Her Forever

Willa’s POV

Stretching out like a starfish, I felt my back pop in multiple places. Groaning at how good it felt, I felt beside my body to feel for Orion. We aren’t usually this far away from each other, and I started to get confused since I stretched so far. Popping my head up quickly, I looked to the right side of the bed that he has dubbed as “his.”

Instead of finding his god-like body in all his naked glory, I’m met with a royal blue rose that had hints of sparkle on the tips of its petals. Grinning like a little school girl, I picked it up to smell its scent. It smelled like blueberries and tangerines, an odd combination, but it was nice nonetheless. A paper had fallen onto the mattress held by the mysterious rose, so I picked it up to read it.

Good morning Darling,

As per the tradition of the Fae people, we are not to see each other for a total of twenty-four hours before the celebration. I long to see your beauty as you walk to me during our moment together. You will have a busy day preparing for tomorrow. Please be safe and know I am not that far away. I love you.

Love,

Your Destined One

I sighed and flopped my head to the pillow holding the parchment paper to my chest. A month ago, I would have dreaded this day, but now I couldn’t be more excited.

A loud bang hit the door and swung open; I took the sheets to cover my bare chest because let’s face it, I was about as dressed as a naked mole rat. “Willa!!” The screech went over the throngs of people walking into the bedroom.

“I am naked!” I squealed, trying to cover myself up with more layers of blankets. Amora comes pouncing in and tries to wrestle the sheets off my body. “Amora! What are you doing here!!” The excitement of her being here overshadowed my nakedness as I threw her in for a hug.

“Phew, girl, you stank of the fae!” Violet jumped on the other side of the bed until she quickly bounced back off. “And s*x, oh my gosh, how long did you do it last night?” Violet held her nose and waved her hand in the air.

“Um, sorry,” my face turned six different shades of red. How brazen everyone is talking about s*x like it is no big deal. At least be a little modest about it.

An aura of calmness swept the room as the last person entered. As I glanced up, it was none other than Luna Sadie from the Warrior pack carrying a baby in her arms. “Willa!” She spoke calmly, so she didn’t wake the baby.

Walking over quickly to the bed, she started giggling. “Orion had to have you one last time this morning, didn’t he?” I g*****d and threw the sheets over my head. “Oh, it is completely normal; he will probably adhere to the Fae tradition and not see you tonight, so it is to be expected. Come on and get up so we can start to prepare you.”

“Prepare me? How do we do that? Just shower?” Violet and Amora started laughing and threw a robe towards me.

“Your father wants you prepared like an Atlantean princess before the day of her bonding, so we get to go to Atlantis!” The women cheered at the excitement of traveling to a kingdom that visitors rarely get to visit.

Once we were at the water’s edge, Elaine was summoned a bubble chariot for her since she had not yet bonded with my father. He boarded with her as well as Violet, Sadie, and Amora. Luke walked up with Sammy, and they both greeted me with a hug. “Are you ready to swim?” I nodded my head, excited to let the water run over my hot skin.

Father had brought me a ceremonial outfit that my grandmother had worn on her bonding day. It was a short, glowing white wrap-around skirt, enough to keep my cheeks from falling out, wrapped in pearls and shells. The top was adorned with iridescent clamshells to keep my chest covered. Diamonds and bits of emerald and sapphires decorated it in an intricate pattern. My hair laid loosely around my waist, and my blue highlights complemented the outfit.

“You look gorgeous,” my father patted my head as he headed to the bubble orb. “Just follow us, swim around the kingdom one full turn, and wave to your subjects. Luke will keep you company.” Sammy gave Luke a passionate k**s and joined the rest of the caravan. I internally fangirled at them.

“The eldest brother is supposed to swim with you for this tradition, but he gave me that honor since you haven’t had a chance to get you to know you well enough. I hope that is alright?” Luke smiled as he grabbed my hand.

“That was sweet of him; I’m glad he let you.” We both entered the water, and the tide rose around us. Luke’s blue and green tail sparkled as he jumped out of the water. My two legs wouldn’t be as fast as his tail, but I was still quicker than any other supernatural in the water.

We followed the bubble. As father commanded, I swam around the giant orb of Atlantis that kept it primarily dry. Everyone waved, and some swam out to follow behind me. I didn’t know these people, but they were celebrating as if I was here all along. A national family of sorts. It made me laugh as several dolphins came my way as I latched on with one of my hands. They jutted me through the water to keep up with Luke and landed me just outside the water portal.

