The Consort: Chapters 26-30

Chapter 26: Boredom

"How are you feeling?" Betty asks, watching me out of the corner of her eye as I struggle to sit up.

"Fine." I snap, frustrated with everybody treating me like a wilting flower just seconds away from dying.

Her head dips to her chest at my response and I immediately begin to backtrack, annoyed with myself for being so rude. She's simply trying to be kind and make conversation. It's not her fault that I'm stuck inside this room all day, and if there's anybody I should be snappy to it is Heloix.

"I'm sorry," I start, rubbing my hand down my face in frustration. "I seem to be a bit cranky today."

In all honesty, I've been cranky for the past couple of days. Heloix is constantly avoiding me, and when he is around he dodges my questions like my voice is poison. The only exciting part of my day is when John comes to visit, but even he is acting weird around me.

"If you bring over the clean laundry, I can help fold." I offer, pointing to the freshly washed clothing sitting in the basket at the end of the bed.

Betty narrows her eyes at my suggestion before shaking her head no. "You know I can't do that. I'm under strict orders to make sure you stay in bed and relax."

"Nobody will know." I try to persway her.

"The King knows everything." Betty scoffs, grabbing the basket and bringing it to the dresser. I slump back into the mattress as she effectively moves the clothing out of my reach.

Sighing lightly, I nod my head in agreement. "That he does."

Heloix does seem to know everything, and I know that there's something he's hiding from me. I'm willing to bet it's about the attack, given that both he and John are so weird talking about it.

I've asked them both what happened multiple times and they tell the same story, but it does nothing to alleviate my suspicions. They both claim that after I passed out John ran to find Heloix, reaching his office and alerting him before the guard was able to remove any of my clothing.

I've wondered if they are lying about how far the Beast got in his attempted rape. It would indeed explain their weird attitude, but I felt no soreness when I awoke and feel no different inside. I've even gone as far as to prod myself when Heloix is distracted at work, tentatively poking my insides to see if I can find any changes.

There are no changes, which leaves only one option. John must have told Heloix of my suspicion towards his treatment of me and the blood sharing. It wouldn't surprise me if the King made John explain his reason for being in my room, which would make sense why John is being so weird.

It doesn't quite explain Heloix's actions, unless my theory is correct and now he knows I'm onto him.

"Where is the King?" Betty asks, pulling open one of my drawers and setting some clothing inside.

"He stepped out for a meeting. He should be back soon." I answer, eager for his return.

Heloix has practically forbidden me from leaving his wing, insisting that this is the safest place for me. It's led to a series of long and tedious days, desperate for socialization with somebody other than Betty. I love being around her, and her presence is calming, but she is still a child at the end of the day and I am eager to have conversations that she isn't ready for.

I tried leaving a couple of times, but each attempt was foiled by Heloix storming down the corridor and ordering that I go back inside. I'm willing to bet it's the guard who stands outside who tattles on me, probably under orders to alert Heloix the second as much as my toe crosses over the threshold of the doorway.

Betty continues tidying up the room, making idle chitchat as she moves around. I wish to hear about all the drama happening amongst the servants and theories on who is seeing who, but she's still too young to be in the know on all that.

Eventually she finishes up and leaves to go down and get herself some dinner, leaving me alone once more. I expected Heloix to be back by now, but his meeting is going on far longer than I anticipated.

With a quiet grunt I push myself up and throw my legs over the side of the bed. The ground is cold underneath my bare feet, but I ignore the unpleasant feeling and stand up on wobbling knees. The kitchen is usually fully stocked, and I might as well indulge in some snacks while I have the opportunity.

My bedroom door squeaks slightly as I push it open, and I peek my head out to make sure the coast is clear before leaving. I wouldn't put it past Heloix to have come back and sat in silence by himself in the living room, just waiting to catch me sneaking out. To my relief, though, the place is empty, and I quickly scurry over to the pantry and throw open the double doors.

There's more food in here than I've ever encountered before, and Heloix has told me that I can eat whatever I want. At first, I was pretty nervous to take any food, but now it's the most exciting part of my day.

Heloix tends to get upset when I eat too many snacks, complaining that it's not healthy and that I'll regret it later, but if he weren't in such a long meeting, I wouldn't have to resort to these measures. So, keeping that logic in mind, I grab some chocolate bits and shove them in my mouth, following it up with a large slice of bread.

Meandering over to the fridge, I pull open the door and scan for some milk. There doesn't appear to be any available, the container sitting empty on the counter, so instead I grab some of his bottled juice.

"This will work." I mumble to myself, bringing the bottle to my mouth and taking a deep swig.

The flavor is quite bitter with a robust and unappealing aftertaste, and I resist the urge to spit it out the second it touches my tongue. I frown as I swallow what's in my mouth, quickly setting the top back on and sticking the bottle back in the fridge.

Teenage me would have loved this, being swept away by some King and kept in his chambers for safety but, now that I'm here, I can't help but wish I was anywhere else. I feel useless sitting around all day doing nothing and feel incredibly irritable as I watch Betty clean up after me.

The only silver lining to this entire ordeal is that John is allowed to be around me now. He still can't be alone with me, but as long as a third party is present he can stay as long as he wishes.

A loud creak is heard throughout the room as the front door opens, and I crane my neck around the fridge to see who is entering.

"You were gone a long time." I comment, watching as Heloix's long legs carry him into the room.

"You miss me?" He asks in response, and I resist the urge to roll my eyes.

He wishes.

Heloix watches me as he moves forward, eyes locked in on my face as he expertly maneuvers himself around the couch and towards the kitchen. It takes everything in me not to stare at his chest that is being hugged tightly by his shirt, my mind remembering just how large his body feels beneath my hands.

