I woke to a burning sting upon my cheek, for someone would not cease striking it, soft but insistent, urging me back to the realm of the living.
The voice was unknown to me yet my body reacted in a way that made me feel I was used to this stranger's touch.
Heat clenched low in my stomach before I'd even forced my eyes open.
My vision swam at first, shadows pulling into shapes, until they cleared enough to reveal him. Crimson eyes fixed upon me, startling in their brightness, yet held steady with the watchfulness of a hunter.
I startled upright, near leaping from his hold. He rose with me, and at his full height I felt impossibly small… smaller even than that creature—Skathling, was it? His frame was lean, almost slight, yet carried a strength that was both striking and unsettling.
My eyes returned to his face, carved in stillness. "Who are you?"
"Who are you? Is that how your people show gratitude?" His words carried a faint lilt, an accent I could not place.
I forced myself to straighten, though my gaze caught on the beheaded creature sprawled in the dirt. He had saved my life, whether I liked owing him or not. "Thank you," I managed at last, the words sounding far too small. "And to whom do I owe that debt?"
The question sought his name, yet my eyes betrayed me, sliding lower to his chest, broad and obscured by dark cloth. If only the garment were fitted… I would not be left wondering how it looked without it.
"Lucas," he said simply.
I frowned. "Lucas what?"
"None of your business." His tone was flat, grim.
"Lucas None-of-your-business," I echoed, tilting my head. "That's an odd name. Rare, I suppose."
His lips twitched—almost a smile—but it vanished just as quickly. Odd man. And yet, people thought I was the strange one.
"Where are you from?" I pressed, careful not to sound too eager.
"NOYB."
"Noyi…?" I began, brow furrowing, but he cut me off.
"None of your business."
I pursed my lips. I wanted to call out his insolence, chastise him like the princess I was bred to be… but I had no interest in being a princess today.
"For your kindness," I said instead, "I wish to repay you."
One brow arched. "I don't want your money."
I almost snorted, covering it with a cough. "Not money. Kind."
I hesitated, weighing how best to lay it plain: I wished to bed him. Surely the gods had thrown him in my path for a reason, and I had no intention of letting him slip away before I was chained to Harold.
His eyes sharpened, as though he'd plucked the thought from me. "I do not want your virginity, if that is what you're offering."
I barked a laugh, so hard I nearly teared up. "My virginity? Gods, no. I disposed of that myself on my eighteenth birthday." Not my proudest tale, but not a shameful one either.
When the laughter died down, I looked back at him—really looked—and found his eyes glinting with amusement. For the first time since meeting him, his face bore expression.
I squared my shoulders once again. "I offer you something far greater."
"And that is?"
"The honor of making me cum."
This time, his mouth twitched again, fighting back laughter, but his eyes shone with open amusement.
"Make you cum?" he repeated, voice low, incredulous. "I thought you meant to repay me."
"Yes," I said sweetly, chin tilting with a mock grace. "And this is a befitting repayment."
He stepped forward, and I nearly grinned, certain he was about to give in. Because who turns down an offer from a gorgeous woman? Let alone a princess?
Apparently, he did. He turned on his heel and started walking away.
"Where are you going?" I called after him, stunned.
"I'm not interested in whatever you have to offer me."
That stung. My temper flared, and I decided it was time to remind him exactly who I was.
"You must not know who I am," I said, voice hardening.
"I do not care to know who you are," he replied without pausing.
I ignored the jab and pressed on. "If you did, you'd know it's treason to turn your back on the princess of Novami."
That did it. He froze mid-step.
A smirk tugged at my lips, but I forced it away the second he turned slowly to face me. He stood exactly ten feet away from me.
And then… he smiled. In a wicked sinful way. In a way I wanted to taste and feel. And I felt myself growing warmer beneath his gaze.
"The princess?" he asked, stepping closer.
I bit back the urge to roll my eyes. Of course he would suddenly smile and suddenly want my attention after revealing my identity. He was just like the others… desperate for power and relevance.
Men are utter scums. But I didn't mind using this ravishing scum to please myself.
"It is as I said," I replied evenly.
"What's a princess doing in the woods dressed like that?" he asked, his smile stretching even more, hinting at a dimple.
Dimples had never looked good on anyone. Until now. Just when I thought I couldn't have been more aroused by this stranger.
Oh dear.
"I am a warrior first and princess second."
"A warrior?" he asked bemused. "Yet you couldn't handle a scathling?"
"I'd only just learned of its existence," I snapped, hoping my voice didn't carry the frustration that was starting to bubble in my chest.
"You are a princess, yet, you do not know of the dangers that surrounds you?" he questioned.
As much as his words were true, I did not like his tone. But then I really do need to see what else that mouth can do, especially between my legs.
"Like I said, this is new knowledge to me. But It would thrill me to let the king know it is not only werewolves who strip flesh."
"Werewolves—" he started.
I cut him off. "I don't have time to waste. Will you make me cum or not?"
Silence stretched sharp between us. Finally, he said, "For your sake… I will not."
And again, he turned to leave.
"Please," I called after him, desperation cracking through. "If you don't make me cum right now, I might never in my life."
That stopped him. He turned back, confusion shadowing his expression.
Seeing I've got his attention again and it might probably be the last he will give it to me I decided to lay my cards bare.
"My father wants me to marry an old man to send me away before the beasts arrive, I need… I need to cum at least once in my life before I get married to the old man. Please make me cum."
I was very much aware of how pathetic I sounded.
And suddenly a realization struck. Maybe he was pulling away because like the others I have fucked, he does not know how to pleasure a woman.
The thought cooled me, and I stepped back, ready to retreat. But then he started walking back to me. Just as he was few steps away from reaching me, I heard my name being called.
"Princess Elara! Princess Elara!!!"
My head snapped toward the voices. Damn it. Guards.
I turned back to Lucas None-of-your-business, just to find him gone.
A tear slid down my eyes… And I harshly brushed it off before I turned to the direction where I had heard the guards call for me.
"Over here!"
They came rushing to my direction soon after. All six surrounding me.
"Princess, your father demands your return. If you do not cooperate we've been given orders to drag you back."
"Let's see you try," I said flatly to the guard who had spoken.
"What—" he stammered, then forced on a mask of bravado and lunged.
I moved before he reached me, striking quick, dropping him to the ground. In the same breath, I wrenched his sword free and leveled the blade at him.
His eyes went wide, and then I saw it—the spreading stain darkening his trousers. Pathetic.
I rolled my eyes and tossed the sword aside. Without another word, I turned and began walking. The others trailed behind, none daring to get too close.
After walking for a while, I looked back at the spot where the stranger had been standing some minutes back.
"I hope your cock fails as you've failed me, Lucas None-of-your-business."
With that, I faced forward again and began the grim march back to the palace.