Page 78 of Blood Bearon
Knowing she was at the edge as well proved to be too much for Khove, and with a roar, he exploded inside of Rachel, wave after wave of pleasure accompanying each pulse of his cock. Rachel came as well, and he drank it in, letting her climax amplify his own. Their cries drew down into moans, into soft gasping.
Grabbing her by the waist, Khove gently brought them both to the floor, until he was laying on top of Rach, resting most of his weight on hands and knees but still deep inside her.
“Wow,” Rachel mumbled after an unknown amount of time had passed. “That certainly was…intense.”
“Yeah.” He chuckled. “I’m going to need a bit longer before I’m ready to go again after that one. That was hot.”
Rachel giggled. “Not a problem. I need water before anything.”
“Same. Though if it’s all the same to you, I’m not quite ready to move yet.”
His mate laughed some more and wiggled her butt against him. “I can handle that,” she said in a soft, intimate voice.
“I can definitely handle that.”
Khove smiled to himself. He didn’t know what would happen during the assault on Ursidae Manor, but he would use this memory to help him ensure he came back to her.
To his mate.
37
By morning, still no attack had come.
“What is he waiting for?” she asked the hallway, no longer content to mull the question over quietly to herself.
Rachel was on a razor’s edge. By now, she simply wanted the attack to commence, so it could either be repelled, or they could all die. She was done with the waiting, the anxiety that gnawed away at her insides with every ticking second, minute and hour that passed without anything happening.
Khove had assured her it would happen and happen soon. That was why the alert status only lasted six hours. Any more than that, and focus started to waver. They switched frequently to ensure they were always fresh.
How much longer would it be? Didn’t shifters heal faster? How long did Korred need to regain his strength before he could attack? The lack of movement against the Manor worried her for another reason, one she hadn’t brought up to Khove yet, because he didn’t need the distraction.
Rachel had started wondering if perhaps the hint at the coming attack wasn’t a warning, but instead a diversion. With Khove and every other shifter penned up in the Manor, there was nobody to defend Plymouth Falls. Korred could run rampant over the town, and she wouldn’t know it until someone else told her.
That was what had sent her to wandering the hallways. The fear of the unknown. Khove was still sleeping, and she’d been determined not to disturb him. Between the fight yesterday and his exertions at night, he needed every minute of sleep to ensure he was at peak performance today. Rachel wasn’t going to be the reason he got hurt or killed.
Now she was wandering the hallways, feeling more alone than ever. There were supposedly hundreds of shifters in residence there, but with a third of them asleep, a third in defense positions around the property, and the other third fulfilling other tasks, the huge palace-like house felt practically abandoned.
Up ahead, a pair of shifters in combat gear marched through the intersection, only visible briefly. Curious as to why they were patrolling inside, she made her way closer. The nearer she got, the more Rachel realized the hallway crossing hers was different from the rest.
First of all, it washuge. Easily half again as high ceilings, and wide enough for ten men to walk without rubbing shoulders, it exuded a classical grandeur she hadn’t experienced anywhere else in the Manor yet.
“What is this place?” she said aloud but to herself, looking around in wonder at the various paintings and tapestries that hung from the walls. Overhead, other banners hung across the hallway from gold-plated bars. There were sigils and insignias written, but she couldn’t understand any of them.
“This is the Grand Hallway.”
Rachel jumped at the soft female voice, spinning around to find herself face to face with a woman about her size. Whereas Rachel’s eyes were of bright, vivid blue, this woman’s were strikingly green, standing out immediately, drawing all attention to them.
“Um, hello, um, Queen, uh. Queen Ursa.” Rachel said awkwardly, not sure how to address the woman in public. “I’m sorry, did I just cut you off? I didn’t see you and I…” she stepped out of the way, trying not to flinch as two huge guards stepped up to flank the Queen on either side.
“No, not at all.” The jade circles danced with gentle laughter. “You’re not the first person to appreciate the beauty of this place and become unaware of everything else. It’s nice to see you back here again Rachel. And please, call me Kaelyn.”
Rachel noted the way one of the guards frowned as the woman stuck her hand out, but she wasn’t about to ignore that sort of politeness. “Good to be here.”
“I understand you came back last night with Khove to warn us?”
“Yeah, basically,” she said sheepishly, deciding maybe it wasn’t the best idea to say she hadn’t wanted to come. That would just be acting a poor guest. She didn’t want to offend her hosts.
“Well, thank you. It is appreciated.” One of the guards shuffled, and the woman rolled her eyes. “Come, walk with me. Knox here wants me back in the Throne Room where he can feel safer.”