A large smirk covers his face as he approaches, his feet coming to a stop once he is inches away. His body practically towers over me as he bends slightly and inhales the scent of my hair.

He groans quietly before pulling away. "We are leaving tomorrow."

"Why? To where?" I ask, both shocked and confused by his statement.

Does he wish to take me into the city? He mentioned a long while ago that I would have to go occasionally as part of my duties but he hasn't been allowing me to complete any work lately, insisting that I wait until my body has fully healed.

"There is a Kingdom just east of here that we will be visiting."

"But why?" I push, not understanding why he needs to leave in the first place. Heloix hasn't left the castle for longer than a couple of hours since I've arrived, opting to hold all his meetings from within his office.

Heloix reaches out a hand and grabs a strand of my hair, rolling it gently between his fingers. The intimate action makes me blush, the temperature increasing as I begin to imagine how those fingers would feel elsewhere.

As if he can read my mind, Heloix drops the hair and brings his fingertips to my forehead, dragging them lightly down to my neck. Instinctively I tilt my head back, allowing him more access to my skin. I wish for him to continue further, but instead he drops his hand to his side.

"You've been quite horny lately." He comments casually, as if speaking about the weather. "Maybe I can come to your room tonight? There is something I've never done before that I wish to try."

My jaw drops open at his statement, cheeks heating up in indignation.

"I, no, you will not." I gasp.

"Why?" Heloix asks, bending down until I can feel his hot breath on my face. "Don't you wonder how it will feel to have my tongue inside you?"

An unattractive squawk falls from my mouth as I stumble for a response, my thighs pressing together as my brain conjures up the images. Beasts don't pleasure humans in such a way, often choosing to take rather than give. My eyes narrow in confusion as I stare at him, trying to figure out what angle he's playing at here.

Heloix lets out a loud laugh at my confusion, embarrassment rushing through my veins as he steps away from me and moves towards his bedroom.

It's not until after the door has slammed behind him that I realize he never told me why he wants to visit that kingdom.

Chapter 27: Packing

A small grunt falls from my lips as I reach up to pull the dress off its hanger, the closet so tightly packed that the fabric keeps getting snagged against itself. I was shocked when Heloix barged in my room this morning demanding that I pick out the clothing I want to bring for our trip, poor John standing behind him practically pissing his pants.

Heloix refused to offer any advice on what to pack or how long we will be staying for, leaving me with no choice but to pack something for every occasion. Even though I've worn nothing but an oversized grey dress my entire life, I'd say that I'm pretty well versed in the attire that the royals wear.

"Do you want me to help you?" John speaks up, wearily eyeing the dress I'm tugging on from where he lounges on my bed.

"No."

Despite my answer, he gets up walks over to me before swatting my hands away. "The King will be upset if he finds out I allowed you to pack for yourself."

A loud snort escapes me at his words, and I roll my eyes in annoyance. Heloix has been getting on my last nerves with this whole 'Adeline can't do anything for herself' thing he's been pushing. I've been feeling better with each passing day and am almost entirely back to normal save for a couple of headaches here and there.

"If the King wants my suitcase packed for me, then he can come and do it himself." I retort, pushing John's hands away and snatching the dress once more.

I angrily tug it until it dislodges from the hanger, the fabric falling quickly into my arms. Bundling it up in my arms, I turn towards the open suitcase on my bed. I can see John watching me out of the corner of my eye, but I ignore his presence as I give the dress a sloppy fold and stuff it in with the others.

"How'd you convince Heloix to leave you alone with me?" I ask, genuinely curious given that up to this point John has only been allowed to be around me when there is somebody else present.

"Because," John murmurs, cutting in front of me as I turn back towards my closet. "He thinks that I'm packing for you."

John refuses to let me pass, his broad back blocking my path. I contemplate trying to push him out of the way but decide against it with a silent grunt. It's unusual for John to take his duties seriously and the fact that he is fighting with me to do his work is a clear sign of how nervous he is.

I don't blame him, though, considering that Heloix gave him this task personally and the punishment for disobeying would probably be quite severe.

My mood drops as I realize that I'm being entirely unfair to John, my comfort leading me to act out and disobey the King despite the fact that his kindness only extends to me. Heloix wouldn't hesitate to punish either John or Betty if they stepped out of line, yet here I am fighting with and urging them to do just that.

With a heavy heart, I sit back down at the edge of my bed and watch John pull out the clothing I sloppily packed and refold them neatly.

"I feel uncomfortable being treated like this." I admit, embarrassed that Heloix is forcing the slaves to wait on me hand and foot like they would with a Beast.

John pauses his motions, glancing up at me with a small smile.

"That feeling is what makes you a good person." He shrugs, letting out an abrupt laugh. "If it were me, I'd be milking it for all it's worth."

I chuckle at John's statement, knowing that he would love to have me cater to him. He'd probably tease me about it for weeks afterward, too, making sure that everybody knows how I'm his personal slave.

"Do you know how long I'll be gone for?" I pry, wondering if Heloix was more generous with information to John than he has was to me.

"I don't think for long." John answers, turning to glance at me in confusion. "The King told me to pack enough clothes for a couple of days. Did he not tell you?"

Frowning, I shake my head no. Despite my annoyance at Heloix for keeping such basic information from me, I'm glad to hear that we will not be gone for too long. It's not every day that humans travel with their owners, and I'm unsure how I will be treated at this new place.

John continues packing for me, his tall frame making it easy for him to remove my clothing from the closet. He doesn't look to me for advice on what to pick and, as I watch, I realize that he has much different taste than I do.

While I gravitate towards the more modest styles, John chooses to pack the form-fitting and shorter dresses. I speak up a couple of times, urging him to pick something more appropriate, but he ignores my requests with a gleeful reminder that he is in charge of my packing.

