BLOOD MOON LYCAN QUEEN

CHAPTER 6 -THE PERFECT GIFT - RAELYNN'S POV

I groaned softly and rolled onto my side, a movement I instantly regretted it when a sharp ache radiated through my lower back and hips, and between my legs. Confusion lasted maybe two seconds as to why I was in pain, before the memories hit, and I remember my night with Caspian, my mate. I still couldn't believe it. I had a mate.

I squinted at the clock on the wall, and realized it was one in the afternoon.

Remembering him made my entire body fill with a longing to see him, even if I couldn't speak to him, so I quickly but carefully climbed from my bed, and went to the bathroom to take a shower, but getting out, I came across a problem. I'd already packed my favorite clothes, and it took a long time to find an outfit I liked and still fit me.

Finally presentable, with my hair tamed. I took a deep breath, and pulled open the heavy door, and stepped out into the silent hallway. Everyone must have been out and about.

When I left the suite and walked down the first set of stairs, I saw one of Caspian's guards pretending to read on a chair, but then he smelt the air, tensed and looked up, and when he saw me, he quickly up.

He straightened slightly, his posture impeccable, and then, as I turned and walked down another hallway, he casually rushed after me, but then once we were out of earshot of any potential staff passing, he did something entirely unexpected, he moved to my side, and lowered his head in a deep, formal bow.

"Hello, Luna," He whispered, his voice surprisingly gentle and warm for such a formidable man. But I still blushed, because it meant Caspian had told him who I was to him, "I'm Nate."

"Hello, I'm Raelynn," I replied, keeping my voice low as well, instantly adopting the necessary discretion. "Do you know where Kin... Um, Caspian is?" The title almost slipped out, but Nate was looking at me kindly, his expression suggesting he understood my confusion.

Nate straightened up, his eyes holding a look of quiet respect. "He's in the main council room, speaking with the other Kings about the treaty. It's been ongoing since this morning."

My face fell instantly. "Oh." But then I felt guilty, he had less sleep than me, and he had to work all day.

The disappointment was sharp. No casual conversation, no stolen moments in the hall, no comforting presence. He was entrenched in the serious business of ruling.

Nate saw my pout, I couldn't hide it and offered a small, sympathetic tilt of his head. "He left instructions that you were to be given anything you required, and that I was available to escort you."

I tried to rally my spirits. Pouting wouldn't bring the Council meeting to a close. If I couldn't have Caspian, I could at least focus my energy on him.

"Well," I said, brightening. "I suppose I could go shopping."

Nate nodded easily. "A fine idea. The Royal Market district here is actually excellent, I've wanted to check it out since I arrived, so I could buy my mate a gift.''

"Perfect. I want to buy something for Caspian too."

As we began the long walk down the corridor toward the stairs leading to the lower levels, my mind started churning through gift ideas. What do you buy a man who is a King, and likely owns everything?

I remembered the recent interaction we'd had regarding my bracelet, a gift he seemed to genuinely appreciate.

''He liked the bracelet,'' I mused Zhi who was still half asleep, ''Maybe there would be a nice ring or something similar? Something he could keep close.''

Zhi remained silent, but I felt her listening intently.

My internal discussion continued as we walked. We passed huge, ancient tapestries depicting battles and coronations. I thought about Caspian's demeanor, his gravity, his immense power, and the surprising tenderness he exhibited when we were alone.

I started picturing him again, focusing on the details of his body, the way he moved, the strength that was evident in every line of his muscles. I thought of his hands, large and capable, scarred slightly from training. Strong calluses along the base of his fingers.

And that's when the realization hit me, stark and clear, like a sudden drop in temperature. I'd never seen Caspian wear a ring.

''What are we going to get him now?'' I asked Zhi.

''Let's just wander around and see what catches our eyes.''

''Good idea.''

