Chapter 12
Chapter Twelve
Calista
“That crown suits you,” I say, letting my lustful eyes roam over the most powerful man here. “You look sexy, my King.”
He just smiles at me. The sight is so sexy that I feel a shiver from my head to my toes.
He’s standing there all smoking hot with that golden crown on his head, a fitted dark doublet, pants, and a fur-lined cloak hanging off his broad shoulders.
I want to kneel before him, but not for the reasons why everyone else knelt.
I want to be on my knees in front of him with that long hard cock sliding into my mouth.
“You saved me,” he says in that deep masculine voice that always gives me goosebumps. “If it weren’t for you, I would have lost my crown.”
“I guess we make a good team,” I say, sliding my hand into his.
He grips it tight. “We do. Now come, I have to introduce you to my people.”
“What?”
I’m in shock as he pulls me to the edge of the dais where there’s an ocean of faces watching us.
I’ve thought about being queen, but now that I have a whole pack in front of me, it’s hitting different. Will they accept a human as their queen? Will they all rush up here and tear me to pieces? I couldn’t bear to disappoint Kieran in that way. What will I do if they don’t accept me?
“My pack,” he hollers to the crowd. “You have not only gained a new king on this fine full moon night. You have also gained a queen.”
He pulls me forward, proudly presenting me to his people.
“This is she,” he shouts louder than before. “Your formidable Queen Calista.”
I feel the roar of excitement as the crowd cheers so loudly my ears hurt. The high priest steps up behind me and places the queen’s crown—my crown—on my head.
The roars are deafening.
I wave to them, to my new people, and vow to be the best queen this kingdom has ever seen. They won’t regret this. Kieran will be happy the universe chose me to be his mate. I’ll make sure of it.
“Now let’s get to that Lunaris Vinculum,” Kieran says like he can’t wait another second. “Where are the soon-to-be mates?”
The couples cheer as they emerge from the crowd, looking as excited as I feel. They’ve all been waiting for this night, curbing their carnal desires and fighting back lust. I feel their pain. I know what they’ve been going through.
Luckily, we’re the first couple to go.
Being a queen definitely has its perks.
With thousands of shifters watching closely under the full moon, and with dozens of couples waiting in line behind us for their turn, we stand before the high priest, waiting to be bound forever.
It’s hard to think that I was fishing for silverbacks only two weeks ago. How did I end up here?
The high priest starts the ceremony, but my head is spinning and I can barely focus on the words.
Making my concentration even worse is having Kieran standing in front of me in his royal cloak with the crown sitting straight on his head, looking at me like I am the most important thing in the kingdom.
It’s like I’m the only one here. The only one who matters.
That possessive look in his eyes makes me want to get him all alone. I can’t wait to start the mating ritual in the royal bedroom. I’ve heard that some couples will spend days or even weeks mating after the Lunaris Vinculum.
“Before the moon, the pack, and the crown,” the high priest says, holding our hands, “you stand to bind yourselves. Do you claim this woman as your mate, to guard her with your life, to honor her above all others, and to stand by her side for as long as your wolf draws breath?”
“I do,” Kieran says without hesitation.
My heart aches as I watch him. How am I so lucky to end up with him?
The high priest turns to me and the whole pack seems to lean in at once.
“Do you accept this man as your mate, to walk beside him in strength and in struggle, to share your lives, your bond, and your fate, and to choose each other for all your days?”
I look up at Kieran.
There’s no doubt in my mind. I’d give everything for him.
“I do.”
The pack erupts and then quiets again as the high priest raises his hand.
“Then bare your throats,” he says. “And be bound.”
I gasp as Kieran steps toward me and places his big possessive hands on my waist. I step into him, tilting my head to the side to expose my neck. It’s like instinct and it feels like the most natural thing I have ever done. Like my whole life has been leading up to this moment.
“My queen,” he whispers, his hot breath tickling my neck.
I feel the sharp tips of his canines scratching along my neck in the tingling spot under my ear. I dig my fingertips into his forearm, wanting it, needing it.
And it comes.
He bites into my flesh and I suck in a sharp breath, my grip tightening on his arms. The pain only lasts for a heartbeat and then it feels all warm and heavy, the pleasurable feeling moving through my body like liquid magic.
“Yes,” I gasp as the mark takes hold. “Yes.”
I’m his. I’m all his.
It all comes together like never before. We’re made for one another. Our souls are like two interlocking pieces that have finally clicked into place. Everything feels right. It feels so perfect.
He slides his teeth out and then kisses me gently, holding me like I’m the most precious thing in the kingdom. I know to him, I am.
“My mate,” he whispers, those beautiful green eyes shining with love.
I’ve never loved anything like I love him. I never knew love could run this deep.
It’s my turn.
I don’t have sharp canines, so it’s mostly symbolic. But still, like instinct, my body knows what to do. I stand on my toes, press my lips to his neck, and bite him.
He’s smiling when I pull away.
The crowd explodes.
Kieran takes my hand, turns to them, and raises our hands above our heads. The cheering gets louder. It shakes the whole kingdom.
The high priest tries to quiet the crowd, but they’re so amped up that it’s impossible. He just yells the sacred words over them, his voice getting drowned out by the cheers and the happy howls.
“By moon and blood, you are bound.
By bite and bond, you are pack.
As one, you stand. As one, you endure.”
And just like that, we’re mates.
We’re bonded.
We’re free to do whatever we like.
Finally.