Chapter 11

Chapter 11

Damien

The bumps of the cobbled streets smoothed out as the driveway up to the Iceclaw Packhouse wound up the hill that overlooked the village below. The tree lined lane cast shadows that danced as the leaves rustled in the light spring breeze. The cars slid under another stone arch as black and gold gates bearing the Iceclaw crest split open, and wolves bearing the same tattoos as the men in the coffee shop were posted on either side, saluting at our arrival.

My suspicion was correct, they were guards. Thinking of the guards in the coffee shop, I found my thoughts drifting back to the way the skirt swished on her thighs, the Moon Goddess’ kiss bearing the Iceclaw mark between her muscular shoulder blades, her pale arms, the way her hair glistened as she moved, the way her lips parted as she turned to face the men, and those eyes. I felt a tightening between my legs and my pants began to bulge at the zipper.

We pulled to a stop in front of the Iceclaw Packhouse. It was simple and functional, made from ancient stone and brick with moss and ivy covering it in spaces. It had a couple turrets on either side of the entry and extended to the left and right, in what I supposed led to various wings. The front door was an arched double door with a wrought iron handle. On either side of the door were white triangular banners with the Iceclaw crest in gold. The Luna and her in-laws were waiting for our delegation’s arrival at the bottom of the entryway steps. Several others stood on the first row of steps behind them.

As the chauffeur strode around the car to open my door; I stepped out of the car and ran my fingers through my black curls. I inhaled a deep breath as the breeze blew past, and caught the most intoxicating scent of lavender and eucalyptus mixed with the scent of the air just before the snow. I whipped my head to the direction of the scent, and there, walking past the gate with the men from the coffee shop was her. She took a sip of coffee from her brown paper cup with her perfect red lips, and her hair blew around her face as the wind kissed her. I envied the cup and the wind. More of the scent filled my lungs. Sargon focused in on her, and I felt his desire mount.

She brushed her golden locks back with her free hand and pulled it around to one shoulder. The way she moved was effortlessly graceful but with a hint of youthfulness. And then, she looked at the cars and smiled, as if someone had just said something amusing. Her eyes went to the chauffeurs opening the doors, then fell on me, and in an instant, only she and I existed as our eyes met. “She must be ours,” Sargon howled, it was all I could do to keep him from running over to her and making a fool of ourselves.

Then, I saw her breath catch and knew she had to feel it, too, as our eyes briefly met. They burned into my soul, seeing me like I had never been seen before. In a very unexpected move, her eyes traveled down my body and rested for a moment on the bulge in my pants. I felt it push toward the zipper, willing her to come claim me. The breeze continued to carry her scent as it washed over me, and as her eyes traveled back up to mine, she gave a she smiled. Then the guard told her they must be going and she disappeared behind the wooden door. I wanted to rip out his throat as he placed his hand on he back and led her through the arched door.

I wanted to run after her, rip the door off the hinges and ravish her entirely, but then I felt my mother’s hand slip into mine, pulling me back to my duty and the reason I had come to Iceclaw to begin with. “Is it time for me to meet the troll to which I am betrothed?” I joked.

My father joined my side just then. “I don’t think I would call what just walked through the door a moment ago a troll, would you?” he asked, eyebrows raised. “That troll is your princess.”