Lifting her into my arms and ignoring the chaos surrounding us I carried her out of the large chambers.
***
Azaria
I could have died. Right then and there, but for the first time in my life, I had a mate, and he didn’t let me down. He was there to save me from the sword that was inches from my heart, and there wouldn’t have been anything I could do about it.
Then to make everything even more apparent was the kiss, and how he pulled me into his arms. He didn’t ask. He just did. My eyes flared as he carried me from the Fae Council chambers.
It was this moment that changed my life. I could see my need reflected in his hazel eyes. There was such a look of longing that I ached. My heart raced when he smiled at me.
“It’s time, Ria.”
I nodded. There was no arguing with Fate. I didn’t know where he was taking me and I didn’t care. My people had caused enough of a distraction we left without hassle. He didn’t speak as he carried me. I wondered where we were going but there were no words to explain how it felt to be in his arms.
It wasn’t long before he stopped and put me down. My feet hit the soft grass in front of a cute cottage.
“Where are we?”
He didn’t answer at first seeming to be deep in thought. “My mother’s home.”
“Why are we here?”
He raised a brow. “I think you know, sweet mate.”
I blushed and the red tinged my cheeks so bright there was no way I could hide it from him. “Completing the bond?”
“Yes,” he replied.
I didn’t say anything else. Instead I held out my hand. He took it with the same ease he did with my body. I was more than ready to mate. My body was on fire for him. And I finally realized that I had been so angry at him. It was because I was worried I would lose him before I had even had the chance to have him. It wouldn’t have been fair. Fate couldn’t mess with me this way. I’d never survive if I had to bond with Julian. Nothing compared to a mate.
“Let’s go inside,” he said and reached for my hand lacing our fingers together.
***
I wanted so badly to become one. My body shook with a need I’d never felt before. It ran deeper than physical. It was emotional and spiritual as well. “I’m ready.”
He looked at me with wide eyes. “I wasn’t sure if this was the best time considering. But your family is the reason we got free.”
“I don’t want to wait.” I licked my lips and slide my shirt over my head revealing my satin bra. I was glad I decided to always wear sexy under garments. It was times like these when they came in handy. And from the look in his eyes, he appreciated it too.
“Perfect. You’re beautiful, Ria.”
I let out a shaky breath wondering how this was going to work. Would he become someone else; hell, would I?
He stalked towards me like the graceful bear he was. I stood still waiting for him to take the lead. He didn’t disappoint. Before I could say anything else my bra was slid from my arms and I dropped it to the floor revealing my breasts. He lowered his head and bent at the knees to suck one a nipple into his mouth grazing it with his fangs. The bear had come out to play.
“Take me, make me yours, Dulex.” My voice had taken on that throaty quality that happened when I was aroused. But this was so much more.
He growled and stood back to his height, nearly towering over me and grinned. “As my lady wishes.”
Then he scooped me back into his arms and carried me across the room to a room that looked like it hadn’t been lived in for ages. I wrapped my arms around his neck letting him take the lead.
When we were in the room he laid me on the bed and I sighed as he stripped down to nothing. He was big and large everywhere. My mouth watered and I licked my lips.
“Pants off.”
I obliged.
Both nude, he crawled onto the bed and hovered over my naked body. His lips met mine in fiery passion. I kept up and nibbled on his bottom lip. “No more waiting, we don’t have time.”
Sadly, our mating was on a time close. When all I wanted to do was let him love me all night. It wouldn’t happen. Not yet. But for now.
I’d be happy for now.
Chapter 8
Azaria
“I don’t think I can wait, Ria.”
“Then don’t. I want this.” I really did. There was no question. The consequences be damned.
Dulex didn’t hesitate. He took me for my word and didn’t question me. There was not any need for foreplay. Just being close to him was enough. My body tightened when his eyes lit.
He slid his cock past the barrier and took each inch in slow succession. I gasped at first realizing it had been far too long since any man had ever made me feel. In fact, I was certain I’d never felt this way before.
