《A Demon’s Turmoil》


 Chapter One

    The throne room was filled with the nobility court members as the general gave the latest reports of those on the frontline. He was reporting on the current state of the army, but most were not listening as they wondered if there would ever be an end. The air was thick with tension as the weight of decades of ruthless wars began to wear the kingdom down. Avilian was the largest of the human kingdoms and the main provider to the human army that fought against the violent demon hordes. The two species had been at odds for hundreds of years. Any attempt at peace being only a fleeting one that never lasted more than a few years at best. The most recent Demon King was especially ruthless and seemed determined to annihilate the human race.


    It was only the two that seemed at odds as there were peace treaties among all other territories, even with the demon kingdom. It was only the two largest that seemed incapable of reaching a lasting agreement. Due to those treaties and constant fighting, the other kingdoms had chosen to remain neutral in the wars, remaining cordial while keeping a sharp eye for signs of threats aimed towards them. This meant that no aid would come from the highly, magically adept elves or the machinery inclined Fullangr. They were on their own, but how much longer could they hold out this time?


    A sudden flash of light blinded them as red smoke filled the center of the throne room, filling the air with a sulfuric burn. Kneeling in the center was a man¡­or at first glance what looked like a man. The very distinct curved horns running along the top of his head and folded red wings were definitely not human. The general drew his sword immediately and ordered the other knights in the throne room to surround the threat.


    Eveleen had moved in front of the king and princess as well, her palms glowing softly as she readied her magic should the need arise. It wouldn¡¯t be enough to kill the threat, but may slow it down long enough for the two to escape. The demon slowly rose from his kneeling position and raised up both his hands, palms out. Eveleen saw this first and shouted, ¡°Wait!¡± When the knights made to rush the demon. They stopped and looked to her confused and the general glanced back annoyed that his orders had been overridden.


    She wasn¡¯t sure why, but something was telling her that they shouldn¡¯t react rashly. She was also fascinated at the sight before her. It was unnerving to see a demon so close and how he was nothing like she had thought they would. She had always assumed they looked like the illustrations in the books she studied. But apart from the horns, wings and fangs he looked like any other human. Fully standing now, hands still up in a surrendering position, he looked around and grinned-fangs flashing.


    ¡°Well, at least one of you humans is civilized.¡± The demon said, red eyes landing on her. Eveleen''s glare sharpened, not responding. Unfazed the demon began to reach into the inside of his vest. The motion made all the knights tense and step closer. The demon slowly pulled out a rolled up parchment and held it up for them to see.


    ¡°I am only a messenger sent to deliver this. It is an offer that I think you will be most pleased with.¡± He said and held the missive up in invitation out towards the throne. The king nodded and one of the knights took the parchment and brought it back to him to read. Eveleen heard him suck in a breath and noticed that the demon grinned as well, meaning he had heard it despite the distance.


    ¡°Impossible.¡± He said and looked to the demon who was smirking at them now as he bowed with a flourish, crossing his arm in front of him as he bent forward.


    ¡°No, just improbable. His highness is quite serious in his decision. King Ronnek wishes to make peace.¡± The demon announced and murmurs immediately swept through the room. Eveleen frowned,


    ¡°Ronnek? That was not the Demon King¡¯s name.¡± She said, suspicion clear in her voice. The demon looked back to her and smiled, nodding.


    ¡°True. However, there has been a change in power and the new king wishes to end this war. He is offering a deal that would ensure a permanent peace between our two territories. You may offer your sincere gratitude now.¡± He said, bowing sarcastically once more, his blonde ponytail falling over his shoulder as he did. Eveleen finally took her eyes off the demon to look back at the king who was still staring at the message in disbelief and she noticed his knuckles were turning white with how hard he was gripping the parchment.


    ¡°I¡¯m waiting.¡± Growled the demon and she looked back to see him staring up at them annoyed, still bowed. She stepped over, blocking the king from view, drawing those red eyes to her once more.


    ¡°Forgive us for being rude. However, I¡¯m sure you understand that this is a lot to absorb out of seemingly nowhere. If you could relay to King¡­Ronnek, that we would like at least the consideration to allow a response by tomorrow morning.¡± She said and it seemed to amuse the demon as his red eyes danced with mirth as he straightened.


    ¡°Of course. We are not unreasonable. I shall let my king know you are simply shocked with joy and need a moment to fully come to terms with this grandiose announcement. We have much to prepare as well, so the extra time is not unwelcome.¡± There was another bright flash and just as suddenly as he had arrived, he disappeared. Eveleen released the breath she had been holding and turned fully to face the king. He was frowning at the parchment and his lips were set in a hard line.


    Odette knelt down and placed her hand worriedly on his arm, ¡°Father? What is it?¡± She whispered and he shook his head, covering his eyes suddenly. His next words froze them all,


    ¡°A marriage proposal.¡±


    ____________________________________________________________


    ¡°You cannot be considering this!?¡± Eveleen shouted. They had moved to the king¡¯s chambers and now it was only her, Odette and Abram. Odette held out her hands to her and sighed.


    ¡°What choice do I have? He wants to form an alliance through marriage and it is my duty to the people.¡± Odette argued and Eveleen held out her own hands to reason with the woman.


    ¡°Duty be damned! Odette this isn¡¯t right! You were to be married to Edward! He¡¯ll be heartbroken if you go through with this.¡± At the mention of her beloved fiance, Odette flinched back and tears filled her eyes. She didn¡¯t concede though and shook her head.


    ¡°He specified a union between the royal families. That means me, Eveleen. Edward is a smart, kind man he-he will understand¡­why I must do this.¡± She whispered, her voice shaking and giving away how not okay she was with this arrangement. Eveleen looked to the king for support and he hummed in thought.


    ¡°I agree with you Eveleen, however I see no alternative. If we want to do what¡¯s best for the people and end the suffering these wars are causing then we will need to accept his proposal. Odette, sweet daughter¡­I am sorry, but it must be done.¡± He said, hugging his daughter. She returned the hug, tears spilling from her eyes and Eveleen felt her own eyes sting.


    It was logical that it was such a small price to pay for the peace of the entire territory, but she refused to accept the exact price. Odette had so much to leave behind if she went to the Demon King. She had a man who loved her and whom she loved with her entire being. She had a father, friends and subjects that would mourn the loss of their beautiful princess. No¡­there was no way she was accepting this as ¡®the way it has to be¡¯.


    She owed these two people her life. King Abram took her in as a child. She was wandering the streets with no memory of who she was or where she came from. Then she had been caught stealing from the royal kitchens, desperate for something to eat. She had attacked the knight with magic on instinct and when the king heard he asked if she would like to stay there and learn to better control her gift. He had given her the name Eveleen and took her in as an adopted daughter while watching over her studies.


