Royal shuffle: Vampire’s mate

ANDREA

“Walk with me.” Leo said to me as we alighted the car we had come in.

We had gone back to Leo’s first residence instead of the penthouse house, and I couldn’t be more grateful. I didn’t need my sisters seeing me like this.

“To where?” I asked calmly. I was a bit tired.

“I want to show you something.”

“What’s that?” I asked, tugging behind him sluggishly.

He simply smiled at me, and pulled me with him. We went through the back of the house, and into the woods with the moon and stars casting an illuminating glow on our path through the dense woods. The air was crisp and filled with the sweet scent of Pine needles and earth, and I couldn’t help but take a very deep breath, filling my lungs with the amazing goodness. As we walked, our hands intertwined, the sound of our footsteps and the rustle of leaves were the only sounds in the otherwise quiet forest.

“Are we there yet?” I asked, rubbing my eyes as my body began to tell me that it was time for bed.

“We’re almost there, my darling.”

As we turned a corner, a magnificent treehouse came into view. All tiredness fled from my being, and sleep instantly left me as my mouth fell open as I behold the beauty. The tree house was perched high up in a very large oak tree and seemed to be made entirely of wood.

“Is this wheat you wanted to show me?” I asked, turning to face Leo.

He nodded his head, and I kissed him on the lips.

“This is beautiful…”

“Do you like it?” He asked.

I nodded, and continued walking to the treehouse.

“I love it!”

We got to the base of the tree, and Leo steadied the rope ladder for me to climb up. My heart was pounding in anticipation. I poked my head in and gasped at the beauty that lay inside. I climbed all the way through, and a few moments later, Leo followed suit, pulling up the ladder in his wake.

“This is beautiful.”

Leo smiled widely. He looked happy with himself at my reaction. The enclosed space had a rather large window from where the moonlight came in. And the view of the stars from the treehouse was beyond beautiful. From here, I could see the tops of trees, and hills, with the moon and stars accentuating their silhouettes.

“It is. I and my brother used to play in here as children. My mother built this. It’s one of the few material memories I have of her.”Ccontent © exclusive by Nô/vel(D)ra/ma.Org.

“Wow…”

“That ring on your finger would be another one. Passed down generations, worn last by my mother.”

I fingered the ring on my finger, renewed appreciation for the antique jewelry.

“Come here…” Leo plumped himself down on the lush cushions, and opened his arms to me, and without hesitation I snuggled up next to him.

“Today…” he started.

I shook my head vehemently, attempting to leave his arms but he held on to me tighter. “I don’t want to talk about it.”

“We need to.”

“Leo…”

“It’s necessary.”

I rolled my eyes and sighed. “Fine. What about today?”

“If I had known that it would have gone the way it did, I would not have taken you along…”

“I’m glad you did. I’m not about to shy away from your family simply because your dad and that bitch do not like me.”

I felt the laughter rumble in his chest.

“You held your own back there. I must say, it was quite impressive. I doubt anyone has ever spoken to Leah like that before,” Leo said.

“Yeah. I can tell.”

“Back to what I was saying. I’m really sorry about today.”

“It’s okay…what are you going to do about Leah, and the war…and me?”

“You’re not going anywhere. Neither are your sisters,” Leo answered.

“But…handing me over…would it stop them from attacking?” I asked.

Leo’s silence answered the question.

“I’m not giving you up.” He answered firmly.

Tears gathered in my eyes, but I blinked them back.

“Have they reached out to you about any demands? What about the council? What are they saying about this war?”

Leo sat up with me still in his arms. I moved back a bit so I could see his face as he spoke to me.

“The council called a meeting some weeks back.”

“When exactly?” I asked.

“Let’s say about two to three weeks after you had arrived here.”

“That long?”

Leo smiled sheepishly. “I’m sorry. I didn’t want to bother you at the time.”

I waved him off. Now wasn’t the time. “What did they say?”

“The council had called a meeting with us Vampire royals, and werewolf royals. I had sent Leopold because I wasn’t sure that I wouldn’t smash that mutt’s skull again if I set eyes on him.” Leo took a deep breath, his hold on my hand tensing and releasing.

“What happened?”

A small part of me was holding on to hope that a reasonable resolution was made. But even that part knew that the chances were very slim and not in my favor.

“They are very insistent on the war. They admit to the council that they had in-fact readied their troops, and their weapons, and their soldiers, and we were to expect them very soon. And that they would only be backing down on one condition…”

Leo’s eyes lifted and caught mine. Holding it. His eyes telling me things his mouth didn’t want to say. My mind understood but didn’t want to believe. I was still holding on to hope. All wasn’t lost.

“What did they say?”

“They want you.”

“And my sisters?”

He shook his head slowly. “They want me to hand you over.”

I slumped back on the cushions, my back hitting the wooden wall behind me. We were silent for a while, both of us thinking about the situation. If I knew anything about the werewolf royals, they have always covered the vampire territory, and here was a chance for them to have it on a platter of gold. I knew for a fact that they were counting on Leo not handing me over so they can unleash havoc and lay claim to more land.

“Leo…”

“Hmm…”

“Don’t you think that’s best?”

“No.”

“I think you should hand me over. My sisters would be protected here…”

“I wouldn’t do that, Andrea.”

Tears gathers in my eyes again, and this time I let them fall. I har gone through every possible scenario, and this way was the best way for it to happen. This way, I would be the only person to get hurt. My sisters would be safe. From my people, and from Leah too.

“But…”

“No.”

He pulled me back to him and held me. Both of us looking into each others eyes.

“What are we going to do? Everything and everyone is against us.”

“We’ll find a way.”

Leo brought his head down and kissed me. It took me a bit by surprise but soon I gave in. The kiss began slowly at first, and then we moved in a frenzy. Both of us knowing fully well where this was going, and how it was going to end. Leo carried me over, and settled me gently on his crotch, while my legs wrapped around him, making my gown rise and settle around my waist. He pulled my gown down from my shoulders, and placed gentle kisses along the sides of my neck, sucking on the skin at the nape. I gasped and bent my neck to the side, giving him more room to explore. And explore he did. He bit, and licked, and sucked till I was a moaning mess, grinning recklessly on him. He grabbed my derriere and groaned. I could feel his fingers digging almost painfully into my skin, but I liked it.

“Easy, my love…”

His voice came out a raspy bass that seemed to turn me on even more.

“Sorry…”

I almost didn’t recognize my voice.

“Don’t apologize, my darling…”

He pulled down the straps of my dress, leaving my upper body bare. I could feel the light breeze on my body, and could feel my nipples harden as an after effect. Leo groaned, and took a nipple in his mouth. He sucked, and bit and pulled, until I began to beg him to take me right here. Our clothes were quickly discarded, and soon our nakedness was exposed to our eyes. I feasted my eyes on the manly man that was before me, and ran my hands over his body.

“I’ve not done this before…”

I’d never had the time to, or even the opportunity.

“It’s okay…I’ll take care of you…”

He flipped us, and then I was under him, and true to his words, he took care of me. So much so that the pain was so much worth it. We both lay in the cushions, the smell of sex heavy in the air, our mating almost completed, satisfied souls, and a smile of happiness.