Under Her Skin [+18] -
Chapter Seven
She let out a soft breath, staring out from the balcony. He was nothing like the other males who tried to follow him with his techniques. He was beautiful yet dangerous. He fought, twisting his body of muscle so quickly she could have missed it if she had blinked. The dagger in his hands was placed against the male's neck before he threw him to the side, muttering something.
Willa sighed dreamily.
Katara was as shameless as the other princesses but she couldn't look away from the performance he seemed to be muttering on. She saw children watching him from outside of the gate, gaping in wonder at his speed. He was fast, faster than anything she had ever seen, but he was swift with his punches and his kicks. There were no weapons in his hands as five males seemed to attack him.
Katara held her breath, watching as he lowered his body, missing the killer blow to his head, as he twisted around the male, slamming his elbow into his neck, instantly making him fall. He fought as if he was fighting children and maybe they were children compared to him. None of it mattered because she remembered the first day she had met him in Eridaya.
She had been absolutely stupid and insane to think she could fight him. He had allowed her to put the dagger against his neck because when she watched him now, she knew not a single person could wield their weapon against him.
"He's perfect…" Willa whispered softly.
Delphine chuckled as Katara forced herself to pull her gaze away from him. "You need to stop drooling and go to him, Willa. It's been centuries since you've last slept with him."
Willa turned to Delphine, glancing at Katara who seemed to be holding her breath. "I think tonight at the ball, I'll pull him to my room. Remember when I sent you the letter?"
"Oh yes." Delphine answered, her voice holding a hint of boredom as she pushed herself up from the seat she had occupied. She was the only female who was not staring at Erix. "I remember every single detail you had described that night."
"He's so wicked in the sheets." Willa grinned, wrapping her arm through Delphine's and Katara's arm, pulling them both away from the balcony. "If you won't be so stuck on your own lover, Delph- ouch." Willa gasped as Delphine pinched her arm, glancing at Katara.
"Oh it's completely fine. I already know you have a lover." Katara waved her hand, a smile on her face.
Delphine stopped as they walked back into the hallway. "You know? Who told you?"
"Well the fact that you are not drooling at Erix confirmed it, but I know you are with a lover. Who that is, is still a slight mystery to me. It could be the Prince or it could be-" Katara glanced at Willa. "I don't know who else."
Maybe Delphine had a thing for Willa who was oblivious to it. Katara had observed Delphine, not in the way a lover stared at his lover, but in the curious way of trying to figure out a princess. Delphine always got the opinion of Willa just to make sure Willa was involved in the conversation she had with anyone. She barely battered her eyelashes to the Prince who seemed to want to claim her as his but knew she was not interested.
Delphine would sit besides Willa, at any place, she would hold her arm as friends did, but it was the stolen glances that Katara had observed.
"I agree. I think she's sleeping behind our backs and I think she's too proud to tell us." Willa giggled as she looked at Delphine. "It does not matter what Kingdom we are from, you will always be my best friend so please will you tell me who you've been sleeping with? Just so I do not try to jump into the male's bed."
Katara walked away from the two princesses, letting them talk about boys Delphine didn't sleep with as she hurried down the stairs. She was wearing a short black dress that fell just above her knees, and a pair of black boots. Cassia had given her a long black fur cloak to wrap around her body in case she went outside.
Katara was definitely going outside. She hadn't seen Erix all day, not even at breakfast or the lunch that she had shared with the Prince and the princesses. She rarely saw the king and Queen but the maids were running around, trying to turn the cold castle into a winter wonderland for the ball. They were hanging up decorations, cleaning the halls that Katara ran on.
She pushed open the two front doors before the guards could open them for her. The cold air breezed through her hair, a smile on her face as she looked at the snow sprinkling down. She took a step out of the castle, feeling slightly strange as she walked towards the stairs.
Erix was lifting his tunic from the pile of clothes but he froze when he saw her standing above the stairs. The other males waved at her and she smiled, waving back. Cassia had found a small pot of dark red which she had painted Katara's lips with today. She couldn't wait to go back home to get all her cosmetics.
Erix watched her.
She watched him.
There was something about him that she liked and maybe if she was from Wisteria, she could have enjoyed those 500 years watching him train like a warrior. But she wasn't from this land. She was from Eridaya where no Fae lived.