    Magic users were rare among humans and revered as gifts from the Heavens to give humans a fighting chance in this crazy world. She had been apprehensive at first, but the king was a gentle man and Odette had treated her like a sister rather than an intruder. The two had become her family in the absence of the memories surrounding her past life. She loved them so much and would do anything to repay their kindness. An idea scratched at the corners of her mind and she frowned as she knew it was risky. She looked at the two people that meant everything to her. Odette noticed her staring and held out her arm, inviting her into the hug. Eveleen felt her heart twist and she went to them, feeling their warmth wrap around her. It was all she needed to solidify her determination and what she would do.


    ¡°I will protect you both with the knowledge I have gained and the secrets I have learned.¡±


    __________________________________________________________


    Eveleen knocked on the door to the princess¡¯ room where she was supposed to be getting ready to depart. After sending word that they were accepting King Ronnek¡¯s proposal, they were informed that in three days time someone would be sent to retrieve the bride. There was no response and Eveleen frowned, turning the door handle and entering slowly.


    ¡°Odette? Are you in-¡± Her words cut off as her cheeks brightened along with the two lovers who separated immediately. Eveleen shot Edward an apologetic look, wishing she could tell him that he needn¡¯t worry, but that would ruin her plan.


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry. But I was hoping to have a moment with my sister to¡­to say goodbye.¡± She whispered, not lying. Edward nodded and cast one final heartbroken glance at Odette before exiting the room. Eveleen waited until she was sure he was gone and not waiting outside the door before she turned to the other woman. Odette looked like a pale shadow of herself. Her eyes were sunken in and the light in their blue depths were gone. Her pale blonde hair fell flat, missing the bouncy curls that once framed her lovely face. Tears pooled in the princess¡¯ eyes and Eveleen could tell she was desperately trying to hold them back. She went to the woman that had become her big sister and wrapped her arms around her, hushing her as she crumbled into raspy sobs.


    "Oh Eveleen. What am I to do? In only a few moments¡­my home. Everything will be taken from me. I thought I had resolved myself to this, but-but¡­" She broke off, covering her mouth to suppress another sob.


    ¡°Odette. Everything will be okay. I promise it will."


    "No. It won''t. I don''t even know what this Ronnek will be like. What if he''s as cruel and violent as his father was and this is all a trap!" Odette fretted and Eveleen stroked her hair, not countering her words as she had wondered the same thing. Which was also why-


    "I need you to know that I love you and father so much. Please tell him that for me.¡± Eveleen whispered, feeling her heart twist as she realized there was a chance she would never see either of them again. Odette pulled back, sniffling and staring down at Eveleen in confusion.


    ¡°Evie¡­why would I need to tell father-¡± The words cut off as the princess gasped, the golden mist surrounding her head making her eyelids heavy. Eveleen gently eased the woman to the ground as she fought the sleep spell taking over.


    ¡°Evie¡­what are-why¡­don¡¯t do this.¡± Odette slurred, the magic impossible to fight as she fell into a deep sleep that would last just long enough. Eveleen kissed her sister¡¯s cheek and whispered back,


    ¡°Forgive me. But I can¡¯t think of any other way.¡± She stood up and looked at her reflection in the mirror. She would need to work quickly as someone was set to come to the room soon. She took a deep breath and began to chant the words needed to change herself. Gold light swirled around her, shimmering as the magic altered her appearance. Her red hair lightened until it looked like it had been kissed by the sun and her green eyes shifted to a deep blue. She took a deep breath as she stared at the mirror and Odette stared back.


    The spell wouldn¡¯t last forever, but it would serve what she needed. She looked down at her sleeping ¡®twin¡¯ and smiled, kneeling down and cupping her cheek.


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry that I didn¡¯t tell you my plan. I knew you would do everything to stop me and I couldn¡¯t risk this one chance we both have. Live happily ever after for me okay.¡± A soft knock at the door alerted her that it was time.


    _________________________________________________________


    Heads turned as ¡®Princess Odette¡¯ stepped out into the sunlight and many were openly weeping as they watched their treasured rose make her way down the steps, heading for the party that was waiting to steal her away. She flinched back at the beast harnessed to the otherwise normal looking carriage. It was shaped like a horse, three times the size and covered in scales instead of fur. The four golden eyes on the side of its head gleamed as it struggled against the metal bit in its mouth. Flashing carnivorous teeth briefly as it tossed its massive head, its black mane swishing to the other side of its long neck.


    She swallowed, but managed to remain composed as she turned to face her father.


    "My darling Odette, I wish it could be different."


    "I understand. It has to be done and I''m the only who can do this."


    "I always thought when I saw you off to be married it would be a bittersweet day¡­and the Eveleen would be here. Where could-"


    "Evie was so distraught when we said our goodbyes that I told her to stay behind. She is in my chambers and will need you once I''m gone."


    He nodded and gave her one final desperate hug, whispering how sorry he was and that he was so proud of her. The words made tears fill her own eyes and she whispered back,


    The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings.


    ¡°Thank you for all you¡¯ve done for me father, I will carry all you¡¯ve taught me and survive this. I promise.¡± She knew that was not a promise she could guarantee, but pulled back, turning to the other man she needed to say goodbye to. Edward was there as captain of the king¡¯s personal guard and so she was lucky she would get to say a brief word to him as well, only hoping he would understand. She hugged him and whispered in his ear,


    ¡°Thank you. Please look after my father and sister for me. I¡¯m trusting you with this, my little ward.¡± She noticed the way his eyes widened and she cupped his cheek affectionately before turning from him, happy he had caught the nickname she had always used for him.


    Waiting for her was the same demon that had delivered the first message and he opened the door for her, offering his hand as well. She frowned, but allowed him to help her into the carriage and took her seat. She glanced out the window as the door closed and felt tears pricking at the corners of her eyes.


    A loud crack filled the air and the carriage jolted as the beast jumped straight into a gallop, quickly taking her away from her home. She finally allowed the tears to fall silently as there was no longer anyone to put on a brave face for. She looked out at the scenery that flew by at their reckless pace. She jumped when a face swung down peering at her through the window. The demon gave her an upside down grin,


    ¡°Forgive me princess. We were unsure how your human body would react to being teleported by our magic so we chose the second fastest mode of transport. We shall arrive at the castle in only a few hours. I recommend you get some rest during that time.¡± He said and she nodded, frowning at the absurdity of the ¡®gesture¡¯ of concern from the beast. Considering they were basically kidnapping her away from her family and home.


