close your eyes.

Anya could not even begin to describe the overwhelming feeling that twisted in her gut when she caught wind of the warrior horde that was approaching. It was something akin to knowing and accepting her fate all at once. Her handmaiden had told him with a shaky, tear filled exclamation that there was a war party approaching. Not only a war party but a warrior one at that. Her city was strong but she knew that no Free City would be strong enough to resist a warrior horde, led by an angry alpha. She didn't know why the alpha was attacking but the moment she'd heard of the approaching warriors, Anya knew there was only one way that it could end.

She took her handmaiden's hand and pulled her through the hallways of the castle, locking her chambers the moment they were inside. She had to ready herself for the Witcher, because why else would an alpha attack a free city? He wanted an omega. That was the only thing running through her mind and as the only unclaimed omega of royalty... she didn't have to be smart to know that she would be offered, to keep the city safe. The warrior would attack if they demands weren't met... and she could only hope they did have demands.

Anya readied herself in a one-shouldered gown that had gold detailing along the neckline and a belt around her waist. It hugged her curves in a way she was sure that an alpha would pine over. "Erri," she breathed her handmaiden's name, tears welling in her eyes as she let the girl braid her hair. Neither of them knew much about the warrior but it was known they liked braids so Anya was focused on making herself presentable. She didn't think that her dress would be too appeasing because it had gems that weren't something a Witcher would care for. Or so she thought - they wore furs and little else. Nothing of color so she hoped the dress that she had picked out was enough to... Anya didn't even know. If a Witcher wanted her, he would have her.

"Perhaps they will allow me to accompany you," Erri began, running her tongue over her bottom lip. "I know their tongue."

Anya had heard stories of Witcher brutalizing their queens, of treating them like nothing more than a slave. There were horror stories that girls whispered in forbidden conversations; of how their queens were shared between the Witcher and his closest men. Of how they were forced to walk behind their Witcher, like nothing more than one of the commoners. The thought was enough to churn her stomach.

"Are they really as... brutal as the stories?" Before her handmaiden could answer, there was a knock at the door startled both Anya and Erri. The pair shared a look before Anya stood, wiping at her eyes before she started for the door. On the other side stood her father's hand, looking uneasy as Anya's eyes locked on his.

"Your presence is requested in the Throne Room."

Geralt wasn't entirely sure how he got mixed up in a war party, but when he was a day into his rut with so much as one moment of relief, he become a bloodthirsty killing machine. Some of the outlying cities of this kingdom had a bone to pick with their king, and along with a hefty amount of gold and the promise of an omega princess, Geralt couldn't refuse. And normally, he wouldn't. He didn't like getting mixed up in mortal affairs when he didn't have to, but currently, he wasn't thinking straight.

He paced back and forth around the throne room, the men he was fighting with having already made a bloody trail in the hall. Their demands had already been heard by the king, along with Geralt's claim on his omega daughter. With her not being the heir to his throne, it didn't take much to get the king to agree. Geralt instantly stopped, his head tilting up and his gaze rising to meet the princess as she entered, when what felt like they had waited an eternity. The princess was the only omega in the room. Geralt could sense her the second she entered the throne room, her sweet scent causing his mouth to water. His cock throbbed, pressing against his trousers when his blackened eyes found her. He was thankful for the large dark cloak he wore, concealing his bulking frame. Most were staying away from him, realizing the Witcher was in the beginning of his rut.

The king stepped forward when his daughter entered the room and took her in a warm hug. "I'm sorry. It's for the good the kingdom," he apologized to her, before he led bee up towards the Witcher. "This is my daughter, Anya."

"Princess," Geralt grunted her when she stepped up with her father. He wasn't entirely sure what he would do with an Omega after his rut, but he would think about that later. His eyes ran down her curves, the gold detailing in her dress sparkling in his eyes. "Come," he muttered, his eyes lingering on her for a few more seconds. Anya was a very attractive girl, and he could tell she hadn't been touched before. The idea of a witcher and a princess was almost laughable, but did he not deserve it? He had cut down more monsters than he could count, been through such tortures and was usually underpaid and overcharged. It was about time he was actually rewarded. Turning his back on the king, Geralt didn't give her much time to say goodbye. He didn't care to stay any longer. His business with the uprising civilians was over, he had been paid in coin and now he had his omega.

