Chains to Crowns
Chapter 24

Klara awoke to a hand over her mouth. She wriggled, “Shh, Sweetie, don’t want to wake up the King,” a voice breathed into her ear so low she only just heard it. Her heart thudded in her ears, she knew that voice. Bile rose in her throat. “Ah, don’t even think about it.” He grabbed her hand that was sliding to prod Marc. She looked around, tears pricking at her eyes. She shook her head before trying to bite at his hand. “You’re going to get out of bed, and come with me quietly,” he breathed barely audibly. Klara decided and nodded. He nodded his head in the gloom, removing his hand from her mouth. Gripping her arm to pull her from the bed.

She screamed.

The blood-curdling sound echoed around the room until it was squashed in her throat by his hand. She tried to swallow but his hand was gripped so tight there was nothing more she could do. Marc was out of bed by this point, his eyes wide to the scene of Klara being strangled by the unknown male. “Derrek,” Klara choked out.

“Let her go!” Marc roared, he had already pushed an unspecific mind link, to anyone that would hear. “No little Hunterson, she’s mine,” Derek growled back. Klara was seeing spots over her vision, she was desperately trying to stay awake as she extended her claws to slash at his hand. Derek’s hand didn’t budge as blood dripped from the wounds she had created.

Her head went light as both her and her wolf desperately tried to slash at him with claws. “You’ve grown feistier, sweetie,” he laughed as her attempts grew feeble, her vision going to black. Marc took the opportunity of his distraction and lunged at him. Derrek’s hand released Klara as both males tumbled to the floor. Klara’s body dropped limply.

Marc punched Derrek, snarling down to the blue-eyed male. Furious. Marc allowed his wolf to come forward, as his claws and canines extended Derek propelled him off him. Marc landed a few feet away but managed to right himself quickly. “You’ll replace Alpha Silversmith’s cell empty,” he declared cockily. Marc descended on him again. Two of the King’s Guards barreled into the room and they flattened Derrek instantly.

“Take him away, check Silversmith,” Marc ordered quickly, turning to Klara who was stirring. “Little one!” He sat and cradled her to his lap as she coughed.

“I’m ’kay” she croaked through another cough. She trembled against Marc, looking to where Derrek had been. She rubbed her neck, still feeling like a hand was there. “We’re switching sides of the bed,” he muttered against her hair.

Klara nodded, “Mark me,” she whispered. Marc pulled away slightly. “If you mark me I can mind link you… and they can’t claim anyone else is my mate… I won’t be able to pass on the Alpha.”

“I’d prefer you to want my mark because of… well wanting it.”

Klara pressed her lips to him, “I do… I’ve wanted it since we started sharing a bed,” she whispered honestly. Marc nodded, lifting them both from the floor he placed Klara back in bed.

He crawled in next to her. “Are you sure?” Klara gulped and nodded. She was still a little worried, but Adelaide told her she’d still be scared when she was ready. Marc gripped her waist as he leant half over her body. He moved the hair from her neck, kissing her tenderly, deepening to slide his tongue between her teeth. His tongue caressed hers before breaking from her lips to butterfly kiss down her jaw, then neck.

He removed the strap from the vest top, hearing her breathing hitch a little he faltered but she nodded for him to continue. He allowed his canines to extend past his lower lip and sunk them deep into her flesh.

She hissed, a burn engulfing her neck before the pain instantly turned to pleasure. She’d never felt such a sensation. She let out a low moan, his teeth retracting from her neck, she quivered and he licked over the wound he had created. She gripped onto his waist as the feeling of complete calm washed over her. Her shoulder burned but she barely noticed when she suddenly felt the desperation to complete the mating process. She wanted his skin against hers, and she wanted him to fix the burning that was searing between her legs.

His hand went under her vest top to stroke her stomach, her breathing stopped at the feel. It felt nice but she was terrified of the inevitable pain. “We don’t have to tonight,” he muttered, his voice ladened heavy in arousal. “I think I’ll always be scared… Just get it done,” she replied.

“It won’t hurt.” His lips met hers as he slipped her top up her body, only breaking the kiss to remove it. He stroked up and down her naked sides. Deciding not to do more than was necessary. Play could come later. Her fear was strong within him, it threatened to engulf his own emotion with the ferocity. He stole himself a moment, pushing his own calmness, his own feel of completion and elation towards her.

Klara held onto the back of Marc’s neck when her shorts came down. She wanted it to feel good, but deep down… she knew it couldn’t. It was painful. “Do you trust me?” Marc whispered. She nodded. She did. He ducked out of her arms, kissing down her chest and stomach. His hands caressed her thighs.

She gasped in surprise at the feel of his soft tongue. She glanced down to his head between her thighs. His golden eyes met hers before his tongue hit a part of her that made her eyes roll back and she let out a low moan. He caressed her inner thigh. She let out another moan as he sucked but stiffened when she felt something near where it hurt. “I can stop.” She bit her lip but shook her head. She did want this. Even if part of her was terrified.

He resumed licking and sucking, she felt something there again - his finger. She bit her lip looking up to the ceiling. But then, it felt fine. He stroked her inner walls and she released her lip while she let out a sigh. It even felt nice. Her body spasmed as he sucked on the spot that seemed to shoot pleasure through her.

Marc crawled back up to her face, wiping his mouth and chin. He slid his pyjama bottoms off as he went. He kissed her forehead, wrapping his arms around her, she felt a wash of calm and safety, feeling like it wasn’t her own but it was helping her stay relaxed when she felt him between her legs. “I’ll go gentle, I promise,” he whispered before pressing his lips to her, at the same time as slowly as he could, slid in. She gasped at the pressure. Then moaned into his mouth.