Chapter 44

The morning came slowly. Daphne couldn’t remember going to sleep. Her body ached as if she had been running for hours the morning before, but she felt content. She opened her eyes slowly.

“Daphne?”

She looked up at Arthur. His eyes sparkled in the morning light streaming in through the windows. He smiled at her as memories of the night before came to mind. She averted her gaze, feeling shy under his gaze.

“G-Good Morning.”

Arthur drew closer to kiss her, stealing her breath as he slipped his tongue between her lips. Pleasure struck through her and she moaned. Arthur groaned, slipping between her legs, already hard and pushing against her.

“But, last night, Arthur…” Daphne’s face burned. “How are you like this?”

“I want you,” Arthur murmured, grinding against her. “Is that okay? Can I have you?”

Daphne worried her lip but nodded. She gasped as he nibbled on her neck and thrust into her with a slow push of his hips. Daphne moaned, breathless as he pulled back and kissed her. Her mind was spinning at each thrust, filling her with a rush of pleasure that made her pant and twist in the sheets beneath him.

“Arthur, we should…” Daphne gasped, trying to tell him that they shouldn’t spend all day in bed, yet she couldn’t get the words out as he cupped her face and continued to thrust into her. His eyes were so focused, his face flushed, as he just wanted to see her fall apart in his hands. She reached up to cover her face, but he pulled her hand away, pinning it aside and holding her head so he could see her face.

“I want to see,” Arthur panted. “I didn’t… get to see last night.”

Daphne turned her head, embarrassed and pleading with a soft voice, “Arthur, please don’t say—”

She moaned, biting her lip as he aimed his hips at a sharply pleasurable angle and seemed determined to drive her over the edge with steady, hard thrusts. She couldn’t fight it, twisting and moaning in his arms as his excitement spilled through their bond and stirred the pleasure taking over her body.

She felt it building and building. She tried to fight it, but Arthur pinned her beneath him, aiming his hips into her and panting with excitement.

“Daphne, mate… so beautiful…” He breathed; his voice was rough and breathy.

She wailed, losing grip on anything but the pleasure rushing through her.

The edges of her vision shimmered and started to clear and she focused on his face. His gaze was focused on her. She saw something manic in his gaze as if it hadn’t been enough. Her face burned with embarrassment.

“A-Arthur?”

“Again.”

A knock sounded on the outer door and Daphne let out a little sigh of relief when a woman’s voice called through the room saying it was time for lunch.

Arthur looked resistant, casting a glance at her. She squeaked under his gaze, a bit nervous that he would insist on having sex again before lunch.

“I-I’m hungry,” Daphne said quickly. “W-We should eat.”

Arthur eyed her before nodding and pressing a kiss to her forehead, “Okay.”

He pulled out of her gently and helped her out of bed as Daphne whispered a murmur of thanks that he was going to be reasonable. She cleaned up in the attached room despite Arthur’s want to clean up with her.

“But, Daphne…” His voice was rough through the door. “It would be faster.”

Daphne washed her face and dressed quickly before coming out, “I doubt it.”

Arthur pouted a bit and kissed her cheek before entering the room and cleaning up. He came out a few minutes later, taking her hand and walking with her to the door.

Arthur had wanted to stay in bed with Daphne, but she needed to eat and Arthur was, begrudgingly, a bit hungry too. They entered the hall and found most of the decorations from the night before still up. He stopped near the doorway, scanning the table. Blade and Mamie had taken the two seats on Rex’s side. The rest of the table was filled with people, leaving the only two seats at the table at the very head of the table. The gold throne he recognized and the other throne was new: the luna’s throne.

Arthur sighed. While it was a cunning move, he wondered what it would take them to listen to what he said.

“What’s wrong?” Daphne asked.

“You all just won’t give up, will you?”

Rex gave him a grin across the table. Blade chuckled beside him.

“If we did, I don’t think we would have found Daphne.” Blade shrugged, “Let alone kill all those rogues.”

Rex burst into laughter as Arthur glared at Blade. Mamie laughed, but he couldn’t find anything to say.

Daphne laughed shaking her head at the three of them. It had been such a long road between Arthur’s mistrust of Rex, Blade, and the rest of Sharp Armor until now. To see them joking around like this made her happy.

“Let’s go,” Arthur huffed. “We’ll get food and go back to our room.”

Daphne caught a glimpse of a sullen-looking werewolf and Daphne pulled towards the seats that had been left for them. Arthur might not want the throne, but it was still important to have a decent relationship with all the packs of the area. What harm would be caused if they played along just a little?

“I want to eat with everyone.”

Arthur sighed and nodded, following her towards the thrones and taking what had once been his father’s seat. It was awkward, but as Daphne sat beside him and a servant came up to fill their plates, he decided it wasn’t the worst thing.

They just had to get through breakfast. The plates were full, but everyone was looking at him. He looked at Daphne who looked confused as the servants were still filling her plate.

“What is everyone staring at?” Arthur asked, impatiently. “Are you eating or not?”

Daphne picked up her fork as did Arthur then everyone began to eat.

Tom had spoken with Rex and Blade about Arthur’s mate. When he’d found out that she was human, he’d been concerned. It was widely held that humans didn’t make the greatest mates for a werewolf. Most assumed it was impossible. Rex and Blade had assured him that Daphne was Arthur’s mate and he loved her, but he’d been skeptical about her ability to support him, let alone help run a kingdom of werewolves.

Seeing the way he bent to her wishes made her rethink. She was a beautiful young woman, but she also had a calm and gentle way about her. Perhaps, she could be a good luna.

If she could be and was willing, then there was no doubt that Arthur would agree.

He waited until Daphne seemed to be about done with lunch.

“Could we talk about—?”

Arthur glared at him, “Whatever it is can wait. I have plans.”

Daphne did her best not to flush, blocking out the conversation and keeping the thoughts about what his

“My apologies, Your Majesty,” Tom said. “I should have been clear. I was addressing the beautiful woman beside you.”

Arthur clenched his jaw, ready to tear into Tom, but Daphne tilted her head.

“Talk to me about what?”

Arthur glared at Tom, trying to burn holes into his head with his eyes, but Tom kept his gaze focused on Daphne.

“I’d like to show you something,” He said. “His Majesty has already seen them, but I think it important that you see it as well.”

Arthur wanted to protest, but he held his tongue. He had promised that there would be no more secrets between them. Daphne looked at Arthur.

“What is it?” Daphne asked.

“Portraits…” Arthur said begrudgingly. “Of the late king and luna.”

“Your parents?” Daphne asked, her voice full of wonder. Her eyes were sparkling.

Arthur had a feeling that he wouldn’t be getting her back into bed as soon as he would like.

“We could go see them later,” Arthur said, meeting her gaze.

Daphne’s face turned bright red and she looked back at Tom, “I’d love to! Let’s go after lunch?”

Arthur let out a deep sigh and glowered at Blade as he and Mamie snickered and whispered between one another.

Rex grinned at him as his wife gave them amused looks.

Daphne finished eating and went off with Tom, telling Arthur to wait for her in the hall. Rex pat him on the shoulder.

“There, there, Arthur. It’s not that bad.”

Arthur huffed, “What do you know?”

“You think you’re the only married man who wants to have sex?”

“Rex!” His wife cried as her face turned bright red. Arthur averted his gaze, though his face burned with embarrassment. “Stop embarrassing him!”

Had he been that obvious?

“What?” Rex shrugged, “It’s the plight of men in power to sometimes have to get out of bed.”

Mamie laughed, patting Arthur on the shoulder.