Cari's feelings overwhelmed him. He wanted to hold her to him, to comfort her but knew better. She had to do this on her own. As much pain as Claire had caused him, what she'd done to Cari was worse. Though the pain etched on his mate's beautiful face had him reconsidering staying back.

She stood over the beaten down Claire with her back straight, her head held high in that defensive way. Whilst her features were hard, her pain and reluctance were easy to see. "Then what are you going to do my cowardly little sister?" Claire mocked with a smug grin that looked worse because of her bloody mouth. "Your mate already tried to imprison me and look how well that turned out."

"Do you know what happened to Dani's mate?" Cari asked in a cold voice.

Claire snarled. "He lost it rather than spend a lifetime with her?"

A cold smile found itself on his mate's face. "No," she paused for dramatic effect. "I did. And I'm going to send you to the same happy place."

Whatever Cari meant seemed to alarm Claire and she tried to scramble away as Cari came closer. The blue that took over his mate's eyes whenever her power rose became an aura around her body, Claire backpaddled faster. With an outstretched hand, Cari's power lashed out and bound the love goddess.

"Hush now dear sister," his mate said as she took a small step forward, her voice so gentle it had everyone drawing closer to hear its sweet tone. "You're alright now, no need to fight." Andre was awed as he saw Claire start to relax even as fire still burned in her eyes, desperate denial of what she could no longer control. "You can rest now, look around, everybody loves you."

Claire looked around her, at the people who were in the arena. Andre did the same thing, saw them looking at Claire with wariness, even at him and Cari. Claire though seemed to see something else, a beatific smile formed on her face, tears of happiness clouding her blue eyes. She gave in to an awed happy laugh.

"They all love me." she declared in wonder. She laughed again before looking at Cari with a bit of trepidation. "Will you stand in my way again?" she challenged.

For all its sadness, the smile that came to his mate was so beautiful it almost brought tears to his eyes, Claire wept at the sight of it. "How can I stand in your way Claire, I too love you." his mate's voice was like a breeze, an embrace that showed no judgement or fault.

Andre saw when Claire finally gave in, she smiled again before she stood and took on a regal poise. A benevolent look came over her face, one that was lined with smug superiority. He shuddered at the vanity that look held and looked away to avoid the sympathy for her that wanted to rise.

His eyes fell onto the dragon prince, sitting in the front row. An enigmatic look was on his face as he looked from Andre's mate to Claire, as if he was just realising the same fate would've been his if he'd managed to claim Cari. That it might still be his for ensnaring his mate's beloved cousin. As if sensing Andre's gaze, Eric turned his way. For a long moment, the two looked at each other, assessing. Then as if at some signal, they both looked away. While Andre would've preferred to have nothing to do with the dragon now that he had his mate with him, he knew he was far from done with the prince of dragons.

"Wait." He turned to see Cari's grandmother ushering Claire away, treating her as if she were a queen. Then his eyes went to his mate, to her raised head and calm face that hid a wealth of pain and recriminations. Neither of them though; had been the one to speak.

Andre looked about and saw a new person now on the stage. Something about the dark-haired woman had his instincts flaring, a reaction to some danger. She had a gaunt beauty to her, with eyes that held darkness and a detachment that chilled Andre. "I mean you and yours no harm," she stated as she held his gaze. Then her voice became cold, "But that one is another matter." She said of Claire.

"Who are you?" his mate asked, her voice wary.

"Nemesis," the woman replied her gaze still locked on Andre. "I was born to the dragon race this lifetime but I'm the goddess of retribution. I have waited lifetimes to have Love here pay for all she has done." her eyes shifted to look at Cari's grandmother and she bowed slightly. "Sister." she greeted.

"It's good to see you again." Cari's grandmother stated in a neutral tone. "Cari love, remove your enchantment."

"But..." his mate started to protest.

"While we were still in our power, Love snuffed out the soul of Nemesis' mate and cursed her never to find love again." her grandmother explained in a mundane tone whilst the goddess Nemesis raised her head higher.

"After all these lifetimes, it's my right to punish her." Nemesis said in the same pedestrian tone.

"Cari." her grandmother said in that tone that no child could resist, an order couched in love and gentleness.

With reluctance, Cari held out her hand and blue lines appeared around Claire, wrapped around her and weaving through her aura. Cari opened her hand as if calling someone to her and the strands unravelled into strings of light that flowed into her hand.

"Hello Love," Nemesis said with a cold smile as Claire's eyes regained lucidity.

Claire paled but her chin came up. "What do you want?"

