"I really want to punch him in the throat," - Kei Valancia
~~~~~~~~~~
"Leave? Where exactly am I going." I glanced over to see Titus smiling at me while the other mystery man simply nodded.
"To Apsara." His eyes flashed gold and his jaw clenched. I narrowed my eyes at the three men, folding my arms over my chest.
"I thought we decided now wasn't the best time?" I shot the question to Ryker, but he didn't answer and I could see how close he was to losing it, so I turned my hard gaze towards Titus. He bowed deeply and I felt an irritation itch on my nerves as I saw his triumphant smile.
"My Majesty's wishes are absolute. No one can deny his command, not even your mate over there." He sounded smug and I wanted to clean the floor with his face. A particularly dirty floor.
"Hmm. Interesting," I muttered. I walked over to Ryker and laid my hand on his arm, still staring at Titus. This time his eyes narrowed as he saw my action. "Tell your king that I can't leave right now. I have my own duties to attend to."
"Your duties do not lie here. They are with the fae." I shook my head and my hand on Ryker's arm clenched.
"I've lived with werewolves my whole life and now you want me to drop everything and come to the Fae Kingdom?"
"Yes," he replied with a firm tone and I felt my control of my emotions waver, anger seeping out of the cracks in the walls that I built.
"Let me guess, there's nothing that I can do about it." I closed my eyes and inhaled deeply, feeling the darkness inside of me stir as my emotions flared.
"You're quite popular nowadays, Lune." I opened my eyes and shot Ryker a playful glare.
"So not even you can defy the great Fae King. He's a powerful son-of-a-gun isn't he?"
"You have no idea," he said with a quiet sigh. "But still knowing this, I don't want you to go." He stared down at me with a heated stare and before I said my next words, I turned towards the other two men.
"I want a few moments alone with my mate. I'll give you my official answer after I summon you." I left no room for discussion and pointedly turned away, dismissing them.
"As you wish, my Highness." I knew he threw that jab on purpose trying to get a reaction from me but I simply nodded and continued to wait for him to leave. The only sound was two sets of footsteps muffled on the carpeted floor before the door opened and closed. Once they left, I sighed and leaned against his desk.
"I really want to punch him in the throat." I folded my arms across my chest and look back up at Ryker with a frown. "Like seriously. Just one little jab, that's all I ask." He chuckled and pulled me to his chest, wrapping his arms around me.
"You're not the only one," he murmured against my hair. I returned his hug and leaned my head on his chest.
"I'm glad that I'm not the only one with violent thoughts here." He kissed the top of my head before pulling away, his expression now serious.
"Kei, as much as I hate to say it, you have to go." His muscles tightened under my hands as he looked like he was preparing for war.
"We must be pretty scary," Rei said. I raised an eyebrow at him and thought since this was probably one of the last few moments we had together, I wanted to have some fun. Call me childish but hey, I won't make it too bad.
So I put a scowl on my face like an old mask and pulled away from him completely, crossing my arms over my chest and stood rigid.
"I see where this is going. You just don't want to put up with me anymore." I poked his chest with my finger, noticing how he shifted uneasily.
"Kei, please don't take it the wrong way." He took my shoulders and I narrowed my eyes at him, catching a twinkle of humor in his eye.
"Damn, he's on to us. Abort! Abort!" I pictured Rei as a wolf running around frantically in my head and I almost burst out laughing.
"Ah well. Sorry King, but you know how temperamental I am. You should have seen this coming." I raised my fist and touched my knuckle to his cheek and kept it there. I didn't hit him, but he still flinched and feigned pain.
"You know how I feel when you mess up my handsome face." I snorted and was going to let my hand fall but he snatched it before it left his cheek. "I have a special woman who I need to impress with it." He tugged my wrist gently to pull me closer and I felt myself soften towards him.
"That's okay King. Remember when I said I like my men squishy? Well, a few battle scars look pretty hot too." He smiled and it dazzled me to no end.
"Thanks love." He bent down to kiss me and I could do nothing but return it tenderly, smiling as he nipped at my bottom lip.
I thought it was going to be a simple sweet little kiss but we stayed put, just getting a taste of each other.
His lips were soft but urgent as we moved in sync. His long fingers trailed up my back with slow deliberateness, his hand cupping the back of my neck. It almost felt as if his lips left a brand on my own, keeping me in place and begging for more.
I was taken by surprise when he wrapped an arm around my waist and lifted me onto his desk. I pulled away slightly to let out a laugh when he leaned over to kiss the tip of my nose.
"You know, I can't imagine you to just let me run off by myself without a fight," I mused, wounding my arms around his neck loosely. "Especially with Titus, no less." I smiled slightly.
