Chapter 19

Earl was astonished by what he found when he opened the door, Nellie was lying there, in his bed, sinfully beautiful. Her dark hair covered the pillow, her eyes were shut but her long lashes curve round her lashes, her perfectly shaped eyebrows were as thick as her dark hair. Her naturally red lips were pressed in a thin line, a perfectly carved nose fitting perfectly on her beautiful face. Earl gulped in rapid succession, she was dressed in a white silk nightgown which flowed down to cover her long legs, Earl did not know how long he stood there taking in Nellie's features until he heard the maid's voice.

"My Lord" Ariel greeted.

"You are still here," Earl acknowledged.

"Yes My Lord, my lady is still sleeping, I've cleaned her wounds and bathed her," Ariel bowed.

"You can go, Ariel," Earl said dismissively.

He took out his royal tunic and hung it on the closet, Earl sighed in frustration, he was going to have to lie down on the same bed with Nellie today, the thought made his heart race. The last time they slept on the same bed he had no nightmares.

Earl sat on his dressing table and poured himself a drink, he sipped from the glass quietly, observing Nellie. He wondered how long it was going to take before she woke up, he was going to apologize to her when she finally woke up. Sighing, Earl stood up and went into the bathroom, he told himself he has been doing a lot of sighing these days. He sighed again.

By the time Earl finished with his bath, his body was as cold as ice. He had stayed in the water for way too long, thinking. Climbing the bed Earl smiles to himself, he looked over at Nellie who was sprawled on the bed in what appeared to be a peaceful sleep. The thought of her being in pain pierced his heart like a knife, he slowly reached out and wrapped his arms around her body. She was warm, her hair scented like coconut and roses, Earl inhaled deeply.

Damn! He missed her, if she was awake they would probably be arguing now, someone he enjoyed the feeling of her in his hands- it felt natural, almost like it was meant to be. It surprised Earl that he had not been thinking too much of Ina lately, yes, she betrayed her and he was going to make her pay for that. But he couldn't deny that he did not miss her as his Luna.

Earl gathered Nellie closer, she was warm and he was ice cold, it felt so natural. He needed all the warmth she could give and he needed all the ice she had, her beautiful scent calmed his nerves and in no time, he drifted into a beautiful sleep.

For the first time in a long time, Earl dreamt of roses and sunflowers, happiness and harmony. He smiled peacefully in his sleep and held Nellie even tighter.
••••••••••••••••••

Charlie moved around the palace checking to make sure everything was in place before he retired to bed, he had to do something about the burning need he felt, he had just shown Oliver to a room and was making his way back to his own chambers. As Earl's Beta his senses were very sharp and sometimes he hated himself for that. He passed by Earl's room and nodded to the guards at the door, they bowed.

Charlie placed his ear on the door to listen to Earl's breathing and be sure he was okay in there, to his surprise his breathing was unusually very steady today. He must be having a very peaceful sleep, making his way back to his chambers, he was careful not to bump into his sister on the way, he was not ready to have her treat him like a child tonight.

Stealthily and slowly he made his way to his chambers, he was going to head straight into his room and take a relaxing bath but he decided against it, if the castle had been invaded by Rogues earlier he had to make sure Lydia was safe, although he knew the guards there wouldn't let anything happen to her.

The guards at the door made to greet Charlie but he silenced them by putting one figure across his lips, they understood and bowed instead. Gently, Charlie placed his ear on his sister's door to listen to her heartbeat, he only hoped she was sleeping already.

"You don't have to sneak around, dear brother" Lydia's voice came from inside.

Charlie rolled his eyes and opened the door to her room "You are supposed to be sleeping"

"Am I? It's past midnight and my brother is just retiring to his chambers" Lydia started.

"I had work to do" Charlie simply said, he observed Lydia for a while, she was sitting there in her night dress combing her unusually long hair and removing pins from it.

"How is uncle Earl?" Lydia asked, funny how at Twenty seven she still acted like a full grown woman. One would likely think she was older than Charlie and Earl.

He's fine, as grumpy as ever"

"He just needs a little crack in the ice to change that" Nellie smiled.

Charlie rolled his eyes, "Ina couldn't crack 'the ice',"

"Ina was not the one," Lydia simply stated.

Charlie couldn't say he doubted that, he could tell there was this soft sparkle in Earl's eyes that he had never seen before, it lit up each time he spoke about Nellie.

"I might need you to return to the Mansion and remain there with Mother" Charlie said.

"Why?"

"The Rogues are invading the palace quite too often lately and the Witcher is taking a little time preparing the repellent to keep them out" He hoped she wouldn't argue.

"Wouldn't it be better if I'm here with you?" Ofcourse. Earl knew she just didn't give up easily.

"Our mother needs you more, I can take care of myself but I might be too busy to be around here for you"

"I can take care of myself," Lydia said stubbornly.

"Can you say the same for mother?"

