by Marie Daye
It creaked open, and Gaalin stood there wrapped in a sheet. He rubbed his eyes, his silver hair disheveled around his shoulders. “Do you have any idea what time it is?” He grumbled.
Libelle rolled her eyes, “We need to talk.”
He looked up, realizing it was his lord who knocked on his door. He straightened up, “Right now?” He asked.
“Yes.”
“Uhm, can it wait a moment?”
“No.”
He gritted his teeth, and Libelle heard another shuffle come from behind him. His eyes widened and he froze, “Who’s at the door dear?”
Feminine hands wrapped around his waist and he looked away from Libelle when an attractive woman peeked her head around his arm. “Who’s this?” She jealously asked.
Libelle rolled her eyes again. “Get rid of your woman. We need to talk. You have five minutes.”
The woman scoffed, offended and about to say something when Gaalin shut the door. Libelle leaned against the wall as she heard the two begin to argue behind the door, something along the lines of the woman wanting to know who Libelle was, and wanting Gaalin to return to bed. Gaalin lost his patience with her, and snapped at her.
“I’m telling you, you need to leave. Get dressed!”
“No, I don't want to!” Her voice turned seductive. “We had such a wonderful night last night, why don't we continue?”
The door flew open, Gaalin now wearing pants and the woman still wrapped in a sheet. He pushed her out the doorway, tossing her clothes with her. She screamed at him when he pulled Libelle into the room by her wrist, slamming the door behind her. He sighed heavily.
“I’m sorry you had to see that.”
She shrugged, “A man has desires. It’s no surprise that you’d have them as well.”
He awkwardly brushed his nose and looked away. “What is it you needed to talk about so urgently?”
“Ingrid is missing.”
He stared at her blankly for a moment. “The young blonde haired lass?”
“Yes. Her sisters came pounding at my door looking for her, she’s been missing since last night.”
He shrugged, “She could have gone off with someone.”
“I highly doubt that. After what those three went through together, I don't think she would have gone off with a man. Neither do her sisters.”
“May be sleeping off all the ale she drank last night somewhere. She had quite a lot to drink.” He said crossing the room, collecting his shirt.
“If that’s the case I would like to find her.” Libelle said coolly.
“My lady, what concern is it to you if some lass wanders off by herself?” He asked, pulling his shirt over his head and looking at her over his shoulder. “It’s not like you owe them something.”
“Your right, I don't owe them anything. However I do consider them friends, and when my friends need me: I will be there for them.” Her eyes went cold for a moment.
“Do you know anything Gaalin?”
“Why would you say it like that? No, I don't know anything. Last I saw was her wandering off into a crowd saying she was going to go find her sisters.”
“You let her go alone?”
“I’m not her babysitter.”
Libelle stared at him for a moment, analyzing his tense expression and his defensive responses. She sighed. “Finish dressing, and join me downstairs. I am going to gather the guards and form a search party.”
Gaalin flinched at her words, he looked like he wanted to speak but he held his tongue. She shook her head, disregarding her thoughts and leaving his room. She returned to Eskil and the two sisters, instructing them of her plan.
It was nearing dusk and everyone within the search party was exhausted. The groups of civilians who volunteered to look had slowly begun to dissipate and return to their homes while the guards continued their search at the order of the King’s lord. They had searched every inch within the city, and now they searched on the outside of the city walls.
Libelle stood beside Eskil and Gaalin, talking with the two guards who had been searching the fields by the stables. “You haven't found anything yet?” Libelle asked. “The girl could not have vanished into thin air.”
“I agree.” Gaalin said, “She has to be around here somewhere. Have the guards checked with every home?”
The guards nodded, “Every home, twice now. No one has seen her.”
Libelle sighed exhausted, Eskil patting her shoulder with a faint smile. “It’s alright, we’ll keep looking for her.”