    No. That wasn¡¯t entirely fair and she knew that this was her decision. Still, she didn¡¯t respond beyond a nod. Not that the demon seemed to need a response as he disappeared from sight again. The ride was rough and the jostling made it worse with their speed that it was impossible for her to rest even if her heart could slow down long enough to allow such a reprieve.


    Just as she was beginning to worry she would embarrass herself by retching all over the inside of the carriage it began to slow. She thanked the heavens and lifted up the curtains to peek out. She had lowered them as the blurs flying by had made her more dizzy and sick. Homes and shops lined the road and she wondered if they were passing through another human village before entering the demon territory.


    Her eyes widened when the people began to turn at the carriage and openly stare in amazement. Their varied appearances mimicked humans, but just as with the man riding on the top of the carriage there were giveaway details that she was inside the demon kingdom and these were its subjects.


    She swallowed against the nervous knot that had solidified in her chest as she leaned back from the window. She kept telling herself that it was fine, that it would work out, but there was always a chance that what she had read was wrong. After all, the people didn¡¯t look like she had thought and the kingdom looked like any other. She was beginning to worry that she wouldn¡¯t be able to fulfill her duty.


    ¡°No. Don¡¯t start doubting yourself now. You made a vow to protect those you love. Father. Odette. I will make sure you all live safe lives, even if it costs me mine.¡±


    ___________________________________________________________


    She was immediately brought to a building that looked like a temple. She took a moment to admire the building which wasn¡¯t the traditional white marble, but instead was a polished granite. It was still very impressive and had an aura of authority surrounding the building. She glanced back at the massive castle that towered over everything else. Nothing compared to that building which she would soon call home.


    She was guided through the long hallways and chanced glances around the room, noting the artwork that depicted what she assumed were moments in history. At least if this were like a human temple.


    One tapestry caught her attention and she stopped walking, turning towards it fully. Her eyes widened at the magnificently stitch beast. Golden eyes glinting with hidden intelligence as its long, slender neck wound down the tapestry''s length. Fire dancing around the ancient one as it seemed to stare directly into her soul. At the bottom was an inscription and she read the words in her mind.


    "Let the mind be free of the Earth and the body shall soar to the Heavens. Defy all laws of nature if that be your will" She smiled softly, not being able to help herself.


    "Princess?" She was jolted from her wandering and turned to see the demon staring at her with a raised brow, glancing up at the tapestry briefly before a frown formed between his brows. She quickly lowered her head and began to follow again. She had to be careful for now and act as a demure, frightened princess. The large double doors at the end of the hallway were pulled open and she looked up to see him waiting for her.


    Taller than any of the other demons she had passed. He was built like a soldier and she wondered if he had ever been to the battlefield during the war. His horns curved along his head before flaring at the end, pointing towards the sky. His hair looked like the night''s darkness as it swept down his back, between his large, folded wings. They reminded her of the beasts'' on the tapestry except that they matched his hair. When he looked up and locked his crimson red eyes on her she swallowed against the knot in her throat.


    "Well, the frightened part won''t be difficult to fake."


    ________________________________________________________


    Ronnek turned as the doors opened, signaling it was time. His breath caught as they revealed a vision like no other. Her beauty had only blossomed over the years and he felt his heart skip at the sight of her.


    He had never dreamed this could be a reality, but he had gained enough power and support to take control of his fate. He felt a small smile pull at his lips as she walked closer, her ocean blue eyes watching him apprehensively.


    He knew this was expected. She was frightened and unsure of everything suddenly happening. For her it was all out of nowhere, but for him¡­he had dreamed of nothing else since he was a boy.


    She was brought to his side and the Soothsayer began the ceremony. He didn''t listen to the words, having heard them so many times and chose to instead watch his bride. Her fingers were clasped together and he saw them tremble slightly. She was holding herself together though as there were no tears in her eyes, only a gleam of determination.


    He couldn''t help the grin at the steel hidden in his bride. He had always known she had it in her. She chanced a glance at him and caught him watching her. Her eyes widened and a faint dusting of pink spread across her cheeks.


    It would take time, but she would grow accustomed to life here with him. He would do everything in his power to gain her heart. All he needed was her here, where he could at least try.


    The ceremony reached the final part and he turned to face his bride fully. Odette. His sweet Odette. She mimicked him hesitantly and flinched slightly when he lifted the blade on the table. His eyes locked with hers again and he read the fear in them.


    "Do not worry." He soothed and watched as her cheeks heated more. He held up the blade. It was intimidating if you did not know its purpose. The black blade was made to mimic a slithering snake rather than a straight edge. There were red ancient runes etched into it from hilt to tip. They would be the source of the ancient magic that would bind them, and their kingdoms together.


    ¡°We only need to make a small cut into the palm of the hand and recite the words that will bind you both to them.¡± The Soothsayer nodded, her braided strands rocking with the motion. She held out her hand to Ronnek,


    ¡°You first, your majesty.¡± Ronnek nodded and placed the blade along his left palm. He didn¡¯t need to put any pressure as the blade was kept in pristine condition at all times. The cut was small, but deep enough to draw blood. He looked at his bride and noticed some of the resolve in her eyes had faded as she looked to the red line marking his hand. He hesitated in handing her the blade and whispered,


    ¡°Would you prefer me to do it for you? It does not need to be self-inflicted.¡± She startled and looked up at him and his breath caught as those sapphires shined at him. He found himself just admiring them when he swore he saw them shift to emerald. It was the briefest moment and if he hadn¡¯t been staring so deeply, he would have missed it. Before he could fully grasp what he had seen, she lowered her eyes and took the blade from him.


    ¡°Thank you, but¡­I know what I must do here.¡± She whispered and held up her right palm, the blade in her left. She took in a calming breath and only winced slightly as the blade sliced her delicate skin. She placed the blade back on the table and looked up at him again with those deep, blue eyes. Ronnek reached out and linked their hands together, his larger fingers sliding along her slender ones, pressing their palms together. Immediately, when their blood mixed he felt a bolt of heat centered at their joined hands.


    ¡°Now we bind these two souls together as well as the destiny of two kingdoms.¡± The Soothsayer said, then switched to their language, speaking the spell that would bind his and her people together in peace. This was not a normal marriage ceremony as the magic swirled around their hands. This was his promise to her that everything he had done was to ensure her the peaceful life she deserved.


    ¡°Speak your vow now, your highness. You may speak it so the princess understands if you wish.¡± She said and he frowned, wanting Odette to know what he was saying, but knowing the spell would be more effective if he spoke it in the proper language.


