She blinked, confused, clearly misinterpreting my words. “I am your guardian… Are you saying the Great Moon made a mistake?”
Kissing her nose, I shook my head. “I’m saying that maybe we made the mistake. It’s impossible for anyone to be only what we are, holding this kind of connection with someone else. You live for me, and I’m certain I would die without you.”
She hung on my every word, desperate to fully grasp what I was trying to say, but I wasn’t certain I knew it myself. I reached for her neck, fingertips slowly tracing its curve, all the way to her shoulder—pulling on the night shirt’s strap so I could keep touching her.
“What if the Great Moon gave us everything we needed all along, but we are the ones who misunderstood? What if I not only share your soul, but instead, you are my soulmate? Maybe, Iron Knights were always meant to be with us, and that is why we are born for one another, and take our last breath together.”
Our hearts slammed against our chests with every word, beating as one, and it only fueled the need intensifying inside me. My eyes bore into Zelin’s as I felt the urges awaking for her.
“Perhaps she gave you to me from the start, so I wouldn’t have to go through life alone, desperate to find you.”
“What are you trying to say?” she breathed, every one of her reactions begging me to say the words.
Something burst inside of my chest, and everything that had been hidden within me suddenly became clear.
“I’m saying that maybe she didn’t gift me a guardian. She gifted me the love of my life. You were meant to be mine in more ways than one, Zelin. You are mine.”
My lips crashed against hers the next second, as want took over my being, and my arm wrapped around her waist. I slightly lifted her back off the bed while my other hand cradled her neck, and my thigh slipped in between her legs, my embrace becoming more intimate.
My lips moved over hers, hungrily yet leisurely, and I instantly became intoxicated by the taste of her. Her lips freely danced against mine, with the same hunger I felt for her. Zelin was kissing me back.
She was kissing me.
Zelin’s hands splayed over my bare back, pulling me to her as we kissed, and heating up my skin on contact. One of her legs curled around my waist. I grunted into her mouth in response, wanting more. A rush of peace, wholeness, and pleasure coursed through me.
We broke apart only to gasp for breath, and our mouths once again crashed against the other, savoring every single brush of our tongues against the other. My heart felt like it was going to burst from my chest. I had never felt this raw need with anyone else. I desired to make her mine. Zelin had to be mine.
Shifting over her again, I moved her leg out of the way, and pressed my hardening body against her tender one. At the contact, a sound somewhere between a deep moan and a whimper escaped from her lips, seeping into mine, and a violent shudder rocked my body.
Holy flying fucks.
Zelin was going to end me right then and there.
My hands gripped her waist and back firmly, and my hips began to rock against hers slowly. The sound burst from her mouth again with my touch, and the feeling of her as I pressed against her sent tendrils of fire down to my groin. Her stomach dipped from the desire that awoke in her, and I felt it in me with every stroke, increasing my need for her.
I wanted our clothes gone. I wanted to be inside her. I wanted to claim Zelin as mine.
“What the hell is going on here?!” a voice roared from the door, and I jumped off Zelin, landing on the other side of the bed.
Audrick’s furious eyes roamed our faces; he had seen enough to be pissed out of his mind.
“I…” Zelin tried to answer, blinking hard to regain her composure but it was evident she was fighting for breath. Her hands held the sheet to her neck, even when she was wearing her nightshirt.
The moment between us had been so intense, we might as well be naked.
“Well?” Audrick asked again, crossing his arms over his chest and anxiously tapping his foot on the floor.
Fighting to stabilize my accelerated breaths, and the thundering of my heart, I pulled one of the pillows to my crotch. I was so hard it hurt. “We both know I don’t need to answer that question. What was happening is very clear.”
That was definitely not the answer he wanted.
“Listen to me very carefully,” he seethed. “I might be younger than Franz, but that does not mean you get to walk all over me. Your parents entrusted me to take care of you and the others, and you know the rules. No sex under this roof! I’m not sure when this between the two of you began, but you better control those urges, or so help me!”
Zelin’s eyes widened and she burst out of the bed, still gripping the sheet around her body. Her cheeks had become fire red, mortified to no end, while she rushed through the adjoining door and into her room.
“Fuck, Audrick!” I growled, standing from the bed. “Did you really have to embarrass her like that?”
The vicious burning of my wounds sprung to life when I stood, and I bent over instantly, gripping my torso as I tried to breathe. I had become so enthralled by what I was feeling with Zelin, that in the heat of the moment I completely forgot about my slowly healing injuries.
My fingers lifted from the bandages to find blood covered them. I had ripped the stitches open. I reminded myself to breathe again. The more I triggered my pain, the more I was hurting Zelin.
“I’m not going to let you pups walk all over me,” Audrick continued, wagging his finger in the air as he paced the width of my room. “No sex unless you claim each other and mate. You understand? I’m responsible for you here, and I’ll be killed if we return to Germany with Iron Knight pups!” He stopped, whirling to face me. “Literally. Your mother will kill me!”
My brows gathered in a frown while I held my side. Audrick, rubbed his face anxiously, and began pacing again, he seemed to be panicking a little.
