Chapter 34 VISITING PLANS
GALLAHAN’S POV
“Willa,” I moaned into the silence of my room while my hand pumped my painfully hard cock. “Fuck… Willa, Willa…”
Images of her, which were barely vivid for my liking, consumed my rut-addled mind.
My imagined Willa willingly succumbed to me. She was spread out for me to take, moaning in pleasure and whining to be claimed, mounted and bred. Most of all, she looked at me like I was the man she actually wanted. Like I wasn’t some sort of heartless and evil pig.
Hot desire and the primal need to have my mate swept all over me, and I pathetically bucked my hips, fucking myself into my hand.
The tightness and wetness of my grip was barely enough, and the Willa in my mind’s eye intensified my craving to kiss her, hold her, and fuck her.
I WANTED HER.
I NEEDED HER.
The desire was so raw and so visceral that I growled loudly in frustration because nothing I did was enough to soothe it.
“Willa, Willa, fuck… So tight, baby.”
My rut continued to torment me with waves upon waves of arousal that showed no signs of ebbing away, and I barely had any clear memory of what I was doing to allay the burn to be with my fated mate.
But really, all I could ever have was a made-up image of her.
I wasn’t sure how long I spent locked in my room, battling my rut, since the day had blurred into one another in a haze.
“Fuck,” I grumbled, pulling myself away from the tangled sheets that were soiled by my sweat and cum. “How many days has it been?”
I sat at the side of my bed, my elbows propped on my knees. Pain pounded my head as if I had been hit by the back of a hatchet, and all I could do was press my fingers at my temples to give myself a light massage.
An expletive rolled out of my mouth when the pain showed no signs of waning despite my attempt to assuage it.
I rose from my bed and walked towards my writing desk, uncaring if I was stark naked. My eyes zeroed in on the magical moon-shaped calendar, which was Zuleika’s gift to me on my sixteenth birthday. It stood on its easel-like perch, and the fine navy-blue sand inside it declared the date, forming: 18th Day of October.
Another cuss word left my lips, and it rang loud and rough within the walls of my room.
I stormed into my bathroom, intent on washing off the dregs of exhaustion from my painful and unsatisfying rut, as well as the mess that had dried on my skin, particularly the generous cum that painted my abdomen and hand.
Once I was through putting myself back into a semblance of what a decent man should look like, I was already feeling considerably better than I did when I woke up.
I then immediately went to search for Zuleika and Maliya, hoping against hope that they hadn’t heard from anyone that I was in rut. Because I knew for certain that they would’ve cancelled my plans on my behalf.
“Billie. Mowie.” I called the pair of scurrying munchkins just as I reached the bottom landing of the grand staircase.
Billie was carrying a tray of teaware, while Mowie was balancing two three-tiered pastry racks. And upon hearing my voice, the two of them halted and immediately turned around to face me.
“The two of you should’ve used the tea cart. It would’ve made things easier.”
The munchkins exchanged looks before Billie explained, “We don’t know where it is, sir.”
“Ah. I see.”
Billie and Mowie were recent additions to the castle after a few members of the Culling Army rescued them from a group of creature hunters, which should’ve ceased to exist after the Treatise of Peace was signed. The pair of munchkins insisted on helping around as a show of gratitude, and Dad and I only agreed under the condition of having to pay them fair compensation.
With just two weeks of stay, they were understandably still unfamiliar with the castle to a certain degree.
“Tell Pollie to show you everything around the kitchen. Everything. Tell her I gave the order.”
“As you wish, sir,” Mowie said almost reverently.
I brushed it off, already used to the admiration from the creatures me and my army were able to rescue and avenge.
“Anyway, did Zuleika and Maliya arrive already? They are supposed to be here by now.”
“Yes, sir. The tea and pastries are for them,” Billie answered, lifting the tray a little higher to prove his point.
“They are in the pavilion in the courtyard, sir,” Mowie added.
“Alright.”
I reached out for one of the pastry racks, planning to help Mowie with it, but she yelped and backed away.
This made me arch a brow at her.
“No, sir. Allow me to do my job, sir.”
I sighed with a shake of my head. “Suit yourself.”
Without any other words exchanged, I made my way to the white marble pavilion with Billie and Mowie in tow.
“You look like you just went to hell and back,” Zuleika said as a way of greeting.
“Thank you,” I replied with sarcasm dripping in my voice.
I plopped down on the empty chair on her right, putting Maliya on my left.
Billie and Mowie carefully laid the tiered pastry rack and tray of teaware on the round table, then quietly made their exit after Zuleika had quietly thanked them.
Maliya raked her gaze all over me while I reached out for a piece of macaron. “Go and rest, Gallahan. You look like you need it.”
“No. We must depart for Wolverham as soon as you’re done with your little tea party.”
I shoved the entire macaron in my mouth like an unrefined man, completely unperturbed by Zuleika’s disgusted grimace.
A judgmental look also settled on Maliya’s features, making it known to me that she thought I was crazy for still wanting to go to Wolverham. “Gallahan, you look like a wreck. Get some sleep. Your entourage was already informed a week ago that you wouldn’t make it to Wolverham.”
“No,” I argued firmly. “I don’t care about having an entourage to make my visitation look like an official business. I’ll go to Wolverham and-”
Zuleika shook her head at me and cut in, saying, “We also didn’t send any missives to inform Wendell Alfiero of your attendance at Wolverham’s Ascension Rite. You were in rut for nearly two weeks, Gallahan. Did you honestly expect you could still go? The rite is tonight, and the journey will take nearly an entire day. You won’t make it. “
“Unless one of you will be kind enough to whisk us away to Wolverham with a snap of your magic,” I countered with my brows lifted in challenge.
“Gallahan, you need to rest. Your rut has been progressing for the worst. This… This chase for a woman who doesn't want to be found should stop. Have a chosen mate and end your misery, for fuck’s sake. This is no longer healthy.”
“Zee,” I sighed, rubbing my face with both of my hands. When I dropped them back on the table, I continued to say, “I already have an agreement about it with Dad. Okay? Let me just… Let me do this. I have a good feeling about this one.”
Both Zuleika and Maliya regarded me thoughtfully, considering if they should help me get to Wolverham in a blink of an eye.
“Besides,” I continued doggedly, “you’re frequently here in the castle. You basically have clothes and your other personal necessities here. We could have Billie and Mowie pack our things, so we could go right after having tea. I could still make it to the rite with a few hours to spare.”
Zuleika seemed to remain unimpressed, but Maliya looked like she was already on the fence and needed just one more pull towards my side.
So I added, “Please? I am asking this as your best friend.”
“That’s emotional manipulation,” Maliya grumbled.
I almost grinned in triumph, but I was able to reign it in. I knew they would always come through for me if I brought up the best friend card, which I wisely used sparsely.
Emotional manipulation indeed.
Zuleika’s eyes fluttered shut as she puffed out a long exhale through her nose. “Alright. Fine. Whatever. Fucking brat.”