Leighton

54. Slipping Away.

Estelle

I rested my head on Leighton’s chest, my exhaustion gone, every nerve in my body tingling.

“Wow.” I finally spoke when my breathing returned to normal. The intensity of his emotions had taken my breath away.

Leighton chuckled and kissed the top of my head. “Wow indeed.”

“I just, I mean I thought I knew what to expect but it’s so intense.” I could feel his feelings for me and I couldn’t believe I had ever doubted him.

“I know. I finally have an idea of what’s going on in the pretty little head of yours.” He chuckled, pulling me even closer.

I signed happily, just for a moment all our troubles faded away and I didn’t want it to end. It was strange dealing with his emotions as well as my own.

“I think we are meant to block them from each other, to make it easier but I don’t want to.” Leighton murmured into my hair.

I kind of agreed, but it was a lot to process, and the intensity of it was a little overwhelming.

“Or maybe I need to so I don’t scare you off.”

I sat up and ran my fingers over his mark. “I think it’s a bit late for that.”

As much as the intensity of his emotions was a lot, more than I could have ever imagined, it was good. I just hoped that I was worthy of them all.

“You could never disappoint anyone Princess, that’s not a worry you need to have.” He kissed the side of my head.

I could feel his own insecurities, flooding my brain. I hadn’t realised how he felt, he always came across so confident.

“Right back at you, my King.” My words didn’t quite have the sooting effect I had hoped they would.

“About that, when does all that happen, you know in the normal world when we aren’t facing war with a tyrant king and his dark ass witch sidekick?”

“There isn’t a a rule actually, obviously when the previous King dies but otherwise it’s when the King is ready to hand over, just like your father gave Emerald Lake to Ashton.”

“Is your father ready to hand the Kingdom over to you?”

“To us you mean. I don’t actually know. He had no choice before, he had to made me queen when I married the Prince. I guess now there is no rush. It might be easier for you to get used to the idea, if there is no pressing hurry.”

I hadn’t thought about how much this was for him to process. I was confident he would be an excellent King, even if he didn’t believe it yet.

“And they just happily hand over power?” He asked.

“Think of it as retirement, I guess, unless it’s forced upon them, like my parents.”

“It wasn’t handed to them?”

“No, my grandfather was killed, in one of the battles after my father marked my mother. Queen Lucia couldn’t handle it on her own so she passed the crown on, she died shortly, reportedly of a broken heart.”

“So you never met them?”

“No, they were very much loved, I know that. I think their rule was a very happy one, they were an arranged marriage but they happened to be mates, very romantic.I think that’s the only reason they supported my mother and father when they broke the alliance with King Adalfudis.

They were friends with his parents you see, hence why they made it in the first place. I think they thought they would be mates, just like what happened to them.”

“How did he die ?” He asked.

“I don’t know exactly, it was here, I think King Adalfudis attacked. I never thought to ask, I guess I didn’t want to think about it too much.”

Sensing my sadness he placed a kiss on my hair, breathing in deeply as he did.

“Then don’t… goddess I love your smell.” He signed happily.

I stifled a yawn, my tiredness catching up with me.

“What do I smell like ?”

“Like a star in the crisp night sky….but as much as it pains me to say this you should get some sleep.” He didn’t need to finish the sentence, but I knew he meant something was soon rouse us from this happy stupor.

“I don’t want to. There are other things I want to do.” I told him sleepily, knowing full well his touch could fend off any tiredness.

“I’m sure you do.” He chuckled. “but you need to rest. I don’t know how much longer I can keep my block up.”

My wolf must have been helping with mine because I was so tired.

“I love you Leighton.” I whispered, “I don’t think I’ve ever trusted anyone like I do you.”

“You can trust me Princess.” He replied before pausing. “I’m not sure who else we can trust but know you can trust me. I’d die before I let anything happen to you.”

Sleep momentarily forgotten. “Please don’t be doing that. We have friends we can trust, Peter, your brother, Iris. My father. We aren’t alone.”

This time he sat up, turning me to face him.

“Promise me you won’t trust anyone.” I went to protest. “I mean it Estelle, it’s important.”

“You don’t trust your friends ?” I asked totally surprised, they were like family to him.

