Arthur's POV

Arthur had never slept the way he did yesterday.

He opened his eyes and looked at the reason his very soul felt younger the last few months, as if he hadn't witnessed the birth and death of entire human civilisations, as if he hadn't found living to be a chore over the last century.

Elle was sleeping soundly, her head nestled on his shoulder.

She resuscitated his will to live.

He did not need sleep as most immortals did. Yet he often found himself falling into the deepest slumber when she lay breathing softly next to him every night.

He felt well rested. Not that they had done much sleeping last night. He smiled. She would certainly be shooting daggers at him if she knew his thoughts.

Arthur tugged at the bond between them. It was firm and strong. Only death would break it now.

He traced a finger to her collarbone. Her scars were slowly fading away. She mumbled something, lines appearing in her forehead, then snuggled closer. Arthur would love to stay this way for the rest of the day, but it was already noon. He had to finalize his business here in France before they headed to Ireland.

The thought of Elle in Ireland, where many would want her dead, made him want to flatten the entire British Isles. He wanted to ship her back home where she'd be safe. Then he'd find Robert's murderer and drag him to her feet so she could have her revenge.

What he wanted, however, would have to take a backseat to what she did. It was not easy for Arthur, but he was learning to compromise. Elle would scoff at the very thought.

The bond stirred.

"Shut up," she mumbled. "You're too loud."

"I'm not speaking," he said.

Her eyes cracked open at that. A green darkened by sleep. She squinted at him. "I know what you're thinking."

"Yes. The bond is complete."

"Oh." She shifted, then glanced down at herself. Color rose in her cheeks.

She was adorable.

"I'm not adorable." She glared at him, fully awake and heart beating fast. "And stop being so loud."

Tugging the sheet up to her neck, she asked. "I didn't even feel the bond come into place."

"I should hope so," Arthur said. "We were a little too busy to pay attention to the bond."

"Arrogant ass," she mumbled, then cleared her throat. "Will you... get out so I can put on my clothes."

Arthur grinned. "I already saw every-"

"I'm going to kill you." Her face turned into a tomato.

Arthur brushed a few golden strands from her face. "You will do no such thing. And I will not be going anywhere. Get used to it."

Much grumbling ensued. She gathered the sheet around her, which left him naked. She stood and threw a pillow at his head. The pillow floated softly to its place without touching him.

"I didn't say anything," Arthur said.

"You were thinking it," she said, heading to the bathroom.

"Are you that opposed to the idea of-"

"Don't finish that sentence!" She called from inside the bathroom. Arthur's sensitive hearing picked up the rustle of sheets as they fell to the floor and her movement as she moved to the shower. She paused. "And no, I'm not opposed to the idea."

Then the shower turned on. Arthur grinned.

_____ _________ ______

It was a couple of hours later when they finally emerged from their room. Elle's face was flushed and her eyes bright.

"I'm starving."

The collar of her white sweatshirt was getting damp from her hair. Her neck must be cold. Arthur wrapped his arm around her shoulders, making sure his arm was between her hair and her skin.

"I am relieved to hear that," Arthur said just to get a reaction. "That means I'm doing my job properly."

Not disappointed, Arthur smiled at the heat in her cheeks and the flutter of her heart. She scowled. "Would you stop hinting at your prowess?"

"Now why would I do that?" he asked, opening the door to his study from where Amanda's voice and the smell of food carried.

"Men," Elle mumbled.

"I completely agree with the sentiment, my dear," Amanda said. She was opening the mini fridge in the corner, her back to them. Harvey was sitting in front of Arthur's desk, reading a book. The table nearby held a spread of breakfast. Elle's stomach rumbled at the sight and smell of food.

"I love you so much, Amanda," Elle said, heading to the table.

"I know, my dear." She turned with a bottle of blood in hand. "I love you, too-"

Her words died when she saw them. Elle was already seated, piling food on her plate, so she did not see the look on Amanda's face.

She gasped. "Oh my! You did it!"

Elle's hand paused with a croissant halfway to her open mouth.

"Did what, exactly?" Arthur said, moving to stand behind Elle. He pushed her hand the rest of the way, stuffing the pastry in her mouth.

"You sealed the deal. You did the funny business. You jumped Elle's bones."

Elle chewed on the croissant. All the blood was in her face. Her face would be stuck in that lovely shade if she kept blushing everytime they mentioned sex.

"Your vocabulary keeps getting odder by the day, my love," Harvey said, closing the book with a snap. He rose and moved to Amanda, who was busy doing a little weird dance with a massive grin on her face.

"Let us give them time to have breakfast in peace, Amanda," Harvey said. Putting the bottle of blood on the table. He patted Elle's shoulder. "Congratulations, my dear."

Elle gave him an awkward nod, her cheeks bulging with food.

