Chapter 67

He needed to see Daphne. Her scent hung in the air, pushed around by the wind, but he got a hold of it and followed it up to the hill near their old house. She was seated on the hill overlooking the training pitch. The wind ruffled her hair and gown. She looked lonely and despondent there. The sight made him hurry towards her.

He promised himself to make her happy. Whatever it took to keep her happy was what he would do, yet there she was looking miserable because of a stupid lineage he never wanted and hadn’t been fully prepared to accept.

Nearby was a werewolf with a bored expression. He was watching Daphne as intently as he could manage around his boredom. His presence had Tom’s paranoia written all over it. He should have killed him.

Arthur growled at the man as marched towards her. The man paled, turned, and scurried away as she turned to look at him.

Daphne was in a bit of a daze. The shock was weighing down her mind and making her aimless. There were things to do, but what good would it do to do them? The people it benefitted all hate her now, save very few? She hadn’t figured out if Mamie and Blade’s unerring loyalty was enough to still serve people who whispered about her and attacked her in the streets.

It was too much like being a child in the human villages again.

“Arthur?”

“We’re leaving,” Arthur said, stopping beside her. “To hell with the kingdom and everyone in it. The throne, the castle, and everything else!”

Daphne blinked up at him, shocked. She could feel his irritation and fury as his shoulders heaved. His eyes were flickering and she reached up to take his hand. Arthur wasn’t the type to say something and not mean it. He could be brash, but she could see it in his face that he was completely serious about leaving and never coming back.

Her heart wanted to say yes. It would be so much easier to leave, but for how long? The vampires were strong enough to overpower Sharp Armor. How long would it take them to find her and Arthur wherever they went? Arthur wouldn’t be strong enough to take them all on.

“Sit with me?”

Arthur plopped down beside her, shaking softly. She slid closer to him and leaned her head on his shoulder with a little sigh. Slowly, he relaxed enough to wrap an arm around her and nuzzle her head. He took a deep breath and sighed.

“To hell with them all. The vampires can kill them all for all I care.”

“You don’t mean that,” Daphne said. “What about Blade and Mamie?”

“They can come with us.”

“What happened, Arthur?”

“They went too far. Attacking you. I told them so and…” He clenched his jaw. “Just thinking about what Tom had to say infuriates me.”

Daphne swallowed, “What did he say?”

“I don’t want to tell you.”

“What did he say, Arthur?” She looked up at him. Arthur clenched his jaw and looked away. “Please… tell me.:

“That I could get another mate after we gave you to them. Someone right for the kingdom.” He growled to himself. “I should have clawed his throat out and stomped on his corpse.”

Daphne’s lips twitched. She wasn’t sure if she wanted to smile at the sentiment and grimace at the image. She reached up to pull him towards her and pressed a kiss on his cheek.

“I’m proud of you for not attacking him.” Daphne said, “But we can’t just leave.”

Arthur looked at her, “Give me one good reason why we shouldn’t leave when everyone is asking for your death or surrender?”

Daphne flinched. Her blood ran cold, but she breathed in and met his gaze. Arthur was mad right now, but he would regret walking away in a fit of anger. Arthur accepted the position because he wanted to help people. Not just the people he knew, but people he didn’t know and might not ever meet too. Tom and the people of Sharp Armor were just the people he saw and helped directly, but they weren’t the only people relying on his strength for their safety.

“Because the vampires might attack more than just Sharp Armor.”

“… not good enough.”

Daphne shook her head, “Because you and I took an oath.”

“They broke it first,” Arthur said, stiffly. “Tom and the others swore to respect you as they would respect me.”

But he wondered even now if they truly ever respected him or simply feared the alternative of not having his strength to rely on. The more he thought about it, the more he understood Arthur I’s reluctance to lead the werewolf kingdom.

Daphne sighed, “I’m tired… Could we just go back to the castle for now?”

Arthur eyed her and shifted into his wolf form. He kneeled without speaking and Daphne smiled.

“Thank you,” she whispered and climbed onto his back. Arthur took the fastest path out of Sharp Armor. Daphne didn’t look back, trying not to think about Arthur’s words.

