They both fell asleep that night, in each other's arms, they hadn't meant to but it just somehow happened and they weren't going to moan about it.

They were exhausted from what had happened, but Aerilyn's nightmares were very much apparent, so Solenne held her even tighter, inhaling her scent and kissing her forehead to try and comfort her.

She watched her sleep, even though she needed some herself which was rare, but the events that had occurred had taken it out of her.

So she allowed herself just a few hours.

The next morning, Queen Solenne woke up and just lay watching Aerilyn until she began to stir, opening her eyes she saw those piercing eyes staring at her, causing the human to blush profusely. "quit staring" she mumbled, trying to hide behind the sheets.

Solenne grinned from ear to ear. "I can't help it, I don't think you understand how hard it is for me, I just want to ravish you. Every part of my being is craving you and it never stops" she admitted.

The brown haired, doe eyed human peered up at the admission, things felt different this time, they were both trying and not hiding how they felt, she could speak freely and touch the Queen without fear of being told off. And so she did, reach out and touch her of course, softly stroking her arm, tracing and memorizing every fibre of her. "And what happens if the tamed beast breaks free?" she was curious.

Solenne was finding it extremely challenging as Aerilyn was stroking her arm, teasing her without even realising. "Well, you would never leave my room, or this bed for that matter" Aerilyn got the picture very quickly. Deciding to tease back, Solenne pulled away and got up, she was wearing a silk night gown that she quickly dropped off as she walked to the closet to find something of Aerilyn's to wear as they were in her room.

The human almost gasped at Solenne's bare shoulders which her eyes followed down her back and to her supple rounded backside. Wow. She wanted to die there and then, she wasn't sure that the Vampire Queen could get any more perfect.

Almost drooling, Solenne twisted her head around "My eyes are up here love" she teased her. The reaction she received was satisfying indeed, but Solenne knew she needed to tell Aerilyn the truth before anything happened.

Once they were dressed they had breakfast together before they parted ways, "behave little one and I will see you later" Solenne winked at her. Nilsa was still assigned to look after her, but it was more than that she would give her life for her if she had to.

Nilsa couldn't be more prouder that Solenne had asked her to guard her mate, it was an important job, one she took seriously.

"Morning, I see you two are getting on just fine" the both said to each other, Nilsa was dressed in her guards uniform as she teased the girl.

"How are you feeling?" the vampire asked her as they walked down the corridor together.

She was in mourning for the loss of her brother, but having everyone around her way making everything better and taking her mind off it. "I'm doing okay, but I would like to go and see Saryn, he will help with the funeral" no one wanted to say anything to her about it, it was traumatic enough what she had gone through up until now.

Nilsa walked infront of the girl, "Come on, I know where he is" She smiled at her as they made their way.

"Your glowing Nilsa" Aerilyn noticed, the aura around Nilsa was different than before.

Nilsa nodded in agreement, "that tends to happen", they made their way outside, he must have been in a different building.

Aerilyn was looking around at the scenery that she had come to miss, the hustle and bustle of life around the castle. "when your doing it?" she wiggled her eyebrows teasingly.

Giving her a fake soft slap on the arm confirmed what Aerilyn was thinking. "it's only natural, you should try it sometime" Aerilyn nearly choked.

But what surprised Nilsa was more was that she replied with "maybe I will" cheeky human.

They arrived at a house not too far still within the grounds, "this is where Evelyn stayed when she first arrived, Saryn now has her room" causing Aerilyn to nodded understandingly. She had hoped that this time around her would want to stay with them so that they could all stay together, she had many questions she wanted to ask him.

Knocking on his door, they waited a few seconds, hearing some rustling until he opened the door. "Good morning, do come in" he moved aside to let them both in. It was eery how he was okay with vampires so quickly when before he didn't want Aerilyn to have anything to do with Solenne.

"How are you settling in, is there anything I can do? Aerilyn wanted him to feel welcome and enjoy it here, she couldn't bare him leaving, he was her only father figure now.

They both sat down across from each other, it was a pleasant room, a large bed and sofa were in there and a small kitchen. "No, I have everything I need and more, don't worry I'm not going anywhere okay?" he assured her, he could see the apprehension on her face.

Aerilyn let a sigh of relief out, "I know you have questions, so let me make us a tea and then you can ask them" he was always wise beyond his years.

He brewed the tea and brought it over to them, Nilsa had offered to leave to give them some privacy so she went for a walk whilst she waited around. "ask away"

"I don't know where to begin" she was unsure.

"the beginning is usually the best" he quipped.

Aerilyn relaxed for a minute, "okay, why did you want me to stay away from Solenne, did you know who she was?" She had always wondered why he had warned her in the beginning.

