Her Kingly Mate

Young Mari is just getting started in life while doing her best to work two jobs and take care of her ailing, adopted mother. Things have been rough for them even since she can remember but she wouldn’t give up her life for anything. She had a roof over her head, food, no matter how little, in her stomach and unconditional love from her mom. That’s all she could have asked for.

Kye Aphelion, the ruler of the Shifter community based in the united states, is lonely and has been searching for his one and only for many years. Due to his lineage he will live a very long life and so far in his 150 years he has had no luck in love.

During a chance encounter on an info recon mission they meet and sparks fly but will the pull of their bond be enough to keep them together when enemies attack from both sides.

An ice cold wind swirled around my body making me grip my threadbare hoodie closer to my body as I walked toward the closest bus stop a little faster.

“Stupid early winter. Go back home jack frost!” I mumbled to my self as another icy blast hit me, making my eyes sting and skin burn.

The city was quieter than usually tonight. Normally this time of year people would still be milling around the shops looking for gifts for their loved ones for the holiday season. Unfortunately an early cold front had hit the area and most people were staying warm and cozy in their homes.

It’s unfortunate for me because both of my jobs were more than 40 minutes away from home by bus on top of being a good 10 minute walk to and from each bus stop from work. So here I am, close to ten-thirty at night, walking to catch the next bus home, freezing my ta-tas off.

It’s not like I had a choice and I didn’t really mind because we needed the money to pay rent soon so each day I would bundle up as best I could in the few winter clothes i owned, kiss my mom on the cheek after making sure she was settled and comfortable with everything she would need while I was gone. It sucks but there was really no use complaining. I had accepted my lot in life a long time ago.

I rounded the last corner, making it a straight shot from here to the nearest bus stop but as I stepped down my foot connected with a patch of ice and I fell face first into the concrete sidewalk. I was able to throw my arms out in time to protect my head but I landed funny on my arm and felt something twist painfully.

“Ugh!” I groaned, pushing my self up with the uninjured arm before cradling the other to my chest.

I prodded it with my nearly frozen fingers and flinched when pain shot up my arm after pressing too hard.

“Perfect,” I grumbled as i felt tears sting my eyes, “just what I needed.”

I carefully flexed my arm outwards and though it seemed a little tender, the movement wasn’t unbearable so I decided nothing was broken, probably just stressed or sprained, which was a relief.

I knew I didn’t really have time to mess around and this wasn’t exactly the best neighborhood to be lingering in so I carefully stood up, making sure to avoid the ice, and picked my discarded bag up from the ground.

I continued on my way, making sure to hurry past the alleys between buildings while also watching out for any more icy patches. I really didn’t need a sprained ankle and a sprained wrist.

I was nearing the bus stop, It was a mere few yards in front of my when I felt something wrap around my hurt arm and yank into a poorly lit alley. My body was pinned to something solid, a building probably, and my head cracked against cold brick causing my world to spin and my vision to lose focus. Both of my arms were pinned above my head as i felt something warm start to trickle down the back of my neck.

“What the hel-” My voice cut off as I shook my head and my vision slowly came back into focus.

“Quiet!” Someone hissed in my ear, their voice sending a sickening chill down my spine.

I felt movement as their grip on my hands changed and one hand moved to grip my throat. Fear was setting in and I could feel my heart thumping away in my chest. Finally my vision cleared and I gasped and tried to move away from whatever the thing was that was holding me.

It wasn’t human, at least not completely. In the little light that was peering form the street lamps into the alley I could make out a tall lanky figure with red eyes that had slits like a snake eye. There were three large fresh looking gashes across his face that were leaking a nasty looking black ooze. What little hair was left on it seemed to be a muddy brown color, or maybe it was just blond but filthy, it was hard to tell in the light.

“Wha-what do you want?” I asked, trying to wiggle out of its hold but their grip tightened painfully.

“You smell delightful little human. Hold still and I’ll try to make this painless.” The thing hissed, opening its mouth to repeal so lethal looking fangs.

“What the hell are you? Get off of me! LET ME GO!” I yelled, trying to kick my way free because this thing still had my arms pinned, leaving my legs my only hope of escape.

The hand that had been around my throat moved and a second later pain exploded in my abdomen and I swear I felt something crack. All of the oxygen rushed out of my lungs in a silent scream and I tried to lurch forward. It hand found my neck and again and slammed my head back into the wall before gripping my hair and yanking my head to the side, exposing my neck.

I tried to suck air into my depleted lungs, gasping as pain rocked my body and black spots dotted my already blurred vision. The air I did breathe in smelled like death, like a rotting corpse. It made me want to vomit.

I felt something cold and wet drag along my neck from the base up to my ear.

Ugh gross is it licking me?

I took the deepest breath I could and screamed with everything in me just as I felt its fangs graze my neck. Then as suddenly as the thing had appeared it was gone and my body slumped to the ground.

I groaned, my voice cracking, probably from screaming and the death grip the thing has had on my throat before. I tried to brace my self and push my self up but my rips screamed at me and i hissed, clutching my injured arm to my chest. I felt my body giving out as my vision darkened. I was fighting as best I could to stay awake.I faintly heard what sounded like voices and foot steps approaching. All I could do was hope they were friendly. I wanted to ask for help and I think I spoke but I couldn’t be sure. My brain couldn’t even form a coherent sentence. At this point I blacked out and was lost to the world. here…