Despite Heloix's reluctance to share with me the reason for this trip, I've gathered that it's quite an urgent matter. Typically, if a King is going to travel, there are weeks of preparation and planning done to ensure that there's an action plan in place if something goes wrong.

I wonder if the Second will be coming as well, or if he is staying back to take charge in Heloix's absence. Given his apparent dislike towards me, I'd honestly prefer if he stayed back even though the thought of traveling alone with Heloix makes me nervous.

He's promised to protect me, but at the end of the day we will be staying in another kingdom where he does not have any rule, making me doubtful of how much protection he can actually offer.

"How's Emma?" I ask John, curious to hear how she is doing since being taken by the Beasts.

John shrugs in response, tilting his head to look at me out of the corner of his eye. "She's doing okay and is happy that you got her moved out of the kitchen."

A small smile spreads across my face at his words, happy that she likes her new position. She'd mentioned a couple of times that she enjoyed peering out the windows that overlooked the estate, so I knew that working in the gardens would be the perfect job for her. I was pretty worried that Heloix wouldn't approve of the move, but he just rolled his eyes at my request and told me he didn't care.

"Are you two still," I pause, searching for the right words. "friendly?"

John releases the dress he holds in his hand and turns entirely to face me, mouth set in a flat line. "Are you still friendly with the King?"

Point taken. I hold up my hands in surrender, letting John know that I'm dropping the subject. I'm saddened by his lack of trust, knowing that before we came here he told me everything and anything, but understand that my association with the King has made him weary.

Besides, John's lack of response was an answer all in itself. He's still seeing her, and is probably upset that the King and I are both staying in the wing the servants use for their late-night rendezvous.

I hold back a chuckle as I think back to John and I's plan to sneak our way in here. Honestly, I'm glad that Heloix put an end to it. It would have done nothing but create unnecessary tension between us, and there's absolutely no way that Heloix would allow us to be around one another either.

John and I both turn our heads to the door as we hear the front entrance slam, waiting for Heloix's inevitable entrance. He's gotten into the habit of slamming the front door every time he enters and exits, successfully managing to startle me every time.

As expected, it takes mere seconds for him to reach my room, the door flying open as he smacks his hand into it. Heloix's large frame takes up the entirety of the entrance, his head only inches away from the top of the doorway.

He's wearing casual clothing today, and I can't help but do a double-take at his sweatpants and t-shirt. I've seen him in his comfortable clothing multiple times at night, but he wears only button-downs and slacks during the day. It's pretty shocking to see him dressed down, and even more astonishing at how good he looks in it.

The sweatpants are made of a thick grey material that doesn't do much to hide the strong muscles behind them, and the t-shirt leaves little to the imagination as well.

"I told you to leave the door open." He looks to John as he speaks, mouth set in a straight line.

John bows his head as he mumbles out an apology, and Heloix watches him for a moment before turning his attention to me.

"Are you ready to go? We are running late." He asks, looking between my stuffed suitcase and John.

I nod in response.

"Great, we will leave for the stables now." He says, moving forward to help me stand.

Shooing him away, I push up off the bed and stand up by myself. Heloix's constant need to help me is frustrating, especially as he ignores my numerous complaints that I'm perfectly capable of moving around by myself.

"The stables?" I ask, furrowing my eyebrows in confusion. Why would we need to go to the stables? "I was under the impression that we would be taking a car."

I've never ridden a horse before, and the thought of getting on top of one of those giant animals frightens me. I still don't trust them. They could jerk me off like it's nothing and break my bones.

"No, it's quicker to travel through the woods by horse. You will ride with me for safety." Heloix comments, moving to the side and ushering me out the door.

John silently zips up my suitcase, his head turned downward and face flaming red. I wish to say goodbye to him, but knowing his fear of Heloix I decide not to remain silent. The last thing I want is to rile any feathers.

Heloix follows behind me as I make my way out of his wing, his body so close I can feel his heat on my back. If I were to slow my pace in the slightest he would probably crash into me, and I think about doing just that for a brief second to annoy him.

"Have you ever ridden on a horse before?" Heloix asks, his voice quiet.

I shake my head no, hoping that my nervousness isn't too apparent. I feel slightly better knowing that I will be riding with him, but knowing that I am to be in such close proximity with him for an undisclosed amount of time brings me a whole other level of anxiety.

"Do not fret." Heloix murmurs, ducking down so his face is directly next to my ear, his lips brushing lightly against the lobe. "If you're good I'll masturbate you against the horn."

Chapter 28: Ride

"Is nobody else coming?" I ask, turning away from the horse to look at Heloix.

I was under the impression that there would be multiple others traveling with us today yet the field before us is bare, not one person in sight. Heloix looks up at me from the tail end of the horse, fingers stilling on the ropes he is using to fasten our bags to the mammal.

"The others have already left. Your human took too long to pack and now we are behind." He mutters, giving the ropes one last yank. "That'll do. Get up on the horse."

Bringing my attention back to the animal, I reach up and grab the saddle with both hands before kicking my leg into the air and reaching my foot towards the stirrup. It misses by an embarrassing amount, and I let out an annoyed groan before repeating the process once more.

"My leg doesn't go that high." I pout, dropping my hands from the saddle and turning to Heloix in defeat. His eyebrows are raised in amusement from watching my failed attempts, and I try not to take offense to it.

"Well, you need to learn how to do it. I won't always be available to lift you." He murmurs between stifled chuckles.

Despite his words, Heloix steps forward and grips me tightly at the hips before hoisting me up and setting me directly on the center of the seat. My hands reach forward and grasp the horn in panic, anxiety rushing through me at being on top of such a large, unpredictable animal.

