Chapter 56-

Oriel:
I place my hand on my lips still feeling the soft press of his mouth lingering on mine. “That was my first kiss.” I see Darius close his eyes and hang his head. “Fuck princess…” I step back when he reaches out for me. I realize now that he regrets the kiss, that he wishes it wouldn’t have happened and it fills me with shame. I feel my cheeks heating, and I am completely embarrassed I thought that he might be feeling the same things I was. Have I been reading him wrong all this time? When I first came here, I thought he was a pompous, aloof ass, but as I got to know him, I saw how passionate he is, and I’ve come to really care for him. He has supported me, stood up for me, he has been my teacher and my friend. I thought he was starting to develop feelings for me outside of friendship like I was for him. Now I must look like and idiot to him, and of course Rowen chooses now of all times to show up. He has been gone for over four years and we are supposed to have our mating ceremony in less than two years. I respect the work he is putting into the cause for peace, but I don’t feel anything for him romantically. Not the feelings I have for Irvin and Darius, not the desire’s I have for them. I know my parents’ relationship is not the kind that people normally have but knowing how happy they were and how much more love they each had makes me feel like loving more than one person shouldn’t be wrong. My relationships with Rowen, Darius and Irvin are so different than the one my parents share. I know Rowen is my true mate, Darius has already had and lost his true mate and if Irvin and I were fated we would have known long ago. Darius is Rowen’s best friend and advisor, is that why he rejected me? Or did I dilute myself into thinking we had something more? Maybe he doesn’t feel anything for me other than friendship.
I don’t have time to process all this now Rowen is home and I have that very serious relationship to navigate. In the past all we have done is butt heads and I truly want to make this work even if my heart is being split between two futures. One where I am loved and happy with two men who make me feel special, cherished and heard and the other where I rule alongside of someone I respect. In that future I am a queen and help bring peace to my people. I may not love Rowen, but I should stop being so childish and impulsive. Of course, Rowen wouldn’t accept me having other lovers and as I am finding the other men, I care for might not feel the same way I do. Not everyone gets a happily ever after.
“Forgive me Darius.” I hold my hand out to his, offering a handshake and a way for us to move on without awkwardness. “I was rash in my actions. I should not have been so forward with my feelings, I thought we had something between us, but I of course was mistaken. I will keep our relationship professional; I should not have pushed myself on you. Please forget this ever happened, I would hate to appear foolish to you. Your friendship has come to mean so much to me.” Darius takes my hand but instead of shaking it, he intertwines our fingers, rubbing his thumb along my pulse point. He must feel how hard my heart is beating right now. His pulls me close to him again, his free hand pushing the stray hair from my face. “Princess you mean so much more to me than you can understand, but I love Rowen, I always have. I can’t betray him no matter how much I want you. I can’t do what you asked of me either Oriel.” “What?” “I will never forget your lips on mine, or how they made every part of me come alive. I will think about your softness and how sweet you taste until my last breath.” I close my eyes as he leans in, his mouth ghosting over mine. We share the same breath until I gain my composure. Being so close to him made me want to lick his lips, to taste him and give him every piece of myself. I could never do that when Rowen so clearly promised to kill anyone who took what belongs to him, but I want too so badly. “I will meet you and your king in the receiving room. I’ll go upstairs to freshen up and get Irvin.” “I must say before you go that I am surprised that I was the recipient of your first kiss. Although I am pleased and will treasure it always, I was sure that honor would go to Irvin.” “I won’t deny my desire for him is similar to what I feel for you, but I would be afraid to hurt our friendship. He might reject me like you have. It would kill me to lose him.” “If it were in my power to, I would taste every inch of you, but my love for my king overrides the desires in my heart. I must say before you go, that fear doesn’t become you. If you trust your heart, other people will follow. It may not be easy and there might be hardship along the way, but it is better to be true to yourself than live a life with regret. I know this from experience.” I lean back into him and kiss him hard this time, licking the seam of his lips like I wanted to earlier and I hum out in pleasure. “I should go. I’ll see you and Rowen shortly.”
