Leighton

40. Keeping the Faith

Leighton

The sight of another wolf comforting my mate was not what I needed right now. Titan fought me for control and only the fact that I had witnessed her confusion at the situation allowed me to keep control.

I let Estelle push past me as I needed a minute alone with the wolf.

Stalking up to him he wasn’t as brave without the princess by his side but to be fair he held his ground and almost his nerve.

“Let’s be clear, Estelle belongs to me. Once this is all over if I ever see you look at her like that again I will kill you myself.”

I was standing in his face now, and I could see sweat forming on his temples as he stood before me.

“I don’t, I don’t want her like that.” He stuttered like he thought I was a fool.

My glare of contempt in response silenced him for a moment.

“I mean, I want my mate.” He rushed to correct. “Truly, I’ve always loved the Princess and I will always be loyal to her.” When I didn’t respond he claimed slightly. “It’s just I expected us to be more, and it’s hard to adjust….I see the way she looks at you and it’s how I feel for Piper. I won’t cross that line again.”

He hung his head in submission and I didn’t even bother to reply. I simply waked out of the dungeon, leaving the door open behind me and set of after my renegade mate.

She hadn’t gone far and she was clearly deep in conversation with her wolf. I could hear tears in her voice. All my anger disappeared instantly when she said I was disgusted by her.

She clearly hadn’t heard me appear but she let me take her hand. I heard her take a big shaky breath but she let me lead her over to a bench I saw at the entrance to a maze. She didn’t say anything and there was a moment of silence while I worked out way I was going to say.

“Talk to me. Tell me what I’ve done wrong.”

I couldn’t handle the silence and I didn’t know what had made her think like that.

“For f*** sake Estelle. How can I make you feel better when I don’t know what I’ve done wrong.”

She almost snorted at that. “YOU haven’t done anything wrong.”

I ground my teeth in frustration, trying so very hard not to reply so she could explain.

“I get it, I don’t know if I would look at you the same if someone else marked you.” Her voice almost broke at end and even though it was trying to give her space I gathered her in my arms. Relishing the sparks as she for once didn’t fight me.

“I’m going to fix the f***** mark baby. And if I look at you differently it’s because I had to consider if I could live without you and I can’t, I just can’t so yeah I might not look at you the same but it’s not because you repulse me.”

I felt her relax slightly. “But you said I smell like him.”

I couldn’t deny that she did. “You do but you still smell like you and I guess my wolf just wants you to smell like me.” I’d let Titan’s pride take that hit.

“I can’t bear for something to happen to you, I can’t sit here and wait for news that…” She pulled back so I could see her face. “I love you, if you get hurt for me, how am I meant to live with that?”

I looked into her beautiful eyes, that were so filled with worry. I wondered if there would ever be a time where she didn’t have to worry. It seemed like her entire life had been one privileged heartache after another.

Placed my finger under her chin and tilted her lips towards mine, kissing them gently.

“First, I said I would fix this, getting hurt is not part of that plan.

Second, if anything does happen, you still have your people to protect and a tyrant to defeat. So you live for that, but baby I have no intention of getting myself killed. I waited too long for you, I want more than this taste.”

I kissed her again and her lips melted into mine. Her hands clasping behind my neck as she deepened the kiss.

I pulled her around so I was sat on the bench with her astride me now, pulling apart from her.

“If I’m setting some ground rules here is a new one. If you are upset about something you talk to me.”

“What if I’m upset with you.” She asked, a confused look on her face.

“Then you definitely talk to me.” I claimed her lips in a way that she would have no doubt about how I would fix that problem. When I let her come up for air, she was panting and I could feel her hard n*****s straining against her top.

With one hand, I freed one and my c*** jumped at the gasp that escaped her mouth as it met the cool night air.

Cupping her breast I took her n****e in my mouth, as she rubbed herself against my ever growing shaft. Prising my mouth from her I remembered myself.

“Estelle,” I croaked. “We can’t, not here.” I forced the words out and she froze as her senses returned.

Clearing her throat, she rearranged herself so she was decent but I kept her pinned on my lap.

“Still upset with me?” I asked as I waited for my raging hard on to subside so I could move.

She actully smiled for the first time this evening.

“Yes, but for a whole different reason.”

I kissed her gently this time, taking care not to get too carried away again.

“That’s something I can fix?” It was pretty clear what I was implying and I watched her chew on her lip, clearly very tempted but she obviously had more on her mind.

“Not if you are trying to distract me ?”

