Betrothed to the Moon

by Wynter Boudreaux

  “There is no such thing,” Shrentun began to protest, but stopped short when Kelorian’s long shadow fell over his face.

  “Do you not see it?”

  “Yes,” the dwarf said, his eyes blinking rapidly.

  “Can you not feel it?”

  “Of course, I—I mean, to say—“

  “You are a poison to our kingdom,” Kelorian cut him off. “The Alphaguard is no place for someone so dense, so blinded by his own selfishness that he cannot fathom even the most basic magic when confronted by it.” Kelorian moved to the side and the door to the dungeon banged open, echoing across the dirty floor. “Go.”

  The dwarf seemed to realize it would be better not to defy him again, and slunk away. Jared wanted to claw through this magic whatever, this clear cage, just to kill him, but Kelorian seemed to read his mind and tightened the bonds once again. “Let me go!”

  “I’m sorry that we have met this way… This has all been so poorly handled.” The tall man didn’t look at Jared, instead simply walking back and forth across the floor. “Shrentun is clearly a fool… He is no use except in what he is able to tell us about things that have already happened, things we could have confirmed, I’m sure, through other sources.” Abruptly, he spun on his heel and faced Jared squarely, clearly ready to change the subject away from something he felt some grief over. “You changed recently.”

  “Changed?” In spite of his rage, the stark difference in tone threw him off.

  “Your transformation. Your change into wolf, from man.” Kelorian studied his face. “Tell me about it.”

  “Fuck off.”

  “Then let me tell you about it,” he said, and turned away in order to begin pacing again. “You had no idea of your heritage, and it was… An unpleasant surprise. A powerful life event will evoke the magic, usually. Perhaps someone you love died recently—I would say that you fell in love, but that’s obvious.” He glanced at Serena. “And yet you have not claimed her, which tells me you have not had the chance.”

  “I haven’t had anything—I just met her! I’m not going to freaking claim her or whatever—“

  “—You don’t want her, then?” Kelorian gave Jared a knowing look.

  “Fuck off twice, asshole.”

  “I will take that as a yes,” he said, a smirk on his lips, and then he grew thoughtful. “So… Why haven’t you claimed her?”

  “That’s not what normal people do,” Jared snarled. “They don’t fucking claim each other. They date. They argue about what movie to see, they kiss and make up, they fuck. The don’t claim.”

  “You’re surely not under the delusion that you are ‘normal people?’ Kelorian stared at him. “You can’t possibly not know these…” He blinked. “You have no training? At all?”

  “I have training,” Jared said, staring back, “in kicking the shit out of fucks like you—Brazilian Jui Jitsu, karate, fucking Tai Bo, whatever you want, I will tear you apart—“

  “—There were no other wolves in your clan?” The look of mild concern on Kelorian’s face was passing, but it was enough to infuriate Jared to the point of madness.

  “No! No, you freak! This—all of this shit that has happened here, today, yesterday, all of it—this is not normal. You are not normal. But me? I was fine until two days ago. Fine!”

  Kelorian didn’t move, but he no longer looked as though he were worried about Jared. “You weren’t fine. You were a time bomb, as humans say. You could’ve killed someone—someone you care about.” He once again glanced at Serena. “The magic that drove you towards her may well have made you tear her apart. Such is the power of the bond for new wolves.”

  “I would never hurt her.”

  “Not intentionally, no.” Kelorian studied him. “But shifters, in the earliest stages, have no control over their spirit beasts. You smelled something that comforted you—perhaps it was her, or a familiar place where she happened to be—and sought it when you changed. You could easily, very easily, have ripped her to shreds.” He smiled, an event which distressed Jared almost as much as any other that had occurred. “But you exhibited extraordinary control.”

  “I would never, ever hurt her,” Jared said again, furious that his kidnappers knew more about what was happening to him than he did.

  “Your clan abandoned you,” Kelorian said, and the smile was gone. “They left you to deal with becoming a murderer or a rapist without any guidance. They doomed you to your beast.”

  “My clan? What the…” Jared shook his head, at a loss for words.

  “You have no family?”

  “I have plenty of family,” Jared snapped. “And trust me, they definitely fit the bill for ‘normal people.’” He refused to admit that his father had failed him to Kelorian. That was none of his goddamn business.