We walked in silence towards the shopping district. I was a little awkward walking with the guard. Should I make conversation? Should I remain silent? I wasn't sure. In the end, I chose not to talk to him. I was never good with small talk anyway.

We paused outside a jeweler's booth. ''A brooch, perhaps?'' I suggested, pointing to a silver griffon pin encrusted with sapphires.

''No, too fussy.'' Zhi answered, as I looked at something else.

We walked past a weapons display. Zhi's tail wagged as she saw a dagger with an intricately carved bone handle. ''That one!''

''No,'' I shook my head firmly. ''He's a King, he fights with his own hand, and even if he uses weapons, I'm sure he pays for the best Fae weaponry.''

We spent an hour rejecting everything, only the guard had bought something at this point.

''This is hopeless, he's a King, I'm sure he's already got everything.'' I muttered, leaning against a stack of crates outside a small, unassuming shop called ''The Sciverien Art.''

I exhaled angrily and looked at the guard, ''Nate, do you know what Caspian likes?''

He smiled, ''The King's very private, even after hundreds of years following him. But I do know he likes old maps, and ancient cities. He occasionally goes to the dig site of the first pack.''

''Really?'' I said happily, '' Thank you, I think I know what to get him then!''

We rushed down the street to an antique store I knew, and walked inside.

The air inside hit me, a heavy, intoxicating blend of aged parchment, sandalwood, and a faint, metallic scent that always seemed to cling to true magical artifacts.

The shop was a labyrinth of mismatched shelves. Towering stacks of forgotten treaties leaned against cases filled with glittering relics.

I bypassed a shelf displaying questionable ''Dragon scales.'' and moved directly toward the back, where the lighting was dimmer and the maps usually resided.

I spent twenty minutes sifting through brittle scrolls describing forgotten trade routes and astronomical charts drawn by crazed wizards. Interesting, yes, but not personal enough for Caspian. I needed something that spoke of history, specifically his history.

Just as the frustration began to creep back, my hand brushed against a small, velvet-lined display box tucked behind a large, rolled-up tapestry of the Lunar Wars. I pulled the box out.

Inside, resting on faded purple silk, was a small, circular pendant made of dark, heavy iron. It wasn't beautiful in the traditional sense, it was worn smooth by time, and slightly dull. But etched onto its surface was a crude, spiraling symbol, the ancient mark of the first Alpha line, slightly before formalized crests were used.

I called the shop owner over, an elderly man nearing his two hundredth year, with spectacles perched eternally halfway down his nose. "Excuse me, what is this?"

He peered at the item, his eyes widening slightly. "Ah, I've been looking for this for twelve years,'' He laughed, ''I wondered where I put it. It's the Lycan token. Found it buried deep in the foundational layers of the Old City excavation site, near where the first pack established their settlement. It's the first royal sigil, likely a talisman given by the first King to his first ever Beta. Dated it to the very earliest years of your kind."

My heart pounded a happy rhythm against my ribs. ''It's perfect. I'd like to buy it.''

I paid the man instantly, using up about seventy percent of my saved money. Nate offered to buy with the Kings money but I refused.

I carefully tucking the box into my cloak pocket. Walking back out into the bright afternoon,

"Mission accomplished," I announced, grinning.

''Is there anywhere else you'd like to go?'' Nate asked me as he glared at a man walking to close to me.

''No, thanks, I'm all done.''

I walked back to the pack feeling very proud of my find, and was humming to myself as we walked through the halls, past maids cleaning, who paused to chat to me, before we continued on our way.

I noticed the guard tense a little before he stopped, and leaned against the wall.

''What are you doing?'' I asked in confusion.

Before he could answer, a hand shot out and wrapped around my wrist, and I was suddenly being pulled into an empty room. I would have been furious if I didn't feel the bond, and I would have lost my temper.

''You scared me!'' I complained and hit his chest, but then I froze as he pushed me against the wall and leaned in and kissed me passionately until I felt weak at the knees.