Saryn could only answer honestly, "I had heard about her, I admit it took me a while to piece who she was together and it was dangerous to have someone like the Queen taking an interest in you, I did not want you becoming dinner, but by the way she looked at you I knew that would not happen, I then became worried that you would both be killed" it was true he could spot the bond from a mile off.

"Killed?" Aerilyn didn't understand.

Saryn nodded and took a sip of tea. "It doesn't go down very well when a vampire and a human get together especially a Queen" he realised they weren't together but they might as well be.

Aerilyn frowned, "But we aren't together?" Now she was thinking that maybe she should have this talk with Solenne, so the vampire would not stray.

Saryn had a nostalgic look on his face "you don't have to be to know, let me tell you a story" this all too resonated with Aerilyn about how she felt towards the Queen, it cemented it even more.

Saryn sipped from his mug snd then began the story, "When I was a lot younger, before the war, I met a girl in the woods when I was out fishing alone, the attraction was instant and soon all I wanted to do was spend my time with her. I soon realised she was different, she lived in the woods, deep within them. There was one time I remember I went to look for her, she hadn't met up with me for a few days and I was worried. There was a lot of rustling and noises going on, as I approached I saw a massive wolf, it was her father and he was going to kill me but she had convinced him that I was just a friend she had made. That was the day I realised she was a wolf, I mean we barely knew of their existence, so I had no prejudice against them, but they hated our kind. All apart from Remi, she told me much about their history and ways, we became closer than we could have imagined, we had planned our life together. That was until we were caught together, Remi saved me and was killed in the process, it was only later that I found out we were mates" that was a lot for Aerilyn to take him as she sat and listened to him talk intently. Saryn had a saddened look on his face.

"I am so sorry Saryn" she was still having trouble with piecing it together.

"But...the difference is, is that we are not mates" Aerilyn sighed struggling to form words, somehow she had convinced herself of it.

It was still unclear why she didn't realise, or notice the way Solenne looked at her, her denial run deep. "How can you be so sure?" He wanted to shake her to wake up and realise.

Aerilyn brushed it off "I'm sure she would have told me"

But the man just shook his head, "Remi knew and she never told me and look at her circumstances versus being the Queen of Vampires. I could see the way she was looking at you and I panicked, I know I am not your father but I was just trying to protect you" and that was the truth, he had always wanted to keep her safe even though they were not blood.

The girl was frustrated because now she began to contemplate the idea, how it would feel, running scenarios through her head of an alternate reality. "why is it only they know and not us, we literally know nothing and have no power"

Saryn moved closer to Aerilyn and looked at her fondly, "Lyn, I think we all know deep down" he tried to explain something that words could not.

Aerilyn smiled softly, "is that why you helped the vampires?" She couldn't help but admire him for all that he had done.

They both finished their tea and put it down, leaning back on the chairs, "Yes, I could see she was different, not like her father. It was when she took you away at the auction, she protected you to no end. So I made contact and offered to be their mole and in return you would be kept safe" Aerilyn rushed over and hugged him.

"and what happened with Ev?" she never did find out.

That had been a tricky situation to get her out, "When things got bad, I helped her escape and told her to get caught by the guards who patrolled not too far away" he had been so worried she could have been killed by the guards but they had to take a chance.

"you are a genius" The girl admitted.

Saryn acknowledged that he only got Ev out. "I would have done the same for your brother, but by then it was too late" he looked down.

Aerilyn decided to quit with the questions, she had got mostly everything she had wanted to out of the conversation. "Hey, look at me, its okay, you did your best and I really appreciate that. That's what I wanted to ask too, whether you would help me with the funeral?" She couldn't think of anyone better.

He placed a hand on her shoulder and assured her "Of course I will, you don't need to ask that"

For the next few days they planned for the funeral, whilst Solenne got swept away with the aftermath of the fight, they had broken the camp down, essentially not making it a prison anymore. Those who wanted to stay could and those who did not went to the human settlements.

Eli's funeral went and passed, they buried him next to a tree in the woods, an area he frequented whilst being at the camp.

A week went by after the funeral, Aerilyn had stayed in her room mostly, her routine was still back to normal but she hadn't seen too much of Solenne and she missed her even though she knew she wasn't far.

Solenne had been holding back during the funeral and afterwards, it wasn't fair to take advantage of the girls vulnerable state and she wouldn't do that, she had also needed to remain the Queen in front of her peers.

Aerilyn had gone in search of her, she wanted to give her a piece of her mind for not being there and barely seeing her, it was like she had lost interest in the girl. It made her feel sick.

