Lover Sacrificed - Chapter 4

His heart broke a little more with every sob. He couldn’t bear to see her in tears, to smell her pain.

It was all his fault. If only he had insisted more, had talked to his mother or his uncle…

Hell, he probably should have grown a set and talked to Zsadist himself.

He wouldn’t be engaged to what’s-her-face and his Nalla wouldn’t be hurting.

But it was too late now.

Her sobs slowed down somewhat and he put a finger under her chin to tilt her face up to his.

- You shouldn’t be here.

Her shaky whispered words cut through his heart.

- I know.

He whispered back right before claiming his mouth with her own. Her full lips were heaven and her taste was addictive. He needed to mark her, brand her, bond her to him, so she could never belong to anyone else. But he couldn’t do that to her. She deserved to be happy someday. So he controlled himself as his tongue delved deeper and played with hers in a sensual dance.

He wouldn’t bond to her.

For her sake.

For his sake.

For the sake of the whole goddamnded race.

Thanks to the lineage he was born into.

Thanks to his Father, the King.

He set his thoughts aside, nipping gently at her lower lip before slowly letting go.

He looked at her face, into her sad eyes, memorizing every little detail. Her black as night hair. Her bright yellow eyes. Those luscious full lips. That cute little nose…

He would never forget her.

I love you!

His mind spoke the words that stayed logged in his throat and instead he whispered again.

- Goodbye Nalla. I wish you all the happiness in the world.

*-*-*

Nalla tightened in his arms.

- No! Please don’t go.

- I have to, Nalla. I might be tempted to do something I shouldn’t otherwise.

- Why is this happening? I don’t understand.

- Me either. But it was arranged a long time ago, when I was still a pretrans. Just after Jhade was found.

He sighed.

- My father wanted to banish the whole Glymera to the north, right with the Sympaths. Cowards that they are, they sucked up to him, offering their most beloved ‘prize’. A newling daughter of a princeps.

Darius snorted as he closed his eyes.

- Wrath told me I have no choice, he made a pact, all for the good of the race.

- So he sacrificed his son’s whole life?

- Seems like it.

- Do you want to do this?

- Hell no! Nalla I…

He wanted to say something and she knew what it was. But he couldn’t say it. Once he said it…

She put her fingers on his lips.

- Shhh, its ok. I know.

He kissed the tips of her fingers.

- He told me… I can have another shellan after I have an heir.

She tensed in his arms. Surely he wasn’t suggesting…

- I could never do that to you. But the thought of you with another male, will drive me completely crazy.

She nodded, knowing the feeling all too well.

He snuggled her closer as they stayed like that for a while.

- I really need to go.

She nodded as his heat left her. Leaving her in bed, he gave her a chaste kiss on the lips, one she felt down to her very soul.

- Goodbye my love.