I run into Gin at the terrace.
She is wrapped in a cloak, peering out into the space at nothing in particular. A bottle and a glass sit nearby. As I pass by, lifting my skirts, I hear her say, "You don't deserve him."
Frowning, I turn slightly. Her eyes are red rimmed and swollen. She's been crying.
My frown eases out a little. "You keep your opinion to yourself. I don't give a shit," I tell her, but my words are soft. Why is she crying out here, in the cold? Because of me? Or Rune?
Gin chuckles, bringing the bottle to her lips. "Countless times, I've wondered why. Why it had to be you. What I lack that he found in you. Perhaps it's your fire. You're fearless, pup. I'll give you that."
Shaking my head, I continue walking away. She's drunk, and talking nonsense.
But she continues, "Many would have faced the Void and run from it. Many would have faced the darkness in him and fled from it. You though," she laughs again and I turn to find her straightening. "You challenged it."
Ginevra sways a little, and I take a step forward, unsure if I should let her fall, or help her, but she rights herself and bends clumsily to grab the bottle. "You should tell him."
My heart leaps. "What do you mean?"
Her flicks her blonde hair back and her eyes droops to my stomach. "Unless you do not want it. Strange are you, pup. Revealing this could help your image in court, boost your standing as his mate. And you do not want to tell?"
Fear tightens my throat, and I swallow, speaking in a whisper. "How did you find out?"
"I am not a child. I know these things," she says, and shoots me an enigmatic grin. "Clever, hiding in your room to conceal it. I wonder what Rune will think when he gets to know you've been lying to him."
I bite the inside of my cheek, squeezing my fists. "Please. Don't tell him."
She giggles. "Oh, the wolf pleads. You must think me stupid. I want him, and I love him, but it isn't my truth to tell..." Her voice trails off, and she bursts into hysterical laughter. "Why the fuck would I tell the man I'm trying so hard to hold on to such a thing? Although, it would be amusing to see you break when he gets mad."
Pleased, she hums and walks up the staircases, disappearing into the entrance.
I remain on the steps for a moment, gazing at the closed doors. I can't tell Rune yet, but I can't hide it from him forever. He will find out eventually.
Taking a shaky breath, I continue toward the garden. I'll make a decision after dinner, once I've heard him out.
Taking the turn into the garden, a sense of awe washes over me. It's my first time here, and I think it might be my favourite place in the world.
The garden comes alive with a symphony of lights, soft illumination twinkling from every corner. Each delicate light flickers like a star, dancing in the gentle breeze, lending an otherworldly glow to the surroundings.
The intricate patterns etched into the cobblestone path beneath my feet guide me further into the garden. Delicate vines crawl along trellises, reaching towards the heavens as if striving to touch the stars themselves. Sculptures dot the path, as do delicate flowers that capture the moonlight in their embrace.
I giggle when butterflies flitting from one flower to the other suddenly find my hair more interesting and take turns flying around it.
Magical. I haven't even met him yet and I feel unusually giddy.
But my smile falters when I reach the centre of the garden. Extravagant gestures rarely ever impress me. I've seen plenty of those growing up, but I must say, it hits differently when it comes from that one person.
This takes my breath away. A table, adorned with opulent elegance stands at the centre. Its surface is adorned with fine linens, delicately embroidered, and adorned with delicate lace. Crystal glasses, gleaming in the soft light, await their fill. Plates, adorned with intricate patterns, hold an array of tantalizing delicacies, that instantly appeal to me, reminding me of the fact that I haven't had dinner. I've never quite found food to be so... beautiful.
There are petals leading away from the table and my gaze follows them to Rune, beyond the table. As I draw nearer, my heart begins to race in anticipation. There he stands, his tall figure outlined by the serene pool that lies just ahead. His presence is one that commands attention, but there is a vulnerability to it tonight that makes my heart race harder. His gaze is fixed on the mirror-like surface of the water, as though he is searching for answers in its depth. He is in head to toe black, threaded in gold. He looks like a part of the night, dark and alluring.