After ensuring that the horse below me isn't going to take off in a run, I carefully release my left hand to tug down the hem of my dress. Heloix says nothing as he watches me adjust my clothing, choosing instead to bring his attention to the reins as I ensure that both of my thighs are entirely covered.

"What happened treating me like I'm made of glass?" I snap, feeling both embarrassed and frustrated by my lack of experience.

Heloix doesn't bother to look up at me, but I notice him roll his eyes.

"What happened to being independent?" He retorts.

Without warning, Heloix gets up on the horse as well, scootching me forward so he can fit in behind me. The giant mammal steps to the side as he adjusts to the weight, the sudden movements making me jump and slide towards the edge of the saddle. Heloix quickly catches the action, his hands flying to my waist and steadying me before reaching forward and grabbing onto the reins.

I'm all too aware of his biceps digging into my sides and his chest pressing firmly against my back, the proximity quickening my pulse as I inch forward to put some space between us. Admittedly, the position isn't nearly as comfortable, but I will manage.

The horse begins its trot after Heloix nudges its sides, a tiny squeak falling from my lips at the sudden movement. Needing something to hold onto, I once again grab the horn with both hands, gripping it so tightly that my knuckles turn white.

Although the pace is slow, my heart rate spikes every time the horse steps on the uneven terrain and jostles the saddle. Heloix's large thighs cage me in, bringing me a slight sense of security, but I try my best not to rely on them to keep me safe.

We make no conversation as we travel, and I seize the opportunity to take in the beautiful sights. I've never been inside of a forest before and it's better than I could have ever imagined. Loud birds coo and tweet nonstop, screaming their mating calls for the world to hear before taking off and flying circles around one another in a delicate, rehearsed dance. I gaze at them in wonder, filled with intrigue as we pass and approach a large creek.

The horse pivots as we come upon it, changing course to walk alongside the bank despite the muddy ground. A soreness settles into my back and thighs as we move, angry at me for forcing myself to sit in such an uncomfortable position for so long, but I ignore it, shifting slightly in the seat in a sad attempt to soothe the pain.

"You'll be more comfortable if you lean back against me." Heloix mutters, warm breath brushing against the crown of my head.

I shake my head immediately, rejecting the offer. "I'm fine."

He lets out a loud sigh at my response, seconds later pushing up his body against mine and taking the pressure off my lower back. The relief is immediate and, despite my discomfort with our proximity, I relax slightly into his chest.

I do everything I can to not think about our contact as we move, forcing myself to focus on the sounds of the rushing stream and the quiet snorts that fall from the horse's muzzle. Slowly my body becomes desensitized to Heloix's, though, and before I can stop myself I'm relaxing further into his chest and enjoying the warmth he gives off. While it isn't exactly cold outside, there is a definite breeze that, when blowing hard enough, causes goosebumps to pebble up along my skin.

Somewhere along the way, the horse's motions become soothing and I feel my eyes begin to droop, a heaviness settling over them. In response, Heloix shifts his arms slightly, raising his bicep for my head to rest upon. I hesitate on it for a moment, not wanting to leave myself so vulnerable around him, but as sleep nears my head lolls to the side and rests against his arm despite my initial reluctance.

Sleep comes in short waves as we continue walking, the horse's unsteady steps constantly jerking me awake. At some point I unknowingly slide down further into the seat, my back curving and hips moving forward.

The horse stumbles suddenly, shocking me awake as I bounce roughly in the seat and my tailbone smacks painfully against the saddle. Heloix's arm shoots around my waist to steady me, his action pushing me forward another inch and forcing my core to make contact with the saddle's horn.

A surprised gasp falls from my lips at the pressure, an involuntary shiver emerging from me as my core rubs against it through the thick fabrics of my dress. I attempt to move away, but Heloix's arm remains still, unintentionally keeping me locked in place.

Once more I attempt to move back, trying my best to ignore the pleasurable sensations as Heloix moves with each step of the horse and rhythmically presses me further against it.

"Heloix?" I mutter, holding back a groan as the horn continues rubbing against my clit, my thighs clenching tightly around the wooden peg.

He hums in response, remaining quiet.

"Can you move your arm?" I ask, flushing as my voice comes out in a breathy gasp.

Heloix doesn't immediately respond, but I feel his body tense up at my words. His right arm remains tightly pressed up against my body as he releases the left that still holds the reins and brings it up to my head. I gulp as he gently pushes my hair out of my face, his breath tickling the back of my head.

I gasp as the desperation continues to build in my core, resisting the urge to rub myself against the peg intentionally. It's been months since I've last pleasured myself, and the wait has made me incredibely sensitive, my body eager for release.

Heloix's left hand slides away from my ear and towards my neck, his fingers pressing into the skin as he pushes my head to the side. I move without much argument, my tongue darting out to lick my dry lips as he wraps his hand around the column of my throat.

His body shifts slightly as he adjusts his position, and seconds later I feel his mouth on my neck, his lips pressing wet kisses to the sensitive skin.

"It's okay. I know it feels good." He murmurs, releasing my neck and bringing his hand down to my breast, fingers skimming over the exposed skin.

"I-"I start, my words cut off by a silent moan as Heloix jerks his hips forward and forces me further into the horn.

I can feel my wetness seeping through my underwear, spreading along my thighs and into the fabric of the dress. I'm sure that without the thick layers of clothing between me and the wooden peg, this would be pretty painful, but luckily for me, I put on one of the nice ones that Heloix purchased me today.

Heloix continues his actions without pause, thrusting into me from behind and forcing my clit to rub against the horn in smooth, rhythmic motions. I gasp as his hand continues its teasing along my breast, his fingertips grazing against my exposed skin before sliding to the neckline of my dress and toying with the fabric.

"Can I touch you?" He whispers into my ear.

I vigorously nod my head yes, desperately chasing my orgasm and eager to feel his hands on me.

