Chapter 3 - Code Name

❀ Maeve ❀

The cold knob of our front door twisted under my palm before I realized I still didn’t know his name. And just like that, I was back in his mouth, trembling.

He had watched me for only seconds before his eyes glinted crimson in the shadows, and he knelt between my legs and replaced my fingers with his tongue.

“Tell me your name,” I’d demanded, his moist tongue making a mess of my thoughts as he lapped at my throbbing bud.

Between his relentless feasting and my delirium, I had held onto one thought, demanding his name.

After, when I had been sated and he lay next to my still-trembling body, propped up on one elbow, he’d asked, “Did you get it?”

“Get what?” I murmured through my pleasure-induced haze.

“My name. I spelt it out with my tongue.”

Desperate to figure it out, I’d demanded another chance. But when he’d gone down on me again, making swirls, flicks, and long licks I could barely decipher from the heat he coaxed from my pelvis, I’d shattered all over again.

Just thinking about it made my sensitive bud swell uncomfortably between my legs.

I pushed the door open slowly, not wanting to wake Mother as I entered.

I staggered back with a gasp as her shadowed frame rose from the stool she had been sitting on and approached me.

“Oh gods, Maeve! When the others returned without you, I thought…”

She wrapped her arms around me in a tight, shaky hug, her tears dampening my shoulder.

“They all returned together?” I asked, trapped in her hold.

I knew they didn’t consider me part of their clique, but hearing that they returned together sent a stab through my chest. They hadn’t cared whether I lived or died.

“Yes, I asked them, but they hadn’t seen you.”

I pulled back to let her look at me. “I’m fine, Mother. I am not hurt.”

Satisfied at her perusal, she wiped her cheeks. “Well? Did you…?”

“No.”

Her face fell in disappointment.

“I found a tutor, but he said I wasn’t ready yet. He insisted we start with the basics. Maybe tomorrow…”

Her face brightened instantly. “Oh, good, good. Did he hurt you? How do you feel?”

“Not exactly… but he did drain me.”

“That’s expected. Come, I made you blood pudding to regain your strength.”

“You shouldn’t have stayed up, you know. I would have made it until morning.”

“Nonsense. He took from the little you have. Go and wash up. I’ll reheat it and bring it up for you.” Her voice faded under the clanking of a pan on the stove.

Silver hair streaking her wavy, dark mane, she bustled around the kitchen, fixing me dinner. Appreciation swelled in my chest at her care.

“Mother.”

She turned, holding a ladle. “Yes,” came her soft reply.

“Thank you,” I said, my voice heavy with emotion.

Her small smile, crinkling the corners of her eyes, sent me off to my room.

I dragged my heavy, shaky legs up the stairs, holding my dress up to avoid tripping over it.

I didn’t even feel bad about being left behind by Carmela and the girls. We were not friends, they did not owe me anything. And I bet that being seen with me may cause them shame among their ranks.

But I didn’t care, because my tutor had said, “Go on home. I’ll watch over you until you arrive at your doorstep.”

The tingle I’d felt on my back while I walked home, up to the point where I’d stepped on our little doorstep, had undoubtedly been him.

I smiled.

Taking off my dress for the second time that night, I pulled the lace off my mid-length mirror.

Previously hidden away because I didn’t like to look at my reflection, I cleaned it off with my dress, damp from the night dew. Then I stepped back and looked, really looked, trying to see what he had seen when he pronounced me beautiful.

Waist-length platinum blonde hair framed my face. My pale skin caught the moonlight from my open window, glowing with a soft halo.

Beautiful, he had said. I didn’t see it yet, but I believed him. With one word, he had injected confidence under my skin, kissing along my inner thighs until I begged him for more.

Sitting on my bed, I spread my thighs and ran my fingers along the spot he’d peppered with kisses.

I teased my fingers down my pubis, holding my breath, trying to recreate the feel of his lips there.

“Maeve…”

The door creaked open.

I jumped, grabbing the sheets and rolling myself under them.

Mother walked in with a wooden bowl, its matching spoon sticking out at the edge. With her other hand, she held a platter of fruit.

I blinked slowly and stretched my arms, feigning grogginess.

“My precious girl,” she whispered. “Eat, before you sleep. So you may be strong tomorrow.”

I sat up, pressing the sheets to my chest, and took the bowl of steaming blood meal.

“Thank you, Mother. So much.”

She leaned forward, pressing a soft kiss to my forehead.

“I’ve kept you hidden for far too long, my snowdrop. I thought I was protecting you, but now I know that I need to arm you so you can protect yourself.”

She always spoke like this whenever she managed to let me out of her sight for even a minute, marveling at my ability to survive even short errands.

“I can. And I will protect both of us. I’ll find a mate, you’ll see,” I murmured into her palm that cupped my face.

“I know you will.” She smiled, but it seemed sad somehow, as if she didn’t much like the idea of me leaving her.

If only she knew that I wouldn’t ever dream of it. Once I found a mate and was permitted to live in IronWolf, I would take her with me. I’d work with her weaving baskets for all eternity, or until her death.

The thought of losing her clenched my chest with brittle fingers, but I bit it down. She was human and had no interest in being turned, she told me so.

“Sleep early. We have a busy day tomorrow replacing all the baskets we sold yesterday at the festival. And you have to return to District 3 in the evening.”

“Yes, Mother.”

After she left, I wolfed down my dinner, took a shower, and nestled in my bed, my lids pressed closed, trapping the hot image of my tutor behind them.

Eyes like a bloodied sea, skin as cold as ice but warmed from my blood and flesh, hair as soft as unworn silk.

I bit down on a handkerchief, chasing the rhythm of his tongue from memory.

I came hard and fast, and as sleep crept in, a wolf howled in the distance. Too close for comfort.

But I knew that soon, we wouldn’t have to live here anymore.