Luke led me through the shell and spongy material of the streets. One hand was behind my back, and Father joined us as soon as his large sphere carriage was ported. Elaine, as well as the rest of the attendants, left to go to the palace. It was tradition for a princess to walk through the streets after mating with some of her family as acceptance.

The crowd cheered as father and Luke stuck to my side like glue. They gave me encouraging words to wave and smile as I tried to shy away. My father’s bare chest was adorned with achievements of brightly colored metals and shells as he kept his trident by his side. Luke continued to rub my back as the crowds became closer to get a better look. Several men tried to approach and give me a better offer of being their mate, but who better than Orion? He was the King of the Light Kingdom who stole my heart; I was appalled they would think that I would give that up.

My father stood in front of them, arms crossed. Besides my brothers, they would be the best suiters in the kingdom. Their wealth indeed showed as the cloth that hid their man-hood were made of a fancy leather. “You dare think you are best for my daughter?” he growled as they stepped back.

“But your majesty, think of her being able to stay here instead of with the land dwellers? You just found her for her only to be taken away. Wouldn’t this be a better proposition?” One of them gave me a wink while I stuck his tongue out at him. Father noticed and gave a scoff.

“Who better than to take care of my princess than a king?” I smiled and grabbed his arm to walk away from the stuck-up snobs. Luke started snickering. “To think I thought they were the motion of the ocean at one time.” Father rolled his eyes as we continued down the pathway.

Unlike the last time I visited the Altlanean palace, the gates were opened wide to us as we walked in. Servants and guards stood on each side of the pathway to the main doors. Father kissed my forehead and told me to have fun while Luke grabbed my hand to lead me away for my pampering session.

Violet and I used to have pretend spa days when we were little. We would try to massage each other, but it ended up in a wrestling match when it was over. Luke led me to the bedroom I stayed in for a total of a few hours the last time I was here. When you finally met your father and your brothers for the first time, they all talked until the clock hit midnight, and even then, they followed me to my room and talked for a few more hours.

The light purples and blues made the room peaceful, and I instantly yawned. I hardly got any sleep last night, and with that exciting day and a few rounds of lovemaking, I was spent.

“Oh no, you don’t!” Violet popped out of the bathroom. She had a few different colored bottles of oils in her hands, as well as a few towels. “Go strip; it’s massage time.” I looked at her warily until she started snorting. “No, silly, I won’t give you the massage. They have special people do that here.” I let out a breath of relief that there would be no sisterly massages.

Luke joined us as well; he said he spent a lot of time in the spa portion of the palace while growing up. Yet he didn’t know he was rooting for the other team? Or did it not cross his mind? Either way, he enjoyed the massage so much he ended up falling asleep while the rest of us got our manicures and pedicures. His soft snores only made me joyful inside. Poor Sammy has been wearing him out since yesterday.

Sammy continues to pop his head in from time to time to check on Luke. With a bunch of us naked women walking around, he didn’t seem to mind when he finally saw Sammy face down and asleep on the table. Picking him up gently, Sammy wrapped him in a blanket and took him to the room they were staying in. Whether he let Luke continue to sleep or not, I wasn’t sure.

The girls continued their treatment on my body. I was rubbed with a sugar scrub to rip off any dead skin then dipped into a mineral clay. On top of that, they wrapped me up in seaweed and put cucumbers on my eyes. “I’m hungry,” I g*****d. This relaxing stuff was hard work, we had been at it for six hours, and I had yet to see my dress.

Amora came in with champagne and small crab cakes and placed one in my mouth. I m****d how marvelous it tasted. “More!” I mumbled before I could even swallow. “Yeah, that is what you are going to be saying tomorrow night!” Violet chided while Sadie snickered in the corner, feeding Evelyn.

“We probably shouldn’t drink much,” Amora stated as she had her second glass. “I kinda got in trouble last time.” Amora leaned close to my ear, “my mate doesn’t like talking about our ‘private times.'”

“Yeah, Orion doesn’t want me to discuss how big his little king is, but let me tell you, it isn’t little,” I added while Sadie burst into laughter.

“You both are awful!” whispered Sadie she covered her mouth.

