Intertwined: her three mates

28. Protection

Liv

My mom and I went to Avalon's office to ask him if his enforcers and security wizards had any clue of who inside the castle helped to abduct Lea. We were both really worried. It sucks that the little one isn't safe in her own freaking house.

Well, even though it wasn't our place of choice, to begin with, this castle is somehow our house. We haven't gone back to our cottage anyway. It was easier to meet my mates here, it also had much more space and Lea went to school here, together with the other few children in the Realm. There are a very little number of children around.

Supernatural beings can only procreate with their mates and since finding mates lately was harder than finding a virgin adult Nympho (except if you are me, apparently), not many children were born in the last couple of centuries. Anyway, we just got used to living here, despite the lack of a true homey feeling.

“You haven't found anything?” mom asked softly, but I can hear the worry in her voice.

“Unfortunately, not. But I will designate an enforcer to be always around Lea, she will be safe.” Avalon says.

“How creep it would be for a little child to be followed by a shadow thug everywhere?! That is just a very bad idea. Just find the mole, the snitcher.” I say. They just could do much better for the general safety of this place. How could they let the werewolves just get inside the Realm and take a child, without anyone noticing? “That was a big breach in security, you should….”

Avalon flashed me an ice-burning look, “You are not to tell me how to rule my Realm.”

Mom's eyes went wide. I think she hasn't seen him this pissed often. Well, no biggie for me.

“Honey, they are trying.” She reasons to appease me, as she puts a gentle hand on my shoulder.

“Yeah… I mean, they should have something right now… it's being almost a month.” I retort.

“Mel, please leave us alone, and don't worry, I will take all the necessary measures to protect Lea.” He says without taking his eyes off me. My mom just sighs, pats my shoulder, and leaves.

“Little mate! Don't ever challenge me like this again.” He states stalking in my direction.

I sigh, trying to gather the patience that I don't have and control my non-filter mouth, yeah, even I know that sometimes I lose many opportunities to keep my mouth shut. But what would be the fun of it?

Avalon puts a hand down my chin tilting it more up than necessary.

“Why not? I suppose to be your mate, your equal.” I retort. I can see his eyes turning grey and what I learn about his eyes is that grey is not good, he is mad. His jaw is also tense, and his teeth are clenched.

“You are not my equal. You are a spoiled and cheeky little thing, that needs to be put in her place. I am a King.” He says, smugness shinning in his grey eyes.

“Well, you need to be put on your place too, and hear stuff that people don't tell you because of your stupid crown.” I snap back.

“You should be careful with what you say, Livia!” He warns. His face is so tense, if I were Cali, I would be freaking out big time, luckily that I am not.

“Or what?” I couldn´t keep it shut. It is stronger than me. Damnit! There is something inside me that doesn't allow me to take bull, doesn't matter if by not taking it I will get in trouble.

“If you continue to be so mouthy and sassy, I’ll punish this plump mouth of yours yet again.” He says, putting some distance between us as his menacing look penetrates my eyes, like a dagger.

I look at him defiantly and do the mature thing, showing him my tongue. In a swift movement, he takes my tongue into his mouth in a rough kiss, nips, and sucks my bottom lip and my tongue hardly, making me moan. Well, that was no incentive for me to be less sassy. Actually, it worked the other way around. Since I wouldn't bother to be punished with a rough kiss again, but I won’t admit it to my already too conceited mate. If there is someone who doesn't need a stroke in his ego, that is him.

He parts the kiss and I pant. That was… wow!

I look back at him, a softer shade of green lights his eyes, apparently this rough kiss calmed him down. Then he buries his face on my neck scenting me. I heard that mates do it to calm themselves down, maybe I can try doing it one day. After a couple of minutes inhaling me like I am a drug, his pale green eyes look back at me, just a tiny hint of grey could be seeing on them.

“I will put a protection spell on Lea.” He states. I nod, that is much smarter than the thug thing. “and also, on you.” he adds.

“On me? Why?”

“You are a hybrid Livia, as Laius said, that makes you a target. Besides that, your mating situation also endangers you.” He reasons, his voice is much calmer now.

“But I can protect myself,” I argue.

He sighs and a hint of grey grows in his eyes again. “It is for your protection. You are my mate and my subject, and it is my duty to protect you. There won't be any discussion about it.” He says with a semi-frown.

I huff, “fine, put me under a useless protection spell.”

Avalon narrows his eyes at me but ignores my remark. He collects some runes on his drawer places them around me, closes his eyes, and starts to chant, soon a blue and a white light surrounds me, and I can feel the power throbbing against my skin and entering my veins. It felt good, it felt so warm, it was like a pulse of his energy was wrapped around me, inside me. Heck, how can a protection spell make me… I shake my head to clear my mind, closing my eyes as I breathe deeply, letting the light blow in my lungs. When I open my eyes, the lights have faded, and the runes are not shinning anymore.

This spell feels so good, I feel a bit high. “thanks” I mutter in my numbness.

He holds both of my shoulders firmly but gently and flashes me a smile, a smile without any sign of smugness. I couldn´t avoid smiling back. Maybe he could feel it too, the connection the spell draw between us, as he shared his magic with me, as he had his magic penetrating me. It felt so intimate.

His hands go up, cupping my cheeks, and he kisses me again. This kiss was totally different than the chastising kiss he gave me earlier, it was warm, tender. Our lips touching felt so soft, our tongues caressing each other. I could enjoy his taste fully, take my time to savour his mouth, his cool breath. His hand goes down to caress my waist as I moan into our kiss. I liked it as much as the rough one. We part our embrace panting.

~ * ~

Avalon felt something stirring inside him as he protected his mate with the spell, as he wrapped her with his essence, his magic, as it entered her. It was as they both have given into the bond fully for an instant and it laced them as one. As they were destined to be. As it should be.

~ * ~

Liv

He just confuses me, being hot and cold. I feel like I am in a Katy Perry's music clip. I wonder if he even likes me. He has waited so long, expected so long for a mate. Then he got me, and I am nothing like what he expected. He is annoyed and disappointed, that is crystal clear.

Do I even like him …? When I felt his spell, his magic energy entering my body I felt as if I do. This connection, this warmth. Was I only imagining things?

Then, I remember his smugness, his words, and his grey icy glare. It just sucks to have so many feelings and so many bonds overwhelming my thoughts and senses and making up feelings that were never there. I am drawn, compelled to him. But that is the bond magic. Can the bond make me like each of my mates in so different ways? Maybe it is not only the freaking bond… Maybe I am just mad, and I have feelings for that conceited, arrogant, and infuriating man.