The Crown's Entrapment

Despite thinking she'd do otherwise, Clara found herself going inside Freya's bedchamber and gathering some of the books like the princess told her to. It was kind of embarrassing to even think that she was doing such things, but the curious part of her just wouldn't shut up until she finally decided to go for it. So there she was, returning to her own chamber with a couple of books in tow before tossing them on the bed and cracking one open.

[At least you're honest with yourself now,] Sheba chuckled. [The you of a few weeks ago would've just run away instead of even trying this.]

Clara gritted her teeth in annoyance. Maybe that curious part of her was just Sheba trying to coax her into doing the deed with her mate, actually. Maybe she should've just gone to sleep instead of trying to sneak into the princess's room like a thief in the night.

[But then you wouldn't get to read all about how to please a man in a hundred different ways,] her wolf teased.

She blinked at her wolf's words, and a blush quickly formed on her face as she realized just where exactly the pages in front of her said in bold letters. Indeed, they were highly detailed instructions on how to make love with another person. Be it a man or a woman, the book didn't shy away from both positions and anatomy, and she even recognized a so-called position that she inadvertently did to Gilas just a few nights ago.

'So it's actually called head-to-tail,' she inwardly scoffed. 'Didn't think it'd be like a study like this…'

The more she read, the more she actually got engrossed in what she was reading. Before she knew it, Clara was blushing hard as she got deeper and deeper into one of the steamier stories she discovered. From the way the two leads got together to the way they made love, it was all written with such excruciating detail that she couldn't help but imagine what it would be like if she would do it with Gilas… For him to shatter her pride and make her swallow the truth…

[So you do want it to happen,] Sheba cackled. [Why not just go for it?]

[Again, it's in the principle of it,] Clara groaned, her blush refusing to recede. [I don't want it to just be something that I begrudgingly did. I want to, well, want it to happen.]

She shook her head in an effort to clear the blush on her cheeks. In truth, she was rapidly running out of excuses to turn down both herself and Gilas from just doing the deed. Her explanations were getting flimsier by the day, and there was no escaping that she had indeed just imagined Gilas naked on top of her like that one line she just read in the book.

[So just do it already,] her wolf teased. [Even your imagination wants it now. The only thing really holding you back now is your own stubbornness and pride.]

Clara rolled her eyes at her wolf's words. But before she could formulate a reply, the door to the room shook, signifying that someone was about to enter.

'Gilas?!'

Her eyes widened as she remembered all the books scattered around her. Without even a second thought, Clara tossed everything underneath the bed, hoping that it would at least hide the fact that she had been reading highly inappropriate material from anyone that might enter.

[As if you don't already know that it's Gilas,] Sheba cooed.

Clara clicked her tongue. That was precisely why she didn't want to be discovered. She just knew that he'd use it against her the moment he learned that she was reading those kinds of things. Why, he might even use some ideas from them to-

"Clara?"

She flinched as she turned to face Gilas. It would seem that her mate had come to rest with her. Then again, wasn't that always the case these past few weeks?

"You're back," she greeted, hoping that the relative darkness around them would hide the blush on her face. "How was your day?"

"The usual," Gilas remarked. "We managed to finalize some of the plans for Pinra's arrangements."

Clara frowned at the tone of his words. Somehow, she could tell that he was hiding something from her. Still, she was far too busy avoiding his gaze to even tell if her hunch was right.

A brief silence settled between them as Gilas wordlessly cleaned himself up. Before she knew it, he was already beside her once more, lying silently as he seemingly went to sleep.

'I should sleep as well,' she inwardly grumbled.

Try as she might, however, sleep refused to come to her. Her mind was still filled with images from the books she had just read, and the previous nights of her sleeping in the cold just made her yearn for her mate's touch all the more.

[Then ask him to cuddle with you,] Sheba eagerly suggested. [I'm sure he'll like that.]

[But he's already-]

[Asleep? You really believe that?]

Clara was more than ready to retort when she found herself looking at Gilas's face. Like her wolf had suggested, he was clearly just trying his best to sleep, far from being asleep like she had first thought.

All of a sudden, she wanted to just come close to him. It was fine, right? He had always made sure to come close to her at any opportunity presented to him. Maybe now was the time to reciprocate his advances.

[Why are you even trying to justify yourself like this!?] Sheba laughed. [Just go already!]

[It's not that easy, alright?] Clara growled. [I can't just throw myself on him like a desperate idiot.]

[But that's exactly what you are plus all of the pride and stubbornness,] Sheba pointed out with a teasing smirk. [You know you like him that way, but you keep on coming up with pointless and nonsensical reasons to deny him.]

Clara let out a soft sigh. Once more, her wolf threw out the same things that she already knew in her heart. She knew that there was no denying it, and yet she still tried and tried. Well, with all the images running through her mind right now, maybe now was the time to stop caring and go for it…

"Gilas? If you're awake… Can you… cuddle up with me?"