Mine At First Sight
Chapter 15 - Tumultuous

▪️E D R I C▪️

Forty-five days.

That was how long it had been since Lenna and I had started training together.

What Eginhard was trying to do was not lost on me. Both him and Faeda were attempting to play matchmaker.

They had approached me on numerous occasions, stating that the chemistry between Lenna and myself was more than obvious and wanted to know what I planned to do about it. Both were claiming that as cute as the two of us were, the sexual tension was beginning to be uncomfortable to be around.

At first, I had vehemently brushed them off, reminding them that I was the King and that they needed to hold their tongues!

My personal life was none of their concern!

Nevertheless, after about a week of spending time with Lenna on a daily basis, it became harder to deny my emotional state. Being in her presence and seeing her work hard on wanting to become stronger stirred the beast within me.

It was clear that I was no match for her relentless resolve, coupled with her physical beauty. As much as I tried to, I could not deny my feelings for her any longer.

Of course, I told no one of this.

I was certainly not in a mood to see the smug looks on Eginhard and Faeda’s faces. Especially as I had been adamant that I would never sleep with a human.

As time went on, I neither confirmed nor denied their accusations. The fact that I had stopped rebuffing my attraction to Lenna was more than enough for them to ease up on pestering me. Though they would not be them if they did not tease me every so often.

Unfortunately, Lenna had become something important to me. I did not know when it had happened.

But on one rainy night, I realised that I really cared about her.

Wanting to ensure her safety, I had forbidden her from going to the dungeons to visit Tharun until further notice. Using the argument that she should wait until she was stronger before facing him again, I was able to hide my growing emotions.

While a part of me knew that Lenna would have been ready, I would rather not have risked it.

After all, another couple of weeks could not have hurt, right?

“Ugh! Why must you always hit me so hard! You’re worse than Berengar!” Lenna shouted, her voice pulling me from my thoughts.

After just three days, knowing how much she loved the outdoors, I had opted to move our training sessions from her balcony to the flat, grassy plains by the lake. It helped greatly in cutting the tension between us as we fell into our routine.

At her comment, I raised an eyebrow, “Worse, you say?”

Huffing, Lenna got up from the ground while frowning at me. She wiped the blood leaking from the corners of her mouth on the inside of her sleeve, staining the material.

Raising her shield and sword, she said, “Yes! I mean he never let me win, but damn! If I did not know any better, I would think that you enjoy knocking the shit out of me! Thank the Gods that I’m learning to use my magic for healing and that I have Drengr’s curative medicines to help with the rest!”

I took no pleasure in hurting Lenna, but I needed her to be strong.

Drengr had issued his concerns, telling me that I should hold back some more. But I knew that Lenna could take it.

Though she might often complain at how rough I might be, she never asked me to go easy on her. Not once! And I found her steadfast fortitude incredibly sexy.

If anything, her purple eyes dared me to challenge her, needing to push herself to the limits. Not wanting to disappoint, I did exactly that, as it was the only way she would be able to unlock her full potential.

Dropping my stance, I asked with a mocking tone, “Do you want to stop?”

“Never! Raise your axe, Lycan King, I’m coming for you!” Lenna yelled while focusing on gathering her energy.

“Attagirl!” I teased, preparing for her next attack.

It was truly amazing to witness how strong she had grown since training with me. I often wondered if it was because she was trying to impress me, or if I was just that good at motivating her.

Either way, Lenna’s blocking techniques had vastly improved around me, and her projection abilities had grown as well.

Which was what we had been working on these last few days.

Lenna had been channelling her energy as an extension of herself, using it to charge at me. She had managed to get control over making her hands glow, though at times it could still be sporadic.

Of course, she was nowhere near as fast or strong as a Lycan, but at the rate with which her skills were increasing, it was obvious that it would only be a matter of time before she could fight me on equal footing.

Just thinking about it made my cock twitch.

Lenna charged at me, her shield pushing forward. She was extra feisty tonight, the energy attached to her shield almost pushing me back as I braced it with my free hand. With my axe in my right hand, I braced for her sword as it swung down, the shiny metal glowing under the moonlight.