@ castle.

Anya shuddered as she stepped into the throne room, Geralt's scent nearly making her knees buckle beneath her. She was an inexperienced omega at best and even she could tell that Geralt was close to his rut. The thought made her stomach turn as she lifted her gaze to him. Her eyes stopped on the medallion that hung from his neck, a stark reminder of what he was. A mutated man who hunted monsters for coin. How was he supposed to care for her? Anya didn't know much about his way of life other than what she had heard from others. Witchers went from town to town, working the jobs that brought them there before being all but run out of town. They were hated unless they were needed. How was an omega supposed to follow a witcher? Or Anya started to wonder as she took a step toward Geralt, was he only wanting this to be a one-time thing, to help him through his rut? Would he leave her alone once his rut was over?

She took another step toward Geralt, her stomach twisting into a firm knot. Each step that she took felt like she was getting closer and closer to her doom. Anya had remained unclaimed with the intention of strengthening her kingdom's ties to another kingdom, except now she was being handed over to a witcher? Anya's face scrunched slightly before the look fell from her face.

Lifting the skirt of her dress just enough that she could follow after Geralt, Anya lowered her gaze as she started after him. Her heart was racing so hard that she wondered if Geralt could hear it. Witchers were supposed to have enhanced senses but she didn't know how true that was. She swallowed as they stepped out of the great hall, trying to find the courage to speak.

"I.. may I pack a few belongings? Just some clothing... perhaps sandals would be best to travel with," Anya added. She was used to being in carriages for long trips, Anya had no clue what was the best option now that she was sure that was no longer an option. "I won't be more than a few minutes," she added in a low voice, gripping her skirt in her hands. Anya wanted nothing more than to take off and pack her belongings but she had no way of knowing what was and wasn't appropriate with Geralt.

With Geralt having no intention of taking the pup back to the only place he'd ever called home, he all but snorted in response. "Fine, but whatever you bring make sure you can hold it, otherwise you'll be carrying it as you follow behind my horse." The Witcher was thinking much beyond his rut, after that came and went, he'd probably leave the princess in some grimy town or see if he could sell her back to her father for a decent coin. He had no intentions of actually keeping her by his side, so he wasn't about to weigh down his horse and make Roach carry her things.

It almost seemed sad, that he was ripping the princess away from her posh, comfortable lifestyle and forcing her to live like he does. A different straw bed every night, if he was lucky, otherwise he was sleeping out under the stars, most likely hungry too. Geralt liked to travel and live alone, too, so he wasn't entirely sure why he had taken a princess as payment, or why he had helped men with their mortal dilemmas. He'd blame it all on his rut.

Geralt stopped in his tracks and turned to look down at the omega. Her dark hair was braided back neatly and her skin was so clear and clean. Besides her delicate, sweet scent, her hair smelled like fresh berries and mint and her eyes were wide and bright. She looked so innocent, definitely an omega that shouldn't be with him. Letting his eyes linger on her for a few more moments, he took a deep breath and turned away, feeling like if he didn't, he might rip the dress from her body that moment, in her hall for all of her men to see.

"Just hurry," he grumbled, before continuing his way out of the castle, to the stable where he had left his faithful companion.

@ castle.

Anya had known that she was going to walk beside Geralt but the stark reminder that whatever she wanted to bring with her, she would have to carry, was enough to make her stomach drop. She could only bring herself to nod her head. Omegas were meant to listen to their alpha, she knew that. She had been preparing for it, for her entire life. She just hadn't been prepared for that alpha to also be a witcher. She turned and all but ran from Geralt, following the halls until she reached her room.