As I approach him, the crunch of gravel beneath my feet breaks the silence, and he turns to face me.
Moonlight casts a soft glow upon his chiseled features, illuminating every contour. His eyes survey me, sweeping from my glittery-slippered feet to my wavy hair, their intensity sharpening with a predatory glimmer.
His lips curve upwards. "You came."
My heart flutters as I gaze up at him. "I did."
Rune's eyes roam over me once more, glazed with desire, a low sound escaping his throat. "You look..." He stops, seemingly at a loss for words.
I understand, because this dress cannot be described with words as well. My dresser seems to be filled with the most scandalous dresses. Beautiful, yes, modest, no. I could wear this to court and have the entire horde of Lycans begging to crawl in my bed.
I wonder if that's what Rune is thinking right now. Crawling in bed with me. Ripping the dark fabric in half--the way he likes. Perhaps, he'll tie me to the bed again, or blindfold me. Perhaps, he'll eat decorate my naked body with the berries on the table, and eat them off me. Perhaps--
He groans, as if hearing my thoughts. "You think such atrocious things, mate."
My tongue darts out, moistening suddenly dry lips, and he tracks the movement with predatory focus. He hasn't even touched me yet and I can smell my arousal in the air, just as intoxicating as the scent of flowers. "You can read minds too?"
He extends a hand to me and I sigh silently when his warm fingers grasp mine. "No. Just yours. You send your thoughts down the bond when your walls are down."
My brows rise with interest, but I say nothing as he leads me to the table, pausing only to pull out a chair for me.
Goddess, this has to be a dream.
Blushing hard, I seat, and try to count from one to ten to calm my heart. I can hear it, he can hear it, I'm sure the entire castle can hear it. He walks around to seat across from me, and I start to wonder why he is so far away.
Perhaps, it is a good thing because I do not trust myself anywhere near him.
"I believe I owe you answers." His voice is a dark song, and I want to listen to it all night long. His green eyes are clear of every battle, or confusion. For the very first time, he lets see what lies behind--his desire.
For me.
My appetite for food dies. I want something else tonight, and the anticipation kills me slowly. The need is excruciating.
But I will not ask for it. I will not plead for his touch.
Tonight, I play. Tonight, Rune pleads for my touch, and though I want it, I will not give it to him.
A painful tease. I will return the favour for every rejection, regardless of how pure his reasons were. I hurt, and though, I have begun to forget the pain I felt in the past few months by just being here, I know I have to do this. For me. For this bond.
He will want me, like I did him. He will crave me like I did him. He will plead, like I did, but I will not give in.
So, I force my gaze to the variety of food and fruit spread out before me, and I reach for the ripe strawberries, smiling darkly to myself.
Here goes nothing.
"What did you mean by 'it worked for you'?" I ask, lifting my gaze to his and I bite down on a ripe, juicy strawberries.
Rune stiffens, his gaze dropping to my mouth, and a low moan escapes me as the burst of flavor floods my senses.
Rune's lips part, and the hunger in his eyes as he watches me has nothing to do with the strawberries. I lick my lips, feigning innocence, and move on to the next one. He watches each bite I take, lost in whatever fantasies he has going through his mind.
I can hear his racing heart. It is music to my ears.
Tucking a loose strand of hair behind my ear, I raise an eyebrow. "Rune?"
He jerks visibly, and I resist the urge to laugh. I see sweat on his forehead, and he shifts uncomfortably in his chair, looking at everywhere but my mouth. "It...ah..." He stutters for a few seconds, and what he is trying so hard to hide reaches me.
The scent of his need envelops me, unlike anything I've ever experienced. It's erotic, mouthwatering. It does things to me. I want to leap across the table, shove his pants down and put him right where I need him.
But I don't. I maintain an expression of curiousity as I wait for his answer.
