The Lycan King's Princes

Once I was Twelve Years Old

--- POV Emilia ---

“Oh, goddess, to see the look on my brothers’ faces was way worth the tickles!” Sapphire laughed and I smiled at her while she relived her story of surprising Seth and T…Tobias. She actually hitched a ride on the jet that was picking them up and surprised both of them when they came aboard. She’s so cute. She even got Tyler to tag along.

“What kind of face is that?” Sonya asked me and I blushed, not really knowing what I looked like at that moment. I’m not sure when we became friends, but Sonya was like the young aunt I always wanted. She was lovely to be around and a great person to ask for advice.

“What are you talking about?” I asked and rested my hand on my face. Did it look funny? Oh gosh…I thought I learned not to blush when I heard his name. I guess I still have some work to do.

“That there.” She said and tapped my nose. I was startled and started laughing. “And there she is. Finally. You seemed a bit distracted there.”

“Yummy.” There she goes again. Natalia. She has been thinking crazy thoughts since we made it into the hall. My dragon is ridiculous and my distraction. She's the reason for my silly faces today. Not only am I thinking about T-Tobias, but also this luscious scent that has been engulfing my senses all afternoon.

“What are you blabbering about Natalia?” I finally asked and she purred.

“You’ll find out in three…two…” She trailed off and I got smacked with the most blissful smell of salted caramel and chocolate. So sweet.

I looked up at the towering man in front of me breathing deeply in a sleek black and red suit. I felt my eyes shift into their bright orange color, then stare into his solid red ones. “Mate?” I whimpered as I felt my cheeks flush.

“Mine!” He growled, moving closer to me. Of course, my dragon was elated. I’m only twenty and I found my mate! A mate that is a rather lovely specimen to see for sure.

I blinked, doing my best to suppress my dragon, so I didn't look like a crazy person. Once I finally got it together, I really got a look at the man in front of me and I knew those bright blue eyes and long hair anywhere. I gasped and covered my mouth in pure shock. “T-Tobias?!”

He tilted his head a bit and stared at me as if I was a stranger or something. I guess that makes sense though. The last time he saw me, I was twelve. I’ve definitely made a shift in features since then. I’m literally kicking myself for not at least saying hi to him when Sapphire’s on the phone with those two at my house or hers. I would have found him so much sooner. I would have been with my childhood crush so much sooner, but instead I was being stubborn and wouldn’t even stay in the room with her when she had a conversation with them. “Emmi?!” He called and my whole body tingled hearing his succulent baritone voice call my nickname for the first time in eight years.

“Tobias!” Uncle Fallon called, and my dad was right behind him. Not good.

Tobias turned around and saw them jog up to him and my dad froze mid stride. “You’re jokin!” He called a bit exasperated. "You have to be jokin'!"

His mom was trailing behind them with mine, and Seth came up the rear. “Dude! I called it!” He shouted and ran up to Tobias, slamming his body into his. The god of a man didn’t shift at the sudden impact. “Congrats man!” Then he turned to me with his vibrant smile. "Heeeeyyyyy Emmi...." Oh geez, just as crazy as before.

“Emilia!” My mom called and I turned around to see her coming up with Queen Mother Valentina.

I spun around in my emerald and royal green ball gown to walk towards her, but Tobias’s shockingly warm hand was gently around my wrist faster than I could think. “Emmi.” His voice was like sweet butter, and it turned me into putty in his hands…just like when we were kids.

I spun back around and decided to turn into him instead of walking towards my mother. At this point, everyone was surrounding us and Saph was squealing happily. My mom finally made it to me, and she sighed, grinning from ear to ear. “Well! This is a turn of events.” She said with a chuckle.

“It is, for sure. Hey Jas.” Auntie Esa called, and we all laughed. Esa and my mom had a…rocky past, but honestly, they haven’t talked much about it. I could guess from their reaction that the past they went through, made it quite ironic that Tobias and I were mates.

“Hey Esa.” My mom said happily.

Everyone started talking all at once and I started to get a bit overstimulated. A rather annoying trait of mine that hasn’t gone away with age. My parents are so flamboyant and I’m over here as the shyest person in the room. “Come with me.” Tobias said softly, as he leaned down next to my ear.

I flinched and nodded once. His hand slid down from my wrist and intertwined with my shaking hand. He continued to pull me towards the small cadenza toward the far end of the garden. As I stared at his large frame walking in front of me, I realized we’ve been in this situation before.

{Eight Years Ago}

“Why…why are you leaving me?!” Tobias and Seth’s sister kept crying out while Tyler and I stood behind them and the servants were putting the twins’ bags in the car.

Seth patted Sapphire’s head softly and kissed her cheeks. “We aren’t leaving forever, we are just going to school and coming back as soon as we can. Come on, Little Gem. Don’t cry.” Seth was whimpering while he watched his sister in pain.

I looked up at Tobias and I didn’t know why, but I was angry at him. I was shocked they waited until today to tell me. I thought we were friends. I know my crush was one-sided, but I didn’t think in a million years he would just disappear on me. I gasped when Tobias’s eyes looked into mine. I had stared too long and now I couldn’t look away. “Come.” He said shortly, and started to walk toward the side yard of their castle.