He groans at my quick yes, his hips stuttering against before jerking forward with more force. I can feel his loud pants against my neck as he continues to try and kiss me, his open mouth running along the side of my throat before sucking on the skin between my neck and shoulder.

"Tilt your hips back." He orders.

I do as he says, tilting my hips back slightly so more of my clit is pressed against the hard peg. It feels incredible, and I drop my hands down to grab at his thighs as the new position brings me even more pleasure. Heloix continues to push me against it as he finally slides his hand down the top of my dress and cups my bare breast.

His large hand barely fits under the tight material, and he removes it for a moment before tugging roughly at the fabric and ripping it open. The tear exposes my entire chest, and under normal circumstances I would be livid but I only find myself aroused by the action.

Large fingers trail lightly over my nipple, the warm flesh a drastic change from the cold air. Pushing my chest further into him, a loud moan escapes my mouth as he abruptly pinches the sensitive skin.

"I want you to cum for me, Addie." Heloix murmurs in my ear, small grunts falling from his mouth as he continues thrusting against my back.

I continue to rub myself against the wooden peg, groaning as I struggle to press against it just right and reach my orgasm.

"Touch me." I gasp, so close but needing some additional pressure to push me over the edge.

"Yeah?" He asks, a loud groan falling from his lips as he presses small, wet kisses along my neck. "Yeah!"

He's quick to remove his arm from my waist, pulling me back so he can reach my pelvis, his excitement apparent by his stuttering hips. He doesn't hesitate to grab a large handful of fabric at the hem of my dress and pull it up to my waist to expose my lower half to him.

I groan as his hand skims along the waistband of my underwear, seeming to hesitate, before giving in and sliding underneath the fabric.

He covers me entirely with his palm, his middle and ring fingers pressing lightly against my hole before sinking inside to the first knuckle. I worry that he will try and push them completely inside of me, but before I can voice any concerns his hand is sliding back up until his fingers press against my clit.

The digits slide easily over my skin, making me realize that he brought them down to my entrance to moisten them. I jerk away in shock as he begins to rub hard circles around my clit, his fingers bringing me more pleasure in just one movement than mine ever have.

I choke out a groan and slide my hips in tandem with him, gasping when he stops his movements to let me take charge. He curses as he holds his hand in place and urges me to masturbate against them.

"You want to know something else that I've never done? I've never felt a woman's warm pussy in my hand. Never felt the urge to pleasure one before." Heloix murmurs in my throat, rolling my nipple between his calloused fingers.

His words ignite something in me and I push against him faster, chasing my rapidly approaching orgasm as loud moans fall from my lips.

"Will you be my first? Will you cum for me, Addie?" He whispers into my skin.

I gyrate against him harder, throwing my head back against this chest as my thighs begin to quiver around his hand. I attempt to snap them shut as I feel myself starting to cum, but Heloix drops my nipple and forces them to remain open for him.

"Ungh, yeah," I shakily respond, reaching my peak. "Yeah, I'm-"

My words are cut off by a silent moan as I begin to cum, eyes rolling back as waves of ecstasy rush through my body.

We both remain still as I come down, the endorphins being replaced with embarrassment as I realize what I've just done.

Heloix's fingers slide against my clit once more and I jerk away in sensitivity, annoyed as he lets out a chuckle. He continues to softly caress me before dropping lower to my entrance and sinking one of his fingers into me completely.

I gasp at the intrusion, clenching up around him as he prods around my insides. He rests it there for a couple of seconds before pulling out and stroking my thigh.

"We will need to replace your dress before we reach the others. I've ruined the top and you've creamed all over the bottom." He murmurs, removing his hands from my body and sliding back into his original position in the seat.

"That's better." He mutters, his large hand wrapping around my front and pushing against my stomach to slide me back against him. "Was killing my back."

I remain silent as he speaks, my mind still absorbing what just happened. While it was objectively the best orgasm I've ever experienced, I don't want Heloix to think that my body is his to take whenever he pleases because I allowed him to touch me just once.

"Are you okay?" Heloix whispers softly, lips once more connecting with the skin on my neck.

"That won't happen again." I announce, eager to share my stance on the situation.

Heloix hums at my words before chuckling and hopping off the horse.

"Whatever you say my little human."

Chapter 29: Arrival

The sun begins to set as we continue our journey, the once chattering animals turning in for the night and burrowing away in their homes. I try my best not to focus on the long, dancing shadows that fall from the trees, turning the beautiful scenery into something sinister.

Heloix assures me that we are almost there but he has been saying that for hours now, leading me to believe that his sense of direction is untrustworthy. At one point I inquired if he was lost, but he answered my question with nothing more than a laugh.

Needing to adjust, I press my hands into the seat and push myself up to take the pressure off my lower back. An uncomfortable stiffness has settled into my bones in the past hour, making this journey almost unbearable.

We have stopped only a couple of times, once to change my dress and the others to use the restroom, but Heloix is adamant that we must hurry to stay on schedule. He loudly complains each time I ask to rest, his hands pressing against my stomach and forcing me back against his chest. I can't lie and say that it doesn't help, but I feel guilty knowing that all it does is soothe me while bringing him more discomfort.

"We are almost there." Heloix speaks out, voice loud against the quiet atmosphere.

Knowing he can't see me, I roll my eyes in response. "You've said that already."

"Yes, but now I mean it. When we arrive, keep your head down and do not speak." He orders, tone leaving no room for argument.

Heloix pulls on the reins abruptly, bringing the horse to a stop before hopping down onto the ground. Confused, I turn to watch his actions, unsure if I should follow his lead and dismount as well. He moves to the back of the animal and begins untying our bags, deft fingers expertly undoing the tiny knots.

"What're you doing?" I ask.

