The manor was impressive. It was even bigger than her father's, but she would not be intimidated. She had been born to exist in places that were even grander than the home in front of her. Her ancestors had inhabited the largest manor of the great city of Niamhan. Besides the Silver Palace, there was no other building like it in their land. The country manor she had grown up in had been no simple place. She had servants she could call at any time. She wore fine clothes and met with the finest tutors. Some would say she had the life befitting a princess, but she would not let herself think that way.
No matter what legends, prophecies, or whispers existed amongst her people, she would not let her future be determined by anybody but her. She would not commit herself to anyone or anything just because others had said it was fate. She would choose a life she wanted, and she would choose who she wished to spend it with. A face flashed in her mind, one framed in jet black hair with dark eyes.
She sighed and shook her head. It would do no good to think of him. He had let her know where he stood. She still hoped she could change his mind, but until then, she needed to focus on the task at hand. She had to meet with the prince and start working to put him in his proper place. The land needed its true ruler before it was too late.
"My lady, are you ready to continue on?" asked the head guard of her father's force.
"What do you make of the place, Aron?" asked Eleri.
"It's a rather fine house for an ordinary, isn't it?"
Eleri laughed. "You think those without any powers or gifts cannot succeed in the land? That will not due, Aron."
"I did not mean to offend, my lady. I was only trying to say, I am surprised a family with no powers whether magical or goddess-given, can prosper so, let alone be chosen to raise our prince."
"They were chosen because it is unlikely we would choose an ordinary to raise our leader, Aron. Who would think we would place a powerful son of the last king in such a place? We have been hiding the prince in plain sight and at a not so great distance from Niamhan, yet he has never been discovered by Lord Fellen or any of his spies."
"True, my lady. I suppose it was very wise of your grandfather and father."
She nodded. "We should go. They will be expecting us, and I hate to be late. A Cadwin is always on time."
"And always welcomed, Lady Eleri. You could show up two hours late, and you would be considered on time and very welcomed."
She laughed again. "Perhaps, but we are meeting our prince who will hopefully soon be our king. We must show him the respect he deserves. My father will want it that way."
Aron nodded, and he fell back to ride just behind her. They came to the front of the house, where they were met by several servants. One helped Eleri to dismount as a well-dressed male servant came towards her.
"My lady," he said with a deep bow. "Lord and Lady Havens and Prince Conri are waiting for you in the grand parlor. "
"Thank you," said Eleri. "Will you see to my horse, and that my guards have all that they need for a comfortable stay?"
"Of course, my lady. I was told to spare no effort in making your entire party feel welcomed."
Eleri nodded as Aron walked to stand just behind her. Eleri looked up at the door and took a deep breath.
"Courage, my lady," said Arron in a whisper. "You were born for this."
She nodded and walked forward. In truth, she wasn't worried about how she would be received. She knew the respect her family name and position warranted. She had been trained on how to speak with people, and she did not think she was unintelligent. What worried her and what kept her pace slow as she walked into the great entry hall was the thought of what would happen when she saw Prince Conri.
She had heard much about him from her father who received regular updates and visited him a few times. The prince was said to be handsome, clever, and not unkind. Of course, she had no way to confirm this before she got there. She hoped the Havens were telling the truth in their correspondence to her father. As she turned towards a doorway that a servant lead her to, Eleri closed her eyes for a moment, wondering how she would be received by the prince, and what her reaction would be to him.
She didn't believe in fate, not really. Still, there was a voice inside her that said she might be meeting the one who was meant to be hers. She knew it was the wolf that lived deep inside of her, so she pushed it down. It was much easier for her to contain her instincts than most who had been blessed by the light goddess. She was not born a full wolf shifter as only her father was a shifter and her mother a sorceress. Her father wondered for years if Eleri would ever develop or connect with her wolf as magic came so easy to her at an early age.
It wasn't until around her seventeenth birthday that she first heard her wolf start to speak to her. It was a year later when she first laid eyes on Caerwyn that her wolf made her full presence known. In the presence of the Bright One, Eleri's wolf jumped to the surface, trying to get Eleir's attention about the man who stood before her. Judging by the look in his eyes, he was feeling affected by her as well. It wasn't long before they both gave in to their instincts.
She went to the Red Forest to live with her aunt that year. She worked on honing her magical powers, and in her free time, she met with Caerwyn in secret. They spent many nights and some afternoons in deeply satisfying ways. She could still remember how his touch felt like fire and his kisses tasted of sweet air that she needed to live. He made love to her passionately and without abandon, and she thought a few times he came close to marking her as his own. He held back every time, and when she went back to live with her father, Caerwyn stopped coming to see her.
He popped in and out of her life for the next three years. Though she tried to resist her instincts to be with him, she always gave in. Each time he swore he would leave her alone, but he had always come back until the last time. Her father had been away seeing to some kingdom business, and Caerwyn came to visit and bring a message. Finding her home alone, they at first spent a few hours in casual conversation. She invited him to stay for supper and that turned into sleeping one night in her home until he had to be on the road.