Unsure of what to even pack for herself, Anya stared at her closet. It was filled with dresses of varying degrees of fancy but she knew none of them would be ideal for travelling. A pant and shirt would have been preferred but she didn't own a single pant. She let out a small sigh as she shoved as many of her lighter, summer dresses as she could. Anya hadn't thought to pack one of her cloaks because it was heavy and to her, she thought it was best to dress comfortably without weighing herself down.

Anya decided to pull on one of her lightest dresses before she pulled the bag onto her shoulders. She had packed a pair of sandals as well as the one she wore on her feet before she left her room. She hadn't so much as grabbed any of her furs that she often nested with, not sure what Geralt would or would allow. Not to mention how heavy they would have been to carry.

Being motioned toward the stables, Anya felt her heart flutter as she spotted Geralt just a few feet from the entrance. She all but rushed toward him, her attention focused on her feet as she stopped beside him. She wouldn't dare speak, all of her lessons rushing to the forefront of her mind. Omegas were to be seen, not heard. They were to serve and do as their alpha required. Nothing else.

Geralt's shoulders dropped when he stepped into the stables. He was too relieved to be out of the castle, and soon, out of the kingdom. There was enough coin dangling in the pouch on his hip to feed him for a week or two, and get him a bed, so he wouldn't have to worry about that. Geralt stepped up beside his horse, giving the good girl a pat on the side of her face. "Don't worry, I'm not making you carry anyone else." No one, other than himself, ever touched Roach. It was a good way to get your hand broken, if Geralt had anything to say about it.

Pulling his horse from the stables, Geralt waited for the young princess as he stared towards the castle. Tugging his hood up over his head, he turned towards Roach and mounted her, hoping the little omega wouldn't take long, but it was a rather large castle and it was a young girl, digging through her closet... Geralt sighed, visibly frustrated as he sat back and counted the minutes.

After what felt like an eternity, but really was only about fifteen minutes, Geralt heard the sound of little footsteps drawing closer to his side. Roach bucked her head and whipped her tail and Geralt leaned forward to run his hand through her mane. He turned his attention back to the princess, before grabbing the reins loosely in his hands. "Ready then?"

Roach began trotting forward, a steady enough pace that Anya should be able to follow easily. Geralt turned his attention to the dirt road they followed away from the stables, out of the kingdom and he couldn't help the sneer that was brought to his face. Each minute that passed, he felt more and more agitated, more easily provoked and a lot more feral. Not even catching hints of the sweet omegas scent next to him was doing much to calm his nerves. He needed more and he knew it'd be faster if he threw her on his horse and rode out of the gates, but, he was trying everything he could to restrain himself.

@ castle.

Anya convinced herself to look up toward Geralt as he sat atop Roach, her gaze meeting his only for a brief moment before her head dropped forward again. It certainly wasn't meant as a challenge and she had hardly been able to take in his features before she had turned away. Chewing on the inside of her lip, Anya fell into step beside Roach. She kept a healthy enough distance away from the beast, having never had personal experience with horses beyond them pulling her carriage or seeing others ride them. She was an omega princess, she was not meant to ride horses or be out beyond the city's gates without an escort.

So many questions swirled around her mind but she didn't dare speak any of them. Anya knew how most viewed omegas, they were less than. That was all there was to it. She shivered as they left the city gates and she couldn't help but twist around so that she could look back at the city that she had called home for so long. Anya's shoulders sagged as she tightened her grip on her dress as she moved. Already she could tell she regretted not bringing a cloak but she had never been one to travel on foot before, she didn't know better. If this had been any other situation, Anya might have asked to return or even to borrow one of Geralt's but she couldn't bring herself to find the courage. Not only was he a witcher but one of the only ones she had heard of by name - his white hair giving him away.

Her brows pulled together as she glanced around the area before her attention returned to her feet as she walked along the road. "Father gifted me with coin before I left. We ought to.. be.. okay to stay wherever you please," her voice was quiet and tentative, not wanting to overstep her boundaries but even as inexperienced as she was, she could tell Geralt was getting more and more on edge. A rampaging witcher was the last thing that Anya thought she wanted to deal with.

