Mine At First Sight
Chapter 20 - Declarations

▪️L E N N A▪️

“Dammit Edric! I told you not to ram me so hard!” I moaned, while the dull ache between my thighs painfully throbbed.

“And I already told you that I know you can take it! So, take it!”

We were by the edge of one of the nearby forests, close to the lake. The light of the moon shone beautifully against the landscape, creating a soothing atmosphere.

I let out a disgruntled huff and glanced up at him.

Flashing me one of his sinful smiles, “Don’t look at me like that, after all, you’re the one that told me not to go easy on you, so you can’t back out now. Besides, the more you can block a full hit against me, the more formidable your shielding techniques will be on the battlefield.”

Even though he had just brutally knocked me down onto the ground, causing me to land in a badly timed split, I took a deep breath and nodded, knowing that he was right.

I had asked for this.

Wincing slightly, I slowly stood up and faced him again. Squaring my shoulders, I then allowed myself to go back into my stance, my outer body glowing once more.

Over the last few weeks, my blocking techniques as well as some of my other magical abilities had improved dramatically. Though I still could not floor Edric, I had been able to knock him slightly off balance a few times.

Which had been no easy feat!

We were working on my ability to keep my own balance stable, in the event that I ever came face to face with a Lycan or werewolf. That way, my shield would at least be able to protect me for a little while if I were ever attacked.

As Edric once again rushed towards me, I suddenly turned my head towards the forest. The glow of my shield dropped as my attention shifted and my eyes vigilantly scanned the tree lining, feeling as though we were being watched.

Detecting my anxiety, he stopped and asked, “What is it?”

“I’m not exactly sure, but something is wrong. We’re in danger,” I said while turning my body to face the forest clearing.

Shaking his head at me, “Nonsense… The Lycans at the border would have alerted us if something was–” Edric suddenly stilled mid-sentence, his nostrils flaring.

His grey-green eyes narrowed at me in surprise, and with just that one look, I knew that I had been right.

Something was very wrong!

Lifting his nose in the air, he abruptly shed his boots and trousers before I could even blink.

“Run Lenna!” he ordered, then howled for reinforcements.

For some unknown reason, something about this very moment felt so eerily familiar and hairs on the back of my neck began to rise.

As I stood and watched Edric shift before me, my body stiffened, seemingly rooted to the spot. Even though I had memorised every enthralling inch of him, I could not help but be transfixed at the sight of his Lycan beast.

His deep rumbling voice pulled me out of my trance, “Bloody hell, woman! I said run!”

I knew that I should obey him, but a part of me just could not. I was not the same young woman I had been all those months ago, I was much stronger and I would be damned if I ran away and left Edric here alone.

With a soft growl, I marched up to his side and said, “No,” before my entire body exploded in a burst of energy.

Before Edric could argue with me, the distinct sound of werewolves howling filled the night as a large number of them burst through the trees.

Having learnt to project my energy and use it as a weapon, I began firing energy flares towards the approaching horde, blasting away heads and limbs in the process. This did not stop the onslaught though, as their numbers only seemed to keep growing while they continued to exit the forest.

“Go back to the castle, now!” Edric commanded, his fingers tightening on the axes that he held in each hand.

“No! I will not leave you; I refuse!” I stated and focused on using more of my power to widen the blast range of my energy.

“Always so damn stubborn!”

He growled then huffed before running towards the werewolves, trampling over them as he raised his axes and began cutting through their bodies.

The way we worked together was almost like an orchestrated rhythm, but unfortunately, they just kept coming and I knew that the two of us would not be able to hold them back forever. Soon, however, the unmistakable howls of Ghaffar, Faeda, and the others answered from the castle, and I knew that we just had to keep the werewolves at bay for a few moments longer.

Suddenly, a large black shadow with red eyes burst through the clearing. It jumped over Edric and the werewolves, heading straight for me.

I faintly heard the Lycan King’s yell as I tried to quickly fortify the energy shield around my body while still trying to simultaneously give protection to Edric.

Just before the shadow reached me, the black mist gave way to a solid mass that expelled a burst of energy, completely obliterating mine and knocking me right off my feet. In a daze, I blinked to look up at the creature looming above me and watched as an almost identical black Lycan stared back down at me.

It was Einarr!

Up close, I realised that his red eyes had traces of bright bronze lacing through it.

With shaky limbs, I attempted to quickly get back on my feet. Einarr let out a loud and menacing roar before he jumped on me. The thundering impact of being viciously tackled to the ground caused me to scream.

Upon opening my eyes, I found that I was not near the lake anymore, but in my chambers, with Edric’s worry-filled grey-green eyes staring down at me.

“It was, just a dream…” I whispered unsteadily in slight confusion.