Heloix spares me a glance before giving a hard tug on the bags and disconnecting them from the animal.

"Come, let me help you down." He murmurs, ignoring my question as he drops the bags onto the ground. Stepping forward, he grabs me by the hips and pulling me off the horse and into his chest.

I push off of him once my feet are on the ground, alarmed and confused by what he's doing. He ignores my stare and turns his attention back on the horse, giving it a hard slap on the ass that causes it to take off running.

"Now look what you've done!" I shout, gesturing to the quickly disappearing animal.

Heloix turns to look at me as I scold him, a hardness in his eye that I'm unaccustomed to seeing directed at me.

"What did I just say? You are not to speak unless spoken to. If anybody asks, say that I shifted and ran here while you rode on my back." He snaps, voice low and threatening.

Ignoring his words, I spin around quickly and taking in the miles of woods that surround us in every direction. "Then why did we take a horse? You've gotten us stranded."

Heloix lets out a loud sigh, raising his hand and pinching my lips closed between his thumb and pointer finger. Shocked, I move to pull away but he grips on harder, keeping me in place.

"Hush."

I expect him to remove his fingers after his command, but instead he holds them in place, regarding me carefully for a moment before slowly letting go.

Stepping away from me, I watch through narrowed eyes as he bends down and picks up our bags, his muscular arms flexing under the weight. He doesn't even spare me a glance as he turns and begins walking in the opposite direction the horse ran.

I remain still for a moment, watching his large frame walk away before letting out a quiet sigh and scurrying after him, my uncoordinated feet stumbling over the rough terrain.

Heloix footsteps are firm and confident as he maneuvers us through the forest, his grace reminding me of our biological differences. Humans are loud and uncoordinated, often bumping into objects and injuring our bodies. The Beasts, Heloix especially, are lithe and graceful, their movements smooth and silent.

I'm willing to bet that Heloix can count on one hand the number of times in his entire life he has tripped or stumbled. I couldn't even count the amount of times this month.

As we continue forward, I begin to notice large shadows moving through the trees, darting back and forth before weaving between the foliage. I ignore them at first, not wanting to freak myself out over some silly shadows, but slowly I begin to doubt myself, wondering if these are real animals I am looking at.

Glancing around, I try to spot them but they weave in between the trees at an impressive speed, their large bodies remaining hidden beyond an occasional flash.

Heloix doesn't seem alarmed by the predators, but I still rush up to him in fear, not wanting to loll too far behind and become dinner. He slows as I approach, coming to a complete stop as I stumble over a tree root. Our bags fall from his hands, moving instead to wrap around my hips and lift me into his arms.

Shocked, I bring my arms around his neck, holding on tightly as he adjusts his forearm to sit below my butt. His actions are unusual, but I remain silent as he commanded, choosing to trust his judgment just this once.

Heloix bends down once more and grabs the bags with his free hand, holding them both as he continues his walking. This time his pace is fast, moving at least twice the speed he was before. With a pout, I realize just how much he was slowing himself down so I could keep up.

I lean back slightly to look him in the eye, trying to find an answer in his expression, but he gives me nothing. His face remains blank, and my attention is quickly drawn away by a giant shadow running up directly behind Heloix.

I gasp as it comes only a few feet behind us, my heart racing as I realize that these creatures are Beasts. Its thick fur is so close that if I were to reach out my hand I would graze against it, and I gulp as I take in its wolflike features and black eyes that stare at me like I'm about to be a delicious snack.

"Do not look at them. They will take it as a threat." Heloix murmurs, voice quiet.

I snap my gaze back to him, trying not to let my fear show as I realize that shifted Beasts surround us. This must be why Heloix removed us from the horse, to prevent being seen and preserve his story of having run us here.

More shadows appear in my peripheral vision as we continue walking, tears welling in my eyes as loud growls and snapping jaws are heard from every direction. We must be deep within the other King's territory, probably interrupting his people out on a late-night run.

A frightened gasp falls from my mouth as one particular Beast gets awfully close, his large black muzzle and razor-sharp teeth visible for a moment before disappearing behind a tree. Unwrapping my arm from around Heloix's neck, I quickly bring it to my face and wipe away the wetness on my cheeks, not wanting him or the others to see my weakness.

Heloix lets out a quiet sigh as he turns to look at me, but I refuse to meet his eye.

"Don't worry, Addie." He coos, voice low. "I'm a King for a reason. I can take down all these Beasts easily should I need to."

Loud, angry growls reverberate out from the trees at his words and Heloix returns the favor, eyes turning black as his Beast makes itself known. The forest goes silent at his threat, and I find myself comforted as they back down.

Quickly wiping away another stray tear, I bring my arm back around his head and bury my head in his neck, hiding from the sight of the prowling Beasts. Heloix tightens his grip on me, his pulse quickening.

Slowly the snapping of branches and murmurs of the Beasts fade, and I tentatively look up to take in my surroundings. The forest has thinned considerably, and I crane my neck to look forward, gasping as I take in the large castle that sits in front of us.

It's not nearly as large as Heloix's but is still quite grand. There are a couple of guards milling about ahead, and they bow to Heloix as we approach.

Heloix's grip on me loosens as we come upon them, his knees bending to set me gently onto the ground as he comes to a halt. Immediately I reach down and smooth out my dress, glad that I chose to change into one of the more simple ones that John packed.

It's a deep forest green, a color I am pretty comfortable with, and falls to my mid-calf. Unfortunately, there's a slit that goes up a bit higher than I would like, but beggars can't be choosers. Heloix insisted I wear something nicer for my arrival, but I do not want to draw too much attention to myself.

"Let's go." Heloix commands, his deep voice loud against the quiet night.