    ¡°With this bond, I vow that never again will the demonkind strive for the annihilation of the human race. Should any hold such malice in their hearts, they will be stripped of all magic within them. They will lose their demon strength and stand equal to those they seek to harm. Finally, they will be stripped of their last connection to the ancient ones and be bound to the Earth, denied the Heavens and freedom above.


    ¡°And I vow to you. That I will hold you dear in my heart. I will forsake all other creatures, save you. You shall be my mate for all eternity as I will never swear my heart to another. I will make sure to do all within my power to protect you from any that seek you harm and will love you until I breathe my last breath.¡±


    The second vow was not a part of the spell, but he wanted to make it as it was truly how he felt and only wished she could understand. He noticed that she was staring at him differently and the blush to her cheeks was a full crimson now as she swallowed. He wondered what her guarded look meant, but couldn¡¯t read it fully. Then it was her turn and the Soothsayer told her what to say. She nodded and took a deep breath before speaking clearly. He was impressed that she spoke the words well, only a slight accent as she spoke the foreign tongue.


    ¡°With this bond, I vow that never again will any man or woman strive for the destruction of the demonfolk. Should any hold such malice in their hearts they shall be struck with the curse of ages. All strength shall leave their body as they grow frail and meek. Let those that seek to end this peace be stripped of their ability to ever hold a weapon again. They shall be as frail as the dust that floats in the wind.¡± She said and then looked at him and shocked him when her fingers tightened around his. He looked at their hands and frowned as he swore he saw specks of gold mixed in with the red.


    The Soothsayer clapped her hands together, finishing the chanting that would seal the spell into finality. They unconsciously held tighter as the force of the magic felt like it was searing their flesh as it grew brighter. When it was over, their hands held the red runes of the vow wrapped around them as if they had been inked into the skin.


    ¡°Now for the actual binding of this marriage per demon law. Your highness.¡± The Soothsayer gestured and he swallowed, not understanding why he was suddenly more nervous. This should be the easier part compared to the ancient spell they had just cast and the dangers of it going wrong. He slowly released his hold on her hand, leaving his fingers there in a gentle touch as they slowly slid up her arm.


    She didn¡¯t flinch away as his hand reached her neck and softly brushed back her hair. He could faintly hear her heart rate increase and felt his own match the temp as he leaned closer to her. He applied the slightest pressure of his fingers to tilt her neck, exposing the juncture at her shoulder for him. She wasn¡¯t fighting or struggling as if she knew what was coming and accepted him. He felt his blood heat and growled low in his chest as he opened his mouth, his fangs flashing before sinking into her sweet flesh. She gasped and bit back a cry as first the pain of the bite hit her. Then he heard her let out a soft moan and he growled again in answer as his magic sealed her to him as his mate.


    When he pulled back and looked at her neck, there was no wound. Only an intricate seal that was unique to him, marking her as his mate, warning all others away. She was officially his bride¡­his queen¡­his mate. And he breathed a sigh of relief that after all these years of struggle, it was over. He opened his eyes and smiled, surprising her by pressing his forehead to hers and whispering,


    ¡°Finally, Odette¡­you are mine.¡±


    _______________________________________________________________


    Eveleen fretted inside the chambers that had been given to her as she knew time was running out. She could feel the magic running out and soon she would be exposed. She didn¡¯t know what would happen, but she knew that the king would rightfully be furious at having been tricked. She blushed as she remembered his words. She had understood every word and had felt a stab of guilt at the sincerity in them, knowing she was not the woman they were meant for.


    She had expected it to be like a trip to the market. A brief exchange of words before the transaction was complete and both parties were satisfied. She had not been expecting him to vow his heart to her¡­well to Odette. This was more complicated than she had first thought. She had assumed that even if he had chosen Odette as she was the princess of the largest kingdom, but now it made sense as she wasn¡¯t the only human princess available.


    The king held affection for her sister and had chosen her because of it, not because of a political union. She bit her lip in worry and paced more as she felt another stab of guilt. It was unfair, but even if she had known this fact it wouldn¡¯t have changed her decision. After all, Odette did not feel the same and had love in her heart for another. Eveleen would have still taken her place and left to be married in her stead. The mark at her neck heated and she blushed, reaching up to run her fingers along the spot.


    She had read of demon bonding, but had no idea of the sensation that would follow. How could she? Humans only had the vaguest knowledge of demonfolk and so she could never have guessed the heat it had filled her with. She had felt the sensation pool low in her stomach and even now it caused her to react nervously, unsure of the strange, conflicting feeling raging inside her.


    The door latch clicked and she startled, turning to see Ronnek coming inside. She swallowed again as she looked up into his crimson eyes. She had never felt so small before as this male towered over her and seemed to make the room they were in feel tighter.


    ¡°Are you cold?¡± He asked and she frowned, caught off guard by the question and he gestured to her slight trembling. She wrapped her arms across her chest and shook her head.


    ¡°N-No¡­just¡­uneasy.¡± She answered honestly and he hummed, scratching the back of his head and she swore she saw a faint blush at his ears. He looked at her and smiled softly. He moved closer and slowly raised his arms, making his intent to touch her known and she felt another stab of guilt, slightly mixed with fear. He was being so gentle because he thought she was Odette, would it last when he learned the truth? He rested his hands on her upper arms, caressing them as if they would break under his fingertips.


    ¡°I can understand that much at least. But do not fear princess, for I will not harm you. I-I have longed for this moment for so long. The last thing I would want is to hurt or frighten you. I promise that I will not hurt you little one.¡± He whispered and tried to draw her to him, but she resisted and shook her head, taking a step back so that she was not in his grasp.


    ¡°You cannot promise me that.¡± She said and sighed. He frowned and opened his mouth to speak, but she held up her hand to stop him. She could feel the last of the magic fade and looked up at him, her fear on full display now.


    ¡°Don¡¯t promise me that until you know the full truth.¡± She said and watched as his eyes widened while gold swirled around her once more. Only this time it was drifting outwards, taking the changes with it. Her hair darkened and returned to the fiery strands they had been before and she knew her eyes were returning to the green from before as they looked to the king.


    He took a step back before his stance completely changed and his eyes sharpened. Hardening in anger as he growled, flashing his fangs. His hands that had touched her so gently were balled into fists at his side, shaking slightly.


