Wolverine's Enchantment

He gritted his teeth as he was filled with an exhilaration that demolished the last fragments of his control, and that sent his body driving deeper. He let out a shout that mingled with her echoes, as he was hit full force with hot pleasure. He pumped his seed into her as lightning crashed through him and as he held Katherine tightly. The aura flashed and glowed and intensified in his release until he felt he could barely breathe.

"Jesus Christ," he said in a hoarse whisper, as he finally drew in a breath, the waves of pleasure still flooding through him.

"Thank you, thank you." Katherine murmured and rained little kisses on Logan's neck and face as the sweet, rippling tensions began to slowly subside from her. She was vaguely aware that something was wrong, but could not bring it to her conscious mind. She could only feel the man against her, hearing the slowing of his breathing and enjoying the feel of his relaxing weight against her body. The pin pricks of the bark against her back and the soreness between her legs from Logan's rough loving, edged into her thoughts. Then the fear dawned on her. "Oh Jesus. Oh, no. Oh, no!" she muttered in a miserable, panicky tone and started scrambling, Logan's penis sliding from her body. "Let me down. Let me down." She pushed hard on his chest and unhooked her legs. "We've got to go. We've got to go. Let's go! LET'S GO!" her voice escalating to a frantic pitch.

"Okay. Okay." Shaking his head, Logan shifted his lust-filled mind and pushed them away from the tree, taking a solid deep breath and reorienting himself. "Don't worry," he said as fastened his jeans, grabbed her hand and pulled her with him, "I have a getaway plan."

"A plan? Did you know this was going to happen?"

"Hell, no," he said and cocked a devilish smile. "But with you darlin', it's best to be prepared." Then, he scooped up her satchel and pulled Katherine swiftly through the dense brush of the forest. After a few minutes he stopped abruptly at the corner of a gully. He looked up the side of the mountain, then herded Katherine over to a ledge that opened out onto a ravine, a fast-flowing stream at the bottom, heading straight down the other side of the mountain.

"Good lord," Katherine said as she looked at the rapids, and at the sharp angle of the flow. "We're going to try to swim in that?"

"No, not swim, it's more of a ride." He lifted the corners of his mouth. "We'll be fine. I did this once to see if I could kill myself this way and trust me, it looks a lot more dangerous than it is."

"What!" She hissed as he grabbed her bodily and heaved them both over the side of the cliff and into the frigid rapids.

≈≈≈

Katherine warmed herself by what was left of the fire, and pulled another section of meat off the stick Logan had leaned over the coals from the supper the night before. She didn't know what it was, and didn't ask. But, it staved off the growls of her stomach after the long day surviving the rapids and hiking back up another mountain. She looked over at Logan, still dozing after the night's rest, which they both needed. He had needed it more because he had tromped off into the woods to do God knows what to obtain the meat, telling her not to ask, just eat. Katherine had kept her distance from him, afraid if she touched him, or even looked closely at him, the aura would take over.

Their trip down the mountain on the water slide had been unnerving, but as Logan had promised, not lethal. Being held in his arms, he took the blows from rocks and tree limbs, and because he could barely float, he wound up pushing them off the sides and bottom of the rapidly flowing mountain stream. Finally they arrived into a calm pool in the valley, soaked, cold and gasping, but relatively unhurt.

This can't go on, she thought.

"You're awake early," Logan said softly from across the small cave causing Katherine to jump.

"Yes," she took a breath. "It's almost dawn." She couldn't see him, and it was just as well. "Logan, we can't keep running."

"I know."

"And, I don't trust myself anymore with you. I can't control the aura's influence over me. If we stay together, they'll find us."

"I know." His voice was disembodied, coming out of the shadows in the back of the rock inlet. "Are you really some kind of princess?"

"Yes, I guess so, from one perspective." She answered, without emotion.

"Princess of what? A country?"

"A planet, I suppose."

"Shit," he said almost to himself. "I knew it," he whispered in disgust. This was just his fucking luck.

"I don't give a damn about being some princess!" she said and then sighed. "Anyway, Talon will eventually find me and when he does, he'll kill me."

"Like hell he will," Logan spat out and his dark form unhinged itself from cave floor and began to move toward the yellow cast of the firelight.

"Logan, we have to accept that Talon is going to find me sooner or later. But he doesn't have to find you too. If we go separate ways, he'll never be able to hurt you. He won't even care about you," she said. Once I'm dead, she thought grimly.

