Page 13 of Mated to the Crown

I don’t know what I was thinking, following after Prince Malik like this.

I couldn’t find my sister so I left her a note, letting her know that I would be leaving with him for a few days and to not worry.

I didn’t have much to pack so I had stuffed all the clothes I could in a backpack before changing into my only casual clothes.

I didn’t know where we were going but being out in the woods with a dress didn’t sound fun.

I look at the car and then back at Malik. For some reason I expected a brand new luxury car to take us where we needed to go, yet here was a muddy and well used car. I climb in after him and look in between us to see it is a manual.

“Do you know how to drive?” He asks casually, pressing the brake and clutch down as it roars to life.

“It’s been a while and I don’t know how to drive a manual.” I laugh. “I’m honestly surprised you do.”

He smiles, pulling out of the spot and onto the road connected to the garages.

“My grandmother taught me. We would sneak away on Sunday afternoons and she would show me.” The mischief in his eyes makes me smile, and I feel a tightness in my chest.

I had never been off the palace grounds.

My whole life was here. I bite the inside of my lip as we travel down the dirt road.

We come to the end and hook a left onto the pavement.

I want to speak but also I’m so nervous that I can’t even think of questions.

I watch as we travel down the mountainside.

The road opens up, high cliffs on one side, jagged and raw, while the other side rolls down into the valley. The further we get from the palace the closer we get to the city. I move closer to the windshield, looking over the hood to the city below.

“You haven’t been out of the castle, have you?” Malik asks, not taking his eyes off the road.

“No.” I whisper.

The city is so busy, even from so high up I can see the small figures of people out in the streets walking around.

I can hear the music from the valley lifting up into the air as we drive.

The buildings all have lights on, windows open and look so modern compared to the palace.

The walls of the houses are smooth, not brick and cement like what I am used to.

The roofs are metal, sleek and sturdy looking.

There were also large buildings dotted around the valley, some industrial buildings that looked like they were made from metal.

I take in all the sights of the city before we turn down a side road heading into the mountains and away from the city. I settle back into my seat and look at the trees that now surround us. It was darker here, the treetops covering the sun from shining down on us.

“I’ll bring you to the city in a few days if you want.” Malik breaks the silence, shifting before holding his hand out to take mine. I place it in his, feeling a connection and give him a squeeze.

We follow a windy path through the woods until we end up at a cottage.

I had seen no other houses on the way, or even any other signs of civilization.

The cottage is small but looks perfect. It is covered in wood with large beams connecting on the sides.

A black roof engulfed with moss on one side and an outbuilding behind it.

Malik pulls the jeep to a stop and sits there for a moment, not turning off the car.

I look over at him and he has a face I’m not familiar with.

Something was conflicting him. His jaw is set, his eyes focused.

I give his hand a little squeeze and he snaps out of it, turning the car off and giving me a smile.

“So, this is Grandma’s place. I need a break from the family. I think you need a break too. Nobody will bother us, Morgan and Jeffries will cover everything.” I nod as he speaks.

“I do need a break. I need to figure out some things.” Like us. I want to say but I don’t. He motions to the cottage and gets out of the car, helping me in.

Inside it is a basic setup, kitchen and living room on one side, two bedrooms on the other side and a bathroom in between. I bite my lip, realizing I am alone in this place with him. Will we share a bed? I clench my thighs thinking about it.

“So, this is it. Nothing fancy. Do you want to walk around the place or just chill?” He throws his bag into a room and mine along with it before running back out to the jeep to bring in some food.

He puts it in the fridge and on the counter before looking at me.

He looks relaxed. His hair is messy and not styled like usual, but I prefer it this way.

“We can just chill if that’s okay? I’m kind of overwhelmed with everything.” I admit. I watch as he closes the door and takes my hand, leading me to the large couch in the living room. He pulls me down onto the couch with him so I am snuggled up against his side.

“I need to tell you something. It might sound crazy so just stick with me, okay?” He whispers in my ear.

I put my arm around his waist and lay my head on his chest, listening to the steady thump of his heart.

“The Royal family has secrets. I mean more than just who is sleeping with who. Do you know anything about supernatural beings?”

His voice is quiet and his hand absentmindedly strokes my hair. The feeling sends a wave of warmth over me, like he put a blanket on me. I take a moment to process what he is saying.

Supernatural?

“No?” I question and a deep laugh rumbles his chest.

“I figured. Have you heard myths of shifters? You know what a mage is.” He quickly adds the end part and I frown.

“I kind of thought they weren’t serious, like fakes just to get money. So they are real?” I tilt my head up to look at him. He moves to kiss my forehead before laying his head on the top of mine.

“Yes. Well, some are. Some are fakes. There are also shifters. The family is one of the longest lines of shifters. It has been a big secret, something that they never want to release to the public for fear of… well fear. It would upset the balance that our blood is better. It is just different. Some say it’s tainted.

Not many people know it except people who need to know.

Our doctors and such.” I sit up, looking at him.

Holy shit.

“What do you shift to?” I ask, slapping my hand over my mouth. He laughs and pulls me against him again.

“Be patient, Princess. Anyway, the line used to be strong hundreds of years ago. Soon it started to bear children that couldn’t shift.

There was a lot of inner turmoil, trying to figure out why it was happening.

Was the line contaminated? So they started reaching out to other families to see if they were experiencing the same thing.