Remove your hand from my wife.
Remembering those words sent butterflies through her stomach. She was utterly stupid this morning, wondering where he was, seeing if he was okay after last night. She wanted to learn his language so she could speak with him and the other silent people that she could only use her hands to communicate with because she didn't know the language of the Fae they spoke.
There was so much she wanted to do in so little time because tonight she would return home, back to Eridaya to fulfil the promise she had made to herself.
Erix took a step forward and a small smile appeared on her face. She wanted him to walk up to her, so she could touch him. She really needed to replace someone to sleep with to get rid of the pulsing need inside of her. But it was Erix, the male who was different and had called her his wife.
A smirk tugged on her lips. "Will you not greet your wife?" Katara called out in front of everyone to Erix.
A snarl escaped Erix's parted lips as he stalked towards her. She waited for the attack, for the hand around her neck but he did nothing other than stand a few inches away from her. "I didn't see you this morning." She said as a greeting, staring up at his face.
His hair was not tied back, and instead flowed just near his neck. He pushed the hair out of his face as the breeze blew through it. "I didn't expect someone to be waiting to see me."
"Now that's a shame. You know I offered you breakfast yesterday and I really wanted to see Prince Arran frowning at me when I offered it again."
His stare pinned in her spot. Not that she was likely to move at how close they stood. "You are to marry him, and you speak so poorly of him? Is that what Eridayains teach?"
Her teasing smile disappeared but amusement flickered in his eyes. "Careful, warrior. I'm not nice to those who disrespect my home." She lowered her lashes, her eyes flickering to his chest before she looked up at him. "I would hate to embarrass you in front of your people."
"These are not my people."
She blinked up at him. "Arran told me last night."
A snarl escaped his lips, it was so low she thought she could have imagined it. "You speak of me to your future husband?"
"I speak of those who intrigue me."
Amusement shone in his eyes once again and Erix took a step towards her, damning all the consequences that would follow if anyone saw him. He tilted her head up, keeping his hands on her chin. "Which kingdom are you truly from? I know your heart lies with Eridaya but you must know which kingdom you were born in."
"Maybe I was born in a different realm like yourself." It was a lie and she knew it, but she had no idea which kingdom she was truly from. The Vampire Queen did not know even as she had sent out a wolf to the other kingdoms, to see if they had lost any children.
She belonged to no one.
"Or maybe you are from my realm." It would explain so much of what was happening to her body right now.
"I very much doubt it. If I was from your realm, I'm sure the Prince would have sent you back 19 years ago."
He stared at her, those fingers not disappearing from her chin and not a single part of her cared. Damn Willa and her chance of getting this male into her bed. Erix intrigued her and the last thing Katara wanted was to fight against a princess to claim territory.
A small smile tugged on her lips, thinking of herself fighting for Erix. Maybe it was loyalty that she saw in his eyes, the fact that he had stayed true to himself and to his realm, or maybe it was lust she felt in her body but a part of her had woken up today with the need to see him.
"Tell me about your home." She said softly.
"It is nothing like this world. I do not remember it. I just remember chaos. Someone like you-" his fingers trailed down her chin, wrapping around the neck she bared to him. She was so gods-damn stupid. "Your beauty does not belong in a world that burns."
"I can burn." Stupid.
The corner of his lips lifted in a slight smile. "I have felt it. The pure flame that awakes inside of you. Something not commonly known for a Fae of this realm."
"So I could be from yours."
He leaned down, ignoring every single breath that she could hear from people watching them. He pressed his lips against her ear. "I would never bring you to my realm, princess. My world is too chaotic for you."
"You're underestimating how crazy I can be."
"No." He tugged on her ear with his lips, those teeth scraping the skin just below her ear again. "Not at all." He was sucking on her skin, just where a wolf would mark his mate. "And you-" He breathed against her neck, as she held onto his arm. He lifted his face, sensing if he touched her again, she would erupt into a flame. "I shall see you at the ball." With amusement in his eyes and a knowing smile on his face, Erix took a step back.
"Prick." The word escaped her lips, a snarl escaping her lips. Was it so hard for a male to understand a female wanted him? Right gods-damn now.
