Ink

Chapter 13

"When did this happen?" Klaus growls into my neck, his smooth skin causing a shiver to run down my spine.

"Only hours ago."

He inhales the mark once again."It smells fresh. That bästard is trying to claim you?"

I nod before placing my hands on his chest attempting to create distance between the two of us despite my body's protests. He doesn't move.

"Why?" His voice is lower now and his mouth hovers above my own.

"He wants me as his queen." Klaus's eyes widen slightly at that."He felt forced to mark me because-"I gasp when Klaus's body pressed into mine, our beings molding together against the wooden fire place.

"Because, why?"

"If you'd let me finish!" I whisper yell in annoyance. I take his quietness as a signal to continue. "He felt threatened by you Klaus. Your own power rivals his, even though he cannot sense you, he is subconsciously aware that you are a threat."

"You're saying that I'm more powerful than the soon to be king?"Klaus chuckles darkly and presses his forehead against mine."I like that he fears me,"His tone is dangerous."I can't wait to see the look in his eyes when I-"

"Klaus-" His now glowing eyes lower to meet mine and I know that he has, again, been put under the spell that's bound us together under our circumstances.

"I think I'd make a great King, don't you?" When I don't respond he puts his head in my neck once again and nips at the nape."Maybe I'd mark you like this." His hands lower, and now rest just above my hips."I would make you my queen, Alliana." My eyes widen in concern, and I know that we cannot afford to waste time like this.

No matter how tempting it was.

"Klaus."I say as firmly as I can. He trails the tip of his nose from my neck's nape to underneath my jawline.

"Yes?"

"We really should be going." I choke out with the feeling of his delicate touch against me.

"Going where?"

"The coronation."

"Fück the coronation." He growls and grips me closer.

"That's exactly right, but, we still have to attend  in order to prevent Mephistor from becoming suspicious."

"I could care less about his suspicion."

"You're acting like a child." He begins to laugh, and the vibrations echo in my own body.

My brow furrows as I absorb the information around me. I knew that we both felt whatever bond was attaching us strongly, but, it almost seemed like he was put under a trance. Lust and anger cloud his eyes, as well as love swirling around his green vortexes, and, here I was pressed between this mindless man and a fire place.

"Klaus-"

"Mmm." He hums against my jaw line.

"Klaus!" I say loud and more assertively, but still earn no response from the man in front of me. I suddenly raise my hand and do the one thing that I think will work.

A loud slap echoes throughout the room and Klaus suddenly shakes himself out of his trance.

"Alliana,"He begins ."Did you just-"

"You can thank me later." I say and pull his hand towards the grand office doors.

"You hit me!" His normal tone resumes as he allows me to drag him out of his office and into the corridor. I press the button to open the elevator and allow his hand to drop from my own. His deep laugh causes my insides to clench. "You hit me."

I smile to myself and enter with Klaus trailing behind me.

"So, what is the plan?" He asks nonchalantly. My eyes widen and I point to the camera hidden on the floor of the elevator.

"Alliana, you see that the red light isn't blinking?" He says and I observe the camera closer to see that it isn't on."All castle staff are at the coronation, the only guards that are present at the moment are watching the perimeter of the castle. Everyone that works under the king has had extensive background checks and their loyalty is unquestionable," I look up at him.

"Apparently there are some flaws in their system."

"Of course, fortunately those flaws happen to work in our favor." He looks at the watch on his wrist. "We still have fifteen minutes before we are tardy. That's plenty of time to formulate a plan."

"That's the thing-" He raises an eyebrow."I already have one."

"Well?" He asks.

"We are going to go to the coronation and take our seats close enough so that we can easily reunite, and far enough so that Mephistor cannot sense you near me." He nods." After the coronation we are going to have to leave as quickly as we can in order to avoid a run in with the new king. Mr. Burke has programmed-"

"Mr. Burke?" He raises an eyebrow. I mentally face palm. I knew I had forgotten to mention something.

"I'll explain that later." I say, a small smirk hinting at my lips. "He programmed his car to bring us to a location that isn't easily identifiable. There we wait out until midnight and the bond between us caused by this mark is broken."

He puts a hand back and leans against the railing of the elevator absorbing everything I just told him.

"Klaus." His eyes meet mine and I briefly register the determination in them."You don't have to do this if you don't want to."

"What do you mean?" Concern is obvious in his tone.

"I'm not going to force you to risk your life for me." I begin." I could attempt to carry out the plan by myself and hide away until tomorrow-"

"And then what? You come back you the castle and resume work as normal?" He scoffs."You are going to Illion with him in a week! You're life won't go back to normal after denying the most powerful man in the world of what he wants, and you just want to go through that alone?" He looks at me fiercely."I'm not going to let you do that." He pushes of the elevator and closes the distance between us."I'm going to help you."

My mind is running a mile a minute with emotions that I'm not sure I've ever felt before. I lock eyes with him and nod.

"Together?"

"Together."

The elevator doors open seconds later. We both turn to each other and exchange a nod before stepping out and into the corridor.
~