Fated - Book 1 (Completed)

Chapter 13

The cool sheets wrapped around me lazily as I rolled my arms up into the air and stretched my toes in the opposite direction. I felt every possible muscle stretch. My whole body was riddled with pain; my joints were stiff and aching as my muscles pulled and cried. It felt as if I was thrown off a horse and rolled down a cliff, hitting every rock as I fell.My aching body recoiled as I twisted in the bed. The scents around me were a mix of spices—sweet and bitter. The breeze rolling in was cool. I turned automatically to find the warm body of my husband; instead, I felt nothing but cold air."You're awake."His familiar, groggy voice made my eyes shoot open. Staring down at me were bright hazel eyes. Novus, the elven king, was standing there with his hands stuffed into his pants pockets, his pink lips curled into a small smile.I laid there frozen; the man was dressed in his full riding gear, a pair of tight grey pants, and a tight bone white shirt that hugged his body perfectly, so we didn't share the bed, but why was he here? Where was here exactly?"Novus?"His name rolled off my lips with a slight groan as I pulled my aching body up. Tears started to form in my eyes as I was finally sitting up. I was wearing a large cotton shirt that had Artemis' light musky scent."Slowly, my love, your body will be in some pain after what it's been through."My eyes rolled off his face as I studied the new room. The stone walls were familiar, but the white bedding and curtains dangling from the ceiling weren't. I felt relief, as I knew I wasn't in the elven kingdom at the moment.The curtains dangling from the ceiling seemed to be makeshift walls. I couldn't see beyond the thick material, but I could hear light shuffling beyond them. The walls told me I was still within the warm embrace of the dragon's castle.A warm finger traced my cheek, sending a warm sensation through my body—a familiar comforting feeling that the elf gave me. My cheeks flushed at the familiar sensation that the man caused within my body."You've been asleep for a week; I have been sick with worry."The man gracefully slipped onto the bed while his fingers lightly traced my lips. Fingers ran down my left shoulder, then to white cotton bandages that started below my elbow and ended around my fingers."What happened?"I muttered the words; my mind was fogged over, and my memories eluded me."Dragon's flame."His voice was drained; it was a raw whisper. The sound of him made my eyes dart from the hand on mine to his bright blue eyes. Artemis stood there, parting the curtains lazily with his hand. Something was wrong as he stood there watching me."Artemis."The weight on the bed shifted as Novus stood up. They both nodded at one another, a forced form of respect and greeting from both men. Besides their titles, they were the same ages: Novus became king after his father's death, while Artemis was waiting for his father to step down."Novus."My husband took heavy steps as he made his way to the opposite side of the bed where I was sitting. The strong scent of them both made my thighs tighten, a place where I had felt both of them. I sat there between their rage and animosity. I should have felt fear, but all I felt was confusion between them as my body craved them.I looked up at their faces; both had striking appearances, and both were prime representatives of their species. My eyes danced between them, neither looking down at me only glaring at one another."Let the woman rest, you two."My eyes landed on Aziel, who was standing at the foot of my bed. His now-golden eyes were locked on me, with his lips curled into a bright grin. The sight of the strange man made me smile. My chest eased as the two men on either side of me eased and turned their attention to the new being."Welcome back to the land of the wake, my lady; your prince has been a wreck."He let out a heavy sigh, his heavy lids pulled down, and they suddenly shot up to show off his now grey eyes."Now that you're awake, hopefully, he will get some rest."Aziel's grin faded into a weak smile; he looked exhausted. It only added to my current confusion. The last thing I could remember was watching Artemis fly off with Neim. I don't remember our ride back or what happened to cause me to sleep for a week."What happened?"It was all I could muster up; even as I sat there, my body could only muster up those words."Ask him."Novus, I turned to look over at him; his words were hissed, and his usually warm hazel eyes were glowing with rage as his emotion turned into magic fighting to escape his body. He was biting his inner cheek to keep his feelings and words in check.My eyes darted to Artemis; his eyes too were glowing now; they had a feral rage behind them; he never looked at me; instead, he darted his attention to Aziel; his voice was holding down a growl as he spoke towards his general."There is no need for Novus to be here; get him out."With that one order, he turned without looking down at me and vanished behind the white curtains that acted as walls. I watched the space where he vanished. I felt a strange sense of nausea as I looked back at Aziel for answers, but all he did was straighten up and lock his eyes on Novus."Get some rest, my dear."Warm lips pressed against my cheek and slowly pulled away. Aziel's eyes melted into their bright gold as he eyed the king. Novus turned to Aziel and made his way out between the dangling sheets. He was closely followed by Aziel. I was left alone in