"Once you're dead, you mean," he bit out and came into the edge of the light. "I'm not letting that happen."

"You're not immortal, Logan. You can be killed." She turned away to avoid seeing him and put her head in her hands.

"I've got to die sometime," he said blandly and moved closer to her, reached out and touched her on the back. Then Logan frowned as a blue-green mist encircled his hand where he touched her, and she flinched as if shocked, scooting away. "Damn, this is odd stuff," he said as he looked at his hand, the aura swirling and glowing, a tingling beginning in his body. He took a sharp breath.

"Please don't touch me," she said and inched further away from him. "What a thing to say, 'you've got to die sometime.' Don't you even care about your own life, Logan?" she complained over her shoulder. "You're crazy."

"I didn't know there was any question about that," he said, as he turned his hand over and over, watching the aura circle around and swirl out. "Katherine, do I have an aura now?" he asked.

"What?" She turned partly toward him and her brow wrinkled in perplexity as she saw the turquoise color swimming around Logan's hand. Then, he extended both hands toward her and touched her shoulders. The aura jumped out from him and covered her chest, drawing a deep breath from her as she tried to push back.

"Shit, this is fucking amazing," Logan said. "I can feel it," he breathed.

"Logan, stop. This is dangerous." She looked up at him and saw that the aura was glowing gently around his whole body now. Oh no, oh no. "I'm leaving. I'll check with you in a few hours. Go take a cold shower." But as she rose to her feet, Logan whipped out his hand and grabbed her ankle, the aura blasting up her leg and into her body. She gasped as pleasure exploded in her. Oh, no.

"You're not going anywhere, darlin'."

"No, Logan," she said in as stern a tone as she could muster, as she struggled against the growing pleasure and tried to push back from Logan's grip. "Have you lost all your senses?"

"It looks like I've got a new one," he muttered, and then pulled on her leg, causing her to stumble and plop down on her backside in front of him. "Come here, you." He moved quickly over her and brought his arms around her middle, pulling her to him. Placing a knee between her legs, he separated her thighs, pushing to open the V of her body. Then Logan leaned into her and pressed her down against the floor of the cave. He slanted his mouth over hers, and settled himself against her frame, as the aura swirled and shimmered around them.

"Logan," she whimpered as a bolt of desire slammed through her. "Please don't. Let me up. Oh God, oh God."

"What about the prophecy? Don't we need a son?" he offered as he nuzzled her.

"You don't believe in that! Let me up!" But her own body was belying her words, as she arched against him and fought not to grab him in a desperate embrace. Katherine stilled herself and shook her head, gathering her fading determination. Then she wrenched free by twisting over and drawing her knees under her. Logan seemed to hesitate as Katherine wrestled away and crawled on all fours toward the faint gray light coming from the cave entrance.

"Good idea," Logan said in an odd tone as he grabbed her from behind and forcefully pulled her body back and against his groin. He pinned her and leaned over her back, then bunched her skirt in his hand and drew her cotton dress up over her naked butt. Logan growled as he wrapped one strong arm around Katherine's waist and glided the other hand over the smooth, round globes of her bottom.

"Oh no, please," she whispered, propped on her hands and knees, with Logan's weight pressed on her. While one arm held her captive, his other hand fondled her butt and brushed her vagina with his fingers, sending Katherine's blood soaring. Turning her head, she could see the aura all over his skin, jumping back and forth where they touched, like little sparks of electricity. Her body was fired by his hold on her but she turned her head and whispered over her shoulder, "Please, Logan. Don't risk this."

"I've got to darlin'," he rasped at her ear. Then he lifted up slightly, reached down and released himself from his jeans. Holding her motionless, he pushed her dress up over her body, exposing the smooth, milky skin of her back and the delicate curve of her spine. Then he placed his hand on her hip and stroked up along the soft flesh to the nape of her neck. He clamped his fingers around her neck and shoulder and gently pressed down. Logan watched in a heat as she submitted to the pressure and lowered her torso to the floor, crooking an arm underneath her face, a groan escaping from her as the aura swirled around them and deepened in color.

