novelxo Chapter CHAPTER FIVE
Tyran felt suffocated. It felt as if the walls were closing in on him. He ran his hand through his dark hair and groaned in frustration. He had faced a lot of difficult situations in the past and come up the victor but when it came to his little queen, he felt like he was always losing. She was forever angry with him, fighting him at every chance she got and he didn’t know what he was doing wrong. Part of him was dying for her approval while another part was enraging at the weakness. He never had to prove anything to anyone before and sure as hell he didn’t want to start now.
She made up her mind to make sure she drove him crazy and he was done trying to be nice. He was going to show her just how much suffering he had gone through because of her. Once in his territory, Noelle would taste that bitter pill he had been sucking on for the last century. A grim smile touched his lips as he got everything he needed ready for their departure.
Within a few minutes he joined his commanders in the lounge and frowned when Drake and Noelle were not there.
When he abandoned Noelle at the helicopter pad, Drake followed him and lashed at him like a little boy. Tyran let the male get away with it because they were best friends and he had known the male for centuries. They fought together, saved each other asses and always had each other’s back. Drake was almost like a brother to him. The male was wise beyond his years, a tactful and brilliant strategist. Tyran owed him a whole lot more and it was the only reason why he took the time to listen to what the male had to say.
‘She’s your queen and you are obligated to her every whim. You better step up and take on your duties or by the Heavens I’m going to kick your ass!’ Drake hissed.
Tyran felt his rage simmer underneath his skin like hot lava. He wanted to throw his head back and roar like an enraged beast. He wanted to throttle someone or break something. He thought, after a century, the anger he felt for Noelle would have cooled down and that he was ready to claim her as his own but the cap blew off again and all that rage he had inside flowed like the fires of Hades in his veins. Only one female could do that to him and she was somewhere in his penthouse plotting against him.
“Where is she?” Tyran could barely tamp down the anger when he asked Zach.
“Drake took her for a change of clean clothes.” Zach answered eyeing his king who looked like a snake about to strike.
“Is everything set?” He settled on one of the chairs and clasped his hands between his knees.
Zach nodded. “The helicopter is on its way. We’ll make it to the gateway in about twenty minutes.”
Tyran nodded and turned to Ruvin who was flipping the channels absentmindedly. “Ruvin, the moment we reach home, I want you to contact Storm. Make sure that he and Lady Lyrah are well protected. Zach, I want you to go and announce Court at the Realm of Water. Make sure Lady Oriel attends it despite her obligations at the Great Hall. I will not have my people treated like savages for someone else’s greed.”
Both Zach and Ruvin nodded just as Noelle and Drake re-entered the living room. Tyran’s eyes strayed to Noelle and his breath got caught in his throat. His little pixie was dressed in one of his sweat pants. They were too big for her and made her look exceptionally small but she still looked like a siren. Her coppery hair fell down her back in wet locks. It begged for him to run his fingers through it. His white vest molded her full breasts and Tyran could see the little tight nipples underneath it. His mouth watered at the thought of taking the sweet berries in his mouth. Her small tongue nervously licked her lower lip snagging his attention to her luscious mouth and her perfect oval face. Her hazel eyes sparkling and her pixie nose perky and adorable. Her cheeks had a light blush and her chin stubborn and cute. She looked exquisite and enchantingly beautiful and Tyran couldn’t help but stare. He couldn’t believe that this small, seemingly helpless female was the reason he was losing control.
When he stood up, he heard the sharp intake of breath she took as she gathered the parting sides of his sweat top as if she were cold. Did she really fear him or was there something else he missed? For a female who challenged him over and over again, there was no doubt she didn’t fear him. So what made her react the way she did? It definitely wasn’t desire because she made it clear she hated him.
“Let’s go.” Tyran headed for the staircase that led to his private helicopter pad. The same pad he left Noelle on after the fire. He had no idea she was afraid of heights. When she made that wretched sound deep in her throat as he walked away, his stomach felt heavy and cold. He wanted to turn back and scoop her in his arms again. He wanted to feel her warmth again and smell her scent wafting out like a night bloom in a warm night. He was too enraged and he knew if he went back to her, he would have forced his will on her until she submitted and what little fragile relationship they had developed would be lost for good. He decided to walk away knowing that one of his commanders would take care of her but the very thought of another male putting his hands on her had him thinking along a deadly string thoughts of what he could do to him. It was frustrating and he felt that soon the little control he had left would be gone entirely.
Several Minutes Later....
Noelle bit into her lower lip so hard she thought she was going to draw blood. The gateway to her world was shimmering right in front of her but she didn’t want to take a step towards it. Every fiber in her body told her to run the other direction; that she was accepting being tied down to the heartless male behind her but she couldn’t. All she could think of was her father and what really happened in the Realm of Light. If her uncle was truly a traitor then she had to do something to get her father back. Whether she liked it or not, the only person who could aid her with that was the same male she ran away from in the beginning.