She nodded at him, looking over her shoulder as the sisters slowly walked up to them. They were growing wearier and were becoming more tired. Libelle spun around when she heard a man's shout.
“We found something! Over here!”
They all began running in the voices direction, moments later Libelle skidded to a halt and her stomach rolled. “Gaalin…” She whispered.
Gaalin spun around and caught the sisters in his arms before they could see the mutilated corpse of their sister Ingrid. “Don’t go any further girls, you don't need to see this.”
Vigdis shrieked. “Ingrid!”
“Gaalin, get them out of here.” Libelle said over her shoulder.
The sister’s began crying at the glimpse of their sister, resisting Gaalin’s hold on them with little luck. He picked them up by their waist and carried them away from the scene as fast as he could while Libelle stared down at Ingrid. Eskil’s hand gripping her shoulder when he sensed her rage, she wanted to scream.
“Libelle,” He started to say.
She shook her head, approaching Ingrid’s body. She knelt beside her and began to examine her injuries. Ingrid was nude, her dress torn to shreds beneath her. She was covered in large gashes and animal bite marks all over her body. Between wounds, large amounts of blood, she was covered in bruises. The guards who found her had their helms removed, one vomiting into the grass.
“You found her, just like this?” She asked.
“Yes.” They said, avoiding staring at her.
“The Edinburgh guard needs to begin looking for a murderer.” She sighed.
The guards looked surprised at her statement, “A murderer? Why?”
She pointed to the injuries. “Ingrid wasn’t killed by animals.”
“How do you know?”
“See these wounds? These bruises,” She sighed. “-they're hands. She was grabbed and dragged here, and here. The gashes here weren't made by any animal, it was with a blade. The rest of these wounds, the bite marks, happened after her blood had stopped flowing. There's no blood flow from them.”
“What happened to her then?” One of the guards asked.
Libelle sat down in the grass and covered her face with her hands, “By the looks of her injuries, the blood… Ingrid was raped, dragged across the ground, and strangled. While her body was still warm, the killer carved into her with a blade and tried to make it look like a beast killed her.”
Eskil looked at her confused. “How can you know that?”
She smiled weakly, her eyes becoming glossy. “I’ve seen my fair share bodies.”
“Thank you for your help lord, we will take it from here.” The guards said as several more guards approached Libelle from behind. “Please, tend to her sisters.”
Libelle nodded, accepting Eskil’s offered hand and stood up. She walked slowly by his side towards Gaalin who was sitting on the ground with Vigdis and Brynhild crying in his lap. He looked over his shoulder at them as they got closer.
“Was that her?”
She nodded, “Girls… I’m sorry that was Ingrid. She’s…”
“She’s dead!” Brynhild cried. “Ingrid is dead because of you! If it weren't for you, if you didn’t have us come to this city, Ingrid would still be here!”
Libelle looked down at her feet, Brynhild's words hurt yet she understood why they were said.
Vigdis pulled her youngest sister to her chest, “Shhh, it's not Lady Libelle’s fault.”
“I
'm sorry.” Libelle said.
Brynhild wailed louder, Vigdis trying to console her. “What happened to her?”
Gaalin stood up, removing his coat and wrapping it around the girl's shoulders. Libelle watched him solemnly, sighing again before she spoke.
“She was murdered.”
The girls surprise was very clear, “She was… murdered? No! How? Why?!” Brynhild cried out.
Libelle didn't want to go into the details she had discovered. “I don't know why, but the guards will organize themselves and find the one who did it.”
She couldn't stay here, she couldn’t handle the girls right now, and she wanted to leave. Gaalin seemed to read her mind, and he stretched his neck. “I’ll stay with the girls, you head home my lady.”
“Is that okay?” Libelle asked.
“Lass, can I escort you back to your home?” He asked them.
Vigdis nodded, “Yes, thank you Lord Gaalin.”
Libelle stood silently as she watched the girls stand up and walk beside Gaalin back towards the city gates.