Geralt kept his gaze forward, broodingly quiet atop his horse as they left the Kaedwen behind them. Geralt had no intention of staying one more night in the kingdom whose princess he had basically just stolen and he figured Aedirn or Temeria would be good enough places to stay for a while. Hearing Anya speak up, he slowly tilted his head down and to the side, his normally bright orange eyes still shadowed, almost completely black. The witcher watched the young omegas lips as she spoke before he briefly glanced up to her eyes before turning his attention back ahead of him. The princess would be in for a shock when she saw the rooms he would rent at taverns and inns. How the beds would be low to the ground and only padded with straw, and they'd be the only thing in the room besides a chair. Nothing like any room she'd ever grown used to. Geralt had never once stepped foot in a royal's quarters, but he imagined they were nice.

The witcher wanted to keep his eyes forward and was pleased with the silence that hung between the two of them. The easier it was to ignore her, the easier it was for him to ignore his rut for a bit longer. The pair traveled along for a couple of hours until the sun was beginning to go down and he was sure her feet had to be blistered. They were out in the middle of nowhere, on a small dirt path that would lead them into Aedirn, completely surrounded on both sides by nothing but dense forest.

Geralt couldn't take it any longer. The cool breeze rushing through the forest was gently caressing over his sticky skin and the longer he went on trying to ignore his instinct, the worse off he was becoming. His white tousled hair was damp with sweat, the strands that held loose around his face beginning to take on some curl. His hands were trembling so badly he could no longer hold the reins to roach, and the road before them was beginning to get dizzy and blurry. Roach whined as she came to a stop and Geralt slid off of her back, a deep growl rumbling from within his chest. Did it have to be here? Geralt hadn't been the most gentle, or inviting, but he didn't want to come off like a monster. More than he already knew he would. He had wanted to keep his composure until he could at least get them out of her kingdom, and into a somewhat decent inn, before... He didn't want to do it here, but it looked like he didn't have a choice anymore.

He stalked around his horse, his hand gently running over Roach's coat as his eyes locked on to Anya. "I'm sure you want a break..."

@ castle.

Anya had expected at least some sort of response from Geralt when she mentioned the coin that her father had given her but she hadn't so much as gotten a grunt. It made her curl her shoulders in on herself, trying to make herself as small as she could. She hated not knowing what was and wasn't allowed for her to do. She was expected to do so many things correctly in her castle but she had mastered that way of life. Now, she had no clue how she was supposed to act. It made her feel uncomfortable and she had opened her mouth to ask Geralt several times over but she could never manage to force herself to speak.

It was maybe three hours in before her feet started to truly ache, blisters forming on her heel and the sides of her feet. Anya bit into her bottom lip, tears threatening to fall but she forced herself to continue beside Geralt. She wanted to ask him to stop for even a few minutes to rest her feet but she had a feeling that he wouldn't care one way or another. This wasn't what she was used to but that wasn't Geralt's problem.

She breathed a small sigh of relief when Geralt stopped Roach, lifting her left foot up because it was hurting worse than the other. The growl that Geralt let out made her whimper as she shrank further away from him. Anya only shrugged at first, wondering if a verbal answer was even the right response. What did witchers expect from their omegas?

"If it pleases you, sir." Anya was surprised to even hear her own voice. She forced herself to turn to face him, her fingers beginning to shake as she gripped the edges of her dress. She wondered how much of a mess she had to have looked like, a thin layer of sweat covered her body but every so often when the wind picked up, she shivered and her teeth would chatter for a minute before she managed to calm herself. Shifting her weight to her other foot, Anya's right foot lifted slightly enough to take the weight off of her foot.

"Or we can continue," she offered, entirely unsure of what she was meant to do. Reaching up, Anya brushed her bangs out of her face before her hand dropped back to her side.

Geralt completely stepped away from Roach, knowing she wouldn't be going anywhere without his direction. A small smirk rose to his face as he watched Anya shift from one foot to the other, too afraid to even sit down without his permission first. Her feet must've been raw, and he was sure by the time they'd get to their destination, her feet would be bleeding.