bed, ever more confused as to what had happened to me."What happened?"It took me almost the whole morning to finally get my maidens to walk me back to my room; it took the rest of the day to make the short walk. Every step I took felt as if every nerve in my body was being pulled on and set on fire.I was finally placed in bed by the time it was dinner within the castle walls. With my body aching, I laid on his pillow, staring at the silver platter that one of the kitchen staff brought for me. The smell was tantalising, but I felt too weak to even sit up and try to eat the warm food."I don't give a fuck; find him."His voice vibrated through the room, soon followed by the sound of him slamming the heavy door. Even the steps he took were riddled with anger. Artemis suddenly filled my view as he marched past me. Something blue danced off his fingers as he flexed his hand out from a tight fist.The man rushed past me; I wasn't even sure if he noticed me as he vanished through the archway that led to his study. I watched the space for a few more seconds before pulling my eyes shut. I still felt empty from not getting answers."You should be in the infirmary with the healers watching you every hour of the day."My eyes shot up to find his bright eyes looking down at me. He stood in the archway, leaning back against the wall, watching me. His lips weren't curled and weren't their usual pale pink; he looked exhausted standing there. Aziel's words weren't a lie; the man watching me hand't been sleeping, and I could see it now."You look tired.""I am."He didn't skip a beat but kept his distance."Then get into bed and join me.""No."His eyes were still locked on me."Why not?"He twitched under my words, and his eyes widened slightly in response. Under the dim lights in the room, I could see stubble growing; he hadn't shaved in a while, and the bruises under his eyes indicated that he hadn't slept a good night's rest."I don't wish to touch you."His words stung. Not thinking, I pushed myself up to prepare for an argument, but I could only whimper as my body stung from the sudden movement. My breathing grew heavy as I sat there, trying to settle my spinning mind."Don't move too much."Warm hands hovered over me sightly and then pulled back; despite his weight and size, I didn't hear him cross the space between us. He shuffled on his toes before crouching beside me. His warm hands never touched me; they only settled on the bed near me."What happened?"My voice was a heavy whisper as I looked up at him. His eyes were soft now. His soft lips were so close that if I stretched, I could taste him, but I ached too much."Does it matter?""Yes, Artemis, I'm missing a week of my life, so it matters."As I grew angry, I felt physical pain and pulled back to whimper away from him."I burned you, then you slept for a week from the exhaustion of healing the wound."He muttered as he spoke, but then slowly it filled my mind. That horrible memory of him screaming my name startled me awake with a horrifying fright. I thought he was being attacked or harmed; instead, he was on the sofa in the library, sleeping."You were poisoned."The image of his purple lips reminded me of the false nightmare he was having from a toxin either in his drink or dusted over the glass that was on the floor with its contents spilt."I was, and you woke me from the nightmare."My eyes danced from his hands and up to his face. He did burn my arm, the part of me that was wrapped in thick cotton."How did a simple burn make me sleep for a whole week?"My chest pulled at the sight of tears in his eyes."Artemis?""Dragon's flame burns more than the flesh. Once someone has been burned, they have a short time before their bodies start to burn from the inside. It's a terrible death, but there are ways to stop it if you tend to it straight after it happens."Blue eyes danced around me, never landing on my face. I remember feeling cold while I was in his arms and having fuzzy voices around me. Before I knew anything else, my body burned. The pain took over quickly—a searing, white-hot pain that made my body contort and pull. It felt as if the contractions of my muscles were crushing my bones, and my skin felt slick as if it were melting off my body, exposing the sensitive muscles underneath.My body pulled back; I remember crying and screaming, and my throat ached from my cries. Tears swelled in my eyes as I looked at him."I harmed you; now if I touch you, I'm afraid I will hurt or remind you of the pain.""When last did you sleep?"His eyes landed on my face as his brows pulled into a deep frown."How long, my prince?""A week."My chest pulled tight at his words; he hasn't slept for a week due to me being too weak to withstand the flame."Get into bed now."I growled at him, despite the pain in my body. His lips twitched slightly as he fought down a smile."I'm in the middle of an investigation; I can't.""Prince Artemis, you will get your ass into this bed and hold your wife while you sleep!"He gave in to his urge and smiled at me as I raised my voice. My breathing was slightly hitched, but I held it together as I stared the man down."You're too weak to fight me on this. Go back to sleep; I'll join you later."He pushed himself up and hurriedly spun around to vanish back into his study. My anger fuelled my body with raw energy as I threw the sheets off my body so that I could slide off the bed. The pain washed over me the moment I stood up."Get back into that bed."His sudden voice made me wobble back, forcing me to