    ¡°What sorcery is this?¡± He spat, his fury seeping into his voice, making it even deeper and darker than before. Before she could answer he was on her, moving faster than she could ever hope to react. She gasped, grabbing the wrist of the hand that held her neck with both hands, feebly attempting to pull it away. He growled and drew her to him, his eyes darkening. She struggled against his grip, but there was no way she could ever match a demon and the spell had used most of her mana that there was no spell powerful enough to push him back.


    ¡°You humans tricked me. I came to you in good faith and you decide to fool me? Even if it cost me my wings I will destroy that old man who dared to-¡±


    ¡°My father had nothing to do with this! Nor did Odette. I acted alone! This was all my plan and they had no part in it. If you must punish someone, punish me, but leave them alone!¡± She cried out and he growled, his grip tightening. She coughed, struggling to draw in a breath. Suddenly the mark at her neck burned brightly and he snarled, releasing her so that she dropped to the floor. She choked in air, hand clasped to her throat as it burned with each draw of breath. She looked up at him as he held his wrist in his other hand, glaring down at her.


    ¡°It shouldn¡¯t count¡­Why did you do this? If it¡¯s as you claim and you acted alone, what good did you expect to come of this?¡± He demanded and she took in a deep breath, forcing herself to her feet again. She stumbled slightly and noticed he almost went to her, but seemed to force himself back, cursing under his breath.


    ¡°I wanted to protect my sister. This marriage had to happen in order for there to be peace among our kind, but Odette is in love with another.¡± She heard him take in a breath and release it in a low growl. She felt another sting of pity and must have let it leak into her eyes because his own hardened further before turning them away.


    ¡°I love my sister and so I decided to take her place so that she may have a chance at happiness, and I believed that once I told you what I can do you wouldn¡¯t be so angry with being tricked. I¡¯m sorry. I didn¡¯t know that-that-¡±


    ¡°That this marriage was not just a political union to me.¡± He growled and she flinched back, nodding. Silence filled the room in a thick tension as neither spoke further for several ticks of the clock. Finally, he looked at her again, eyes narrowed.


    ¡°What did you mean once I learned what you can do? What could you possibly offer that would have made you think I¡¯d be okay with being made into a fool?¡± It was the words she was waiting for and with a deep breath she straightened.


    ¡°I can read Ancient Draconian.¡±


    ¡°Liar.¡± He hissed, stepping towards her again, but she didn¡¯t flinch from the threat and instead spoke back.


    "Let the mind be free of the Earth and the body shall soar to the Heavens. Defy all laws of nature if that be your will" She said in Demon tongue and he stopped, eyes widening.


    ¡°How did you¡­that tapestry¡­even I cannot read it and only know it because of history books.¡±


    ¡°I told you. I don¡¯t know why or how, but I can read the ancient tongue of the Dragons. If you agree to leave Odette and my people alone, then I will help you obtain what demons have coveted for eons.¡± She stepped closer to him and placed her finger against the center of his chest and heard him take in another sharp breath. The sound made her heart skip and the mark on her neck sizzled with heat.


    ¡°I will help you find your ancestors'' lost magic and return it to your people. I will make you all whole again.¡±

 Chapter Two

    Ronnek sat glowering in his study as he went over everything that had happened over the course of a few hours. How could it all go so wrong? His plan, everything he had done to get to this point was for nothing. He stared into the fire warming the room and rubbed his forehead. It¡¯s true he had strived for a permanent peace solution for the benefit of his people, but he had really thought he would get to see Odette again. That she would be his after all was done.


    Instead he was bonded to a woman he had never met before, one that was as mysterious as the ancient language she could read. His frown deepened as he thought of her again. Eveleen. She had told him her name before he stormed out of her chambers, needing to retreat as his confusion threatened to consume him. When she had touched him¡­even that small touch, had set his demon blood on fire and he had felt a desire to hold her.


    He growled at himself and stood, pacing in frustration. She was not the mate he wanted and the bond should not count, but unfortunately that was not how it worked. He would have to search for a way to break his binding. It was not unheard of in history, but the act had long been abandoned as they usually didn¡¯t make mistakes in their chosen mates. So any mention of how to perform the ritual was probably as lost as what had happened to the Dragons.


    He stopped pacing at that thought as her words rang through his mind once more, "I will make you all whole again.¡± Could she really keep a promise like that? Demons were said to have descended directly from Dragons, the most powerful creatures to ever walk the Earth or soar through the Heavens. Their horns and wings are similar to that of the giants they resembled. However, their strength and magic were said to only be a shadow of the capabilities of their ancestors.


    There was an old legend that said the demons¡¯ link to that ancient magic was stolen by a human sorceress that tricked the Demon King into giving it to her. Having met this witch and her ability to fool him so thoroughly, Ronnek wondered if the legend was true. Since his kind had lost the ability to read Ancient Draconian there was no way of knowing what had truly happened or where the magic had gone. If it was stolen or simply lost through the generations was unknown. But that legend had also been rumored as the beginning of the two species always being at odds with each other.


    If he was to take anything good from this unwanted union it was that his people would finally know peace after decades of war and be able to begin rebuilding. The vow they had made would last even if he found a way to break the bond between them. Their lands would never be at war again and if she could truly restore his people to their full potential then it was worth keeping her close while they found the answers to the secrets of the past.


    He growled as his body reacted to the unwanted image of having her real close while keeping an eye on her. As much as he tried to ignore it, his mate was calling to him. Even now if he lost focus his bond would pull at him, tempting him to go find her to make sure she was safe. To pull her to him and feel her heat under his touch. He cursed again, rising to pace as he tried to reason against this unwanted desire, but his nature was winning out. It was unheard of for a demon male to let his mate out of his sight in the beginning of the bonding, but he had forced himself as she wasn¡¯t the mate he wanted.


    He felt his heart twist as he thought of her other words. Odette¡­he had known it was the reality of things. Had known there was a chance that had she come to him, she would be so unhappy that nothing he did could have changed that. But he had thought with time¡­she could grow to care for him. As selfish as it was, even now, knowing she loved another didn¡¯t stop him from wanting her. If he found a way to break the bond with the witch, he may still be tempted to steal the princess away from this other man. He growled at the thought, knowing it was pointless to dwell on what-ifs when he didn¡¯t even know if he could break his current bond.


    ¡°And what if I can¡¯t? How long can I hold back from her when every instinct is screaming for me to claim her as my mate?¡±


    _______________________________________________________


    Eveleen jolted awake at the sharp knocking on the door of her chambers. She groaned as she rolled over, her hair covering her eyes. She must have passed out from sheer exhaustion as she didn¡¯t remember falling asleep and she was still fully dressed. The knocking came again and she gave a soft acknowledgement for them to enter. The door opened and a familiar demon walked in. He grinned at her and bowed,


    ¡°Morning your highness. I hope you were able to get some rest last night. Allow me to formally introduce myself. My name is Altazar.¡± He said, and Eveleen frowned, wondering why he was being so pleasant to someone who had tricked their king. He must have noticed something in her look as his amused smile returned as he straightened.