“You were screaming in your sleep. I tried waking you but I couldn’t, no matter how hard I shook you. Then you called out my brother’s name,” Edric’s body tensed as he continued to look at me.

My thin strap nightgown was damp and I could feel my heart beating frantically inside of my chest. The dream was worryingly similar to the one that I had of Berengar months ago, which happened a few days before I had met Edric.

“I did?”

I quivered, my body trembling as I struggled to sit up.

Glancing out the window, I saw that it was still dark, and as my eyes refocused on Edric, I could see the worried creases of his brow tightly knitted together as he sat next to me. He was only wearing a pair of shorts, the muscles of his bare chest exposed, letting me know that he had run over to my room in a haste.

“Yes, you did. What was the dream about?” Edric’s eyes glanced at my throat to the necklace that he gave me.

Sighing, I proceeded to tell him about my nightmare with Berengar, and explained my confusion about not knowing what the dark shadowy creature was. With animated hand movements, I then went on to describe the dream that I just had and how I realised that the attacking creature was Einarr.

“I know that with your abilities, you may sometimes dream the future. But I promise you, I will keep you safe,” Edric stated as he shifted our bodies.

The movement placed him beneath me and as he leaned back against the headboard, I straddled his lap, my knees bent while they rested on the soft mattress. This position allowed my hands to rest on his naked torso, my fingers gently combing through his short dark chest hair.

A small smile played on my lips, “I know that you will keep me safe, as will I you. Which is why in my dream I refused to leave your side.”

“Even in your dreams you defy me…” Edric snorted then chuckled, the vibration of it flowing through my body.

Resting my hands over his, I turned my face to kiss each of his palms before saying, “I would say that I’m sorry, but I wasn’t going to leave you there on your own.”

Growling disapprovingly, he pulled me against him. His arms wrapped around me, as my own hands hugged him back in return while moving my head to bury my face in his neck.

Taking my time to bask in his engrossing scent, my lips dropped soft feathery kisses against his skin. As I did this, it caused him to tilt his head back and groan, allowing me greater access.

Smiling against his throat, my heart warmed at the meaning behind his actions.

Using my tongue to taste him, I revelled in the way his large and powerful body jerked beneath me as I touched him. Moaning softly, I gently bit the skin of his neck. I did this a few times, before focusing on one spot in particular, leaving a small love bite in the process.

Edric’s entire body seemed to hum as a hand came up to fist in my hair. Holding me to his neck, he urged me to continue while he breathed out, “Harder…”

The tone of his voice sent a tremor straight through my body.

Not needing to be told twice, I did as my King commanded, and bit down on one specific yet sensitive spot on his neck. Sucking the skin between my teeth, the sounds of his deep masculine groans encouraged me and I moaned against him, revelling in the control that he gave me.

A shiver ran through my body and I could feel my arousal rising as I pulled away to admire the deep red bruise that I had left on his neck.

Exhaling deeply, I rested my head on his shoulders.

We held each other in silence for what felt like hours before he finally spoke, “I’m sorry.”

Frowning slightly, I pulled back to look at his face, “Whatever for?”

“That first night we met. I purposefully shamed you and Berengar in front of your parents. It was uncalled for and I apologise. Can you ever forgive me?” Edric’s voice was low as he held my hands in his.

I could not help my witty response as I probed, “Have you ever apologised before?”

To which he answered, mocking me in return, “And actually meant it?”

Raising my left eyebrow, I remained silent.

Sighing, he then replied, his voice full of sincerity, “Probably not as often as I should have. But I do mean it, Lenna. I am sorry.”

“I know, Edric…” I said, while bringing his hands up to my mouth to kiss his knuckles. “I forgave you just before we arrived at the castle. Even though I was really angry with you, I was not about to taint my energy by holding a grudge.”

“You truly are amazing,” he smiled then mimicked my movements and raised my hands to his lips, slowly kissing each of my fingers, his gaze never leaving mine.

Shivering, I smiled at his compliment.

With his hands now on my hips, he gave me a reassuring squeeze, “Speaking of Berengar, I suppose that you must be excited for his visit, as well as that of your parents and Dakini?”

“I am,” my voice squealed, as I thought about being reunited with my family and friends.

“Imagine my surprise to replace out that not only one of your best friends was a werewolf, but the other was your handmaiden,” he smiled as he leaned back against the headboard.

“What is wrong with that?” I pouted slightly as my fingers moved to play with his beard.

“Nothing at all, it’s just that I should have known right there and then how drastically different you were,” his gaze softened while tracing over my facial features.

Blushing slightly, “Well Dakini is very special to me, I cannot wait for her and Suvarna to meet, I think that they would get along splendidly. Especially as they both have a thing for shifters.”

“You and your friends seem to have good taste,” Edric friskily arched an eyebrow.

Rolling my eyes, “Anyway… She has just always been fascinated, and now that the laws will be abolished, she is free to date whomever she wants.”