She tried to ignore the urge to go to him. She went to his door to knock, but turned back, knowing she had to let him go. She would have successfully gone to her own room had he not opened his door just as she was leaving. They looked at one another and every barrier she had put up came down. He reached for her, and she let him take her into his arms and his room.
Before she knew it, her robe and nightgown were on the floor. She pulled at his shirt until he took it off and flung it somewhere in the room. She pushed him to his bed, working to undo his pants as he kissed her. When they got to the bed, she kneeled before him, taking him into her mouth. He leaned back, saying her name with a groan. She felt as she always did in that position, powerful and desired.
"Eleri," he whispered and he pulled her up to him. She smiled down at him as she straddled him, feeling his ample member press against her.
His hands went to his hips as she ground against him, her area becoming wet as she felt the need to feel him inside her grow. One of his hands moved to her center, circling over her most sensitive part bringing her close to her edge. He leaned up and moved his other hand to her back, watching her as she moaned his name. His hand moved slow, drawing out her pleasure and causing longing and pain to mix together.
"Caerwyn, please," she said breathlessly. "I need you."
He growled as he moved both of his hands back to her hips, thrusting himself inside of her. She gasped, feeling his length and girth fill her. He sat up and kissed her as he moved inside her. She moved with him, closing her eyes, feeling all she ever needed was him. She wanted to submit everything to him. Her wolf rose to the surface demanding she give him all of her. Eleri leaned forward exposing her neck to him. He buried his nose into her neck as he continued to thrust into her. She felt the tickle of air on her skin as he breathed in deep.
He kissed her gently on her neck, his tongue flickering out to taste her skin. "Yes," she breathed. "I am yours; take me."
She felt his teeth scrape against her skin, and it propelled her to another level of pleasure. She started to get lost, feeling herself reach her peak as his teeth moved slightly deeper into her skin. She was ready to be his. Whatever it took to be with him, she would do it. She would run far away. She would give up her position and birthright. All that mattered was him. He was her true mate, and she wanted nothing more than to be claimed by him so she could claim him.
She called out his name as she shuddered. He hissed slightly before pulling back and spilling his seed into his hand. He fell back on the bed as Eleri huffed and fell back next to him. She took deep breaths as he grabbed a nearby cloth and wiped his hand cleaned.
"Why?" she asked as he looked down at her. "Why pullback? Did you truly want to?"
He closed his eyes slightly before shaking his head. "You know how badly I want you completely, Eleri. There is nothing I want more than to claim you. It hurt me to pull away from you, but it is how it has to be."
"No, it doesn't. You don't have to be what the land and your father says. You deserve a life, Caerwyn. Do you have no feelings for me other than your wolf's instinct?"
He sighed. "I can't lie and say I don't. I believe I may care about you more than anyone in this land, Eleri, but I cannot dismiss who I am. I cannot give up my duty. You cannot stop being who you are. Whether you want to admit it or not, you have a destiny just as I do. One day you will accept it."
She shook her head and rose from the bed. Finding her nightgown, she slipped it on. "I will not just accept it. No one will control my destiny but me. One day I believe you will realize it as well. We can serve our land, our gods, and even our rightful ruler without giving in to some stupid prophecy." She put on her robe and walked to the door. "I will not beg you to be with me, Caerwyn. It is not who I am, but I will wait for you. I know you want to be with me. I believe you even love me though you have never said it. Go do what you think you have to, and when you realize it is not how you think it has to be, I hope you will find me."
Before she opened the door he said quietly, "Do not wait for me, Eleri. As much as I might wish things were different, they will never be so."
Eleri shook her head, clearing it of her memories. They would do her no good, though they did remind her why she shouldn't fear anything in facing the prince. No matter what prophecy said or what whispers worked their way through the people, she knew the prince would not affect her as her heart and head were full of another. Even then the small voice within her called out for another.
With renewed confidence and indifference she increased her pace and walked into the grand parlor to face what she must. Her eyes first landed on the elegant older couple who stood side by side. The man with dark graying hair and gray eyes bowed as she entered. His lady with faded blonde hair dipped into a deep curtsey. Next to them stood a beautiful woman with a small smile on her lips. One of her eyebrows was raised slightly higher than the other and it gave her a slightly mischievous look. Eleri liked her immediately. The woman curtsied causing Eleri to look next to the woman.
She felt her breath hitch and her legs slightly shake. She had thought he would not affect her, but she had been wrong. He was tall and while lean, he was not unsubstantial. His hair was light brown and fell in waves over his forehead. She met his eyes to find them a shinning blue. She felt the instant need to be near him and had to stop herself from walking forward. She heard a small growl inside of her that she almost released herself. Instead, she fell into a curtsy, questioning all her ideas of fate and choice.