He grabs only my bag and begins walking, and I watch in confusion as a guard scrambles to grab the King's luggage. Why not leave mine for the guards as well?

Nonetheless, I do as I was told and keep my head low, silently following the King. Unlike before, he doesn't slow his pace, and I have to move in a light jog just to keep up. The castle entrance is a couple of hundred yards away and by the time we arrive I am panting, hunching over as I struggle to catch my breath.

"Heloix!" A loud shout is heard from the castle doorway. I look up just in time to see a large man making his way down the front steps, his body adorned in jewels.

"Stephen." Heloix greets him, voice flat. "Thank you for allowing me to come visit on such short notice."

The King waves away the thanks, his sleeve jingling at the movement. I resist the urge to roll my eyes at such gaudiness. This man is clearly trying to show off, eager to impress Heloix, and it makes him appear desperate. While Heloix rules one of the largest kingdoms on our planet, he does not live in such exaggeration.

The King's eyes sweep over Heloix's guards before settling on me, immediate distaste visible on his face. He looks me up and down in disgust before looking at Heloix once more.

"I was unaware you would be bringing your," He pauses for a moment, looking me over once more. "human."

Heloix doesn't respond but I notice his back tense, and seconds later the King visibly gulps. If I had to guess, Heloix is flashing his Beast, unhappy with the questioning of his actions.

"Anyways, it is late. My slave will show you to your rooms." The King states, shooting Heloix a large, fake smile before turning swiftly on his heel and heading back inside.

A small human woman emerges from the shadows and gestures for us to follow her. Heloix is the first to move, his guards following immediately after while making crude jokes about the slave. I am the last to follow and walk closely behind the large group with a racing heart.

The guards are shown to their chambers first, the women pausing and waiting for them to all enter their rooms before we continue our journey. She remains silent as she leads us further down the hallway, her footsteps quiet as she pauses outside the last door in the corridor.

"Your chambers, Sir." She murmurs, gesturing to the door.

Heloix nods, not sparing me a glance as he heads into the room. I hesitate to follow, unsure if I am expected to share a room with him, but as the door shuts behind him I realize the answer.

"Come on. I'll show you to the servant's quarters." The woman says, finally looking up from her feet and offering me a kind smile.

Her warmth fills me with comfort, and I find myself smiling back in relief. We both turn to walk away but stop as the door opens and Heloix pops his head out, looking at me in confusion.

"What are you doing? Come to bed."

Chapter 30: Visitors

"Don't forget to stay quiet and keep your head down." Heloix instructs as he bends to tie up my shoes.

I watch him with a frown, frustrated that he is forcing me to stay by his side all day. Although rare, it's standard that when a human travels with a Beast that they work in the castle with the other slaves while their owner goes about his business.

I was looking forward to spending time with the kind woman from last night and don't understand why Heloix is so insistent on keeping me from doing just that.

"Can I work with the other slaves instead?" I ask again, jumping to my feet as he completes the last tie on my shoe.

Heloix doesn't even consider my words before shaking his head no, his mind having been already made up. I resist the urge to stomp my foot in anger, knowing that nothing will come of my childish behavior, but instead glare holes into the side of his head and throw as many evil thoughts his way as I possibly can.

Heloix lets out a quiet grumble at my glaring, his eyes darkening until I turn away in submission.

"Come on. We are going to be late." He states, standing abruptly and walking to the door.

His footsteps are loud as he stomps away from me, both of us angry. I don't immediately follow, but as he reaches the exit I let out a quiet sigh and make my way over to him. The sooner we start today, the sooner it will be over.

The hallway is packed full as we enter, all the guards standing along the wall waiting for the Heloix to pass. He doesn't so much as spare them a glance as he makes his way down the hallway, his strides long and fast. I struggle to keep up after him, my feet banging loudly against the floor as I attempt to.

The guards follow along behind us, my cheeks heating up as I hear their quiet snickers at my struggle. I know they are speaking about me, no doubt making jokes about me being the King's whore.

Heloix walks confidently throughout the hallways, not once faltering as he approaches a turn. It makes me wonder if he has been here before, and I make a mental note to ask him about it later. As he leads us through the corridors, I hear some chattering, the noise increasing the closer we become.

Eventually the hallway opens up into a large dining area, King Stephen already present.

He sits at the head of the table, a spread of food covering the entire surface. I'm not surprised to see he's wearing another extravagant outfit, the fabric jingling with his every movement. Humans stand along the wall, occasionally moving forward to serve him or fill his water glass, and I instinctively move to stand with them.

Heloix doesn't seem to notice as he sits down at the other head of the table, his guards lining up behind his seat. The human next to me jolts forward as Heloix lowers himself into the chair, immediately working on filling his plate.

"Good morning." The King greets Heloix, shooting him a toothy grin.

Heloix only nods in response before turning to watch the slave dish up his breakfast. A slight frown spreads on his face as he watches, his eyes suddenly flickering. I'm shocked by his apparent aggression, unsure why his Beast is fighting with him.

"Adeline." Heloix eventually grunts, his head swiveling to look at me standing along the wall. "Come eat."

All eyes immediately fall to me as he speaks, my heart rate spiking in nervousness as I shuffle forward and sit myself down in the chair to his right. I've never sat at a Beast's table before, and anxiety fills me at the sudden change.

The maid serving Heloix glances up at me in shock as I sit, but quickly drops her head back down and continues to dish up his meal. I do my best not to stare at the food, my mouth watering at the sight and smell.

"You've caused quite a stir with this little human here." The King speaks up, and I fight against every instinct in my body to look over at him.

"Is that so?" Heloix asks, picking up his fork and prodding at one of his sausage links.

Moments later, a plate is placed down in front of me and I slowly copy Heloix's actions, grabbing my fork and stabbing it into the meat. It's hot as I stick it into my mouth, but not wanting to draw any attention to myself I keep my mouth shut around the burning object and suffer silently.

