Chapter 42

“Elena.” King Harvey breathes as he places me down on a white queen-sized bed.

“Can I call you Harvey now?”

King Harvey chuckles lowly. “Elena, my mate, you moaned it plenty moments ago.”

“Do not remind me. It wasn’t that good.” I tease, managing to open my eyes and catch his brimming grin.

“Liar, Elena.” King Harvey moves to lie in bed beside me and pulls me, so I rest on his chest. I keep my eyes shut, completely relaxed.

It is an innocent way to say thank you, but he melts in my grasp, slipping to lay his head on my chest as he lies down.

I run my hand up and down his back and he relaxes further, I feel all his muscles give way at once.

King Harvey rests his right cheek on my chest and looks up at me, making it so I can see the long claw marks that scar his handsome face diagonally. They are jagged scratches from his mother, and his skin is tender and bruised. Light purple welts surround every cut he carries, and his face is starting to swell.

Stopping myself from crying, I am going to be strong because this is our wedding day.

I sigh. “King Harvey, heal yourself. I am sorry I can’t heal you myself.”

“You as my mate is enough of a reward. I will carry this pain.”

I freeze. “Werewolves I tended to, would bear scars from the war to show their failures.”

King Harvey nods. “Yes, I am planning to be orphaned by letting go of my parents. This is a good amount of proof.”

I sit up and King Harvey moves with me, sitting and then pulls me to rest in his lap. When our bare skin touches, I feel pale.

I am not very sore, exhausted yes, and the half-lidded look he gives me proves he is not done with me yet. I am in the tatters of my wedding dress, and King Harvey is only wearing pants, that I know he is itching to get out of.

“You are my husband and not a failure!”

“Your what?” King Harvey grins.

“You are my husband, my mate.”

“My wife, my mate,” King Harvey replies so lovingly that I am still when he captures me in a kiss. “I love you.”

“I love you too, Harvey.”

He rolls off me and rests his head on a red velvet pillow and says nothing. The massive expanse of his chest grabs my attention, but as well as I feel, I do still feel a bit weak.

“Rest for now, Elena, you have done well.”

“Are you sure I can’t do anything about your wounds?”

King Harvey shakes his head no. “Perhaps… I have idea.”

King Harvey grabs the small candle that is to his left at the bedside table. Motioning for me to sit up, I do, and he places the candle in my hands.

“It is a lavender scent, very relaxing.”

“Make a flame, Elena.” King Harvey urges. “I know you can do it. This is a good place to see your luna powers. To see if the mating process was a success.”

I freeze. “What if it wasn’t?”

“I suppose I will have to sacrifice myself and make love to you again.” The smile on his face is more delightful than ever.

Cupping the glass candle in my hand, I feel that it is a glass made of petals. How fitting. I don’t know what to do or think. Feeling stupid, I look at King Harvey and wait for instruction.

Softly, he sighs as he leans in and kisses me lovingly on the lips chastely.

“I am sorry, I don’t know what to do, King Harvey.” I whisper.

He runs his hand down my face, and the warmth of his hand melts me.

“I know you can do it, Elena.” King Harvey wraps an arm around my waist and pulls me to sit side by side with him completely. Our legs overlap.

“Picture a flame.”

“Yes, I know, but do I feel the flame or…?”

“Study the candle flame, then imagine a fire, destroying everything.” King Harvey explains.

“I don’t want to hurt anyone, King Harvey.”

Lifting my eyes away from the candle, I hold King Harvey’s gaze.

He takes the candle from me, then holds my hands in his. King Harvey leans in and kisses both my hands, then my lips.

“Elena.” King Harvey whispers. “This is not about hurting anyone. By you being a luna, you will heal many, you will protect our people.”

“Our people…?” I wonder out loud, breathlessly.

King Harvey nods to me seriously. “As my wife and mate, my people are yours, my blood is yours, my kingdom is yours, everything, is yours as much as it is mine, Elena.”

“That means… my people? I guess humans…?”

“Yes, Elena. I will help your people and you will help mine. I need training in the sense of you helping me understand humans. You need help understanding werewolves. These luna powers will unlock a lot of that, our bond will be stronger, and I will understand humans more. You are the needed link, Elena.” King Harvey leans in and kisses me on the cheek.

My heart beats wildly in my chest over what he said and his actions.

“I want to, King Harvey.”

“You will, Elena.” King Harvey promises with a nod. “Try, my love.”

King Harvey places the candle in my waiting hands and I focus on the flame. It is warm, steady, and rounded. I feel nothing though. I am very happy to be with King Harvey and I want us to stay together.

Squinting, I stare at the candle and try to picture a wildfire.

Nothing. Not even a slight spark.

I wait a few moments and nothing else happens.

With a huff, I sigh, unable to look King Harvey in the face. I am running out of patience with myself, and it is more appealing to toss this candle now.

King Harvey takes the candle from my hands and with one click of his fangs, the candle brims to life. It is now a flame, solid orange and rising.

“Thanks, really helps…” Grumbling, I look away and feel miserable.

King Harvey smiles at me. “You will be doing a thousand times more than that, Elena.”

“When?”

King Harvey stares at me sympathetically, his brown eyes gentle. “Let us try word association.”

“Uh, flames are hot. Fire, warmth…”

“Smoke… burning…” King Harvey finishes then peers at the candle in my hand.

Nothing.

“Do I need to feel emotions?”

“I focus on what I must do… so perhaps thinking of a blooming light? When I healed you I just thought of healing my wife…” King Harvey explains.

“I would want a flame to protect you…” I think out loud. It is the closest thing I can think of, to protect him and my sister.

King Harvey tilts his head to the side. “Elena, recall my mother?”

A fire-surge of rage bursts in the pit of my stomach and crawls up my soul.

“Yes, King Harvey…” I hiss.

“She tried to kill you, Elena.” King Harvey informs me as if I wasn’t there. Yet, his eyes are silver, and his fangs are longer. “Mother attempted to kill my wife, my mate…”

I watch as my husband’s hands coil into fists, his talons pierce his skin until he is bleeding.

He is bleeding for me.

Squeezing the glass container of the candle, it starts to slip in my sweaty grasp. The flame suddenly dies out and is reborn, a thin yet powerful sizzling orange flame comes for the center of the candle. It is now about five inches high and shaking violently.

Silently, I turn to King Harvey, who opens his hands and shows me he has already healed his palms. His silver eyes twinkle with pure pride and he smiles fantastically at me.

“Elena,” King Harvey starts lowly. “I understand your rage, it must be contained, however. Do not let it consume your heart. Now, with this, we will build upon your luna powers and shut my mother up.”