Chapter 26 - A Powerful Love

▪️L E N N A▪️

“Is my woman worried about another man?”

Edric growled softly against my ear, causing a shiver to ripple up my spine.

I did not need to look at him to know that there was a devious yet playful smile on his handsome face. Nonetheless, I took a deep breath and did my best to keep mine straight.

Shaking my head, I replied, “No, should I be?”

“Well, I suppose that would depend on how well-behaved your precious werewolf acts,” he stated while continuing to walk beside me.

The Lycan King, the other high-ranking Lycans, and I were heading towards one of the castle chambers that had been transformed to accommodate our discussions on the war. Here, for the last few days, we had been coming up with various strategies as we deliberated over maps of the Malvar Empire’s landscape.

Today, the werewolves and humans would be sitting in with us for the first time.

Vizra Rorik and Berengar were also scheduled to join.

News of their carriage having arrived a few moments earlier caused tiny pricks of anticipation to flow through me. It was only natural that I was eager to see my best friend again. But it was obvious that I needed to be careful on how I greeted him.

After all, I was no longer a single woman.

I needed to show respect towards Edric as well as our relationship.

It would certainly not bode well if I were to jump on Berengar in front of everyone. I could just imagine how inappropriate it would look to excitedly greet him with my arms around Berengar’s neck while my legs wrapped around his waist.

Even though that was how I had greeted him many times in the past and those embraces were friendly, I supposed that it may not have looked that way from the outside. Especially to Edric and his people.

If a woman, be it Lycan, werewolf, or human, were to jump on my man like that, I knew that it would have caused me to raise an eyebrow or three.

Nonetheless, I was eager to see my best friend again and to train and fight alongside him.

The Lycan King’s deep voice brought me out of my thoughts, “Your silence would suggest that you are anxious. Berengar isn’t even here yet, and already your attention is drifting away from me. Should I be worried?” Edric questioned teasingly.

“Never, Your Majesty. I only have eyes for you…” I winked as I glanced at him.

On purpose, I then put an extra sway in my hips while I walked a little ahead of him, knowing that he had been watching the curve of my derriere through my fitted pants.

He simply grunted in reply as we entered the designated room.

The newly refurbished chamber featured a large rectangular wooden table with intricate designs carved onto the sides as well as on its legs. At the head, stood Edric’s chair. The six high-ranking Lycans were situated in close proximity, three on each side, to be followed by the five Vizras and their first-born who were of fighting age, as well as the five heads of the human healing families with their first-born who were also of appropriate age.

Initially, upon entering the room, I thought that I would be sitting next to my father. However, Edric had instructed another chair to be placed next to his and I was told to take a seat at his side.

As I sat next to the Lycan King, I saw the pride in my father’s eyes as he discreetly nodded at me.

Of course, I did not miss the surprised expressions from the other Vizras. In particular, the subtle look of disapproval from Vizra Leopold had my spine stiffening.

As the rest of the Vizras and human healers filled the remaining seats, I saw the dusky, long blond hair of Berengar as he and his father entered. My best friend’s bright blue eyes immediately found mine, and from the slight twitch of his mouth I knew that he was suppressing a big smile, just as I was masking mine.

“Focus…” Edric whispered while his left hand gave my thigh a warning squeeze.

Nodding, I adjusted myself in my seat and sat up straighter.

I had to admit, it was interesting to see Lycans, werewolves, and humans all sitting together. We all looked the same from the outside, although the Lycans were naturally taller and larger in stature, which was the only indication that they were not a werewolf or human.

Everyone turned to the Lycan King, giving him their undivided attention.

“Greetings, everyone. As you have all been made aware, we have before us an ordeal of the most grievous kind!” Edric’s voice was steady and full of power as he addressed the room.

I felt a tremor run through me at the authority behind his words.

“My older brother Einarr seeks to destroy everything that our ancestors have built. There’s no reasoning with him, and as a result we are going to war. We shall fight him and his army with all of our strength and power!” Edric stated, his eyes moving over each person at the table.

Murmurs of agreement filled the room as most nodded their heads.

Vizra Leopold was the first the speak.

The werewolf was a tall and proud man with short, greying dark brown hair.

“Your Majesty, if I may… From what we know so far about Einarr and his army, does it even make sense to involve the humans? No offense to your sla– I mean to Lenna, but I honestly don’t see how they can be of much help,” Leopold said, voicing his concerns.

I did not miss the Vizra’s insinuation, and my hands gripped the armrests of my chair as I ground my teeth, the words escaping before I could stop them.

“I can show you…”

Leopold had the audacity to throw his head back and laugh, thinking I had made a joke. But when he realised that no one else was joining him, his amusement quickly died down, and he tried to mask it with a cough before clearing his throat.