"If it pleasures me..." Geralt breathed out, taking short strides towards Anya, counting every single step he took. He stopped inches away from her and brought his hands to her shoulders, forcing her to turn around. Geralt guided her off of the road, his thumbs pressing gently into the wings of her back, some small part of him hoping she could find comfort in it. He didn't want to traumatize the girl.

When they were far enough that they were shrouded from the road, and Geralt could barely hear Roach, he pushed Anya up against the nearest tree. "Don't try to tell me no, omega," Geralt's teeth gnashed in her direction as he barked, his hands that had gently rested on her shoulders now violently tugging the sleeves of her dress down her arms. Geralt's eyes frantically took in Anya's perfect, pale skin, as the dress dropped down her frame. His cock pressed against his pants, growing uncomfortably stiff. A grunt left him as he shoved the dress down her thighs, letting it then fall to the ground.

The Witcher took one of her breasts in his gloved hand, the smooth leather running over her nipple as he ran his thumb across it. Geralt smirked, showing most of his sharp canines as he watched it harden, before he leaned down and took it in his mouth, flicking his tongue across it repeatedly. He had her body pinned between him and the tree, she could squirm and wiggle all she liked, but there'd be no getting away from him.

@ castle.

Anya's breath caught in the back of her throat as Geralt neared her. Her shoulders pulled tight against her and she tried desperately to remember how to even breathe. Geralt smelled like leather and smoke; something she would have never thought would be inviting but she felt a pull toward him. She wanted to step closer to him, it felt natural, but she didn't. Without knowing what Geralt wanted from her, Anya was afraid of an adverse reaction. She tugged her bottom lip between her teeth, his words making her shiver as she was turned away from him, with his encouragement.

She wrapped her arms around herself, wincing with each step that she took. Anya jolted, her eyes widened in panic as Geralt shoved her into the nearest tree. His words dug into her core and she could only give a tiny 'uhhuh' before his hands shoved her dress from her body. Anya lifted her arms as if she was going to cover her chest before they fell back to her sides. "S-Sorry," she stuttered out the apology, squeezing her eyes shut. Maybe if she didn't see what was about to happen, it would be easier to get through.

She was so tense, anticipating Geralt pinning her against the tree and fucking her without any preparation. Anya couldn't have stopped the gasp that tore from her lips as his lips teased her nipple. Arching away from the tree, Anya whimpered as she began to squirm at the unusual feeling. Her fingers dug into the trunk of the tree behind her, not daring to reach out and touch Geralt. "I.. p-please," she whimpered as if she had any clue what she wanted at the moment.

Geralt pulled away from her chest, his eyes flickered up to her face as he kicked the side of his boot into her left foot, forcing her to stand with her legs farther spread. "Please what?" Geralt asked, his hand roaming between her legs as his body pressed against hers. The leather was cool and smooth against her slick cunt and when Geralt pulled his hand away, he brought it up to the light for inspection. "Looks like you might want it more than me, little one." Again, another devilish smile appeared on his face.

"Turn around for me, omega. Hands against the tree." Geralt commanded, stepping only a few inches away to give her room. His hand wrapped around the base of his cock and he gave himself a few pumps as he watched her. He thought it was ridiculous witchers still experienced their ruts, seeing as the trials they went through as boys sterilized them. There had only ever been a handful of of alpha witchers who had been able to find their true mates and breed, but one hadn't been heard of in hundreds of years. It probably wasn't even true.

His head tilted to the side as he watched her move, obeying his every word like the good little omega she was. Geralt stepped back up behind her, guiding the tip of his cock to her wet slit, and teasingly ran it up and down her folds before he brought it up to her opening. Pushing into her core, Geralt dug his hands into her hips, being less then gentle as he forced himself to fit in the young princess. His rut had him blinded, from the second he had pushed even a centimeter inside, he had lost himself.

@ castle.

