Torn between mates

33. Blood Lust

Lea

“Little Lea.” I woke up to a cold voice calling me, to his voice. The window of my room is open, the wind blows, making the curtains wave in an ominous rhythm. I can hear the gust sibilate, it sounds haunted, almost as if it was alive. However, there is a sinister, deathly, feeling about it. He is here. 

No, it can’t be! This castle is protected, I’m safe. 

In the next minute, my fears come true, and King Alexus enter the window and after few quick strides in hovering over me in my bed. I try to scream, but my throat could only produce a soundless whimper. I try to wave my hand and send him some feet away with my pulse powers. But it doesn’t work either.

“There is nothing you can do, duck. You are my prisoner. You can’t scream, you have no powers here.” His emotionless voice pronounces each word slowly, conveying a threat. I swallow hard and clench my eyes close, trying to mind link my father. But nothing works. I’m powerless and I dread this feeling.  

He tilts my head to the side slowly, almost reverently, and licks a straight line on the crock of my neck before sinking his teeth in my flash. 

Pain. Pleasure. Confusion. Fear. All those feelings swirl inside me. 

“You do like it. You can’t pretend you don’t. You can lie to everyone, but to me. But to yourself.” He murmurs in my ear. His voice cold and grave makes a chill go down my spine. 

Do I like it? I don’t suppose to. I shouldn’t like anything about him. But do I? 

This question dreads and haunts me even more than his attack. 

He spreads my thighs open forcefully and lays between them. 

“It’s time.” He declares drily, crushing his teeth on my neck once again and drinking my blood slowly, as he rips my panties off in a single movement. My breath hitches in my throat and I let out a strangled cry.  

*

I wake up for real with a start, breathing deeply and crying. It was only a nightmare. Before I could even blink, my dear Valentin flashes to my room and walks towards me. He is looking so worried. All I don’t want is to worry them even more. 

“Please don’t come any closer,” I mutter still panting. 

He nods. “Angel, it was only a dream. You are safe.” He reassures me.

I nod too. “I know. But it felt so real.” I wipe my face and keep trying to stable my breath.

“I’ll see if I can find something to calm you down. Maybe an infusion with some of your floral tonics.”

“Can you stay here with me in the room? At least until I fall asleep again. I think that’s all I need.” I ask trying to beam him a reassuring smile. But I think I just twisted my lips in an awkward way. 

“Of course. I won’t leave.” He sits on the armchair in front of my bed. We hear a knock on the door.

“Sweetheart, it’s me.” My mom says. Oh no! She felt it! She always wakes up worried sick after I have those dreams. I seriously have to convince her to revoke this blood spell, it brings her so much unnecessary suffering. 

“Come in, mom,” I reply and she comes inside. She walks closer to me and wraps me in a soothing hug, that only she knows how to give. 

“I felt my heart clenching. You had that dream again?” 

I nod. “I’m sorry to wake you up and startle you.”

“You’ve nothing to be sorry about, Lea,” Mom says stroking my face gently. “You’ve been through a lot, but it’s over now. Your ‘subconscious’ will also understand it soon and the nightmares will be over.” 

I nod once again. I hope she is right; I’ve had this nightmare 3 times already. Only a few details were different, but the outcome of the dreams was always the same, he takes me forcefully and drinks my blood. As my confused body is overwhelmed by dread, anger, hurt, and the cursed pleasure that the bond makes his touch arise. 

“You should go back to sleep, mom”

“I can stay with you if you want me to.” She replies kindly. 

“It’s okay, I’ll be okay.” I try to smile. 

“I’ll be here with her,” Valentin says. Mom nods, says good night to both of us, and goes back to her room. 

~ * ~

Since they rescued me more than a week ago, Valentin and Richard didn’t want to leave my side. Every night one of them was sleeping in the room next door, to make sure I was safe and fine. They actually wanted to sleep in the same room with me, stay as close as possible. But I couldn’t, I didn’t feel comfortable with it, not even when we wouldn’t share a bed. Alexus’ assault was still too fresh in my mind and even more in my dreams, the last thing I wanted was to have males near while I slept. Even my (beloved but also intense) mates. 

It pained me to ask them to stay away. I saw the hurt in Richard’s face, I knew that his wolf and the man in him, needed to be physically close to me; only that could reassure them both that their mate is safe and sound and calm his beast down. 

Valentin masked the hurt in his eyes better, but I also knew that he wanted to be close to me and comfort me, physically and emotionally. Giving me his warm healing touch. But touch was all I couldn’t bear at the moment. 