The King lets out an unattractive snort at Heloix's words, seemingly finding them funny. "I'm intrigued. Is she your whore?"

An ear-piercing scrape tears through the room as Heloix's fork drag against his plate. Peeking up to see his reaction, I notice that he's gripping the utensil so tightly that the metal has bent around his fingers. Not wanting to anger him further, I focus my attention back on the food in front of me and tentatively bringing another bite up to my mouth.

The room is silent as everybody waits for Heloix's response, yet he offers none. Instead, he leans back in his chair and glances around the room, head swiveling left to right.

"Where is your mate?" He finally asks, much to my surprise.

While I wasn't exactly excited to hear Heloix's answer to the question, I want to know how he perceives our relationship. Does he view me as a whore? We don't have a normal relationship, and I would say it's clear that Heloix, at least to some extent, cares for me.

The King doesn't push Heloix for an answer, instead letting out a slight shrug at his question. "I'm sure she's somewhere wreaking havoc. I have a human mistress who would love to spend some time with your human."

My ears perk up at this, excitement flooding through me at the possibility of being able to spend time with another human. It gets tiring being treated like an object all the time, and I'd love nothing more than to spend some time with an equal.

I look up eagerly at Heloix, hopeful that he will agree for me to spend some time with her, but he avoids eye contact and pretends like he doesn't even notice my stare.

"Your mate allows you to keep a mistress?" Heloix furrows his brow as he asks.

I continue to stare at him, flinching as his foot makes contact with my shin. The kick isn't hard, but is enough to give me a fright, the message to stop staring at him loud and clear. Holding back a huff, I drop my gaze back to the plate, accepting that he isn't going to let me spend any time with the humans.

My hand tightens slightly around my fork in anger as I harshly stab into the eggy food, the metal clinking lightly against the glass.

The King watches our interaction silently, clearing his throat in amusement as I shove a forkful of food into my mouth.

"She's not my true mate, so I'm not obligated to keep up traditions." He responds, awfully proud for a man who is admitting to skirting around the rules.

"Yes. I've heard rumors your true mate was a human." Heloix probes.

"That's correct, but I was able to force my Beast to take another. The human now s-" The King responds, stopping abruptly as another enters the room. "Ah, there's my beautiful mate. Come sit with us, will you?"

I resist the urge to look up at her, instead listening carefully as her heels click against the floor as she enters. She approaches quickly, sliding into the chair next to the King with a deep growl.

"What's the human doing here?" She sneers, clearly talking about me.

Heloix stands at her words, the chair scratching loudly against the floor as it is pushed back. Out of the corner of my eye I watch as he leans towards me, his hand coming to wrap around my bicep before he pulls me up out of the chair.

"She's with me. Perhaps we should finish this conversation in your office?" Heloix responds, directing his question towards the King.

His grip on my arm loosens slightly as he speaks, his fingers digging into the muscle before he removes his hand entirely and grabs my plate of food. The King stands as well, and I fight to keep my face blank as his mate lets out a loud huff and signals for one of the slaves to fix her a plate.

"Where is your mistress?" Heloix speaks up once more. I can see him looking at me out of the corner of my eye as I try to keep my glee hidden. "My human wishes to spend some time with her."

My back straightens at his words, excitement flooding my system as the King gives instructions to Heloix on her whereabouts. Heloix nods at the directions, his hand moving to rest at my lower back as he nudges me to move towards the exit. I do as he wishes, practically prancing over to the door.

Heloix murmurs to the King as we pass, his voice too low for me to hear despite my best attempts to eavesdrop. The King's eyes fall to me at Heloix's words, signaling that whatever is being said is about me.

We exit the room quickly, the guards following closely behind, and make our way down the hallway. Heloix stops and turns to face us as we reach the end of the corridor, looking over each of the guards.

"You will stay with Adeline." He commands, pointing to the three that stand to his right. They nod at his command, eyes flashing to me for a brief second before focusing once more on the King.

The largest of them takes a small step forward, bowing his head before responding. "Yes, Sir."

Heloix nods in approval, hard eyes softening as he looks at me. "Please keep in mind that everything you say will get back to Stephen."

I nod in understanding, having already known this fact. It's common knowledge that humans who talk too much are disposed of, and I learned at a young age what's appropriate to share and what will get you killed.

Seemingly happy with my response, Heloix turns on his heel and leads us down the large corridor. I'm surprised to see that the hallways are still empty considering that the sun has risen long ago. I would expect to see the place bustling with humans as they rush around working on all their duties at this hour.

The more I think on it, the more I realize that the only humans I've seen have been the woman from last night and the few that were serving breakfast this morning. Maybe, despite all the glamour, the King is poor and unable to maintain a full staff. I wouldn't be surprised.

We continue making our way through the castle before Heloix stops in his tracks, his abrupt halt causing me to skid to a stop and grip his shirt in an attempt not to crash into him. Despite the effort, my face smashes into the bottom of his shoulder blade, pain shooting through my nose at the contact.

Resisting the urge to swear, I remove my hands from his back and take a step away as my face heats up in embarrassment. There's some snickering from the guards behind me, but I ignore them, not wanting to egg them on further.

"She is through these doors. Do not leave. I'll come and get you when I am finished." Heloix orders, his back still facing me.

Turning, he shoves the plate of food he grabbed from the table into my arms before leaving without so much as a glance. I watch his retreating figure in shock for a moment, wondering if I have done something to make him upset.

I wouldn't be surprised if I did, but tell myself not to dwell on it as I take a deep breath and turn the face the large door he claimed that King Stephen's mistress is behind. Forcing a wide smile on my face, I reach forward and push open the heavy door.