The King’s Tainted Mate
Chapter 57

I was tripping over my toes and I had a feeling I would be doing that for the rest of the day too. I had seen her naked before, but being served with the semi-naked body of my mate, I knew I would be utterly distracted for days on end with no hopes of it ever fading from memory. Nerves and excitement accompanied my hands as fingers dug into her lower back. Every moan at the relief she got each time my hands worked, excited me in ways I shouldn't have been. But what was a mate to do when all that I desired lay in front of me, tempting and inviting even when that was not the intent? Shyla on the other hand couldn't be bothered, surprisingly. Well, she was bothered. But only by the pain I was working to ease and by something else that had nothing to do with the exploration of my hands. Between the moans, the curses and low rumblings directed at my chosen mate had kept her attention the entire time. Astryn had been right. It was one of those rare moments my mate let her emotions about her sister show. I'd sought to comfort, but choosing to heed Astryn's warning, I had held my tongue, concentrating on bringing her the more immediate relief she needed.

"That is all." She suddenly pulled away, leaving my hands grabbing onto air. "Thank you. I feel so much better already."

Disappointed at the loss of contact, I nodded. "Glad I was able to do this much." Despite all the things I'd felt while at it, the satisfaction came from knowing I had been useful and that she was feeling much better. Her new posture spoke of it too. Her lips curved. Just slightly, but perfect still and it did wonders to erase the frown lines that had graced her face moments ago. "Do not think this a small thing. A few more miles and I would have probably asked to have the carriage turned around." At that, her gaze shifted to the tiny window in the carriage and whatever it is she saw, drew that full priceless smile and it brightened her face even more. "How far from the capital are we?" She hastily tugged on the back of her dress covering up and I regretted not having offered to do so for her. Perhaps one more view of that amazing back would keep the longing at bay.

"How far out are we?" I linked Rakon.

"Almost there." His reply was immediate. "We are almost there."

"Perfect!" With her perfect smile still on, she got that look that said she was mind linking someone. "Gol is not here." I said through gritted teeth. It was not my intention, but I still hated the fact that she could link him. And what was it she sought from him that I couldn't grant her?

"He is not?" Her disappointment pinched at my heart. There was no reason to be jealous of my new found ally, but my heart seemed not to have embraced that truth yet.

The tapping of her fingers on the wooden part of her seat drew my attention. "Is there something you need done?" I offered with a smile and she merely looked at me. All of me. As if studying and wondering what to do with me. The mere thought had an interested part of me want to rear its head and voicing a few suggestions of its own.

"Can you do without your crown?" She pointed to the top of my head where the said crown sat. "And that?"

"My robe? Why?"

"Can you or can you not? Just for the day." I liked that she was being demanding at the moment, more than I should have, but her questions still confused me.

"Perhaps if you tell me why-" She rolled her eyes and it was the most refreshing sight that had me struggling to stifle a laugh. "I guess I could." I gave in, not understanding why and not caring either. I just had a feeling that I would soon be in for an adventure. Whatever form it took.

"Great, thank you." She mumbled, excitement written all over her face and I wished I could freeze time just then. Just so that that happy expression remained her forever face for the rest of her days. "Stop, please!" She yelled next and this time I couldn't help but laugh at her prefferred mode of bringing the coachman to a stop.

"Next time, three taps right here should do it." I pointed at a medium size metallic ring attached to the carriage's wall, right behind where the coachman would be seated outside. "It's usually easier than risking to lose your voice by shouting." "Oh, thank you." She blushed when she realized what she'd done.

"My lady, we are still a few miles away from the capital." Rakon bowed when the door to the carriage opened.

"That's okay. We'll walk from here onwards."

"We are what? We can't do that! You are with chil-"

"What, your majesty? Can't take living as a commoner just for a day?" She challenged, eyebrow raised and arms folded.

"You are the one burdened with another life within you."

"And Liira did say I'm perfectly fine. The walking will actually be good for the baby."

"She wha-"

"Oh that reminds me." Rakon interrupted my outburst and I glared, but he merely carried on without a care in the world. "This is for you. From Gol."

"Oh yes, thank you." She beamed at the package that I was tempted to grab and toss deep in the forest. No one gifted my mate anything, but me.

"What is that?" I frowned when she pulled out an ugly looking cloak.

"Your disguise of course. I won't have you distracting the people and ruining our day."

Our day. I smiled at that. "You do realize my wolf's scent cannot be disguised by a mere cloak."

"No one expects your visit today. Especially not dressed in this manner." She stepped back satisfied. "There. Anymore concerns, your majesty?" She wore a mischievious grin and for the second time today I wished I could freeze time. "Lead the way, my lady." "Titles won't do, your majesty. Just Shyla." She pulled up her cloak and was about to begin walking to the capital, but I stopped her. "Your majesty?"

"That will be Elian to you." I pulled her closer, making her gasp. "And for today, I'm your betrothed."

"Betrothed?" She frowned. "Isn't that too obvious?" Eyes landed on my ring that sat proudly on her slender finger. "Why can't you be my brother or something."

"I won't have some pretentious noble or commoner setting their sights on my maiden." She scoffed, but I did not miss the sweet smile that followed.

The hustle and bustle of the capital left me feeling uneasy. Not because for the first time I was visiting as a commoner and I had been almost trumpled on countless times, but because this was a risk. Danger I knew was lurking everywhere. I'd considered ending it, but the sight of her lips curving in that beautiful smile and eyes twinkling at the most mundane things distracted me enough to relax. She was as a different person. So carefree...so happy. I actually dreaded taking her back to the palace where she'd have to face the grim part of her life.

"If you wish to have it, I'll buy it for you." I offered when I caught her caressing a piece of silky material, but she merely shook her head as she'd done countless times before. "What is the point then?" She wouldn't let me buy her anything and yet she'd longingly touched, stared more times than I could count.

"I do not need it." What I thought was sadness morphed into another smile. "We have the baby to think about and may I remind you that the landlord is a harsh man. We simply cannot afford to spend so lavishly." When I only scrunched up my nose at that, she slipped her hand in mine and dragged me to the next store. "We are but commoners, Elian, my love. We fancy things, but they are meant only to please our eyes, never to dig holes in our pockets." She was pretending and it would have been so easy to fall in character beside her, but I did not miss the roughness to her voice as she spoke.

"Why do it?" The fun was over, I could feel it in the tension that invaded her body, except her next statement made it clear that tension was by no means anything to do with our day's events.

"Someone is watching me." I swung around to face the crowd, body tensing at her observation. Her silver eyes were shining, displaying her wolf. And if I was not rattled by the implications of her words, I would have stopped to purr at our mate's wolf. "We have guests." I mind linked Rakon even when my sharp observation skills had not landed on anyone suspicious. "They have eyes on my mate."

"That is-"

"I know." I could feel and understand the confusion clouding my best friend's mind. It was the certainty in her words that was astounding and made me not question what she saw.

"There." Her eyes went past my shoulders and into the crowd. My gaze followed, but nothing. Whoever it was was as a ghost in the crowd. But then there was no panic in her tone, only deep emotion that left me frowning.