Chapter 10
Ael
Ael quickly left the dining room and followed the guards to the front doors. His mood had soured with their distraction. It was the first time he had been that close to Seda, and he really wanted to go back to her. Her aroused scent lingered in his senses.
He felt her invitation when she parted her legs, and he really wanted to accept it, but like the love-drunk fool he was, he hesitated.
If he had touched her there, he wouldn’t have been able to control himself and would have thrown her onto the table, taken her as a meal, and sent everyone out of the room.
When the front doors of the castle appeared, he saw five people standing nearby, staring awkwardly at the castle’s architecture. Their weathered look, with torn clothing and muddy skin, indicated they had traveled quickly to get here.
Roya, Ferona, Benny, Ojore, and Askold had come for Seda. They all turned toward him when they heard his thunderous steps, and Benny and Askold gasped at his changed appearance.
Roya marched forward, unfazed at seeing him in his Fae form. Her usually pristine hair was a tangled mess. “Where is she?” she seethed.
“Holy shit, man, you’re huge,” Benny said as he approached him and gave him a big hug. “Please tell us that Seda made it to you? We lost her at the Wisps.”
“Seda’s here, and she’s fine,” he replied as he bent down low to return Benny’s hug, glancing at Roya.
Askold looked at him and awkwardly bowed. “King Ael.”
“Get up, you fucking fool. His name’s Cahir,” Ojore snarled at him. Askold shot back up to his feet, shuffled around, and decided to hold his hand out to shake Ael’s.
Ael shook his hand firmly. “It’s nice to see you again, Askold. And yes, Ojore, it’s King Ael. You’ll show respect and call me by my given name while you’re in my kingdom.”
Ojore’s face swelled in anger.
“I need to see Seda,” Roya said impatiently, interrupting the men. “We need to confirm she was unharmed. We came as fast as we could, but these idiots slowed us down.” She looked at the others with narrowed eyes.
“She’s doing well. I can take you to her room. We were wrapping up dinner. She and Elco arrived in the middle of a ball. They made quite an impression,” Ael said to everyone with a smile as he remembered the rage Seda carried when she arrived.
“Has she tried to murder you yet?” Benny joked, reaching up to slap him on the shoulder. “She wanted to when you left. I’d never seen her so mad before.”
Ael held out his hands and spun around, showing how healthy and unharmed he was, and Benny laughed in response. “I knew she wouldn’t.”
Seda did want to hurt him when she had arrived, and he knew it. In fact, he thought she still might want to. He truly wished to make amends to her for everything.
Ael turned to one of the guards and asked them to fetch Fran to arrange some rooms for their guests.
“I’ve never seen anything so grand. This place is amazing. Why the hell would you leave it to live in Joro?” Askold asked him as Ael led them to a sitting room near the front doors.
“You know why,” Ojore snapped at him, clearly in a particularly sour mood, more than usual. A servant entered and brought them some whiskey as they waited. They obviously needed it.
Everyone chose a seat and sat down, except for Roya.
“Did Seda tell you what the Wisps said to her?” Ferona asked, sighing in relief as she plopped down in her chair.
“She did,” he responded.
“Go on…” Roya said curtly as she waved her hand in the air and paced around the room. The woman was always only business. When did she ever take time for herself?
She obviously needs more time with Benny, he thought as he watched her stomp around.
“Not here,” Ael replied in a calm tone, not wanting to discuss the details of Wisps where prying ears might be listening. Roya huffed and finally chose a spot to sit.
“Where’s Feich?” Ael asked them. The room went quiet, and everyone stared silently at the ground.
“Our brother died with honor, protecting the one he chose to protect,” Roya responded, grabbing her glass and taking a long sip of her whiskey.
“I’m so sorry,” he said as he looked between Roya and Ferona. “He was a good man. May the Mother Goddess carry his soul.” The two thanked him in return, and Ferona wiped away a tear that slipped free.
“I take it you heard about Kalon?” Benny asked, staring into the fireplace in the room, trying to change the subject.
“When I get my hands on that bastard—” Ojore snarled.
We’re at least on the same page about something, Ael thought.
