Aeress

     She watched all the men and women who surrounded her. "As Viceroys, do you work closely with War... Premier?" 

     A majority of them had mixed responses. "Premier is a very busy man," Viceroy Maribelle replied, "being a part of Viceroy, we are trusted to operate and oversee packs and creatures alike without the supervision of Premier." 

     Aeress smiled out of instinct. "I'm sure that's the reason for his lack of attendence."

     Viceroy Katrin made sound of higher volume. Her orange locks were brushed off and away from her forehead, bringing attention to her more prominent eyebrow bone. Yet... She was silent. 

     Before Aeress could question her, Viceroy Diana cut in, "how are you finding the Temple of Godhead?" 

     Aeress sighed and pushed around her food. "It's a beautiful place. I haven't seen anything like it. I'm definitely starting to appreciate it more now that I've been given room to breathe." 

     Viceroy Diana nodded with sympathy. "With the impending trials, we can only imagine your stress. We thank you for having the time to sit here with us."

     Aeress knew that they were most likely in just as much or more stress than she, but were being polite. "They haven't specified when I will actually be tested. I feel like any minute now they are going to bust through the doors and tell me it's time." 

     Maribelle laughed. "Yes, The Guides are very secretive, this anyone can attest to. Though, I'm sure they are excited to finally be given a purpose." The sass there couldn't be missed. 

     Both of the twins sent Maribelle a disapproving scowl. "Verifying the true identity of Godhead is an essential role they must navigate cautiously through." 

     Katrin waved her hands. "They don't, the trials do!" 

     Aeress felt Godhead coming to. "You want to speak with her?" She could tell Godhead was eager to speak with them.

     Each and every person was silenced. 

     "I am the mate of Premier, but I have a feeling..." Aeress said into the quietness. She was just speaking the truth. "You came to see if I really had Godhead within me. Well, I can tell you... I do. If you want to see her, I should warn you of her more extreme ways. Not that I need to tell you. These are things you've heard since the beginning." 

     Viceroy Diana waited before respectfully replying, "any one of us would be honored to meet the true mother of werewolves, but... It would be unwise to make contact without the consent of the Guides or Premier." 

     Aeress sat back. She wouldn't lie, she was slightly disappointed. "Okay, then. Just thought I'd put it on the table-" 

     The doors to the dining room burst open. 

     All men and women jumped up with weapons raised. 

     "Viceroy, Ms. Lupyn." He bowed lowly. 

     Viceroy Katrin spoke up. "Well, you've interrupted our dinner with the mate of Premier, what is it you need?" 

     He glanced nervously to Aeress. "My apologies. There has been reported trouble in the southeast and west territories." 

     The twins stepped forward along with Katrin. "If you'll excuse us, Ms. Lupyn?" 

     Aeress looked down at her almost empty plate. "This sounds important and it looks like all of you are eager to take care of the problem. Please, go ahead. Don't let me stop you." 

    They all graciously thanked her like she had just made it rain cash on them before bolting out. 

     Maribelle lingered behind as if she feared to leave Aeress on her own. She bowed another time. "Enjoy the rest of your dinner... Godhead." Finally she exited too. 

     Aeress sat alone and stared at her plate. No point in letting it go to waste... So she dug in. 

____________________________________________

     She stepped out of the room with full intentions of taking a professional dive straight into her welcoming mattress before sleeping like the dead. 

     But right as she turned a corner, her senses picked up a silent presence. It was clearly someone trying to sneak up on her. Not wanting to let them think they could catch her off guard, she immediately flipped around to knock the poor soul out. 

     Instead of that though, her arm was caught, she was dragged into some random room, and pinned against a wall so quickly, she had to catch her breath before any panic could set in. 

     "You're getting better."

     Her eyes widened and she was breathless for a whole different reason. "Warrick?" 

     The ridges and dips of his front were pressed against the back of her, most importantly where her bottom was tucked against his... intimate area. In instinctive response, her body warmed with lust she hadn't known in a while. "What are you doing?" She shoved against him, but this just tightened his hold. 

    "You fought, I fought back." 

    "Get. Off. Now." He released her, but she could sense his displeasure. 

     Aeress twisted around and punched him so hard that her hand hurt from the impact. Instead of fearing his anger or the possibility of retaliation, she was satisfied when he wiped the tiniest bit of blood from his lip. "That one was free. The next one won't be." 

    A shiver travelled up her spine, melting into her arms and stomach, making her whole body feel the urge to quiver. She got a good look at him. He looked darker and deadlier than ever. He looked like a starved man. 

     "What are you doing here?" 