Anya whimpered as Geralt kicked at her foot, her legs spreading further apart. She shivered, pressing herself back against the tree behind her. She could only whine in response to his prodding. She had no real clue what she was asking Geralt for, she could feel slick dripping from her core. Anya had touched herself a time or two before but it had never been anything like this before. Shame filled her when Geralt realized just how desperate she was. A blush appeared on her cheeks and she was thankful that it was getting later in the day, she hoped that Geralt couldn't see it. That would only further add to her humiliation.

Turning around to face the tree, Anya braced herself with her hands. She had always imagined her first time with an alpha to be in a bed of furs, wrapped in the alpha's arms and nothing but comfort and foreplay so that she was prepared for what was coming. Her head dropped forward to rest against one of her arms as she cried out, pressing into the tree. Geralt's cock stretched her, making her squirmed as she tried to move away from him. She had been wet and needy but nothing could have prepared her for how big he was.

Tears pricked the corners of her eyes as she dragged in a deep breath. Anya couldn't control her tears as Geralt fucked her. Her nails dug into the tree as she tried to focus on calming down. She couldn't have known one way or another but she was afraid being so vocal about the pain she was in would only serve to upset Geralt. "C-Can you.. I-f-fuck," Anya stutered, trying to pull herself further away from his grip. She knew that it was useless, she had nowhere to go. "G-Gentle, please!" It came out as a sharp yelp when Geralt gave a hard thrust, her breathe stolen from her.

Geralt could barely hear Anya's cries of pain, only completely focused on the way the cores of her wall squeezed him. Even if he was having a bit of a time burying himself inside of her, the moment he was all in, it was harder to pull out. It felt like she was sucking him into her. A deep groan fell from his lips as he started to rock his hips. His tip slammed into her cervix, grinding roughly into her. Geralt was still slamming his hips forward, as if he had more of himself to give, but every inch was splitting her open.

His deep groans and growls would be the only praise she would receive. Geralt wasn't a man of many words and even if he wanted to openly praise her, he wouldn't. She wasn't claimed by him. For the same reason, he saw no reason to be gentle. Lowering his head into the crook of her neck, Geralt pressed her body flat against the tree, so she couldn't squirm any longer. His teeth nipped along her shoulder and up her throat, as he continued to pound into her. The rough bark against her skin would leave small cuts and abrasions, but nothing that would really hurt her.

Geralt could already feel himself getting close to the edge. It didn't matter, in his rut he knew he'd be wanting to go repeatedly. If it was something, he at least planned on keeping his knot out of her. That was the last thing he'd want, being locked into place inside of a crying omega in the middle of the woods.

@ castle.

Anya swore that Geralt was tearing her in two, her tears streaming down her cheeks as she tried to curl in on herself. There was nowhere for her to go, the tree's bark digging into her skin and making this even more uncomfortable. She desperately wanted to ask Geralt to stop, maybe to reposition - anything that wasn't this. Pinned against a tree in the middle of the night, this wasn't the way a royal omega's first time was supposed to be. She whimpered, her shoulders tightening when Geralt's lips moved toward her throat. Her shoulders sagged at his next thrust, dread filling her. Was Geralt going to claim her? Was he going to knot her? She had no idea about witchers being sterile. The thought of having this alpha's pup terrified her because she was sure it would be far worse than what she had imagined.

Her bottom lip wobbled as she tried to contain her sobs, willing herself to relax. She could feel her instincts caving, wanting to please Geralt. A crying, sobbing omega that was begging him to stop wouldn't be what he wanted. She was convinced of it. Her pleas had fallen on deaf ears, making her feel even smaller than she already did. Or was this just what omegas were supposed to feel like? Was it a way to keep them in their place?

Covering her mouth with her hand, Anya whined as Geralt filled her. Her knees buckled and she was sure if Geralt hadn't pinned her in place, she would have fallen. She couldn't tell what hurt worse - was it her feet or her cunt? The little scraps on her body meant nothing to her, she hardly even noticed the way that the tree dug into her skin. Anya bit down on her bottom lip to keep from making noise as Geralt stepped away from her. She slid down the tree, wincing at the way it scraped her skin up before she hit the ground. She pressed herself closer, trying to curl herself around it.