“My dear, I don’t seek to insult you. I merely ask what I’m sure many of the other Vizras and perhaps the humans themselves are thinking. Clearly, we can’t seek to rely on winning this war by using magic tricks?” Leopold offered.

Staring boldly into his eyes, I replied, “Like it or not, Vizra, this war affects us all. Just because I’m a human does not mean that I don’t have a place in this upcoming battle.”

Leopold seemed surprised at my words.

Using his silence as an opportunity, I quickly added, “Also, it seems that you’ve forgotten one important thing, Vizra Leopold. Einarr himself has resorted to using magic. After all, some of his werewolves can shift out of the moon cycle. So, to them, you will be just as human as we are. No offense…”

At my words, the werewolf’s face paled slightly.

“I appreciate your concerns, Leopold, but let’s face it, we won’t be able to win this war without the combined assistance of the werewolves and humans,” Edric commented.

“Understood, Your Majesty, I apologise…” Leopold answered with a slight bow of his head.

As the discussions around the table continued, the battle plans were explained. It was still undecided where I would be on the battlefield.

Of course, I wished to be at Edric’s side, but he would not even listen to the suggestion. If he had it his way, I would be at the very back, but Faeda and the other Lycans agreed that it would be best for me to be at the very centre of our formation.

The meeting continued for another two hours.

At the end, some of the Vizras and humans had a few additional questions for Edric that they wished to get more details on. So, they would take a short break before resuming their discussion.

Edric and I agreed to meet up later in the afternoon in his study. I told him that I would be heading to the garden to talk with Berengar.

“Don’t get too handsy. Remember, you have a man now!” Edric had pulled me aside to whisper in my ear.

“Don’t worry, you can rub your scent back on me later after I bathe tonight.”

“Oh, trust me Princess, I intend to…” Edric growled softly before letting go of my hand and calling over my best friend. “Berengar, a word.”

I gave Edric a look that said to be nice before I went over to hug my father and headed out into the now empty corridor to wait on Berengar. With a smile, I leaned against one of the stone pillars, feeling confident that we had a chance against Einarr.

“There she is,” the sound of Leopold’s voice grated my ears as he approached.

“Vizra,” I said with a slight nod.

“Slave…”

The top of his lip curled as he snarled, but I ignored his taunt.

Pushing myself off of the pillar, I asked, “You do realise that there are no human slaves in the empire anymore, right?”

As I began to walk past him, Leopold unexpectedly grabbed my right upper arm and disparaged, “Spare me your bullshit, your kind will always be slaves!”

Looking down at his fingers, his grip was tight, almost crushing the longer he held me. I knew that his touch would leave a nasty bruise on my skin and I cringed at the thought of having his mark on me.

Taking a slow deep breath, I raised my eyes from his hand to his face.

“Please unhand me, Vizra Leopold, you do not own me…” I said, my tone calm. “You don’t own any of us anymore.”

“You think because you spread your legs for our King that makes you something special?” Leopold insulted as he continued, “He will soon grow tired of you and will come to his senses. I know he only abolished the laws because of you, I do not know what spell you cast upon him, but I see through your tricks!”

I continued to keep my eyes locked with his, “King Edric abolished the laws because it was the right thing to do!”

The werewolf scoffed as he pulled my body roughly against his, “Please! I hope for the empire’s sake that the Lycan King will soon come to his senses and reinstate the laws. Humans belong beneath us, and when he grows tired of this delectable body of yours, I will have my turn…”

Leopold had lowered his voice while speaking his last few words. His nose was brushing against my hair, inhaling my scent and I flexed my fingers, ready to strike out at him.

“Is there a problem here?” Berengar’s voice suddenly echoed along the corridor walls.

“Ah, young Master Berengar! Good to see you! I was just informing our little human friend here of the way things work in the empire,” the Vizra said with a grin.

Berengar’s gaze narrowed as he observed the way that I was being held, “I don’t think King Edric would take kindly to you handling Lenna in that way.”

A sinister chuckle escaped Leopold as he replied, “What is it with everyone putting this human on a pedestal? Is she fucking you too?”

My best friend’s hands formed fists at his sides as he growled low in his throat.

Sensing that a fight was about to happen, I urged, “Leave it be, Berengar. Let’s go.”

Deciding that he had held me long enough, I wrenched my arm free of Leopold and the look of surprise on his face at my unexpected strength was more than satisfying.

With my shoulders squared, I walked away from Leopold and led my best friend down the corridor.

Upon entering the balcony garden, Berengar grumbled, “You should’ve let me kill him.”

“And what would that have solved? We need to focus on the real enemy. How can we hope to defeat Einarr and his army if we’re too busy fighting amongst ourselves?” I responded as I stood admiring some pink roses.

