Eric
She disappeared as soon as the guys arrived. I intended to learn the truth so I let the guys talk."Let's go to the Haven. Drinks on me", I offered.Caleb being Caleb guffled and slapped my back... don't ask me twice Blue. He tried teleporting us away then frowned. "I'll help with that." The castle allowed royals to teleport into specific places like the arena and the healers' pools. The rest of the castle was warded and impenetrable. It was impossible to leave without consent from the squad on duty.
"The Commanders are on duty. Father called them in for tonight's celebration," I explained.Josh asked, "Extreme security. Any special reason?"
"Will you be taking Reyna? ", Enzo asked. I watched Caleb as he frowned, "She left so fast when we got here."To avoid more questions, I teleported us to the Haven. Caleb got us a private room overseeing the dance floor. "This could be the night I meet her," he grinned. Enzo laughed, "That's every night for you Goofy."
"I'll be graciously dancing with a gorgeous brunette soon," Josh drawled. Keith stared hard and asked, "Meet anyone in the North Prince?"
"No."
"Give us details of your time there. We just got to see you at the Harmonic and all you did was fight, take your oaths and vanish," Caleb said.
"Duty," I stared at a particularly voluptuous blonde who waved. She was in our room in a second. She had x-ray vision which helped her see us so the guys assumed I wanted to get served. It was a custom for Royals to wait for their mates but as times changed so did our customs. Now royals found willing partners to get a good time and no one judged. She got on my laps, started undressing me but stopped when my eyes held hers, "Teleport quietly using these and forget seeing me" I handed her teleportation jewels which royals used when they couldn't teleport.
Keith materialized, I knew you just wanted us gone. I am not interested in being interrogated. Tell me, what happened to Reyna? After you left, she changed. Got weaker, lost control more times than is acceptable and was almost removed from the Guard. Commander Myla wouldn't have it so she stayed on and trained like never before. Her power levels grew but her strength became physical combat. She is the only one unable to power teleport on the squad. Every word was a shock. Is she mated? I always assumed you two were mates. But you would know by now if you were. Evasion was his technique so I did not bother asking again. Her scent was singular when I held her earlier. Why so concerned?She hates me for leaving even if she knew it was duty.
Broken promises? he asked.
I had no way around it.
I felt her the moment she hit the dance floor. I teleported there in a flash. Anger turned my eyes electric as I noticed a male touch her thighs. He was slowly pushing her into a secluded corner where mesmerized females were being raped. It obviously looked like consented sex but they were drunk and these males were about to get electrocuted. I telepathed Keith to sort out the mess as I got to Reyna. Her eyes were glazed and she was trying to push the male away. Just as I was closing in he teleported her away. Furious, I followed and found the huge male taking off her panties. Blasts of current threw him into the sky. I grabbed his neck and roared, I had partially shifted into a tiger. My eyes were glowing as I pulled out his intestines. "She is mine!" I roared. Keith and Enzo tried restraining me but I kept lashing out at the male. Reyna was trembling as I took her in my arms. Lightning surrounded us then we appeared in her room. What were you thinking going out in this dress? I held her against me and cleared her mind. She had been drugged and compelled. For the drugs I quickly gave her a vial of golden liquid that was among her mother's healing remedies.
"What are you doing here?"
"Saving you from yourself."
She held her head as her memories returned in detail.
Thank you your Highness, she said sarcastically hating that I could read her mind.
"Block me!"
"I can't!"
"Try harder",
"I said I can't!"
She passed her hands through disheveled hair and took a deep breath. She sprayed herself with a scent eraser to erase the male's scent. Thinking about him made me want to kill him again. Reyna made her body glow. She went into her bathroom and returned in a robe. I stared unabashedly.
"Eric, you of all people know and understand power levels... I'm not powerful enough to block you even if I'd rather lose an arm than have you in my head."
Why is that? Is the invasion too painful? Too revealing? I know exactly how you feel and sadly I can't help with that."
Too afraid to realise you have feelings?
I'm afraid of nothing Reyna.
"It's interesting how you rushed to my rescue when you could have let me be..."
I walked to her side, her scent rushed to my head and I found myself inhaling deeply. I drew her closer unable to help myself. A hot sharp pain in my chest bloomed so vigorously I held my chest... My abilities gripped me and afraid of hurting her, i tried to regain control. Instead lightning soared through the air. Thoughts were amplified. My claws sprung out as my eyes flashed golden and electric. I heard her murmur something.