    ¡°I am quite pleased that you are the one who will be staying with us your highness. You were by far the most fascinating human at that gathering." He said and winked at her,


    "I''m sure the king will agree once he gets over his bruised pride. To think there was a human mage who could hold a transformation spell for that long! You are very intriguing indeed." He laughed and motioned to someone behind him. Soon the room was filled with other servants and Eveleen watched in silence as they prepared a hot bath for her. She didn''t know how to respond and he hadn''t seemed like he expected one.


    Altazar clapped his hands again and all, but two maids retreated. He turned to her and smiled. For some reason Eveleen found herself softening to that smile. She should be on constant guard right now, but found her instincts were telling her to trust this creature. Maybe she could have at least one ally here.


    "When you are finished getting ready I will escort you to the dinning hall. If you need anything else, have one of them fetch for me." He said, indicating the maids who bowed their heads in acknowledgement.


    He left then and the maids came forward, insisting they help her to wash despite her attempts to get them to leave her alone. So she submitted to their administration and sighed in relief when she sank into the steaming water. It worked quickly in relaxing her tired muscles and easing some of the tension from her body.


    "I have never seen a human with such hair. It looks like it''s constantly on fire. Many demons will be jealous when they lay eyes on our new queen." The maid brushing out the knots in her hair said to the other that was massaging oil into Eveleen''s arm.


    "Yes, she is rather oddly beautiful-for a human. One would assume there was some demon in her."


    "Soon there will be some demon in her. I''m sure the king will not be able to hold back, as he did for her sake last night."


    "Cortessa! Imagine if you were overheard! Altazar would take you over his knee again." The other ''admonished'', both were giggling completely unaware of how Eveleen''s face was flaming hot. Obviously they wouldn''t know she could understand them and had missed the chance to respond after the compliment for her hair. She couldn¡¯t deny how their words made her stomach flutter at the thought of that man coming to her at night. She didn¡¯t know how to feel at the thought and blamed it on the bonding as she had heard it was like a pull neither could resist. But did it even affect humans?


    They finished helping her get ready as she was put into a new gown, one that was a deep crimson, accenting her hair beautifully. The maids argued with each other what to do with her hair as she sat in front of a mirror and decided the best course was to leave it loose, but to place a beautiful, jeweled clip in her hair. It was shaped like a Phoenix and the topaz eye seemed to be laughing at her as if it knew she was a fraud. She tried to refuse, but they insisted that she wear it. The one called Cortessa smiled at her in the mirror and played with strands of her hair.


    "The king will be so happy to see you wearing the gifts he prepared before your arrival. He was quite excited this past week and reminded me of a youngling just learning to fly.¡± She said, giggling and missed the guilty flinch as Eveleen was reminded again that she was not the woman he had been expecting. These gifts¡­they were beautiful and Odette would have looked stunning in them. She shook away the thought and reminded herself that Odette would have also been a prisoner, trapped in misery and may not have survived the heartbreak.


    ¡°How long do you think he¡¯ll be able to last before ripping this poor dress to shreds?¡± The other maid giggled and Cortessa shushed her, laughing.


    ¡°You are no better Navie! But I give it three minutes.¡±


    ¡°My aren¡¯t you generous.¡±


    A knock at the door signaled the return of Altazar and the two maids jumped, worried they had been caught as this time he didn¡¯t wait for her to call before entering. His smile brightened more when he saw her and he nodded approvingly. The maids bowed as she stood to face him.


    ¡°Excellent work ladies. You shall turn many heads today my queen. Now your highness, if you wish I can show you to the dining hall for breakfast.¡± She nodded and followed after him, stopping at the door. She looked over to the maids and smiled softly, deciding to have a little fun with them as payback for the uncomfortable blush in her cheeks.


    ¡°Thank you for your help and¡­You should have more faith in your king.¡± She had to smother a laugh as their eyes widened and they gaped after her.


    _______________________________________________________________


    Ronnek was in an even more foul mood as he searched for the blasted witch that had haunted his dreams last night. It had started out like his normal dreams, Odette there smiling sweetly at him with love shining in her blue eyes. Her hand cupped his cheek gently as he closed his eyes. But when he opened them it was not the princess before him. Her fiery tresses fanned out as her emerald eyes burned with something much more primal than love. The hand at his cheek traveled down his neck to his chest, her nails scratching the skin, making him hiss in response.


    Ronnek shook his head to snap himself out of those thoughts and growled again at the absurdity of his mind. He cursed the bond as the sole source of his imaginings and he knew it would only get worse if he kept a distance from her. Besides, he had business to discuss with his new queen.


    He heard her before he saw her and frowned as she sounded distressed. Immediately his guard rose and his strides quickened as he instinctually reacted to her voice. He rounded the corner to the dining hall and the scene before him would have been hilarious had his temperament been in better conditions.


    She was surrounded by excited servants, each offering her different samples of their kingdoms¡¯ favorite dishes, trying to see what she would want and learning what she liked. She was attempting to politely refuse, claiming she could never eat so much and he noticed she was speaking their language. The fact that their queen could speak Draconian seemed to amaze the staff and they were already enamored with the woman. Some of the males, a little too enamored by the looks in their eyes.


    Ronnek gave an involuntary growl which caused all heads to turn to him. He narrowed his eyes in warning and immediately the staff took a step back from his mate, knowing not to test his boundaries. She looked at him then and he couldn¡¯t help the way his breath caught. He didn¡¯t deny that she was beautiful. Only a fool would try to claim such a thing. Her hair seemed to glow in the soft light of the hall, the red of her gown drawing even more attention to its unique hue. Her eyes reminded him of a forest at night and he swore he saw a flash of heat behind them as well.


    The thought should not have pleased him so and he reminded himself that beautiful or not she had tricked him. The reminder was what he needed as he regained control of himself. He walked to her and grabbed her wrist, turning to pull her away.


    "What are you doing?" She asked, pulling against his grip. He looked back at her and began to answer when a throat clearing caused them both to look to their right. Altazar looked entirely too entertained as he addressed the staff still lingering.


    "It might be best to leave their majesties alone for a few minutes. You''ve all had your fun and gotten to meet the new queen. Now back to your chores." He ordered and Ronnek frowned at the ''knowing'' looks shot his way.