Logan clenched his teeth, as desire shot through him at the sight of Katherine, her head down and her sweet little rump hoisted up in the air for his possession. He clamped down on her neck gently, moved his other hand to find the hot, slick folds of her body, and inserted two fingers. Katherine moaned and quivered as Logan stroked his fingers in and out, and pressed down on her upper body, pinning her to the floor. Then he leaned over her back, kissing and nuzzling the fine skin, and inhaled deeply of her lilac scent.

"I'm going to have you now, darlin'," he breathed out as he lodged his legs against hers and pushed her knees further apart. "Is that okay?"

"Yes," she whimpered as Logan spread her for his penetration. Withdrawing his fingers from her, he wrapped his arm tightly around her waist and positioned his hips. Then he pushed down hard with his other arm, imprisoning her upper body, and drove into her. She arched her back at the invasion and was shot through with intense pleasure. The aura sparked and flashed at the edges of her vision and she heard Logan let out a hoarse yell of satisfaction.

"Oh, God Katherine," Logan bit out, as he withdrew from her and hammered himself back in, the aura streaming and sparking all around them, magnifying his pleasure a hundred fold. "This is what it feels like," he breathed out in amazement, as he drove in and out, his groin filled with tension and hot exhilaration. Logan watched as the aura bloomed and deepened, simmering and sparking each time he flexed and plunged into her.

Logan released her neck and grasped her around the waist with both hands, holding Katherine's hips steady as he ratcheted up his pace, bringing them both to the peak. She whimpered out in little moans, pushed up on her arms, and arched her back. Then, she lifted her head and let out a long, feminine cry of release. Logan was pummeled by the waves from her pleasure, sending him over his own edge as he flexed and slammed into her. Then, with a long groan, he exploded deep into her body, holding steady into her as thrilling ecstasy crashed over him and every muscle clenched to its ultimate tension.

Katherine braced on her hands and knees as Logan began to gradually release his grip on her, and she sagged down. She heard his breathing slow, as he rubbed her hips and leaned onto her back, taking deep breaths of her and muttering indistinct words. She waited for her head to clear while the aura faded and then shifted her hips away and tugged her dress down. She swallowed the sob that threatened to rise as she turned around to face Logan. He slowly sat back on his haunches and gazed at her.

"God, Katherine," he breathed out, a half-pleased, half-astonished look on his face.

"I won't get you killed," she said facing him, his chest still lifting. She pulled on her shoes and took a deep breath, her decision made, "no matter how much you would like to die for me."

"Katherine, no one's going to die..." he started, but she moved to him, put her hand on his face and brought her mouth to his, pressing her lips against him in a tender, gentle caress. Then she pulled back.

"I love you, Logan," she said quietly, gazing into his wolf-gray eyes, softened by their lovemaking. "Just always remember that," she said sadly. Then she lifted up out of his reach, and walked quickly from the cave.

"Wait, I..." he called as he pulled up his jeans. "Katherine, you're being silly. Wait!" He called sharply. "For Christ sakes," he muttered, getting to his feet.

≈≈

The three beast-men jumped down from the ledge as Katherine walked down the hill from the cave. They crouched before her like animals spotting prey. She froze, took a step back, dropped her satchel and spun around to run.

Logan bolted past her in a sprint, a look of fury and blood lust on his face, and his razor sharp claws unsheaved. He launched himself at the nearest man and sliced a path through the beast's chest without pausing, a roar erupting from him as he attacked. Then, he twisted around and catapulted up onto the second man. Yelling and stabbing into the second beast-man, Logan shouted for Katherine to run. Then, he grabbed the strap of the beast's weapon and jerked violently backward. Holding the strap, Logan jumped down, bringing the beast-man stumbling to his knees. Then Logan wrapped his arm around the man's neck and drew a long stroke over his back and up through his body, causing him to go limp and slump forward.

Logan whirled around just as the third beast-man set upon him, lunging out with the butt of his weapon toward Logan's head. Logan ducked down, taking the blow with his upper back and winced and grunted with the pain. Taking a step back, Logan spun in a circle, slashing the beast under the ribcage, eliciting a roar of pain as Logan encircled him with his other arm.

Katherine reached the rock wall, turned and watched in horror as three more of the beast soldiers came trotting over the rise toward Logan, who was stood holding the dying man. Logan's head snapped around as he spotted them, a growl emerging from his throat.

Then, her world shifted again as a hand came over her mouth and her arm was wrenched painfully behind her back drawing a cry from her. She was pushed out from her hiding place into the open where Logan stood across the clearing.

