“What is it supposed to feel like to have a mate?” I whispered, forgetting that I could mind-link Merilla instead. My voice is shaky, scared of the unknown. The hand squeezed mine a bit tighter, giving off electricity like a spark of energy, making my heart skip a beat.
“It is unlike anything you have ever felt before. It fills you with joy, warmth, and so much more.” Merilla’s voice is soft and caring in my head. There was a long pause, and I sighed heavily.
“Hi, I think it is him.” I whispered softly, hoping the person’s hand I was holding didn’t hear me. There was a loud growl and a huge applause that hid away someone’s frustration, and I think it might be Kaden’s frustration that he isn’t my so-called Mate like he thought. The blindfold was taken off, and there before me stood, towering over me, the Barbarian king, Kaden. There is a huge smile on his face, which looks very inviting. I can’t help but blush, which he obviously noticed because his smile got even wider. Once more, his eyes drew me in, and I am captivated by the red specs in his eyes. The touch of his hand is so welcoming. Why did I not notice it before? Was I so overpowered by my anger from just one little kiss that I did not notice the slightest spark within me? My mind was telling me to stop staring, but my heart pulled me in another direction, and that was to be near him. No, it can’t be. He can’t be my mate! Why did it have to be him? He had absolutely no concerns.
“Have everyone escorted out of the castle.” Kaden ordered, and Luka, his spirit animal, gave a huge roar, causing everyone to flinch and start heading towards the exits. I realized that Kaden was still holding my hand, so I removed it from his. There is a slight disappointed look on his face, and it is almost like I could feel his disappointment.
“Come with me.” He held out his hand again, and I couldn’t help but compare his large hand to my small one.
“Come with me, Little One." His voice is calm and reassuring. "I am sure you have many questions.” I look down at his strong, rough, rugged hand, contemplating for a moment if I should go with him. I am curious to know more about this Mate thing, but I am not fond of the idea of him explaining it to me.
“Can’t Merilla explain it to me? I am sure she has more experience in that department since she already has a mate.”
“I am sure she does, but they are spirit animals, and their rituals are a bit different from ours, unless you want to do a mating ritual right here and now?” I don’t know what a mating ritual was or how they did it, but the word mating explained it all. I sigh heavily with my hand in his. He led me out of the hall, and I glance back over my shoulder for Merilla, but she wasn’t following us; she stayed behind with Luka.
Kaden let me go to a place that looked like a study or a huge library. I am overwhelmed by all the verities of books. I could see myself getting lost in this room for an hour.
“Do you like it?” He asked unexpectedly. I turn my gaze towards him and notice his eyes taking in my expression.
“Like it? No, I love it. I have never seen so many books in my life, not even in our library.” He smiles, looking quite pleased. He continued leading me until we came to a big wooden study desk and pulled out a chair for me, gesturing for me to sit. He takes a seat in the chair next to me, draping his arm over the back of my chair. I should be feeling a bit uncomfortable with the way his side is pressed up against mine, but it isn’t.
“Meara, I want you to meet some important people of mine, guards that will be signed to look over you to make sure you are safe.” That is the first time I have heard my name come out of his mouth. Usually, he uses some nickname for me. If I must admit, the nicknames he gave me are not that bad, actually. I like them, but I am not about to admit it to him.
"I believe you have already met your two maids this morning. They will help you with all your needs, from helping you get dressed to getting acquainted with the surrounding areas. Now I know you are going to say that Merilla will show you around, but the two maids will always be at your service when Merilla isn’t available. She and Luka always disappear for a while. God knows where.” I sit quietly while Kaden explains everything, but my mind is completely blank. All I could think of was that I was in some strange kingdom with a strange man who thought that we were destined to be together just because he thought that we were mated.
“Little One, are you okay? What is going on in that pretty little head of yours?” Hearing him call me out on that nickname he gave me snapped me right out of my deep thinking.
“I can’t stay here; I have to go back home. I have the farm and my job waiting for me back home. Merilla said that she would bring me here to find out who my parents were; she didn’t say anything about staying here with you.” I am overwhelmed. He placed his hand on my lap. I looked down at his hand, gazing at how big his hand was on my leg. He caught me completely off guard. He instantly realized that it was a mistake and removed his hand.
“Let me call for the guards and introduce you to them.” He says this before going silent and staring straight off into the distance. From the looks of it, I would say he was mind-linking Luka, his spirit animal.
Is that how I look when I am busy talking to Merilla? I have never tried to talk to her from this far before, only when she was with me. I make a mental note to try it later.
Kaden was still staring off into the distance when I heard the library door open. I turn around and notice four men walking through the door with Luka, the huge black cat/llion thing. I still can’t make out what kind of animal he was. The body of a lion was much, much bigger than a lion, and his fur was black, resembling Kaden's hair.
The four men do not look like the rest of the guards I’ve seen standing watch across the castle. These men were more muscularly built, not muscularly built like Kaden. Kaden was still bigger than any of them, but still bigger than the rest of the guards I’ve seen so far.
“This is Deon, my right-hand man, my advisor.” Kaden extended his hand out to show me who Deon is.
“It is a pleasure, your Highness.” He bowed, took my hand in his, and kissed it while I blushed. I don’t think any man has ever been so polite to me and kissed me on the hand. I feel flattered.
“Please, just call me Meara. I am not royalty.” I insisted.
“If you are my king's mate, then that makes you my queen.”
“I am not married to the king, so I am not royalty.” I say it a bit rudely. Deon looked to Kaden for confirmation, and he nodded his head.
“I am sorry. I did not mean to be rude. It is just a lot to take in at once.” I apologize to Deon. He gives me a friendly smile and gestures to the other three men behind him.
“And these.” He sighed heavily, almost like he was irritated with the three younger men. "Are the king's personal guards Zaden, Mike, and Seth?”
“ Hi, It’s a pleasure, your highness. You have no idea how long his highness has waited for you. The past few years of pouting have been long without him getting anything.” Kaden cuts him off with a wave of his hand.
Waited! Why would Kaden have been waiting for me? It is not like he knew I was coming, or did he?
“That will be all, Zaden; you can go now.” Kaden waved him off with a hand, and he disappeared through the library. I raised a brow at Zaden’s statement. Kaden bent down to my ear. I was frozen in place, not sure what he was going to do or say.
“I have waited for you for so long, you wouldn’t believe how long.” His warm breath tickled my ear; it made me hold my thighs together, and I did not know why he did this to me. Chills invaded my skin as he breathed down my neck. It was an unfamiliar feeling, and I was not sure if I liked it or not. I could feel the tips of my fingers turning ice cold. It is almost like a tingling sensation, like pins and needles, but with a magical buzz. I look down at my hands and notice glittery frost particles clinging to my skin like diamonds. The cold sensation spreads across my entire body, making me feel uneasy. The more Kaden whispered in my ear, the colder my body seemed to get. I am so distracted by the cold that I can’t hear a word of what he is saying. My breath started to hitch, and I felt out of breath. This cold feeling started to make my entire body feel prickly. I jumped up, as the cold, burning sensation was starting to get unbearable.
“I am sorry.” Kaden says while pulling on the collar of his shirt that he is trying to loosen it up because it is chocking him.
“I fail to realize you are not versed in the mating bond given to us by the goddess.” I stay quiet because my emotions and hormones are all over the place, not to mention this ice-cold feeling inside of me. Kaden ignored the space I'd put between us and came closer to me again, extending his hand to me.
"Meara, are you okay? You look pale, almost like your turning blue.” The closer he got to me, the colder my body got.