His Forsaken Luna-Chapter 157: K*ll or be K*lled

~ Idalia ~

I never knew the waters could be warm and never imagined I’d be so adventurous and playful to want to mate with Eryx in the sea. Regretted it? Absolutely not. Being with Eryx is freeing; considering how we started, I never expected anything like this.

Still, I’d blushed so much when I returned to the others, who were all gathering around the fire to eat fish. My wolf, however, held her chin high, happy for others to know that we’d just been with our mate. Our scents were freshly mixed, settling our wolves just enough to stop tugging at the bond in need to mate more.

Kharis huffed in his singleness, Cohnal was his stoic self except for the slight curve of his lips before taking a bite from his fish; Faidon appeared like some assassin ready to kill us but sat down beside Salihn, glancing subtly at her while the other four Weres I was getting used to were too focused on eating and speaking in Solfyran. It seemed normal and not looked down on like it might have been in the North—even if we were mates.

Though, I was sure if we had been caught in the woods or anywhere else, my Alpha Prince’s fearsome reputation would have kept the nobles’ mouths shut. Perhaps now, with how everything went down in Ice and Claws, they feared me too. I was a Chosen, Eryx’s mate and was the one to take down Deyanira, now known for being a dark witch. The tiny she-wolf they’d all looked down on.

Ignoring my slight ache towards vengeance, I focused on my mate. Now, we were cuddled together, naked, while our clothes hung up, drying from our time in the sea. The furs from the sledge were used to lie on, and a thinner blanket was used to cover us. Our body heat kept the slight coolness of night at bay.

We lay a little further away from the others who wouldn’t be cuddling each other to stay warm and slept by the ongoing fire. Solin and Riven were standing guard nearby and would take turns with the others. Nobody paid us any mind as we stared at each other under the blanket of stars. My fingers slowly trail over his scars as he caresses my back and keeps me close to him.

’We are leaving tomorrow morning,’ I begin in our private mind link. ’Do you feel ready?’

Eryx chuckles and nuzzles his nose against mine. ’I’m always ready. Our court is different from yours, but the politics are the same.’

’I know you were putting off our arrival. Is this because of your father?’ I ask gently, my gaze slowly moving from a scar just under his chest to his striking green eyes.

The mention of his father sends a tightness and discomfort down the bond. His hand halts momentarily on my back, pausing above my hips. I don’t push him further, but I wonder about Alpha King Valerius. Eryx and his father were feared, known as barbarians like most Southern Weres, but they had fearsome reputations for doing unthinkable acts. Yet, even as I trace his scars and am aware of some of these violent acts, I feel safe in his arms.

I know from the depth of my being that everything Eryx has done is for his people. In Ice and Claws, I was only ever aware of our kingdom’s side of the story and believed the Southern Weres were always in the wrong, always wanting war. Now, the Barbaric Alpha Prince is my mate, and he has already shown me to be open-minded, expand more, listen and learn before making a judgement.

It was also made clear over the last few days that Deyanira had been set on the downfall of our kingdoms, too, as we were always fighting each other. However, not all of it can be blamed on the witch.

Eryx sighs and tightens his hold on me. ’My father is not ill in the sense you think he is. People nicknamed him Mad King Val. He sometimes goes on a rampage and will kill anyone in sight. He has grown worse over the years. We’re not sure how he is still alive,’ he adds the last bit even more quietly in my mind.

I stroke his jaw, seeing the slight hardness in my mate’s gaze as he talks about his father. ’He was always a little mad, even when mother was alive.’ My eyebrows raise at this. I knew the Alpha Queen passed away years ago in childbirth, along with the newborn pup. ’She was his mate.’

My eyes shut at his last comment. How was the Alpha King still alive? I couldn’t imagine living without Eryx now-

’Shh, don’t think of such things,’ Eryx kisses my neck and pulls me even tighter against him.

’You said he was always a little mad anyway...’ I murmur quietly in the mind link as golden light is cast over half our bodies and the rest remain in the shadows.

A muscle feathers in Eryx’s jaw. ’My siblings...’

My breath halts as my heart thunders in my chest. This was something I’d always been curious about. It was one of the few other reasons I’d been so wary of this man, even while I’d been so attracted to him before discovering he was my mate.

’We were set against each other,’ his voice is rough in my mind, his features stoic, his eyes hard, unreadable besides the green flames dancing in them. ’It was kill or be killed. Father didn’t want anyone weak taking his place on the throne. We killed each other over the years.’

Horror creeps under my skin and sets loose goosebumps along it. I had to close my mouth from where it dropped open. ’Your younger siblings...’ I knew there were a few that had at least 15 years of difference between them.

’Died peacefully. Poisoned or smothered. Some managed to escape and flee to the Isles of Men and Iron,’ he answered gravelly and I watched a few of his memories.

A much younger version of Eryx in his teenage years, helping his younger siblings escape, then covering up the tracks and leaving other bodies behind, similar to his siblings with unrecognisable faces from being clawed up so badly. ’And these children...’ I asked, my gaze finding his. They weren’t his siblings, but they were still children.

’Died from illness beforehand,’ Eryx answered me.

’I’m sorry you had to endure all of that...’ My words are a soft whisper even in his mind as I stroke his jaw soothingly and kiss his cheek. His arm tightens around my back, and slowly, I slide on top of him, still lying down to embrace him and comfort him.

’Father wanted it to be a tradition. Our pups will not go through such things. I will make sure of it,’ Eryx’s chest rumbled with conviction.

I kiss his chest a few times and caress his jaw, watching his gaze soften as he stares at me and his large hands sliding up my back. ’No, our pups will not go through any pains that either of us have suffered,’ I say softly and breathe out slowly as he squeezes me to him, loving his scent that wraps around me.

’Speaking of pups...’ Eryx rolls me under him, his eyes gleaming back at me under the firelight.

I giggle out loud. "Oh, you want to try so soon?" I tease, allowing the darkness of our conversation to fade away.

Eryx grins wolfishly. "I wouldn’t mind seeing you carrying my pup, I’d be honoured, but maybe we should practice a little more first."

I snort, my lips widening into a smile. "Maybe that would be for the best," I whisper before his lips brush up against mine.

My jaw had never hurt so much from smiling and laughing before. It was something I didn’t mind enduring one bit.

Our kiss lingers, slow and sensual, building up until I can’t help but take his bottom lip between my teeth. Our breaths are a little heavier, but we try to keep our movements quiet, our mouths busy. As he buries himself inside me, my head tilts back, glancing at the others who are sleeping.

Eryx takes my jaw in his large hand and guides my face back to his. "Eyes on me," he whispers before sinking deeper until my lips part, my breath whooshing out of me.

"I love it when you look like this," Eryx growls seductively into my ear.

"Like... what?" I’m panting a little and biting my lip to stop myself from sounding any louder.

"Like you can’t breathe without it. I haven’t even started yet," he chuckles, the rough sound warming my body.

My fingers tangle in his hair so his face gets closer to mine. "Stop teasing me, mate. Unless you want to wake the others." I buck my hips once to make my point clear, sounding slightly haughty, like a demanding princess.

Eryx smirks. "Your wish is my command, princess."

It was the quietest and slowest we’d ever been, but refraining from acting so primal, taking away our voices was more teasing, and we clung and nipped at each other, our hands gripping each other’s skin as we built up to the quietest of orgasms. My eyes were wide, staring up at the bright starry night sky as Eryx’s large hand was over my mouth, stopping me from crying out.