“The thought hadn’t even crossed my mind. What else do you want to know?”

“Ara. How big a problem is it?”

“Jackson won’t work with her, won’t trust her, expect he is getting ready to go home. She is lucky he didn’t murder her on the spot. I might need to ask your father to borrow a plane.”

“Why do you need a plane?” She asked.

“I need to go and challenge Prince Alonso, before he has too long to plan. I can’t see any advantage in waiting.”

I gently pulled her lip out from between her teeth before she chewed a hole in. Kissing it gently.

“What if I don’t want you to go”

“I don’t have a choice, we can wait here until they decide to attack or I can take the fight to them. It’s the only thing I don’t think they will expect.”

I could tell she agreed with me, even if she didn’t want to. I kind of understood why she had left Eclipse without telling me. There was a large part of me that didn’t want to leave her either. Could I wait here and take the chance that Prince Alonso came and didn’t survive?

I looked at that ugly red mark on her neck and I knew I couldn’t. I would rather die trying to free her than let her be someone else’s.

Estelle didn’t respond but she slipped her arms around my neck and nestled her head onto my chest. The princess in her knew surprise was my best shot but I guess as my mate she probably wanted to think differently.

“Okay, if you have to do this, we need to see the witches, there must be something they can do to protect you from him.”

“Okay but first, Titan wants to meet Raine.”

They might not get to do this again so I could give him this.

Estelle nodded and instantly shifted into a magnificent gold wolf. Fur the same colour as Greer but she towered over her. Taking a moment to caress her soft fur she nudged me with her velvety muzzle.

Titan appeared before her, pulling himself up to his full height he was taller than her. I shrank back in his mind and let him have control and he rubbed himself over all her.

“We don’t have long buddy.” I told him as he took of towards the moor. Finding the nearest sheltered area he wasted no time mating her. It was odd seeing him be so gentle with her though, his usually brute like strength softening when he teased her, letting her win each time.

I could tell they weren’t going to tire anytime soon so I made him return to the castle.

Shifting back Estelle was smiling. “She loves him.”

I hadn’t heard from Titan but seeing his behaviour I could tell the feeling was mutual. I took her hand and kissed it gently, pulling her into my arms.

“Good because they are stuck together forever now.” I whispered in her ear.I reluctantly let her go and hand in hand she led to a different part of the castle. Loletta busy hovering over a large cauldron in an impressive looking room.

“What’s this?” I said looking at the shimmering liquid inside.

“Alonso can control fire so we need to protect you from it, the problem is these potions are not very long lasting so this one.” She pointed into the cauldron. “Needs taken just before you challenge him or it will have worn off. Thankfully a small amount will do. Esme is getting what we need for a protection spell, and Ara has a really cool potion. It’s pretty much a universal antidote anything they give you won’t work, I think that’s what she said she was trying to make anyway. It might save your life if they try to kill you before you can challenge the Prince.”

I had never seen her so animated, maybe it was being around another powerful witches and the freedom to perform magic. They had never really had to hide over here.

Estelle wasn’t smiling however. “You are sure it’s safe for him to take all this?”

“I guess we will find out soon. Let me know when it’s ready.” I told Loletta, seeing her relax a little with my faith in her.

This time I took Estelle’s hand and led her back to her father office. The King looked worried as he sat at his desk but he quickly hid behind that mask of indifference that he normally wore.

“What can I do for you two?” He almost signed.

“I wondered if I could borrow a plane, I have a challenge to issue.” I get Estelle’s hand tighten on mine as I said the words.

The King looked at her for a moment before meeting my gaze.

“When do you wish us to leave?”

“The sooner the better? Wait us? Estelle should stay here, where she is safe.” I told him.

“Estelle will stay here.” He said simply as he stood to leave. “But you need a second for a challenge like this.”

The King was offering to be my second.

“No, your majesty, I can’t. Your Kingdom. And I need you to protect her, if it all goes wrong.”

“How do you propose to leave if he fights dirty? What if he uses you to lure Estelle back to Abaddon?”

“You think he won’t follow the rules?” If a challenger is successful then they are to be granted free passage to leave. The King didn’t shake his head but he was worried. “Then leave me there.”

“You still can’t go alone.” The King said.

“Take Peter.” Estelle rushed. “If you can’t convince Jackson to help, take him as your second.”

There was a knock at the door and Jackson waked in, looking stressed. “Greer has left Eclipse, Luke doesn’t know where they have gone.”

“They?”

“Her and Iris. They told Thea they had a hunch and took a plane without telling anyone.”

