Her Forever
(Book 3)- Chapter 25

Willa’s POV

“Do I need to say it again, Luke?” Orion’s voice was filled with anger. Luke continued to look up at Orion with a devilish grin and his fangs on display. Luke let go and kept his hands in the air all while Orion grabbed me by the hand and pulled me to his side. His body was warm as he held me close while his sword was still on Luke.

“I let her go, don’t do anything brash,” Luke stated. Orion sheathed his sword and picked me up and carried me off the rock mount. His breathing was heavy, his nostrils were flaring, and his ears had started to extend but were slowly going back to the normal form I usually see.

“I’ll see you later, your highness!” Luke chanted. Orion turned around once more to glare at Luke but he was already gone back into the sea.

Orion carried me until we reached a grassed area where Asland was grazing. He looked up and nodded his head while he stomped at the ground and flicked his ears. Orion gently put me down feet first into the grass and held me tight by my waist.

“Willa, that was brash and uncalled for you leaving the palace. You could have been taken or even killed! If I hadn’t gotten back in time…” he threw his hands up in the air and raked his clean hair back. “You would have never surfaced again,” his voiced cracked and an overpowering cloud of guilt covered me. My crying session had not been over for long and I felt the tears coming back, this time I let them fall.

Covering my face to hide myself Orion kneeled to the ground in which he was close to the same height as me now, he pulled my hands away and gazed into my glassy eyes. “Darling, I am so sorry.” His fingers rested at the base of the back my neck while his thumb tickled my jaw. “I am trying to protect you and I said some things that even hurt me as well. You are not a concubine and never will be. You are my Queen, my angel, and my light I would never treat you in such away. I wish you could feel the sorrow in my heart for hurting you.” Orion’s thumbs continued to wipe away the tears and fall into the palm of his hand.

My emotions had taken the forefront of my mind after 7 years last seeing my parents drive off. The wall had been broken and I was going to let him in. Orion was sincere, more so than any man or fae I had ever encountered. “I’m sorry,” I whispered into his hand cupping my face. “I don’t know what came over me.” I grew up as a realist as a child. I took life for what it was and if something was good it was good, if it was bad, it was bad but the grey area I am in with Orion was different. I had to figure out my emotions myself and not rely on the bond, however, I couldn’t deny the pull I had to him.

I flung my arms around his neck and he wrapped his around my body. He rubbed the back of my head and cooed gently into my ear. “I’m here, and I’m never leaving. We will always have each other. If you run, I will find you and bring your arse back home do you understand?” I nodded, sniffing into his neck. Orion pulled me from his neck and put his index finger on my nose, “and I will spank your arse until it’s bloody pink!” I giggled and let in one big sniff so I didn’t have snot falling out of my runny nose.

Orion rubbed my arms up and down and stood up, leading me to Asland. I watched Orion get up on his back and Asland turned his head and nipped at my shoulder and sputtered. “I know, I’m sorry, I won’t run again.” Asland nodded his head and stomped the ground in recognition. Once mounted, Orion had me sit in front of him while he held the reins and we started trotting back into the city.

My cloak was long forgotten as we started entering civilization and I had nothing to cover my face. “Don’t worry about it, Darling. I’m not going to have people think you are some lowly concubine. You are my Queen and will be treated like one. Wolves from Sadie’s pack are on their way to protect you since I cannot tell which of my soldiers are truly for the rebellion. No matter what, I’ll protect you.” He squeezes my waist as we come up the Capital gates, he doesn’t even take the back entrance like we did my first night here.

Orion’s posture was ridged, he sat up straight and tall as he held onto the reigns with one hand and another around my body. My one hand came up to his and I interlaced our fingers. He smiled down at me and kissed my forehead tenderly as we walked through the town. There were whispers, gasps and cheers that came through the windows and doors of homes. A few of the small children from the orphanage ran up beside Asland and gave him a few carrots. Cricket was beaming with pride, calling out for me, even though he didn’t know my name.

“I told you she was an angel! Now she’s gonna be queen!” Nana and the three sisters stood in shock as the carried a few children with them. They all bowed, and Orion untied his coin bag and tossed it to them. “You should have been receiving donations, I’ll be sure to get to the bottom of it.” The women thanked profusely as we continued, never stopping in one place.

A crowd of people formed behind us, walking us to the palace gates and when opened there was a cheer as I looked back. Orion turned his horse as the gates closed and had me look up into his eyes. His face held nothing but love for me, his face was soft as he leaned down and kissed me in front of the crowd of people. I blushed as he smiled down at me and covered my face. He sat up straight and looked up into the crowd just behind the iron gates.

“People of the Light Kingdom, I give you, your future Queen!” Orion roared into the crowd. Asland began dancing his own dance while jumping and screaming came from the faes as well as fairies and sprites coming through the gate throwing flowers and Orion and I. I couldn’t help but giggle and hold a few flowers in my hand, putting one in Orion’s chest pocket. Orion’s face lights up and the biggest grin spreads across his flawless face. I’ve never seen him smile in public but here he was, in front of most of his own kingdom and letting down his very own wall of stoic emotions.

He leans down for one more hot, passionate k**s as I run my fingers through his hair. I peek up at him while he k****s me only to see a large crowd at the balcony. There was no celebrating, cheers or joyous talking on the balcony on the West side of the palace. Daggers were in their eyes as well as one woman, Sibille.

