So I actually really like how this chapter turned out! :)
It's another past chapter and things are definitely moving along there lol.
I read more of your ideas today, and I really appreciate the opinions guys, seriously, you're amazing!
I'll do what I can to keep ya'll happy with me lol, but I'm gonna go ahead and tell you that unfortunately, and maybe a little SPOILER, the smut stuff will mainly be in the past chapers.
I know a lot of ya'll really want some present day "M" action, but I have my reasons ;)
Anyway, keep leaving these awesome reviews and I'll keep posting awesome chapters lol.
Til next time! XOXO
September 1567
The castle halls we're cold with the crisp air seeping through every possible knick and crane.
Fall had settled in with a force, and winter would soon follow.
Once upon a time, this might have mattered to Elena.
The approaching winter months meant the new year would soon be upon them.
Her wedding with it.
But such things no longer troubled her.
Not when she had grown so exponentially in her power.
Strong enough to make sure the wedding never happened.
Strong enough to choose her own fate.
"Very good."
Damon's praise was a purr in her ear as she once again drew upon the magic inside of her, and with very little effort, lifted everything in the room inches from the ground.
The furniture hovered around them, and Damon smirked, "You hardly need even to try anymore."
Elena smiled at him, letting everything fall back to its proper place.
"I have an excellent instructor," she teased him, using her mind to light the candles around the room.
"This might be true," he allowed, "But it must be said. You're a natural at this. With enough practice, you may even surpass me."
She laughed, as he pulled her to him, "I fear I require much more practice before that could even be a possibility. I have seen your power, Damon. It is incomparable."
He seemed proud of that, "Would you like me to show you what else I can do with my magic?"
Elena quickly recognized the darkening look in his eyes, "Oh I believe I have witnessed you to the fullest extent, my love. However, a reminder has never injured."
Damon smirked before kissing her.
His mouth against her own was like a signal to the rest of her body.
It had learned what to expect when Damon touched her this way, and had no problem giving him exactly what he asked of it.
Her back met his mattress as he removed the layers of her dress with a hurried agitation.
She knew he hated the damn things, but she found amusement in watching him struggle with the fabric, before eventually ripping it from her.
Which is exactly what he did, after only seconds of fumbling, leaving her front exposed to him from neck to navel.
"Better," he muttered, almost to himself, as he pulled the remains from her skin, revealing more of her body to his starving gaze.
"You are overdressed, my prince," Elena teased, pulling against Damon's shirt.
He halted his exploration to help her remove the offensive material, and soon they were both naked in the sheets.
Their lovemaking was slow tonight, as Damon kissed all over her body, before ever feeling her slick heat.
When his fingers finally did find themselves against her core, he groaned.
"You are so ready for me, darling."
Elena rubbed herself against his hand, craving more of his touch.
"So eager," his husky voice sounded pleased.
"Damon," she urged, wanting more.
He kissed her neck, resting his head there as he slid his arm back to grab her leg, and hook it around his waist.
She understood that to be his way of saying "Hold on to something."
She smiled into his hair, her body burning as she gripped his shoulders.
Damon's hardened desire brushed against her teasingly, then slid between her folds, easily finding her entrance.
With one thrust, he was buried inside of her, enticing all nerves in her skin to fire.
Slowly he pulled back, then slammed home again with a satisfying thud as their bodies connected.
Again and again he did this, until Elena was robbed of breath and rolling through more waves of pleasure than she could stand.
With her hands buried in his hair, their foreheads pressed together, she came again.
The fifth, maybe sixth time of the night.
But this time, Damon shuddered above her, his movement quickening.
His body tensed as his release hit him, and Elena lifted her head to bite into his neck, intensifying his pleasure.
A few faltering thrusts later, Damon collapsed, rolling over to give them both some air.
Elena chuckled slightly as they breathed and Damon smiled over at her.
This was what they lived for now.
These moments.
When it was just the two of them, drunk on the love they felt for each other, without any outside complications.
"I love you," Damon told her, the lights from the candles reflecting off his gleaming body.
Elena rolled over so she could lay against his shoulder.
"I love you too, Damon."
They laid there for what felt like hours, wrapped in each other's arms, watching the fire light dance against the dome ceiling.
The sound of Damon's heartbeat, and the gentle whoosh of his breathing, calmed her.
She had almost drifted off to sleep when he spoke.
"Elena?"
She lifted her head to see him, "Yes?"
He seemed to deliberate something, before asking, "Tomorrow night...I have to leave for a while."
She leaned up now, "For how long?"
"Just for the evening," he promised, "There is a sort of dinner party for people like me...people like us. Shadowcasters who meet in secret. They are expecting me."
She crooked her head, "There are more out there?"
Damon smiled, "Of course. And I would like for you to come with me."
"To the dinner party?" Elena confirmed.
Damon nodded, "It is very discreet. No one else will know of your attendance. I swear it."
She bit her lip, "What will I tell Stefan and the king?"
"Nothing," Damon instructed, "They needn't know you are missing. We will leave after they have retired for bed."
Elena ran over his words, "That is rather late for a dinner party, is it not?"
Damon's signature smirk played across his mouth, "This is not your average dinner, darling."
