Blood Ink 7

Seventh Stroke:

"This is she?" an unfamiliar voice asked. It was deep, commanding.
"Yes father, she is," the prince replied.

I opened my eyes. I found myself in a large room painted in red and gold. Bronze columns lined the walls. Sylfs walked in and out of the room, passing behind us, closely followed by their Yfke. Before me was a massive statue of a seated Sylf, its wings spread out, covering the wall behind it. A throne was carved out of the statue's lap, and on the throne sat a middle-aged Sylf with silver and gold wings and icy violet eyes.

Holy ink, I was staring at the Cathor, the King of Agalya himself! And…and…Veryo Skye was still carrying me.

About time you woke up, I heard him say in my head softly.
How…how long was I out? I managed to reply.
About ten minutes. I must say Leja, you liked me carrying you, didn't you?
Why that egotistical…Put me down. Now.

I knew that he so very much wanted to drop me, but he set me down on the floor gently, keeping one hand on my back. The Cathor looked amused.

"Welcome Leja Valkari," the king said. "Your ride here was smooth, I hope?"
"Y-yes…Your Majesty," I said uneasily. "I…I….I apologize for…uh….this."
"It's tiring, considering what you have just gone through," the Cathor said as the women around him giggled. "You are not the first to test the strength of your bond with Skye. Are you hungry, Leja Valkari?" His tone was friendly, but there was no warmth in his eyes.
"N-no thank you, Your Majesty," I said, "I'm not hungry."

And right on cue, my stomach rumbled a protest. The women around the king burst into peals of laughter. I clenched my fists, trying not to turn red with embarrassment. Here I was on my first meeting with the Cathor and I'm already making myself a laughing stock.

"Be quiet," the Cathor said softly but dangerously to the women. "Very well, Skye will take you to his chambers. You may go."

The prince and I bowed respectfully and I let him lead me from the throne room. My energy was sapped, it seems, by the incident earlier outside.

"Why so many?" I blurted out as I followed my Sylf through the hallways. "I thought you all had a "One Soul Only" policy."
The Veryo gave me a look that seemed to say "you are so stupid". "He's the Cathor," he said simply.
"The King can take multiple BloodSouls?"
"No, he can't." Sarcasm dripped from his voice as he rolled his eyes. "I thought you humans had brains."
"We do." I tried to reign in my anger so I could keep myself from crowning him with the nearest heavy object.
"Then use it." He stopped in front of a pair of intricately decorated doors. At the center was a carved image of our tattoo. "Here we are."

He opened the doors and led me inside. My jaw dropped . His rooms could practically fit my whole house! A flat screen TV was mounted on the wall across us, with a lush white sofa facing it. Bookshelves stood near the sofa, and under our feet was a wide, soft red carpet.

"Do you…ever leave your room?" I asked softly.
"When I feel like it," he replied. He gestured to the doors on either side of us. "Bathroom on the left, bedroom on the right. Your belongings are already in there."
"I need to sleep in your room?!" I cried out.
"Well, seeing as we can't stay more than nine or eight feet from each other, you don't have any other choice." He began to walk to the door on the right.
"Can't I…have my own bed?" the thought of sharing the same bed both appalled and thrilled me (much to my self-disgust). I followed him.
A small, arrogant smile touched his lips. "Some tried that before. They couldn't stay in it for more than one night." He pushed the door open.
If it were possible for my jaw to drop any farther, it would've in that moment. "Holy ink."

The bed was a huge four poster, with gold sheets and pillows. And by huge, I meant HUGE. I could easily lie on one end and Veryo Skye could lie on the other without straining our bond.

"Is it big because of your wings?" I asked.
"It's big because I have an Yfke," he said. "Shall we change for bed or should I ask someone to bring you dinner?"
"I'll pass for tonight," I said. "I'll change if you stay as far as our bond will allow and I draw the curtains of the four poster."
"Why? Because that sight is reserved only for that boy?" he asked disdainfully.
I gave him a sweet smile. "Exactly." I went to one of the suitcases and took out my blue nightdress. "Like I said Your Highness, you only have my soul. My soul and nothing else."

He flashed me that smile again and something glinted behind his eyes. Nevertheless, he turned around, much to my surprise. He was planning something, I knew, but his mind was closed to me. But I felt the heat in him, the desire. And to my disgust…I felt it in me as well.

No! I shouted at myself. What the hell are you thinking, Leja?!! You hate this jerk! He took you away from Varos. You can't, CAN'T, feel this! He's playing with you. Don't let him win!

I tried to picture Varos in my mind, to remind myself that he was waiting for me. But I barely got to pull on my nightdress properly…when the curtains were yanked pen and the prince was staring at me, his eyes molten gold.

"Leja," he whispered.

Before I could reply, he his hands were on either side of my face, and without warning, his crashed his lips upon mine.

My eyes widened as my hands flew up to his shoulders to push him away. But he grabbed my wrists  and pinned them with one hand as he deepened the kiss. His hunger was revealed to me, and I knew that I couldn't stop him even if I wanted to.

Something sparked inside me.
Oh my God…I wanted this. I wanted him.

No! Varos…this was supposed to be Varos! I screamed at myself. Don't let this stupid bond betray you both!

Our need was built on our bond. His kiss contained no care, no love. It was pure unadulterated desire. My mind kept Varos' face in my head, told me to push Veryo Skye away.

I heard nothing from him, even though he knew what was in my head. I tried to resist, but when I felt the silk of his tongue, my mind went blank as a slate. I tried to summon Varos' image again, but my memory couldn't seem to remember who Varos was. Fire burned within me, consuming me.

"Who is on your mind?" the prince whispered against my lips. "Say his name."

His hand let go of my wrists to fist in my hair. I bit back a moan as he started to kiss down my jaw and down my neck.

"Who is on your mind?" Veryo Skye repeated.

I groaned, my mind getting drunk with pleasure. A single name escaped my lips.

"Skye."
He lifted his head to look at me and smiled. "I thought so."

I barely felt him pull my nightdress over my head, barely felt the slightly cold air across my bare skin. All I could feel was him, his scent of sun and soap filling my nostrils, his golden wings surrounding me.

Varos didn't enter my mind the whole night.