Amaryllis was awoken around six hours later when Reynold shook her shoulder. "What's going on?" She asked.

"Shut up," Reynold hissed. "Someone's here."

He picked Amaryllis up, wrapping one arm around her back and the other around the backside of her knees. She moaned in pain when her head was knocked around. It was still extraordinarily tender.

Reynold opened up a door and quietly closed it behind them before carefully walking down a case of rickety old stairs. He must be afraid of someone for him to be rushing around as he was, Amaryllis noted. Was Ulric there to take her home?

Reynold dropped her body gently on the floor, then went to stand by the door that led outside. He leaned his head against it and Amaryllis assumed that meant he was trying to hear if someone was there.

Amaryllis heard a creaky door open from upstairs but heard nothing else otherwise. The vampires were extremely stealthy.

The basement door must've opened because she heard someone step onto the rickety staircase because the wood squealed under their weight. Reynold grabbed Amaryllis in a flash and ran out the basement door.

"Ulric!" She screamed. She wasn't even sure if it was Ulric who was there. It very well could've been a band of thieves, but she just had a feeling deep within her soul that it was him.

Reynold did not make it far before a large, shadowy figure appeared in front of them. She felt Reynold's body go eerily still. She looked up and saw the face of the person standing in front of them. It was her mate!

Amaryllis immediately began struggling in Reynold's arms despite the intense pain in her head. "Ulric," she whimpered and reached her hands out for him.

"Put the girl down," Ulric growled. It was a horrifying tone and she was thankful it wasn't directed at her. "No," Reynold responded. "She's mine!"

Ulric released a fearsome roar like sound before he pounced on Reynold. It happened so fast her brain couldn't even comprehend it. All of a sudden she was falling backward in Reynold's arms and then in the very next moment she was ripped from them and held tightly in the arms of her mate.

"Ulric," she breathed out in pure relief.

"Stay here," Ulric said. He positioned her body beside a tree before turning around to Reynold. Amaryllis watched her mate pick the smaller man up and toss him multiple feet into the air before crashing to the ground with a loud thud.

Then he lifted Reynold up again and slammed him against the trunk of a nearby tree. He let Reynold's body slide down the tree until he could grasp Reynold's neck in his hand. Then he pinned Reynold's neck against the tree and repeatedly punched him over and over. Amaryllis cringed and looked away when blood started flying. She knew how intense it was when vampires started to bleed faster than they could heal.

She looked over and saw another shady figure standing a few feet away watching the scene unfold in front of them. She squinted her eyes and recognized the person as Thierry.

Reynold attempted to block Ulric's blows with his hands, but his attempts were futile as Ulric easily knocked them away. "Ulric," she called out. She wanted him to hold her and comfort her. He'd been pounding on Reynold enough for the time being.

He didn't stop though. He continued to pound his fist into Reynold's face blow after blow. "Ulric," she called again. "Ulric!"

Finally, after calling his names a few times, he looked up at her. She could see in his eyes that it was like a spell had been broken. He immediately turned around from Reynold's body and walked toward her. He reached down and picked her up, wrapping his arms around her as she wrapped her legs around him. She buried her face in his neck and breathed his scent in.

"I missed you so much," she whispered, tightening her legs around him.

"Thierry, take him to the car. Tell the others to get ready to head back."

"Yes, sir," Thierry nodded. He reached down and lifted Reynold's crumpled body, tossing it over his shoulder.

"I missed you too, Amaryllis," he said as he tangled his fingers in her long locks.

She hissed slightly when his fingers brushed over the bump on her head. "What happened here?" Ulric asked while he tilted her head to inspect the injury.

"I fell on the porch and hit my head," she said quietly.

"How did you fall?"

"Reynold... slapped me." Amaryllis didn't want to tell Ulric exactly what happened because she knew how furious he would get. While she didn't feel sympathy for Reynold's current situation, she didn't want Ulric to kill him either. Murder was never the correct answer in her mind.

