Daphne's POV
"Ohh! This is nothing. I’ve experienced much worse. Don't worry." Arthur hushed me and nuzzled my head, “You are only human. You wouldn’t be able to keep up. And you are my mate. It’s my duty to protect you. ”
“I told you I don’t know what you’re talking about,” I shook my head, “You must be mistaken.”
“I would do anything for you.” It seemed like he didn't hear or care what I just said.
Suddenly, his gaze darted around then he turned to look back. His shoulders were tense and I felt his apprehension. The wolves weren’t right behind us, but it would only be a matter of time.
"Daphne, We should really get going. "
“I-I have to heal you first.”
“What do you mean?”
I walked around him and kneeled beside his leg. He turned his head to watch me as I swiped my fingers across the open gash on my arm and smeared my blood in the wound on his leg. The flesh and fur sparkled as it began to close.
He gasped, “Is… Is this how you treated me before?... Are you really human?”
“I am!” I said defensively. “I’m not a witch!”
Arthur shook his head and smile widely, “I didn’t think you were… you must be a very special human.”
I worried my lip, watching the wound close completely. Arthur wiggled his leg with an impressed huff.
“Promise me that you won’t tell anyone,” I said, my heart hammering with fear. “I--”
“I promise,” he said easily, sitting on his haunches and looking at me. “Could you promise me something in exchange?”
I eyed him, “Like what?”
“Only treat me this way when it’s necessary. I… don’t want you to use your blood to treat others.”
I was shocked at the request. I wanted to respond, but Arthur was on his feet again, glaring into the woods behind us.
“Quick!” He kneeled and nudged me onto his back before rushing forward.
The werewolves had found us.
“Where are we going?”
“Towards water,” Arthur said, turning sharply and picking up speed.
I held on tightly and wished I could feel how far they were or hear them, but I could only rely on the feeling of urgency from Arthur easing and slowly being replaced with hope.
It seemed we were getting farther away from the wolves, and I began to hear the sound of rushing water. Arthur broke through the trees and skidded to a stop at the bank. I followed the current and felt the moment Arthur’s hope turned to despair: the river led to a waterfall that was several dozen meters high.
I never would have guessed that my little piece of the forest was a piece of highland, practically isolated from the vast forest below the cliff.
“A-Arthur? What do we do now?”
He turned with a growl as I heard the wolves approaching us.
“Get behind me,” he said gruffly. I slid off his back and let him step forward to face the group of wolves.
One of them leaped forward and Arthur met it with a ferocious swipe of his paw as others approached me. One leaped towards me. Arthur jumped between us, taking the blow and trading one of his own.
The other wolves rushed at me, and Arthur blocked them with his body, gaining another injury.
“Arthur, just leave me and escape!” I cried as Arthur threw a wolf down with a sharp crack of its neck and stumbled.
At this rate, we’d both end up dead.
“I won’t let you touch her!”
Why was he being so valiant? It would be easier to be upset with all the misfortune he’d brought if he wasn’t.
I wiped my tears and looked around. I didn't want to die, and I didn't want Arthur to die either. The water moved swiftly towards the roaring fall. Getting across would be the best bet, but the next best thing would be to go over the edge.
A tree trunk wavered on the riverbank upstream, and I gasped with hope. It was a stretch, but it was better than certain death at the hands of the werewolves. I rushed toward the trunk and waded into the water to haul it close. I ripped the hem of my skirt in a long strip until the skirt was barely a fourth of its original length.
I tied one end of it to my arm and wrapped some of it around the trunk of the tree as the river began to pull it away from me.
“Arthur, this way!”
He shoved an attacking wolf back, throwing its body on its comrades before running towards me.
“Your arm!”
He offered it though he looked confused as I tied the other end of the cloth to his arm.
“What are you doing?”
I met his gaze, “Do you trust me?”
He nodded without hesitation.
“Then, let’s die together.”
“With you? Without regret.”
Arthur’s lips twitched and he laughed, impressed and I found myself smiling a bit. I had to be crazy, but it seemed he was crazy too. It was a wonderful madness that would take us right over the edge of this cliff.
My heart fluttered at the resolution in his voice. Together, we pushed the trunk further into the current. It took hold quickly, pulling us sharply into deeper, colder water.
Then, we plunged into endless darkness and silence.