fall to the bed with a cry."Can you, for once, take my orders seriously and just stay in bed?"His footsteps were heavy this time as he made his way to me again. This time, his hands glided over my body, making the searing pain ease as he guided me back into bed."No, No."I whined as I grabbed one of his hands. I felt at ease under his warmth. I pulled his hand to my chest and hugged it to drink in his natural heat. A sigh rolled off my lips as my aching body eased."I need my hand, Aurora."He gently tugged. But I clung onto him with the little strength I had; he stopped and didn't bother to fight me. His weight shifted as he took a seat on the bed beside me."Don't go; your heat helps with the pain."I pulled myself back up with a groan. I have never felt this type of pain, and I have fallen off a cliff and broken both of my legs, but this pain was different; it was hurting me to my very essence."Princess."His voice was a heavy whisper; he was falling back, trying to pull away from me without harming me in any way."Stay, please, my dragon."The words left my lips with a slight sigh. His cheeks flushed a slight pink as he looked at me. I have never muttered those words out loud; I only called him my dragon in my thoughts. He stopped his tug on his arm and eased in my grip; his temperature picked up slightly."Alright, but I need my arm so that I can get undressed."Reluctantly, I released him. I sat there and watched as my husband stripped. He pulled his cotton shirt off over his head and dropped it on a nearby couch, where his red and gold coat sat lazily. The movements he made were making my inner thighs ache.His fingers tugged on his belt roughly, and his blue eyes were suddenly locked on me."No princess."My eyes shot up from his hips to land on his cold eyes."No what?"My growing excitement washed over me, making me blush. I wanted him. My body was missing the touch of the man, and there he stood, telling me no."No, we will not make love; all I'm going to do is hold you to help with your pain, nothing else."He growled as he worked his belt off; the leather snapped in the air as he pulled it out from its home around his waist. My eyes danced down his body; his curved body made my aching body shiver with excitement.He had those lines that made any rational woman turn into putty—the lines that trailed over his hips and pointed at his erect member—the view of the lump made me smile."I think you need to tell yourself that, my lord."He wasn't looking at me now when my eyes darted up to look at his face; his cheeks were slightly blushed with light pink. He was trying to focus on the view beyond the balcony, but it wasn't helping as he drew in a sharp breath between his teeth."It's been a week."He ran both hands through his hair when he turned his dark gaze onto me."I haven't touched you in a week; I told myself I had no right to pleasure, even at my own hand.""Well, I'm awake now, and my lord and I will happily make up the time we have lost."One of his large hands gently squeezed at the bulge hidden in his pants, making me feel a rush of jealousy."I am not touching you, not after what I did."Another sharp breath was drawn in through his teeth as he tried to calm down his desires."But my lord, I'm fine; I'm awake, and I need you; clearly, you want me."My body pulled forward as I pushed myself onto my knees to bounce on the bed slightly. Despite the pain, the idea of him making me moan was pushing it away. The thought of his tongue, fingers, and growing bulge in me made the pain melt away.He kept his distance from me as he started to pace the length of our room. My eyes followed him as his hands ran through his hair. His pants had dropped, exposing more of his curved muscles.His back was sculpted and riddled with more scars; I could see them even under the dim light of the burning nearby fire. I could see the dimples etched in his lower back; my fingers itched to trace them, but he was keeping his distance."You don't have to touch me."What a lie! I could see him holding back a chuckle as he turned to face me again, his arms locked over his chest."How do you suppose I do that? Last time I checked, you enjoyed my fingers over your body."He wasn't wrong. I enjoyed the sensation of his fingertips dancing up, down, and inside my body. I pursed my lips in thought. I tried to ride him once, but he flipped us around so that his fingers could pull hard on my hair."Alright, as part of further punishment for harming you, this one time, and this one time only."My eyes shot up from the dim light of the fire to his cold face. His footsteps were heavy as he crossed the gap between us. I watched as he pulled open the drawer that was attached to his bedside table.Metal chains sang as he pulled out my set of leather cuffs. My brows pulled in as I felt confused at what he was getting at—how is tying my hands up punishment for him? The moment he tied me with those for the first time, his erection grew instantly."This one time and one time only, princess, I want you to tie my hands to the bed so that I can't touch you."My heart fluttered with excitement at his words. His eyes were cold as he looked at me, and I nodded with excitement, agreeing to his condition."But I'm not allowed to touch you."My excitement jumped slightly as he growled once more. He bent down slowly as his hands glided along the silk bed on either side of me. His eyes darkened as he hovered inches away from me."I give you this one time only to touch me in any way you want, my princess."