Eskil’s hand gently rubbed her lower back, “It wasn’t your fault Libelle.”
“I know. I just can't help feeling…”
“I understand. Come, let's get you home. The guards will take care of everything else.”
She nodded and followed him towards the stables.
Chapter Twenty-Three
Wading through the cold water of the lake, Libelle stared up at the bright moon in the sky. The air was surprisingly warm this evening, and washing in the lake felt refreshing after the day’s events. She tipped her head back, the water tickling her ears as she lazily back stroked. She and Eskil had arrived shortly after the sun set, the carriage driver returning to his home in Edinburgh once they had stepped out of his wagon.
She had filled her mind with Ingrid the entire ride home, even now: she was trying desperately to find an answer to her murder. She could determine how she died, however the reason why and who did it: was completely unknown. Who would do something like that? Ingrid was such a sweet girl, she didn't deserve that.
A splash in the water caught her attention and she straightened in the water. Eskil was standing in the shallow water watching her, a towel wrapped around his waist.
“Do you mind if I join you?” He called out to her.
Cheek’s flushing, she turned around in the water and faced away from him. “It’s fine.”
She heard the ripple in the water as Eskil walked further into the lake, the flutter of his towel occurred a moment before she heard him chuckle. “This water is freezing.”
“Oh? I thought it was nice and comfortable.” She said despite the shiver that ran through her body.
“Comfortable?” He said getting closer to her. “Libby, you're shivering.”
His arms wrapped around her waist, the warmth of his body spreading into hers. He gently kissed her neck and held her close, her head falling back against his collarbone. She was staring up at the sky and his gaze followed hers.
“Libby,” He said gently using her nickname. “You were able to find her, you can't do anything else than that.”
She nodded.
“Try to focus on something else for now, don't let it ruin your mood tonight.” He stroked her stomach. “Think of something else.”
She smiled, “What should I think of then?”
The water rippled again as Eskil spun her around in the water, pulling her against his chest. Her porcelain skin standing out from the clear yet dark water. “Perhaps you can think of me?”
She brushed her hair behind her ear, staring coyly at him. “If I think of you, where will we end up then?”
His smile was seductive, his eyes smoldering as he moved through the water with her until his feet found the sandy soil at the bottom of the lake. “I believe you know.” He kissed her gently. “Exactly.” Another kiss. “Where. This. Will. End. Up.” Between each word he kissed her, dragging her through the water and bringing her closer to the shoreline. Libelle giggled, curling her arms around his neck, returning his gentle kiss with a passionate one of her own.
His hands caressing her lower back, then to her bottom where he lifted her up in his arms. Her bare waist against his own, her legs wrapping around his waist. The cool water still tickling their skin.
“Libelle, can I ask you something?”
“Yes.”
He slowly spun them around in a circle in the water, his hands moving up her back to cup her face. “Will you bind yourself to me?”
Surprise came over her at his question, at first not knowing how to answer his question. To bind herself to Eskil, she would literally be binding her soul to his. Forever. His eyes searched hers with her hesitation, she knew how he felt about her. She knew she cared for him, she knew the intense feelings for him, were just like love. Do I love him? She was trying to make sense of his question, by asking him to bind their souls together; was it similar to him asking her to marry him? If Eskil asked her to marry him, she would say yes, right? Why would she say ‘No’ now?
“Will you show me what I need to do?”
The smile that beamed across his face reminded her of a giddy child, “Of course.”
Eskil laughed warmly, kissing her again and swimming in a circle. “Anything my little elf, my love, I will do anything for you.” Still carrying her in his arms, he waded through the cold water towards the shore line. Passionately kissing her the entire way, his bare feet clung to the small sand grains as he walked onto the beach.
He dropped down onto his knees, breaking his lips from their kiss to straighten the towel he had thrown down earlier. His large hands grasping her buttocks, while her delicate fingers twisted into his hair. He laid her down on the large cotton towel, resting his already hard member between her legs which excited an expectant gasp from her lips.
