Lover Sacrificed - Chapter 9

He picked her up from the floor and hugged her tight, kissing her forehead as his heart calmed down in post orgasmic bliss.

They stood like that for a few minutes, just letting the warm water wash over them.

- We shouldn’t have…

Her whisper was barely audible, but he replied anyway.

- I know.

- We can’t ever…

- I know.

She tilted her head to look up at him.

- Thank you though, I will never forget this. Ever.

He put his forehead against her.

- Me either.

She hesitantly pulled away but he pulled her back. Just one last kiss, he told himself. Even while knowing, that that would never be enough.

- Darius…

- I don’t know what it is you do to me.

- I know the feeling.

Her smile was sad.

- Let’s elope. Just go away together. I have enough money to keep us going. I could even get a night job somewhere. My love, we could live anonymously. No more obligations, arranged marriages, lessers…

- And no more family.

He sighed. She was right.

- For better or worse, this is our life. We just have to live it as it comes and hope for the best.

- I hate this though.

- You and me both.

He looked in her eyes.

- You will always be the only one. No matter who I mate. No matter who holds the title or who ends up wearing the Saturnine Ruby. You, Nalla, daughter of Zsadist, will always be my one and only queen. The queen of my heart.

*-*-*-*

John paced up and down Wraths office. Tohr was there with him to translate to the king.

- There has to be something you can do. They love each other.

- Son, you come here every month, but I’m telling you, Darius knows his duty; he won’t let a little crush get in the way of his royal obligations.

- An arranged marriage, Wrath. Since when are you so big on royal shit?

- Watch your mouth boy. You may be a brother but I am still your goddamned king.

- And Darius is your son. Surely that should come before any royal bullshit!

- John…

- Ask him! Ask Darius.

Wrath got up from his desk.

- I know my son, and I trust him. If he really loved Z’s girl, he would have told me.

- Not when you dangle the whole ‘royal duty – good for the race’ shit in his face! He knows his responsibilities and he won’t let you down, but if he had a choice, if there wasn’t anything stopping him, he’d be with Nalla, trust me.

- John, I am not going to call of this mating ceremony. I can’t.

- Would you do it if Darius told you the truth about his feelings?

- I… I don’t know if I could. It would mean war with the Glymera... I don’t see how…

- You have a few years to look into it. Get Saxton to help. Please Wrath. You may not be so sure, but Darius loves her. He would bond with her if he could, I know he would.

- You really believe that don’t you.

- Yeah, I do.

- And if I don’t do anything, you’re just going to knock on my door like you have been these last few months, won’t you.

- You bet my lord, Have to keep an eye out for my nephew. Everyone deserves to be with the person they love. I learned that the hard way.