Darius:
That was not what I was expecting her to do. In fact, I don’t know what’s come over me at all. Why would I encourage her to explore her feelings for Irvin, yes I want her to be happy but it would be a cold day in hell when Rowen shared his mate and queen with anyone let alone someone he can barely stand. I just hate the thought of her being too scared to follow her heart. I want her to be happy above all else but now I fear that I have created a situation that will blow up. Before I can dig much further into this mess that I have created with my carelessness and my inappropriate feelings for my best friend and pervious lovers’ mate I feel a strong hand on my shoulder and a scent that I would know anywhere. “I missed you, my friend.”
Rowen:
I have felt both dread and excitement when I thought of returning home. This castle is where I grew up, where my father taught me about the world and showed me that each one of us has our place and purpose. It is where I have felt love, success and where I have been picked up after failure. I have been excited to see my beloved friend again and to start anew with my mate. During this time apart I have seen her grow in my absence. I receive many updates about my lovely mate not only from Darius but also from other sources. She has blossomed into a person that my kingdom values and respects. She has gained love and support from people who years ago thought she was little more than a wild beast. I decided when I was set to return that I will gain her love the way she has gained my peoples. I will show her my devotion and win her heart no matter the cost. I follow the loveliest scent to the library when I enter the castle, it is one that I recognize as Oriels, although it has changed in the time since I have last smelled it. It is still floral and light like a meadow full of flowers, but it also has a hint of spearmint that gives it a slight harshness. When I enter the library, I find Darius alone but covered in my mate’s strong scent. I am intrigued by why he would be so close to have so much of her on him. I put my hand on his shoulder and make my presence known. I can’t help but press my mouth to his neck and soak in his familiar warmth. I have missed Darius beyond words. When I pierce his neck and taste his truth the scene before me comes together. “How did she taste my love?” I drink from him and read his most intimate thoughts; I feel blood filling his cock at my invasion. I see his desire for me and his self-loathing for his feelings for Oriel. I pull my fangs from his neck and lick the spilled blood away. “She tastes like divinity my love.” Darius answers me with lust in his eyes. “Yes, I can see that from your thoughts. I’ll have to wait to get my turn with her” I turn Darius around and embrace him fully, it feels so good to hold him again after all this time. Even though I want Oriel my desire for Darius will never go away fully. I think I will love him for as long as I live. I can see he is surprised with my reaction to his thoughts and with what happened today. I have never been one to share or place others needs above my own, but I see that he has struggled with this. I see his love for me. If what it takes to win my queen is share her affection with someone who I love deeply as well then that will be easily managed. I will just have to keep to that damned blood oath and wait until its my time to show my mate all that I have planned for her.
When Oriel walks into the receiving room with Irvin my heart start racing. I have thought about her so often and I saw her in Darius’s thoughts just now, but her beauty is astounding. The fiery young girl is gone and, in her place, stands a fierce goddess. Her hair is dark red with all of these lovely light almost white streaks throughout, it makes it look like the sun is shining down directly onto her head. She is taller than I remember, probably one of the tallest women that I’ve ever seen. She is just a head shorter than me, and I am considered on the larger side. Her body is curvy and lovely, her hips flare out and her dress works to contain her plentiful breasts. Her skin is pure, and sun kissed with little freckles on her cheeks, her lips are full and pillowy. After seeing her kiss and lick at Darius’s mouth it makes me hungry to taste her. She is beyond beautiful with her unique mismatched eyes and every cell in my body is responding to her. I know my eyes are black with lust, and my fangs are aching to bite down on her long, slender neck. Seeing her react to me has my chest puffed out in pride. It may only be biological, but it pleases me non the less. Her chest heaves and she starts to pant when I pull her into my arms and hug her tight. “It’s been far too long princess; I hope you were a good girl while I was gone.” I smile wickedly at Darius when she gives a little moan as I place a gentle kiss on her neck.
Oriel:
What the fuck is happening to me. I had planned on coming down and showing Rowen just how much, I have grown. Ready to gloat in the success that I have had since he left. Instead, he has me panting and eager for him. I need to get control of my body again and quick.