     "You're my mate-" 

     "You know, you keep saying that, but I'm through with that bullshit. You're using it against me. Making me feel like the asshole when I get angry. So stop saying that. It doesn't matter that we're mates!" She pointed her finger at him. "These last couple of weeks, you've left me to figure this shit out on my own. You lied to me. Wanna know what you lied about?" 

     He looked her straight in the eyes. Unflinching. Ready to take what she had to give.

     She stepped closer till they were practically kissing. Aeress hated that her eyes watered. "You said you would help me. Train. Learn. Hell, simply just survive. But you haven't. And it's too late now." 

     "You're right." 

     She didn't expect that, taking a step back in shock. "Well... Yeah." 

     Was that remorse in his eyes? He watched her and closed the distance between them. "You've been right this whole time. There are things I can't tell you, things I haven't been telling you, things I wish I could tell you." 

    She couldn't help herself. She could practically feel his frustration on her skin. Another step closer. "And you can." Her hands encircled his neck. "Trust me, honesty is the best policy." 

     He shook his head at her attempt at banter. "I understand your anger, I can feel it along with my own. There is no other way, Aeress, there isn't." 

    "Then why are you here?"

    "You know why." His hold around her strengthened. 

     Warrick was just so damn handsome that even when he angered her to no end, she could still kiss the hell out of him. "What now?" She gestured to the fact that they were in a very intimate embrace, which Warrick specifically said they couldn't be in. 

     He didn't respond but instead laid his face in the crook of her neck. She closed her eyes and knew they were doing something wrong. Warrick inhaled her like her was a freshly baked pie or a steak that just came off the grill. Something sweet, something savory, but most of all something delectable. 

    She could've pushed him away, called him every name in the book, reprimand him until he was nothing to her. 

     But underneath her anger and accusation, there was a far more dangerous truth. Because the truth was that Warrick had somehow managed to slither his way under her skin and in no way could be shaken off. Aeress cared about him and saw him as more than a terrifying but handsome face. He didn't just provide her with physical pleasure. He meant more to her than that. 

     So while she could have easily put a bullet through his leg, she knew she would kiss it better afterward too. 

     Aeress sighed and held onto him. She breathed in his masculine, unique scent and desired to be covered with it. 

     She lifted his face and softly pressed her lips to his. It was an electric collision, while so subtle and gentle on the surface, below was a raging flame of want and need. He didn't pull away like she expected him to. No, his lips pressed more roughly against her before he began to really kiss her with the weight gravity, almost like he had finally weakened against her and embraced what she was beginning to believe as inevitable.  

     They were equally rough with each other. Pulling and tugging at each other's clothing while attempting to never lose the sensual battle happening between their tongues and lips. They clashed, hurting each other as much as they were pleasuring each other.

     She had him against the wall. She undid his belt and then his pants. "You're mine, you understand that?" she growled in a far more deeper voice. "Every inch of you belongs to me. "Especially," she took a hold of his manhood, "this." 

     Aeress relished in his reaction as he bit down on his lip so hard that he drew even more blood. Not missing a beat, she leaned forward and licked it off. They had a stare off, all the while she used her hand on him. 

     As it was impossible to lose the taste of his skin on her tongue, she ripped open his shirt and trailed downward until her mouth was centered right where they both wanted it. 

     His hand slipped through her hair until he had a painful grip on her locks. She liked that she had him so wound up and wanted to see what happened when she pushed him over the edge.

    "Guide me, Warrick, show me what you want." Even just her breath brushing against his aroused flesh made him squirm with anticipation. 

    He slid himself into her mouth and that was all the consent she needed. 

    Being with him was like experiencing everything for the first time. Old memories of her past sexual relations were replaced by the taste of him, the sound of him as she pleasured him. This was how it was supposed to be. 

     Aeress didn't care about anything other than him. She listened to him, what drove him mad, what made him quiver. It was a lot, she wouldn't lie, but after a while, she got in the specific rythm that encouraged his hips to rock against her. She breathed him in, taking in all she could until he finally burst. 

     She herself felt a swell of pride and came to a shakey stance. Her hand wound behind his neck and placed a searing kiss on his lips. He wasn't allowed to pull back until she was thoroughly satisfied. She finished off with another lick against his lips. It was like she was marking herself with him.

     Warrick watched with a kind of dazed look, his eyes following her movements as she pulled up his pants and fixed his clothes. His shirt couldn't be salvaged. "I-" 

     She shook her head. "If you're going to say it was a mistake," she brushed a finger across one of his flushed cheeks. "Save it. I know what I want." Her eyes pierced his. "Now it's time for you to figure out what you want." She left him with, "I won't be waiting forever."