"Be careful of how you use that filthy mouth of yours..." He took another step back, landing on the stairs below him. "
The fire inside of her burned at his words. She could see herself on her knees, with a mouth full of him as he pounded into her mouth.
Erix snarled, stopping on the step. It was not a vicious snarl but a predator one, as if he was seconds away from claiming what was his. Katara smiled sweetly at him. "See you at the ball." She waved before turning around and leaving the snarling beast behind her.
He would be her beast. She had decided it. There was nothing Arran or anyone would do. Arran could destroy every kingdom he wanted just to become an emperor to send Erix back to his own realm but Katara knew it had nothing to do with having a kind heart.
Arran wanted power. Erix wanted to return back to his home. Katara wanted Erix before he went to his own world.
She walked into the castle, a big smile on her face, knowing his scent was entwined with hers. He could deny it as much as he wanted, but she knew what he didn't wish to say.
Tonight would be different though and she would wait for him in their room before she ran back to Eridaya. One night. That was all.
☆☆☆
She was absolutely beautiful and sexy. The dark green gown clung to her skin, showing off the curves she had. A long slit in the dress was the sexy part of it, along with the tight corset look around her waist. The fabric was tight around her body, lifting her breasts up revealing her bare shoulders to the world. Cassia had painted her eyelids a light brown colour and her lips the same shade as her dark red hair that had been pulled to one side.
Cassia had told her it would not be good for her neck to be bare but Katara did not care. Her arms were bare, no sleeves on the dress she had chosen. It was something she would wear to a ball in Eridaya, giving her body enough air to breath in it. The slit on her left side of the dress went as high as her thigh, and she felt the cold breeze floating under her dress.
She looked stunning.
"You have to remember that today Arran will announce you as his future wife and the wedding will start within a week. He will announce it at the end so you can enjoy the ball as much as you want." Cassia said, bending down and helping Katara wear the black heels.
"Can I dance?"
"Of course." Cassia beamed. "You can dance with as many people as you want. It'll be your last day, so if you want to pull a little performance like you did this afternoon with the warrior, you can pull it now before the announcement."
Katara hummed. "Keep this room empty."
Cassia giggled a little. "I'll keep some vials in the inside of the drawer, something to just prevent a child." She glanced up at Katara who grinned widely.
She would definitely want that.
Katara had scrubbed every inch of her skin, applying oil that she found in Erix's washroom to her skin to make it soft. She also knew she smelt exactly like him. She had spent the last few years sleeping with wolves and vampires alike, sometimes together if she so much as dared but nothing ever came close to what she wanted to do with Erix.
There was a sense of urgency in her body this morning when she had woken up. She wanted to see him, to either apologise for last night the way she didn't know what to do when Arran had dismissed him. She wondered where he had gone as the monster he claimed he was. But she had seen him through the window and there was something there, snapping inside of her, screaming at her to go and talk to him. So she had. That torturous burn inside of her seemed to be spreading all over her body as she thought of him.
Maybe, just maybe he could scratch the itch she wanted.
A knock on the door snapped her out of her thoughts before it opened and the prince walked inside. He ran his eyes over her body. She could see the disappointment in his eyes before he covered it up with a big smile. "You look beautiful." He walked towards her. "I thought you would wear the purple gown." He sniffed as he kissed her cheek slowly. "And you still smell of Erix." He muttered.
"The purple does not look good with my hair."
"We could have dyed that a different colour."
She rolled her eyes, holding her arm out to him. "I really wish to see how Wisteria throws a ball, so can we go?"
He allowed her to wrap her arm around his as he escorted her outside. "Unfortunately, I can not walk you into the ball. The princesses will be there but a guard will walk you inside. I still have to get dressed."
She hadn't even looked at what he was wearing until now. He still wore the black blue tunic in the morning. She pulled her arm out of his. "I'll see you at the ball."
"You're quite eager to go." He hummed, running his gaze over her again. "Will you be meeting someone?"
She patted his chest. "If you can be as unfaithful as you have been during the moments I have spent in this castle, I think that would allow me to take whoever I wish to bed."
He grabbed a hold of her wrist, those blue eyes filled with nothing. "My females will not sleep with other males."