Of course. The boy of few words.

I ran after him, surprised by the random command from him and even more surprised that I listened. I stumbled a bit on my feet, but I managed to keep up until he stopped and turned to me. “Wha…what’s wrong?” I asked, doing my best to restrain my anger right now. I didn't want him to think I was childish.

He walked up to me and took a deep breath before engulfing me in a hug. I stood there frozen, and I didn’t know what to do with myself. He was hugging me. The stoic Tobias was actually showing some emotion. “I’ll miss you.” He said softly before pulling away and walking towards the car. He didn’t wait for a response or anything. All he wanted was to say that and disappear.

I decided at that moment, that I wouldn’t even look at his face until he came back in person. I was angry he wouldn’t let me talk and I was flustered that I couldn’t find the words to say even if I was offered the opportunity.

Once the door closed behind him, Sapphire ran up to the car and banged on the door while Seth waived to her from the window. Tyler had to come up and pick her small frame off the floor so they could finally disappear through the gate.

Never did I think that would be the last time I saw them for quite some time.

{Present}

We stopped walking and I realized we were sitting in the cadenza on one of its built-in benches. He stared at me and slid his hands onto mine. I looked away, not wanting to make a fool of myself. “Talk to me, Emmi.” He said, a bit concerned.

I shot my head up and I felt my lips tremble. “I…I was so confused when you left and now all of a sudden, you’re back and you're my mate? What am I supposed to say about that?”

He shook his head before nodding at my response. “I guess I deserve that, but I want you to know how happy I am that you are my mate.”

I gasped and leaned back a bit. “What are you talking about?”

“I wasn’t lying when I said I would miss you eight years ago. I asked Saph about you all the time.” He chuckled and pulled his hand away from mine. I felt the loss of contact almost immediately. “I would even hear that you had stepped away to give Seth and I time to talk to Sapphire, but all I wanted was to see your face every now and again. The urge got stronger with time.”

I blinked, letting him continue. I don’t think I’ve ever heard him talk so much…well…ever. Once I realized he was done, I sighed and risked shifting my body closer to his. “I thought you were messing with me that day. I guess I forced myself to believe you didn’t miss me and you just did that to get under my skin.” I said, laughing a bit breathlessly.

“No way.” He said shortly and tilted his head my way. “I would never say something I didn’t mean. Especially not to you.”

“When…when did you…” I couldn’t finish the sentence, but I hope he knows what I’m asking. We have been ‘cousins’ our whole lives, even though we are not biologically related in any way. When did he have feelings for me?

“When I was about thirteen, I think.” He said in a reminiscing tone. “You?”

I opened my mouth, then closed it. That long?! “I don’t know. You were always there for me and protected me like you protected Sapphire. To be honest, I was jealous of her when she was a baby because you stopped paying as much attention to me. I really don’t know when I started to like you.” I blushed and he grinned from ear to ear before kissing my cheek.

I flinched and felt warmth radiate from where his lips touched. “How about now? Do you accept me?” He asked a bit worried? The Great Ice King was worried about how I felt about him?!

I turned to look his way and he was closer than I thought. “I hated you for leaving, but now that just seems stupid. I…I accept you, Tobias.”

He smirked and kissed my nose softly. I don’t think I’ve ever seen him treat anything so delicately, but it felt so nice to be that precious person in his life…finally. “Now…I’m sorry for how I left and I should have made an effort to care and maybe we would have been together a long time ago. That was my fault. However, I was worried about leading you on if I wasn’t your mate. That wouldn’t be fair to you.”

I tilted my head curiously. “To me? What about you?”

He rested his arm over my shoulder and hummed. “When it comes to you, I only care about you. If it wasn't you, I don't know if I could have accepted the other option.”

I shook at his response and my whole body heated up as my dragon purred in satisfaction. “Oh…okay.” I answered and looked down at my fiddling fingers. “So… now what?”

He sighed and stretched. “Well, I have to finish up school, then graduate in a couple of weeks, but I would like to talk with our parents. Mine are currently yelling at me in my head because we stepped away for a bit and apparently no one knows how to look to their left.” He said, nodding to our frantic family looking everywhere but where we are. I giggled and was rewarded with a grin from his perfect lips.

“So…you’re leaving again?” I whimpered, not realizing how much that hurt to ask.

“Not without you, I’m not.” He said shortly. I blushed red. I could feel it creep up to my ears. “Come with me.”

I gasped shakily and stared up at his blue orbs. I want to say yes. I need to say yes. I opened my mouth, but stage fright became real, and Natalia came to the forefront and flashed him a grin. “I’ll go with you anywhere.” She purred.

I saw the shock on his face before he rested his hand on my cheek. “Good to know your dragon’s onboard, but how about you, Emmi? I can call to get the apartment ready for you tomorrow.”

I leaned into his hand and sighed. My worry faded immediately. “Yes. I want to come with you, Tobias.”