Ulric released a deep, rumbly growl as he tightened his grip on his mate's body. "What?" Amaryllis asked.

"I was hoping I'd been wrong," he said.

"Wrong about what?" She pulled her head away from his neck and looked up at his face.

"When I was in the werewolf kingdom, I felt these odd sensations in my side and my face. They were tingly and I'd never felt something like them before. I realized that it could've been you, so I immediately called Lawrence to check your whereabouts. He then told me that you were missing and Binta was the one who reported it. Then on the way here, I felt those sensations again in my face and on my head," he said, brushing his thumb gingerly over her reddened cheek.

"So you felt my pain?" She asked. He pulled her shirt up and looked at the bruise on her side from where Reynold had hit her. A low grumbling sounded in his chest.

"How badly does it hurt?"

"It doesn't feel good, but I think it'll be okay," she answered.

He lifted his hand to his mouth and Amaryllis saw his fangs extend before he ripped them into the fleshy part of his hand. "What are you doing?" She asked in shock.

"Drink. It will heal you," he answered and ushered his hand toward her mouth.

She stared at his bloody hand, hesitating. "My hand will heal in a few seconds, Amaryllis. Drink."

She leaned over and attached her lips to his hand. The metallic, red blood leaked into her mouth and down her throat. She pulled away after a few seconds and felt the pain in her body start to completely disappear.

"Thank you," she whispered.

"Yes, I could feel your pain, but I'm not sure how. I know that mated couples can share that bond, but we aren't mated. Perhaps it is because I am King and we have the most powerful bond," he suggested. Amaryllis smiled at his words.

"What?"

"Nothing, I just like that we have the strongest mate bond. It makes me feel powerful," she giggled and leaned her head back down on his shoulder.

"As it should," he answered. He began walking around the side of the house, presumably toward their way back home.

"Ulric," Amaryllis said. She reached up and kissed him, wrapping her arms around his neck. "I love you," she said as she pressed her forehead to his.

He stared at her for a moment, standing perfectly still and not uttering a word. His hand moved to cup her cheek and run gently over her lips. "I love you, too," he replied.

She tickled her fingers over the stubble on his jawline. "Really?" She asked. She wasn't sure he felt the same way she did. "I don't want you to feel pressured into saying it."

"I do mean it Amaryllis. I've never meant anything more in my life," he said with confidence as he stared into her eyes. She giggled and a blush rose up to her cheeks. She laid her head back against his chest and replayed the words he just spoke over and over.

"I'm sorry you had to leave your meeting early," she said.

"Are you fucking joking? Amaryllis, I don't give a fuck about that meeting. You are the only thing that matters to me."

"Well, I didn't -,"

"Well, nothing. Don't ever think that some meeting, or anything for that matter, holds precedence over you," he said.

She smiled softly and tightened her grip on him. "Okay."

They arrived home at the castle a few hours later. She held onto Ulric as he sped across the land back home. Amaryllis had never experienced something so horrifying yet exhilarating at the same time. They had only brought one car and it was much faster for Ulric to run home than it was to drive.

At first, it was terrifying. She thought she would fly out of his arms and crash into a tree. However, she realized his grip was far too tight for her to move barely an inch. She watched the world buzz right passed her eyes faster than it ever had been before. She almost didn't want it to end when they arrived back home. She didn't want to let go of Ulric.

"Where are you going," Amaryllis asked sleepily as Ulric passed by the castle. She had taken a little nap on the way back home.

"To my house. You aren't safe in the castle and I don't want anyone knowing we found you."

"Why not?" She asked in shock. She wanted Binta and some of her other companions to know that she was okay.

"Because Amaryllis, there are traitors living under our roof who wish you harm. I need to weed them out before you come back to the castle. If they think you still haven't been found, they won't attempt to take you from me again."

"Okay," she said feeling sad and disheartened.