"Funny how I don't belong to you and therefore I am not your female." She met his stare, daring him to tighten his hand around her wrist. She would snap his neck like the vampires did in a blink of an eye.
"Katara, darling, I don't think there's any reason to be as violent as you are acting right now." He pretended to dust dirt off her shoulder, still holding her hand. "I just wish to know the male you want to take to your bed."
"It'll be more than one male." Again she patted his cheek before snatching her wrist away from him and turning around. "Don't touch me if I don't allow it." Katara walked away and out the doors, leaving the cruel Prince behind her.
A male who did not speak the same language as her, stood next to the double doors she walked out from. He held his arm out and she wrapped her arm around his as they walked through the empty hallways.
"You know I still don't know your name." She glanced at the blonde male who simply blinked at her. Of course he didn't understand a single word she said. "I'll name you Eldar. He was always silent as well." She patted the male's arm before sighing softly. "You know, I really miss them but it's okay. If they were not fine, it would be a different problem."
The male continued to be silent as he walked her to the throne room. He nodded his head at the two guards who wore the same uniform as him and the other two doors were pushed open.
The once empty throne room was not full of hundreds of people. Chandeliers brightened the place as they hung from the ceilings, as well as black and red fabrics hung from the ceiling to the floor. Tables were placed where people sat.
Katara saw him the moment she walked inside. His gaze was fixated on her as he stood behind the two thrones, with his arms crossed, watching every step she took. Someone announced her entrance and people parted but none of it mattered, not as the music blared through her mind. She stared back. She was not going to wait.
"You look beautiful." Delphine immediately appeared in front of her. Katara blinked, smiling at the guard who pulled away and walked away from her. Delphine wore the most stunning black gown Katara had ever seen. It was not as revealing as Katara's gown but Delphine looked elegant and sexy.
"You look-" She stopped talking as Erix stood behind Delphine. "Hi." Her voice was breathless as Delphine turned around, stumbling back into Katara as Erix stared at her.
"I'd like a word."
Delphine looked between them before standing straighter as Katara, who held her hand out to Erix, waited for him to hold her hand. She gaped at them before a huge grin appeared on her face as Erix muttered something in the language she did not speak and grabbed her hand.
His hand was huge around her tiny one and he seemed to realise it as he lifted her hand up a little. "I shall bring her back to you in a few minutes, princess Delphine." Erix bowed his head at the princess.
"If a few minutes is all you last, I will be utterly disappointed." Katara said to him. His hand tightened around hers as Delphine tried and failed to stop laughing. "I'll return to you in a few hours at the least." She winked at the princess who had become her friend.
Erix pulled her away, the crowd parting for him as he walked straight ahead and towards a door in the corner of the room behind the thrones. The king and Queen barely looked at her.
Katara followed him through the dark room about to open her mouth to tell him it was too dark when he slammed the door closed, pushing her body against it. She tried not to grin as he rested his head on her shoulder, his arms caging her against the walls. "Why are you doing this?"
"What am I doing?" Katara questioned, knowing exactly what he was talking about.
Nobody else would have noticed it or cared because everyone knew she was sleeping in his room, surrounded by his scent but she knew that the oil she had used to moisturise her body, he would be able to scent it the moment she walked into the room.
He lifted his head, her sight blinking in the darkness able to slowly see the outline of his body. "You look ravishing." He was losing control of his body, she knew it as he pressed a fisted hand on her waist. "I want to rip this dress off your body."
"Do it."
He snarled at her agreement before she felt the fisted hand on her waist opening, pressing against her body. He pushed his hand slowly down her body as she breathed hard, the flames inside of her burning every inch of her skin. This. This was what she needed.
"If I so much as touch you-" the hand trailed down her body to the slit in her dress. "I won't be able to stop myself."
"I won't let you claim me if that's what you're worried about." She knew just when to growl back at male who came too close to her neck while pounding into her. "And if you're worried about losing control, I can take it."
A purr escaped his lips, as he pushed the gown up a little, pressing his hand in between her thighs. She gasped, feeling the flames dancing on her fingertips. "I'm worried about you losing control." His voice was pleasure as one of his fingers pressed harder against her.
"Not afraid of a little flame, are you?" Her words were breathless as she closed her eyes, arching off the door and into his body as he palmed her between her legs. She was going to explode.
