Page 66 of Her Royal Blood

“Absolutely. Lake Angeline,” she nodded her head to the lake. “Is a balance to the energy of the Genesis Pit. What is reborn through fire in Onyx Rah, can be replicated by washing in the lake. The pit Aria jumped into in order to unlock her mage, is the same as drowning in the lake,” Queen Nadine said softly.

“She could have just taken a swim?” Poor Aria had to endure so much pain and suffering in the Genesis pit, I hated to think there was an easier way that no one bothered to tell her about.

“No. A mage cannot drown to unlock their mage, only restore it. Her mage had to be unlocked by fire, but perhaps a mage who has already been formed might be rejuvenated by our lake.” She nodded to Bastien and Amadeus. “I fear our support of your wedding is not as neutral in this conflict as the Arsenal Fang pack would like, but since Polonius and Fallon brought their fight here it is allowed. Ulryk almost committed a grievous crime against Aria when he attempted to rape her in our chalet, the pack has agreed that the wedding will even that score. While we are not allowed to take up arms, especially against Polonius, we can support a Royal wedding as we have for centuries.” Her smile was made even more beautiful in the peaceful light of the night sky.

“We are forever in your debt.” I bowed to the queen.

“Just win this war, Lex. I want to see you and Aria happy, and I believe in what your wife wants for her kingdom. I trust that our alliance will only tighten over time. I also know that you will keep the secret of the lake to yourselves. For if a tyrant with powers such as Polonius steals from others ever discovers it and unbalances our world, we will be plunged into decades of darkness.” A fate I couldn’t possibly fathom.

“I would rather die than betray your trust.” I stopped and looked at her hoping she could see the truth in my eyes.

“I like you Lex, I always have. I was devastated when you went over the falls. I’m just glad you survived.” Her smile was kind and genuine.

“Not one of my proudest moments. I’ve learned to control my temper,” I assured her.

“Oh I would have gone after the monster with my own bare hands if the rules of my kingdom didn’t hold me to decorum and decency,” she laughed, exposing a surprising truth. “It’s rare to see a love as great as yours for Aria. I’m happy to see her finally wed the right husband. Now, I must take my leave. I’ve arrangedfor drinks and dancing this evening and already my people and your guests are enjoying a night of merriment. Though the hour is late, we have such little time for light hearts. Enjoy the evening. After tomorrow’s wedding, I’ll be sad to see you and your family go, but know that you go with my blessing and well wishes for a swift victory.” I didn’t know if I could love Queen Nadine more. I pulled her into my embrace and she laughed. “Heavens.”

“I will never be able to express my thanks enough,” I released her realizing how badly I’d overstepped my place.

“I know, Lex.” She patted my shoulder. “Trust me I know.” And with that she made a graceful turn and walked away toward the Chalet where music started to infiltrate the sky around us.

I turned back to the lake to see Amadeus fully submerged in the water. With the help of Bastien he was pulled out of the lake dripping wet with a scowling frown on his face. Amadeus hardly looked at Bastien as he stomped away from the lake. Bastien, on the other hand, was laughing hysterically. I'd never seen Bastion express such deep and infectious mirth. Amadeus responded with a blast of magical water to drench Bastien from head to toe. Now they were both laughing.

Clearly Amadeus’ magic had been restored. The two of them were using magic to douse each other with water and glittering sparkles of starlight. With the music reverberating around us and the playful mages in front of me for one moment I allowed the joy and excitement of the night to fill me. I pretended we were not at war with Polonius and that in a few days time we wouldn't be knee deep in blood and battle. I just enjoyed the moment as fleeting and infinitesimal as it was.

I returned to the Chalet to find the great hall filled with my family and a few soldiers who had let down their guard and were dancing to the lively music provided by a small group of musicians. There was so much love and joy abounding in thatspace. My eyes sought out Aria who danced with Janaya, Hawk, Halo, Dimitri, and Cheyenne twirling their arms and swinging their hips enjoying the rhythm and the beat. I didn't know that Aria was such a good dancer. It made me sad to think that I'd never had the opportunity to see her dance. Our lives have been so full of fighting, separation, and constant scheming to return to one another. The fight for our love was so dire we never had time to dance.

