The Kings Series #2 His Silver Hand
20. Try Me: Lucas

The birds chirping merrily and the slight breeze of a late morning wokehim up from a deep contented sleep. Rie left the door from theveranda, they both preferred the fresh garden air in the morning thanthe air conditioning.

Lucas inwardly frowned and his entire body stilled --realizingsomething was not right, hoping he was wrong-- without opening hiseyes, he gingerly patted the cold space beside him, realizing it wasempty, he bolted out of the bed in a heartbeat.

Anna Marie

Where was she? He tilted his head to his left. No running water in theshower and her walk-in closet was empty. He was about to search forher then he realized he wouldn't get much further in his silk boxers.Impatient, he entered the bathroom for a quick shower, and in 10minutes, he was dressed for the day and navigating the wide hallwaysof her private wing.

Lucas has been sharing her bed for days and this was the first time hewoke up without her in his arms. Damn! His heart thumped loudly andfear crept over him. Did something happen?

Thankfully, by the time he reached the grand foyer, he could scent hismate's natural perfume or he would have gone berserk with worry. Shewas somewhere in the kitchen and he also remembered the cozybreakfast nook.

He paused outside the open doors when he heard his Argetlam and heryounger sister's faint voice.

-" had a dream last night and I saw him again. I swear, Rie. I'm notmaking this up."- Mish sounded upset. Had the Vampire Kingreawakened? Could be. They were expecting him yesterday.

-"I believe you, Mish. Is it the same guy that you have been dreamingsince you were a child?"-

-"Yes. Blond curly hair and ice-blue eyes. It's him. Have I met himbefore?"- His face twisted in pain. Damn! His little chef was in a tightspot.

-"l...ah...Mish...,"-he needed to rescue his mate. Xavier will know how topace himself from his Vampire Queen. He would surely have a solidplan.

"Good morning, sweetheart. Hi, Mish." He kissed Ries temple andbowed to Mish. They were holding each other's hands like a lifeline."Something wrong?" He asked innocently and smoothly occupied theempty chair next to his Rie.

The Vampire Queen blushed, shook her head no then excused herself.He sighed heavily at the troubled expression on Anna Marie's face.Trying to calm her, he pulled her on his lap and gave her a proper goodmorning kiss. She responded but...

"Is he here?" Rie asked, separating their lips and cupping his face tosearch his eyes. As if he'd lie to her. He scowled.

"He was supposed to be here yesterday evening. He must havedetoured and...well -- like us, his first instinct was to be with hisbeloved.” Cruising his lips on her neck, inhaling her scent, he licked herflushed skin. She tried to suppress her shiver -- based on hergoosebumps-- he knew she liked it. His lips twitched. This was evenbetter than breakfast.

"Lucas...'m thinking. Stop distracting me.” That's the idea. She tried tostand, he held her hips firmly. Knowing she's not going anywhere untilhe allowed it, she growled at him and sat more comfortably on his hardthighs.

His brows lifted when she started to fill his plate with food and fill hiscup with hot coffee --all while on his lap. The huge issue right now --and it was really an issue-- he was sporting a hard-on from hersquirming and from her firm, cute ass. "Your breakfast, my king."

His little chef's sass was really a turn on. Only she could get away withit. Anyone else would be roasted by now.

She looked over her shoulder and smirked at his expression. The lust inhis eyes must have shown because her cheeks reddened. It was his turnto look smug.

Later. He promised himself.

"Why did you leave our bed?" Feeding her a slice of honey and buttercoated pancake before taking a bigger bite. His eyes on her lips whenshe licked the errant syrup. Nice.

Everything on his plate, he served it to her first. A telling sign.

She shrugged. "You needed your sleep and then there's Mish. She'll getsick with worry." He held the glass of orange juice to her lips. Shesipped daintily.

"Don't worry, my friend will know how to handle it. Open.” She took abite of the sweet strawberry. Juice trickled down her lips --he leaned inand cleaned her cherry lips with his tongue. She gasped. Her eyes werewide.

“Luc!” She squirmed. He held her down. Damnation!

"Sit still, sweetheart. Or I'll ravish you right here.” And he was actuallyreally considering it. It was just the two of them. The servants were busyand for some reason the Lycan royalties were absent. Thoughts of hisrider's innocence made him stop his lascivious considerations. Hepecked her lips to compensate. "I will teach you everything after ourmating ceremony. Incidentally, you should start planning soon. I'm surethe females in our family will be excited.”

Anna Marie crossed her arms below her breasts. This gesture shouldhave alerted him but he got distracted. His eyes followed hermovement. Hmmm, he could remember the taste of her. Ripe andsucculent. "Hey, eyes here! You will not teach me anything because wewill not have a mating ceremony until you ask me formally. Am I clear?Good."