“Make sure to do it in bear form,” Ferona joked as she tried to lighten the mood. Ojore glared at her at first, but then nodded in approval, clearly thinking that was a good plan.
So he was a bear shifter. Thinking back, it was pretty clear which Lycanthrope type he was. The anger should have been the most obvious clue.
“Yes, I’ve heard about Kalon. He stole something we need to get back.
” Ael took a sip of his whiskey, savoring the burn as it went down his throat.
Not only had he stolen her necklace, but he also placed his fucking lips on Seda.
He intended to get back both, even if it meant cutting the man’s mouth from his face.
Ojore wasn’t going to lay a finger on Kalon. He would give that gift to Seda and watch with a smile as she roasted him to a crisp. He smirked into his cup and took another drink. That fucker was going to pay. He tried to get close to Seda, and she was his.
He would much rather see him suffer at the hands of her than Ojore.
“We need to get back a necklace?” Askold groaned. “I know it was sentimental, but how will we even find the guy?”
“Not here,” Ael reiterated, and Askold looked down at the floor, his cheeks turning pink with embarrassment at forgetting not to discuss details.
“Sire.” Fran approached with six other servants, and they bowed deeply. When they straightened, Fran asked, “How many rooms will we need, and which wing?”
“Ferona and I can share, and we demand to be close to Seda,” Roya commanded.
Ael sighed. “Do all of you want to be near Seda?” He looked at the group of exhausted people before him.
“Well, I don’t wanna be alone in my own wing,” Benny told him. “Wherever Roya and Seda are, that’s where I am.”
Ael turned to Fran. “East wing. Four rooms.” Fran quickly headed off with the other servants. His usually almost silent wing was about to get incredibly noisy.
Ojore finished his whiskey and stood up to pour another from the crystal decanter. “Have you heard from the Lycanthropes?”
Ael shook his head, and Ojore quickly drank his glass in one large gulp, hissing from the burn. “I’m concerned about them,” he stated.
Ojore had a point. It was pretty strange that they wanted to meet and then left when Praxis tried to make contact at the wall. “I’ll see what we can find out. Trade is expected to happen within the next couple of days. They’re leaving tomorrow.”
Ojore nodded at him and reclined in his chair. The group talked while they waited for their rooms to be ready.
Luelle ran into the room, panting from her quick pace. “I need to talk to you, Ael.” She paused and looked around at everyone else. “Who the hell are these people?”
“It can wait.” Ael stood and introduced the group to Luelle. She looked at everyone and evaluated each one.
“Two Corvids, a Lycanthrope, and two humans, huh.” Luelle chuckled. “What a mix that is.”
“How did you know I was a Lycanthrope?” Ojore asked.
“The musky aroma of a wild animal,” she said with a shrug.
Ojore frowned, sniffed himself, and sighed as if he didn’t care about his smell, but his burning cheeks revealed his embarrassment.
Askold stood and approached Luelle with a cheesy smile. “Humans can have a lot to offer, you know.” He looked Luelle up and down and grinned at her. “You’re beautiful. I’ve never seen such a stunning goddess before in my life.”
Luelle laughed so hard she almost toppled over. “Humans sure do have some balls, don’t they?” She looked to Ael for agreement, and he chuckled.
“Oh, I do. I was hoping to run into a Fae beauty, and fate was on my side,” Askold said in mock defense as he sat back in his chair and looked at her.
“Shut up, idiot,” Ojore snapped irritably. “Why don’t you just go wank one out in the bathroom and stop embarrassing yourself?”
Askold grinned wider and wiggled his eyebrows. She smiled back at him and said, “Thank you for the compliments. I do so love them. Unfortunately, I don’t care for men.” She winked at him and sat on the armrest of Ael’s chair, looking over at Ferona and smirking.
Ael rolled his eyes at Luelle, and Ojore’s jaw dropped. A servant walked by, and Ojore tried to catcall her, but she gave him a dirty look and flipped him off. Once she realized Ael was in the room, she apologized, bowed, and continued with her tasks.
Everyone burst into laughter, except for Roya. “How much longer?” she demanded as Fran approached.
“The rooms are ready. Please follow me,” Fran replied.
They followed her as she guided everyone down a long hall and up winding stairs.