    Of course. They didn''t know this woman was not meant to be their queen. All they knew was he had taken a human as his bride for peace. Not to mention the high spirits he had been in leading up to this day. They must all assume he was tense from being away from his mate and his actions looked like he was about to steal her off to some dark corner.


    He had to mentally slam a door on that thought as it made his body react in anticipation to the possibilities. Only Altazar knew she was not the princess as he seemed to be content amusing himself with Ronnek¡¯s predicament.


    "Are you planning on releasing me anytime soon?" Her annoyed tone snapped him back to the present and he glared down at her. She glared right back, not cowering as he expected and he remembered the steel he had seen in her when she was impersonating Odette. Well that bravery had not been faked it seemed.


    "No." He growled and felt her attempt to pull free again as he turned, pulling her behind him.


    "You made a rather bold promise last night and I intend to hold you to it. Starting now." He ignored her protests and continued until they reached his library. He dismissed the startled maid who was cleaning and she left quickly.


    "Now, to test just how much you can read the ancient texts. Don''t you dare try to run while I find what I need." He warned and she narrowed her eyes at him, but didn''t argue.


    Only then did he release her and began to look for the volume he needed. He stopped after a few minutes, realizing she was being rather quiet when he had expected her to have some words about being dragged about. She was over at another bookshelf, running her fingers along the books. Her eyes seemed to shine in awe and he stopped his search to just watch her.


    She was mouthing the titles as she went and he wondered if she was even aware of it. She stopped on one volume that seemed to pique her curiosity as she pulled it free from the rest. He noticed that she handled the book as if it were a sacred treasure and it made him smile.


    He hadn''t realized he''d moved closer to her, wanting to see what had caught her eye. It was a book on common herbs and plants from his land used to make medicine. A rather boring read if you asked him, but he supposed these would be things she had never seen before and maybe she enjoyed studying new things.


    She must have felt him moving closer as she startled and looked up, meeting his gaze. He should look away, should step back from her, focus on what they were there for. But the minute she looked up at him and he became aware of how close they were standing he forgot everything else. Instead he continued to watch her as her eyes gave every thought away.


    She was not good at hiding her emotions and he could see each one flash across her face in succession. Apprehension gave way to confusion as she seemed to wonder at his proximity. That melted away as soon as she focused on his body being so close to hers. He noticed how her eyes darkened as they took in more of his appearance.


    Wherever her eyes roamed he felt heat follow and when they returned to his there was a matching heat in their depths. He growled low and watched as her cheeks heated at the sound. He snapped back to himself when she took in a sharp breath and he felt her soft cheek under his knuckles.


    Heaven''s Gaze, he hadn''t even realized he had reached out to touch her! He blinked and reeled back as if burned and growled again, this time at himself. He turned his back on her and forced himself to focus on looking for the book he needed.


    He risked a glance at her from the corner of his eye and noticed she was ''looking'' at the book in her hand. The glow in her cheeks and the hand to her heart gave away that she was just as affected by the bond as he was.


    After several uncomfortably quiet minutes he heard her hum aloud and turned to see her reaching up for a larger volume. It was just out of her reach and she was quietly cursing her height as her fingers only grazed the edge of the spine. He chuckled softly and walked over to her, unable to resist as something told him to help her. He came up behind her and reached over her grabbing the book.


    Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.


    She gasped in surprise and tried to step to the side away from him quickly. She got tangled in her skirts and tripped, falling backwards. Ronnek cursed and reached for her, his arm wrapping around her lower back and pulling her up against him. He knew it was a mistake the minute her body fit against his.


    They molded together as if made for one another. He should have released her instantly, but found he couldn''t give his body the command. Instead he pulled her even closer and her soft gasp fueled something dark within him. He watched as she blushed and turned her gaze to the side, exposing her neck and his mark. A satisfied growl rolled through his chest as he leaned towards that spot. Needing to taste her skin again as the brief memory seared the corners of his mind.


    Was it as sweet as he had remembered or had his mind been fogged by the illusion she had cast. Would she moan under him as she had when he marked her? He wanted to hear her, to hear what he did to her. His demon instincts were taking over as his nose brushed her skin and he breathed in her delicious scent.


    She smelled like a meadow filled with wildflowers and it set his heart racing. He could feel her trembling against him, but she wasn''t resisting or pushing against him. He grinned at the fact that she was excited by his touch, pleased immensely. He opened his mouth and let the tip of his tongue press against his mark.


    "The book!" She squeaked and it snapped him from the fog clouding his mind. He pulled back and looked down at her. She was breathing heavily and her face almost matched her hair.


    "The-the book¡­" She repeated, trying to steady her voice.


    "That''s the book you were searching for¡­right?" She whispered and he frowned, glancing at the book that was still in his other hand. The title was written in gold letters and although some looked similar to their language today, most of it was unreadable. Indeed, it was the one he had been searching for before he got¡­he looked down again and realized he was still holding her against him and hissed.


    Distracted. He let go of her and she quickly stepped away, wrapping her arms across herself as she had the other night. He frowned and silently cursed his demon blood. What the hell was wrong with him? He had to also search for a way to break this bond quickly or he would regret it. He mentally kept telling himself that she was not his mate, not really as he hadn''t chosen her, so that he could gain some control back. The words meant nothing though as he still felt his instincts pulling him back to her.


    He turned towards a table set in the library and set the book down on it. Taking a calming breath he looked over at her, happy that the sight of her did not rile him up again. Yet.


    "Come over here and tell me what this says. I''ll know if you lie as the title at least has been translated in other books." He ordered, happy that his voice was cold once more as he gained some of his senses back. Her eyes narrowed and the cold seemed to spread to her as well as any hint of fire vanished from them.


    She walked over to the table next to him, extra cautious as to not touch him. She looked down at the book and ran her fingers over the letters.


    "Firstly, my name is Eveleen. I know you heard it last night. If you are going to ask me to do something I suggest you use it. Secondly, ¡®Flying to the Heavens, absorbing the sun itself.¡¯ happy?" She said, glaring up at him and he couldn''t help the smirk that pulled at his lips.


    "I don''t believe I was asking, witch. Now for the-"


    "Don''t call me that. I allowed it last night as I could understand your reaction. But I will not now. Eveleen¡­use it or translate this yourself." She ground out, facing him and crossing her arms in defiance. He flashed his fangs in warning, but she didn''t back down as most would.


    "That''s not the deal. Deal was, I leave your sister alone and you solve this mystery for me. If you want to go back on that-"


    "I''m not going back on what I said. But you-" She poked him in the center of his chest again and he growled, in warning or desire, even he wasn''t sure.


