Bonus Chapter of Rune Bound!

Feb 08, 2025 1:34 pm

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Hello Happy Readers!


I hope you have enjoyed reading the Arakzeon City Series and the chemistry between Princess Jelena and Fae Warrior Master Dylan.


I have prepared a bonus chapter for you so that you can read chapter 8 from Master Dylan's perspective. Chapter 15 will also be available in the next newsletter. This is bonus content that I will only share with the readers subscribed to this newsletter for now. Enjoy!


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CHAPTER 8 - MASTER DYLAN'S POV


We walked from the infirmary hall towards a second courtyard where power mages were practising with their magic, making water swirl around in the air. What I had witnessed Selena do in the infirmary was still on my mind. Selena had healed Froy in the open. Any spy demon could have seen her and reported to the demon prince. One of their kind had already seen her heal a demon during the last attack. A fucking demon, she’d healed! Now, the prince wanted her at any cost to cure his father. He seemed to keep an eye on where she was at all times, and I feared I couldn’t always be by her side to protect her. 


Hopefully, one of these power mages would be powerful enough to bond with Selena during the Rite of Bond ritual and be able to help me protect her. The thought of losing her twisted something inside me that made me furious. The demon prince would have to negotiate something else in return of letting Tara go, because I wasn’t giving Selena to him. 


She was so gorgeous, her firm butt teasing me from just above the skirt hem. My cock hadn’t stopped throbbing since I saw her this morning, and I was lucky my tight trousers didn’t show the bulge and that I had dressed in a long vest today. But if this was what was going to happen every time I looked at her, she would be the end of me.


I took my position in the front of the class to introduce them to the mages.


“Have a thorough look at the mages. The day of the Rite of Bond ritual, one of these good souls might become your companion for life. The one person you depend on to transmit their strength to you when you lie under a demon’s sword. Piss them off, and maybe they don’t. Piss all of them off, and you might not find a connection at all during the Rite of Bond ritual. Like I did,” I said, and smiled at them even though it stung that the Arcanda hadn’t gifted me a power mage yet. I had been more dutiful than anyone here.


There was a soft chuckle resounding from all those who had heard me. To show them it wasn’t only a rumour, I tugged up my sleeve and displayed my wrist with no rune on it.


“The bond is normally made between those equally matched in power and strength, so I like to think that no power mage has ever had the supremacy to outmatch me.” To hide my fear of not being worthy of a power mage, I wiggled my eyebrows, and another chuckle tore through the air, especially in female tones. 


I swept my eyes over the students and noticed that Selena rolled her eyes at the horny women’s giggles, but she startled as she saw I had seen her.


I had to stop thinking about her. She was a student, and not an obedient one at that. Although I welcomed her challenge, it turned me on fire when she found ways of defying me. “Take a few moments to greet your new friends and then come join me through that door.” I pointed at a door that had its top part clad in a dozen windowpanes. “It leads to the library.”


When I mentioned the library, Selena seemed excited, and that made me feel happy for some reason. Givina joined her; one of Roll’s students who Selena had become friends with during enrolment day. Her, Kreia and that man, Benny. He shouldn’t be around the women and should find his own friends, or he would find it hard to keep his chastity oath. 


Selena and Givina glanced my way. Were they talking about me? Whatever they were saying, Selena was smiling, so that was a good sign.


The thought of her was poisoning my mind. I went inside the library, snagging the wall to reach the window on the other side where I could relax, relishing the smell of wood and old books. I still couldn’t get away from aiming my attention towards Selena, though. It was nearly impossible to take my eyes off her. She was inspecting the dark wooden shelves along the walls as if she was looking for one book in particular. What was she thinking? Well, she was frowning when whispers got louder because Prince Nickel had arrived. It was aggravating that there had been so many inspections from royalty this year because of the princess’ eighteenth birthday and to ensure our heightened protection for the suitors who had come to the city to court her.


She saw Prince Nickel and froze, seeming to recognise him. I didn’t like that. She swept her gaze around the room and stopped it on me for a moment before she crept along the wall on the west side and scanned the books on the bookshelves, reading on their spines. The mages cleared out of the library, and it quietened down, so I could clearly see when Nickel placed himself in her way, even though he didn’t pretend to give her any attention. But clearly, they were acquainted. The notion that she knew the mage prince ignited something made from jealousy inside my chest, making it more strenuous to breathe. I wanted him to stay away from her.


“Shut up!” she whisper-shouted towards the prince, dropping the book she had pulled out from the shelf onto the floor. 


I can’t handle this. They are too close to one another. I must interfere. 

I walked over to Selena just as she picked up the book she had dropped.

“I apologise profoundly for my student, Prince Nickel. She’s quite the little hummingbird. Likes it quiet.”


Nickel snorted and took the book from Selena’s hands to put it back on the shelf. “Maybe you shouldn’t judge a book by its cover, Master Dylan.”


Did that mean that they knew each other well? I didn’t like the sound of that. And no, I didn’t judge her by her gorgeous looks. She had proven to be a bigger pain in the ass than that. Whatever relationship they shared, it was eating me up not to know about it and my mind kept telling me she was mine. He was challenging that possessiveness. 


