by Ariel Marie
“I promised my mother that I would protect your mother until Rowena is found,” she said as her hand drifted lower beneath the covers.
“You did now?” he asked as his painful erection bobbed up and down beneath the blanket as if it was waiting to see what she would do next. He never thought in a million years that he would be having a conversation about war and enemies while sporting a massive hard on.
“Yes, I did and we valkyries take our promises seriously,” she whispered in his ear.
“I’m sure you do,” he gasped. Finally, her small hand wrapped itself around his erection. The softness of her hand just about drove him crazy as she slowly caressed it from base to tip.
“But you are my mate and I need to protect you. My parents have plenty of guards to keep them safe. I need to know that you are safe. That is my promise to you. I would have killed every wolf in those woods with my bare hands if any of them would have harmed you.”
“I can take care of myself, Teague,” she reminded him, as she increased the tempo of her strokes.
“I know, but you’re my mate. You belong with me.” He tried to pull away but her grip tightened. He needed to make her see how serious he was, but right now all conscious thoughts flew out the window. He could barely form a sensible word right now. It was like she had placed a spell over him as she continued her gentle torture.
“I cannot mate with you, Teague,” she gently reminded him.
“Whether the bond is completed or not, I will always protect you,” he said, staring into her eyes as she shifted lower on the bed. She moved the blankets out the way as she settled between his legs. He couldn’t take his eyes off her as she slowly slid his cock into her mouth. “I will always love you.”
This had to be the most erotic thing he had ever watched in his life. He couldn’t take his eyes off her if he tried. He sat up on his elbows so he could watch his mate please him. The feel of her mouth and hand on his cock was heaven. He could already feel a tingling sensation at the base of his balls as she took him deeper. His hand tangled in her hair as he thrusted his hips slightly, not wanting to hurt her. He knew that this was the first time that she had done this and he didn’t want to hurt her.
Saliva slipped from her mouth and coated his hardness, causing him to moan even deeper as she quickened her pace and tightened her hand around the base of his hardness. His cock easily slid in and out of her mouth as she continued her beautiful torture.
“Bella, stop,” he gasped, feeling the tightening of his balls. She tightened her grip even more as she increased the pressure of her sucking and stroking became synced to the same rhythm. He panted, gripping her hair tight as he felt himself release into her hot mouth. She didn’t release him from her mouth but swallowed everything he gave her. He fell back onto the pillows, totally out of breath.
“Bella,” he gasped, unable to form coherent words as she continued to lick and clean his softening cock.
“You are pleased?” she asked with a small smile. All he could do was nod, his last bit of strength gone. Sucked all out by his valkyrie warrior.
“That had to be the hottest thing that I have ever seen,” a voice filled with awe said from the doorway.
* * *
~Bella~
“You had no right,” Bella said, stalking down the front steps of her family’s home with Katri right behind her. Teague had left a couple of hours ago to go home. Bella’s face still felt beet red at the thought that her longtime friend had witnessed the intimacy between her and Teague.
“I knocked as usual,” Katri rushed. “When have we ever hid anything from each other? Back home, our doors are never locked. If I had known you had company, I would have never walked in.”
“You could have turned right around and left,” Bella yelled.
She quickly looked around, seeing no one outside at this time. She didn’t want anyone else to know about her breaking her vows. She was fairly confident that Katri would keep a secret, but she was still embarrassed she caught her in the act.
“Well, if it helps, I didn’t see much,” Katri said, her face lined with guilt. “But can I just say, the way you sucked his—”
“Katri!” Bella yelled, turning on her heel to stalk away from her friend.
“Bella, I’m just saying. I wish I would have had a pad and pen to write down pointers,” Katri let out a short laugh, running alongside Bella as they walked towards the garage. “Where did you learn how to—”
“Katri,” Bella practically growled, halting her steps. She stared up at the darkening sky, taking in a deep breath. The sun was just setting and they were about to head over to the royal vampire home. “You mustn’t tell anyone about Teague and me. You now know that I have broken my maiden vows,” she said, turning to her friend.
Katri stared at her for a moment, laughter fading from her face. “It’s you, isn’t it? You are to sacrifice yourself on this mission.”
Bella looked away feeling guilty. She had purposely not told anyone. She didn’t want to see worry on the faces of her warriors who were also her friends and like sisters to her. Over the years, she had grown closer to the valkyries than her own blood sisters.
“The girls and I spoke. We know that you haven’t told anyone that it was their turn to sacrifice themselves,” Katri said.
Bella paused, not knowing how to respond. She was always the strong one, the leader, and the person that her warriors could draw strength from. It was Bella, who the valkyries would come to with problems. She took her position as the leader of the valkyries seriously. It was even her job to inform the chosen warrior that they had been chosen by Adros to die for their cause.
“Yes, I have been chosen by Adros to die for the vampire queen,” she said, turning toward her longtime friend.
Katri stared into her eyes before holding out her hand. Bella didn’t hesitate to take Katri’s hand.
“It has been an honor,” Katri said, her eyes glistening with tears.