“You are tracking it ?”

“Disabled, I would swear they were coming here but they disabled it mid air and it wasn’t heading in this direction.”

“Look Jackson, I don’t need a second, I wouldn’t let you get hurt anyway, but I can’t help you find her right now, I’ve got problems of my own.”

“I know. Take Peter, it’s better than having no one. Oliver and Ashton are on their way here, so I guess you can have one of those if are willing to wait.”

I decided not to argue, and if I waited any longer then Ashton would insist on coming with me. I was strangely okay with the possibly me not surviving but it didn’t sit right that Felicity or Greer would lose their mates. At least taking Peter with me meant he was away from Estelle. It would be a good test of his loyalty to me as well, not that I had any intention of actually relying on him.

Not long later I found myself saying goodbye at the stairs of the plane.

The King wished me luck once the witches finished chanting their protection spell. He was going to work on stopping King Adalfundis. He had shown me what sort of amulet to look out for. You know, just on the of chance I didn’t get myself killed maybe I could steal it from him. I didn’t know if knew something I didn’t because he had a surprising amount of faith that I would be seeing him again.

“No matter what, don’t take her there. Let him come to you.” I told him before he left.

Jackson had left the area as soon as Ara turned up. He was waiting here until Oliver and Ashton arrived before they went to find Iris and Greer. In the hope that but then they would have some clue as to where they were. Felicity was concreting in her connection with them so see if she could find them.

Loletta passed me my potions with instructions on when to use them. Peter was handed a few of his own from Esme. Ara stood quietly watching. I didn’t know if I was a fool for taking her potion but I couldn’t see how taking me out helped her in anyway so it was a gamble I was going to take. Hers I was to take as soon as I got there.

Finally I took Estelle in my arms and kissed her for what I hoped wasn’t the last time.

“Don’t. Don’t kiss me like it’s the last time. You better come back.” She must have felt something in my kiss so I kissed her again. Hoping this one held my promise not to let her down.

“I’ll come back.” I told her, with confidence I didn’t really feel but knew she needed me to have.

“I love you Leighton.” She whispered as she leant in for another kiss. I lifted her up this time, savouring every taste of her, just in case, before placing her down gently. I needed to walk away before she came up with another plan and right now I would have agreed to anything that kept me with her.

“I love you princess. I’ll see you soon.”

I underestimated how hard it would be to walk up those steps.

“This Prince needs to die.” Titan growled in my head.

His anger fed my resolve. I needed to sort this.

Sitting myself down we took of and there was a comfortable silence until Peter spoke.

“Do you care to tell me the plan?”

“There is no plan. We arrive, challenge the Prince. Hopefully I win and we leave. If we happen to see this amulet thing grab it on the way.”

“Stealing from the King will negate your right to safe passage.”

I groaned. “Tell me the rules again.”

“The offender has to grant you safe passage from the moment you issue the challenge until the challenge is complete. In the event you are killed your second can continue to fight in your place. However both seconds have to be accepted at the start of the fight. If one is rejected then the other is not allowed.”

“Would he fear you, is there any reason he would reject you?” I asked.

“I can’t think so, I imagine he will feel pretty confident when we show up. There are only a few rules once the challenge starts. Stay in the allocated area. No outside interference. So the Prince is free to use his gift on you.”

I really hoped the potion I had would protect me from that.

“While they probably knew you could do this I doubt they think you would be brave enough. This is as unprepared as you will probably find the Prince. Make sure you don’t eat or drink anything when we arrive. I expect he will delay starting this as long as possible.”

“How do we speed things up?”

“Might be a good idea to go snooping. You are safe until the challenge starts. Technically.”

I didn’t like the sound of that.

“Just because they can’t touch you doesn’t mean they can’t use someone else to poison you or something. They will assign us somewhere to wait while the officially accept. The safest thing to do would be wait there but if we go snooping it might speed them up. I’m sure they have lots of secrets they don’t want us to know.”

“They can’t just kill you?”

“No once you announce me as your second I’m also safe, even if they reject me I have the right to safe passage. King Adalfundis might be a sly old tyrant but he will respect the rules of a challenge, but I wouldn’t trust him not to bend them to the best of his ability.”

I saw the castle, now of my nightmares, coming into view. Looks like it was nearly show time. I looked at my instructions, downing Ara’s portion. It was the most disgusting thing I had ever tasted.

I felt strangely calm about the whole situation. It was possibly Titan unwavering faith in himself.

“I’m getting our mate back, properly this time.”