“Yes! Just like that, Lenna!” I instructed while using my strength to push her back.

I was impressed, for she did not fall to the floor this time, but managed to anchor herself in a crouching position, with one knee grazing the ground. Watching her drop her shield and sword, I tilted my head, looking at her curiously.

Lenna then stood up, the skin of her forehead glistening, as her braided hair flowed down her back. Visibly taking a deep breath, I watched as her hands began to glow.

I could feel the energy in the atmosphere thicken as she briefly closed her eyes. When they reopened, I marvelled at the deep purple of her gaze, momentarily transfixed by the beauty and determination that stared blatantly back at me.

“Are you really going to try that manoeuvre again? Remember, you broke your arm the last time?” I was somewhat weary of her wanting to try that move.

“First of all, yes! Secondly, it’s not my fault I broke my arm against your big hard chest,” her eyebrows creased as she began to run towards me.

Throwing my axe aside, I braced myself like the last time.

Lenna used her shoulder and dived into me and the pulse of her energy was much stronger than last time and my eyes widened slightly as I was forced to stagger back somewhat while I held her to me.

Anytime I touched her while her body was cloaked in her magic, the feeling that flowed through me was indescribable.

The first time I had experienced the pulsing jolt, I was torn between wanting to hold her closer and wanting to push her as far away from me as possible. But there was a pull between us that kept my arms wrapped securely around her, each and every time.

As the glow around her body slowly dissipated, her breath came in large pants, “Made you move this time! Yessss! Next time, you will be on your ass.”

I could not help the snorted chuckle that escaped me, “I think you’re getting drunk with your own energy, that’s enough for tonight.”

Standing up straight, I continued to hold Lenna close to me for a few more seconds before she dragged herself down my body, until her feet hit the ground. A muscle in my jaw ticked as I bit back a groan. Feeling her against me always aroused me, and I did not think that would ever change.

“But that’s not fair! I’m more than capable of going a few more rounds with you,” Lenna argued as she pouted up at me.

Exhaling deeply, “Perhaps, but I rather not run you ragged. We’ve been having a good couple of weeks; I don’t wish to jinx it.”

In fact, things between Lenna and I had thankfully gone back to normal.

Well, at least what was normal for us.

Having fallen into our nightly routine, we had become so focused on her training that we spent less time arguing and would instead bicker harmlessly like we used to, often teasing each other.

Granted, the sexual tension was still there, hell, even more so now.

Thankfully, we had managed to keep our tempers in check. Though I knew for a fact that a lot of it had to do with me not purposefully riling her up. I realised that Lenna could get hot and cold pretty quickly, as my words seemed to have a strong effect on her.

As I stared at her lips, Lenna’s soft voice forced me to refocus.

“Einarr’s been quiet these past three months, it makes me uneasy,” she confessed while twisting her hands in front of her.

“You would be a fool not to be,” I stated as we walked towards the lake.

After training, we would usually take a swim in the cool, calm water before heading back to the castle. A reward as such, for a few hours of intense exercises. If I were being honest, it was something that I had come to look forward to doing every day.

“I think that it’s time I be able to visit Tharun, not so? I mean, I’m much stronger now, I know for a fact that I can fully block his energy,” she said proudly, while taking off her boots.

Nodding in agreement, I added, “Perhaps, but you have yet to conquer blocking mine completely.”

Scoffing, she retorted, “Yes well, you’re the big, bad grumpy Lycan King. The fact that I can block most of it is an achievement in itself, don’t you think?”

My eyebrow creased slightly, though my tone was amused, “Grumpy huh? Sometimes the way you speak to me, I think you forget that you’re my slave.”

“I have not! Though, I think that you might have. You don’t treat me as such anymore, so it’s only obvious that I would forget my place,” Lenna boldly said with a grin while taking of her tunic top.

Arching an eyebrow, my voice deepened, “Perhaps I need to remind you?”

My eyes did not miss the shiver that wracked through her body as her pupils dilated. I did not need to use my enhanced abilities to know that our banter was arousing her.

Acting nonchalant, she turned around and replied, her smirk widening as she bent over to remove her trousers, “Perhaps you should…”

The way she would challenge me was both maddening as well as exciting.

