It is already morning when we are both spent from a long, passionate lovemaking. I am filled with his seed, and his cum already dried up on my legs, but I know it will be a miracle if another life will result from it.
He pulls me to his chest and entwines his limbs with mine. He's playing on my hair while giving small kisses on my face. I close my eyes. I am too exhausted that I can no longer move a muscle. I am drifting off to sleep, but the way his fingers trail along my skin is waking me up at inopportune times.
"I love you, Kaiya," he whispers and I snuggle closer to him. "We'll be together from now on."
"Hmmm…" I whisper, my forehead touching his chest. I am engulfed by his lavender scent, even if I know that we should smell like sweat and sex mingled together.
"Five of my harem women are pregnant with my heirs."
My eyes flutter open, but I didn't move. His children. The cause of my pain. I shake my head. It's unfair to think of unborn children like that. So instead, I lift my weakened arms and wrap them around his body.
"They say two of them is a boy," he continues. "The rest are girls."
"Are you happy?" I ask.
His fingers stop playing with my hair. I sense him tense in my hold. He pulls back and raises my chin so I can look into his eyes. There is also violet in his eyes. It's strange but exquisite.
"I am happy I have children. But the main reason is that I can be with you whenever I want. I don't need to control myself. I can shower you with love, in every aspect of your life."
I flinch. Is it true? Does he really love me like this? Even when he can't feel the mate bond? But since I was his teacher, ain't this just adoration for his previous mentor?
He gives a light kiss on my lips. "From now on, we can do this every day and every night."
He's lying again. There's no way he can do what he's promising. I might have believed it before, but not anymore. I've learned a lot since coming here. I would need to thank both Harbin and Klevon for that.
But never mind that. All I need is his love and his presence. And if his love fades, as most humans do, maybe, he will let me go.
There is a knock on the door, and Theo automatically takes the blanket to cover my nakedness. He places a resounding kiss on my head and smiles. "Here's our distractors."
I cover my body up to my chin. And see that it's one of his generals. Someone I haven't met before. The two glance at me and I raise the blanket higher to my face. Ashamed of the state of my bed.
Theo closes the door and saunters back to me. He reaches for my waist and touches his body to mine before he kisses my lips.
When he pulls back, he promises, "I will need to go now. But I will be here tonight."
I nod. Even if I didn't put much faith in his promise. He is the king, he can come and go whenever he wants. And I am expected to be here, always waiting for him. I purse my lips as I watch him enter the bathroom.


*******************************
Brandon hands me a bow and arrow made of flexible material. Not wood and metal. It's more like rubber, but not quite like it. And somehow, I sense familiarity with it.
"What is this material called?" I ask.
"Laquisha," he answers.
"That sounds like a name of a woman."
"Because it is. Laquisha created this material from magic."
I nod. "Where is this from?"
"From Stine's family. I am loaning it to you. Once you learned how to use it, I will need to take it back. It's expensive."
I nod again as I sample the weight of the bow in my hand. It is very light as if it is made for women. I pull on the string end. It's manageable but I need to put a bit of my strength. Being a werewolf, this is no problem at all.
"You already got the basics for swords and knives, so we will continue to the bow and arrow."
I look around. We are in a clearing with a fixed target in front of us. This place is behind the castle, on the edge of the courtyard, where very few people pass through.
"So, all I need is to hit the center of the target… but for how many times before I pass?"
"I will be the judge, not the number of hits you got," he answers.
Fair enough. So, I face the target and ‌pull on the strings.
"Your posture is wrong," he comments. He pulls my elbow up and makes me straighten my back.
I let the arrow fly. It's depressing. It didn't even reach the target. I hear a disappointing sigh from Brandon.
"Sometimes, I doubt if you really are a werewolf."
I scowl at him. "I am stronger than most female humans!"
"Females. Not the guys."
"I am also stronger than most males!"
He crosses his arms on his chest and asks, "Among the King's generals, which one is weaker than you?" I look away. No one. They are all stronger than I am. He exhales. "This is the reason why werewolves lost the war. You guys grew weaker. You also use little magic."
I am surprised when he goes behind me and winds his arms around my shoulders. His hand touches both my wrists, guiding me on how I should position myself to hit the target.
He pulls my arm towards him and envelops my other hand in his. He pushes his body against me so I can straighten up. And then I let go. It hits right on the center of the target.
I am delightedly surprised. I could have jumped if only I were not trapped in his arms.
"You're warm," Brandon suddenly comments.
I blink at his observation while I drop my bow and arrow. His arms wind around my shoulders and he snuggles his head on the crook of my neck and shoulders. Goosebumps appear and I stay petrified at his touch.
"My ice magic is compatible with your fire magic," he whispers, which tickles my neck. "It is warming me up."
I know he is just saying that matter-of-factly, but I can't help but feel uncomfortable at his nearness.
"Ahm, Brandon?"
"Hmmm…"
"You are suffocating me," I say.
As if waking up from his slumber, he pulls back and makes a couple of steps back. He is flushing scarlet, as he continuously bows at me. "I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I don't exactly know what came to me. It's just, with my ice magic, I am always cold, and your fire feels like a nice change."
"It's o-"
"Ah! You want to kill me?" He takes a knife from his holster and removes the guard. Then, he kneels before me and offers his knife.
"You can kill me," he says. "As punishment, for even trying to touch a King's lover like that."
I grin at his strait-laced suggestion. "There's no need, Brandon."
"Then what could I offer to gain your forgiveness?"
He is talking quite funny now. I smile. "How about this bow and arrow?"
"I can't. That's from my family heirloom. You better kill me instead."
"What if I pardon you in the future for any similar offense?"
"You are allowing me to touch you?" he frowns.
"Just my hand," I say. "You need a fire magician, right? And Klevon is too disgusted to hold your hand."
He bows his head at me and proclaims. "Thank you for your kindness, but I must decline. I can give you a lower quality mimic, but not this one," he says.
"Why is it lower quality?"
"Because it will deteriorate faster."
I think for a while. "How about a dozen of mimicked laquisha?"
Brandon looks up at me again and grins. "Harbin is doing a great job in teaching you."
I nod, even if it's Klevon who taught me about driving a hard bargain, especially with the nobles. Harbin teaches me the good things about maneuvering the castle issues, and Klevon is the one who gives me a warning. He teaches me the evil in everyone's heart for the pursuit of power.
"Let's go back?" he asks. "So I can already prepare a dozen of lower quality laquisha."
I nod. We walk side by side away from the shooting range, past the courtyard, to the gardens, and then… I stop. I hear peals of laughter. I reach for Brandon's arms to stop him. I search for the origin of the sound and see that it's beyond the four feet hedge.
A few meters away from us, is a bench shaded by a tree. But even at this distance, I will not mistake it. It's Theo and another woman. There is a smile on his face as the woman reaches for his hand to touch her belly.
She doesn't look pregnant yet. Her stomach is flat. The woman says something and they both laugh. Suddenly, the woman moves closer to Theo and plants a quick kiss on his lips. I bite mine at the same time that I take a step away from the scene.
Brandon keeps quiet as we make our way back to the rooms in the palace. I suddenly whirl towards him and bow.
"Thanks, Brandon. See you tomorrow."
And then I run, not caring if it's unbecoming for me to run along the halls. I just need to reach my room soon, before these impending tears fall.