island, away from the pettiness of the world, they spent a glorious week in each other’s arms before Ludwig woke from the lust-induced stupor and remembered his mandate. Once again, he left his lover to serve his race.
Throughout the centuries, he tried to keep his distance from Quintilius, but always failed. No matter how long he was able to stay away, he would always reach the point where his longing for the werewolf would dictate his every action and he sought after Quin one more time. And one time after that, in a constant loop for the best part of two thousand years.
Quintilius had always taken him back.
Until now.
****
“What are you up to?” Quintilius asked Camelia as soon as she opened her eyes.
“What are you doing in my chamber?” she asked, feigning shock and raising one hand over her forehead while she pressed the other over her panting chest.
“Stop joking and start talking.” He tilted his head toward the lemon tree first and the orange tree next. “I couldn’t help but notice that the whole garden relocated in your chambers.”
Slightly nodding, Camelia sighed and pinched the arch of her nose. “I’ve been practicing.”
“And you need to recharge.” He shook his head. “How long has it been going on?”
Sitting against the headboard, she looked straight at him. “Less than six months.”
“You’ve been lying to me for the last six months.” All of a sudden, her recent maladies and constant tiredness made perfect sense.
“I haven’t lied to you. I decided not to share with you something that was very personal.”
“I’ve been worried about you all this time—”
“Had I told you, what would’ve been your reaction?” She reached her hand out for him to grab.
Unable to stay angry at her, he took it in his hands. “You know the answer. I’d have ordered you to stop immediately.”
“Then you have your answer too.” She smiled. “You are my alpha and I would’ve obeyed you, but it would have made me unhappy.” With a light shrug, she added, “And I know you love me too much to want me sad and depressed.”
He couldn’t help a chuckle. “You are a sorceress and a vixen.” He brought her hand to his lips. “But you are my sorceress and my vixen, and I forgive you.”
“Thank you, my alpha,” she whispered. “But you had nothing to worry about. I would’ve never put myself in danger.”
Quintilius heard her unspoken, “ I learned my lesson ,” and said, “I hope so.” He released her hand and sat more comfortably on the loveseat where he had been waiting for her to wake up for hours. “Who are your patients?”
“Mostly the family pets. Nothing major though.” She waved her hand in a dismissive gesture. “Not a soul knows of it. Not even Paolo.”
“If you managed to keep it a secret from our majordomo, then I don’t feel that bad. At least, I am the first to know. After Nero, of course.” He had noticed that his beagle seemed more agile lately, despite suffering from arthritis.
“Are you going to answer it?” she asked, pointing at his vibrating cell phone that had slid out of his jeans’ pocket.
He didn’t have to look at the screen to know it was Ludwig calling. “I suppose I should if I want to find any peace tonight.” His eyes went to his wrist watch. “It’s actually four o’clock in the morning already.”
“Go. I’m fine.” She motioned for him to leave.
“Rest. We’ll talk later.” He pushed himself up and leaned over to kiss her crown.
He closed her bedroom door behind and called Ludwig even before reaching the end of her hallway.
“Quin—” Ludwig sounded hesitant, his voice tinged with a hint of sadness. “Thank you for getting back to me.”
“What is it?” He had to force himself to be brisk, otherwise he would end up begging Ludwig to fly over and spend the night together.
They had gone down that path every time Ludwig had decided they shouldn’t see each other any longer. They would remain
Throughout the centuries, he tried to keep his distance from Quintilius, but always failed. No matter how long he was able to stay away, he would always reach the point where his longing for the werewolf would dictate his every action and he sought after Quin one more time. And one time after that, in a constant loop for the best part of two thousand years.
Quintilius had always taken him back.
Until now.
****
“What are you up to?” Quintilius asked Camelia as soon as she opened her eyes.
“What are you doing in my chamber?” she asked, feigning shock and raising one hand over her forehead while she pressed the other over her panting chest.
“Stop joking and start talking.” He tilted his head toward the lemon tree first and the orange tree next. “I couldn’t help but notice that the whole garden relocated in your chambers.”
Slightly nodding, Camelia sighed and pinched the arch of her nose. “I’ve been practicing.”
“And you need to recharge.” He shook his head. “How long has it been going on?”
Sitting against the headboard, she looked straight at him. “Less than six months.”
“You’ve been lying to me for the last six months.” All of a sudden, her recent maladies and constant tiredness made perfect sense.
“I haven’t lied to you. I decided not to share with you something that was very personal.”
“I’ve been worried about you all this time—”
“Had I told you, what would’ve been your reaction?” She reached her hand out for him to grab.
Unable to stay angry at her, he took it in his hands. “You know the answer. I’d have ordered you to stop immediately.”
“Then you have your answer too.” She smiled. “You are my alpha and I would’ve obeyed you, but it would have made me unhappy.” With a light shrug, she added, “And I know you love me too much to want me sad and depressed.”
He couldn’t help a chuckle. “You are a sorceress and a vixen.” He brought her hand to his lips. “But you are my sorceress and my vixen, and I forgive you.”
“Thank you, my alpha,” she whispered. “But you had nothing to worry about. I would’ve never put myself in danger.”
Quintilius heard her unspoken, “ I learned my lesson ,” and said, “I hope so.” He released her hand and sat more comfortably on the loveseat where he had been waiting for her to wake up for hours. “Who are your patients?”
“Mostly the family pets. Nothing major though.” She waved her hand in a dismissive gesture. “Not a soul knows of it. Not even Paolo.”
“If you managed to keep it a secret from our majordomo, then I don’t feel that bad. At least, I am the first to know. After Nero, of course.” He had noticed that his beagle seemed more agile lately, despite suffering from arthritis.
“Are you going to answer it?” she asked, pointing at his vibrating cell phone that had slid out of his jeans’ pocket.
He didn’t have to look at the screen to know it was Ludwig calling. “I suppose I should if I want to find any peace tonight.” His eyes went to his wrist watch. “It’s actually four o’clock in the morning already.”
“Go. I’m fine.” She motioned for him to leave.
“Rest. We’ll talk later.” He pushed himself up and leaned over to kiss her crown.
He closed her bedroom door behind and called Ludwig even before reaching the end of her hallway.
“Quin—” Ludwig sounded hesitant, his voice tinged with a hint of sadness. “Thank you for getting back to me.”
“What is it?” He had to force himself to be brisk, otherwise he would end up begging Ludwig to fly over and spend the night together.
They had gone down that path every time Ludwig had decided they shouldn’t see each other any longer. They would remain
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