I sighed. Clearly, his tantrum wasn’t just about me making out with Zelin. “What is it?”
“The Alphas are outside,” he whisper-screamed halting his advance. “I called them to informed them of what happened, and they came for their sons. They want to talk to you.”
Shit. Shit. Shit.
“Please don’t tell me their sons are dead.”
“Of course not!” he screeched, eyes wild. “Kyle, Samuel, and Nathan only have minor wounds and burns—from the arrows to their wrists—and well, Zelin’s sword. Also, the knights may or may not have knocked them out when they apprehended them.”
“Rod punched their lights out?” I asked, already knowing who among the knights had that kind of temper. He didn’t take crap from anyone.
Audrick nodded. “Logan, however, is severely injured. Half his body fractured during the fight, and Curtis had to force a few of his bones back into place while he is still in wolf form, so they can heal properly.”
I cringed profusely. That sounded incredibly painful.
“He won’t be able to shift back to human until the main bones heal, and there are angry slashes in him from both you and Zelin. But Zelin’s are the worst because of her silver polish. And there is a hole on his shoulder. Though, I don’t see the point in healing him. What Logan did is a crime against the crown. He attacked the Moon Prince and his knights. That garners the death sentence at the sword of the Iron Knight.”
A heavy breath left my lungs, slowly as I willed my pain to ebb a little. “He won’t be killed,” I answered, and Audrick’s eyes widened.
“But Gustav—”
“No one is killing him,” I ordered. “I’m not going to discuss this.” My voice dripped with finality and he nodded.
“Very well. I’ll go call your parents to inform them of the incident, and let them know of your current state. The Alphas will have to answer to the queen, and—”
“Don’t call them,” I interrupted, straightening as I took another calming breath.
“What do you mean don’t call them?” Audrick ask
ed shocked.
“There is no need for my parents to know what happened.”
“But, Gustav—”
“I will handle this, Audrick.” I grunted. “My parents have enough on their plate as it is, and I will not be the one to add to their worries. I have Zelin, and the knights. What happened is of no importance. Don’t make a big deal out of it.”
“Of no importance?!” he screeched. They tried to kill—”
“Enough!” I roared, raising my voice at Audrick for the first time in the years we knew each other.
He took a step back, hurt reflecting in his eyes. Audrick had suffered with my uncle and I at the hand of the RavenWolves pack, and risked his life to save me once, receiving the protection of the queen in return. He was my friend, my family, and I instantly regretted my outburst.
“I’m sorry. I know you are trying to protect me, but that’s the problem. I’m not that scared child that needed to be shielded anymore. I grew up, Audrick. I became a man. However young I still may be, I’m a man. I learned from what happened to us, and I need to take care of myself now.”
Walking around the bed to where he stood, I wrapped my arms around him.
“You are like an uncle to me, Audrick‚ so I understand your need to make sure I’m safe, but I have to face my own problems without running to my parents at every turn. I need to do this myself.”
“You see me as an uncle?” he asked, surprised, and warmth entered his eyes.
“Or a very, very, very older brother.”
I chuckled when he punched my shoulder, then cringed from the pain the movement elicited. My hand returned to my ribs, and I took another settling breath.
“This is my journey, Audrick. Only I can walk it.”
* * *
After Curtis re-stitched me and dressed my wounds with clean bandages, he helped me put on a pair of sweat pants while Audrick left the room to tell the Alphas I would join them in a few minutes.
I slowly made my way to Zelin’s room, crossing the door without knocking, to find her sitting on her bed, her lost gaze settled on the wall. She was no longer in her cotton nightshirt. Instead, her informal Iron Knight suit clung to her curves.
By informal I meant a full-on body suit, in a grayish silver material that was like a mix between leather and a mesh armor—not that she needed the protection. The long-sleeved suit had arm, and leg guards, which were made of iron and embossed with swirly symbols. They had been a gift from Ivo, who doubled as a blacksmith, and made his own arrows and silver spear heads.
The same swirls adorned the underside of her breasts and waist as if they were part of a short corset. High heeled, knee-high boots completed the ensemble, making my insides tremble. She looked both dangerous and gorgeous in the suit, eliciting every reaction my body had to offer, and confirming what I had discovered for her.
Feelings that had always been there, but I was too stupid to realize it. Zelin was my other half, perfect for me in every way, and I wanted her with everything in me. I didn’t know if she was ready, but I knew one day she would be mine.
Truly, openly, and completely mine. She had to be.
It took just one look at her now for the rush of emotions to swept over me until I could barely breathe. What I felt for her was so obvious I was shocked I’d never realized it before today.
When our lips had finally touched a whole new universe awakened for me, and I never wanted to let that go. Now that I knew what we could be, my every cell screamed for me to claim her, and I would not accept anyone else.
Zelin was meant to be my mate. I was certain of that.
My heart slammed against my chest with the onslaught of sensations she provoked, and she stood from the bed, feeling them just as strongly as I did. Slowly, she faced me, and I moved towards her as though pulled by an invisible magnet, until I stood barely a foot from her.
