Protect My Love ~ Book 4 ~ The Royal Blood Collection

Chapter 12

Merrick was in a right foul mood as we walked back to the village. It was just a few steps up the path but it was enough.

The alphas didn't move beyond the wall of water, they had no idea we were in there. Merrick watched as they walked away through the inlet and then decided that we were leaving.

His problem was that I was in danger. He'd done the one thing that he'd always vowed never to do. He let his feelings get in the way of his duty.

I'd tried to reason with him on the way back but that earned me a mighty glowering and the hushed words to remain quiet because there might be more alphas in the area around us.

One of the Kronthelm guards emerged from the main hut, walking down the path towards us.

"Hirioakan," Merrick said as he pointed to the path.

The guard lowered his spear, saying something to Merrick.

"Gone,"

That seemed to make the guard relax a little. He gave a firm nod and then turned back to the hut. As we entered our hut, several Kronthelm made a hasty path to the lagoon.

Muted light shone through the small gap in the peak of the roof, shining down over the pacing vampire.

"I have no words."

"I'm pretty sure that's not true." I offered, lacing up the door straps.

"When contact with His Highness is established, I will say something."

"You will do no such thing."

I turned around with seething anger, Merrick was taken aback.

"My personal life is none of his business."

"But I failed in my duty to him."

"You will not discuss our private life with my damned uncle."

"My duty was to protect you, to keep you free from danger."

"Stop," I said, dumping my things. "There is no way that Alaric would have told you to keep me away from danger. That's impossible in this place. As for your mission which is to protect me, you did that. I don't want to talk about this anymore, I'm tired and the more you talk about it, the more you're going to piss me off. Trust me when I say that you do not want that to happen. The lake, what you saw, that's nothing. That's just measly fear, it's mild in comparison to anger."

He looked at me curiously and I shrugged. What could I say? How much had he seen? Merrick said that he knew but every time I showed the inner creature, he looked shocked.

"Have you heard of the divisional combat trials?"

"Yeah, thought about trying out for them but someone said not to bother, that a freak kept winning,"

He paused and looked at me.

"Yes Merrick, you're looking at her. When I was ten, I entered each of them because my parents thought that I needed an outlet. I didn't match the lowest weight range so, I went against the fifteen year old boys. I had them crying, begging for mercy. So, the next year they pitted me against grown men because no one in the lowest weight range would go against me. Men that matched you for stature. I have done that since the age of eleven and yes, I won each trial in the heavyweight range for each of those years. Do you know how I did it?"

Merrick shook his head but I think that he knew the truth, he just couldn't accept it.

"Anger. I let the creature take hold. I find all the things that make me angry and I concentrate so hard that it consumes me. So, trust me when I say that you don't want to make me angry. Accept that it happened, accept that you can't change it and accept that you will not tell anyone about it. Is that clear?"

I sat down on the bed that was hard as a rock because it was a rock, I looked up at Merrick. He still wouldn't accept it. The vampire was certainly brave.

"You don't have the authority to demand that."

"Pretty sure I do."

Merrick shot me a challenging look as he dropped his clothes on his bags.

"What makes you think that?"

"Had a chat with Petersen when you went on a bathroom break in the jungle. It was an enlightening conversation. Did you know that the royal family outranks the entire military?"

His lips twitched as his eyes narrowed.

"None of that soldier. Get down here and make your promises to me."

Merrick dropped to his knees, then lowered to his hands, crawling to me. Leaning in, he tried to steal a kiss. I pressed my finger to his lips, stopping him.

"I need to hear it."

My finger moved away from the lips that offered a devilish smirk. He was so sinful, too decadent for this girl.

"I promise that I will not tell anyone that my horniness almost cost us our lives."

"Good. Got any more of that horniness?"

He nodded, still grinning at me. I giggled when he leaned in and took that kiss.

"Still not happy." He murmured in the embrace.

"Don't care."

Lifting the shirt from his body was a truly wonderful thing to do. I got to look at the gorgeous body up close, to kiss the warm skin, to reach out and bring him closer.

We lowered to the bed, kissing as our hands explored, slowly divesting of our clothes. The lagoon had been a hurried encounter but this was a languid pace, taking our time to explore and enjoy.

When I looked up at Merrick, I could see someone that was always going to drive me crazy but I knew that was not such a bad thing. Dad said that my mother always drove him crazy yet he adored her. He loved her and always would. I wanted a love like that. Someone that was my equal in life and knew me better than I knew myself.

Would I get that with Merrick? I had no idea but I hoped that I would.