Valdr spent most of the next days at Ran’s side, her fever spiked in the moments of his absence. He took the time to accompany Rulf as he addressed the tribe, simply telling them that his mating with Ran had taken a toll on her. This caused a celebration to ensue with whiskey flowing and food being brought for the party. Valdr and Rulf smiled at the happy warriors and Valdr went back to sit vigilantly at his mate’s side but felt guilty that he hadn’t maintained their connection during his time away from her and she now suffered. He had much to learn about being a mate. Valdr bathed her sweat soaked body once more, linking their minds and bodies together once more to being her back under control and away from the edge of her painful transition. He crawled up into the bed beside her after the Doc left from checking on her once more; he would have to feed her again tonight. He didn’t like the sexual tension that rode him so hard when she fed. He wanted her awake and looking into his eyes when that happened. He smiled lightly as she sighed and turned towards his touch automatically, she was truly a beautiful gift. He just had to figure out how to allow himself to accept it.
“How is she?” He heard Rulf whisper as he snuck in, “Much the same. She still sleeps but after bathing her once more, after returning from your announcement, it would seem I don’t have to match her body to mine anymore. She seems to be holding her own the last hour.” Rulf nodded. “The warriors have decided to go out on a hunt. I just thought you should know.” Valdr sighed, “I would go with my brothers but I am afraid she will need me before I return. The doc said I have to allow her to feed again tonight.”
Rulf sighed heavily and shook his head, “I know it must be hard for you Valdr, I understand what that means for you both.” He simply nodded, “It is hard to hold myself back from her but as long as her needs are met that I can handle it.” Rulf sighed “I will let the warriors know you won’t be leaving your mate tonight.” Valdr nodded his head as he stood to go bathe himself for the first time in two days.
When he returned to Ran’s side, her fever had spiked once more and she was crying out softly in her slumber, her hand roaming the bed in what he assumed was a blind search for his warmth. He quickly slipped back in bed pushing her hair from her face and whispering to her that he was there. She quieted when she felt his touch and heard his voice, her body scooting closer to him. She rubbed her nose over his chest; Valdr buried his hand in her silently watching as she scented him. She soft lips brushed over him dragging a groan from him lips. Her pink tongue slipped past her lips to lick over different spots of his chest, exploring him. Her small hands reached up to touch his chest as she pulled herself higher up his body. Her nose scenting, her lips and tongue tasting his flesh as she sought out the place she hungered for. Finding the spot raised with already healed mark he had made last night, she opened her mouth, licking over the spot with a kiss. Her breathy sigh against his chest caused his flesh to break out in bumps and a soft growl left his lips. Reaching a hand up to stroke over the shaved side of his head, she licked over the spot once more before he felt her human teeth scrap the skin, her thigh moving up to straddle his own. Valdr hissed as his hand griped her hip he own lips brushing her shoulder in a kiss, “Feed my Princess, and take what you need from my body. I am here to give you all that you need.” He whispered as he again brushed his lips across her silky skin and used his sharp nail to once more open the place over his heart for her to feed. Valdr groaned as he felt her lips seal around his flesh, her tongue brush the underside of his pec, her hungry moans spiking up his spine as she pulled his essence into herself.
“Ran” He moaned her name as her pulls turned slow and seductive her hips slowly rose to brush her heat against his bare thigh. He couldn’t keep his own leg from pressing forward into her. His sigh as her wet heat met his skin, his hand at her hip stroking further down to lay on the top of her heart shaped cheek, pressing her down as her hips moved again. Her breathy moans growing as she rubbed her core against him, Valdr tasted her skin again as he himself grew harder and needy. Ran’s rose up to lay her head higher up on his chest as she licked over her mark, just to bite into his skin again and start all over.