"I'm glad you understand me so well, Lune." He dug his nose into the crook of my neck while inhaling. "It just makes everything so much easier." Smirking, I started to comb my fingers through his hair leisurely. I watched him as he closed his eyes and leaned into the touch, the deep rumbling vibrating his chest.
"I feel like I'm petting a cat right now," I say jokingly. "With all this purring going on."
With his eyes still closed, he responded with: "It's not a purr."
I rolled my eyes and tapped his cheek. "No matter what you say, it's a purr. Let's just face it, we're all secretly cats instead of wolves." He grunted and leaned back slightly to look at me.
"I hate cats," he said flatly. I hummed and trailed my finger down his neck.
"Really? I think they're cute."
"They're evil," he grumbled. I grinned and nodded.
"Exactly. That's why I love them." My grin turned wicked and he chuckled at my evilness.
"What am I going to do with you, Lune." His words were a deep rumble against my skin, and I couldn't help but feel the trickle of desire run up my spine like a shot of adrenaline.
"Well, you can start by coming with me. Who knows what kind of trouble I would get in without you there," I tease. I lifted my hand and brushed away a strand of hair out of his face, his dark eyes light.
"You don't need to tell me twice. I was coming if you liked it or not anyway." I laughed and tapped the end of his nose.
"I figured. Plus, I need you there so I don't end up killing Titus." He laughed at my frown and shook his head at me.
"Shouldn't it be the other way around?" he asks, his lips tilting up amusement. "He is, supposedly, your fiancé." The word left his mouth with a growl.
"And that is precisely why I need you there," I say. He raised an eyebrow in question.
"What, do you plan on eloping with him?" I could see the flash of gold in the dark depths of his eyes, and I knew Axel was going wild from that single thought.
I scoffed and flicked him lightly on the forehead. "What crazy ideas do you have running in your head now? Can't you see how much I want to throw that man into the deepest hole when I'm around him?"
He simply shrugged, and I pursed my lips together in thought. "Okay, maybe for an example, think of it like this: he's as annoying to me as Potato Man is to you."
Ryker paused for a moment, and I waited patiently for it to click. It was pretty comical to watch as it finally dawned on him.
"Thomas Lowe?" I laughed as it finally registered who I was talking about.
"Yes, that man. How could you forget the Potato Man?" He grumbled under his breath before giving me a pointed look.
"You know I do not waste my time thinking about that insufferable man."
"Then you should understand that I feel that way towards Titus. Granted, I do try to be nice when he's not trying to convince me to leave you." I rolled my eyes just thinking about it, and I felt him relax into me. Instead, he buried his face in my hair and I felt him sigh heavily against me.
I rubbed one hand up and down his back soothingly, trying to ease his worries. "Now don't you understand how stuck I am with you? I mean, it should have been obvious months ago but I guess you still don't get it." I pushed him away gently to get a clear look at his face.
Staring at him like this, it always blew me away how handsome he was. And he's all mine.
He didn't say anything as I trailed my finger down the curvature of his jaw, the structure so sharp and strong, it created the perfect platform for the masterpiece that was his face.
The tips of my fingertips were tickled by the day-old stubble, and I slowly moved upwards to his lips.
Ah, his lips. So soft, so gentle. And so amazingly perfect when they were against mine.
I dragged my index finger across his bottom lip, slightly plumper than that of his upper.
Feeling the contact, his lips parted and I heard as well as felt the ragged breath that he let loose.
"Kei." I felt my name just a whisper on the edges of my fingertips and I couldn't help but feel a spark of satisfaction seeing his strong reaction to me.
Inching my way up once more, I traced over his prominent cheekbones and stopped at his temples. There, I traced small circles, making him close his eyes from the feeling.
He hummed in the back of his throat and I chuckled as he nudged his face closer.
"Open your eyes," I murmured. He followed my demand and slowly opened them, his dark lashes yielding to me one of the most beautiful sights ever known. "I'll never get tired of staring at you."
He didn't say anything, but instead, let me indulge myself into the abyss.
Those eyes-eyes that seemed to be its own galaxy full of stars. But upon closer inspection, I noticed what looked like stars were actually silver flecks speckled throughout the iris.
"Huh, that's definitely different," I commented to Rei.
She snorted and gave a retort, "Coming from the person who has dual-colored eyes. Let's get real, his eyes are the new norm while you are getting the freak on."
"Nice wording." I internally rolled my eyes at her and she just belts out a laugh.
Bringing my focus back to Ryker, I finally noticed the intense attention that he was giving me. I inhaled sharply at the burning emotions that flamed only for me.
"Ryker..." I couldn't think of any words to describe this moment, and they died before escaping my lips.
"I just don't want you to leave me again." His whispered words were broken, and the vulnerability he displayed fixed me yet tore me apart.
Without hesitation, I wrapped my arms around his neck and pulled his face to my chest, cradling him to me.