Most of them were. Shifters innately have fated mates but as the lines started to decline so did the chance of getting a mate.

Soon it became political marriages in the hope that it would strengthen the chance of producing a shifter heir.

” He stops and I realize I am holding my breath as I process the information he is telling me.

His hand begins to play with my hair once more.

“So what happened? Are you a shifter?” I ask breathlessly.

He nods, his chin rubbing against my head as he does.

“I am. Nobody else in my immediate family is. My grandmother was also, which is why we were so close. My brother isn’t.

My father isn’t. My mother isn’t although that is a whole other story.

” He goes quiet and I focus on the beating of his heart.

All of this information doesn’t scare me like it should.

Him changing into some sort of monster, no not monster.

An animal. It should be terrifying, but instead I feel a thread inside that feels like it’s growing the more we are together.

The thread that has pulled me out of my shell and made me want to lean into this fantasy a little more.

“So what do you change into?” I whisper and he laughs again, shaking my body as he does.

“I told you to be patient.” He smacks my ass playfully before leaning forward so I have to sit up and away from him.

He leans toward me and his blue eyes are an icy blue.

He gives me a soft kiss before pulling his shirt up and over his head.

I lean back, taking in his body as he throws the shirt to the side.

His strong arms are bulging with muscles.

His chest is toned and leads down to his abs, each defined that leads down to the V heading beneath the waistband of his pants.

My eyes trail back up to his broad shoulders and he turns to me, showing me his tattoo.

It was partially finished, the top of it fades into the lower half, disappearing against his skin.

It was a dark blue, intricate design swirling around his arm.

He reaches out toward me, his fingertips slipping under my shirt.

I looked up at him, confused at what was going on but giving him a nod to continue.

He pulls my shirt up over my head, leaving me just in a black bra. His eyes trail down my body and he stops, reaching out and turning me slightly. His hand traces across my shoulder and I frown.

“What?” I ask, tipping my arm up until I see what he is looking at. A similar tattoo sprawls across the top of my shoulder, the same design as his but a lighter blue. It seems to sparkle and pulse unlike his. “Malik?”

“Remember how I told you that shifters have mates?” His hand lands on my tattoo and my mind goes blank.

Mates? How did I get a tattoo and not remember?

It didn’t hurt or feel rough to the touch like others I had seen or heard about.

Some of the servants had tattoos and would tell me about the pain when it was administered.

It consisted of dipping needles into ink and then pressed into the layers of the skin.

“Are you saying I’m your mate?” I whisper.

He pulls his hand from my shoulder, cupping my face in his hands. A smile spreads on his face, his blue eyes meeting mine.

“Yes, Princess.”

I don’t know why but I jerk back. There is no fucking way.

Everything suddenly crashes from my fantasy I had playing in my head.

He was a shifter? I was his mate? He brought me here to tell me that?

I pull away from him, my head feeling light headed as I stand up.

I see him reach out to me but I hold my hand out.

“I need a minute.” I snap.

An incessant pain climbs its way up my spine to my head and I need some air.

Everything is too closed in. It is too dark.

It is too noisy. I need something. I make my way outside, stomping off into the woods.

I shut out any noises behind me and just walk.

My heartbeat is pounding in my ears, I can feel my body shaking with each step I take and a sweat breaks out on my skin and suddenly it is too hot despite being outside in only a bra.

I look down at my body, ready to feel vulnerable until I fall down to my knees.

Hands touch my shoulders, a voice talks to me but I can’t make out the words.

Pressure pushes my shoulders down and I lean my face against the cool grass.

A hand strokes up and down my back but I can’t contain the spiral I am in.

It is too much, too fast. I am a servant.

I am nobody. I am… mated to a Prince. I am a mate?

“Please breathe, baby.” The voice cuts through and I let out a soft breath, finally feeling a sense of control over this panic attack.

I close my eyes, inhale through my nose and count to 5 before blowing out the air through my mouth.

I continue breathing, Malik kneels next to me as his hand rubs my back.

I quiet the voices in my mind, singling out the most important thing. The Goddess chose me.

I slowly move up, holding my head as I lean back into a kneel.

I keep my eyes forward, focusing on the trees in front of me.

The sun was starting to go down, the night was creeping up and the forest looked eerie with the emerging shadows.

I don’t know what to say to him. I don’t know what the rest of the night would entail, let alone the rest of our future.

He moves in my peripheral vision and I let out a breath.

He soon is in front of me, no smile or smirk on his face.

“Good girl. Breathe.” His voice is soft and I try to quell the rampant emotions still in my stomach. His praise helps more than he knows.

“Why did this happen?” My own voice is quiet, filled with raw emotion. This time he does smile.

“The Goddess chose us, for some reason or another.” His hand gently traces my chin. “Are you okay?”

“I don’t know, honestly. It’s a lot.”

“You are handling this amazing. I didn’t want to tell you and scare you off, but look how strong you are.” My breath catches in my throat and I nod.

“You really think so?”

He moves his hands to my elbows, helping me to stand before pulling me against his chest.

“Yes. You are so strong.” He rumbles. I wrap my arms around him and bury my face into his chest. My stomach grumbles, ruining the sincerity of the moment but he just lets out a little laugh. “Let’s go eat. I’ll try to answer any questions you have but honestly this is kind of new to me too.”