It could only be described as the wonderful wonders of this magic that flowed through their veins as suddenly Ran’s teeth elongated into the sharp points she needed for the second bite, which was more potent than the first and Valdr couldn’t hold back his own cry at his mate’s bite. Somewhere in her mind, she knew this was a sexual thing, she had to with the way she was casting her spell over him. Taking him again and again with her mouth, healing the mark just to reopen it as she repositioned her mouth over the same spot. Valdr’s moans mixed with growls as he pushed and pulled Ran against his thigh, pressing up into her as she rode his thigh. His hand slid up and down her thigh as he dropped his head and scrapped his teeth over her own flesh. Her hand curved around his neck holding him to her as she yet again healed her mark, her lips and tongue whispering over his skin driving him higher before she found a new place to strike. “Ran.” He growled as he sunk his teeth in her, her hips moving faster, pressing harder. Valdr felt her sweet folds part and her tight little bundle meet his flesh; her moans grew louder against his neck as she stroked the part of her body that begged for attention the most. Valdr sealed his bite only taking what he needed as he laid his head back on his shoulders with another moan. “Ran...you are killing me love.” He moaned out as he pulled her over him to sit across his lap, her mouth never leaving his skin as she once more sunk her teeth in refusing to give up her direct line to him. Her wet folds parted around his hard shaft this time, Valdr growled at the feel of her around him. He waited to see what she would do with the new position, not wanting to push her into anything in her half aware mind. It was only moments before she released a sexy little cry and moved her hips the length of him. Grabbing her hips once more, he pushed his own up applying pressure to her tight little bundle as the tip of him tapped it with every stroke. Ran licked over her bite and pulled her head away from him finally, her eyes opened enough that he knew she saw him. Her pink tongue left her lips to lick the last drop of blood from the corner of her mouth, Valdr’s head dropped back in a groan as she dug her nails into his chest and used the hold for leverage. “Valdr.” She moaned as her hips picked up the pace, “Touch me” she whispered as her head dropped back to her shoulders. Valdr gritted his teeth as his hands left her waist, stroking up her ribs until he cupped her breast. “Is this what you need baby? My hands on these aching pink nipples.” The sexy little cries that drove him wild passed through her lips again as she continued to ride them closer to heaven. “Oh Valdr.” She cried out her hands wrapping around his wrists. He gripped her tighter and pulled her closer as he wrapped his lips around one pink rosebud lashing the tip with the tip of his tongue before sucking her deeper into the hot cavern of his mouth. Ran cried out as her hips moved frantically now, he felt her sweet cream coating him as she soared. Ran fit her mouth to his neck this time and bit into him stifling her scream. Valdr sucked her creamy flesh into his mouth as he growled out his own ecstasy that was borderline painful. His teeth sinking into her soft breast as he took a small sip from her, enough to throw her back into the vortex that was her pleasure. At his bite, Ran pulled her head back and released a scream that he was worried others heard. The thought was lost to him soon after as she crumbled to his chest. He held her to his body stroking over her damp skin, Ran turned her head to kiss his chest, “Mate” he heard her whisper before her breathing slowed and sleep claimed her once more. The thought came to him that if this continued they would leave this room looking like they had battled instead of a mating for every time she sunk those sexy little teeth into his flesh it left a permanent mark.