To leave and never come back… To hide away in the woods somewhere the way she had her entire life before meeting Arthur. Would it be so bad? Would Mamie and Blade come with them?

“We’ll go to our quarters,” Daphne said, “And clean up? Can we spend the rest of the day in bed?”

“If you want,” Arthur said, “But I’m serious.”

She chuckled, “I know, and I promise I’ll come up with a good enough reason.”

Arthur doubted, but he didn’t say that as they reached the castle gates. He kneeled and let her slip off his back when he noticed the servants standing to receive them.

“Hi everyone,” Daphne greeted and frowned at the way they looked at her, pale and nervous.

Arthur shifted back into his human form, took Daphne’s hand, and growled at them.

“How dare you look at her like that?” Arthur growled.

The woman whimpered and flinched away from him. Daphne pulled him back.

“Please, Arthur, stop.”

He tightened his grip on her hand and turned stiffly from them, brushing past every guard and servant who seemed to jump out of their way. Fearful gazes looking at them. In their faces, he saw the members of the Brown Valley pack, staring at him like a monster.

If he wasn’t born of royal blood, wouldn’t they think he was a monster? He shuddered at the thought. Daphne was beautiful, kind, considerate, and everything that a monster could never be.

She didn’t deserve to be looked at with fear or hatred. He never wanted anyone to experience what he had while living in Brown Valley.

They arrived at their chambers and Arthur ordered someone to bring them food before closing the door behind them.

He took a deep breath, enjoying the way their scents mingled in the air. He looked over at Daphne and found her looking around the room wistfully as if she might never see it again. His heart lurched and he went to her, pulling her close and kissing her.

“I’ll kill them all.”

“Arthur—”

“Anyone who tries to take you from me.”

“Arthur, please,” she gasped as he dropped his head to nibble at her neck. “You can’t go around killing people.”

She yelped as he picked her up and carried her towards their bathing chamber where a warm bath awaited them.

“I can and I still might,” Arthur said and set her down, pulling at the laces of her gown.

“Arthur!” Daphne gasped as he pulled the corset over her head and then the gown, tossing them behind him.

He cupped her face and pulled her to kiss him, slipping his tongue into her mouth with a desperation he couldn’t explain. His blood was boiling with anger and desire. Fear tangled in his gut.

He couldn’t lose her. He couldn’t imagine his life without her, not even for a little while.

He turned carefully and pushed her against the wall.

“W-Wait, Arthur,” Daphne gasped. “Like this?”

He grunted, fumbling with the laces of his pants and shoving them down around his hips while they kissed.

Daphne whimpered at the first graze of his hand between her legs. Keening and arching into him as he kissed her neck, whispering promises of forever. Her heart swelled with grief and warmth. She clung to him, trying to keep her tears at bay.

She didn’t want to go. She didn’t want to be separated from Arthur. She turned her head and captured his lips as he thrust into her in one long push. Pressure, pleasure, and heat took over her mind and she moaned.

“Arthur, yes… Right there.”

He gripped her hips, hitching her legs towards his shoulders, and thrust into her with smooth rolls of his hips. She trembled, clinging to him, twining her fingers in his hair and begging him to have her as much as he wanted.

“I’m yours, Arthur. Just yours, I promise,” she whispered. “Oh, Arthur.”

He tightened his grip on her and moaned into her neck, rocking into her with pleasure little groans. They kissed as the pleasure built, rolling through them and Arthur’s pace quickened, becoming desperate and erratic.

Pleasure crested and exploded, yet Arthur didn’t stop. He leaned into her, kissing her desperately and he trembled.

“I… I can’t.”

Daphne kissed his cheek, “Don’t stop, Arthur.”

Arthur pulled back to meet her gaze. They were glossy and sad though she was smiling at him. His heart clenched as he realized what she was thinking. She was thinking there wasn’t any other option. She didn’t even know about Nicole’s ultimatum.

He pulled her from the wall and carried her back into their bedroom to the bed. The bath would have to wait.

“You asked to spend the rest of the day in bed.”

Daphne chuckled as he lowered her onto the bed, “I did.”

He smiled at her, “As you wish.”