Page 84 of Red Queen

He obliges, fucking me with wild abandon. The pleasure builds within me, intensifying with each thrust until I’m hovering at the brink of release. Just when I think I can’t take anymore, Alexandru slides a hand between my legs and circles my clit with his thumb. The added stimulation sends me tumbling over the edge into ecstasy. I clench around him as my orgasm crashes over me in waves.

With a roar, Alexandru buries himself to the hilt as he finds his release. We collapse onto the bed, breathless and sated. I curl into his embrace, basking in the afterglow of our passion.

I lie in Alexandru’s arms as a sudden surge of power courses through my veins. It feels as if the very essence of my vampiric nature has been revitalized and strengthened. I rise from the bed with newfound power.

At that moment, thekraaingof ravens fills the air. Two of them swoop down and land on my shoulders, their beady red eyes gleaming with intelligence. A third raven perches on my outstretched wrist, its sharp talons digging into my skin. I raise my hand and, with a flick of my wrist, summon three more ravens from the rafters. Their wings beat loudly as they join their brethren, creating a powerful circle around me, their presence further bolstering my courage.

The room goes still, and Alexandru sits up in bed, his stare wide with awe.

My voice rings out clear and strong, leaving no doubt about my intentions and my role in our quest for survival. “Alexandru, we will reclaim my kingdom, and we will have our revenge on Catarina and her army of devious vampires.”

My words hang in the air, filled with conviction. A fierce bond forms between me and my ravens. The birdskraain unison, a haunting chorus that seems to bolster my promise, our shared purpose.

Alexandru stands and walks to me, then reaches out to clasp my hand, his touch grounding me even as the weight of our impending confrontation looms large. “I believe in you, Eleanna. We’ll emerge victorious, and your kingdom will be restored.”

“First, we’ll destroy The Darkened Pulse and show no mercy to our enemies.”

Alexandru nods, his eyes gleaming. “Yes, my Queen.”

The birds echo their approval, and I know Alexandru and I are of one mind now.

With the ravens by my side and the power growing within me, I’m confident we’ll crush Catarina. I’ll reclaim what has been lost, not just for myself but for Alexandru and our people. And I’ll do so by embracing the change that is now inevitable, abandoning the old ways to create a future where friendship and power unite rather than divide.

Chapter

Seventeen

Alexandru

The withered trees stretch their gnarled branches, as if reaching for the sky in a desperate plea, and the fierce winds howl their ominous dirge beyond these walls. I try to find solace in the hallowed quiet of our makeshift sanctuary.

My people, resilient as ever, huddle within the crumbling walls for warmth and protection. From my vantage point, I watch as my loyal soldiers move broken stones and debris to make the area more comfortable for their families and loved ones. Then there are the soldiers and leaders who sought solace with us, something else to feel the guilt fester over.

Their people scattered before this, but I didn’t think about it, letting them bring those who wanted to come with them into my fortress, believing the world would soon be turned to right and Catarina defeated.

Because I thought it was nothing more than simple warfare without magic.

There’s never anything simple about warfare.

The people work to keep their spirits up, but the flickering bonfires offer little relief against the winter chill, a bleak reflection of our dwindling hope.

I sigh with my fists clenched at my sides, the weight of defeat and guilt a heavy burden on my shoulders.

“Damn it all,” I hiss under my breath, eyes narrowing in frustration.

But I stand unwavering, hiding the tempest raging within. My thoughts, unbidden, drift toward Eleanna—her strength undeniable, a bulwark against the barrage of adversity that threatens to overwhelm us.

Perhaps I’d held a few too many preconceptions. Her cruelty was there, but it was from her father. The woman beneath when allowed to breathe and come into her own isn’t cruel. Harsh, yes. But with the makings of a true ruler. And one who can be all things.

A profound love courses through my veins for this remarkable woman—a love that has weathered the storms of adversity and emerged tempered, like steel forged in the fires of trials.

She understands true power doesn’t reside in dominion or the brutish application of force. But rather, it’s carved in the sacred bonds of trust and unity.

The lessons I thought I’d have to spend years teaching her, a reason I wanted a say in how she ruled have been learned. Those basics of foundation.

This epiphany ignites a blazing inferno within, its flames consuming the ashes of despair that once smoldered. If we make it through this, the newfound purpose that surges through my veins, to love her and spend our lives ruling fairly and uniting the realms will be forging new paths. With Eleanna.

I stride from my chamber and find Eleanna in the courtyard, her bright red tresses blazing in the gray of the morning. She’s holding a bow, one eyebrow arched in challenge at me.

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