I could not help but watch her sinful body, taking in the way her waist dipped, while admiring the smooth swells of her breast as her chest rose and fell with each breath.

Often times, we would stay in our underclothes while we went swimming. Although there were a few occasions when I swam nude, just to irritate her, loving how her cheeks would slightly flush at the sight of my nakedness before turning her back to hide her embarrassment.

Shifting my gaze away quickly before she caught me staring, I tilted my head to look at the night sky.

As Lenna entered the lake, the water made her light blue brassiere and high-waisted drawers almost translucent. My eyes trailed over the white patches of skin on her upper chest that disappeared under her brassiere and I desperately wanted to trace the outlines with my tongue.

Letting out a harsh breath, I removed the rest of my own clothes, leaving my shorts on tonight. Swiftly diving into the water to hide my erection, I hoped that the coolness would ease my heated flesh.

When I resurfaced, I found Lenna playing with some water in her hands. Sneaking up behind her, I nudged her shoulder, causing her hand to drop into the water.

“Hey!” Lenna whined before splashing water in my face.

Diving under the surface, I tickled her sides before reappearing in front of her, “What? You were ignoring me.”

“I was not, I hummed my acknowledgement,” she countered with a pout.

We were so close to each other that I could feel the heat radiating from her body and I was sorely tempted to lean in. I wanted to kiss each and every droplet of water that was slowly sliding down her beautiful face.

“Why are you staring at me like that?” Lenna asked, her voice husky.

Our gazes locked as I replied, “Perhaps it’s the same reason that the tone of your voice has suddenly changed.”

“Avoiding my questions as always…” Lenna rolled her eyes then sighed, “At least you’re not avoiding being around me anymore. Though I suppose since Klaus and the others expect you to train me, it makes it difficult for you to do so.”

“I avoided you for both our sakes,” I growled, moving closer to her.

Shaking her head in slight disagreement, “You mean, more so for your own sake. After all, you’re the one that is having a hard time with the chemistry between us. I for one have given up on trying to fight it.”

I knew that she was trying to get a rise out of me, for I often did the same to her. It was what we did, back and forth, bickering like lovers, as Faeda once remarked.

“I’m just saying, Your Majesty…” Lenna smiled sweetly before asking, “What are you afraid of? You think I don’t feel the agonising ache as well?”

Closing the distance between us, I pulled her body against mine, “Fear is not the word I would use. You know very well why I keep my distance; I can’t stand being so close to you without wanting to touch you, it’s truly frustrating!”

Another vibrating growl ripped from my throat as I held her, my lips immediately going to her neck, kissing and licking the skin. Lenna held on to my shoulders tightly, wrapping her legs around my waist as she threw her head back and whimpered. Feeling her rub herself against my erection made my entire body shudder.

“I fucking hate feeling like this!”

My voice was raspy against her neck as I continued to kiss the column of her throat. I longed to make her mine, my teeth gently nipped at her skin, purposefully leaving a trail of love bites, wanting to deter any other males from seeking her attention.

“Then just embrace it…” Lenna whispered as her fingers moved to tunnel through my hair, “You are the King, you can have anything within the empire, no one would question you.”

My hold on her hips tightened, my body reacting to hers.

I leisurely moved my lips along her throat so that I could release a low snarl near her ear. The sound vibrated deep within my chest, reminding her of what I was and what I could do to her. As a response, her legs gripped me tighter as she writhed against me, daring me to do what I silently craved.

Gods how I wanted to claim her!

Sensing just how aroused she was made my own excitement to increase. The way Lenna provocatively moved her pelvis against mine caused a tortured groan to escape past my lips while my nostrils flared.

“You sound as though you are dying,” she chuckled softly.

Leaning my face even closer, our lips almost touched as I whispered, “If anything were to kill me Lenna, I fear it would be you.”

Before she could respond, I pushed her away from me and swam back to the shore.

The following day, I sat at my desk, my brows tightly knitted together.

I had spent most of the morning locked away in my study, going over some battle plans that would involve the strongest werewolves and most capable humans within the Empire.

