Lycan King

He made her feel like a woman, not the undead creature she'd become. And he made her forget everything. The only thing that mattered was her and him, embracing with a passion borne of need.

Her body felt like it was ready to snap and she turned her face and squeezed her eyes against the sheer ecstasy building in her limbs and bit into his arm. He groaned from deep within his throat.

A warm pool of pleasure gathered in her core and she raised her face and kissed him with a hunger she didn't know existed in her.

He made a deep, strangled sound in his throat and slipped his hands beneath her, cupping her bottom and ground her against his mounting thrusts and pulls. She threw her head back and bit back screams. She was soaring to a pinnacle where she would find bliss. She cried out as he ground his body to hers and she was hurled to her summit, spiraling out of control, over a precipice, her body quaking with the spasms of her release.

He made a deep, guttural sound and arched his head, his expression dark with arousal. With one final thrust, he spilled his seed into her womb and she dug her nails into his shoulders as her spasms subsided.

They lay in silence for a few moments, their skin sleek with sweat, the breathing ragged. Drago rolled to his side, taking her with him as he wrapped his arms around her.

Eve closed her eyes, sighed and basked in the glorious aftermath of her climax.

A strange, guttural noise alerted her and her eyes flew open. She looked over to Drago and saw his face etched in shock, his eyes turning amber. He pulled from her and staggered out of the bed, his hands clenched to his sides. He gave her a look she could only describe as astonishment. Eve grew frightened.

And then he shifted. He released his Lycan as his body grew, his face changed, his limbs stretched. He raised his head and howled long and loud.

Eve sat up sharply and slid back in one fluid move against the headboard, hissing and baring her fangs. She wasn't going to let him take her in his monstrous Lycan form.

Luckily that wasn't what he had in mind because he shifted back to his human naked form and stared at her with shock. 'You were in front of me all along,' he murmured. 'I always suspected, our bond, my connection to you, but I never believed it to be true until now.'

'What are you talking about?'

'You belong to me now.'

'I belong to no one.'

'I will not let you go. We are bound now for all eternity.'

She had had enough. 'I've been alone for four hundred years, Drago.' She rose from the bed. Unashamed of her nakedness, she walked over to her clothes and started putting them on. With jabs, pulls and tugs, she dressed, angry at him for ruining their moment. She'd wanted to remember this moment with tenderness. She didn't want to recall his arrogance. 'I've come to terms with my destiny. It's an eternity of nothing.' She tossed him a glare as she buttoned her vest over her breasts. 'I suggest you come to terms with your destiny. You said so yourself, your kingdom is your destiny.' Dressed, she bent to grab her weapons and gasped. He moved fast and before she knew it, he was holding her in a vice grip around her waist, dragging her body up against his.

'Lycans control their turning except when they make love to their destined mate, their one and just now I couldn't control my turning. After we made love, I shifted involuntarily.' His expression was tight with suppressed emotions. 'You, my beautiful Eve, are my one!'

She stiffened, staring up at him like he'd lost his mind. 'I…I thought you shifted because your wolf wanted to be released.' She was dazed. 'This is absurd. You told me earlier the legend didn't apply to you.' She was still too shocked to contemplate the full moon rising tomorrow. 'No Lycan has ever mated with a vampire.'

'It appears we just did,' he replied, his face grim.

'In…in the legend, the Lycan's one turns into a werewolf on the next full moon. What will become of me tomorrow when the full moon rises? I am already a vampire. What kind of beast will I turn into?'

'We will face it together.'

She knew he would not be able to accept the biggest obstacle holding them apart. She watched him dress.

'I'm…I'm going to see Katya,' she said and left him before he could say a word.

It was after midnight when Eve went to Katya's room and her daughter was getting ready for bed.

'I can't wait for the assignment I am to take for the king. I've been inside for so long, I'm looking forward to the outdoors.'

Eve frowned. 'What assignment are you talking about?'

'I thought you already knew. I will travel with a few of his guards in a few days to show them where Balkathan's lair is.'

Anger bubbled in her breast. 'No! It's too dangerous.'

'Mama, we won't be riding up to Balkathan's front gate. We'll be a distance away. The king wants to attack in two weeks, but he wants to scout the territory first.'

'I won't allow it! Katya, what if Balkathan has soldiers hiding in the woods, prepared for such invasions?'

'We won't make it as far as the woods, Mama.'

'I don't care! You will refuse the king at once.'

'Refuse me of what?' came the dry comment from the door.