Smugness came over the goddess of retribution. "Why to teach you some hard lessons about love and war dear." she purred.

"Nana." Claire appealed, looking to her grandmother.

The older woman sighed, anguish in her eyes. "You have given many beings too much pain Claire, Keres has declared your due. This was your last chance to change, I tried to shield you from this fate but you have never listened to anyone who doesn't flatter you. Not in any of your lives."

Nemesis held out her hand in the same way Cari had and dark threads lashed around Claire as she made a move to run. "Nana!" Claire cried out in panic and Andre saw his mate wince and almost go to her rescue before stopping herself. "Nana!" Claire cried again as the goddess of retribution teleported away with her.

A shocked silence reigned, the people Claire had frozen in their step were freed from her power and they breathed a sigh of relief. His heart bled as he looked at his mate and saw the devastation on her face.

Without a word, Andre held out his hand to his mate. She took it and he led her out of the arena to the silence of all who watched them. The arena was a distance from the castle, from the city and they shifted into their wolf forms. As his princess, Cari was larger than any alpha out there, even larger than the king. Her fur was multi-coloured, cream, white, black and grey but appeared to be a dark grey.

Andre rubbed his light grey fur against hers before leading her through the forest towards the castle. Instead of taking a direct route, he had them frolicking in the woods until he sensed the tension in his mate's body give way to the primal joy of being wolves.

There was something about running together in wolf form that bonded mates in a way that nothing else ever could. It had to do with the fact that wolf identity resided in a pack mentality, in terms of mates. When a pair mated, they stopped viewing themselves as anything other than a single unit, even more so than the pack mentality.

After a while, Andre barked that they should return to their rooms, Cari ignored him, acting as if she hadn't heard him. She raced around, sniffing the ground to familiarize herself with the environment. Andre growled his displeasure, which served to draw her attention. From the look in her eye, he knew she had no intention of giving in.

Andre understood what she was doing. Her human side couldn't handle what her sister had forced her to do, couldn't handle that she'd denied Xander his chosen mate in the process. Even though he thought both of them deserved far much worse his mate would never be that kind of being. She might do what was necessary, but she'd leave the battle with scars.

In wolf form, werewolves could manage telepathy but they relied on the language of wolves alone for the most part. Andre raised his head and barked the command as much as he mind sent it. 'Shift!'

With a startled yip, the wolf changed back to the form of his human mate. She wouldn't look at him as he shifted and made his way to her. Her head was bowed, dejection lining her form as her arms hugged her to herself. "Look at me, Cari." He commanded and with vulnerability etched onto her face, she did. "I won't allow you to bury your head in the sand anymore," he stated in an adamant voice.

The last thing he wanted was to play the authoritative prince with his mate but he didn't think he could take the chance that she'd get used to hiding from reality for the rest of her life. Being a royal meant having a small circle of trust, knowing that people could betray you for the slightest of reason. Cari had to get used to facing things head-on.

"I know it hurts," he continued. "But you have to face this, you can't hide in your wolf, I won't let you." She nodded, her sad eyes tearing. He swallowed hard against the lump that blocked his throat then took her into his. "I'm sorry," he said the inadequate words as she broke against him and cried.

***

The sun had long since dropped over the horizon as he comforted his still distraught mate. She tried her best to appear unaffected, but Andre could see the strain on her face, could catch echoes of her thoughts as she wondered what her sister would have to endure at the hands of a goddess who hated her. He realised as she tried to hide her feelings from him that his words might have been premature.

"Do you still want to forget?" He asked her at length, unable to take more of her long-suffering silences and assurances that she was fine.

"I...I..." Andre almost smiled as his mate tried to lie but her tongue got in the way and her face reddened.

"Fine," he said in his most stern voice. "You're going to have to listen to what I tell you though, do nothing else but that. Do you understand?" Cari nodded, her brown eyes wide, sweet and vulnerable. Andre felt his cock twitch but brought the force of his will to bear against it. "Good."

He walked to the armchair that was in the corner of their bedroom then sat down, taking his time to get comfortable as he took in his mate standing there waiting on him. She looked exposed, her lips parted as uncertainty held her still. He loved that vulnerability she had.

Cari seemed to have an inert sense of purity, a curiosity that anticipated everything and anything he would do to her. So she stood there with trust in her big brown eyes even as he took his time to take her in. Andre could never get over how beautiful she was, her hourglass figure just perfect.

"Take off your clothes," he commanded. "Slowly."