His jaw dropped at her words. Totally stunned was an understatement.More like stupefied. What happened? What did she mean? Before hecould gather his wits she left his lap and left him alone at the table.What did he do wrong?

Fuck!

"Anna Marie!" He shouted. Following hot fast on her heels.

Alexander

It was mid-afternoon when he and his queen emerged from their suite.Thankfully she was thoroughly covered in his scent so his wolf wascalmer. And feeling magnanimous. So long as there were no unmatedmales near her, everything's perfect.

There's a subtle change in her scent. It's too early to tell though.Esmeralda will be here any moment and all of them will have to bepresent to welcome her.

His Queen tightened her hold on his arm, hearing raised voices fromthe garden.

-"Why are you avoiding me?"- He sighed recognizing Lucas's deeprumble.

-"Because I am avoiding you?"- Ah, his headstrong sister-in-law. Hismate shook her head beside him and mumbled something.

-"But why?"- Came a clueless response.

"Because you are obtuse, overbearing, arrogant, autocratic, irritating,and a damned presumptuous alpha male. And...and...that's it!" The royallycan couple halted before the opened doors, out of sight. Ready tointervene and help. But not yet. He was willing to give his friend achance to dig himself out of the deep hole he inadvertently dug forhimself.

-"But I thought we had an understanding and we will be mated soon."Gentle and coaxing voice. Good.

-"Yes. I want to be your mate but did you asked me for my hand? Didyou speak to my sister? You assumed and never asked my opinionabout our mating ceremony. And do you see a ring on my finger?None. Because tell you what. You didn't even propose!"- Anna Marie'svoice got shriller by the second and she was on the verge of tears.-"Sweetheart...please don't cry. You know I will do anything for you. Ididn't realize. I was an idiot. Give me a day to make everything right,ok?"-

Proud of you man. Pussy whipped. Welcome to the club.

"Come on, baby girl. They don't need our help. Let's prepare forEsmeralda’s arrival.”

"At least he didn't dwell on his idiocy and acted right away and heknows how to redeem himself.” She led him to the study instead. Hementally cringed at the memory her words brought. He was an idiot atone time during their courting days.

Thank Goddess he had known how to make everything perfect for hismia anima.

Lucas

Esmeralda, the White Witch, and High Priestess had never failed toenthrall them with her glowing ethereal presence. Her beautynotwithstanding, she was a force to be reckoned with.

Not in any sexual context. More like an ingrained fascination reservedfor a Goddess that has a pure soul. She has walked the Earth longbefore their realms were created --older than all of their agescombined. And as powerful as the four of kings.

"Cuirim féilte romhat chuig ar saol, Dragon Queen." The White Witchbowed in respect to his mate, leaving Anna Marie round-eyed stunned,and speechless. Not by her words since it's Gaelic but by her actions. (Iwelcome you to our world, Dragon Queen)

He wrapped his hand on his Argetlam's waist and whispered thetranslation to her. She tried to suppress her shiver from his warmbreath.

"Thank you, High Priestess." Rie inclined her head and tried to ignorethe fact she was affected by his not so innocent touch.

He knew he was still treading on thin ice after their argument earlier.God! He had a lot to make up for. And a lot to do before going tosleep.

"Congratulations, King Alexander, Queen Anna May. This is a blessing."He was brought back to reality from Esmeralda's light voice.Congratulations on what? He studied the Lycan Queen's deep blushand his friend's proud and smug features. Again? Damn! He workedfast.

"Yes. Thank you, Esmeralda. It's a blessing indeed.” He inclined his headas well then gestured to the nearest chaise. "Shall we start?"

Good idea. They have a lot to talk about and it's already late in theafternoon. He guided his own queen back to their loveseat and joinedher. His commanders and their riders behind them.

Michael and Alexandria were present. A solid wall of support to theirleaders.

Oliver and Sofia fresh from Russia had created a joyous reunion earlier.His gaze found the empty seat before them and he frowned.

"Where is Lucifer?" Esmeralda beat him to it.

"Here, Esme." Came a loud voice from a huge monitor mounted at thewall. He knew they had a long-standing friendship. Something aboutsaving the white witch's sire in the past.

"And Xavier, the Vampire King?"

"I am here, Esmeralda.” A deep quiet voice answered from the doorway.They all swiveled to face him --a familiar man with aristocratic features,serious and expressionless, reserved and in all black was silhouetted bythe afternoon's faint Autumn light.

Anna and Rie gasped. Uh oh. Tension filled the air.

Let the games begin.

I am literally rubbing my hands in anticipation.

Thank you for staying with me, babies. And no, I haven't forgotten TheAccountant. I also miss the mafia couple. Please bear with me, my dearreaders.

Soon, I promise.