A matebond of inconvenience

Lilith P.O.V.

Even though I’ve been up before the sun today, the rest of the day goes by quickly after we sent back the dinner invitation. Drake went back to the throne room, where he is spending most of his time these days, trying to mend disputes, wheeze out traitors and fight for his right to rule while my cousin is absent. 

Iloni mindlinks me when she’s back after her swim, which she’s been doing on a regular basis ever since all hell broke loose a year ago. She says it clears her mind, makes her soul rest and lets her see things in another light. Good for her, and I’m just glad I don’t have to participate. The ocean is always fucking freezing, and I would literally die.

She is asking me to meet her after lunch, which gave me enough time to train, eat breakfast, tell my father about tonight, listen to him rant and see him dismiss me, while picking up his communications crystal to contact Miriam. Things are going great. 

After lunch Iloni forced Elenie and I to try on different dresses for tonight. Nothing really stuck out to me, not until she showed me a lilac sweetheart neckline, no shoulders, body tight, a long slit showing my right leg and enough room in the skirt to move if danger came to knock. Along with it came invisible pockets for flat knives one can either plunge into an enemy, fight with or throw. The pockets are strategically placed around the bodice, hidden by glittering gems, and clever seamstress magic. Shoes in a darker purple came next, and then a pretty jacket in the same darker purple as the shoes, also hiding knives in each sleeve. 

“I absolutely love it!” I tell Iloni, who is beside herself in laughter.

All of them know by now that I’m not a dress kind of girl. I only wear them to special occasions and in court because my family forces me to. I hate pink and everything associated with pink, hate bows and cutesy things. Elenie is more of a dress girl than me, and she is shining in a lowkey golden colored princess style dress. 

“You both look amazing.” Iloni says when she’s got herself under control again. “And yes, it really is necessary.” She continues when I open my mouth to ask. 

Dammit. 

After the dress fitting, we head to the outer courtyard to walk without people hearing what we talk about. We pass my father, who nods discreetly to me with a small smirk, and Iloni actually stops this time to ask him if he is okay? He blinks a couple of times assuring her he is, and she just lifts an eyebrow at him before moving on. 

Outside I ask her what that was about and she laughs. 

“I like to rattle him sometimes. It’s so satisfying to see his smug face fall and be all bewildered.” I laugh with her. 

The rest of the day goes by fast, and before I know it we’re changed and waiting in the throne room. I think back to the day Iloni asked Elenie and I to be her Lillipad Ladies. She had summoned Elenie from the fae court with the blessing of the former Queen, who said Elenie seemed lonely, and could use some friends aka she is a brilliant knowledgeable woman, who can contribute a lot to your rebellion. 

Elenie seemed really confused, and expressed it immediately while I became quiet, and only asked if she was certain given the family I stem from. Iloni said she knew Athene and Caspian trusted us a hundred percent and that was enough for her. She also said that the title didn’t correlate to the vampire throne, but to her siren heritage, and we would be employed by her and only her. Then we asked what the title came with, and when she was done explaining, we were all in. 

The three of us have become best friends, and although I miss my cousin, I must admit Drake and Iloni do a damn good job here. They are compassionate, strict and fair, never judging without hearing both sides and always coming up with a compromise if one can be found. They have won over the majority of the people, which is the main reason my father has not won and killed them. The people defended the throne and them when his first attack came. They cast the traitors out, killed them and kept fighting. 

The doors open at the other end of the throne room, and the herold stomps his staff. 

“Alpha Nate and Luna Olivia of the Moonstone pack.” He announces, bowing his head.

They walk forward, and the herold once again stomps his staff.

“Gammas Chris and Naima, Lord Lukas Nightstar.” 

The Gammas walk forward, while Alpha Nate and Luna Olivia are greeting Drake and Iloni. My attention, however, is solely on the most damned handsome man I have ever laid my eyes upon. Lord Lukas Nightstar the herold called him. What the actual fuck. Who is he? Why is he here, and why do I have the urge to suddenly run into his arms, while simultaneously wanting to be taken by him right on this very floor in front of all these people? My whole body is reacting, and then his scent hits me - I almost gasp but manage to keep it in at the last second. This is not happening.

How can this happen now? I can have a… Fuck me.. This is so inconvenient. We can’t even acknowledge each other because of the statue of this visit. 

His eyes, god his eyes. They are light grey, very expressive and solely trained on me. He finally looks away when he has to greet Drake and Iloni, and I try to catch my breath. Everything in me is screaming to go to him, but I stay where I am, listening to the polite conversation and exchange of pleasantries in front of me.