  The tall, thin man once again considered something beyond Jared’s imagining. After a long pause, he met Jared’s gaze. “The reason you were taken is because of your family. You are a descendent of the founders of the Alphaguard, of the greatest line of wolves in either of our worlds. The strongest, the most powerful, a magical dynasty.” He took a deep breath. “You and your ancestors have guarded Fae royalty since time immemorial.”

  “Look, buddy, I don’t give a shit what they did down here in hell.” Jared wished he could get out of these bonds. Whatever speech he was supposed to be absorbed in was just boring, as far as he was concerned. “I’m royalty where I come from.”

  Kelorian continued, ignoring his outburst. “My former superior is your uncle. To be sure, he is your great-great-great-great uncle, or something of that sort, but he is your relation.” He sighed again and turned to cast another glance at Serena, then the floor. “He has abandoned us and joined the enemy. He now stands as Guardian of the Sun Court.”

  “Blah blah blah,” Jared said, and rolled his eyes. The spell that bound him was so tight he couldn’t even wiggle his fingers… Although that didn’t stop him from trying. “What do I care about what some geezer I’ve never met does here or there?”

  Kelorian smirked in spite of himself, but again continued as if Jared hadn’t spoken. “He was mightily persuaded, to be sure.” Once again, he glanced at Serena. “A woman was involved, and as you must know, a wolf, when bound, has few choices.”

  Jared didn’t have any come-backs for that. Just knowing Serena was in the room made his skin feel like it was on fire.

  Kelorian continued. “Those of us in the Guard thought it would be best to track his remaining relatives and arrange a trade, of kind. Perhaps a truce could be arranged.” He sighed again, but this time, Jared believed for the first time, Kelorian wasn’t thinking about anything that had happened in the dungeon. The elf missed the man he was speaking of. He’d respected him. “That is your purpose, wolf. To provide negotiation strategies to us.”

  “I can’t believe I have to say this again,” Jared said, “but seriously, for the last time, fuck off.”

  “Shrentun destroyed a perfect opportunity in not approaching you honestly.” Kelorian steepled his fingers under his chin. “He made us an enemy, rather than an ally. But that is what we—the Guard—intended.”

  “Well, the road to this pit was clearly paved with similar intentions,” Jared growled.

  “I have something to offer you,” Kelorian said, his voice soft. Jared laughed, but the tall man merely watched him. “You have not claimed her—you prevented yourself from taking her, somehow, and I cannot imagine the restraint involved.”

  “I’m not going to take anything from her,” Jared said angrily, feeling defensive, “unless she asks me to.”

  “Why not see what she wants?”

  Jared stared at him. “What?”

  Kelorian stared back. “You want her to consent to your bond?” His eyebrow crept up on his forehead. “You do know what a bond is, correct?”

  “Fuck you.”

  “You will never mate with another. She must swear the same, in words, if she is Fae, but a human is tied by magic with or with
out their consent—if you take her,” Kelorian said slowly, deliberately, “she will be yours, and you hers, until death.” Jared found he couldn’t throw off a witty comment this time, and Kelorian nodded. The worst part, Jared realized, was that he didn’t care; the bastard was right. All he could think about was fucking Serena. He didn’t completely understand the consequences of this new feeling, but it didn’t seem to be within his control… If he had the opportunity, especially with the horror Shrentun’s attention still fresh in his mind… If he was close enough to her, he would—“Let me give you the opportunity to see what you will do with this information,” Kelorian said, smiling once again. Jared hated that.

  “Thanks,” he said sarcastically, “but no thanks.”

  “Magic is very flexible,” Kelorian went on, once again ignoring him. “I will let you be with her, in a fantasy of your own making. I will let your own imagination shape it, and you can…” He waved his fingers in the air. “A perfect compromise, yes?”

  “Why wouldn’t you just let me down from here? And wake her up?”

  “Because if you rape and kill her in this hole you will never forgive me, and you will never cooperate with our cause.” Kelorian spoke with ice in his voice. “You are untrained, and abandoned by your kind. You are also… Willful. And I know your people, even if you do not, wolf—you will never walk away from hurting your bond-mate without hate for everything and anyone that could have prevented it. Your lineage is not… Rational.”

  “So it wouldn’t be your fault, huh?” Jared stared at Kelorian. “You’re utterly blameless.”

  “Now, unfortunately, I am negotiating, rather than commiserating.” The tall man looked up at him. “We have an enemy in common, I’m afraid.”