Selena took a step to the side. “You two seem to have something unsettled between you. I’ll just go-”


“To the canteen to join the others in the group. I’ll be there shortly. After lunch, you’ll stay in your room for the rest of the day as a punishment for being rude to the prince, disobeying a third order on your first day at the Wolfsbane Court.”


She gasped at me, and it hurt that she was discontent with me. “You never ordered me not to be rude to the prince.” 


So? Are you so familiar with him you can speak to him however you want?


That angered me further. I was losing control of my temper.


“I shouldn’t have to state that order. It should be self-explanatory.”


“Fine. Whatever. The little hummingbird enjoys the solitude and quiet of her room,” she sneered, not showing me any respect in front of the prince.


“And the mockingbird is back,” I hissed.


She turned on her heel, stalking off towards the canteen. When she had left, I squared up with the prince to ensure I was larger than him. “I hope you find the guild to your satisfaction. I’m sure it pleases the princess you made such a thorough inspection.”


“It’s certainly an interesting place. I can see the appeal of its adventures. But I don’t think it is suitable for a princess. Wouldn’t you agree?”


“I agree. You and she should enjoy the castle gardens. I hear they are beautiful and confined to the castle grounds. Let us warriors deal with the security of the city.”


“Indeed. Nothing gets past you. It’s a shame you can’t see the forest for all the trees.”


“Are you insinuating that I’m not good at my job, your Majesty?”


“No. Just that you’re a lucky man without knowing it. I’ll take my leave, but I’m sure we will meet again.”


Having made the students wait because of my tiff with Selena and the prince, I had to rush into the canteen, and I stopped with my back against the serving units. “As you all can see, this is the canteen where the chefs will serve your meals three times a day. Breakfast at first light, lunch at noon, and dinner before sundown. You will find that sometimes the hall is busier than on other occasions, as we share it with the power mage guild. If you don’t like it, you can prepare your own food in the kitchenette, and eat in your own rooms.” I took a deep breath, trying to settle the irritation after my conversation with Prince Nickel. “And if you get punished to stay in your rooms for the rest of the day, it’s compulsory you eat there, too.”


I’m sure Selena got the hint.

Whether she would obey was another matter entirely. 

“The Campus Tour is concluded, and you can stay here to have your lunch, unless you’re punished to your room, and then you have free time for the rest of the day. Tomorrow morning at eight o’clock, you’ll be wearing your combat leathers and join me on the sparring mat in the Wolfsbane Court gym, which is located on the other side of this courtyard.” I showed the students where that was by pointing out through the doors and across the courtyard. “Do not be late. And for some of you, you do really not want to be late!” I glanced at Selena to emphasise my point. “You’re all dismissed.”


To ensure the best chance of Selena following my orders, I headed for the kitchen and nicked some fried chicken from the chefs and prepared a roll, packing it in a bag she could take to her room. When I returned to the canteen, she was standing next to Vesso. 


For fuck’s sake. Did every man have to gather around her like moths to a flame when I found that so aggravating? 


They were speaking about Givina when I interrupted them by shoving the packed lunch bag in front of Selena. “Here. Your lunch to take to your room, mongrel.”


Mongrel? Why had I said that to her? It was hurtful and I could see a tint of sadness in her eyes. It felt like it was going to kill me.


She accepted the bag. “May my master allow me to pick up a book from the library to bring to my room to keep myself entertained?”


More objections? The sad way she looked at me, I couldn’t refuse her request. I didn’t want her to be bored in her room, either. It would only make it more likely that she sneaked out, and perhaps into another man’s room.


“One book.”


She mocked me by making a curtsey, but the joke was on her because it showed me more of her bottom. I imagined my hands cupping them. My cock responded, which wasn’t good, so I walked away. I needed to blow off some steam, so I went to the weights room to work out until dinner, but even then, I felt so guilty for treating Selena so strictly. In search of her, I went to her room to see if she needed anything, but when I knocked on her door, no one opened. Fear burned in my chest that she had gone to Vesso’s room. I looked through the common rooms just in case I could see her, as I was too proud to knock on Vesso’s door. Neither did I want to know if she was actually in there.


When I passed by the library, I saw her at a table, reading. I walked up behind her and cleared my throat, relieved to find her here rather than anywhere else. Reading was innocent enough.


“You’re not in your room, as I ordered.”


She looked over her shoulder to see me but turned back around and leaned over the book which she was reading. “You said I could get one book. I have not decided on which one yet.”


Clever mockingbird. It’s all in the details. I’d have to watch it with her, or she would outwit me.


I grunted. “That is two more orders you have broken.”


“And which ones would those be?” 


“The curfew, as well as eating in the library. That makes five orders broken in total on your first day.”


The disobediences had started to turn me on. I wondered for how long she could carry on before she gave up. A challenge I relished. The question was if she would ever yield. If she didn’t, would I be forced to expel her? That would be a shame.