“I do, I trust them, probably with my life. But I know how much they love their mates, they will always put them first. Which I understand because I feel the same, but I know you are going to tell me the Kingdom is more important. Which I also understand and I’ll do my best to protect but I will always put you first, you are all that matters to me.”

“What about if I trust them?” I could feel my annoyance rising, I knew he meant well but I was capable of deciding who I could trust.

“Please Estelle, don’t argue with me on this. Just promise me.”

“I think I can decide for myself. Leighton.”

“Like you did with Izzy.” He replied and couldn’t contain the jolt of hurt that he chose to bring her up. I still hadn’t fully accepted her betrayal, it hurt too much to think about it.

As though he realised his mistake immediately he pulled me close before I could wriggle away.

“I didn’t mean that. I’m not trying to control you. I’m just worried.”

If I hadn’t started trying to block his emotions I would probably have been able to feel that.

“You aren’t here to protect me, you are meant to rule by my side. Help me. You don’t get to tell me what to do, who to trust. In fact that’s Peter’s job.”

“The hell it is.” He growled at me, I couldn’t miss the jealously in his eyes. This time I pushed him away, wrapping the sheet around me as I put some space between us.

“Leighton, I love you. Not him. But he is our advisor. We need to take his advice, we have to trust him.”

“And what if I don’t ?” He shot back.

“Well I do.” I shrugged, like the discussion was over, which as far as I was concerned it was. I could tell he was angry now.

“Look, I’m not telling you who you can and cannot speak to. Hell I could have banished Piper if I really wanted to.”

“What and lose your precious Peter, she is his mate remember.”

“If he wanted to go with her I wouldn’t stop him, but I would never ask him to make that choice myself…” That was true, I couldn’t be sure he would choose her, and I was sure she hated me already so I wouldn’t make the situation worse.

“Because you know he would choose you.” Leighton said bitterly.

“Isn’t that what you want, an advisor that is loyal to me?” I asked gently, as I could see he was getting worked up by this conservation.

“What I want ? F*** Estelle I want him as far away from you as possible. In fact I want to take you back to Opal Lake f*** you into oblivion.” He practically shouted at me before he took a deep breath, probably registering the shock on my face. “But I know that is not an option , so please for the love of the moon goddess will you just trust me. I won’t stop you seeing him, but just run everything past me. Okay. No secrets?”

That I could do. I didn’t think lie to him anyway.

Throwing myself back into his arm I let the block down and let his emotions slide into mine. He was worried and jealous, and while it annoyed me, my wolf purred inside at the possessiveness with which he held me.

“No secrets.” I promised. “You and me, we are a team.”

I felt his heart start to slow as my words registered.

“Why are you so stubborn?” He murmured as he stroked my hair. His anger evaporating as he held me.”

He could hardly talk, but I didn’t want to argue any more.

“Just shut up and kiss me.” I asked him and he did as I asked. My hands fisting themselves in his hair and I kissed him back. I felt him pull the sheet from around me, exposing my naked body to the cold, before he pulled me back towards the bed.

I didn’t think I would ever get enough of the sparks when he kissed my mark. Spinning me around I found myself face down on the bed, yelping in surprise as he pulled my a** up towards him.

Pinning my arms above my head I felt his c*** at my a**. I tensed at the sensation, panic mounting as to where he was going with this.

“Easy Princess, you aren’t ready for that yet.” He chuckled as he kissed the back of my neck, his thigh pushing my legs apart. There was something strangely arousing in his control over me, I found myself wantonly pressing my a** towards his c***. Not knowing what I wanted him to do but needing something.

A growl sounded behind me. “I’m in control here Princess, grind that pretty a** all you like but I’m going to take my time.”

His c*** poked at my a** and I couldn’t help but tense up. He leaned over and I felt it rub against my cl**, coating itself in our mixed juices that still lingered. I moaned and tried to move so he could slide inside me but he kept up his teasing. I pulled against his arms, wanting to reach down between my legs but he held firm.

“Leighton.” I begged shamelessly for something, anything more.

Holding both my hands in one of his large palms he slide the other down my front, stopping at my breast and pinching my n****e hard. At the same time he entered me from behind, the pain on my n****e distracting me from how deeply he could shealth himself inside me.