"Please cease slaughtering my men," a smooth, elegant, masculine voice called out over her shoulder. Katherine swallowed fear. Oh God, no. Talon.

Still heaving, Logan paused and lifted his head to stare aggressively at the man gripping Katherine. He was tall and thin, with short gray hair and perfectly, unnaturally smooth, olive skin. His eyes were blood red, in sharp contrast to Katherine's turquoise.

"Hurt her and you're dead, bub," Logan called out with a sneer. But as he finished his statement, the three new beast-men appeared at the edge of the clearing, and then three more appeared from the east. Logan took in the scene, narrowed his eyes and calculated his timing.

"Now, why would I want to hurt my future wife?" Talon said with emphasis.

"I'll die first," Katherine rasped out in a low, thin voice.

"Cause me any more trouble princess," he tightened his grip and hissed into her ear, "and I'll have your earth pet vaporized."

"Katherine," Logan called from across the clearing, "come to me," concern etched in his voice.

Katherine stopped struggling, looked at Logan, and counted six new soldiers making their way toward the clearing. Then, she looked west and saw three more in the distance, and then north and saw three more. She choked back a sob and said in a wretched whisper, "Please don't hurt him."

"That's better," Talon said very softly and then louder for Logan, "You see good fellow, Katherine must come back with me and become a queen, and take the place to which she was born. She has a role beyond you, or anything on this planet."

"Katherine?" Logan stood up straight and dropped his hold on the beast-man, who fell weakly to the ground with a thud and a moan. Logan stared at her, anguish and a question in his face, and took a breath.

"He's right Logan," she called as Talon released her. Inhaling deeply and trying to fortify herself for the ruse, she said, "I have to go back." Trying not to crumble, she continued, "I didn't understand everything before. I'm needed to help make peace between the houses. To help save lives," she lied. Then she watched as the blood drained out of Logan's face and he tightened his jaw, standing silently.

"Katherine," he said carefully, "What about your parents?" He paused, hesitant, "Our...?" He tightened his lips. What a fucking moron he was. Of course not.

"It has to be this way." She took a breath and stood up straight, her chin raised. "I'm a princess, Logan. I can't be with someone like you." She swallowed hard, the lie choking her. "I'm sorry," she said and dipped her head, blinking back the tears pooling behind her eyes. She knew it was the only reason he would accept: that he was not worthy of her. Oh God. She felt herself beginning to collapse inside. She would come apart if she looked at him again. "Let's go, then," she spit out.

Nodding, Talon quickly led her to the clearing where they stepped on a platform, along with three of the beast-men. Katherine kept her chin up but diverted her eyes from Logan. Then a red, transparent wall of color encircled her and she turned to look out on the countryside that she would never see again. She tried to breathe as she watched the first rays of sunlight filter through the early forest dawn. The red craft began to rise, and as it did, Talon said to one of the beasts, "Have them kill that earth scum."

"What!" Katherine whipped around, as a beast spoke into a device. "You said he could live if I went with you!" she screamed.

"I lied," Talon sneered and backhanded her. "You're in the red house now, I make the rules, princess."

Her face stinging, Katherine lunged to the front of the craft and slammed her hands against the transparent red wall, looking desperately down at the clearing. The soldiers were closing on Logan who stood stock-still and stared up at her, his image becoming smaller as the craft rose. Katherine watched in helplessness and fear as Logan looked around him at the approaching men, looked up at her again and braced his feet.

"Nooooooooooo!" Katherine screamed in warning and outrage and pounded her fists against the red wall, watching as one of the beasts fired his weapon toward Logan. Tears streamed down her face as she screamed and slammed her hands harder and harder against the unyielding surface.

"Katherine, cease the theatrics, or I'll have you beaten," Talon said as she continued to hammer her hands and arms against the wall, until she felt her bones would crack, trying to fight the cruel destiny, her heart breaking into pieces.

As the ship rose over the highest treetops, sunlight suddenly streamed into the vessel, hitting Katherine's hands. She gasped as she was struck with a jolt of energy, almost knocking the breath from her. As she watched in confusion, her hands glowed turquoise, in brilliant contrast to her red prison. She frowned and continued to beat against the wall, and the blue-green color mushroomed out and over her, strengthening and amplifying.