Unaware and oblivious to all she was whispering in that moment, I held my chest and collapsed onto her bed. My last thought was, "it burns"
Reyna
Eric... Are you okay? You don't seem so...
As I held his shoulders he sniffed me like shifters usually did and inhaled deeply. Confused, I tried to keep him talking but he clutched his chest in agony and fell onto my bed. I managed to turn him onto his side but his eyes snapped open, electric blues flashing, he grabbed me. I landed in his arms and his scent made me groan. It was torture to be so close. My eyes sought out his. He just stared at me and held me close. His hands caressed my hair his expression one I had never seen.
I'm so sorry Reyna, he whispered.
I felt soft lips touch my temple and forehead.
I'm so sorry. I had no idea. His power flashed around us. "We are royal mates Dimples. It took us long enough to figure out."
Light exploded out of me yet he lay unaffected.
His current washed over me but the sting never came." I could never hurt you Reyna"
Royal mates never hurt each other...
My thoughts yelled,
"You hurt me on so many levels it must be a mistake..."
He sat up held my gaze and spoke, "Reyna the first lesson about Royal mates is, Never call the mate bond a mistake. I'm sorry it took me so long to feel our connection. I was angry and bitter from the day I had to leave. Leaving nearly destroyed me. I didn't realise why it hurt so bad until today."
Tears ran down my cheeks but he wiped them away. My royal mark glowed and I shivered as he kissed it whispering, "Accept our bond Reyna. Let me declare to Royal that you are mine..."
***
Nothing in the world could have prepared me for such a discovery. I always dreamed of having a mate, of how meeting him would feel... I would be ecstatic like all royal mates were at their first meeting or rather at their first realization. Some couples knew instantly while for some, one mate realised sooner than another. Most royal mates knew instantly and it was always a magical discovery. A feeling like no other. In Royal we called it The Knowing. Every royal anticipated The Knowing. Powers went crazy as the mates lost their usual control on their gifts. For the male Royals, their hearts burned with a fire that did not consume. Depending on the bond between mates, it could last for minutes or hours. It was extremely painful yet they embraced it with adour.
He tried to hide how intense it was. Eric was a true Prince. Always had been. He bore it like the leader he was. He wanted to hear my thoughts but his control on his abilities was slipping. Claws lashed out as he tried holding me. His cat-like glowing eyes widened and he hurled himself into a corner of my room, protecting me from their magical sharpness. I would be bleeding out if they had grazed me... How did Shifters handle the Knowing? Eric belonged to all three families which made him the most powerful Royal alive.
"Eric, let me help... I could..." kiss him, touch him, open my mind to him? I was desperately blocking him with my whole heart and mind. My telepathy seemed to be stronger than usual. I wanted to make The Knowing easier for him but I was having my own share of difficulty dealing with the females part of the Knowing. My denial made the symptoms worse.
Female Royals always got extremely aroused at The Knowing. They were literally on heat like animals and only their mate's touch assuaged the burning need.
Secondly, female royals got visions of every fantasy their mate ever had of them. The more, the hotter the heat was.
The hardest symptom of the Knowing for the female royals was the initial surge of power then the loss.
I felt weak after the rush of power. I tried getting up from my bed but fell onto the rug. I was not a Royal anymore in this moment.
It gets better Reyna, just hold on a little longer. A breeze from my open window sent his scent toward me and my thighs got coated with white cream. I moaned as I crawled toward him. Soft golden lights illuminated his tall frame as he picked me up. His hands on my bare waist made me cry out.
I want the mere sight of you to make me moan...
I want your touch to set me aflame...
I want to burn with this need for you...
You have my soul before my heart burns for you...
The visions of his most intimate thoughts about me tormented me, humbled me and made me ache with a hunger only he could fill. This was truly a Royal mates' Knowing.
His stubble beard brushed against my cheek. I grabbed his shoulders, rubbed against him and panted when his lips grazed my cheek. His face cringed as I touched his hair and drew his face closer.
Reyna... he whispered. I realized the burning was relentless as he held his chest in anguish. I burn for you too Eric...
My whole being has longed for you for ages and I... I could never bare my soul to him like that... the conflicting emotions made the ache worse. I cried out as his thumb grazed my erect nipple. He lay me onto my bed and when I thought he would kiss me, his mouth brushed my neck leaving a trail of kisses. I moaned as he opened my robe. His electric blues turned golden.