He finally gets his shit together, but he looks at the pool now, never at me. I smile evilly, hiding it as I chew. Point, Astrid.
"I had my first shift the night we met," he starts, staring off into space. "I don't remember much of it. Father had told me it would be exhilarating to get to bond with my Lycan. Give it a name. Speak to him. Know him." He pauses, and there is silver in his eyes. "They lied to me. Made me feel normal for the first few years of my life. Thankful as I am, they should have told me. It might have prepared me for the bloodbath."
I stop eating. His eyes lift to mine, haunted and bleak. I straighten in my chair, unsure what to do with myself.
"Till date, I have no idea who I may have killed in that state. There were no remains. Just... blood," he whispers, eyes shifting to his trembling fingers, like he can still see the blood on them. "It occurred once more during Solstice, and father knew what it meant for us. It was clear enough, and I was old enough to understand it. I got betrothed shortly after, and I conceded to it, because I knew that it was the only way I could keep you safe."
Tears well up in my eyes, and I swallow hard.
He continues, his gaze distant, lost in a memory. "I held onto anger for a long time. I'm not sure if it ever truly left me. But I learned to live with it, because I knew I would die before I let myself hurt you."
Silence engulfs my mind, and in this moment, as I stare at him, I see everything that eluded me in the past years.
Sacrifice.
He lets out a shaky breath and a small smile creeps to his lips. "And then, you started to hate me as well. Cutting your hair had been a poor decision, I must admit, but you, Red, are a wicked little thing. I almost died, you know."
I laugh, blinking away the tears that had been welling in my eyes. "Your kind like to act like they're larger than life. Who knew wolfsbane could make a prince faint in his own puke?"
He grins, picking up the table knife. "Cruel. Next question?"
I suck in my lower lip and let it out. "Did you really have to do it with the maids in the weapon's cellar? Couldn't you get a fucking room?"
His smile widens. "No. It was quite refreshing to know you would always come looking for me and find me there. Your expressions were usually priceless, and you do look your best when you're mad."
I gape at him. "You were doing that on purpose?"
He tilts his head. "Is that another question?"
I growl. "Two questions is nowhere near enough!"
He drops the knife and rests his hand on his fist, a lazy smile spreading across his face, a smile that could melt even the strongest resolve. "You want another, grant me another boon."
Oh?
I hiss. "In your wildest dreams."
"No more answers then."
I start to snack on the berries irritably, but I have so many questions now and I hate not knowing. I sigh. "What do you want?"
He straightens, and his expression turns intense. "A kiss."
My ears perk at that and the fine hair on my skin rise at the thought of his lips on mine, and his tongue exploring my mouth. "No, and quit making silly demands. At this point, I deserve every explanation you have to give. You can't keep making these demands and expect me to follow through."
He simply keeps watching me, because he knows me. I hate being kept in the dark. I came here to get answers, and I won't leave until I have all of them.
"Fuck you," I tell him as I rise from the chair.
He chuckles darkly, twisting to give me enough space to...kiss him.
Every step I take fills me with anxiety. I approach him, and my mouth goes dry. A kiss. It can't be that hard. My gaze fixates on his lips, and my breath slows as I recall what those lips are capable of.
Fuck. Fuck. Fuck.
I come to a stop in front of him and place my hands on either side, invading his personal space until we're breathing the same air.
Rune remains motionless, relaxed.
I moisten my lips, and his breath catches.
Golden flecks appear in his eyes, and amusement flickers within them. I hate it when that happens.
An idea forms in my head and I tell him, "A kiss?"
"Yes," he whispers, hot breath tickling my nose.
I smile ruefully and lift my hand to his lips, caressing them. My heart pounds in my chest, and Goddess knows this is utterly insane.
But I can't let him have all the fun.
So I kneel between his legs, reaching for the buckle of his pants. Rune starts, attempting to rise from the chair, but I press my hand against his abdomen, channeling all that new Lycan strength to hold him in place as I give him a sultry smile. "You didn't say where."