Harvey then shook Arthur's hand. But Arthur pulled him into a hug. His friend was surprised for a second before he patted his back. "Good for you, Arthur. Good for you."

The two left. Arthur took a seat across from Elle. She washed her food with a long sip of juice.

"Ugh that was so mortifying," she covered her eyes with her hand. "How in the world did she know?"

"It's Amanda. She knows," Arthur said.

She dropped her hand. "Do they react like this every time you get-"

"Laid? No," Arthur smiled. "It's not about the physical relationship. It's about the bond. They know what it is like to have a true mate, a person who will stay with you. An anchor through the ages of our long existence."

She nodded, slowly. Her finger traced the rim of her glass.

"Also, our magic might feel different to other people's senses now."

"How so?"

"How do I put it? my magic will 'taste' of you, and yours of mine."

"Ah, I know what you mean," she said. "Kind of like Amanda and Harvey. There's just something about their magic that makes you know they're mated."

A knock sounded at the door. Marianno peaked in. From the grin on his face, Arthur knew that Amanda had just made a very public announcement. If it had been anyone else but Amanda, Elle would have killed them.

"Congratulations, Sire, my lady," he said. "Don't forget your blood, Elle. And Arthur, you have a guest."

"Who?"

"Natalia and Idar. Should I tell the security to let them in?"

Annoyed that he had to deal with his brother, Arthur sighed. "Thank you Marianno, you do that."

Marianno disappeared.

"What is she doing here?" Elle asked, not bothering to hide her irritation.

"She's probably tagging along with Idar."

"I never understood that. How come she's with your brother? It's... weird."

"I believe it was a way for her to exact a revenge on me, or so she believes," Arthur replied. "After our son's passing."

Elle's eyes widened, and a sliver of fear shook the bond. Arthur knew the direction of her thoughts through the bond. He reached over and squeezed her hand.

"Speak to Amanda. She'll know how to prevent it from happening. Human contraception measures usually don't work for us."

She let out a shaky breath. "It's not that I don't like children. I just... the risk in my blood is too strong."

"I know, my love. I know."

It would be selfish and irresponsible to bring a child to this world while knowing the risk that both his and Elle's blood presented. Any child of theirs would not be normal. The memory of Toby was still a fresh bruise on his heart.

Elle came around the table, sat on the arm of his chair and hugged him. Her fingers combed through his hair.

Arthur treasured the moment. Her touch was a soothing balm. She did not initiate contact usually, never has, and after what he learned about her childhood, he understood. She had been alone for two years after Robert died, and even after she went to live with humans.

"I'm going with you."

"Where?" he asked.

"To see Natalia and Idar."

"Mhm."

Arthur didn't know whether that was a good idea. "Natalia is volatile and arrogant," he said. "She will undoubtedly say something that you will not like. And you will retort with something that will set her off."

"I can handle her." Elle pulled away from him with a scowl.

"Of course you can," Arthur said. "It's Idar I'm worried about."

"I'm going," she said. "I'll try to be very diplomatic."

"You? diplomatic? What has the world come to?"

She pursed her lips.

He wouldn't be able to stop her. Arthur nodded. "Very well."

"Let's get going, then." She stood and put her hand on the pommel of her sword. Diplomacy was obviously not on the forefront of her mind.

Arthur made sure Elle finished her meal before going. Idar and Natalia were waiting in the drawing room.

Idar was standing next to the large window, which let in enough light to make the bronze walls shimmer. Paintings hung on the wall in between gilded stripes, and a matching set of red and yellow patterned couches filled the space.

The palace was not to Arthur's taste. But it was useful for when he came to Paris, and he couldn't be bothered to change it. As long as it functioned properly, it did not matter what it looked like since he didn't live here.

"You managed to keep the house in a fairly good condition," Natalia said. Her tall body folded gracefully on the couch. She crossed her legs, passing her hand over the fabric of the sofa beside her. "Although I assume the staff have more to do with that than you."

"You assume correctly," Arthur said.

"You were the one who got this place?" Elle asked. Idar watched her through intrigued eyes.

"Yes," Natalia said, with a self-satisfied smile. "Oh, you didn't know?"

"Nope," Elle glanced at him. Arthur looked at her face and paid close attention to the bond. She did not seem bothered by the fact that this place was Natalia's choice. Her eyes took an amused glint. He gave her a stern look. She grinned at Natalia. "You definitely have a ... brilliant taste."

Natalia frowned, not sure how to take Elle's words. If she knew that Elle hated the house, more than he did, she would have noticed the sarcasm in her words.

"You seem different, Arthur," Idar said, putting his hands in the pockets of his dress pants.

"Do I?" Arthur gestured for his brother to take a seat. Idar sat next to Natalie while Arthur and Elle took the couch across from them.