Benny kept admiring the castle and complimenting the architecture and decor.
Askold walked alongside Luelle and tried to strike up conversations with her, but she shifted away from him and closer to Ferona, who smiled in response with a blush to her cheeks.
When they reached the East Wing, Ael asked the guards if Seda was in her room, and they nodded. He knocked loudly to make sure she knew he was there, and he heard her reply, letting them in.
When the door opened, his heart fluttered in his chest at the sight of her. Seda stood there, wearing the same shirt and shorts again, looking just as she had when they lived in Joro.
Fuck, she was waiting for me, he realized.
She saw her friends and screamed in excitement as she ran to the door, throwing herself at Benny and hugging him tightly. “Benny! I’m so glad you’re okay!”
Roya approached Seda and bowed her head, “I’m glad you’re safe, Seda.”
“I’m so happy you’re here. I was worried about you guys,” Seda said.
“What did the Wisps tell you?” Ferona asked eagerly again after the door closed.
Seda repeated what she told Ael and what she learned from Tahti. Everyone remained silent as they listened.
“So, we truly need to get that necklace back,” Benny said as he sat beside Roya, placing his hand on her knee. “Sorry, Seda. We should’ve gone after him. How do we locate Kalon?”
“What if we ask that witch of yours?” Ojore suggested.
“What if we ask Elco to hunt him down again?” Ferona asked at the same time.
Seda shook her head at both of them. “Tahti said she couldn’t help locate the stones. And I’d prefer not to ask Elco to do that again.”
“Well, sounds like we know how to find one of them, at least,” Benny said.
Ojore groaned loudly and slapped his knees as he stood. “Another fucking monster. It’s late, and I’d like to shower and rest. I’m glad to see you’re safe, Seda. What’s our plan for tomorrow?”
“We’ll meet for breakfast and figure out our next steps,” Ael responded.
“I’d like to go with the others for the trade route if possible,” Ojore said. Ael looked at him for a moment before nodding his head.
The group rose and said their goodbyes, with Ojore leaving first. Roya and Ael remained behind with Seda.
“Thank you, Roya, for coming and continuing to help with this. I’m very thankful for your friendship,” Seda said to her with a beautiful smile that lit up her face.
Roya blushed at the compliment and bowed her head. “It’s in our nature.” She left the room, and Ael remained behind. The two of them stared at each other, feeling like it was a silent battle of who would speak first.
“Is there something I can help you with, Cahir?” she asked, giving in.
“Yes, there is,” he replied, a smile forming on his lips. “Dinner was great. The buns were so soft.”
She nervously fiddled with a strand of her hair, and he noticed a blush creep across her cheeks. His gaze caught on that freckle he loved so much on her chin.
He desperately wanted to kiss her, but he didn’t know if she was ready yet. “I’ll leave you to it, then. Good night, Seda.” He winked at her.
Her face fell slightly, but she quickly masked it with a polite smile. Ael approached her and gave her a small hug, pressing his nose into her hair and softly breathing in her clean, fresh scent. She faintly reciprocated the hug.
“Good night, Cahir,” she said as he began to walk out of the room. He exited and closed the doors, nodding to the guards before walking to his own room. As Ael closed the door behind him, he leaned against it. He shouldn’t have left. Maybe she would have wanted him to stay? Should he go back?
No, he wanted to kiss her when the moment was right, and right now he wasn’t sure if she wanted him that way yet.
He also shouldn’t have touched her the way he did at dinner without doing things the right way first. When she opened her thighs for him earlier, he fought with all of his strength not to slip a finger higher and brush it against her.
He wanted to feel her soft, intimate skin so bad it was like fighting a Jotnar alone.
What was more important to him, though, was that he wanted her to know he was serious about her.
He wanted all of her. Her mind, her body, and her soul.
He needed her like he needed air, but he had to control himself and stop letting his fucking dick take charge when she was around.
She needed to know she was his and he was hers, and he would burn the fucking world to the ground for her if she asked him to.
He would do anything for her. Anything.
And even after all of that reasoning he just gave himself, it didn’t stop him from remembering her smell for him or the feel of her soft thighs.
He walked to the bathroom and turned on the hot water. Showers were becoming his new favorite thing.