Chapter 196
Reyland held Marian’s gaze.
“I will heal you,” he said hoarsely. He held her eyes with his, and she felt it. Felt a power moving within her that was undeniable.
He had just kissed her briefly, nothing more, and yet, she could feel a strength in her chest.
She understood what he had not said, about peace, about the time, but she, her wolf, Dinka as well, wanted him.
She wanted him like a drug for an illness that was hurting her very soul.
Which, he was, given her injury.
But she wanted more than that.
“I want you claim you. In front of the world,” he said huskily, his pupils, in his grey and yellow eyes, dilating.
Marian swallowed, her eyes wide, searching Reyland’s.
“I want to hold you, to soothe you, to give you a peace that is deserving.”
Her lips parted.
“I want you, in my arms, in my bed, in my house, for a day, and a night, and again.”
Marian’s face was reddening, her heart was pounding against her chest.
“And when I take you,” he breathed as tears filled her eyes, “I want no barrier between us and the skies. Let anyone who hears, hear. Let anyone who has any thought, think. But they will know, that you – my queen – are mine, and that I, am yours.”
Marian’s body quaked.
Her center was hot, and wet and she knew that Reyland knew it.
“Go,” he whispered. “Go back to the hospital. Tonight, we will end everything.”
“Ah, ah, mmph, ah,” Marian breathed, her chest quaking, her hands shaking.
“Breathe, Mary. Breathe deeply. I am here. Go back. Make the Bloodrayne Alpha fight for his son, let them leave. We can let them leave now. Just as we planned earlier.”
“He can’t heal you. Let him go,” Reyland whispered.
“Ah, ha, ha, Reyland!”
“Breathe, my queen. My guard, my protector. My trainer…”
Marian’s eyes snapped up, as her body trembled. She stared, open-mouthed, at Reyland.
Then, she recalled what she had said to him at the war camp, the night of the attack on him, and Bloodrayne.
Her eyes searched his.
“Trainer…?” she rasped.
“Yes. My trainer,” he breathed, stroking her hair lightly. Trying not to touch her, to stimulate her, and himself, any further.
Marian smiled up at him.
“What am I to do with you?” she whispered, replaying his own words back to him as well.
Reyland smiled widely.
“I will have you in my bed tonight,” he whispered and Dinka pushed forward.
Nakshar pushed forward as well.
Both inner beasts stared at each other. A silent challenge had been issued; their humans were not invited.
Both wolf and Lycan, withdrew.
Marian and Reyland stared at each other and simultaneously looked away, both flushing.
“It’s time, Mary,” Reyland rasped.
She shot to her feet, and gazed down at Reyland.
She offered him her hand. He stared at her open palm, then at her neutral expression.
He smiled and took her hand.
He stood, towering over her.
“Oh, and thanks for the reminder.”
“What?” she replied absently as she swayed lightly on her feet.
Reyland held her by the elbows.
“The clothes, that was…one less thing to worry about,” he murmured.
Marian made to punch him, but he held her, arms against his chest, hugging her tightly.
“You will need to shower.”
“Yes,” she breathed.
He kissed her cheek and released her.
\==========
Now, they were with the Bloodrayne Alpha, facing off against a ferocious enemy, using his son as bait.
Tobias and Eaden partially shifted, Dax and Brock backed out of the hut calmly.
The Bloodrayne leaders followed, moving the negotiations outside.
Reyland, Marian, and Misha faced the Bloodrayne delegation.
Reyland released his hold on Misha, and the Bloodrayne prince spun to face Marian.
“What is this! We didn’t discuss –”
“You said you would stay –”
“I said you should come with me!”
“As long as we are together, does it matter?”
“If it does not matter, come with us!”
“You know I can’t do that!”
“But I can?”
“You said –”
“You are a wicked one, my princess,” Misha droned.
“You think you can deceive me?” he continued, “You CAN deceive me, but please, not my father. I know your heart is with my dear cousin. I KNOW it,” he pressed, his tone and the way his hand rested against his chest, Marian knew he was saying more than his words.
“Who cuts their heart open for service? You said it yourself – Lightmoon does not have slaves; if you are truly free, who would break their chest, risk their life, just like that?” he continued, his voice rising.
“We –” Marian rasped.
“Blood and Honor? Don’t waste your time, my princess Marian,” Misha continued gently, lowering his voice but his eyes spitting fire as his words landed sweetly.
His hot gaze snapped to Reyland.
He pursed his lips, and his eyes drifted back to the one he had been addressing.
“I will never stop believing that you are better suited to Bloodrayne,” he said softly, his eyes on Marian’s.
Marian blinked up at him.
“You have your prince now, and have no use for me, is that not so?” Misha remarked casually, but his eyes were anything but casual.
Marian saw that shadow she had seen in the dungeons. That sadness.
“I need you –” she croaked.
“I have done my work, my princess, and now, you owe my father a red wolf,” he demanded, his voice firm, an unsteady smile on his lips.
“I have given the terms. We can share. Lightmoon and –” Marian replied, almost pleadingly.
“That will not happen –” Misha cut in calmly.
“Then what, Misha? Will you stay with us, or will you return to be prince of nothing?” Marian shot back, her tone harsher than she intended.
Misha stared at Marian as three other sets of eyes stared at the two young wolves having a very intimate discussion in a very public setting.
“You push me too far, my princess,” Misha whispered.
“We came here to talk. No one is trying to fight, except your Alpha,” Marian whispered back.
“And what the Lycan did to me?” Misha droned.
“What did your father do to my Alpha’s son?” Marian whispered back gently, she placed a hand on Misha’s bare chest, “Is it more than my Alpha’s son, the prince of Whitehall, has done to you?”
Again, Marian and Misha gazed into each other’s eyes.
Their words and their tones were not matching at all.
In all their word play, one hitting the other, neither wolf had moved an inch away from the other.
“Marian!” Alpha Dax called out.
“My Alpha, you sent me to trade. The trade was never completed. Let me finish your command,” she replied calmly over her shoulder.
Misha’s eyes darted to Dax, then to Reyland.
He linked his father; this time, he was successful.