soft warm oatmeal.

I also took a bite, realizing that I was actually quite hungry.

“Good,” I kept a lightness in my tone. He ate slowly and still did not look up at me when he spoke. “I wanted to ask you a few questions about magic. Lex would like to project an image to all of Navarrah City and hopefully reach the Obsidian Valley and maybe Angeline Falls. Sire did something similar with Polonius when I was supposedly marrying him. So, I…” I was about to go on.

“You bonded with Lex instead,” he said in a cold monotone as he finally looked up at me.

Was this why he was giving me the cold shoulder? Did he not approve of my bonding with Lex? He certainly could not be upholding the old rules of Navarrah City that were archaic, outdated, and detrimental to our family history.

“I did as I should have years ago.” I said, feeling anger well up.

“Polonius will be able to sense the bond on you, since he is seeking to create his own.” Amadeus cautioned in a soft tone of voice, one without anger.

“He likely tried to bond with Gabrielle and found it impossible as she is not his mate and neither am I. He knows not to worry about it, because he stole me,” I say feeling empoweredby my connection to Lex and our choice to mate without seeking anyone’s counsel.

“But he will know, as I do, that you’ve bonded with Lex.” Amadeus continued to stare at me..

“We’re going to kill him, I don’t care what he finds out. He’s broken his treaty, attacked Onyx Rah and Navarrah City, I owe him nothing. He won’t kill me as long as I have magic and now that I’ve bonded with Lex, I’m stronger. We will win and I’ll not be cowed by him.” It was time my father knew I wasn’t going to back down anymore.

For years I bowed to his will, and submitted myself to his advice and command, but no more. My father had kept me from Lex, my future, and my happiness for too long.

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