“Are we talking about one-eyed nightcrawlers?” poked Violet.

“No, magic sticks.” Amora deadpanned.

“Oh, you mean a womb raider!” Violet yelled out loud, only to have my father walk into the room. We all sat wide-eyed in our robes, holding onto our champagne flutes, and he immediately walked back out the door.

…

Evelyn was a doll. Every chance I was able to, I held her in my arms. She was only a month old but had the strength of a 6- or 7-month-old. She was sitting up and almost crawling! Sadie commented that the supernatural have more robust bodies than humans, and I should expect to see the same thing with Orion and I’s children. As much as I wanted to have children, we had a long time before Orion, and I had to supply an heir. We had forever to have babies, and I wanted to explore this world more before we started bringing in little stubborn and dominating children.

I was finally stripped of the wrap and shoved into the shower. My skin had turned into silk and almost glowed porcelain as the water instantly beaded off. The hot water felt amazing, but it only made me tired. We had been at it too long, and my mind was ready to shut off. The alcohol, crab cakes, and way too much honeymoon information on positions had me sore at my sides from laughing.

Evelyn was asleep on one side of the bed while I laid on the other. Coming out in just a robe, the lights were dimmed low, and Sadie was the only one left in the room. Soft little pants came out of Evelyn’s mouth as she dreamed of her mother, most likely.

I yawned quietly as I laid my head on my arm. Sadie did radiate that peace that Violet spoke about. Not once did Evelyn cry around her mother, and that was when Seth was the calmest. “We didn’t wear you out, did we?” Sadie poked fun as she massaged her finger on Evelyn’s hand. She stirred but quickly went back to sleep.

“A little,” I whispered. “But I’ve had a lot of fun. Everyone seems like family here.” Sadie hummed in response.

“We are. I’m glad Orion found you; I’ve been worried since I met him. He was such a lost soul; I felt like he had given up on life.” I wrapped a blanket around my body to listen to Sadie more closely.

“When I met him, I was angry at Seth over something silly, but he was right there to help me realize that I was stronger than what Seth thought of me to be. I wasn’t his worthless mate; I was strong physically when Seth thought otherwise, even after fighting my own battles. What I mean to tell you is,.. just know you are stronger than you think, Willa.”

Sadie laid beside Evelyn and covered her with the blanket. I blinked a few times, meeting up at her gaze. “You are strong physically, too; you don’t always need Orion or a dragon to save you. Orion will always be there to help you, but don’t you dare give up on yourself. You are more than what you make yourself to be.”

“How can you read me so well?” I whispered.

“It was a gift bestowed upon me by the gods. Plus, you are totally easy to read. You don’t think you are worth it being here in this palace. You are, and you’re strong. Now that you are with Orion, you are stronger.”

I wanted to believe her words, but I still needed to prove it to myself. Even with a dragon, I was scared to death to lose Orion, and if I had gone in alone, I surely would have died. I’m no fighter.

“You are a fighter, Willa.”

“Cut that out; it is weirding me out,” I cried. Sadie gave a smile and pushed a piece of long hair that fell in my eyes.

“Just remember that,” her eyes darted at me mischievously.

“I do need to tell you, though, as the Queen of the Light Kingdom, that we are starting to have trouble with Vamparia.” I sat up on my elbow while Sadie continued to tickle Evelyn’s belly. “The Queen and the Crowned Prince are having trouble regulating rogue vampires and witches in their kingdom. You saw that yesterday while our wolves came to assist. For now, things are stable, but my mother sees another war brewing. With your association with your father, you may have to call upon his help too.”

I frowned; another war? We just took care of the B***d Coven. How many other strong entities could there be?

“Do not worry, Willa; we have some time before anything happens. You are a woman who likes to plan, so I thought I would give a heads up.” Sadie laid on her back to close her eyes

“And I will have to do the same,” she whispered so faintly I barely heard it.

The future queen of the werewolves spoke of the war of vampires with a warning, and all I could do was think about how I was going to help her. After the coronation, I would train with Orion and become his fiercest warrior if I had to. To protect our home, new life, and whatever family we create together.

“Willa, sleep. I had to tell you now because we are both busy women,” she giggled as she rolled over. My eyes slipped a few times before I felt a strong feeling of drowsiness hover over my eyes.