She stole a nervous glance towards him and almost burst into tears when she saw the cold dead eyes staring ahead. It was the same look he had all those years ago; the look that told her this was all duty and nothing more. Her life was going to mean nothing else but duty even though they were true mates. People spoke of how the mate-bond aided in the development of love between mates but Noelle couldn’t see that ever happening. She was going to be the prized mate of the Lord Mage and she didn’t see any promise of love or desire in the union. With heavy and broken heart, Noelle walked through the shimmering arch accepting her fate for the love she felt for her father and her people.
The night air in the enchanted world was thick with the scent of night blooms and life. The air was literally glittering with radiance and vitality. The grass felt crisp and fresh beneath their feet and the blue-black sky was filled with bright stars of different colors.
The enchanted world was very similar to the human world. It had skyscrapers, fancy cars and highly intelligent beings. They too kept pets, had nasty breakups and indulged in clubbing, drinking, prostitution and drug taking. The only difference was that there were hundreds of species of beings making the population of the enchanted world. It was not a surprise seeing unicorns galloping by the seaside as the sun set or mermaids braiding their hair on the rocks while they had picnics. It was not a strange thing to see levitating people moving around or the annoying little pixies that ravaged through your fridge for food at night when you slept.
There really was a pot of gold at the end of every rainbow but it was viciously guarded by mischievous leprechauns that tricked travelers to their doom. The enchanted world was what brought the fairy-tales to life. All the stories had roots in it.
Noelle felt a little lightheaded when she stepped onto the freshly mowed grass of the central park in the city of Gateway. They had specially designed the place that way because it was a tourist attraction. They were greeted by guards at the gateway which monitored people entering and exiting the enchanted world through that place just like a bus terminal or airport.
It was Blue Moon night and the park was alive with celebrations. In the enchanted world, a blood moon was something rare and very loved because rare energies radiated in the air, feeding the enchanted beings and enriching their bodies with all sorts of nourishment.
The sky was clear and the blue moon shimmered down as people sang and danced. The aromas were overwhelming. They opened up the dam of her memories and let them gush through her mind like the stormy sea. She swallowed back a bout of tears as the homesickness tightened its grip around her throat. She couldn’t breathe. She couldn’t even see straight with the tears swimming in her eyes. She needed an anchor, something to hold her firmly intact with herself. She felt like a lost child in a familiar yet different land. She turned to her left side and there he was. Like a sentinel, he guarded her saw to her needs. It surprised her at how attuned he was to her feelings when he immediately held her arm and waist and helped her towards a vacant bench before she asked him to.
“Breathe, Noelle.” He murmured in her hair as she forced her shaking body down the bench. His breath didn’t help much. It caressed the tiny hairs on her face and sent a shiver down her spine. She couldn’t look up at him. Not after she insulted him the second time. There was something about Tyran that always had her defensive. She needed to defend herself from his cool demeanor that had her body raging crazy.
“Tyran...” Her voice broke as she looked up at him. All the ice had melted from his eyes and that stubborn mouth of his was soft and full again.
He touched her cheek in a light caress. “You will be alright, I promise.”
Noelle took a long and shuddering breath and turned to the live band playing a few yards away. People were happy, laughing and dancing to the dance beat. She loved blue moon festival. It was one thing that brought the entire enchanted world together. Each Realm celebrated it in their own way but it was one of the festivals that were celebrated by everyone. She could only imagine the big dinner her father would have hosted to mark that night. But he was gone and there were no roasted lamb and baby marrows waiting for her back home.
“Here, let her take some of this.” Drake handed Tyran what looked like a harmless paper cup he took from one of the many food stalls around the park.
Tyran took the cup from his commander and handed it to Noelle who suspiciously sniffed the content. A sweet burning sensation went through her nostrils to the back on her throat.
“Take a good swallow, princess.” Tyran assured her. “It’ll calm your nerves.”
Noelle didn’t want to trust Tyran on anything but he was right. This wasn’t the time to get nervous so she tipped the cup on her lips and swallowed the contents in one big gulp. The bitter-sweet liquid burnt its way down her throat causing her eyes to water. She choked down the liquid and felt it settle warmly in her stomach.
“If you wanted to kill me, you could just shoot me in the back!” She protested as she handed Tyran the empty cup and shook away the warm fuzzy feeling that crept up her bones.
“What is with you and dying?” Tyran asked as he disposed the paper cup and turned to her. “You are not dying today or any other day if I can help it. You are not getting rid of me that easily, pixie.”
Noelle didn’t know whether to howl her frustrations to the moon or and break down and weep like a baby but either way was not going to help her with her problems. Instead, she straightened her back and turned to the festivities in front of her.
“I want to enjoy myself tonight before we head on to the Fortress. It’s been a while since I celebrated Blue Moon and I know you would not deny me this one thing.”
She watched as Tyran attempted to grind his teeth into powder. She didn’t want to go with him back to his quarters yet. She didn’t want to be alone with him. She knew the reason he brought her home was to claim her as his rightful queen both in matrimony and in body. The thought of the forged warrior king taking her body made her quiver in both terror and excitement. She had never been with a male before. This was going to be her first time and she really wasn’t looking forward to it though she was curious of how it would feel to be claimed by the most feared Mage in the whole of the enchanted world.