When they entered through the front door of the house, Ulric locked the door. "You'll be safe here, Love. Don't worry. The house is also built from Moderock, a very strong material that can sometimes be impossible for vampires to break through."

"I'm not worried," She answered, looking up at him. "I have you to keep me safe. I just want this to be over."

"I know. I do as well."

Amaryllis wrapped her arms around his back and hugged him to her. "I missed you so much," she said quietly as a tear ran down her cheek. Ulric's hands moved up and down her body, comforting her.

"I missed you, Amaryllis. I haven't been so worried about someone in... ever," he said. Amaryllis looked up at him to see his jaw clenched. His body was also very tense against her's. He was obviously very angry.

"I know you're tired, Love, but I need you to tell me all of what happened. Your details will make it easier to identify the traitors." Ulric bent down on his knees and pulled his mate so she was laying horizontally against his abdomen with her head resting on his shoulder. She needed to be held and he needed to hold her.

Amaryllis told Ulric all of the details about her capture. From Reynold being rude to her when he guarded her room, to Simon dying, to the random men Reynold stopped to talk to, to all of the very perverted things he said to her while at the cabin. She told Ulric how she tried to escape but it resulted in being captured again and about all of the times he hit her.

All the while she told her story, she could feel Ulric's body filling with tension and anger. She sat up so that she straddled his lap. Her hands pushed his t-shirt away from his back and slid underneath it. She moved her hands all over his back, trying to ease the tension. It did work to an extent, but he was still very upset.

"You're positive he didn't touch you sexually?" He asked. She could tell he was trying to remain calm for her sake, but she could hear the underlying growl in his voice.

"I'm positive, Ulric. He only hit me." All of the tension returned to his body. "Ulric," she sighed, seeing all of her efforts at massaging him disappear.

Ulric grabbed her body in his arms and stood up with her before walking upstairs to the master bedroom. He placed her on the bed, kissed her, and stood up. "I'll be back soon," he said, his voice rumbling in anger.

"Where are you going?" She asked.

"I cannot wait to deal with Reynold any longer, not after what he did to you. I am going now to get the answers I need."

"What? No. Please don't go, Ulric. I need you here with me," she begged.

"Amaryllis, I need to do this as quickly as possible so I can diminish this rebellion and ensure your safety," he replied.

"Please don't," she said, feeling overwhelmed at the thought of being left alone. "I can't be alone right now."

Ulric stated at his beautiful mate sitting on the bed with a desperate expression on her face. He weighed his options. He could begin interrogating Reynold now and hopefully, end this rebellion before it could truly begin. Or he could spend the night comforting his mate who he had just gotten back. He knew what he had to do.

Lawrence and some others were out following the trail of men Amaryllis said Reynold stopped to communicate with. Hopefully, they are the last of the traitorous group. Once Lawrence brings them in, Ulric will haul them out to the town square and make an example of their behavior in front of his people. No one will steal his mate from him and suffer no consequences.

"Come here," he said, holding his arms in front of her to grab onto. He lifted her up and carried her to the bathroom.

He turned the shower water on and let it heat up. Grabbing the bottom of his shirt, he lifted it over his head. Then he unbuttoned his jeans and pulled them and his boxer briefs off. He reached over and took Amaryllis's tattered pajama shirt off. Then he reached behind her and unclasped her bra. He pulled the bra from her body and then hooked his fingers on her dirty pants and pulled them off her legs as well as her underwear.

He looked her naked body over to make sure all of her wounds had healed. When he was pleased with all of the unmarked skin he saw, he opened the door of the shower for Amaryllis to walk through.

"Is it warm enough for you?" He asked.

"Yes," she said back with a smile. "Thank you for staying."

"I won't leave you, Amaryllis, I'm just paranoid."

"I understand," she responded.

Ulric grabbed the barley used shampoo bottle he had bought for her the last time they stayed in the house. He squirted some of the shampoo in his hands and then lathered it into her long hair.

"Mmm. That feels nice," she moaned.