“It has been an honor to serve as your leader,” Bella replied, feeling the threat of tears in her own eyes. This was the reason why she didn’t tell anyone. Goodbyes were always hard to do, especially when the destination was death.
“Choosers of the fallen,” Katri said, citing from their vow. Her eyes did not waver from Bella as they both thought of the vows that they once had taken so long ago.
“An honorable death,” Bella replied automatically, her heart swelled with emotions from her friend’s unwavering support and understanding of what had been demanded from Adros.
“For the good of Aphadore.”
“Is the death for a valkyrie,” Bella ended, pulling Katri in for a hug. Katri squeezed her back tight, almost taking her breath away. “You will lead the valkyries after I’m gone.”
Chapter Seventeen
~Teague~
“The council has heard your argument, Vladimir,” Cesar Nasso, Lord of the Greek region said. “We will have to deliberate on the information that has been presented.”
Teague sat in the corner of his father’s office, watching him debate the vampire’s council via virtual conference through the television mounted on his office wall. The council sat around their round table in their off the grid location.
All of his siblings were present in the office. Toma sat in one of the wide recliners with Anika on his lap while Nadira and her mate Cooper rested on the loveseat. Nicu and Adrian were scattered around the room.
Teague’s eyes kept drifting back to his brother and sister with their mates. He was happy for both of them and found himself envious of them. He knew that this meeting between his father and the council was important. Their very choice of whom they were allowed to mate with was at stake. If the council did not pass the new law that would allow them, the royal heirs, to mate with whom they choose, Teague had a feeling that Toma would blow a gasket. Anika, his mate, was human.
“See that you do,” the king’s voice interrupted Teague’s thoughts. “Times have changed. The vampire nation
needs to move forward with the times. The royal heirs should be allowed to mate with their fated mates. There are more pressing matters that we need to focus on besides who my children are allowed to mate with.”
“The council ordered these laws into existence for a reason,” another council member, Christos Procopio, Lord of the South American region, spoke up. “Our predecessors wanted the future of the crown to remain vampirine. Not diluted with every facets of races that exists.”
Growling could be heard from inside the room. Toma. Anika quickly calmed him down with whatever she whispered in his ear. Teague was amazed by how his older brother responded to his mate. Out of the five siblings, Toma was the one with the short fuse and if Anika, a small human, could instantly bring him back down, then Teague had no doubt that she was his brother’s fated mate.
“But who is the council to go against what the fates have designed for our children?” the queen demanded as she stormed into the room to stand beside her husband. “If fate and the Gods have designed the perfect mate for a vampire to not be vampirian, then obviously they have a plan.”
“My queen, fate does not believe in strategy. We are planning for the future. The royal line must remain pure,” Christos demanded, his fist slamming down onto the table.
“Watch your tone, Christos.” The king’s voice cut through, warning the other vampire. “You are talking to your queen and my wife.”
“My apologies, Your Grace.” Christos bowed his head in apology. “I meant no disrespect.”
“None taken. It is quite all right to be passionate in your beliefs. But just know this, fate always has a plan. We are never to question what the Gods and fate have in store for us.” The queen’s voice was clear and fierce and Teague knew that his mother would fight for the rights of her children.
He never thought that as the royal family, they would be fighting with the council about who the heirs would mate with. But then again, he honestly never thought that he would find his true mate, let alone not be able to mate with her in the eyes of the vampirian laws.
“My wife is right, you know,” the king nodded. “Let’s just be honest; this law was put into effect after Rowena Frost was imprisoned.”
“And you know why too,” Cesar said, nodding his head. “She was hell bent on destroying our race, thanks to you.”
“And now she’s free from her jail!” another councilman pointed out.
“We will handle Rowena,” the king said dryly. “We did it before and we will do it again.”
* * *
“A Miss Arabella Kaldana,” Watson announced at the doorway to the king’s office.
“Please, Watson, see her in.” The king waved his hand as he sat behind his massive desk. Watson nodded his head and stepped back out of the entryway of the office.
Teague swallowed hard, remembering the last time he had seen Bella this afternoon. Her friend had apparently entered the room, and got an eyeful, before either of them had noticed and had got an eyeful her presence. Before finding his mate, Teague would have joked around, and invited her friend to join in the fun. But he wouldn't do that with Bella.
Those bright smoky gray eyes, full breasts, and dangerous curves were meant for his eyes only. Just thinking of everything that they did earlier that day had him shifting in his seat to adjust himself.
“So, this special detail to protect our parents does not include the Shadows?” Adrian’s voice broke through Teague’s thoughts.
Teague looked around at his siblings and their heated discussion.
“No,” Nicu said. “We need them here to help and they are the best. I fully trust that they will protect our parents with their lives if need be.”
“We would too! We need to be here—” Toma started, but was cut off their mother.
“Sira and I go back a long ways. She has sent her valkyries to our realm to help. We will use them as our guardians while you boys handle the necromancers and Rowena.”
Teague was confused at first but then it dawned on him that Bella and her valkyries would be protecting his parents.
