Chapter 106: I Adore You
“The men are avoiding you and placing food at your feet because they know most women who get fucked by a lycan need thorough aftercare” Kel grins.
“Kel, for *fuck’s* sake!” Ayris hisses
My eyes widen and my face flames in mortification. I look between Kel and my mate, noting the fury marring Ayris’ handsome features and the broad grin upon Kel’s face faltering slightly as he gauges my reaction.
But honestly, I’m speechless. Of all the things I thought this might be about, that *certainly* was not it. I take a moment to process, and I see the worry on Ayris’ face as he runs his thumb along my jaw.
“Is that why… I mean-” I fumble with my words, unsure how to ask.
“*Kel*” Ayris hisses, motioning him to leave, which I’m grateful for. He must have sensed my apprehension through the bond.
“*Is that why you asked if I was ok when we…y’no, earlier” I can feel the warmth pinking my cheeks, my face still flushed as I ask him.
Ayris simply nods, his face full of worry.
“You’re worried you’ll be too rough with me or accidentally hurt me because you’re lycan and I’m not”.
Ayris turns away, his gaze focused on the embers from the fire, and simply nods. My heart clenches and I run and hand up his shoulder, before gently turning his gaze back to mine.
“The fact that you’re so worried about it tells me that you could never hurt me, Ayris”.
I see the worry lines around his eyes soften at my words, but I can sense the heaviness of concern he still holds through the bond.
“I have felt… tense since the mating and the bond forming between us. I had hoped it would have the opposite effect, but my primal instincts are more heightened than ever around you, Laurel”.
I can’t help but gaze at him with genuine affection. My big, broody lycan all worried about accidentally hurting me because he’s all protective. It’s actually kind of adorable. I press a soft kiss upon his lip, and I see his face light up.
“Times are tense, my love. We could be marching to war right now if the king doesn’t take responsibility for his actions. I *was* attacked not long ago by someone we thought was a friend. It’s no wonder your lycan instincts are going into overdrive”.
I wrap my arms around Ayris’ neck, crushing him against me, tilting my head so he can run his nose along that spot on my neck that has such a profound effect on him. I hear the deep inhale and feel the brush of his nose against the mark on my neck and sense the calming effect it has upon my mate as it trickles through the bond. The sensation makes the hairs at the back of my neck lift, and I sigh gently into his shoulder as he pulls me tighter against his chest.
“I adore you” Ayris purrs.
“As you should” I tease, which earns me a gentle nip of his teeth on my throat, followed by a soft chuckle.
Before I have the chance to retort, both of us are distracted by commotion toward our immediate left.
“Mantis” Ayris breathes, setting me upon the ground as he spins toward the source of the noise.
I’m not sure if he can hear the creature or smell it with his heightened sense, but I don’t argue.
“If I ask you to hide, you will refuse, won’t you?” he asks, refusing to face away from the source of danger as I stand by his side.
“Absolutely”
“Let us go, then” he takes my hand and we’re making a beeline for the trees, toward the source of the noises.
I focus on stoking the flame of power in my core, the flames that have been steadily growing since the mating. I lift my hand and a spark of violet flame erupts from my hand before dispersing.
“That’s new” Ayris quips as we come to a stop.
The sight before us catches me off guard. After days of no contact with the creatures I’d forgotten how horrifying they were. Three of them tearing through camp, snapping claws and squealing in rage as they attack anything that moves.
I dart toward the closest beast, a particularly disgusting looking mantis with gore dripping from its pincers. It’s the biggest one yet, it’s exoskeleton tinged in black with orange veins of colour tainting its shell. Five of Ayris’ men are trying to fend it off. The men in various forms of both human and wolf. They have the advantage of speed, but the beast is massive and its reach with those claws… I gasp as it narrowly misses a tawny coloured wolf that growls and snaps at its heels. I clutch at my power and aim my palm toward it, but I’m worried I might accidentally hit one of the soldiers as they duck and lunge at it. And I can’t use my lightning because the trees are packed too densely. I hiss in frustration and its like the beast *senses* it immediately. It launches toward me, ignoring its attackers, as though its attention is saved only for me. I barely manage to dart out of its path, my knees slamming against the underbrush as I dive.
The mantis wheels around, faster than anything I’ve ever seen and lurches at me, hissing and squealing as it clacks its disgusting pincers. In a sheer fit of panic, I hold out my hand and focus all of those magical flames within toward my hands.
A burst of violet fire, so bright, it momentarily dazzles everyone in the immediate vicinity erupts from my body, blasting forwards and engulfing the mantis in magical, purple flame. The creature rears backwards, its squeals now pained as it writhes in agony, its entire body consumed in flaming agony.