Valdr was pulled from his sleep by soft hands that stroked over his mating mark on his chest; he jumped in surprise. Looking over he saw Ran lying propped on her hand, fingers tracing over the now healed scars and the evidence of her first feeding. “I am sorry you were forced into the mating Valdr.” He was shocked by her words but then pressed a finger to her lips, “Shhh…I was forced into nothing.” He whispered as he slowly stroked over her bottom lip, eyes locked with hers. Ran smiled as she licked the pad of his finger before nipping the skin. The hiss that left him at her action caused a giggle to bubble up and out. So overwhelmed with happiness at his presence and his love she felt through their new link. “Little Vixen.” He scolded with a smile; she dropped her head to kiss the evidence of their bond. “I would have waited until you had come to me and chosen this.” She said. Valdr pulled himself up to a lean against the headboard as he pulled her closer to his hip. Stroking her hair back from her face he spoke softly, “Ran I never would have come to this on my own,” when she gasped and pulled back, he wrapped a hand around the back of her head and kissed her deeply and passionately for the first time. “Let me finish,” He whispered and she felt the words against her lips as he spoke. Ran stroked over his bare head the same as she did during their last encounter and Valdr sighed in relief that she must have been lucid to repeat the intimate gesture now. “I was too afraid of this, Ran. I felt unworthy of such an honor as mating and the Chieftain’s chair. There is so much about me you don’t know. I would have never gotten past it without our heavenly father’s intervention. He allowed this to happen on that night before my eyes; to show me how wrong I was to fight what he himself had written for us.” Ran kissed his neck, “Why Valdr did you feel unworthy of this? Tell me the things that I don’t know that bare such a heavy influence to how you perceive yourself.” Valdr sighed and rolled their bodies so she was under him and so that he could lay his head to her chest and hear her heartbeat as he told her his shameful past.
“When I was a boy my father left on a raid with the other warriors. These raids were not the same as ours now, these were raids of a different time and were pure war. There was a white homestead that lay close to our tribal camp; we tried to share the land with them. They would steal the animals we raised for food, simply steal for the money the hides would bring them.
They rode into our camp while the warriors were on a hunt; I was supposed to look after my mother. They took her, dragged her to the center of our camp just like a few other women. The rest of us were made to watch or listen to their screams as they were raped and then murdered. By the time my father had returned the men had done their damage. They didn’t even try to run,” Valdr pulled back and shook his head with a smile, “Stupid humans. My father and the other warriors staked them out in the center around the big tribe fire. The warriors with different abilities used them to torture the settlers. They left bites all over there body without healing them so they experienced great pain. They left them tied to those stakes for days, they suffered bites from the ants that were dumped over them and whatever other animal that smelled their blood and wandered into camp until they died from their wounds.” My father was Chieftain of my tribe then too and I was next in line but as I was of age and failed to protect the tribe…” Valdr’s voice hesitated and Ran could feel shame and betrayal through their bonded minds but her mate was doing all he possible could while battling these emotions to block her. “Go on Valdr, you need to trust someone with this heavy burden, Love.” At her words Valdr heaved a great sigh. “My father knew the legend of the Shadow Walkers, knew it ran in our family bloodlines and he knew exactly how to bring the change about. It is not like this for everyone but it was true for us. My father stabbed me with his honored Chief’s spear. I stood in shock, the pain of the betrayal was overwhelming because I didn’t know what he had planned for me. While I lay on the ground bleeding out, I heard the chants of many warriors over my body, I heard the drums, felt the vibrations as they danced over my body. I felt my soul leave me to look down on everything taking place. I saw my body placed in a shallow grave and buried with the dry grey dirt that covered our homelands. There was a cross placed at my head with some kind of charms that I didn’t recognize. I can’t explain what it’s like to feel as if you are buried alive, screaming inside your mind but no one is able to hear you or they chose to ignore me if they did. Anyway, the point is my father chose my death for my lack of abilities as a Native Warrior. Everything went black for many days, on the first full moon my soul found my body once more and came back to me. I awoke with my breath stolen from me, also my eyesight because I was unable to open my eyes blocking out the dirt that covered me. I then realized that my spirit that had returned to me wasn’t alone, there was something more inside me. A monster, I thought at the time, I felt it come to life. I felt blood fill my mouth as sharp teeth pushed through my gums, I felt sharp nails burst from my fingertips and I used my new abilities to claw my way back above the earth.”
Ran realized for a teenage boy that must have been a terrifying experience. She tried soothing him with her hands over his back.