So, they accept to be in the bedroom beside mine. Although Richard was actually sleeping by my door in his wolf form, like a loyal guardian. It startled some un-warned witches and wizards in the first nights, but now everyone in the castle already knows that ‘ a huge grey wolf is guarding his princess door’, as Richard said. 

I was very thankful and worried about their extra care. It was sweet of them, but it was also quite excessive. I know that they relegate and delegate many of their ruling tasks to be with me. I also know that they were in ‘sentinel’ mode and slept very little if they slept at all. And that makes me feel quite bad. 

“Angel,” Valentin calls me, bringing me back from my reverie.

“Yes.” 

“Have you already told Liv about your nightmares?” 

“No, I don’t want to stress her even more. I know that even if she doesn’t want to show, she is suffering a lot for being without Laius. Those 2 are mad about each other. Especially now that she is pregnant.” 

“She could help, angel.” Valentin reasons.

“No, I really can’t aggravate her more, baby. It’s not an option.” I argue. I can’t do that to my poor sister. All she doesn’t need is more stress and worries. 

“She could ask Laius to send a Succubus to eat your bad dreams. That would be a good incentive for her to talk to him again and solve their issues.” Valentin suggests.

I am very disappointed and angry with Laius. He acted behind our backs in a reckless and impulsive way, which could have put me in danger. However, I know how my sister needs him and how the distance can even affect the condition of her health.   

“That is a great idea,” I reply with a small smile. 

I was trying to fall asleep, but it wasn’t working. Part of me was still too afraid of having the nightmare again, and the other part was worried about the fact that Valentin was very uncomfortable sleeping crooked on a chair. 

“Angel, are you feeling fine?” Valentin asks, his voice laced with worry. He probably noticed that I am tossing and turning restlessly. 

“I can’t sleep… are you okay with sleeping on this chair?” 

“Don’t worry about me, just try to rest.” He replies.

I want to try something that might help both of us. I have to, I can’t let my mates go through sleepless nights and discomfort because I’m scared; not brave enough to overcome my fears. A pathetic duck as King Alexus said. I must be better than that, for Valentin and Richard and for myself. 

I breathed deeply, trying to inhale some courage. “Valentin, could you…lay on the bed beside me?” I ask, my voice not much louder than a whisper. 

“Are you sure?” 

“Yes… we could try at least,” I answer. 

He lay tentatively by my side, keeping some distance between us. I reach for his hand and intertwine my fingers with his before I feel his thumb caressing the back of my hand gently. And finally, I could drift back to sleep. 

~ * ~

3rd person POV

The next morning, Lea tells her sister about her nightmares and asks Liv to contact a Succubus to help her by eating her dream. It would be a good deal for the Succubus, since they were oneiric demons and feed on dreams, and some of them even have a taste for nightmares, especially recurrent ones. 

Liv does it, but instead of asking Laius for help, she calls his assistant, an old spell-maker that lives in Hell, Medeia. In her time in Hell, Liv got close to this woman. 

“Hi, Medeia. How is he doing?” Liv asked, she couldn’t stop thinking and worrying about him. Last time they fought and went apart, he wasn’t well at all. She didn’t want him to suffer, but she couldn’t accept, nor tolerate what he did. 

“It’s not pretty... but it could be worst. He hasn’t killed anyone yet.” 

Liv sighs deeply. 

“I would tell you to bring your little ass here and talk to him, but I know that my words would have no effect…” Medeia adds.  

“My ass is not that little anymore... just try to keep him from killing. Can you do that?” Liv replies.  

Medeia sighs. She hasn’t signed up for the king of Hell nanny job position, she thinks. “Fine, I will do my best… it’s hard dealing with his Godly wrath and your unholy stubbornness!” she grumbles. 

Liv shut her eyes closed tightly as her heart clenches in pain. “Please try to... make sure he is well.”

Medeia could feel the pain and the longing in her Queen’s voice, but this damn queen was too stubborn to do anything, and she would need to do all the work. The damage control work. Again. The only thing that could make Laius stable and at ease was his woman. 

“One more thing, may you send a succubus who likes to eat nightmares to Avalon’s Realm? Lea needs to get rid of some recurrent bloody ones.” Liv asks. 

“Sure. How many do you need?” 

“One is okay. She doesn’t have that many dreams to provide the whole Succubae population a banquet. Oh, and a female one. We are dealing with an over-possessive Werewolf.”  Liv utters. 