  “We have nothing in common.”

  “You are more wrong than you could know.” Kelorian sighed and looked over at Serena, then brightened. “This is the bargain, wolf. You will dream of her—she will be placed in your fantasy as you imagine it. Then, because of your concerns, she will be given the opportunity to design her own fantasy.” He smiled. “No loss of power there. No conceit. And no bloodshed… Unless you desire it, and then, of course… It will only be a dream. One I cannot control.” Kelorian waved a hand, and Serena’s wrappings tightened, her pale nipples still exposed. She sighed in her sleep. “When you both awake, you can tell me whether or not you wish to join my side.”

  “Why would I possibly join you?” Jared leered down at him.

  “Because I have your mate in bondage over here,” Kelorian said, still smiling. “And I will send her back to the Ironworld immediately if you do not.”

  “You’re a bastard! You’re worse than Shrentun!”

  “He left me with few choices,” Kelorian said, and shrugged.

  “You’re going to let me… She and I…” Jared’s head swam with images, but he shook them off. “And then you’re going to—“

  “—Yes,” Kelorian said, and the last thing Jared saw was his hand once again flicking the air, the magic sailing through him in such a solid wall that it felt as if his head were being hit with a brick.

  Chapter Ten

  Jared woke up and realized immediately that something was incredibly wrong. Had he imagined everything that happened? The conversation with the tall elfen man was still perfectly clear in his mind, but he sensed somehow he was in a dream… But was it? Or was this reality?

  Jared was sitting on the couch in his penthouse suite. It was twilight, the sun sinking just behind the row of skyscrapers fielding the horizon—his favorite time of day. He stood up and ran his fingers over the delicious silken duvet laying across his leather couch, then turned and poured himself a glass of his favorite scotch. Yep. This had to be reality. This was his life.

  What a fucked up dream, he thought, and shook his head. Maybe I drank too much? Ate something weird?

  He started to turn towards his kitchen when a thought hit him like a blow.

  Serena?

  Had he made her up?

  Jared swayed on his feet. No. She’d been real. She’d been too real—his feelings about her too powerful to be imagined. Surely, there was no way… He scrambled towards the front door to find his car keys and drive to the cabin. The house was just as he left it, perfectly cleaned by professionals, organized by professionals, everything in its place—

  Except his keys.

  Jared swore. Fine, maybe it had been a wild night last night. He raced to the door and grabbed the handle in order to swing it open…

  And couldn’t.

  He was locked in.

  This can’t be happening, Jared told himself. He shook his head and looked down at the door handle. It felt so real. Could he really be dreaming? He tried to remember everything Kelorian said…

  Serena.

  Was she here?

  Jared frantically raced around the large apartment, scanning every room with his heightened vision. It seemed that as soon as he acknowledged this might be the fantasy his captor spoke of, his wolf senses returned. He ran towards the master bedroom, his bare feet slapping on the marble floors…

  And there she was.

  Serena lay on his massive bed, engulfed in the ocean of blankets he slept in every night. No woman had ever been allowed to sleep here; he fucked them, they left, that was the deal. But seeing her, the porcelain skin, the fragile curve of her hip as she sighed… His imagination had dressed her in a bright red negligee that barely covered her pussy, the scant shadow hiding her cleft from view. Jared felt such relief that she was okay that he didn’t immediately notice that his pulse hadn’t dropped.

  Serena sighed, her red lips puckering just a tad as her eyelids fluttered.

  Fuck, Jared thought, growing hard as a rock. Fuck, fuck, fuck.

  You’re lucky you didn’t kill her, Kelorian’s voice said…. But he hadn’t and of course he wouldn’t.

  That was the last thing he wanted to do to her…

  Jared took a deep breath, then another and another. He tried to stop himself from walking towards the wide bed, but his feet seemed to have a mind of their own.

  He wouldn’t. Well. He wouldn’t if she didn’t want it.

  But he found the rest of his body wasn’t listening either—slowly, Jared unbuttoned his pants and slid them to the floor, his shirt joining the pile soon after. Serena never stirred. He told himself he would just sit on the edge of the bed, and grabbed the remote control. There was some bullshit movie on that would capture his attention, he was sure.

  Jared sat perched on the edge of the bed, muted the television and turned the movie on. His hard-on was so stiff it was painful.

  He stood up again, trying not to look at Serena.

