Shadow

Idonia Torbet

I gasp as he pressed his clothed shaft against me. "You won't, not when I'm done with you."

His grip on my wrists loosens and I grab his neck, "What if I kick, scream, and fight?"

Rae's hands move to my hips, gathering the fabric of my nightdress and lifting it up. Slowly the fabric moves past my ankles, past my calves, and stopping at my knees. His lips land on my chins, scrapping his fangs against my skin.

"If you scream, it won't be for me to stop," he growls at me. "Let me show you?"

He's asking my permission. I didn't want a mate, I still don't want one. It wasn't that I am afraid to leave home or that I will miss my family, through both are true. A mate is a protector and provider, from when father told me, the Khanel can be neither of those things. He has done nothing to prove to me that he can be a good mate.

"Show me what?"

"That you need me, that you want me," he continues to kiss and suck on my neck.

"Can your prove to me that you'll be a good mate?"

"I can."

"Then kill a shadowbeast," with this, I push him off me. He looks down at me shocked. "Kill one and I will accept you in my heart as my mate. Until then you can appear to me only in the light of day."

"And how do you want me to do that?"

"In the northern part of the islands there is a nest. We hunt for them there," I tell him as I go back to my fireplace. "You can talk to my father about it tomorrow."

"Alright then," he remarks coldly. "Then I have a request for you."

"What?"

Rae smirks, showing off his fangs, "While I'm gone, you must wear my crest."

"Fine," I answer harshly. He takes off one of the silver chains on his neck and passes it to me. I take the pendent in my hand and examine the emblem. The royal crest was a design of crisis-crossed lines over a sword. I stand and place it on my dressing table. "I'll wear it tomorrow."

"Good," he steps up behind me and wraps his arms around my waist. His fingers brush my neck as they move my hair to one side. "You are so beautiful, I don't want any male to think you're available."

"Go," I tell him, not moving a muscle.

"We'll talk more tomorrow."

With this, he left my room. I sigh, leaning against my dressing table. I'll have to speak with Ragna about this tomorrow. She obviously brought him here and I don't appreciate it. He may be the Khanel, but father has always said that mates should prove that they can protect you. Rae has not done that, he's still a pup until he's proven to be a good mate by killing a shadowbeast.

Sighing once more, I decide to go to bed. The grate of my fireplaces is put in it's place to dim the light of the fire. I know sending Rae to the northern part of the Isle is a bad idea. While it is a rite of passage, it's one that only a few lycan take. Eske only did it because it's required to become the Aeral of Theris. Egil did it because he wanted to show Father that he could be Aeral if needed.

I did it because, well, I don't know exactly. I did it for a lot of reasons. One was to prove to myself that I could. I am the only daughter of Theris' Aeral, I spent my whole life around men who didn't think much of me. In the end, I proved that I was as good as Eske and Egil, better than Inghram and Ingolf. Since I completed the rite, training Olen has been my sole job. Father trusted me to make sure his youngest son was strong, ready to be his brother's Viker one day.

Once I climb into bed, I blow out the candles on my night table. My bed is cold as I climb in, but it won't take long for me to warm it with my body heat. My eyes close and body starts to shut off for the night before there is another knock on my door.

It opens and there is my youngest brother, Olen. He rushes in and climbs onto my bed. "Are you leaving now?"

Olen and I were very close, seeing as I train him. We are also the youngest two, but quite far apart in age. While I've reached my nineteenth year, Olen only has ten. He relied on me for most things, as I've been the only one to be able to teach him the ways of our world.

"Not for a long time. The Khanel has not proven himself a good mate yet. I will be with you for a long time still," I brush back the black hair that he and I share.

"I like Khanel Raedwulf, he seems good. When you do leave can I come with you. Mother says Bethlianna is much warmer than Theris."

"I'm sure it is, but I also know you can't stay there without Khannun Kol's permission."

"But you're the Khanelea, can't you just ask him for me?"

"I'm not officially a Khanelea until Rae and I mate."

"Rae?" his eyes brighten and I realize my mistake. "Can I call him Rae?"

"No," I say furiously, mad mostly at myself for the mess-up. "You will call him by the proper and formal terms. I should not have let that slip."

"When will you mate with him?"

"When he proves himself to me as a good mate," I explain to him. "It's late, Olen. You should sleep."

"Here?"

"No, go back to your room. I'll see your tomorrow at breakfast and then we train."

"Alright," he leans forward and kisses my forehead. Then Olen jumps of the bed and scurries out the door. Finally I sink into my goose feather mattress and drift off to sleep.