Page 12 of The Lost Princess

She was mine to take care of.

The wind whipped my hair around me, tickling her face and nose. She whimpered, looking past my shoulder as I spied the edge of the rock that marked my cave. We were almost there.

Then she looked down.

“AAAAAaaahhh!!!

Her distress call pierced my soul, her body tensing as she squeezed the air from my lungs and chest. I wanted to reassure her that everything was fine, and that safety was right up ahead. But no matter how I tried, I couldn’t form words. Had I ever been able to?

So I simply kept climbing, trying to ignore her cries. They were making me anxious and twitchy. I was afraid someone else would hear her and try to take her away from me, convinced I couldn’t take care of her.

I hauled both of us over the smooth edge of the cliff, releasing my hold on her. She plopped to the ground and scampered on all fours away, dodging past me toward the opening of the cave.

I followed.

“Nnnoo! Geeh uhwaay.”

I didn’t understand her words, but the fear was clear. I was getting frustrated. I’d healed her the best I could, and now I had brought her to the safety of my home to rest and recover. I had done nothing to make her unhappy or to deserve her screeching.

I picked her up easily with one hand under her belly, and pulled her away from the edge. I dropped her gently toward the back wall on a pile of furs and set about starting a fire. Her screeching stopped, but she continued to make sad, pathetic noises at me.

My shoulders hunched, and I felt like I was failing her. By the time the fire was roaring and smoke drifting up toward the small hole in the stone overhead, she’d gone quiet. A sucking sound drew my attention, and I watched as she quickly emptied her small container. I held my hand out, and she clutched it to her chest. I simply waited, and she reluctantly handed it over. I sniffed it.Water.

I could get more water. I pointed at it and mimed drinking more. She glanced at me, confused. She dug into another small pouch at her side, withdrawing some odd bits of dried meat. She held one out to me, and my nose wrinkled in disgust.

What paltry offerings. Did she not realize I would bring her fresh meat?

That was how I would ease her fear, and prove my worthiness. I would fetch her water and meat, and then she wouldn’t fear me. Perhaps she’d even let me lick her blood again, and—

A small whimper of pain brought me out of my thoughts. Her small fingers were around her ankle again, trying in vain to move the heavy metal band that was stuck around her flesh. It looked painful, stuffed against the iron like that.

I thought hard, feeling like I knew what to do. It was there in my mind, but buried beneath the darkness. I’d have to venture into it if any answers were to be had.

I glanced at her exhausted, pain-filled face, her pale skin shimmering as a patch of sun hit it through the few openings in the cave. I would do this for her. I would do anything to take that sad look away, and make her unhappy sounds disappear.

I leaned in close, inhaling her scent. Her wide eyes took me in, indigos and blues swirling vividly. The purple reminded me of something, or someone. But it was too hard to find, swallowed by the darkness in my mind.

One clawed finger gently stroked her swollen ankle, and she made a despondent sound. Instinct had me lean closer, almost nose to nose with her. She smelled clean and fresh and bright enough to chase away the darkness in my thoughts.

Her lips parted in front of me, her scent abruptly shifting into something sweet with a tinge of spice: arousal.

A bit of the darkness in my mind cleared, and it came to me in an instant: mate.A long-forgotten bit of knowledge dangled in front of me, suddenly as clear and crisp as a ringing bell.

I wanted her to be my mate.

My claws gently raked through her hair, reveling in its silky texture. It was almost the same color as her white skin—different from the humans and yet familiar—beautiful. Her eyes drifted closed, and I buried my nose happily in the crook of her neck.

Her small hand landed on my chest, but she didn’t push me away. Instead her fingers danced along my muscles, exploring and brushing. Was my female teasing me?

I lifted my head to look at her, her lips almost brushing mine. I wanted to know what they felt like, so I touched mine to hers.

She gave a small gasp, almost inaudible. I stroked my lips gently against hers, admiring their softness, and how plump they were. I ran the textured edge against her lips and she shuddered, opening her mouth wider.

I don’t know why, but I put my tongue inside her mouth, matching our mouths up together. She made a small noise of surprise, but didn’t pull away. The arousal scent increased.

Then she moved her tongue against mine.

It was the strangest sensation, and yet my new favorite activity. Our tongues battled for dominance inside our mouths, almost as if we were fighting. I growled, enjoying the challenge. I pressed my body into hers, my enlarged cock pressing against her bare thigh.

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