Whimpers escaped my lips as pleasure overtook my senses. I pushed back against him, allowing him deeper with each thrust. The knot inside me tightened with each thrust but my release remained just out of my grasp as Leighton’s speed increased and his thrusts became less controlled. I hadn’t been aware he had released my hands until I pushed myself up on them, dipping my back as I felt his hands leave on my ass and one tug on my hair.

“F*** I’m deep.” Leighton panted, and when I couldn’t take it anymore I collapsed forward my hand reaching down between my legs to rub my c*** as he roared above me. I felt our fluids coating my fingers as I came undone, clenching around his c*** as he pushed deeper inside me before stilling.

“Oh goddess you feel so good.” He groaned, propping himself above me as I convulsed on his c***.

As my shuddering subsided, Leighton lay down beside me and pulled my back against his chest. My head was still spinning with desire so I just snuggled into his arms. I didn’t want to talk anymore.

I could feel mindlinks poking at my block. I knew I had probably already had it up for too long.

“Estelle, about time. You need to come to the infirmary. Immediately.”

My father’s voice sounded in my head, causing me to sit up in fright.

“What’s wrong?” Leighton asked, full of concern.

“My father summoned me to the infirmary. Something is wrong.”

Without a word I watched as he pulled on some clothes. Throwing some at me I moved into action and before long I was leading him back down the corridors.

My father was sat at my mother’s bed.Her face paler than before.

“I thought she was getting better ?” I asked trying to keep emotion out of my voice.

“We thought she was, but tonight, it’s like she is fading away.” He couldn’t withhold the emotion in his voice. Right now he didn’t look like a King, but a sorrowful wolf who knew he was losing his mate.

Leighton stared at my mother in shock. Even in this state she still looks so regal, but her face was now so pale and her breathing so shallow sometimes it was hard to tell if she was still here.

“What’s going on?” He asked.

“She isn’t getting better. The poison has left her system but something is stopping her from healing. I can barely sense her wolf.” My father’s voice almost broke. Abruptly he stood, murmuring something about the witches he walked out.

“What’s going on ?” Leighton seemed confused. “Why did he leave her?”

“I think he finds it too hard.” I didn’t quite understand, if it were Leighton lying here in this bed I dont think anything could remove me from his side. “He isn’t exactly open with his feelings.”

I sat in the chair he had vacated and Leighton rested is hand on my shoulder, kneading gently.

“I think I’ll stay a while.” I told him.

“Okay.” He replied and he went to pull up a chair.

“You don’t need to stay.”

“I’m not leaving you, ever Princess.”

“This isn’t leaving me, I’m not going anywhere. Go check on Piper or Greer.” I told him. “Please.”

I needed a moment alone, because for the first time it dawned on me that she might not wake up and the thought upset me more than I ever thought would.

“I won’t be long. Do. Not. Leave. This. Room.” He tried to command me, but I nodded anyway.

“Promise.”

With a chaste kiss to my head he strode out and I was left alone with my thoughts. I let the tears I had been fighting fall freely.

“Please wake up. I want you to meet Leighton. I think you would be happy for me. He is going to be a great King. He is going to stop Alfundis once and for all.” I hung my head at the thought of her not being there. As much as she had kept her distance from me she had always been kind, far less reserved with her love than my father, until Lucia died. It was then she really changed. She became withdrawn and colder. I understood though, no wolf, should have to bury their pup.

The guilt I would forever carry over that night absconded her of her actions after. I struggled to forgive myself so I never once expected her too. I saw how broken she was.

I was lost in my thoughts when Leighton came rushing back in.

“What’s wrong?” I asked started at his distress.

“I felt you, I thought she had died.” He started at the slow rise and fall of her chest.

I wiped my tears hoping he wouldn’t notice, I didn’t want to seem any weaker in front of him.

“Sorry I was just thinking about the past. I didn’t mean to worry you.”

He gathered me up in his strong arms. “You don’t have to do this alone you know. I’m here. If you want to talk.”

I didn’t t want to talk, but I wanted him to hold me because when he did everything felt so much better.