"I expected you to be in a better mood this morning." Rakon came and stood beside me out on my bedroom''s balcony as I stared out into nothingness. I was in a better mood. If deciding not to be a sneaky bastard and giving up the chance to devour one''s mate in


    one heated night of passion for her sake could put one in such a mood, then I was.


    I shifted my gaze for the first time since I had gotten lost in my thoughts. "I am." I mumbled, a reluctant smile on my face. Rakon only arched a brow at my answer before his gaze fell on the cup of wine I had forgotten to bring to my lips for the longest while now. "Helps with maintaining the mood." I mumbled.


    Because I did not know of any other way to keep from being assaulted by visions of her glorious body that would have definitely made me go back on my decision, I had turned to wine. Not that it had helped. As much as I longed to be intoxicated, wine was just not the thing to do it. I still longed for her. Longed for that sugary scent to fill me the way it had as my lips pressed to every inch of that silky smooth skin. I longed to relish the sound of her moans that rang beautifully in my ears and had my own need souring each time she reacted to my touch. The desire in her eyes and how they sparkled with need. A need for me and my wolf. The whole sight was as sacred as it was arousing. "Hmm. I take itst night did not go as nned then?"


    "It did. Better than I had hoped." The memory of her innocent invitation sparked something in my blood. If only it was not just the bond speaking at the time. "Then why the long face?" Rakon leaned on the balcony''s railing, facing me.


    "Because she deserves better." That was a bitter sweet pill I had had to swallowst night. I realized I would have to swallow a lot of those before she let me into her heart. A price I had decided I was willing to pay, no matter how steep it became.


    The bond would give me her body, but not her heart and that was what I was after, more than anything.The moment my lips had brushed her pregnant belly, that desire had be oh so clear, making me abandon luring her in such a manner. If...when I did im her, love is what I wished to be making to her. I still had no clue how I was going to aplish it. How I was going keep my hands to myself until then, but I was willing to try.


    "Then all hope is not lost."


    "Hope?" I frowned at Rakon.


    "I was afraid your queen may have rubbed off on you." Rakon reached for my cup and downed every drop of its contents. "It''s good to know that my best friend is still in there some ce." "This was a test?"


    "I prefer calling it a war strategy. As it stands and as head of your king''s guard, I needed to be sure that you would not stick to your regrettable path of mistakes and doom Xatis along with it."


    I scoffed. "And you concluded all that after learning about my cowardly exit from my mate''s chambers?" Sh''s pained expression still haunted me. She''d tried to conceal it, but I''d seen right through her mask. I could have given her what she desired, but she would have only resented herself more than she resented me. I couldn''t have that. Of course, I would be needing a way to smooth her over after what I knew she thought was another rejection from me.


    "You are many things, your majesty. A coward is not one of them." Rakon smirked. "And if you are quite done with whatever this is." He gestured towards my lone drinking party. "Your visitor from the capital awaits."


    "That was quick." My gaze shifted to the horizon. The sun was still only peeking out. I had not expected my visitor until way after breakfast.


    "It seems your predicament is something of intrigue as the man couldn''t wait for sunrise and chose to ride for the pce at once, together with the messenger who''d delivered your request.


    My own curiosity at that led me out of my bed chambers and into my private study.


    "Your majesty." A man who was as ancient as history itself and yet did not look a day over most of the young wolves in Xatis stood to his his feet and bowed. "I came as soon as I heard."


    "Cerus." I acknowledged his greeting before taking a seat. "What can you tell me of it." If there was anyone who would know why I could not get rid of Myrna''s mark, it would be him. ''Cerus the wise'' as he was fondly known by those who''d sought him and drank from the vast well of knowledge he possessed.


    "If I may, your majesty." I bared my neck at the old man''s request and held the position as he inspected the mark.


    "Well?" I broke the silence when the man uttered nothing after his inspections.


    "It is a thing of beauty, I must say." He was obviously fascinated, a fact that I did not share and one that made anger bubble.


    "Can it be erased or not?"


    "I do not understand." Confusion spread on the old man''s face. "Why would you seek to erase it at all?"


    "Because it is not meant to be there." I growled as a memory of my mate''s painful look at the sight of it shed before my eyes. I needed to get rid of it and keep all that pain away from her.


    "Was it not ced there by your chosen mate?"


    "It was, against my will." I all but growled.


    "Oh, I see." The man nodded, but still appeared thoughtful.


    "Forgive me, but what kind of mark is it that it refuses to be erased. A pigment or something of the sort perhaps?" Rakon asked from beside me.


    At that the man''s eyes brightened as they always did when he spoke of the treasures that were our past. "It is indeed a pigment of sorts. One found on a very rare tree." I frowned at the simple exnation leaving Cerus''s mouth. But if the man noted my reaction he made no attempt to utter anything about it. "The tree was believed to be a gift from the moon goddess as it had many healing properties that aided our wolf healing, among other things. The pigment being one of those things that in times past those with chosen mates used to mark their mates to mimic the natural mate bond."


    I frowned at that. "Why would they need it when they could easily mark each other andplete their bond."


    "Because my king, for many, a chosen mate was just that, chosen. The maiden''s knew it and because they longed to be cherished just as those naturally mated were, theybined the unusual properties of the pigment together with a bit of sorcery toe up with a seemingly harmless cream that an unspecting wolf had applied on them and the result? I''m sure his highness''s imagination can conjure up a vision of what that might be."


    Everything sounded ridiculous and if this was not Cerus, I would have thought the man in front of me to be totally insane and think nothing of his words. "Would a witch be able to undo it?"


    "Because it is clear that you do not ept this mark, the spell should not have held, it only does because you share share a bond with her.


    "Bond? I share no such thing. Not even my mark rests on her skin." For once I patted myself for dragging my feet over that.


    "I did not mean your mark, your highness. Your having wedded her was enough. That is if that is your queen''s mark."


    "So you mean there is no way to get rid of it?" The dread in Rakon''s voice reflected my own.


    "Am I stuck with this?" I could see my chances with Sh evaporating right before my eyes.


    "Not exactly."


    "Well speak then!" Impatience prickled.


    "Your mate''s mark has the power to erase even the most dark of spells, your majesty. That is if you were ever to find her." An apologetic smile crossed the old man''s lips and it only served to remind me that Xatis had yet to know about Sh. I did not care for it, only that she would be my saving grace.


    "Thank you for taking the trouble ofing all the way out here." I had heard enough.


    "It is no trouble, but an honour, your majesty. It is not everyday that one gets to serve in such a manner."


    "Well, you have my utmost thanks. Rakon here will see to it that you are rewarded for your service" The man bowed and headed for the door, only to stop abruptly and turning back to me.


    "Anything else?"


    "Do not underestimate the power of this spell. There is a reason only a pure mark from your moon goddess''s given mate can counter it. And if you have no intentions of forever belonging to the queen, now would be a good time to keep away from her." I would be keeping away from Myrna, but not just yet.


    The moment Rakon and Cerus walked out the door, I followed suit. Except I headed in the direction of my chosen mate''s chambers, anger driving my every step.


    "Your majesty?" Shock graced the faces of the guard''s faces posted on Myrna''s door as they straightened up. "Wee." They bowed when I only red. I chose not to acknowledge them and barged into the room instead. The moment I did, I froze, realization that I had underestimated the power of the spell even after being warned hit me instantly.