His answer was rubbing her clit. Her lips parted as she pushed a hand in between them, pressing it over his and making his move as she lifted her hips up and down. "So responsive." He murmured against her jaw, placing a kiss just at the edge of her lips. He moved his fingers against her lips, thankfully and maybe it was stupid of her not to wear any undergarments.
A moan escaped her parted lips as she grabbed a hold of his arm, his fingers sliding up and down her wet folds. "I have to stop…" He didn't stop though, not as his fingers moved faster, and her nails dug into his sleeve. She moved her hips, thrusting her body on his hand as he followed her speed. Faster. Harder. She moaned again, not having a single care that the music muffled their voices to the throne room behind them.
She chased a high he gave her. Katara reached up, wrapping her hand around his arm in an urgency she didn't know she possessed as he buried his face into her chest, sucking on the skin that peeked out of the gown. He tugged with his teeth on her breast, and pushed a finger inside of her.
Katara pressed her face into his chest, muffling her own moan as she came apart. Her legs shuddered, her body was spasming as she held into him. Minutes must have passed or seconds she didn't know as Erix pulled his finger out of her. She felt his slick finger pressing against her lips.
She parted her mouth, and he pushed his finger inside of her. "What do you taste like?" He murmured as he lifted his head. She pulled her hand away from around his neck and held onto the hand near her mouth. She pushed his finger all the way into her mouth, lifted her tongue slowly, sliding it up the tip of his tongue before licking it clean.
She didn't know what she tasted like because none of her senses were seeming to work except touch. She was aware of his every touch, even as he pressed her body back into the wall and pulled his finger out of her mouth. "Don't do that."
She fumbled with his pants but he grabbed a hold of both of her hands, pressing them down onto her body. "Not here."
"Then let's go back upstairs to the room."
"Why the sudden rush?"
She wanted him. Every inch of him in every hole she could offer. Gods-damn he was a dangerous nightmare she didn't wish to wake up from. "Katara…" it was the first time he said her name, a small smile tugged on her lips as she took a step closer to him, his grip tightening on both of her hands in between them.
"It's either I take you upstairs and let you enjoy this body I can offer you, or I walk out of this room and back to the dancing where you will see me dance with another male. Maybe I'll take him upstairs."
"I would kill him."
She smiled. "I know you would. So choose how many dead bodies you want lined up before you put your cock inside me."
"A filthy mouth." His hand snaked around at her neck, tilting her body up a little as she stared into those golden eyes that seemed to be shining down at her. He lowered his head. She arched her back, letting her head tilt back a little.
Inches away from his lips, she spoke. "I can be a wicked little thing if you dared to step into the room."
"You're so desperate." His approval was a purr against her skin. If she leaned up, she would kiss him but she was already on her toes and he needed to bend down a little more. Which he knew. "Enjoy the ball, princess. I'll make a daily night trip."
He was about to step away from her but she held his hand around her neck. Maybe she was as submissive as some wolves when it came to an overpowering tattooed warrior. "Want me to wear a night gown of your choice? Tell me your colour and I'll wear it."
He leaned down, and she tilted her head to kiss him but she felt his breath brushing against her ear. "I want to see your bare body. Every single inch is on display for me. Lay on the bed and wait for me to return."
She let out a shuddering breath as he stepped back. She shivered slightly as the warmth from her body disappeared. "I'll leave first…" She mumbled, running a hand through her hair.
Erix stretched his hand out, wiping ever so slowly under her bottom lip. "Just in case Arran sees you."
She couldn't help but chuckle. "Is loyalty not important to the Fae?"
"Loyalty between friends, you mean?" He questioned and answered before she could say no. "Arran is not my friend. He is my keeper. If I want you, I will fuck you right in front of him, no care in the world for whatever punishment he bestows on me."
Her body hummed in pleasure at his choice of words but the smile disappeared on her face. "Does he hurt you?" She didn't like it. Not a single bit.
The violins played a melody that wanted her body to dance, behind the closed door. "Nothing they do can hurt me."
"Nothing?" She asked in reassurance.
He moved closer to her, his arm going around her back and she heard the soft click of the door unlocking. He twisted the handle. "If I see you wearing any piece of clothing when I enter that room, I will punish you." He murmured words that made her toes curl, into her ear before opening the door and walking out of the room.