“I’ve seen them fight,” Teague spoke up. “They are a vicious group of females and I’m glad they are on our side.”
“Thank you for that compliment, Teague,” Bella said, stepping into the room.
He practically swallowed his tongue as his eyes roamed over her body, which looked as if it had been poured into the black leather. She was decked out in full warrior gear. Weapons lined her body and her gray eyes were sharp as she assessed everyone in the room.
A couple of her valkyries filed into the room behind her. Katri’s eyes twinkled as she nodded to Teague. He rolled his eyes in response. At least she was in good spirit about it. He knew that Bella was mortified and afraid that others would find out she broke her vow of celibacy.
Ulrika and Viva settled in right behind Bella, greeting everyone in the room.
“Your Graces,” Bella said, nodding to his parents.
“No need for formality,” his mother said, getting up from her seat to embrace Bella.
“I take it you have heard from my mother?” Bella asked, pulling back from the queen. Her face was serious and he understood that now; she was in warrior mode and he loved it.
“Yes, we agree with your mother. I know she has it out for Rowena just as bad as Rowena has it out for me,” the queen responded, nodding her head.
“We will protect you with our lives,” Viva said to his mother.
“It is an honor to protect a longtime friend of our queen,” Ulrika chimed in.
“Well, it is an honor to have you here, valkyries,” his father said, getting up from behind his desk. “Anything you need, you only have to ask, and it is yours.”
“We will need the blueprints of your home and property,” Bella said, her eyes turning towards Nicu.
“I can help with that,” Nicu volunteered. “We have much to discuss.”
She briefly glanced at him and in that moment, her gray eyes softened. His heart pounded in his chest when she turned away towards his brother. He literally couldn’t stand the thought of her turning away from him. It hit him then, hard in the chest, taking his breath away as realization dawned on him.
His body had created a bond with her and he could tell that it was not fully complete yet. It was close to completion. Sweat formed on his forehead as the feelings in his chest blossomed. He swallowed hard, knowing that only biting her and taking one small sip of her blood would complete the bond.
Chapter Eighteen
~Bella~
She had a hard time concentrating, knowing that Teague was in the same room. His heated gazes left little to the imagination about what was on his mind. He hadn’t really said much to her but she knew exactly what he was thinking. They had moved to Nicu’s office so that he could get her everything that she had asked for. If they would be protecting the royal family, they needed to know everything about the property.
Bella’s gut told her that they didn’t have much time. Rowena would make her move soon and they need to hurry. Bella had spoken with Katri about her taking over the valkyrie and leading them until Adros or her mother, the queen said otherwise.
Katri would make a good leader. She had been a valkyrie for as long as Bella. They were on the same training team eons ago. Bella was satisfied that when it was her time to go, the valkyries would have a strong leader to build a whole new team. Inductions of the new valkyries would be held when they returned to Aphadore. It would be a grand ceremony and Bella trusted Katri and the other girls to make sound decisions on the new members.
Nicu showed Viva the blueprints, and she offered pointers on how to make the building even more secure.
“Can I talk to you for a moment?” Teague said quietly into her ear, grabbing her arm and pulling her into the corner of the room, away from everyone else.
“What is wrong?” she asked softly, keeping her voice down. She was glad vampires didn’t have the hearing of the shifters. Anything they said would have
been heard, no matter how low they kept their voices.
“I’m sorry,” he said. She looked at him confused, not knowing what he was apologizing for. He must have picked up on her confusion. “I shouldn’t have stayed as long as I did today.”
“It’s all right,” she said, looking over her shoulder, finding Katri looking their way with a silly grin on her face. Ulrika hit her on her arm to get her attention back to what Viva and Nicu were discussing. “Don’t blame yourself. Katri won’t say a thing to anyone. “
“Again, if only I would have left—“
“I enjoyed our day together,” she interrupted him softly, trying to whisper. “In bed. It was amazing.”
“We should do it again,” he joked. She could see that he was trying to keep himself from smiling to not let on what they were discussing.
“We’ll see,” she said with a small smile. She knew that there probably wouldn’t be another chance. Her days were numbered in this world. This feeling in her gut wouldn’t go away and she had always trusted her instinct. It had saved her plenty of times in battle.
“Excuse me, Bella?” Ulrika called out, waving her hand to get Bella’s attention.
“Stop distracting me,” she said to Teague just as she walked away. She could easily feel his gaze on her as she walked over to Ulrika.
“If I didn’t know any better, I would say that vampire wanted to eat you up,” Ulrika said with wide eyes, looking over Bella’s shoulder. “And in a good way, too.”
“You’re imagining things,” Bella said with a forced laugh as she turned her attention to Ulrika. “Is there a problem?”
“Yes, we were going over the queen’s schedule and she has some travel arrangements coming up and a few meetings that look important.”
“Where is she set to go?” Bella asked, as Ulrika sat down at Nicu’s computer. Bella hovered over Ulrika’s shoulder so that they could look over the queen’s schedule.
