I Will Save You, My Princess

"Seduce Him"

Rhiannon

"Do you trust her?" I asked Luca after Esme disappeared from view. I was still standing much too close to Luca, but I didn't want to move away from him. Even though Esme was gone, I had a primitive urge to stake my claim. He was mine and I wanted to be close enough to feel the warmth radiating from his skin.

Luca sighed. He wrapped his arm around my waist, a seemingly absent movement. "I don't know. I think so. She's always wanted to be Luna of Bloodwater more than anything."

"Wanted to be Luna, or wanted to be your Luna?" I quipped, but my obvious jealousy made my face burn red. His promise to return to Bloodwater for Emse had stung. I knew they had a history--that they were engaged--but I didn't know what Luca's feelings for her had been.

Had he loved her? What had he picture their future to be? A happy marriage? Kids?

The thought of him having kids with someone else actually made me feel sick to my stomach. I knew I was acting like a stereotypical jealous she-wolf. But maybe I was a stereotypical jealous she-wolf. All I knew was that I wanted Luca as far away as Esme--or any other woman--as possible.

Luca studied me, clearly not sure how to answer my question. I got the sense he wanted to reassure me, but he knew I wouldn't like the truth.

"Never mind," I said quickly, suddenly not wanting to hear him say anything about her at all.

Luca looked amused; damn him. He leaned down and pressed a kiss on my hair. "We'll spend the night here," he said instead of commenting on my behavior, "We'll go to Moonstone in the morning. They'll keep you protected and arrange transportation back to the capital."

"Will you be coming to the capital with me?" I couldn't help but ask. The way he phrased it made it seem ambiguous.

"I'm at your service, my princess," he inclined his head. It was a very neutral answer and gave me no sense of what he wanted. Was he going to drop me off at Moonstone and run straight back to kill his father and be with Esme? Would he come all the way to the capital if I asked him?

We were still standing close, his arm still around me. I didn't want him to leave me in Moonstone. I didn't want him to leave me ever.

Just of the thought of him leaving me threw a spike of fear in my chest. I didn't mean to get so involved with him, so entangled, but now I knew I'd never be the same if he left.

I did the only thing I could think to do.

I kissed him. He clutched at me like he needed me, like how I needed him.

He growled into the kiss, his tongue entering my mouth. Goddess, he tasted good. I pulled myself closer to him, my arms going around his neck and my fingers curling in his hair.

When he kissed me, I felt my doubts fade away. The mate bond between us was strong. When he kissed me, I felt like things could turn out all right.

He ground his hips into me and I moaned in pleasure, but he jolted back and let go of me.

I stood, frozen, staring at him, rejection hitting me like a fist to the gut. Keia urged me to return to his arms. I stood my ground against her pleas.

Luca ran a finger through his hair. "I'm going to start the food," he said rigidly, not meeting my eyes.

"I'll help," I offered, not sure what else to say.

"No!" he said quickly. "Let me do this for you."

"Okay," I kicked at the ground, not sure what to do with myself all of a sudden.

Luca returned to where he'd laid out wood for a fire. I sat down on a rock and looked down at the rippling water of the spring. It was idyllic here. If only we could stay. If only we were a normal wolf couple in love. We could swim together in the spring, splashing and laughing, and maybe even f**k in the water.

I knew it was crazy, but I wanted s*x with him again. I was craving it, and Keia wasn't helping. Despite what Bane did to me, I wanted to feel good in Luca's arms again. What Bane did wasn't s*x, it was violence. It wasn't the same thing as what Luca made me feel. I wanted to feel that with him again.

Since I'd kissed him, I'd become incredibly horny, something I honestly had never experienced before. It was like an itch deep inside of me, one that I desperately needed to be scratched.

I wondered why Luca pulled away so suddenly. Was it really because he didn't want me anymore, after what happened? I couldn't figure out any other reason he would go from being tender with me to avoiding me completely.

He loves you, Keia assured me. Alaric knows it. Go to him, she urged. Seduce him. He wants you too.

He's not making that obvious, I replied bitterly.

He's worried about you. Alaric is talking to him. Keia's voice glowed when she spoke of Alaric. I wish I could have something that pure with Luca.

You will, Keia reassured me. He will be your king. You just have to make it through this.

I wanted him. I wanted him so badly it hurt to be a few feet away from him.

Then to get him, Keia told me.

Maybe I would.