Valdr rolled over on his back, rubbing his hands over his face as he blew out a breath, “I didn’t protect my family as a warrior should, that was all I could remember when your father called my name that day. I had put that behind me until the thought of a mate and family of my own was right before me. The first time I looked into your face, I wanted you. You are so beautiful and untouched by the evil that we see. You had been taught to defend your life and your future children if ever faced with our enemies. What more could a warrior hope for in a mate. Then all those memories hit me from my childhood after I fought Fiak. I thought maybe Agmundr would be a better choice for you.” He turned back as he looked up into her face tucking a hair behind her ear. “Then when it came time for you to make that choice it bothered me, I was jealous but I couldn’t let go of my past. My father punished my shortcomings by changing me, to my people all those who care the supernatural curse of the Shadow Walker also carry a damned soul. My father couldn’t bare to see me permanently dying, I guess I should be happy for that at least but he damned my soul to hell.” The last words left his mouth with anger, Ran stroked over his cheek, “I don’t believe our maker would be so cruel Valdr just because we are not human.”
Valdr shook his head and continued on ignoring the subject once more, “When I saw you collapse before me and they told me the stress had brought on your change. That the person that fed you needed to be your mate.” Valdr smiled and shook his head again as he dropped it so his forehead rested on her chest. “I couldn’t take the chance of losing you because of my past. I am sorry I hurt you Ran.” He whispered the last part, she took his face in her hands and pulled him up as her head lowered meeting him half was in a sweet kiss. “I understand Valdr.” She whispered before kissing him again this time deeper. Valdr moaned before he pulled back, “We better stop love and let your father know your awake, he has been worried.” Ran sighed and nodded as he slid off her body, he noticed she now was wrapped in the sheet from the bed, smiling up at him she picked up his tanned hide shirt and slipped it over her head. Valdr winked at her before he stood to go knock on her father’s door.
Ran was back on her feet and sitting in the grass watching the sparing of the warriors the next morning. She enjoyed the feel of the sun on her face as she tilted her head back at one point and simply closed her eyes. She cracked one eye open when she felt a finger stroke over her cheek. Valdr stood over her casting a wide shadow a smirk on his face as he looked down watching her. “Do you have any idea what a distraction you are sitting out here like that woman?” Ran laughed and dropped her head as Valdr held out a hand to pull her to her feet. She stood very close to him as she looked up into his face, “Sorry I was enjoying the sun.” He simple smiled a real smile and kissed her neck. “Go into the house and have lunch, Catharina prepared your meal.Your still weak and the changes you went through are still unknown to us.” Ran sighed but turned and did as he told her, turning around with a laugh when he swatted her butt as she left.
At dinner that night when she sat alone with Valdr sharing their evening meal, she pushed her plate away and picking up her wine pinned him with her eyes. “Are you planning on sharing the same home with me Valdr?” He put down his food and wiped off his hands as he looked over at her with a puzzled expression. “I had thought to ask you tonight if you wanted to remain here in your father’s home or in mine.” He shrugged, “I thought you wanted this to be a full mating in every way,” He reached over and took her hand. Pulling it across the table to him as he bent to kiss the back of her hand, then each finger. “I want...to make love...to my beautiful mate…in our ...own bed.” He whispered as he kissed the tip of each dainty finger and then sucked the pad of her thumb into his mouth; a breathy sound escaped her as he licked over the digit before sucking it deeper into his mouth, allowing his lips to stroke her skin as he pulled it slowly back out. Her eyes were glazing over as she watched her finger between his lips. When she bit down on her bottom lip as he slowly dragged her thumb through them he nipped the pad of her finger before releasing her hand. “Woman if those pretty lips really need to be chewed you can come sit on my lap and I will be happy to do it for you.” Her eyes shot to his at his words, eyes locked as the air came alive with the passion that flowed between them. His eyes dropped and watched her breast rise and fall under the neckline of her shirt. When he looked back to her eyes he could see her lust as well as her need. “Ran you are going to have to feed soon love. Human food is no longer enough for you; until