Anya lifted her head enough that she could eye Geralt's feet, trying to gauge what he was going to want from her next. She wanted to bathe and dress and get his scent off of her but she knew that wasn't going to happen in the middle of the woods.

Geralt rammed himself into Anya few more harsh times as he filled her, loudly growling right up against her ear as he finished. If the witcher could see himself like this he, he'd probably be ashamed, but in his rut, he almost couldn't think at all. Pulling out of her, he stepped back and watched as her little body crumpled to the ground by his feet. His head tilted slightly to the side and his eyes narrowed as he looked down at the pathetic thing. Something told him, he'd be the only one enjoying his rut. Pulling his pants back in place, Geralt's breath came out in little short pants as he tried to calm his racing heart. The relief Anya had provided him was helping for the moment. He didn't feel as pent up, like a beast ready to break free of his cage. For the moment, he felt relaxed, taken care of. It was almost a shock to see the young girl crying at his feet, now, curled up in on herself like she had just been through something so horrible, and it made the witcher's stomach drop. He had been so rough to cause this?

Bending down, he grabbed Anya's little sundress that laid on the ground near her, before grabbing her by her shoulder and forcing her to sit up. "Let's go, omega." He held the dress out to her, his eyes no longer pitch black, but instead the normal orange. Once the dress was over her shoulders and covering her properly again, Geralt decided on a whim to scoop her up into his arms. He wouldn't be so cruel to make her walk along side him, with her wobbling knees and the mess of him and her slick crawling down her legs. Carrying her back to his horse, Geralt looked up at Roach and gave the horse a stern look, knowing he was breaking his promise. Roach didn't like carrying others, but she would.

Geralt sat Anya down on her feet just by Roach, though his hands still lingered on her arms, to keep her steady. The thin dress offered coverage, but probably not as much as Anya would prefer at the time. Tears slipped down her face while sweat covered her body, along with little traces of smeared blood where the tree had scraped her delicate skin. Geralt brought his hand to his throat and unclasped his dark, long cloak from his shoulders and without one word, draped it over the small omega. "Better?" The word came out with a small grunt, and his eyes flicked to hers once more, before he turned and placed his foot in the stirrup of the saddle, before jumping up to mount his horse. "C'mon, omega." Geralt sighed once he was situated, holding his hand out for her to take to help her up onto Roach.

@ castle.

Anya's lips parted as she wondered if she could protest leaving already. She wasn't necessarily fond of staying out in the woods but she didn't think she could continue walking for much longer. Even standing on her feet made her feet throb, aching and desperate for a rest. The words died before she could speak them, remembering all too quickly that she was an omega. An alpha's word was law, even if Geralt hadn't claimed her yet. She lifted her arms so that he could pull the dress on her body, shivering slightly as it fell to her feet. She turned to start toward where Roach was, only to freeze when Geralt scooped her into his arms.

She melted into his chest, lifting her chin enough that she could press her nose into his neck. Whether she wanted to or not, she was finding comfort in his scent. Anya's eyes screwed shut as Geralt carried her out of the woods. She was confused by Geralt carrying her but she wasn't about to complain, the smile relief she felt not having to walk was enough that could have brought tears to her eyes.

Anya visibly flinched as Geralt set her back on her feet, her face scrunching from the pain but she managed to keep her complaint to herself. Before she could think much further, Geralt's cloak was placed on her shoulders and her eyes widened. She froze in her place, unsure of how she was supposed to react to him. She couldn't deny how much of a relief it was to feel the warmth encircling her. Anya was quick to nod her head, biting down on the inside of her lip. "Thank you," she murmured, pulling the cloak closer to her body while lifting the edge of it, not wanting mud to ruin it. The height difference between the two meant Geralt's cloak dwarfed her.