“Not yet beloved, not yet.” He chuckled, brushing her hair back and kissing her thin neck. His warm hands trailing over her body, like feathers his fingertips traced her ribs to her hips, then up to her raised arms. A gentle kiss on his jawline, a stinging nip on her clavicle, followed by a teasing lick of his tongue against her skin.
Libelle couldn’t hold back her needy and lust filled moan, her hands reaching between them for his hard cock. It had only been a few days since she last felt him, and it felt like an eternity: she wanted him now. Her sex ached so badly, she wanted him to fill every inch of her and yet he pulled away from her grasp.
Puzzled, she questioningly looked up at him. Eskil smiled, nipping the tip of her nose. “Patience my love, there are… other things we will do first.” He laughed when she made a frustrated grumble, sarcastically rolling her eyes.
“Libelle, by exchanging these vows, by making the bond with me… you are binding more than just your soul to me. You are giving me your body, your heart and your mind. You will be able to feel what I feel, see what I see, and hear whatever lustful thoughts I have in my mind.” He playfully nipped he finger as she cradled his cheek. “Does that make sense to you?”
“Yes.” She nodded.
“Typically, the bond is made between two dragons when they are in flight. However, neither of us have wings so this beach will have to do.” He took her hand in his, holding it to his chest.
“All you have to do beloved, is do what I do.”
She nodded again, smiling warmly at him. “Alright.”
Eskil took a deep breath, gently clasping her hand in his. He kissed her palm, then pierced her skin with his fangs. Blood sprouted from the wound and she flinched, watching as he led her hand to his chest. Her bloody palm resting over his heart.
“My lifemate, this day I become yours. I give you my heart, my soul, every ounce of my being. I vow to protect you, I vow to love you every day for the rest of our lives, and I vow to place your well-being above me own.”
He bit deeply into his palm, allowing her to guide his hand to her breast bone. “Repeat what I said.”
Her voice shook. “My lifemate, this d
ay I become yours. I give you my heart, my soul, every ounce of my being.” She nearly stumbled over the words, realizing that with the vows Eskil’s body began to shimmer with a transparent glow of violet energy. “I vow to protect you, I vow to love you every day for the rest of our lives, and I vow to place your well-being above me own.”
He drew a line with his blood from her hairline down to between her brows, “In the name of all the old gods and goddesses, I bind our souls together for all time.”
She did the same with her own blood, “In the name of all the old gods and goddesses, I bind our souls together for all time.”
Eskil captured her plump lips in a hot kiss, his tongue forcefully claiming her mouth and twisting with her own tongue. His moan filled with desire as he cupped her cheeks in his hands, kissing her again and again.
“Libelle.” He purred then chuckling as she stared at him with a questioning expression. “What is it?”
Her brows raised with confusion, her lips parting to speak then pausing. “You're glowing.”
He chuckled again, “My love, so are you.”
To her surprise, she was. Her entire body covered in the lavender colored energy, the warmth of it reminding her of the warmth of his touch. The magical energy swarmed between the two of them. She reached up and touched his firm chest, feeling his heartbeat in rhythm with hers. She felt warm all over, her heart began pounding in her chest, and her mind was going wild.
Calm yourself beloved.
Libelle’s eyes widened again, she shot upwards and nearly knocked him onto his side. “Wait! You, I heard you?!”
He smirked, “My thoughts are your thoughts Libelle, as are yours.”
She blushed, “So we can… read each other's thoughts?”
Yes, that's right. He leaned backwards, lifting his hips and causing Libelle to fall against his chest. You can also see within my mind, exactly what it is I’d like to do to you.
She could, she was able to see every detail he imagined of doing to her. Kissing her, touching her with his hands and tongue, slamming his cock into her. It made her feel so hot inside, seeing how much he wanted her. The image of him tasting between her legs sent a wonderful sensation to her core.