“Is there someone in particular that she likes?” his hands lazily played with the dip at my waist.

“Not that I know of, but I know she will probably talk my ear off wanting to know everything about you,” I moved my hands to play with the ends of his hair that hung about his shoulders.

Edric’s face scrunched in mock hurt, “What’s wrong with that? Wait, are you ashamed of me?”

“Well, your manners do leave much to be desired sometimes.”

His left hand clutched at his heart, “Oh, you wound me!”

“Pfft! You are a Lycan, you can heal fast. So, I’m sure that you’ll quickly get over it,” I haughtily commented.

“And you talk of my manners! Is that anyway to talk to your King?” the index finger of his left hand moved to trace the contours of my lips.

Sneaking my tongue out to lick his finger, “Perhaps not. But you know me, I always like to test my boundaries.”

“Don’t remind me…” Edric groaned as his nostrils flared.

Growling softly, his hand moved to grip the back of my neck as he brought our faces close together. With unhurried movements, his lips slowly brushed against mine, causing a quiver to run through me.

“Have you ever had thoughts of becoming a mother?”

His hands continued to massage the skin of my upper legs and I did my best not to get distracted as I answered, “I have, though not in the immediate future.”

“Good,” his lips brushed against mine.

Pecking his lips softly, I spoke between kisses, “Besides, Your Majesty, we need to make sure that we have an empire to return to before we can even think about the future.”

“Fair enough, Princess…” Edric groaned softly.

Scrunching up my face, I pulled back, “Princess? What sort of term of endearment is that?”

His hands moved to grip my hips, “Well since you insist on using ‘Your Majesty’ even though I told you to stop, I figure that two can play that game. I know how much you hate when they call you Mistress or Queen, so I knew that you would detest this moniker as well.”

“Ugh!” I grumbled. “Well, you don’t want me calling you Master, so…”

Pulling my body even closer to his, even though there was no room left between us anymore, I felt that, like myself, he seemed to want to pull my body into his, as if to become one. I arched my back, enjoying every part where our exposed skin touched, the strength of his sturdy legs felt so firm beneath my own.

Edric murmured against my mouth, “Oh you can call me Master anytime you want. Though I fear that you aren’t fully ready for what comes with that responsibility.”

My mouth went dry as his words filled my mind with illicit thoughts.

I bit my bottom lip as my eyes glazed over with excitement. The distinct hardness of his arousal was impossible to miss since I had been sitting on his lap, and I revelled in the sensation as I felt him twitch and grow to his full protentional.

“Besides, you can be a bit of a brat when you’re ready and you can definitely be a pain in my ass at times, so I felt that Princess was perfect,” he grinned mischievously.

“You, are an ass!” I groused, pinching one of his shoulders.

“But you love me all the same,” Edric growled playfully, his hands moving my pelvis to grind down onto him.

“Ha! I fear that ego of yours is showing again for I’ve never once said that I loved you,” I retorted, surprised that my voice had remained steady.

“No, but your eyes and energy do,” he said with a probing visual caress.

Even though his observation was correct, and in my heart, I knew that he felt the same way about me, there was still the fact that we had never openly voiced all of our feelings.

This as a result, still left room for uncertainty as words tended to reinforce things.

Feeling slightly vulnerable, I attempted to turn my head away, but Edric’s left hand came to grip my chin, forcing my gaze to return to him.

Gulping, my heart melted and exploded at the same time.

“Lenna, I love you…” Edric said, his voice full of passion as his eyes never left mine.

Tightening my hold on his shoulders, his declaration caused my heart to beat so fast I feared that it would punch through my chest. The waves of emotion I felt radiating from his body caused my own to erupt, as my energy burst forth in giant pulses, engulfing the both of us in a heated glow.

With a slightly ragged breath, I pressed into him even more, “I love you too, Edric.”

“I am truly honoured and humbled that you found me worthy enough to gift me your heart,” he said softly.

Staring into his eyes, I confessed, “I don’t want to wait anymore…”

“You mean–”

His words cut off as my hand drifted between us to stroke his erection.

With my eyes, I silently told him how much I wanted him, while my fingers tightened around him. Edric then wasted no time, closing the distance between us once more, his voice a husky whisper.

“After tonight, there’s no turning back, once we do this, you’re mine and I’m yours. Do you understand?”

“I do…”

A whimper escaped me as his lips hungrily devoured my own, strengthening our verbal declaration of love while we held onto each other.

Edric’s insistent mouth parted my lips. He took my bottom lip in between his teeth and gently bit down onto the soft flesh, demanding to be let in. I did so, without hesitation, getting lost in our embrace.

Clinging to him, our mouths slanted as our kiss deepened.

The way his mouth continued to assault mine had me silently begging for more, to which he happily obliged.