…

“You fuckin’ i***t!” Annan drawled pacing the living room floor. We were in the royal living chambers. The red headed brothers were standing by the door while Annan was trying to reprimand Orion. Keyword was trying. Orion sat in the overly decorative chair of golden tassels and swirls of green and gold while I sat in his lap. One hand wrapped around my waist and another petting my cheek. He made me feel like a little trophy he had that he was continuing to polish. Smiling like a little prince on Christmas morning he pecked k****s on my cheek. If he is happy now, wait until I tell him I was 100% sure I wanted to be his mate.

“Do you even think?” Annan continued slap his palm against his forehead. “All this time of planning, preparing, and keeping your mate safe you have done the worst thing possible! You painted a target on her back! Do you realize what you have even done, Orion!?”

There weren’t many times Annan called Orion by his first name. Mostly he called him that in jest but now Orion snapped his head to Annan and gently put me in the chair.

“I suggest you use the correct title when you try and rebuke me. You do know who you are talking to correct?” Orion’s fists were balled up, his posture rigid. Fionn came by to stand beside me with his arms behind his back.

“Yes,” Annan let out a sigh. “And I am speaking to you as your friend. You have planned so long, to save these people from political persecution and when our Queen has come into the picture they start to fall apart.” Annan said softly. Even with Annan’s soft word Orion continues to be riled up, rolling up his sleeves prepared to get into an altercation.

“All I am saying, we have to protect both the kingdom and Willa,” he pleaded. “Leah and her fellow sprites say the wolves are on their way and once the Court realizes, it will create suspicion. The dragon shifters to help aid us won’t be here for another week. We need to send the wolves away, maybe Willa too,” Annan had sweat on his brow and his hands shaking. “They will come for her, the night, the day, while she is bathing while she is sleeping it isn’t a matter of ‘if,’ it is a matter of when!”

Orion’s claws grew and his fangs descended, his body was shaking in pure rage and grabbed Annan by the throat and throwing him up against the wall, feet dangling and all. I rose from my seat but Fionn held me down with on of his hands. “Let them get through this,” he whispered gruffly. I sat back down twiddling my fingers.

Does he mean what he said? Will they come for me? My silly little tantrum messed everything up for the entire kingdom.

“Willa will remain by my side. Only more eyes will be watching her every move until this rebellion is over. She is mine and no one will take her from me.” Orion continued to growl as his chest heaved. “She will remain by my side at all times. This could be a distraction that we need. Their eyes will be on her rather than the armies surrounding the castle. Now, if you are finished, leave.” Orion dropped him to the floor and walked menacingly away from him, picking me up from the chair gently as he had never had a tantrum.

Looking back, Annan was rubbing his neck, waving his hands for the red-headed fury to leave him alone. “I just had to test him, make sure his head was on straight,” and he winked at me as Orion slammed our bedroom door closed.

“Eudora!” Orion shouted and with in an instant she was in front of him. “Find the wolves, tell them under direction of King Orion to cease their travels for 6 days. Tell them code word, ‘axis.’” Eudora bowed and with a small gust of wind she was gone.

Orion’s eyes looked tired as he fell to the couch beside me. I walked over to the drink bar and poured him one of the fae alcohols I’ve seen him drink. Walking to him I kneeled before him and handing him a drink while his arm was over his yes. Sensing my presence he moved his arm and gave me a stern look of determination.

“I will protect you Willa, from that damn wolf Carlos, the siren, Sibille and all of the fae kingdom. I will protect you.” He spoke with promise and fortitude. I couldn’t help but k**s his inviting lips. They held so much of who he was. His passion, desire, strength poured from them into mine. In a swift motion he sat up and pulled me to his lap, straddling him while rubbing my back. The k**s deepened and my breasts rubbed up against his chest. I felt my n*****s pebbling with in my dress, the itch they were causing me was almost painful I was wanting him to touch them, relieve them of their annoyance.

Talk about hot and bothered.

I m****d into his mouth as I tugged his hair. “I’d walk through the lake of fire for you,” he whispered as he trailed k****s down my neck and to my chest. “I’d travel to the end of the Earth to get you the rarest of diamonds.” Orion’s hand trailed up my dress and close to my core, I gasped the way it tickled my inner thigh. Small bumps of pleasure erupted over my skin. “I’d fight the most ferocious of beasts… to gain your love.”

Orion continued to k**s my chest, but my arms slacked around his body. He stopped kissing me and put his hand up to my cheek. “I meant ever word,” he whispered. Smiling at him, a lone tear fell down my cheek. How did I get so lucky to be paired with this fae? An emotionally broken and lonely soul was granted the gift of a handsome man with a passion for me. Me, of all people.

“You don’t have to do any of those things,” I whispered to him as I cupped his face with both my hands. I stared into his golden eyes; his jeweled eyes twinkled in anticipation of what I was going to say that was on the tip of my tongue.

Call me crazy but even though we met just over a week ago, I was already crazy for this fae. He had shown more love to me than anyone. Bond or not, I was in love with him.

“Why is that my Darling? Why can I not prove my love for you?” His voice was in a whine. He was adorable, a king of a nation begging at my feet of what I am about to tell him.

“Because I already love you.”