“Males! That’s why I don’t keep any around for more than a week!” Medeia hisses. 

~ * ~

Richard  

Lea was getting better day after day, but nightmares still kept tormenting her. 

A female succubus came to the castle to eat Lea’s nightmares and make my Luna feel better. I didn’t like the idea of having such an unpredictable demon that close to my mate, especially not after everything she has been through. But it is the only way and Titan and I had to settle for that. 

Liv and Medeia, a penitent soul from Hell and a skilled spell-crafter, came together with the she-demon. She was a tall plump female, wearing many more clothes than it seemed appropriate. She couldn’t stop looking at Valentin and me. Doesn’t she have any respect towards mated people?! 

Titan and I released a low grow at her, making her look away. 

“I’m Else and I am here to eat your dreams, darling.” She said licking her lips and crossing another line. “I hope your dreams are delicious.” She told Lea in a flirty way. What the hell? I let out a powerful growl this time, as she placed her hand on Lea’s head. 

“Chill out Richard! She won’t eat Lea, just her dreams!” Liv said as she glanced me a look. I only scowled in response. 

Lea looked at the female a bit tensed. 

“I am getting a bit dizzy… does it mean it’s working?” she asked. 

“Yes, I’ve just one or two more dreams to eat. But those dreams aren’t all bad. They are sexy.” She grinned. I was about to lose it, and Titan wanted to pounce at her. Even though we both were against hurting any female if they weren’t warriors and we could fight fairly and square on the battlefield. 

“More eating and less talking, chick!” Liv scolded her. She was very irritated and had a huge frown. The she-demon only bowed down slightly and obeyed her queen. 

“That is something you should never tell anyone. Forcing a female is never sexy, lady!” Lea also scolded the demon, opening her eyes just to narrow them at her.

I was proud of my Luna. 

“Sorry.” The succubus muttered under her breath. 

Lea clenched her eyes for a moment, making Titan worried. But soon, her pretty face didn’t hold any sign of pain or distress. 

“Done. They were indeed delicious.” The demon grinned with a disturbing smile. 

Medeia placed a little note on Lea’s bedside table. 

“Let’s go back, … I don’t want to miss the orgy of 8 pm,” Medeia muttered annoyed, as she wrapped her hand around the succubus forearm. The demon huffed softly but she went with Medeia. In her way wait, she threw Valentin a shameless flirty glance and he looked back at her. 

Titan was growling madly inside my head. Without attracting the females’ attention, I pulled him by his t-shirt and tugged him out of the room.

“What the hell, Richard? Have you gone insane?” he muttered upset, as he took some steps back. 

“I saw that Demon looking at you! Don’t you ever look at another female! You won’t hurt Lea!” 

“I didn’t look at anyone Richard! I don’t want any female, but Lea! You are growing paranoid.” He replied, before going back to Lea’s bedroom and wrapping her in his arms. 

I know that he didn’t, but I was feeling extra-protective of my Luna lately, I can’t let any other dreadful and heartbreaking thing happened to her. If this bratty man-w***e Fae hurts my Lea, my wolf and I won’t hesitate to lunge at him.  

I hope he indeed changed, let go of his old habits and dedicate himself to his female, as a real man is supposed to. He couldn’t behave like a selfish teenager with women anymore, as he was well-known for during centuries. 

My poor Luna couldn’t take another betrayal. She isn’t strong enough. But my wolf and I will protect her. Always. 

~ * ~ 

Lea

After the Succubus left my room with Liv and Medeia, I took the little note Medeia placed on the table in my hand. That demon was a bit disturbing, but I am feeling lighter now that she ate my nightmares. I feel like I can finally breathe in peace, I won’t be haunted by my own mind anymore. 

Having her eating my dreams felt funny, it left a tingling sensation in the corners of my head. 

I opened the note and my eyes screened through its content. It’s from Laius. 

“Lelea, 

I’m very sorry. My action was reckless and stupid, but I would never mean to any harm come to you.  I already told Alexus that if he even dreams of getting close to you, I’ll drag him to the 6th pit of Hell myself. 

Please forgive me and look after my sugar and her sweet bump.

Love, 

Laius.”

I signed deeply. Laius acted recklessly and it was a big disappointment. But I hope Liv forgives him soon, more for her and the baby’s sake than for his. 

I could also overcome my disappointment with time when he makes Liv feel safer about his behaviour and stop letting his impulses get the best of him.