She drew in a deep breath, willing herself to prepare to walk beside him. Anya hoped that they weren't far from where Geralt wanted to settle. She hesitated when Geralt offered his hand out to her. Her eyes flicked from his face to his hand and back again several times over, seemingly trying to contemplate what the right move was. Eventaully, she reached out and allowed Geralt to lift her into the air like she weighed nothing at all. She shivered before she pressed closer against him, her eyes fluttering shut. An alpha was giving her attention and her inner omega couldn't help but preen, despite her shame that had settled in the pit of her stomach. She could feel him leaking from her core with each movement the horse made.

"Thank you," she reiterated, turning her nose inward to press against the fabric of Geralt's cloak. It smelled like him and her body was already beginning to react as she calmed.

Geralt pulled Anya back on the saddle against his chest, his arms wrapping around her sides as he held the reins in front of her. Hopefully the cloak made her feel comfortable enough, and would shield any prying eyes from her body that they may come across. He made sure the princess was situated before he urged Roach to continue down the road towards Aedirn.

The first small mining town they came across, Geralt decided to stop. The sun was setting and while he could be considerate, he knew Anya probably wanted to clean up. Geralt stopped Roach by their stables and jumped down, before reaching up and grabbing Anya's hand and the side of her waist and helping her down. He took care of Roach before he led Anya into the inn, keeping her mostly hidden behind his back.

"One room." Geralt demanded at the desk, pulling payment from his pocket and laying it down on the counter. The man have Geralt a sideways glance, but huffed and slid him a key before grabbing the coin up. The white haired Witcher tried to keep his head down, wishing he had his cloak to keep his head hidden. "C'mon," he grunted towards Anya, guiding her up the stairs quickly up to their room. The inn tonight seemed pretty quiet and mostly empty, which Geralt was thankful. If it got busier and he was spotted, that might spell a bit of trouble.

He stalked behind Anya as he pointed the way to their room, using the key to unlock the door once they found it. Geralt shut the door behind himself and sighed, finally letting his shoulders relax. He was so ready to slip out of his leather armor and relax. He glanced up at Anya as he stepped further into the room, pointing towards the small wash room. Lucky for her, this inn was a bit nicer than the usual ones he stayed in. "Go clean up."

@ castle.

Anya felt like she had just been drifting off to sleep when Roach came to a stop outside of the tavern. She huffed as she lifted her head, her eyes finding the inn and studying it even as Geralt helped her down front the horse. Automatically, she held onto the cloak so that it wouldn't get dirtied. She would clean it if need be but some selfish part of her didn't want to because then Geralt's scent wouldn't be as strong. She followed as close to Geralt as she dared, keeping a step or two behind him so that she would be concealed. It seemed like what Geralt wanted and she was more than willing to do that for him. Geralt hadn't made her first time nearly as comfortable as she had once dreamed about but if making him happy meant he wasn't going to hurt her as much, she was all for it.

Following Geralt up the steps in the back corner of the tavern, Anya let the cloak hang behind her. She dropped her bag to the ground by the small, makeshift bed in the corner before she pulled the cloak from her neck. Anya folded it carefully before draping it across the chair in the corner of the room.

Anya only nodded before she turned to head into the wash room that Geralt had pointed her toward. She washed as much as she could, reluctant to pull her sandals from her feet. Anya whimpered at the sight, most of her blisters had been rubbed completely raw and there were some spots that were bleeding. She hissed between gritted teeth as she dipped her feet into the water in an effort to clean them as much as she could before she finally left the wash room behind her. Her sandals hung from her fingers as she rested on her toes, trying to take as much pressure from her feet as she could.

"I.. do you want.. me to get some food?" Anya's voice was quiet. She had no idea what she was supposed to do here. Anya wanted to provide for him and if this had been within the walls of her castle, she would have known how to but in some strange, foreign tavern, she had no way of navigating her duties toward him. "Some ale?" She suggested, already moving toward her bag to pull the small pouch of coins from the top. "I should have enough.. I think. I'm not sure how much our food will cost..."