He left the door open, allowing the light to pour into the completely empty room. Katara took a deep breath, several more followed before she stepped out of the room and back into the room, with a genuine smile on her face.
☆☆
A strange male danced with her.
"Are the wolves as fierce and loyal as history says they are?" Thean questioned, as he spun Katara out before pulling her back to himself.
Thean was curious, a little too curious but she liked him because he had gone through three dances with her, always sliding up his glasses, before asking her another question about Eridaya. He told her he was the male who wrote books for the libraries and he had never met anyone from Eridaya. He had questioned if she would give a little interview, a speech which he could copy and add it to the book.
She had offered to answer his questions.
"Yes." Katara answered. "Wolves are extremely loyal and once the loyalty snaps, there is pretty much nothing that will fix it."
"Does your Alpha trust blindly?"
She twirled around. "Never. I didn't earn his trust until I was ten years old." A smile tugged on her lips as Thean pulled her close.
The ache between her legs had not disappeared and no matter how many males she had danced with, it did not disappear and she didn't want to take them to another room or anything. She knew Erix had been watching her for a while, she could feel his glare on the back of her head but when Arran had walked inside, he had to leave. She hadn't seen him after that.
"Can I say something to you?" Thean said softly, pulling her into a lover's embrace. She wrapped her hands around his neck, moving slightly closer so he could whisper into her ear. Her gaze met Arran's who was slowly walking down the stairs from the throne stage.
Willa instantly grabbed Arran's hand, but she couldn't make out what was said as the violins screeched. Arran grinned at Willa, and nodded his head, pulling her to the dance floor.
"Eridaya is being overthrown by the hunters." His words were so soft as if she didn't hear it but her body froze. They stopped dancing. His breath did not send tingles down her body as he whispered into her ear. "A vampire was sent here to take you back this morning but the Prince did not allow him through the border. He was shouting for you, screaming that he needed you back because they were going to die."
"Blonde hair?" She questioned, her voice equally soft as she pressed her head onto his shoulder, forcing her body to move so nobody stared at them.
He hummed in answer. It was Nik. He had come for her while she had been so busy eating breakfast and dining with princesses. "Want me to walk you out?" Thean asked. She nodded her head and he grabbed her hand, lifting them to his lips and kissing it.
To the people who did stare at them, he looked like a male who was taking a female to his bed. She followed him, ignoring Arran's glare on her face. Willa twirled in his hands, sending a wink to Katara who hid the smile on her face as she followed Thean out of the room.
The guards did not say a word to her as Thean walked with her through the halls before stopping in an empty hall where no guards waited. He shrugged off his thin coat, holding it out to her. "It is freezing outside."
She quickly wore his fur like a thin coat. "I am forever grateful for you telling me this."
"They say you are more like a wolf than a Fae. You said wolves are loyal. I hope this earns me your trust." He held the hidden dagger out from under his fancy tunic, towards her. "Save your kingdom."
Katara walked forward, kissing his cheeks softly before moving away. "Eridaya will forever be in debt to you." Without another word, Katara hurried down the three halls and then out of the castle grounds, ignoring the guards running after her.
They would call Arran but there was no other way to escape other than through the front doors. They called out to her, saying words she didn't know and neither did she care as she spun out of the way as a dagger flew straight towards her from one of the guards.
Katara felt her magic come to life inside of her. The flames danced around her hands but she forced it down, as she let the winds sing in her ear, and allowed her heart to slow down a pace, as she sprinted, using her Fae speed.
She sprinted through the gates that slammed shut inches away from trapping her into the gate. She didn't stop running, not through the empty markets, somehow everything feeling like her life was on repeat.
Her mother was dead. She had run away from the hunters just like she was running now. Katara pushed the negative thoughts out of her mind, forcing her body to breathe calmly as she ran left towards the boats.
Suddenly she slammed into a body, staggering backwards and on to her ass. Katara blinked, several times as she looked up at Arran. He crossed his arms, letting out a sigh of boredom. "I really wish you had chosen any other day than today to escape." He ran a hand through his hair. "Just when I've announced to Wisteria who my wife shall be."
☆☆☆☆☆
#unedited
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