Her raised brow prodded him, and he sighed, "There will be others like us there. Others that feed on witches' blood to gain power.
Some keep the witches as servants, some keep them to warm their beds, if not otherwise mated. Blood is shared among these groups, as are bodies. It is nothing like you have ever experienced."
Elena blushed a little at what he was telling her.
What she understood it to mean.
"You wish me to come?"
Damon brushed his fingers against her cheek, "It would greatly please me if you did."
She blushed harder as she asked, "And what if someone wants you to share me?"
Damon smiled again, unbothered, "Do you trust me?"
Slowly she nodded.
"Then you have nothing to worry about," he promised.
She couldn't help but smile back at his entertained expression.
"Alright then. I suppose I could join you."
Damon laughed softly, and leaned in to kiss her.
The conversation was forgotten for the rest of the night.
Morning came too soon.
Elena groaned as the sunlight hit her face from the high window, but knew that her time alone with Damon was up for the day.
She would have to be back in her wing of the castle before joining Stefan and the king for breakfast.
She wondered if Damon would be joining them today.
Since his self invitation to dinner the previous week, Damon had made a habit of dropping into random meals unannounced.
He seemed to find pleasure in sitting at the table, making small talk, while his father and brother squirmed uncomfortably.
She could only shake her head and politely respond to any questions he directed toward her.
They had gotten good at pretending to be strangers.
Ironic, since Damon probably knew her better than anyone else in Aurelia and Mystic alike.
Elena pulled herself up, giggling as Damon tightened his arm around her in complaint.
"I have to go," she told him.
"No," he pouted, eyes still closed, face buried into his pillow.
"Yes," she argued, "If I am late for breakfast again, suspicions will rise."
He groaned, "Yes, yes, alright then."
His eyes opened and he propped himself up, "But kiss me first."
She smiled, happily obliging.
Her lips lingered against his, and he cupped her cheek, "Soon, my love, we will not have to hide."
Her eyes closed, "I pray for the hour that is so."
"As do I," he promised, "But for now..."
She nodded, "I will see you tonight then."
"I will be waiting."
She kissed him again, then stood to get dressed.
It took Elena very little time to make it back to her room.
Emily waited for her there, dutifully, with a tub filled with warmed water.
Elena smiled at her gratefully, "You are truly a mind reader."
Emily curtseyed her respectively, before moving to help strip her dress.
"I hope your night was a pleasant one," the maid commented.
Elena nodded, sinking into the water, "As of late, they all have been."
She didn't miss Emily's stiff nod, and passive expression.
"You still worry about Damon?" Elena guessed, "Have I not told you? There is little chance of discovery. Nothing is going to happen to me."
Emily swallowed, "If I may, my lady, something already has."
Elena gave her a questioning look, "What is your meaning?"
Seeming as though she had to work up the nerve, Emily sighed, and sat on the edge of the bed as Elena sponged herself clean.
"I have tried to tell you, your highness, the prince is no good. He has dark magic in himself, my lady, dark magic he is infecting on to you. I can feel it. I have seen it. He will be your end."
Elena rolled her eyes, standing to grab a drying cloth which she then wrapped around herself, "Emily, your concern is misplaced. Damon is not a threat to me. He loves me."
"He knows not the meaning of the word!" Emily pressed heatedly, "He knows only the hunger for power and what he is willing to do to get it!"
Elena blinked, turning to look at her servant, "Damon is a lot of things, but do not compare him to the likes of the men who are truly thirsting for power. The reasoning behind my presence in this castle is men like my father, like King Salvatore, like Stefan, thirsting for more power. Damon is nothing like them."
"No, my lady," Emily breathed, "He is much worse. And you be heading down a path to destruction, spending your time with the likes of him. If you were found out-"
"But I will not be found out," Elena hissed, stepping closer to Emily, "Only three people alive know of my relationship with Damon. He is not going to tell, nor will I. So if by some mishap, Stefan, the king, or even my father was to hear about this, I will know from whose tongue it span, and do not think for a moment that I will not throw you to wolves if you dare threaten my ability to be with Damon."
"Your highness, I only meant that-"
"I know what you meant," Elena snapped, "And I am telling you that I will have you outed and burned at the stake for the witch you are before your tongue could form another story to defend your practice. Then once you are dead, your accusation will no longer hold believable, and all will be forgiven and pawned off as a lie told by the mouth of a devil's pawn. So for your sake, as much as mine, you will keep your tongue, as you have been, and see all knowledge of my time with Damon wiped from memory, do I make myself clear?"
Her servant's eyes were wide as she nodded, but Elena did not feel guilty.
Emily may not like Damon, but no one, not even her handmaiden was going to jeapordize her love for the eldest Salvatore.
She would see them dead first.
"Good," she swallowed, "Now, be a doll and fetch my lavender dress; I would wear it today."
Wordlessly, Emily obeyed, for the first time, out of fear of her master, instead of respect for her friend.
Woot woot.
Okay, some backbone Elena lol.
I really hope ya'll like the chapter and can't wait to hear your thoughts!
Oh, and if one of you miraculouslyrics guesses my ending before it happens, I will give you a cookie!
Not a real cookie.
A proverbial cookie.
A double chocolate chip proverbial cookie.
And a shout out lol