He responded in earnest, wrapping his own arms around my waist and pulled me closer.
"I'm never leaving again Ryker," I whispered gently. Yet, something in me knew that my words were a shaky promise, nothing solid.
But I prayed to the goddess that I could keep it anyway.
*****
A week had passed since that day and it was almost time to leave for Apsara. And let me tell you, it was not a peaceful week that I had planned for.
Ryker was busy most of the time, preparing for our upcoming departure. Of course, Clark will be left in charge of everything until we return, and I couldn't help but think that Clark was quite a capable beta.
It's not unusual for betas to be so reliable, given that they are second in power of the pack, but it's nice to see that Ryker had someone that he could ask for opinions when times got tough.
And now, as I packed my new clothes into a duffel bag, I couldn't help but uncover the feelings of excitement after a full week of stress.
I've always loved to travel, even when I couldn't see. It was thrilling to be at a new place with new people and now that I can see, it was going to be a million times better.
"Your Highness, please reconsider bringing the dog along." I forgot to mention the annoying little fly complaining in my ear. Titus Alaric.
"I've already told you, Titus. Ryker is coming with us and that's final." After I finished putting my toothbrush in the bag, I zipped it up and turned to face him.
He stood, wearing his normal black trench coat over a crisp and clean white button-up shirt with black jeans. His hair shimmered as he shook his head, the strands glittering in the light.
"You know your grandfather will not approve." I copied his stance and crossed my arms over my chest.
"Yeah? Well, he will just have to deal. I know he's sick and all, and that might be the only reason why I'm going so easily but he can't honestly think that I'm just going to leave Ryker behind if I can help it." His violet eyes flared with anger and I simply stared back at him coolly.
"You belong with the fae. Not some mutt that you think is your mate." He didn't see it coming as I pulled my arm back and slapped him across the face. The slap had so much force, his head whipped to the side and he was speechless with surprise.
"Don't you dare say that. Ryker is not some mutt that you obviously think he is. He is mine. And no one, and I mean no one will disrespect him like that in front of me. Not even an all-powerful fae." I turned and grabbed the duffel before stalking towards the door. I stopped in the doorway and turned one last time to give him a cold glare.
"Just remember this Titus, we are not going to be together." With that, I turned on my heel and left. There was a small part of me that felt bad for saying it so bluntly but the way he's been treating Ryker all week had finally made me snap.
That little thing called control that most people had? Yeah well, mine is smaller than most so it's really a miracle that I lasted this long.
I entered Ryker's office and shut the door behind me with a little more force than necessary. Ryker looked up from his work and shot me a quizzical look. I tossed the bag on his couch and flopped into the chair across from his desk with a sigh.
"I almost did it. I almost snapped completely and karate chopped his Adam's apple." I leaned my head back and sighed again.
I heard him get up and come around to stand in front of me, planting his hands on the arms rests beside me. I brought my head back up to see him looming over me.
"What did I miss?" He smirked and brought his hand up to tilt my chin so I would look at him.
"Only the usual insults." I scowled and he chuckled.
"So what made you break?" I reached up and gripped his hand in mine.
"You know me. I can only handle so much." He bent down and pecked me on the lips.
"Oh, I know. I've faced it. Quite a few times actually," he said dryly. I smiled and reached to grab a fistful of his hair at the nape of his neck.
"I'm not going to apologize for that. I mean, come on. You were asking for it." He raised his brow at me.
"You flipped me over," he said dryly, bringing up a hilarious memory. "Not to mention knocked me out in front of Alpha Hale's whole pack." I had to stifle my grin.
"If I remember it correctly, you practically begged me to hand you your sexy butt on a platter." I smirked and teased him with a quick kiss.
His eyes darkened as he continued to stare down at me, the desire tightening his features.
"I think it was the other way around, but yes, you did put me in my place." I pursed my lips and shook my head.
"I don't like to think that I 'put you in your place'. More like giving you a wake-up call that you're not the only pilot flying this plane anymore." I wrapped my legs around his narrow waist and pulled him closer before twisting, surprising him with our new position where I straddled his waist.
"And look at us now. A happy couple with no problems," I grinned down at him cheekily, making him chuckle.
"In your dreams, Lune. Trouble just loves to follow you around." I smirked and threaded my fingers through his hair, tugging slightly.
"Is that why you're still with me?" I whisper throatily. I found it extremely hot when I noticed his Adam's apple bob up and down slowly, indicating the deliberate swallow he took before he answered.
"Kei, I think we all know that you're the trouble. I'm just here to enjoy the ride with you." His hands gripped my thighs, tightening when I tried to scoot back.
"And I'm never letting you go," he whispered, before pulling me down for a kiss.
I couldn't help but let a wide grin take over as we kissed, and I was glad that I was stuck in his clutches.