The Taste of Seduction

Anxiety and pain crossed Meredith's features. She

whispered, "What is the mating bond ritual?" Whatever it was she knew it wasn't a good thing.

Marcus's jaw clenched and he stared at her worriedly.

He explained softly, "In order to ensure that every royal member carried out the law and not ran away with their lover, your grandfather found a witch to create the mating ritual.

Once mated, the two are physically drawn to each other, unable to be apart. So strongly, that they cannot help but find their way back to the other.

But more than that, physical separation from the other causes pain. You're able to feel all your partner's emotions and most importantly you're ...."

Marcus trailed off. With the way he stared at her, Meredith knew whatever he was going to say next was going to be worse than what he had just told her.

"You're going to be sexually attracted to your partner. His touch will leave you panting and you always crave his touch, want his dominance and want to writhe beneath him."

Meredith's head spun. She thought this was a normal arranged marriage but now this? And as if all of this couldn't be worse he continued.

"The mating bond is unbreakable since it is the merging of two souls. Meaning once we get mated there would be no divorce."

Meredith felt as though the wind was knocked out of her lungs. She breathed in shock.

"And after the mating ritual there is also going to be the marking ceremony."

Meredith sucked in a deep breath, trying unsuccessfully to regulate the air. In. Out. In. Out. The alcohol disappeared from her system.

Her heart raced as he continued, "After the mating ceremony you would be in heat-sexually receptive and we have to. you know"

He rubbed the back of his neck,

"I will mark you during your orgasm that completes the mating bond ritual and tells everyone that you belong to me.

The members of the council would be present during the ceremony to ensure that I have really marked you. They would sit around our tent and only see our shadows, not our body, don't worry."

She stared at him with wide eyes and whispered,

"That is crazy. We don't even know each other. You

can't possibly want to tie your soul with me and perform porn in front of other people!"

His eyes softened and he grabbed both her hands on the table "Right now, it is the only protection you have."

Meredith shook her head desperately.

"You promised me you wouldn't force me to sleep with you when we get engaged. You lied to me! You knew.fucking knew I had no choice from the very first day. You gave me hope that I had a choice

Meredith thought she was going to pass out right then and there. Going through with this union was going to be difficult enough.

The thought of being bonded with a man she didn't love was horrifying but to sleep with him made her intestines twist with disgust.

She was never going to get her happily ever after with Atlas. She was trapped.

Tears sprang to her eyes and she whimpered, "No. No No, I'm not going to do this. I don't care about some stupid throne.no no no one can separate me from him."

Marcus concern changed into alarm as she struggled to breathe, gasping in air but never getting enough to fill her lungs.

He murmured soothingly, "Shhh. Just relax. We would figure something out. I made you a promise and-"

"No..you're lying. Your loyalty lies with this city you-you"

Tears brimmed her eyes but she wiped them down before they could fall.

Abruptly, she stood to her feet. Marcus looked up at her in surprise.

Meredith needed to get away from him. Without a word, she bolted out of the garden. She had no idea where she was going; she just needed to get away.

She didn't turn around to see if Marcus was chasing her or not.

Marcus looked at her back running and sighed. He got up from the ground and blurred from the site with a speed that the naked eyes couldn't see and came to stand in front of her.

Meredith gasped in shock and paused in her tracks seeing him in front of her.

"How.you were just there."

Meredith stepped back in fright.

Tears breached her eyelashes. Struggling to

maintain her breathing over the frantic anxiety in

her chest, She gasped when he took a step closer to her,

"Stay back.what do you want? I'm never going to mate with you! Over my dead body so just stop right there."

Marcus's eyes widened and hurt flashed in them. "Of course, I'm not going to force you." He sounded insulted.

"I've never had to force a female into my bed and I'm not starting with you!"

Meredith flinched at his voice and he sighed, raking his hands through his hair.

His features softened immediately when he saw her distress.

Marcus moved closer to her and he reached his thumbs to her cheek and tenderly brushed away the tears.

Meredith turned her head away from him, not meeting his gaze. He sighed and gathered her much smaller hands into his larger ones and murmured,

"I'm sorry; I can only imagine how difficult this is for you."

Meredith closed her eyes and bit her lips trying to calm down her nerves.

"We don't have to do this if you don't want to. We will find a way. I will never let you sacrifice your happiness for me but once the vampires find out you're rejecting this union they will riot.

War would break out among them and the werewolves. So until we have figured something out please just pretend?

Bear with me and I will help you. Even if I have to go to earth to bring your lover boy to you I would do it."

Meredith stiffened and looked up at him searching his eyes. All she found was sincerity and concern for her shimmering in his eyes.

"You would do that for me?" Meredith whispered.

Marcus' lips pulled up into a smirk and nodded, "Yes. Anything for you princess."

A/N: Happy Val's day Seductresses yeah it's a bad nickname lol but bear with me.

During this day of love I want to say thank you for all for the love you have shown me. I don't say it a lot but I appreciate each one of you.

Hmm I'm in a low mood nowadays and I'm an introvert during my sad days so I don't really know what to say I feel shy? Lol but THANK YOU!!!!And yes I owe you guys Mass release Hmm once I feel good I will do it! So please bear with me.

Love, Chichii