Kaal

Chapter 4

The half hour Kaal's match had asked for was well worth the strain on his patience. She sat with him at the head of their table in the great hall, resting comfortably on his thigh and beaming out at his soldiers as they rambunctiously devoured the food she prepared. The smile she wore lit up the room much better than the magelight chandeliers above them. His chest puffed on its own accord, proud his match had made such a fine impression with his men.

Ella preened under all the praise, she could not remember ever feeling happier. Her Lord was eating well and happy, reclining behind her, a possessive hand resting casually on her hip. As he ate, he would lift small mouthfuls of his meal to her, often stroking her hair and watching her expression as she chewed. Kaal was attentive to her expressions as she tried the different foods. Easily giving her more of what she liked and skipping on most of the sweets, which she seemed to turn her nose at.

Ella did her part and obediently sat on her Lord's lap, the perfect picture of demure, innocent, and sweet. Her cheeks were sore and beginning to cramp from the amount of smiles she gave out. Conversation flowed easily around her, everyone was at ease when surrounded by good company and even better food. Though she had spoken to few since her arrival, she already felt a strong sense of companionship with those around her. She felt at home within these walls. Everyone had done their best to help her while Kaal slept. The care she had been given in her dark times was something she would never forget. The maids that silently helped her stay clean and watered during those six hellish days, the guards that kept a constant eye and gave stern looks to those that had the potential for intrusion, the soldiers who lifted her spirits and gave her hope, as well as a task to busy her idle mind. She was indebted to them all.

She turned to gaze at her beastly man, placing a warm kiss on his bearded cheek. He smiled in return and returned her affection with his lips on her forehead. Both members of the pairing were unaware of the many eyes that watched them, staring on in amazement at the sight of their gruff Lord smiling softly and treating his female with such tender care. The sight had a fair few unmatched lycan men longing to seek their other half. Kaal and Ella made an interesting pair. One so rugged and hard, the other so delicate and soft. And yet, in spite of their differences, no one had ever seen a pair that held more love. Unbenounced to them, they were quickly becoming the focus of much admiration and lighthearted envy. Though jealousy was detectable throughout the crowd, the happiness they bore in their hearts could be shadowed by no negative emotion.

One man, however, stood apart from the crowd. His expression was one of contempt and deep disquiet. He shared none of the happiness his compatriots were so happy to exude. They had all seemed to forget the fact that this woman was human. She could very well be a spy, he reasoned. Someone sent to gather information, infiltrate their ranks, destroy them from the inside. He was sure that his Lord would be blind to her faults. That was a large part of the matching, accepting all flaws without question. It was also a large part of the matching to protect your other half at all costs. No matter their misdeeds or plottings. If this Maiden was indeed an enemy of his people, it was likely that nothing could be done until it was too late. Unless he could stop this now, before they had completed a bond.

"From which family do you hail, Lady Maiden?" He asked boldly, invoking a tense hush to befall the table. The atmosphere suddenly took a sharp turn as people began to focus their attentions in his desired direction. Negativity quickly overtook the previous easy atmosphere. People spoke in hushed voices, casting now suspicious glances towards the confused Maiden. The man was right to question her heritage. Even if she was truly the tender soul she portrayed, a high ranking family could easily rain down destruction upon their unsuspecting heads. And in the worst case, she could be the one to bring that destruction about herself.

Kaal visibly tensed, this was exactly the kind of conversation he had hoped to avoid for the first few nights. He had hoped his people would have the patience and foresight to wait for the ceremony. All would easily be reviled then, and no one would need to question his lordly judgement. He would know everything about her, and she, him. As part of the ceremony he was required to bite her, sealing their bond with blood and a promise. This gave him unfettered access to her mind. He would know her past as though it were his own. Any human loyalties would be dealt with swiftly and harshly. He would drive them out and make her forget they even existed, filling her mind with only thoughts of him. He kept a stoic facade as his beast rumbled and tossed in his mind, excited and impatient at the thought of becoming one with their Maiden and making her lose her mind on their cock. The thought alone of sinking his teeth into her was enough to make him rigid in his pants. He tightened his grip on her hip as he felt her turn away from him slightly, shifting the taunt fabric to slide along his cock teasingly.