  The movie went on. Jared gave up and sat down behind her, this time, and let his eyes stray over her perfect form. Her scent intoxicated him.

  She sighed again, and he shivered. Serena spread out on the bed, the magic having its intended effect, and as her tiny, delicate feet rested on Jared’s lap he gently began to rub them. He watched as her eyes fluttered then slowed, the lids getting lower and lower, and the neckline of her tiny negligee twisted. Was she teasing him deliberately? Jared couldn’t tell; she didn’t seem awake. The short gown barely covered her ass, and when she finally fell dead asleep again and turned her back to the movie, he could see both of her perfect cheeks peeking out from underneath. The gentle arch in her back made him lick his lips, as it just accentuated the round curve of her ass. Hidden in that delicious crack was the pussy that had enslaved him instantly, and the thought of it made him hard as a rock. Blue light from the television bathed her body, and Jared listened as her breath became slow and steady, the soft rise and fall of her back telling him that Serena, the world’s most beautiful woman and his supposed bond-mate, was fast asleep.

  She was so beautiful.

  Would she really mind me looking at her right now? Jared somehow knew she wouldn’t. Just then, she twisted once more in her sleep, opening her legs into a sleepy side twist, and her ne
gligee rode up even higher.

  She wasn’t wearing anything beneath it, of course; Jared choked back another gasp as her scent wafted towards him, the delicate fragrance telling him she was dreaming about something she liked. A lot. He watched as she arched her back even farther and a small moan slid out of her.

  He froze. Would she mind if he touched himself? I swear I won’t touch her. I’ll even give her some space. Jared stood up after reassuring himself and quietly pulled his boxer shorts off so that he was standing naked in the center of the room. It was just Serena, Jared, and the blue light from the TV. His cock throbbed. He gently began to stroke it, watching as Serena dreamed.

  Her legs opened even further, and this time her face twisted towards him. Her belly was flat against the mattress now, with the gentle sway in her back telling him she could only be dreaming about one thing: sex. Serena softly groaned as her tight negligee rode into the shallow cleft between her thighs; he watched the damp fabric grow dark with her juices as her mouth shaped a perfect oh. “Ahhh,” she said softly, and her pink lips puckered. His cock twitched.

  What if... Jared stared, wondering, overwhelmed by the rush of desire that accompanied every instance of Serena’s lips making that sly shape. Would it be terrible if I... Before even realizing what he was doing, Jared came closer to her beautiful face, climbing on the bed and letting his cock gently brush her cheek. Dark brown curls were everywhere. What if... Before he registered what he was doing, the tip of Jared’s cock was inside of that perfect, soft oh on her lips, slipping past her teeth. “MMmmmmhhhph...” Serena moaned, her throat rumbling around his flesh, then gently sucked. It must be instinct. Jared felt his balls clench, reached down with his hands, and angled her head to slide further inside. She was just dead weight in his hands; what harm could this really do? She was dreaming of sex, right now, and he was... What the hell was Jared doing? He couldn’t stop himself, sweat beading on his lip as his muscles tensed. He began to slip in and out, letting her head drop to the side so that her mouth was nice and open as he fucked her. She didn’t move a muscle. Not one. Jared moved a little lower so that he was thrusting up and in, feeling her give way and letting him sink inside the warm cavern of her mouth with no resistance whatsoever. It felt incredible, better than he’d even imagined--the soft, wet hole opening for only him. He could only get half-way in without choking her, and... Oh shit. Jared didn’t pay enough attention and got away from himself--his cock sank past the tight clutch at the back of her throat until his balls rested on her chin, so deep inside of her that she was choking a little bit. Serena’s pretty face scrunched up; the moist hollow tightened as he pulled back out, but she was okay; Jared watched her smile and gasped. He allowed himself to slip all the way inside again, sinking his cock into her mouth until her throat told him it was enough; his sticky pre-cum painted the inside of her beautiful mouth. Something must be wrong with me, Jared suddenly thought. I’m fucking an unconscious woman’s mouth. Oh my god. Jared stopped for a second, his body tightly wound, and saw Serena frown. It’s just a fantasy, he reminded himself, and picked up speed, watching her lax jaw open, the sway of her head in his hands as he guided himself into that delicious, soft space, feeling the engorged head scraping past her teeth and then sliding all the way down that long tunnel... His balls grew heavier, tighter, and then, without even asking permission, they exploded.