''I'm sorry,'' He said breathlessly as he leaned back and pressed his forehead to mine, while his hands ran down my sides to my hips, ''I hate that I can't link you.''

Before I could respond, he lifted me up, and I gasped in pain as I wrapped my legs around his hips.

''Sorry,'' He said again, ''I forgot you were still healing. Are you in a lot of pain?''

''Only when I move quickly. Do you know how long it usually takes to heal?''

''A day or two,'' He answered, as he bagan kissing my throat, ''Mmm, you taste so good.''

I blushed and leaned back, ''Weren't you in meetings?''

''I was,'' He answered and kissed me, ''I have another one later,'' He said, and kissed me once more, ''Did you have a good afternoon shopping?''

''How did you know I was shopping?''

''My guards have orders to update me every hour.''

''Every hour?'' I asked in disbelief, ''You don't need so many updates.''

''Yes, I do, so don't argue,'' He said firmly, ''If I want updates every ten minutes, I will, so don't worry about it.''

I smiled and shook my head, but it felt nice having someone cared so much about me.

''Fine,'' I shrugged, and wound my arms around his neck, ''And yes, I had a nice time. I got you a gift.''

''A gift?'' He smiled and looked down, ''It's been a long time since I was given a gift, what is it?''

I reached into my pock and pulled out, feeling a little nervous. What if he didn't like it.

''If you don't like it, you don't have to lie,'' I said quickly and passed it over, ''I don't want you to lie to me about anything.''

Caspian got a strange expression on his face, guilt maybe? But it passed before I could really be sure.

''Anything you want to give me will be treasured,'' He smiled warmly at me, and I felt giddy.

He opened the gift and his eyes widened, ''Oh my Goddess,'' He said in delight, ''I've been looking for this for years. Where did you find it?''

''Just an antique shop in the city, do you like it?''

''I love it!'' He said, and kissed me again. ''This is the second-best gift I've ever been given.''

My smile faltered, ''Second?''

He smiled and put the gift into his pocket, ''Baby, you're the best gift.''

''Oh,'' I smiled again as he leaned in and kissed me once more.

As our kiss deepened, and my heart started racing loudly, Caspian leaned back so our lips were just touching, ''Come to my room tonight.'' He ordered, ''I'm sure you know of a secret tunnel that goes there.''

''I do, but I can't sleep with you until the scarring heals.''

''Do you only think I want you for s*x?'' He asked, sounding offended.

''Well, I don't now that you're upset.''

He smiled and kissed me again, ''I don't just want to f*ck you,'' He told me, ''I want you by my side, especially while Mason's trying to get his damn son into your bed. So promise me you'll come.''

''I will.''

''Good,'' He kissed me again, ''Has Mason and Dane kept their distance from you?''

''Yes.''

''Good,'' He relaxed, ''You know, he actually asked me where I went after the party.''

''I thought he would, he asked me if you'd been the one to drug me,'' I informed my mate, ''Can you believe him? What a b*stard.'' I froze when I realized I'd called my Alpha a b*stard, but then I remembered what he'd done to me, and I let it go, ''What did you say to him when he asked you where you went?''

Caspian laughed, ''I said, mind your own f*cking business.''

''Oh.''

''I'm a King remember?'' He asked me, ''I don't answer to anyone... Well,.. You maybe, but no one else.''

''You answer to me?'' I asked excitedly and ran my hands down his chest.

He smiled and kissed my again, ''Don't push it. I...'' He paused and looked at the door. ''We have to go. Nate said maids are coming. I'll see you tonight.''

He kissed me again, ''Don't keep me waiting long tonight.'' He kissed me a final time as he placed me slowly on my feet, before he walked out.

I was still breathing hard, when the door opened and the maids walked in.

''Rae?'' Kerry said in surprise when she saw me, ''What are you doing in here?''

''I just wanted a moment alone,'' I lied, ''I'll leave now.''