Arthur was in a bad mood, but as Daphne held onto him, she couldn’t help but laugh. They’d left the cottage about an hour ago and they hadn’t gone for. If she didn’t know better, she would have sworn he was walking in circles just to avoid leaving.“Oh, Arthur, it won’t be that bad.”“We deserve at least a month,” Arthur grumbled walking through the forest.She laughed, “Is that why you’re walking so slow?”He didn’t answer and she laughed harder, leaning into the warmth of his glossy, golden fur. He’d been grumbling about heading back to deal with the mess of the werewolves and vampires for the past few days.“We don’t have to go back,” Arthur huffed. “You don’t think Nicole can’t handle those cowards?”Nicole would just as soon kill half of the pack leaders than put up with bullshit from them, but that wouldn’
Morning came slowly, waking Arthur. Daphne’s scent filled his nose and he turned to look at her, grinning at her sleeping face. As if she felt him looking at her, her eyes snapped open and their gazes met. Arthur turned, pressing his lips to hers, unable to resist the need to be closer to her, to be sure she was still his Daphne.Daphne sighed, pressing into the kiss with a little sigh. The sound sent heat through his blood until need and desperation pooled in his hips and he felt his cock swelling.Daphne gasped, as he angled his hips against hers. She looked up. Arthur’s face heated. He was going to apologize, to make some sort of excuse, but he didn’t get a chance.In a flash, he was on his back with Daphne hovering over him. He was a bit shocked at her speed and strength, but his wolf growled in contentment. Did werewolf mates tussle with one another? He’d always imagined it as sweet and gentle, but the urge to flip them over again an
Arthur chuckled at her thought. Did she think he wanted to talk about it now? He was running on adrenaline and relief. As soon as he got somewhere he knew was safe for them both, he’d probably collapse, curled around Daphne.“I haven’t changed much, Daphne.”“That’s not true,” Daphne said, “You have more scars.”Arthur shrugged, “They’ll be gone in a few days.”“Not on your skin,” Daphne said, sliding a hand over his chest as she looked up at him, “In here.”His heart sped up as their gazes met. He wanted to protest, but he couldn’t find the words. She was right. So much had happened. He’d been so used to not thinking about it before Daphne, then worrying about it with her, that losing her had left him floundering.She stepped back, taking his hands and leading him towards the house.“Come on. Let’s take a bath. I th
Arthur opened his arms trying to sweep her into his arms, but she lunged at him, wrapping her arms around him and sobbing into his shoulder. Fear filled him and anxiety. He didn’t know what to make of her sudden apology or what he should say in response.“I’m so sorry, Arthur! I should have never gone! I shouldn’t have left you. I should have made Mamie and the others leave me behind, at least they would have been alive.”Arthur’s eye burned with an unfamiliar sensation. He didn’t remember the last time he’d cried or if he’d cried at all, but the tightness in his chest felt like it was going to burst. It sounded like she was regaining her memories, but had she regained all of them?She hiccupped, “The baby… It wasn’t your fault. I…”Arthur tightened his grip on her with a relieved sigh, burying his nose in her neck.“Daphne,” he whispered. “You r
Daphne didn’t speak as they watched the fire rage, burning through vampire and werewolf corpses and surrounding John as he panicked, limping as if his leg had been injured. Daphne narrowed her eyes as he tripped on nothing.He tumbled, head over heels onto the duchess’ body, and shrieked, drawing back as the fire began to devour him.“No! Your Majesty, please!” John crawled towards them. His face twisted with desperation and terror.Daphne didn’t look away, meeting his gaze as he realized that there was nothing he could say to escape his fate. His expression turned determined as he got to his feet and tried to shake off the fire that had reached his jacket. He tore it off but another burst of fire started on his pant leg and he went down again.“That lesson about tying your boots properly,” Nicole said lightly, “That is why.”Her lips twitched into just a bit of amusement as he began to scream a
Daphne rushed to where his body stopped, pulling him onto his back as tears fell down her cheeks.“Just hold on!”Owen’s hand grabbed hers as she settled her shaking hands over the hole in his chest. Blood was bubbling up and pooling around them. Her magic warmed and stuttered trying to close the hole.“Run…” he gasped before his last breath escaped him and she could no longer feel any spark of life in him.“No…” she sniffled. “No! You can’t–”A snarl drew her attention from above. Osborn had shifted and started to barrel down the side of the hill towards her. She lunged aside, barely dodging his attack, and grabbed her sword, turning into his next attack as he skidded, turned, and lunged at her again.His claws met her blade and shoved her back and off her feet. She tumbled back and landed hard on her arm.He was too strong f