The moment Aria saw me she threw her arms wide and ran to my side slinging them around my neck before she planted a passionate kiss on my lips.

“Come dance with me,” she dragged me to where everyone was dancing.

Unlike Aria, I wasn’t much of a dancer. I'd been taught the Royal dances and could perform the male part to perfection. But these were not the stuffy palatial moves of traditional dance. This was a romp, free form rollicks that flowed with energy and excitement.

Arms flailed, hips swung, dancers twirled. This kind of reckless abandon was something I absolutely could not participate in. My heart beat and my inexperience with such dancing caused my palms to sweat. Both Janyah and Cheyenne had danced in the taverns in town, they were free to be explorative and young. I, on the other hand, was raised to become a king and a king would never jig.

“It’s not hard,” Aria said, seeing the sheer panic in my eyes. “Here,” she took both of my hands and put them on her slim waist. “Follow me,” she instructed and with my hands placed upon her my heart found peace.

For hours I followed Aria's lead, holding her, molding my body to her, letting my mind and imagination flow with the sounds around me. We drank wine, we laughed, we danced and we twirled. I let go of my fear and inhibition and allowed myselfto be filled with joy. I was happy to have fun times with new friends such as Prince Dimitri and Hawk showing that I could in fact enjoy myself. This alone was a moment of triumph brought on by Aria's gentle persuasion.

It was nearly two in the morning when the musicians played their last song. After it we said good night to our guests and they expressed their congratulations and excitement for the day ahead. I took Aria's hand and we walked quietly up the stairs drenched in sweat, a little inebriated, and filled with joy.

The thought of marrying this woman the next day filled me with lust, need, and love. As soon as we shut the door on our beautiful room overlooking the lake I pulled Aria to me bringing her into my embrace. My mouth sought hers as I lapped up the taste of her, savoring the feel of her body against mine, absorbing the essence of her entire being.

“I love you,” I said as I slipped the sleeve of her shimmering blue gown down her shoulder, baring her soft flesh to my touch. “I cannot wait to share a life with you.”

Already bonded and mated with Aria, I needn't have shared those words with her. She would know exactly what my thoughts and feelings were. She wriggled the rest of the way out of the dress leaving it to pool at her legs. I unbuttoned my shirt and tore it off of my shoulders, unable to contain my need for her. My cock pressed up against the ties of my britches begging to be let out. Instead of swipe down her own delicate panties which barely contained her perfect form, she slid her arms over my bare chest to the ties of my britches which she deftly unraveled with her soft delicate fingers.

When she knelt to her knees and took my length into her mouth I catapulted into bliss. She lovingly kissed and licked and swallowed my cock showing me devotion. I raked my fingers through her soft hair gently nudging her into a rhythm as my hips rocked back and forth. I didn't want to finish in her mouthyet I was so aroused and so close to the edge, I gently pulled myself out of her mouth and lifted her from the floor.

“We are doing this in bed,” I told her as I carried her over to the bed and laid her on the thick rich fabric.

I stripped her panties from her body as she was already bare from the waist up. Lapping at her nipples I sucked on one and then the other as my wolf paced back and forth desperate to claim her. We were in no position to be having babies, but my wolf desperately wanted to plant his legacy inside of her. For the first time in our lives I felt like our future was possible. One day I would let him seed her with our children, as many as we could handle.

I kissed my way down her body paying special attention to her hips and thighs kissing all around her dripping wet center. I wanted her as desperate and as ravenous as I was.

“Make love to me, Lex,” she begged. “I want to feel you inside of me.” She arched into my mouth as I swiped my tongue along her center and she rose up to meet my mouth. “Yes,” she cried out, careless of who might hear us.

She had my mind twisted in knots and so I crawled up the length of her body claiming her mouth letting her taste herself on my tongue and I plunged into her heaven with a swift sharp thrust. She cried out in ecstasy as her legs wrapped around the back of me and brought me closer. We were joined together and were one. I never wanted to leave the warmth of her body. I could have stayed there with her for the rest of my life. Our wolves mated and bonded and the tether between us grew taught and we shared our love.

---