Pausing over the documents, I inwardly groaned at the approaching intrusion.

Entering a few seconds later were Faeda and Eginhard, followed by Ghaffar and Klaus. They all bowed slightly as they stood in front of my desk. Out of all the Lycans within the region, these four knew me best, and were the only ones who dared to speak on my personal life.

Dropping my quill, I ran a hand over my face, before addressing Faeda and Eginhard, “I see you brought reinforcements today. What do you want this time?”

“Come on, big brother, don’t be that way,” Eginhard said while dropping himself down in one of the chairs.

Fixing my gaze on Ghaffar, then Klaus, “You two seriously let them drag you into this? What does my love life have to do with this war? I don’t have time for such frivolity!”

“If I may speak freely, Your Majesty…” Klaus had his hands clasped behind his back as he walked to one of the large windows.

Grumbling, I waved my hand, knowing that it would be useless to stop him from speaking anyway.

“I’ve been around for many centuries, and even with my one barely good eye, I can see that there’s definitely something between you and Lenna and it’s obvious that her emotions are linked to her powers,” Klaus paused to look at me.

Seeing that I was not going to interrupt him, he continued.

“It was just a theory at first, but as Lenna has proven, she has grown so much stronger since then, and will continue to do so once her emotional state remains stable. It’s clear that the stronger her emotional connection is to someone, the easier it is to transfer her magic onto them. I have no doubt that this is something that Einarr is hoping to achieve himself. Imagine how strong he would be in Lycan form,” the elderly Lycan’s face scrunched up at the thought.

“Wait a minute, are you suggesting I solicit myself out for the sake of helping Lenna’s powers grow?” I asked, my mouth twisting slightly.

Laughing softly, Faeda sat in the other chair, “Now when you say it like that, it sounds bad. But I mean, you like her, she likes you. Imagine being able to combine your energies, not to mention getting rid of all that sexual tension.”

Eginhard coughed and muttered under his breath, “Indeed, it’s really sickening having to watch you two be in the same room.”

“Surely you have come to be the voice of reason?” I asked Ghaffar.

Giving me his usual stoic expression, he replied, “I fear that they may have a point. I mean, I of all people understand your ‘no human’ policy. But Lenna is different, she acts like a Lycan more than anything. I’m not sure if you may have noticed, but most unmated Lycans would gladly have Lenna for their own.”

“They fucking can’t!” I slammed my hands on the surface of the desk, my anger immediately rising at the thought of Lenna being with another Lycan.

Keeping his eyes fixed on me, Ghaffar continued, his tone level, “At this point, I don’t think anyone even looks at her as a slave anymore.”

Snarling, I harshly pushed my chair back and walked to the window behind me.

“We aren’t saying to marry the girl, we’re just suggesting that perhaps you should not fight whatever it is that’s going on between the two of you. As I watch Lenna’s powers grow every day, I can’t help my curiousity in wanting to see how her magic will affect you,” Faeda’s eyes glazed over excitedly.

Turning to Klaus, I asked, “What did you mean about the transferring of her magic to me? How would that be possible?”

The elderly Lycan answered, “Using that same concept she does with her weapons, it would involve surrounding an individual with her magic. Of course, the stronger the connection between her and the person, the better the technique would work.”

I remained quiet as the Klaus continued to explain.

“It’s obvious that we’ve yet to scratch the surface of Lenna’s power. And with you and Einarr being among the strongest Lycans to ever walk upon this land, it doesn’t matter if those in his possession are not as strong as Lenna. If he can successfully manage to form a link and get access to their magic, even just a little, his power will be immeasurable,” Klaus stated with a frown.

Leaning against the wall, I allowed the information to sink in.

I could not imagine what it would be like to be fully shrouded in Lenna’s magic. Just holding her while she was cloaked herself was overwhelming enough.

“I think that will be one of the techniques you two will have to work on in the near future…” Ghaffar paused to exhale, “Clearly, it will all depend on the connection you two have, which is why we suggest that you stop pushing her away and just embrace whatever has been naturally trying to happen since she first stepped foot inside this castle.”

Running my hands over my face, I shook my head, needing some time to think.