"Yes," Idar said. "I'd wager your fae has something to do with it."

Arthur could almost hear Elle's eyes rolling. Maybe he should tell her that being ignored by a powerful being such as Idar was a blessing.

Arthur would like nothing better than to have Idar's attention away from her. His brother was never his favorite of the bunch. However, Elle was Arthur's mate, and it was time other people, even the Five, treated her as such.

"You would address her with the respect her position deserves, Idar," Arthur said in a low voice.

Idar raised his brow. The temperature in the room dropped several degrees. Natalia stiffened. Elle shifted beside him, no doubt putting herself in a position to better attack if need be.

"My mate will not be ignored, even by you," Arthur added.

Idar chuckled. The temperature continued to drop. Hair stood on Arthur's arms and fog formed in the windows. "Come now, Arthur, we all know the title is a customary one. You will tire of her, as you tired of others before her, when the novelty of having a fae with tainted blood wears off."

"Whether it is a customary title or not is none of your business. Anyone who disrespects Elle will have to deal with me." Elle's irritation lightened Arthur's anger. Arthur allowed humself a smile. "After Elle is done with them, of course. However, since we do share blood, you and I, I will tell you that Elle and I share a bond that only death can break."

Idar froze. "No."

Arthur raised his brows. He understood his brother's reaction quite well. Arthur, too, had lived long enough to believe that the Five would never be blessed by such a gift. But Elle came and turned his world upside down. When he'd started feeling the bond with her, it was a blow to everything he knew to be true. His surprise far surpassed that of his brother at the moment.

"A bond..." Idar said, finally looking at Elle. The temperature in the room returned to a reasonable degree. "I see. Well. I believe you turned out to be quite a catch, then, lady Elle."

"I'll take that as a compliment," Elle said.

"A bond?" Natalia asked. "A true one."

"Are there fake ones?" Elle asked with raised brows. Natalia's frown deepened. She pinched her lips to the side and looked away.

"What brings you here, Idar?" Arthur asked.

Idar sighed and leaned back on the couch. "Santos."

"No," Arthur said.

"I realize that now," Idar said. "Santos made a fatal mistake by ordering the attack on your mate, otherwise I would have intervened. That is why I came here, originally. But she is your mate, so..."

"And his other transgressions don't bother you?" Elle asked.

Idar smiled, unleashing the full set of charms he reserved for the ladies. Arthur did not make the mistake of displaying his annoyance.

"I do not care what he gets on to, in his free time. Santos is, was, useful. And we're all allowed some eccentric hobbies."

Harming people would not be considered an eccentric hobby in Elle's book.

"I am, however, honor bound to respect Arthur's claim on Santos, now that I know you are his true mate."

"How very generous of you," Elle mumbled.

Idar chuckled and rose, lending his hand to Natalia. "It has been a veritable pleasure to have this conversation with you, Arthur. I believe the future will become immensely more entertaining now that one of us is blessed with a mate."

Idar and Natalia left shortly after. Arthur had no doubt that news of his bond with Elle would be the talk of the immortal world very soon. That was a good thing.

Standing near him behind the balustrade, watching as his brother drove away, Elle clicked her tongue. "Your brother drives me to violence," she said. "And I'm not a violent person."

Arthur was surprised into laughter. He laughed even harder when Elle gave him an offended look.

"What? I'm not. Not unless the occasion calls for it," she said. "Or I'm feeling rather pissed off."

Arthur's grin was still splitting his face when he replied. "Of course, my love. Whoever implied otherwise?"

She narrowed her eyes at him. "You're being a smartass."

Taking a step away from him, she pulled out her sword. "Let's settle this."

"You want to prove you're not violent by a sword fight?" Arthur's face hurt from his smile. Elle rolled her eyes. Her green irises sparkled under the afternoon sun.

At times, his heart hurt so much from the intensity of his feelings for her that he was afraid. He could not lose her. He would not. It would be the end of the world before he did.

She became vital to his existence when she has only been present for a miniscule part of his life, so far.

"I'm not actually going to hurt you." She crooked her finger to him with a smile. "Come on."

Arthur recalled the location of his sword in his bedroom- his and Elle's now. He stretched the span of his magic until his telekinetic reach touched the sword. The window opened and the sword floated outside. He enjoyed the impressed look on Elle's face.

She whistled. "Well, let's go then."

Arthur gripped his sword and rolled his wrist. The blade made a whistling sound. "Let's go."

And they sparred. The exhilaration he felt when he sparred with her was unrivaled. And the unbridled joy he saw on her face infected him until he could feel her in his bloodstream.

Throughout the centuries of his existence, he'd never thought he would find someone like Elle. She was not perfect. No one was. But she was perfect for him.

*** **** ***

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