Aerilyn stormed through the castle looking for her.

She reached the Queen's room and walked straight in without knocking, Solenne hadn't been expecting it and turned around quickly, realising Aerilyn's mood. "really, so this is what you have been doing all week" the girl rolled her eyes as she had a go.

Solenne walked forward to try and hug Aerilyn but she stepped away from the vampire and refused. "I have been very busy, I'm sorry I haven't been there more for you, but I will be now. I just did not want to smother you" The Queen could sense her emotions.

This time Aerilyn walked up to Solenne and faked hit her, but thumped her a few times more in a show of how mad she was. "I needed you" she sobbed. "but you weren't there, I thought that you had got bored of me" she cried.

Solenne wrapped her arms around Aerilyn tightly, "no amica mea, I could never get bored of you, never think that"

"you know the implications of what 'amica mea' means right?" Aerilyn broke her cries to say.

"I am fully aware of the word..yes" Solenne kissed the top of Aerilyn's head.

Solenne breathed in deeply, she had still been by to Aerilyn's room every night. "I know there is never a right time, but would you like to finally go on that date?"

Aerilyn whipped her head back to see if the vampire was serious, those golden orbs peering right back at her, fearful that she would refuse her. Aerilyn nodded her head frantically.

"words little one" Solenne teased at the excitement.

"yes, when?" she asked.

"tomorrow" Solenne bent down and caught Aerilyn's mouth with hers, they both reciprocated, the girl kissed more roughly than usual, grabbing Solenne's blonde hair and running her hands through it. She pulled back "I'm suppose to be mad at you" Solenne just smirked before Aerilyn pulled them back together.

Solenne walked Aerilyn backwards until they fell onto her bed, the vampire Queen was on top of her, lips still connected, roaming each others bodies. Aerilyn didn't hold back this time, she wanted Solenne once and for all, to make her hers.

Her hands quickly slipped under the Queen's top which caused them both to shiver, she held her hips tightly bringing them closer together, before grinding together, trying to get rid of the tension that had been building.

The Queen was shocked to say the least at how forward she was being, here she was with the humans hands up her top, how times had changed.

Her hands then traced Queen Solenne's stomach, flitting down a little bit teasingly before moving them back up, she traced the outside of the Queen's breasts and made the move finally, cupping her breasts she squeezed them causing Solenne to let out a moan which only spurred her on more.

Soon after she was sure she could hear a low growl, but she couldn't be certain. The Queen could barely control herself, the girl was driving her senses crazy. The Queen gripped Aerilyn's peachy ass and squeezed it in acknowledgement of what the girl was doing to her.

Solenne broke the kiss to attack Aerilyn's neck, she was sure they were going to leave marks.

The heat between her legs was apparent and she was dying to be touched even though it was her first time. Aerilyn lifted Solenne's top up, sure she had seen much of her from behind but she had never seen her from the front, how she was dying to see her. Solenne complied and let the girl take her top off, she wasn't sure how far the girl would go but she was enjoying it for now.

Their lips connected once again, Aerilyn pulled Solenne's bra to one side cupping her breast again, they felt so soft in her hands and the perfect size too, the Queen could not get any more perfect in her eyes. She used her thumb and finger to twiddle her now hardened nipples. Solenne gasped into her mouth, panting as well, Aerilyn loved the effect she was having on her.

Solenne yanked Aerilyn's top off with ease, breaking the top, it was a good job it was not one of her favorites.

Solenne looked down at the girls chest, noticing a necklace that looked very familiar, "Where did you get that necklace?" She lifted it up with her fingers to take a closer look.

Aerilyn tried to hide it, she wasn't suppose to show it to anyone, that's what her parents always told her, but she was taken by surprise and now she panicked. "It was from my parents, they told me not to show it to anyone" she was nervous.

Solenne smiled. "Well yes, considering that was my grandmothers necklace I am not surprised they made sure you wouldn't show it to anyone. It was a special necklace, one I thought I would never see again" the necklace had been passed from generation to generation. "It was her favourite necklace", she reminisced.

Aerilyn was shocked, why would her parents have this necklace, it made no sense, she began to take it off but the Queen stopped her. "You have had it since you were a child, keep it...there is no one else I would rather have given it too" she was firm in her statement. This only made Aerilyn question if they could possibly be mates. What reason would she have to give something sacred like that to her.

Solenne smiled softly, "I believe there is a diary of my grandmothers, I am rather intrigued to see who she gave it too and how it became into your possession" she bent down and kissed Aerilyn once more.

"Another time though" Solenne mumbled.

Their passion for each other became heated very quickly.