Page 49 of Her Royal Blood

I could see the strain on his face as he tried to keep himself from entering me and I laughed.

“This mating bond is something else,” I said looking down at where I’d made Lex’s cock sloppy and wet with my incessant undulating. “But I’ve slept some.” I took his length into my hand and fit him against my entrance.

“You’ll be the end of me woman,” Lex growled as he thrusted inside of me, making us both feel better.

“How am I ever going to stand being apart from you?” I asked as Lex gently pulsed inside of me.

“It’ll only be for a little while then never again,” he said rolling onto me as his wolf joined mine and we mated for one last time before parting from each other again.

“I love you,” I said as I came shuddering and shivering in Lex’s embrace.

“And I am so honored and grateful to get to love you…forever,” Lex said as we both drifted back to sleep.

We woke up the next morning dreading the day.

“I wish you didn’t have to go back to the castle without me,” Lex said as he turned to me and said in earnest. “I know you have to save Halo and Bindi and of course Gabrielle, but it’s so dangerous.”

“Good morning,” I kissed him and smiled.

“It’s not feeling very good.” His face fell into a frown.

We both knew how perilous my mission would be, but I had to remind Lex that I was once a formidable soldier who fought beside him before he even knew for certain that it was me. “I might be a queen, but I once was a prince,” I reminded him and we both laughed. “I can do this. Did you forget that I’m a badass?” I playfully scolded him.

Laughter in the face of terrifying obstacles and impossible odds was good, laughter gave us hope when our nightmares were too real to ignore.

“The baddest, but you're my badass and I don’t want to see that gorgeous backside get hurt or worse,” Lex sighed.

“You’re going to have to trust me, just like I’m going to have to let go and let you achieve your mission. We aren’t free yet,” I didn’t have to remind him, but it easier to pretend we didn’t still have a war to wage. Having to leave Lex and Navarrah City again was daunting, but since Lex and I were mated, the bond we shared meant we were never far from one another. Together we were stronger, together we’d win. We got out of bed and dressed, then met King Helix and Amadeus in the receiving room of the king's stronghold to go over the last minute details of our missions.

“Now don’t forget,” Amadeus started as I stood in the main room saying goodbye to Lex, “when you want to shield yourself, use your mind to envision the fold between here and nothing, don’t just cover yourself in invisibility, that will tax your strength. The same when you’ve glamored a disguise, make sure to concentrate on hiding behind the disguise, not on the decoy’s features, this will help you preserve your energy and strength. And get plenty to eat and drink,” he said, handing me a satchel of food and water. “I wish you didn’t have to go.” The sadness on his face spoke volumes.

“I will be back, or I’ll send for you in Onyx Rah, either way we’ll be reunited as soon as we conquer Polonius. Until then, you must stay hidden. If he is ever able to abduct you again, I fear what he may do to you. Stay safe, Father,” I said, feeling like his child for the first time, I truly considered him my family now.

“I will,” Amadeus whispered as Lex came to me and wrapped his arms around my waist.

“I share your father’s sentiments. I wish you didn’t have to go.” Lex also looked forlorn.

“But you know I must.” I kissed him and walked out the door, choosing not to look back, if I did I’d never be able to leave.

As soon as I left the king's stronghold, I walked out into the streets wearing the disguise of a plain man without distinct features. I was proud to see a subtle rebellion in the streets. Citizens were defending their homes and shifting into their wolves to prevent Crypt Claw from entering their residences. Lex had told me that some of the Crypt Claw warriors were infiltrating the citizens' homes and sleeping in their abodes, eating their food, and drinking their wine and water.

Until Lex's announcement to rebel against the Crypt Claw warriors the citizens were left to defend themselves and were at their mercy. The king had ordered all women and children to retreat to the hidden safehouses up in the mountains of Navarrah City, but those who chose to stay behind and the men had to allow the soldier’s to breach their homes, but now they were given permission to fight. All was chaos.

I felt a swelling pride watching the citizens defend themselves with makeshift weapons and all of their strength. Navarrah City was rising from its own defeat. As more warriors came to join their forces, the stronger Navarrah City would become. In the ensuing chaos I was able to sneak into a Crypt Claw vehicle and like the ones in Navarrah City, there were keysunder the seat. I was able to start it up easily and drive slowly through the chaos keeping my head down.

Driving a car, albeit a stolen one, was much better than running from Navarrah City to Onyx Rah. With a vehicle I’d be able to reach Onyx Rah by the next day. I drove through the night and I was able to make it to Onyx Rah before the sun rose the following morning. I stopped a few miles outside of the city gates so as not to be seen, or detected. Inside the gates, the city was crawling with soldiers. Polonius had every inch of my kingdom under patrol.

I made sure to do as Amadeus said and focused on hiding behind my disguise. Instead of worrying about the features of my decoy, I concentrated on making sure that there was something up to hide my identity. This way I would be unseeable. I’d blend in with facial features that were nondescript and easy to ignore. As I entered my kingdom I knocked on the door of a house near the city center.

“I’m sorry to bother you,” I appeared to them as myself, yet wearing the clothes of a humble citizen.

“Queen Aria?” a tall man with graying temples answered the door. “You’re Majesty?” He looked almost terrified as his eyes darted around me, perhaps looking for Polonius.

“I’m sorry to bother you, but I’m doing an undercover report for my husband, Lord Polonius, and I thought I might trouble you for a clean pair of clothes. He is hoping to hear that we have loyal subjects despite the great upheaval in our monarchy.” I used my regent voice as I would if I were ruling Onyx Rah again.

“Yes, of course Your Majesty. My daughter has clothes that will fit you. Please come in.” I stepped inside their humble dwelling.

It was likely one of the first that had been erected after we opened our gates. The simple stone and clay dwelling was lightlyfurnished but warm with a fire glowing in the hearth. I was happy to see that Polonius hadn’t destroyed everything…yet.

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