"I love you, Gideon."

The smile that spread across her mate's face was stunning. Gideon lifted Visena in his arms, and she straddled his waist.

"I will not have sex with you for the first time in a lake, Visena, but you are killing me," he whispered, wadding back to shore. Visena's low laughter mingled with the sloshing warm waters around their bare skin. Then, with one last forehead kiss, Gideon untangled her legs from his waist and lowered her gently on the earth. "Shift."

Visena complied and sat patiently, waiting for him to join her. The forest musical continued as their wolves reunited and nipped at each other playfully. They eventually trotted off into the forest, occasionally licking each other's muzzles affectionately, before they finally made it back to the castle. Visena was glad she removed her clothes before shifting because the Fae air was crisp. Gideon only managed to save his pants and walked back to their room shirtless. He caught many Fae eyes, but one stern look from Visena had them awkwardly shuffling away.

"I like it when you're jealous," Gideon murmured in her ear.

"No one needs to be ogling at my mate," she retorted.

The low grumble in his chest made her heart flutter. Every step closer to the castle made Visena tremble in anticipation. Gideon paused, eyes glazed over as he communicated with Jed. He blinked and turned a small smile to his mate. "First door on the right after the throne room." 

They walked down the echoing halls until they reached their destination. The door was heavy and groaned beneath Gideon's hands. Visena suppressed some seriously wicked thoughts before trailing in after him. The room was sparse; its only feature was a queen-size canopy bed—billowy sheer curtains framed charcoal coloured bedding. The opposition was stunning.

Her thoughts were whisked away as her body was lifted into a warm, bare, chiselled, magnificent torso. Visena nuzzled into Gideon's neck as he lay her down on the satin sheets. He hovered above her on his forearms and let his gaze carve a trail down her face. "You are so beautiful." His husky voice sent shivers down her spine.

 Visena's smile beamed up at him as she used the opportunity to curl her fingers in his hair and rub her finger pads in small circles. "Mmm..." He lay his head down on her chest as the massage continued. She almost giggled, imagining him in wolf form, kicking his hind leg from a good scratch. Her fingers traced down to his nape and squeezed gently before rubbing slow, deep circles across his broad shoulders. His weight on top of her increased, and she drummed lightly on his back."Can't breathe!"

"Shit, sorry." The weight was lifted immediately, and Gideon's drowsy face was oh so forgivable.

"It's fine, lie down on your back. I'll do your chest instead." Visena wouldn't let the devilish smile dance across her lips just yet. He gave her a quizzical look before sprawling across the bed, hands behind his neck. With unexpected bravery, she dragged her knee across his waist, intentionally brushing against more of him than she needed to and sat across his hips. 

Gideon swallowed beneath her, and his body warmed a few degrees. Visena resumed the massage, starting at his sternum. She dragged her thumbs across his collar bones and squeezed down his arms. Her hands hardly fit around his biceps. Lingering eyes gawked at his sculpted chest before small, calloused hands caught up. They gingerly rubbed across his pecs and down his sides, reaching his lats. 

A small chuckle escaped Gideon's lips, startling them both.

"Are you ticklish?"

"No." The answer was so abrupt; it held the truth more than his words ever could.

"You are!" Visena said delightedly.

She went to rub along his sides when Gideon's iron grip wrapped around both wrists. "Don't even think about it." His voice held a dark edge, but Visena's smile softened him.

"I wouldn't dream of it." Her hands brushed along his abdominals and down to the swirl of hair beneath his belly button. Visena lifted slightly and shuffled back until Gideon's thighs became her new seat. He was rigid beneath her, in every sense of the word, as she trailed her nails along his waistband. She held his gaze as she dipped her fingers inside his grey sweats. Visena didn't have to reach far before a finger grazed silky skin. They gasped in unison, jerking back at the new sensations. 

Gideon failed to remain composed beneath his mate and looked eager to flip her over. He was dominant in every aspect of his life, but she wouldn't let him take over. Not when it came to her. She was his equal. His adam's apple bobbed as Visena tugged his sweats down. 

Lower and lower. 

His body was so responsive to his mate, and she had barely touched him yet. As her head lowered ever closer, a furious growl erupted from his chest. Visena froze, surprised by the outburst, until she saw the glazed look in Gideon's eyes. Someone was mind-linking him. Wow, Jed, real good timing...

 When his focus returned to Visena, he flushed, and his words acted as a bucket of ice water over them. "We have to go back. Now."

...

Visena was exhausted by the time they returned to the Veil. Her mother did not show any sympathy, and Jed could only offer an awkward shrug. They had both managed to sleep for a few hours before the Queen announced their need to depart.

"You both should have been resting too." Esmerelda had said.

Warmth coated Gideon and Visena's cheeks as they trudged along the pebbly shore of Angpriake. Gideon was now clothed in a skin-tight, long-sleeved shirt courtesy of the Fae realm. It fit perfectly. Visena kept sneaking peeks at his chiselled back and shoulders.

Her feet stumbled a few times behind the rest of the group before Gideon turned and unceremoniously scooped her into his arms. "Go to sleep, love."

She tried to remain awake out of mock-spite, but Gideon's tender rocking lulled her into a deep slumber.

*

"The Wolf Council is going to take her," Jed spoke quietly so as not to wake her.

Gideon had to suppress a growl. "On what grounds?"

"The Queen said the Fae Council contacted her... They said Visena was an abomination, and to keep the peace, they agreed to let the Wolf Council take over."

"And do what?"

Jed shrugged nervously. "Do you think Zeir said something?"

"I have no doubt. I won't let him get his hands on her." Gideon vowed, looking at his sleeping Faery. She looked peaceful, unburdened by the new developments.

"On the blood moon, he said he would make her his mate. Is that even possible?"

Esmerelda sighed ahead of them before turning her head in their direction. "Malum pack has two extremely powerful witches, Visena's blood and a power-hungry Alpha. Anything is possible."

"But to mark someone other than your mate is a death sentence." Jed was shaken.

"They have Rosemary. If anyone could find a way around that blood curse, it's her." Gideon held his mate a little tighter as they walked out of the Veil.

Back home.

~~~

A/N 

What's a werewolf book without major cockblock action from the Beta?

Anyone? Just me? 

On another note, I do sometimes switch perspectives (as seen in this chapter), and I am currently editing to make it clearer for readers. (using the little *) Does it bother you guys when authors do that? Do you prefer one POV per chapter or do you like it when they explicitly say - e.g. Gideon POV. - even if it's in the same scene?

I don't want to disrupt the flow but I want it to be clear I've shifted perspectives. - I usually do it when Visena falls asleep (which is often lol)

Let me know if you have any preferences or ideas ;)

Thank you !! <3

Until next time xxx