“Spoken like a true Queen,” he stated with a smile.

Turning to face him, I made a face, “Ugh! Not you too!”

Berengar moved to stand in front of me, “What? I told no lies; you will be Queen someday.”

“If I manage to make it out of this war alive,” I muttered with a half-hearted laugh.

Frowning slightly, he said, “Lenna, nothing will happen to you. You know that I would give my life for you. We all would, so please, let there be no more talk of your death.”

Pouting, I stared into Berengar’s eyes for a few silent moments before suddenly closing the distance between us. Wrapping my arms around his torso, I hugged him closely, my head buried in his chest as I sighed.

Tentatively, his hands slowly encircled my waist, as though unsure if to return my embrace.

“Afraid to hold me?” I taunted.

Chuckling softly, his arms slowly tightened around me, “Bet your ass I am! King Edric is very protective of you and I quite like my limbs attached to my body, thank you very much!”

“Is that what he pulled you aside to do? Threaten to chop you to pieces?” I asked, not surprised at all.

Nodding as we pulled apart, Berengar replied, “That, among other things.”

I rolled my eyes and scoffed as we walked to the balcony railing to look out at the landscape before us.

“You should tell King Edric about what Leopold did,” he advised.

“I’m not worried about the Vizra, I can handle him. Besides, we have more important things to worry about,” I answered truthfully.

“Fair enough.”

We would spend the next hour talking, before Berengar had to leave for the training grounds. He would be brought up to date with what had been going on, as well as be filled in on what his role would be. With a friendly embrace, we kissed each other’s cheeks before parting.

I would remain in the garden to tend to the plants.

About fifteen minutes later, a guard informed me that I had been summoned by the Lycan King.

Smiling, I made my way towards his study, eager that we would be meeting up sooner than we had planned. Not that I was complaining, as I was always excited to see him.

“Let me see it, now!” Edric commanded before I could even close the door.

Caught off guard by the aggressive tone of his voice, I asked, “Whatever do you mean?”

With two quick strides, he was in standing front of me, his nostrils flaring as his eyes locked with mine. His energy pulsed off of him in vehement waves and I did not need to be able to feel his energy to know that he was furious.

“Don’t even attempt to hide it from me. I heard that Leopold had his hands upon you!” Edric was seething, his voice grating as he demanded, “Let. Me. See. It!”

“Dammit, Berengar! Why did he tell you?” I complained while loosening the lacings of my tunic top.

“Because he knew that you wouldn’t,” he replied, his grey-green eyes widening as the bruised skin of my upper arm came into view.

While I contemplated the many ways I would hit Berengar over the head later, I removed my blouse.

Throwing the garment on a nearby chair, I stood in front of Edric in just my cream-coloured brassiere and dark fitted trousers. Crossing my arms over my chest, I waited for his outburst as I tapped my right boot against the stone floor.

The Lycan King’s nostrils flared some more, “I’m going to fucking kill Leopold!”

“Edric!” I grabbed his arm as he attempted to storm out the room. “It’s nothing, I’ll heal it later.”

“Nothing? It’s not nothing, Lenna! Look at your arm! How dare that werewolf lay a hand on you! He knows that you are my intended. To violate you is a direct challenge to me!” Edric shouted, his energy washing over me in blistering and violent waves.

“Calm yourself, my King…” I said softly, projecting some of my soothing energy onto him, feeling his wrath slowly begin to subside.

Grumbling, he pouted like a child, “You aren’t playing fair…”

Laughing softly, I kissed his cheek, “Perhaps not, but I can’t have you attacking one of your own Vizras just for voicing his opinion. No matter how misguided it may be. You and the others have trained me well, have faith in my abilities! If you trust me to protect the kingdom against Einarr’s army, why can’t you trust me to be able to protect myself if someone gets out of hand?”

Pulling me against his chest, “You’re right, forgive me, my love.”

Edric’s head descended as my arms wrapped around his neck, bringing our bodies even closer together. As his lips touched mine, I moaned softly into his caress, our mouths expressing the intense love that we possessed for each other.

When we parted, his voice was husky as he confessed, “I just can’t help but worry over your safety.”

“And I you,” I murmured against his lips. “But I promise, if Vizra Leopold tries to manhandle me again, I will defend myself accordingly.”

Edric grumbled, “So stubborn…”

Beaming up at him I retorted, “And that is why you love me.”

With another grumble, he pulled me to him and buried his head in my neck while his arms hugged me tightly. Smiling, I snuggled into his embrace, the love we had for each other evident.

There was no denying that what Edric and I had was special.

We had a love that was not easily controlled. It was a love of great power, consuming our very soul.