Once Sebastian had left and I had finished my meal Kade presented me with a bottle of water and two pills. "Here this should help with the pain." I took the pain killers and swallowed them with a gulp of water. "Now lets get you cleaned up." Kade gently scooped me up into his arms and walked into the bathroom.
Once Kade had me settled on a small bench beside the tub he proceeded to fill it and add scented oils to the water. I watched as he moved around the room gathering soaps, shampoos, large fluffy towels, and anything else we probably didn't need. As my eyes followed him a playful smile tugged at my lips, and without a thought I caressed the bond mark on my neck.
Kade stopped what he was doing instantly and turned to face me. "I love how much I can influence you." I grinned, but before I could touch the bond mark again he had lifted me up and placed me in the tub.
In the moment it too me to wipe the water from my eyes and look up at him Kade had stripped himself of his clothing.
I could do nothing but stare. The light from the bathroom cast shadows over his lean muscular form. I had seen him naked over the last two weeks but in my heat addled state I was not able to truly appreciate the beauty of my mate. His pale skin seemed to glow in the warm light and I could see the faint scars of old battles scattered across his chest and arms.
"You are staring little wolf." He chuckled as he stepped into the tub behind me.
I blushed and turned my head away as he settled in the water behind me and gently pulled me back to rest against his chest.
"Let me take care of you." He whispered in my ear as he took a soft cloth, lathered it with soap, and began to gently wash my bruised body. I closed my eyes and sighed in contentment as the warm water and the gentle touch of my mate washed away the aches and pains.
"I could get used to this." I mumbled as I relaxed further into him.
"I hope you do." He rumbled as he placed a kiss on my shoulder.
Once he was done washing me he rinsed me off and then washed my hair with a shampoo that smelled of sandalwood and vanilla. When he was done he turned my face towards him and placed a lingering kiss on my lips.
I smiled as I turned to straddle his lap so I could take a better look at his perfect face and wrapped my arms around his neck. I pulled him in for a quick kiss before I moved down to place more kisses along his jaw and down his neck. Once I got to that spot where his scent was the strongest I rubbed my cheek against it. I heard as Kade gasped at the contact and smiled. "You are really testing my patience Little Wolf." I heard him rumble as I continued nuzzling his neck. "Good." I replied before I bit that spot on his neck, not hard enough to draw blood but it would leave a mark. As he tried to gently pull away I heard a growl escape from deep in my throat. "Mine!" I growled possessively.
Kade froze for a moment before a wide grin spread across his face. "So soon?" He asked as he tilted his head to give me better access.
I had no idea what had come over me, this deep instinctive need to claim what was mine was overwhelming. I needed to mark him, to make him mine, to complete the bond. I opened my mouth and let my fangs descend, something I didn't even know I could do before my heat. I heard as he let out a hiss of pain as I sunk my teeth into his flesh and his blood pooled in my mouth. The taste was electric, like the lifeblood of the earth, ancient and powerful. It sang through my veins, strengthening the bond that was already woven between our souls until it shone brighter than the sun.
I let out a sigh of contentment as I lapped at the wound, cleaning the mark and sealing it with my saliva. When I was done I looked at him, my lips stained with his blood and a feeling of smug satisfaction washed over me.
"Alright, I will give you that one." Kade grinned as he lifted his hand and felt the mark on his neck. "You surprise me Riley." He placed a kiss on my forehead before he stood up and stepped out of the tub.
I struggled to my feet in the tub with a look of wide eyed wonder on my face. "I surprised myself too." I replied as I placed a hand to my lips and came away with Kade's blood still on my face. He came over with a wet cloth and gently cleaned my face before he wrapped me in a large towel and lifted me from the water.
"We will have much to talk about my little wolf." Kade whispered in my ear as he carried me to the bedroom and sat me down on the side of the bed.
Once we were both dried and dressed Kade pulled me into his arms and started to speak. "Now that the mate bond has been completed your change will progress quickly. Those fangs that you have now are akin to baby teeth and your body is still more human than vampire. This also means that you will still be able to function during the day and eat food until the change is complete."
I sat there in Kade's strong embrace as I absorbed what he was telling me. I know at first I was scared and fighting the changes in me, but the bond had started to change my very personality to better facilitate the changes. "What are you thinking Little Wolf?"
I looked up into Kade's worried eyes. "I am worried that I will no longer be myself." I replied truthfully. "I can feel that my very thoughts are no longer the same they used to be before the bond."
I felt as Kade started to rub my back soothingly. "No matter what happens the very core of what make you unique will always be there. The bond does not change that, it only enhances what is already there. However the change into vampire can have an influence on how you see yourself and the world around you."
I tensed in Kade's arms at those words. "Influence me how?"
I felt him sigh before he continued. "It is different for each of us but the fundamentals are all the same. We are creatures that exist at the top of the food chain, and as such our kind can become arrogant and cruel. Most see humans as nothing but a food source, and shifters as either a nuisance or a weapon they can hone and use. You will notice these traits when the council arrives tomorrow."
I didn't like the sound of that. I knew that the only reason why the council was coming was because of me. It seemed that even though I had a fated mate that I would still have to prove my worth. "Why are they coming? To challenge you?" My brow furrowed as my mind started to race.
"Not exactly. They are coming to meet you yes, but they are also coming to force me to take my Father's seat at the council table. They are just using your arrival as a convenient excuse."
I felt the wave of disgust that flowed through the bond and I knew that there was a deeper reason for him not wanting to take this seat, but I didn't want to push him to tell me something he wasn't ready to share.
I felt as a new wave of pain shot through my body as it tried to heal from the roughness of my heat.
"Lie down Riley." Kade instructed as he scooped me up from the bed and settled me against the pillows.
He then went over to the wardrobe and pulled out some cream that smelled of lavender and mint. He came back to the bed and started to gently rub the cream into my bruised skin. As the cream seeped into my aching muscles I could feel them start to relax and the throbbing pain started to subside. A contented sigh escaped my lips as I felt Kade's cool touch and the soothing cream work their magic on my body.
"I didn't think vampires could get bruises." I mumbled as I looked down at the dark purple splotches that were scattered across my pale skin.
"We can. But they heal faster than a human. However since your change is still in its early stages you are healing at a much slower rate. Hence the bruises." He explained as he gently worked the cream into my hip.
"So once my change is complete I won't bruise like this?" I asked as I looked down at the marks that were a clear sign of our rough mating.
"You will still bruise, but not as easily as you do now." He replied as he finished applying the cream and pulled the blankets up to my chin.
"Rest now, I will wake you for dinner." Kade smiled down at me as he made his way to the door. "I have some work to attend to but I will be back soon. Jiro and Sebastian will be close if you wake and need anything before I return." I nodded and closed my eyes to get more much needed sleep.