your body adjusts and the need for blood leaves you, you will have to feed frequently.” He could tell he was losing her as she was slowly slipping under the spell of her hunger and lust. “You feed me Valdr, how will you feed yourself?” He dropped his eyes to the table as he set his cup back on its cream lace covered surface. “Before we mated I would feed from the unclaimed ladies in our tribe. It brought them pleasure and me sustenance, now I will have to hunt for animals but I have been told that with our mating brings peace from that necessity. That when your hunger leaves you so then shall mine. I for one will be glad of it.” Ran slipping further under her hunger spoke with a purr to her voice. “I want to go to your home Valdr at least tonight. I want to lay with you, skin to skin in your bed that is covered in your scent.” Ran stood and walked around the table, lowering herself to his lap she laid her hands on his shoulders. “I want to have the freedom to cry out with need as I fed from my mark.” She whispered as her fingers caressed his skin, pushing the opening of his shirt aside as with feather light touch she stroked over her mark. She heard his breath deepen as he buried his face in her neck, under her hair to pull her scent into him. “We will decide later where we must stay but not tonight.” Valdr groaned as he pulled back, his eyes blazing fire as he looked deeply into hers. One of the young house cleaners came into the room and was about to excuse herself when Ran stopped her. “Would you be willing to donate your blood to my mate tonight Sara?” The house cleaner smiled and took a step closer, “I would be honored to help you Princess,” She walked closer. Ran stood and straddled Valdr’s lap, her eyes still locked with his. “Stand behind him Sara and wrap your arm around his front, he will make sure it is pleasurable for you, I promise.” She smiled as she spoke her own needs taking over her body giving her the courage to speak plainly as she wouldn’t normally do. Sara smiled as she walked behind Valdr’s chair setting her hands to his shoulders and waiting for his command. He laid his palm to the side of his head, when he felt the maid place her hand in his; he brought it around to his mouth. He slowly licked over the smooth skin of her wrist as he used his ability to drive her into a lustful state of mind. He knew his mate felt the power too when her lips parted breathlessly. She licked her lips as he held her gaze, a small moan escaping her to match Sara’s as his teeth sunk into the girl’s flesh. Ran pushed her hands up his chest, baring her mark on his flesh once more. Bending down she licked over the ridge that was left behind by his knife. She felt the pleasure spike through him and heard his moan around Sara’s flesh. His hips pushed his hard length up into her hot center as he pulled yet another mouthful down his throat. Ran rose back up to once again, watch him. His eyes were glazed over as he took slow shallow pulls as he fed. She looked up into Sara’s sweet face, her eyes were closed her mouth open as if lost in a lover’s touch. Her hand gripped the back of the chair Valdr sat in tightly holding her up as her body trembled. Ran’s breathing escalated at the erotic breathy moans from Sara coupled with the erotic pull of Valdr's gaze as he watched Ran, watch him. Ran’s own breaths came faster as Sara’s cries and moans grew. She jumped when Sara’s hand slapped down on Valdr’s shoulder, her nails digging into his shirt and skin as she cried out one final time. Ran knew the woman had exploded with pleasure from the man feeding from her wrist. Valdr licked her wounds to close them and let go of her hand. Ran licked her dry lips and tried to speak. It took her more than one try before her voice came out firm enough to release the woman to her room. Locking eyes with Valdr again, both of them beyond words. Ran reached up and wiped away a drop of blood that lay on his bottom lip. Sucking her thumb back into his mouth he brought a moan from her. “That was the most amazing thing I have ever seen Valdr. I felt the pleasure you tricked her into feeling from your feeding. “She leaned forward and kissed the side of his mouth that still sucked erotically at her thumb, whispering against his lips. “I would rather no other female have that pleasure from you besides me but I am so happy you shared it with me.” Valdr growled as he bit into her bottom lip pulling it away from her mouth before he licked the sting and released her. “I want no other woman’s flesh to touch my mouth again but yours Princess. The blood that flows through your veins taste like the finest wine and any other pales in comparison.” He kissed her lips passionately as he picked her up from his lap. Setting her to her feet he slipped her hand in his and opening the door of her father’s home pulled her through town to his own log home.