"Fine. I'll go stay with her"

"Good, I'll come check on you often"

Lydia said nothing, she hated to have her brother out of her sight and she preferred being around him to sitting with their mother in their Mansion.

"Just be safe"

"Sure. Take care of Mother, I'll send some men to accompany you out tomorrow"

"Goodnight brother"

Charlie moved to her seat and placed a soft kiss on her forehead. He inhaled her hair for a while before making his way out of the room, he paused by the door.

"Sleep well little sister"

Walking out of Lydia's room, Charlie's emotions were mixed, it still hurt him so much to think about his mother. He felt guilty that he couldn't save his father that fateful night, he had insisted on coming to the palace with the man. That only meant additional hands to take care of which was a distraction.

Charlie sighed, he had spent too many nights brooding, the familiar scent of scented olive hit his nostrils as he got close to his chambers, someone was around, he reached for his sword and held onto it in preparation for war.

He followed the scent, he could tell from the faint and steady heartbeat that it was a lady, for some reason, the scent was familiar. From the distance he sighted her, her long brown hair was let down, covering her shoulders, dressed in a white flowing gown, she stood there looking out the window like something straight out of a pleasant dream. A goddess!.

"What are you doing here?" He immediately turned the lady around to face him, one hand on his sword.

"My Lord" Ariel looked away shyly.

"Ariel! Why are you here? You are supposed to be sleeping" Charlie was surprised to find her around his chambers

"I went to see Ma'am Dodda, I needed air and my senses led me here" She tried to look up at him this time, Charlie looked away immediately.

"Why did your senses lead you here?" Charlie wondered.

"The scent of you" She said simply, he saw fire in her hazel eyes when he raised his eyes to meet her gaze.

"Me?" Charlie was surprised.

"You smiled at me today" He remembered the shy smile she had given him in return, it was just him doing his thing.

To his surprise Ariel closed the distance between them, took a handful of Charlie's hair and inhaled deeply "I have longed to do that for as long as I remember"

He stood there in utter surprise and confusion, she smelled like scented olives, having her this close to him only reminded him it's been a long time since he took a woman to bed. The need rose immediately, for some reason, he didn't want to harm her. But he knew he was going to if they stayed like that for another second.

"Go away" Charlie said sharply, he took hold of one Ariel's hands, it was an attempt to drag her out but he dropped it almost immediately. It felt like lightning went through their hands the moment their skins touched.

"It won't hurt if you took me for another reason" Ariel said, surprising him. She had seen the look on his face the moment he held her hand because he dropped it almost in immediately.

"What the hell are you talking about?" Charlie blinked in utter surprise.

"This" With that Ariel leaned forward and placed a light kiss on Charlie's lips.

The heat shot through him like lightening the moment their lips touched, this time, Ariel did not let go of him immediately, she did not remove her lips from his lips either, she just stood there, on her toes and let her lips stay on Charlie's.

Charlie noted the heat was no longer there, it had passed after a few seconds of their lips meeting. He couldn't tell what Ariel was trying to do or what she was, but one thing was certain, he was dying in need right now and if she stood there another second he might as well devour her.

"Leave before I hurt you" Charlie said simply, he was having a very difficult time putting his wolf in check now. It felt like his wolf had tested something irresistible and was battling to come out. If he came out like this Charlie knew he was likely going to take Ariel there- on the floor, without thinking.

"Don't fight it" Was all she said.

"What the hell are you doing to me?" Charlie growled.

"Nothing. It's your wolf struggling to be freed" She smiled.

"My wolf can kill you" He warned, hoping she would go away.

"I'd love to see him try," Ariel only smiled. "I have waited for you for so long" She closed the distance between them again.

'Ariel…" When her lips met his again, Charlie couldn't stop his hands from grabbing her head and kissing the breath out of her lungs. He let his sword drop on the floor and grabbed her closer with his left hand while his right hand held her head in place.

His mouth tested every corner of hers, she wasn't experienced in kissing, he could tell. Then what the hell was she doing seducing him by this time of the night? Damn! He needed to stop.

But he didn't, he couldn't. The scent of her hair was just too comforting, her small body fitted perfectly into his, almost like it belonged there. Charlie had managed to stay away from women for the past three months and her coming here only reminded him that he needed to calm his nerves.

He moved her to the wall and continued kissing her hungrily, what was she doing to him? His hands began to wander, to her breasts- a soft mound of flesh and one hand even grabbed her in the forbidden zone. Charlie managed to stop himself on time, he had to stop. This way Ariel, a maid, Nellie's personal maid.

"What the hell are you trying to do?" He asked the moment he got himself to stop kissing her.

"Taking what is mine" She said simply, her breathing was hitching.

"And what is yours?" Charlie eyed her suspiciously

"You" Ariel said again, this time in a firm voice.

"What the hell are you talking about? Whi the fuck are you?!"

"I am your mate"