“Wow, that must be some type of record, it sounds like. Do I get a trophy or something?” She took another bite from the last bit of the bread roll. “And how many do you tolerate before you expel me?”


Oh, I could give her a trophy if she wanted one to pacify her need for attention. I wondered whether her count of disobediences, or whether my determination to get her to heel, would win in the end. I grabbed her arm firmly and pulled her off the chair. “Allow me to escort you to your room. You can take that book.” I pointed to the spread in front of her.


She closed the book she was reading and tucked it under her arm. “It was the book I intended to borrow, after all.”


Sure, it was. So, she was a sore loser as well then.


I gestured for her to walk in front of me, which was a mistake as my cock twitched when I saw her using her free hand to tug down her short skirt as much as it could go, which still didn’t cover the curve of her ass. 


What I wouldn’t do to feel that ass.

Jeez, stop! She is a student! 


It had never been this difficult to ignore a woman before. I knew I was in trouble.


“You have two hundred and forty-nine more students to order around. Isn’t there someone else you can pester? I think the scale leans heavily to my side.”

No one else is this delicious.


I grabbed her rubbish and walked with her to push the doors open to clear her path to the courtyard. “No other student has disobeyed a single order,” I lied, as many had got on my nerves today. I had granted a few punishment laps around the mat for tomorrow already.


I threw the brown paper bag into the bin just outside the canteen and followed her towards the dormitories.


“By the way. You can tell the chef that the bread roll was delicious.”

I’m glad to hear she liked my cooking. Perhaps it would impress her somewhat.

“You can tell the chefs whatever you like when you’ve eaten food they made for you.”


“What? They didn’t? Ow! You prepared the bread roll for me?”


“I want to avoid the embarrassment of anyone knowing you don’t respect me.”

We entered the dormitories and walked down the corridor.


“Your ego is bigger than I thought if you believe my actions are a reflection of you. The things I do are purely to achieve my own ends.”


“You don’t seem to understand how the hierarchy works here, but do not worry, I’ll bring you to heel yet. And regarding your own ends, what would those be?”

This intrigued me. What was she up to? 


She glanced at me, and we made eye-contact. “When I respect you, I’ll let you know.”


Of course, all on your terms, little hummingbird.


She was driving me crazy. My body was on fire, and I couldn’t help it. How could something so small be so irritating? So irresistibly tempting.


I pushed her up against the wall beside her room’s door, ensuring I framed her in my captivity by placing my forearm on the wall above her head, and I leaned my face close to hers.


If I could just get one moment of grace from my chastity oath to do whatever I wanted to her, I could teach her not to be difficult.


“Have you always been this difficult, or is your aim to annoy the shit out of me, little mockingbird?”


“Can it be both? I have not decided on the second part yet. I mean, if you can’t handle me, what chance do you have of surviving beyond the wall?”


I was holding back my erupting desires with all my willpower. I couldn’t lose control. The focus on pacifying my lust was slipping, and a growl emitted from deep within my gut. It didn’t make it easier that I noticed her erratic breathing, which she was working hard on steadying.


“For three graduations, I ran the Catnip Court’s Fae Warrior Guild. That’s seven hundred and fifty students cared for. Not one of them died during this time. Not one! Do you know why?”


“You sent them all to their rooms?”


Very funny, little mockingbird. That tactic would have made my life much easier.

“No! Because they all followed my orders.”


To give myself time to settle my racing heart, I stayed silent, but I made the mistake of lowering my gaze to look at her lips. Mine parted only enough to breathe. I wanted to kiss her so badly. Just one little kiss. Not able to fight the pull I felt for her, I was slowly closing in on her. It would be a mistake. But I had never wanted to taste something this desperately before. Would the consequences really be that bad?


The blue magic siren blared from the ceiling, and I found the strength to pull back and I looked at it. “We’re being attacked. I must go. Stay in your room.”

“No! Do you have a spare dagger on you? I’ll come with you.”


Are you fucking kidding me? I stared at her so hard she took a step back, closer to the door.


“Sixth order disobeyed,” I roared, fearing she would go out to fight the attack against my order and get hurt. She had almost died on admission day when she had fought a demon if I hadn’t had rammed into him. I had almost lost her that day. The thought angered me and fuelled my will to kill the attacking demons.


“I’m only going to swing by the laundry room to get a uniform from inventory, since you expressed you don’t like what I’m wearing, and then I’ll stay in my room.”


Oh, I loved that skirt. It was a shame it wasn’t her uniform.


She was trying to find an excuse to sneak outside. I stared into her eyes. “I didn’t share a personal opinion on your outfit, but simply clarified that the brown leather skirt wasn’t part of the standard inventory. There will be clothes in your room already cleaned and folded into your wardrobe by the laundry staff, so you will enter your room and stay in it as from this moment and until I release you.”


I would lose it if I found out she went anywhere near the war and the demon prince who made every effort to kidnap her.


She only snorted, turning on her heel, and rushed inside her room. Whatever that could mean. Was that her way of accepting my terms? Would she stay there?


“Selena!” I shouted after her, but she didn’t stop, and her door slammed in my face. 



Until next time,

Therese


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