He tipped her head back slightly so the stream of water hit her hair and he washed the soap out. Then he repeated the process with the conditioner. When he was done with her hair he reached for his shampoo bottle.

"I want to do it for you," Amaryllis said, taking the bottle from his hands. He smiled at her before bending his head so she could reach.

After she washed his hair, they both cleaned each other's bodies. When Amaryllis reached Ulric's cock, she realized she'd never really touched it before. He'd brought her to orgasm a few times already, but she had yet to return the favor.

She dropped the washcloth to the floor and waited for the water to rinse all of the suds off his body before she bent to her knees.

"Amaryllis, don't. You just got home and you need to rest," Ulric chastised. She, however, did not listen.

She wrapped her hand around the base of him, feeling his girth before she pulled her hand upward along his length. He was hard as a rock. Ulric sucked in a deep breath and Amaryllis couldn't help but smile. She was happy to be able to pleasure him.

She moved her thumb around the head of his cock, wiping away the drops of pre-cum. "Fuck," she heard from above her head. She leaned her head in and licked a drop from the head. It was an interesting taste, kind of a sweet and salty taste but also musky. She actually kind of enjoyed it. She licked his tip a few more times, sucking it like a lollipop while savoring the flavor of him.

She sucked his tip fully into her mouth, careful to keep her teeth away. "Amaryllis!" She heard before her mate's large hand tangled in her hair and gripped the back of her head. She used her hand to pump the base of his cock because she wasn't ready to take him the full way into her mouth yet.

After a few more minutes of sucking and pumping, Ulric pulled her hair harder than he had been and his leg muscles started to tighten. "I'm coming Amaryllis," he said, his voice husky yet strained.

In a few short seconds, Amaryllis heard a powerful string of moans from above and felt hot spurts of semen hit the back of her throat. She swallowed all of what he had to give and he gave a lot.

She pulled her head back and let his now only semi-hard member fall from between her lips. She licked her puffy lips and then stood up with Ulric's help. She looked at him and noticed he was breathing heavily and had a look of both shock and awe on his face.

"What?" She giggled shyly when he wouldn't look away from her.

"You're too good at that for not having done it before," Ulric said.

She shrugged her shoulders. "I guess mates just know how to please each other," she said. Blood started to rush into her neck and face and it wasn't because of the hot water.

"So you liked it?" She asked. She'd be horribly embarrassed if it was bad.

"Like it?" He asked exasperated. "That was the best thing that's ever happened to me, Amaryllis. Your tight little mouth works wonders," he praised.

"Good," she giggled. Ulric reached over and turned the water off before sticking his hand out of the door and grabbing two towels. He wiped Amaryllis dry and then patted himself down.

Amaryllis stepped out of the shower and brushed her hair. Then she gave it a quick blow-dry to dry up most of the water, but it was still damp. When she walked into the bedroom, Ulric was sitting naked on the chair in the corner.

"Get on the bed," he said when she walked into the room.

"What?"

He stood up from the chair and in a flash, appeared in front of her. "I said, get on the bed." Before she could take a step, he yanked the towel from her body, then motioned with his eyes toward the bed.

She got on the bed and sat so that her back leaned against the pillows and her legs were out in front of her.

Ulric grabbed her ankles from his position by the bottom of the bed and pulled her so her head laid on the pillows, not her back.

"What're you doing?" She asked, feeling mildly anxious. Not fearful, she wasn't afraid of him and she knew he wouldn't hurt her, but she didn't know what to expect and she was very inexperienced.

"I told you no. I told you that you needed to rest. You didn't listen to me," he answered.

"But I was just trying to make you feel good like you do to me," she explained. She thought his chastisement was unfair, especially since he enjoyed it so much.

"You didn't listen to me, Amaryllis," he said once more. "And now you will be punished." His black eyes stared dangerously at her from the bottom of the bed. He got onto the bed and ripped her legs open before diving headfirst in between them.