“ What is happening to me?” I call out hysterically. Kaden looks at me confused and I don’t blame him. How would he know what is happening to me. I reach for his hand and as I extend my hand out I could feel all the coldness running through my body, and rush to my extended hand. Just when I was about to touch Kaden’s hand, my hand lit up like fiery indigo tendril curling around my fingers. Kaden’s eyes widened with shock. There is this icy cold blue flames dancing on the tip of my fingers. It looked exactly like fire, but It is cold to the touch.
“ What is this?” I look to Kaden for answers. He is quiet, not saying a word, his eyes transfixed by the dancing flames.
“ This can’t be!” He breaks the silence. Deon, Mike and Seth looked just as shocked as they stood there gaping at my hand.
“ There hasn’t been signs of an elementals with a blue flame in many generations. We thought all the elemetals with Frot-Fire were all extinct. They were one of the strongest elementals to ever existed, besides from me of course.”
“How do I make it go away? Kaden, make it go away, please!” I pleaded.
“I can’t make it go away; only you can make it go away; the power is from within you, Meara.” Hearing my name roll from his lips only seems to ignite the flame even more. He takes a step closer to me, and it feels like my stomach turns into a knot as he gets closer, closing the distance between us. The flames in my hand grew half the size as he got closer. I fear for what would happen; his presence only seems to add fuel to the fire.
Without waiting to find out what would happen, I turned around and ran for the door. I need to get away from him. I can’t bear the thought of actually hurting him, or anyone for that matter.
"You can’t go anywhere without me.” Kaden called after me. “You are my mate, and I am here to protect you.” His voice sounded gentle and caring, making me stop in my tracks and take one last glance over my shoulder. Was I going to fall for his charms like every other girl he tried to convince of this'Mate'nonsense? I think not.
“I was just fine before you came, and I will be fine by myself now. I need some space, so just let me go.” I turned my head back, ready to leave the library. I gradually walked out the door when I felt this tight grip around my arm.
“No, you can't leave. You are mine, just as I am yours. I just found you, and I will not let you go that easily. Bad things will happen if you leave now.” Here I thought he had a soft side, but once more, his barbarian side came out, acting like he owned me.
“Well, your highness, I wasn’t asking your permission to leave. You don’t own me; I can leave whenever I want. Maybe you should take this as your first lesson in humility by getting your first rejection from a woman.” My lip wanted to quiver, but I held it back. I wasn’t about to show him that I was afraid; I was going to be the strong, independent woman I had always been. Not needing pity and sympathy from someone. The look of amusement faded from his face, and he gently let go of my arm.
Before I turned around to get away, he grabbed me by my hips and threw me over his shoulder while I squealed.
“ Put me down, you Barbarian.” I yelled, hitting into his back. No one is helping me, not even the guards who were assigned to protect me.
“ Oh, you haven’t seen the Barbarian side of me yet, Little One.” Kaden continued to walk out the library while I continued to scream. Merilla! I suddenly remembered the mental note that I made.
“ Merilla, please help me! ” I called out in my mind. There was no answer back from her, so I tried again. “ Merilla, I need you!” I hope I am doing it right, or maybe she can’t hear me because she is too far away. Our bond isn’t strong enough yet.
“Meara?” Her voice finally appeared in my head.
“Oh, thank God! Merilla, please come quick. This barbarian of a king is carrying me off on his shoulder. He won’t let me go to have a moment to myself to think.”
“It is okay, Meara. You are in the safest of hands. You are his mate; he won’t do anything to hurt you. Once a man has found his mate, he gets very territorial toward her; it is like they can’t be separated from us for too long or they will go insane, and it is the same with us.”
“Well, all I can think about is getting away from him. I need time alone to think. There is a lot that has happened the past few days, and I just need a breather. I don’t know why, but something about him just seems to irritate me in the wrong way.”
( Kaden )
Being able to publicly claim Meara in front of all the single men in the hall was so exhilarating. I have waited and hoped for a mate for so long and to finally claim her as mine was so joyous. Most of the crowd was happy because now they will finally have a queen and there is hope for me and the kingdom. She arrived just in time. By each passing day, I could feel myself turning over to the dark side. Every now and then, my dark side side would appear to the surface, and each time it would get harder pushing it back down again, and it would feel like a dark whisper whispering doubts in my ear.
Now that Meara is here, there is a chance that I won’t turn dark, but she is a stubborn little one. I expected nothing less from my future mate. She might look delicate from the outside, but there is a fire burning from within her. If only she could just except the mating bond, then I wouldn’t have to force her to stay here with me. If she leaves, we all might be doomed. So, in order for me not to turn over to the bad side and destroy everyone and my kingdom, I would have to keep my own mate here against her will. It pains me to do it to her, but I have no other choice.
“ Let me go, you Barbarian.” I had just secured my mate over my shoulder, something that I did not want to do but was forced to. She wanted to leave, and I couldn’t take that chance. She might leave for good, and I will loose her. I couldn't take that chance
“ Where are you taking me!?” She screamed into my back as I carried her off.
“Back to our sleeping chambers.” I replied sweetly. “You will do no such thing. I will not spend another night with a rude barbarian like you.” Her arms began to push off against my shoulders, and I gave her a slap on the ass. Hearing her gasp gave me a slight satisfaction as the guards covered their mouths as they chuckled.
Meara remained quiet as we came up to our sleeping chambers. We walked into the main living space, and I turned to my men.
“Go fetch a platter of food from the kitchen and bring it to our chambers.” Without haste, I close the door behind me while Meara huffs and scolds under her breath behind me. I gently sat her down on the couch, giving her a smile. She crossed her arms in frustration while I poured us some drinks.
“Now, Sleeping Beauty, surely you know something about mates and destined love since your spirit animal, Merilla, has a mate.” I handed her the drink, which she just stared at blankly.
“I don’t drink, and how do I know if you haven’t drugged it to have your way with me?” Her words cut like a knife, piercing my heart. A feeling of shock and disbelief consumes me. I think my own mate would think I would drug or use her in that way. I wanted to love and cherish her; that is all I have wanted for so long.
“Meara, where did you get an idea like that?” I asked quietly, hoping she would feel the emotion in my voice. Her eyes softened, and she looked away while biting her bottom lip.
God, I wish I was the one biting that lip of hers, but it seems that will only happen far in the future.
“Well, let me refresh your memory, King Kaden.” She pressed that last part out deliberately.