After an hour in completely torture, Drake finally says we should go to the private dining room for more privacy and some delicious food. The others agree, and Elenie folds her arm with me as we walk right behind Iloni as her Lillipad Ladies. I haven’t even heard if they have presented us yet or not, I’ve been so busy fighting my thoughts, my body and my urges. 

“Are you alright, Lilith?” Elenie whispers in my ear. 

“I honestly have no idea.” I whisper back, quickly explaining what’s going on. 

She gives my arm a squeeze, sneaking a look over her shoulder. I almost squeal as she does that, but blush instead, trying to keep my dignity intact. 

When we enter the private dining room, Drake closes the door, and Lukas keeps staring at me. I feel my face heat under his gaze, and Iloni moves to stand next to me. 

“Would you please stop looking at Lilith like she is going to be your next meal?” She says, her voice angry. 

“Sorry, but she does look so delicious.” Lukas answers, laughing a little. 

The room becomes eerily quiet. Iloni steps in front of me, Drake is beside her in an instant, Elenie is trying, and kind of failing to laugh, while the Alpha, Luna and Gammas look on from the side. I sigh. 

“Uhm.. So, this is very awkward, but it seems like the Goddesses gave me a mate who is not a vampire, and who is here with our.. Partners.” I say, trying to not sound pitiful. 

Iloni and Drake both turn, mouth agape. Alpha Nate is laughing now, and so is Elenie. Luna Olivia looks relieved, while the Gammas keep their composure as best they can, although I do sense relief in their postures as well. 

“He is your.. Are you sure?” Iloni asks, and I nod. 

“As sure as you and Drake were when you met.” I tell her, my eyes again drifting to Lukas who is still standing with the wolves. 

He gives me a smile, then he steps forward, and when no one stops him and I don’t say anything, he crosses the room and takes me into his arms. They are strong, warm and he feels like home after a second. 

“Hello sweet Lilith, you have no idea how long I’ve waited to meet you.” He says, his voice a little deeper than before. 

“Maybe we should tell them everything, and then she can decide if she still wants you as a mate, Lukas?” Alpha Nate asks, tone serious. 

I frown, looking between the Alpha and Lukas. What could possibly refrain me from wanting him as my mate?

“You’re right,” Lukas says, kissing my hair and letting me go. “Maybe we should sit?” He asks, and we do. “So, Alpha Nate has been so generous to bring me along, one; because Miriam thinks I’ll tell her everything that’s gone on in this meeting and two; because I won’t tell her everything that’s gone on in this meeting.” Everyone, except the wolves, looks utterly confused. 

“My name is Lukas Nightstar, because the surname is one I have taken for myself. My real surname is long forgotten, but I’m the son of Cresida, and cousin of Miriam. My mother’s sister is Caitlyn, who tried to kill Allie and Blake once upon a blue moon. I’m here in my own capacity because I want nothing to do with my family’s doings. I’m not like them, and I’ve been working against them ever since we came here. My mother as well.” He takes a deep breath, looks directly at me. “I first came here a year ago because my heart kept telling me to go here, that something or someone was waiting for me. I met Henri, who loathed me and sent me on a siucide mission, which almost got me killed. But I also got a lot of the Noble family's relatives out, so Henri couldn’t blackmail them anymore. My mother came to get me when I failed to return back to headquarters.” 

“You were here a year ago?” I ask, thinking back, realising at one point I had smelled something delicious for days in our family quarters. Something that made me giddy, horny and frustrated all at the same time. I never told anyone that. 

“Yes, I wanted to see if my instincts were right. It’s been bothering me for a year, and when Alpha Nate and I became friends, he confided in me that he is a part of your rebellion. I immediately asked to join, which he said we needed your,” he looks at Drake and Iloni, “acceptance on.”  

“That is technically correct, and I just have to get this right,” Drake says, looking at Lukas and then at Alpha Nate. “You say that you are a direct family to Miriam?” 

“I am.” 

“Then why in all the hells should we trust you?” Drake asks, leaning back. 

A/N

Hello my lovelies. 

Welcome to book four, and thank you for joining me as we travel into the next installment of this series. Believe me, I have A LOT in store for you, and I'm looking very much forward to giving you all the feels, making you gasp and laugh. We're going on an adventure. 

This week I'm starting up again, and that'll be with one chapter today, one chapter Wednesday and then I'm going to Comic Con on Friday, so you'll you have to wait all the way until Monday before the next update. BUT! Next I'll start updating my usual two chapters, three times a week again. Don't worry. 

Thank you for reading, and thank you for all the lovely comments. I read them, and they make me want to give you more. They give me life and happiness. All of them. 

I hope you love this chapter, and we'll be seeing a lot more of Lukas and Lilith throughout this book, don't worry. 

XOXO

Natacha_h