My hand lifted to her cheek, my thumb gently caressing her skin as my lips once again closed over hers. Sweet life returned to me with the touch, finally having her with me again. The kiss was short but reassuring. Still, I couldn’t believe I was kissing her.
I pressed my forehead to Zelin’s, eyes still closed, and wondered if my parents had felt this for each other too. Their love always seemed so powerful, and resilient—life changing—that it made everyone around them want to find that kind of love too.
Then again, maybe I was just the lucky one.
When my lips reached for Zelin’s again she pulled back, taking a step away from me, and my eyes opened to find hesitation in hers, and trepidation. My blood turned cold at her reaction, and I stepped away too. Was this one sided? Had I misread her reaction to me?
Oh, freaking shit. Had I kissed her and, well, you know, without her wanting me to?
Her eyes widened at my mini freak out and she returned to me, cupping my cheeks. “No, you silly man,” she answered, hearing my frantic thoughts. “You didn’t force anything.”
Oxygen rushed into my lungs with the relief her words gave me. “You almost gave me a heart attack, woman.” My eyes widened then. “Wait, you are not going to put me through hell like my father did to my mother, are you?”
Her lips twitched in amusement, and she shook her head. “I’m far smarter than that.”
I chuckled, my hands setting on her waist, pulling her closer. “I’m going to tell him you said that.”
Her gaze became murderous. “Don’t you dare, Gustav Von Reinheit, or I swear I’ll never kiss you again,” she warned, narrowing her eyes at me.
“I’m not that stupid.” Leaning into her, I brushed my lips against hers again.
“Are you sure?” she asked, pulling away before I could kiss her. “Are you sure you want this… with me?”
“I’ve never been more certain of anything in my life Zelin. I realize now I need you and only you as my mate. You are the one. My heart knows it, and I want you.”
Her bottomless onyx eyes filled with emotion as they looked at me. “It took you long enough,” she breathed, need grazing her words, as though she’d been waiting for me to realize it, but she didn’t dare say anything more.
“I’m sorry, Z.” The back of my fingers caressed her cheek. “I wish I had known before, but in a way, I think fate played a part in our lives. Perhaps this is the time we were supposed to come together.”
“I, um…”
The hesitation I felt from her before returned as she rested her hands on my chest, and she paused as fear entered her eyes. My chest constricted with the sight. I hated seeing that emotion in her when it came to us.
“I’m not going to fight this, G.” Zelin shook her head as though she had no option. “I need you too, and this is too strong for me to deny it, but that doesn’t mean I don’t feel the conflict your dad felt. This duty to protect guardians are born with is ingrained in us. Who the Eisen Ritter is raised to be, conflicts greatly with what I fe—with who I yearn to be for you…” she confessed, but I could still sense she was holding back.
The emotion in her became uncertain.
“The internal struggle is real, and I need time, Gustav. I need time to process and find a balance between who I am to you, and who I want to be for you.”
“So, what you are saying is, the struggle is real?” I half joked, wanting the fear to leave her.
Zelin smiled, looking into my eyes, shaking her head at my silliness. I grinned triumphant. I always wanted to see her smile.
Leaning in, I pressed our foreheads together again. “You can have all the time you want, Z. I’ll wait a lifetime for you if I have to, as long as I know you’ll be mine. We don’t have to mate, we don’t have to claim each other, or even say I love you until you are ready. I just want you.”
“I want you too, G. Just, let me find my way to you.”
With a nod, I brushed my lips against hers again. “Can I still kiss you while I wait?”
A small smile curved her lips, and she tilted her chin up, offering her mouth to me. I gladly accepted the invitation, my
lips closing over hers gently, and lingering there as the taste of her assaulted my senses, exciting and pure. Unlike the one we shared in my bed, this was a chaste kiss, but it was more than enough for me. I still couldn’t believe I had kissed her.
“How are you feeling?” I whispered, my words fanning her mouth.
“Now that your self-healing seems to be getting stronger, I feel much better. My matching wounds are fully healed. It is you who needs rest. You should let me settle this matter with the Alphas, and sleep here while you wait for me.”
I shook my head, adamantly. “I need you to promise me you won’t kill Logan.”
She scowled at me. “That is my decision, not yours.”
“I know. But I’m still asking you. Let’s find another way. There has to be more to what is happening here that we are not seeing. I can feel it. Even though Logan is being an asshole, death is not the only solution. It can’t be. Let’s find a way to fix this together. Please.”
She gazed into my eyes sternly for several minutes, and I could feel how troubled she was about my request. The reluctance in her was palpable, this went against everything she believed in. Letting out a strained breath, she finally nodded. Zelin was doing this for me and me alone, and I was not taking that for granted.
I carried her into my arms, instantly cringing at the stabbing pain.
“What are you doing, you stubborn mule?” She grunted too, but I lay her on the bed, and took my place beside her. “I think you tore your stitches again,” she complained and I grinned.
“Forget the stitches, I’m fine. I just want to hold you, and you just told me I needed rest.”
“This is not what I meant,” she huffed.
“Can I hold you?” I asked, ignoring her complaint—I figured this was a safe bet, considering I held her in my arms every night as we watched TV.
Before she was done nodding, I had already pulled her into my arms, careful not to
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