Caution: Explicit content ahead...

Elián;

"I can’t—" I swallow.

"I can’t hold it together." I moan as my magic flickers again.

The air shifts.

"I know," Zephan whispers into my hair.

"I know."

Zerana straightens slowly.

"Right now, there is only one person who can anchor him fully... and properly." She says she looks over and grabs Zethar, who was about to approach the bed.

I watch with slightly blurry eyes as she holds Zethar’s wrist.

"He needs Zephan." She whispers, and I bury my face in Zephan’s chest as I do not want to see the realisation coat their faces.

Zephan doesn’t respond immediately because he knows what she means.

"But he’s not himself," He says.

"No," Zerana agrees.

"He is reacting. Not choosing." She adds, and I whimper as my grip on him tightens.

"Please... don’t leave," I whisper, with my voice breaking slightly.

"I won’t," he repeats, and just then, Zerana’s voice follows.

"Everyone out." She orders, and I slowly look back up.

Queen Selthia hesitates only a moment before nodding, and then she leaves quietly.

Zethar flashes me a small smile, but I can see a bit of hurt in his eyes.

He walks out of the room without even looking at Zephan, and Zerana follows.

Once the door closes, the room feels smaller, with fear still trembling beneath my skin.

Zephan lifts my chin gently so I look at him.

"Talk to me." He whispers, and I gulp as I stare at his worried, dual colored eyes.

"I can’t," I confess, and his thumb brushes my cheek.

"Try." He pleads, and I swallow.

How do I explain to him that I’m this way... Because Elien feels something he has refused to explain to me, and our baby is restless??

How do I explain to him that my body is screaming from him because that’s the only thing that might calm my racing system.

I can’t. I can’t explain it because even I do not fully understand it.

All I know... All I’m sure of is the fact that I need him. I desperately need him.

********

Zephan;

"I need you," Elian whispers to me as he looks up at me with those imprisoning red eyes.

"Please..." He whispers as he presses himself harder against me, and I swallow.

His scent floods the room and wraps around my head like a spell I can not break out of.

"I–I– Elian, you’re not..." I try to reason with him, but he moves.

Soon, he’s on his knees, leaning so dangerously close.

His lips are just a breath away from his face, and his eyes hold this lewd, melting warmth that does more than any touch could.

"I–I need to feel something else." He pleads, and my heart starts pounding in my ears.

Before I can protest or make the hypocritical attempt of pulling away, he crawls onto me.

"Just... touch me. P–please..." He pleads, as he sits in my lap.

His breath is warm against my skin, and having him against me like this goes against every self-control lesson I may have ever taught myself.

He smells like vanilla... and honey. Milky and sweet in a way that caresses your lungs and leaves goosebumps all along your skin.

He leans into me and kisses me.

His tongue speaking with actions what his words didn’t convey.

Need—raw, unfiltered... fiery need.

I was warned before that this would happen. That he’ll need me this way... but... but I thought I would have some time.

Enough time to tell him— to show him that I’m not what he thinks I am below the waist.

The last time... he only saw what I let him see. As Nagarian beast men... we are blessed with a gift no one asked for... but no one can complain about either.

And I’m not sure Elian is ready to learn about this "blessing". Not while he’s like this...

"Eli–" I try to reason with him, but his lips move to my jaw.

He sucks softly on the skin, and before I can register how good that feels, his lips move to my neck.

He sucks my skin beneath his teeth, and as he bites gently, I’m forced to draw air in through my teeth.

Pain shots from there, but it’s instantly followed by the soothing of his tongue.

I feel my lower half react as he takes control I never knew I’d be so willing to relinquish to him.

He kisses my neck gently before pulling back.

His beautiful red eyes look at me, and something about how ragged and hungry his breathing is does something to me.

"Fuck me, Zephan... Please..." He whispers, and my mouth falls open in shock.

What—What did he just say??

Not waiting to hear my response, he reaches for the hem of his shirt, and I watch in silent amusement as he pulls it off.

His bear chest and obviously hard nipples come into view, and I gulp.

He moves closer to me and pushes my robe off my shoulders.

I let it fall off, and he rests against me, pressing those rock-hard nipples against my chest.

"He wraps an arm around my neck, and I melt like snow beneath fire as he runs his tongue over my ear.

Tingles shoot up my spine as the sound of his tongue exploring my ear floods my mind. The sound of him... Breathing... panting... existing.

If this keeps up, I’m afraid he’d get to meet the real... unbriddled me today, and I may not be able to hold back.

I’ve been hiding my complete form from him, not to scare him, but... but it seems I won’t be able to keep up the ruse today.

"Zephan?" He whispers, and I feel his voice travel down my spine and settle at the end of it.

"Hmm?" I reply, and he presses his lips against my ear as he buries his hand in my hair, with his fingers pressing into my scalp.

"I want you..." He breathes, and that does it.