“Fine, take your time but you are merely delaying what was meant to happen. You are my queen and it’s in my duty to grant you this one thing. Enjoy.” His words slid down Noelle’s skin like warm honey. His eyes ignited with something possessive, primal and hungry. She felt like a fly unconsciously allured to the light. “Drake, keep an eye on her and bring her to the our Gateway royal house afterwards. The rest of you go on with your duties.”
Both Ruvin and Zach inclined their heads to their king and went on their way while Drake placed himself on the side of Noelle’s bench and Tyran stalked off.
Noelle couldn’t help but watch as the massive Lord Mage walked off towards the parked black car similar to a Cadillac back in the Human Realm. A chauffeur came out and opened the door for him while bowing low. Noelle watched as the muscles on his back coil and retracted as he entered the car. He was magnificent, she admitted wholeheartedly and females would kill to have his attention let alone being mated to him.
She wanted to have that thrill of being his mate, his queen, the center of his world. She wanted him to look at her like she was the only female in the world and she wanted him angry when another male so much as looked her way. She never asked for anything from anyone other than her father yet this little thing from the Lord Mage proved impossible. At times she would look at him and believe that he did care for her and then he would retreat to that cold emotionless place that had her cowering for her life.
“He’s a warrior, princess, but one capable of emotions too.” Drake sighed and folded his large body next to Noelle’s.
She turned to him and pursed her lips. “Tyran is not capable of emotions.”
Drake grinned as if he just remembered a personal joke. “The Lord Mage is the hardest male I know. He is as stubborn as a mule and as cold as ice. He stands as if his back is forged with indestructible steel and his word is law but every male has his weakness.”
“Tyran has no weakness!” Noelle snapped bitterly. “The male is like-like a god! He is everywhere and he is always trying his level best to make my life miserable. All I asked from him was to leave me alone and let me be. It was the best for the both of us but nooo—the goddamn Lord Mage had to have it his way. Look at where it’s gotten us?” she raked her fingers into her coppery hair and they snagged in knots and tangles. She needed a nice long bath and to condition her hair before it got out of hand but with Tyran breathing under her neck she was ready to look her shabbiest if it made him scarce in her eyes.
“The thing is you’re fighting him but not seeing him for who he is. He is programmed to defend himself or fight back but if you try to see him and learn to understand him then I don’t think there would a problem between the two of you.” Drake stated casually as his booted leg tapped lightly to the beat of the live band.
Noelle laughed bitterly. “How can I understand someone who would not let me in? You’ve been with him long enough to know just how long it takes to earn his trust. I don’t have that time, Drake. I have my life to think about and I will not spend it trying to earn approval from a male who would never learn to love me!” the last words tore angrily out of her throat.
Finally the long overdue tears came gushing out of her eyes as she wailed about her happily-ever-after never coming. She trembled as she cried out her pain and anger, grateful that the music was so loud that it drowned the sounds. She didn’t want to appear weak in front of one of Tyran’s commanders but she couldn’t help it. She was devastated.
“Stop it, princess.” Drake stiffened. “Mates are destined to be, right from birth. They are the halves of the same whole. You and Lord Mage are meant to be and I know you will both learn to live with each other.
Noelle couldn’t stop crying. The tears flowed straight from her soul. She didn’t want this life. She had always dreamed of a knight sweeping off her feet and staring in her eyes with so much love she thought she was going to drown from it. She still wanted that but she was never going to have it with the Lord Mage. There was no love...there was only vengeance and duty.
Her body felt hot and boneless as she shed her last tears. She felt tired and worn. She wanted to crawl into a dark hole and never come out. At times she felt that this was a bad dream and that she was going to wake up and find herself back in Manhattan. She wanted to go back to hating Ruby and to see her office. She wanted to eat from the best restaurants and have girl nights with her friends.
After what seemed to be forever, Noelle finally rubbed her eyes and turned to Drake who looked like he was about to run. The males in Tyran’s circles had no idea how to deal with female emotions. She didn’t blame the Dragon because that was what happened when Tyran started rubbing off you.
“I’m ready to go now.” She shuddered visibly and stood up but swayed and settled back on the bench. “And I think I’m drunk.”
Drake grinned again as he helped her up. “Don’t worry, princess. You’ll feel better in the morning.”
“Promise?” Her words slurred as he walked her to the car she knew Tyran had asked to remain behind for her when she decided to leave. Her skin crawled suddenly at Drake’s touch and it left her frowning in puzzlement.
“Promise.” Drake ushered her into the back seat of the Mercedes and buckled her seat-belt.
“You are much nicer than Tyran. He should learn a thing or two from you.” Noelle closed her eyes and sighed again. “Thank you for listening to me...” she passed out.
Drake chuckled and entered the front passenger side before the chauffeur drove them away.