I wrapped my legs around his waist pulling him further inside of me.
“Damn woman. You’re hot as hell.”
It was the first time he hadn’t been proper with me. And I found myself relaxing as he thrust into me making our bond complete. Magic ran high in the air. It was the bond. With each moment we were making love, we were one.
I’d never felt anything like it before. The faster he moved the more it felt like being on air. When I finally managed to open my eyes, we weren’t on the mattress. We floated.
We were on air. No, we were on magic.
The magic lingered in the air and when my inner walls tightened and I orgasmed, so did Dulex. He growled and released inside of me, completing the bond that would last for as long as I lived. That’s how it worked for Living Vampires. It was forever. There was no such thing as divorce. Fate deemed who was meant to be with us.
1 week later
Azaria
It was time to show Father that Dulex was the right one for me. Things in the last week had been hectic and with Julian waiting in the wings, tension rose. Mother was thrilled I’d bonded with my true mate, but Father wanted Julian to be my master. I refused to let them win. It didn’t matter that they’d locked up my mate as soon as they’d found us. It was shortly after we completed the bond. I’d barely gotten dressed when Julian and my father, the King himself came into the house. They both weren’t happy with what they’d walked in on, but I didn’t care.
I stood in front of the council. Father hadn’t really talked to me since that night, but now he glared at me as if I were a problem. He was taking it too personally. I found my mate plain and simple. He needed to understand I couldn’t force his political agenda.
After staring me down, my mother smiled.
“It’ll be okay,” she mouthed. No one knew she was talking except me.
It had to be official.
A few moments later Dulex was brought into the room. He smiled at me and I sighed knowing what he was going through. It was the same thing every day. No one let it go and grudge holding was a must within the walls of the cattle. Everyone was different. Everything was different.
***
Dulex
Ria and I were doing great with each other. She was worried about her father, but otherwise, Julian had bowed out well enough. He realized nothing could come between a true mate. Fate couldn’t be stopped. It wouldn’t have mattered anyways. I’d never let the bond between them happen. She was mine and I was hers. I’d never been happier.
It had been a week since the bonding and a week since I’d moved into the castle. I walked down the silent hall realizing for the first time I didn’t have guards following me. A smile crossed my face before I could help it. That had to be a sign the king was agreeable to me. He’d had me followed with every step I’d made in the last week, but now I roamed alone.
It felt good. No one had ever accepted me outside of my mother. This had to be a sign that we no longer had to worry.
When I made it outside of the chamber doors I took a deep breath. This was the meeting I’d been waiting for. I’d asked to join the guard staff
.
“why do you want to join?” he’d asked several days before.
“I want to protect my family.” It was the only answer. They would be my family. It would be a new type of family bringing together not only the bear shifters but the Fae and Living Vampires as well.
I opened the doors and sucked in a breath seeing my mate dressed in a pale lavender dress. Her long hair was in some sort of intricate hair style and she spun towards me with a smile.
That had to be a good sign, right?
“Come,” the king’s voice boomed, echoing along the stone walls. There were little tea lights on each of the window ledges. The flames danced along the walls creating a romantic atmosphere.
I wasted no time and strode to my mate. She laced her fingers with mine and squeezed.
“This is it,” she whispered keeping her eyes on her father.
I nodded but stayed silent.
“We have decided…”
Her mother rose and in a blur, she was in front of me pulling me into a hug. “Welcome to the family, Dulex the Fae-bear of no clan, you are now our newest warrior and protector. Serve us well.”
And that was it. All I needed to hear. I was too stunned to feel the relief that swept over Ria, but her hand tightened further on mine.
When her mother finally backed away and went back to her throne, Ria looked at me.
“I love you mate,” she whispered.
“I love you too.” I followed up with a brief kiss ignoring her mother’s sob.
It seemed I’d finally found my place in the world. It had only taken me almost dying and being saved by the most beautiful woman I’d ever laid eyes on.
THE END
Loved by a Bear (Legends of Black Salmon Falls Book 1) Page 71