Biting her bottom lip, she toed her sneakers off, then her hands went to the bottom of her top then peeled it up her body. His nostrils flared as she exposed her flat stomach and its toned flawlessness. Next, she exposed the blush pink of the lacy bra that cupped her breasts so lovingly.

With a sexy flourish, she threw the t-shirt aside, then her hands went to the button of her jeans. her movements became slower, teasing as she undid the button and unzipped them. He sat up straighter as she thrust her breasts as well as her derriere out so that she could shimmy out of her jeans.

His breath held at the sensual flow she enacted as she wiggled out of them until she stood in her underwear. The boy cut panties looked like they'd been painted onto her and they had his body flaming. He swallowed to clear the dryness that settled his throat.

"Turn around," he instructed. It aroused him even more when she slowly turned around until her back was to him. She brushed her hair forward so he could have a better view, he wanted to groan at the sight of her perfect ass but he stopped himself. He was supposed to be in control.

"Now turn back." His mate followed his instruction, turning around to show him her desire stamped face. "Take off your bra."

Cari's hands went to the front clasp and undid it, without any teasing she peeled off the pink scrap of lace. It took all his control to restrain himself to just caressing her exquisite breast with his eyes. His voice was a little gritty when he spoke "You're beautiful astéri mou"

"Thank you," she whispered.

Andre stood up, his mate kept her gaze on his, anticipation filling her eyes. With a single finger, he grazed her right nipple. It was tight, to begin with, but tightened, even more, she drew in a sharp breath, thrusting her breasts out but he pulled back. With deliberation, he walked around her, his eyes taking in the soft slope of her waist as it curved into her lush hips.

Her breaths came in fast and sharp as the scent of her arousal perfumed the air. Then he teased her by running light fingers over her skin as he moved, a barely-there touch here, another there until she was moaning. He loved the sounds she made, loved the feel of her skin.

He stopped behind her, drew her until she was leaning against him. "We don't have any of our usual toys but it seems we now have elemental manipulating abilities," he whispered as his hand slid down her stomach towards her pussy. "Let's find out what they can do."

She was panting, her skin glistening as he got closer. A gasping sigh escaped her lips when he cupped her. Her panties were wet and as he caressed her she moaned again. "Andre,"

"I think a mini earthquake will do just about now." His mate screamed as her pussy vibrated to his touch, as he manipulated her using the same forces that caused the pull and push of the earth. Her body slumped against him and his other hand wrapped around her waist. "You like that?"

"Andre!"

He removed his hand. "I asked you a question, Cari." he reminded her sternly.

"Yes Andre, please." his mate moaned.

"You promised to do as I asked." he reminded her.

"I'm sorry Andre, please, I need..."

"You need to listen to what I say." he cut her off.

"Yes."

He smiled, though she couldn't see him. "Good girl." he complimented and loved that she shivered at it. "But there're consequences for not listening to instructions."

The power from before had been filtering into him, unlike his wolf, it didn't take over his consciousness even though he saw it as a separate thing from him. Instead, it sharpened his senses, more so than even his wolf. Well, that wasn't quite the truth, it wasn't exactly his senses that expanded, more like his mind stretched somehow, became aware.

He could not only scent his mate's arousal, it was like he could just about see the pheromones she released. He was aware of her heartbeat, of the heat that came off her, of her sweet scent like never before. And he knew how to use the elements for her pleasure.

His hands went to the waistband of her panties and he slid them down, taking his time. Her breath came out in sharp pants as he made sure to run his fingers down her legs. He felt her still herself, bracing as her body shook in reaction. He loved how sensitive she was, loved watching as goosebumps bloomed on her skin, as it heated.

Her lips were parted, tempting. Andre stood back up and then drew her into his arms. Taking her lips, he savoured the sweet taste of her, the lush softness of them before she opened up beneath him. She was, intoxicating, offering herself without reserve as he quickly dominated her with his kiss. The devouring kiss had her moaning against him as he held her close, loving the taste of her, like heaven.

He explored her as if she was the last drink he was ever going to have, teased her with his tongue, duelled hers until they were both out of breath. Parting their lips, he leaned his forehead against hers whilst still holding her up, her eyes met his with that sweet surrender that got to him all the time.

He took her up into his arms, walked to and laid her on the creame chaise lounge.

Taking a step away from the it he took her in. She looked like an offering to a pagan god whilst lying with her arms stretched above her, as if anticipating being tied. Her beautiful breasts then stood out, the golden brown nipples erect with her arousal. Her feet were on the floor with her legs parted.

With a smile, he moved closer again, having decided how exactly he was going to punish his disobedient mate.

The chaise lounge I had in mind.⬆⬆⬆