    "-will not talk to me so. I am not some servant to be ordered about or degraded for my abilities." She spat and he heard a hidden venom in her words, as if she had spoken them before.


    "You do not give orders here. I am king while you are merely an unwanted intruder. So either do what you said you would or I''ll drag you to the dungeon where you belong, witch." At the word her eyes flamed up again, this time in anger but seeing it only made his own desire flare back up. She took a step closer, too close, and hissed at him through ground teeth.


    "Say it again and I''ll show you how much of a witch I can be. Now-" She poked his chest with each next word, having no idea the beast she was stirring with her actions. Hearing her speak in Draconian while her anger flared at him was pulling at the restraints he was barely maintaining.


    "Say. My. Name. Demon."


    He growled and grabbed her, making her gasp at the sudden reaction. One arm around her waist, pulling her up against him as the other tangled in her hair, angling her head back. He flashed his fangs again and felt the restraints snap.


    "Eveleen." He growled before sealing her mouth with his. She flinched, but quickly relaxed in his hold and let out a small moan. He tightened his hold at the sound. She was softer than he could have imagined and he groaned as he ran his tongue along her bottom lip. She gasped and he took the invite, sliding his tongue between her teeth, tasting all of her sweet mouth.


    Her fingers dug into his arms, her nails scratching through his tunic and he pulled her flush against him, pressing their most intimate parts together. He slid his tongue along hers, enticing it to tangle with his and she obliged. Her movement was timid and unsure, but it didn''t deter his need as he continued to consume her intoxicating essence. She was not resisting him and soon matched his tempo, her soft sighs caressing his senses.


    Her hands slid up his arms to his neck and her slender fingers slid into his hair, tugging lightly at the strands. He growled in appreciation and left her sweet lips to move along her neck. Nipping and licking at the delicate skin, he wanted to taste all of her, to hear those sweet lips continue to moan at his attentions.


    When he reached the mark at the juncture of her throat again he growled and ran his lips lightly along its length. She shivered in his hold and he felt a reflective tremble shake through his body. In that moment all he was thinking about was finishing what he started in making this beautiful creature his mate.


    He growled as the desire to plunge his fangs into her neck while claiming her made him burn with sinful heat. He intended to do just that and turned, picking her up to lay her on top of the table beside them. She let out a pained sound as she ended up falling onto the corner of the book, catching her in the ribs.


    The sound stilled him. It was just long enough for him to take in what was happening. Her hair was a wild mess from his fingers tangling the strands. Her face was flushed still and her breaths were coming out in quick shallow gasps. He was still standing between her legs, his hands on either side of her hips and his own heart felt ready to burst.


    He felt like a cold wave had washed over him as he came to fully realize how close he had come to taking her right there in the library. Had she not hit her side, he wasn''t sure he would have stopped. Wasn''t sure she would have stopped him. Even now as she sat up to rub her side, she didn''t seem to notice the distress that had changed his demeanor.


    When she finally looked at him again, her green eyes still shone with untapped desire and it felt like a punch in the gut. He cursed and pulled away, running his hand over his face as he took in several deep breaths in an attempt to calm himself. He could never have guessed how strong the pull would be, had never fully understood how strong the effects of a bonding could be. But he was coming to understand how much trouble he was in as he realized it would only grow in intensity. He glanced at her, saw the confusion in her gaze as she watched him and he groaned.


    "What the hell are you doing to me witch." He hissed and saw her flinch back, hurt flashing across her gaze before it switched to rage as she glared back.


    "I wasn''t the one who attacked you, demon." She retorted and he growled in warning, reminding her of how her pushing him was exactly how they had gotten in this position to begin with. She didn''t back down and he cursed, knowing if he stayed they''d just repeat what had happened before. So he turned to leave and ordered over his shoulder,


    "Get to work on translating that book. I''ll have Altazar bring it to me later." He made it out the door just as she cursed him and shouted,


    "A ''please'' wouldn''t kill you!"


    He sighed as he closed the door behind him.


    "No, but you might."


    ______________________________________________________________


    Ronnek sighed as he landed on the balcony of his study. He had decided to take a flight through the cold night sky as a way to cool off his raging desire. It was very late in the night and he had caught himself several times throughout the day making his way to her. If he let himself even a moment of rest, his body would start calling for her and he would begin to seek her out. There were moments where he swore he heard her call him and it was pure torture.


    Only made worse as now he was tormented with the very real memory of how desirable his mate was. It wasn¡¯t an illusion or a dream taunting him anymore. Now he knew what the woman felt like, how she reacted to his touch and it was impossible to ignore how his body reacted. Even now as he stepped inside he knew, the cold night air had done nothing to cool his need for her. She had lit a fire that couldn¡¯t be put out and it threatened to consume all of him.


    He should take this time to do his own research into severing the bond between them. It was late enough into the night that she would have returned to her chambers. Ronnek groaned as he could only assume the murmurs traveling through his home as the two had been separated all day. Some would assume he was giving his bride¡¯s sensibilities deep consideration, but others would probably guess at the tension between the two.


    He left his study with the intention of going to the library, but for some reason turned in the opposite direction. Towards the bedchambers¡­her chambers. As soon as he realized where he was going he silently cursed himself as a fool. A chuckle made him turn to see Altazar walking towards him, no doubt returning from his final rounds for the night.


    ¡°Evening your highness. Did you enjoy your flight?¡± The demon smirked and Ronnek snorted. Altazar was an old friend from childhood and knew Ronnek better than any other demon.


    ¡°I¡¯m not in the mood tonight for your jokes. I am going to bed.¡± Ronnek growled and Altazar nodded, but there was still that amused gleam in his eyes as he tilted his head towards the queen¡¯s chambers.


    ¡°No doubt looking for your darling bride, hoping she¡¯s waiting for you.¡± He teased knowingly. Ronnek opened his mouth to retort, but Altazar continued before he could.


    ¡°But unfortunately, our dear queen is still hard at work on that project of hers in the library. She wouldn¡¯t even come down for supper and chose to eat there. Luckily I explained it away as her being the very studious type and wanting to learn all she could of her new home. The staff have already lost their hearts to the woman.¡±


    Ronnek frowned and Altazar continued to walk past him, patting him on the arm as he went and called over his shoulder.


    ¡°You should convince her to quit for the night as they would be heartbroken should she catch a cold and be unable to grace us with her beauty.¡±


    Ronnek growled again in frustration, but knew his friend was right about one thing. He would go convince her to call it a night as there was no point in her making herself sick. After all the damn texts had waited hundreds of years to be translated, they could wait another day. He thought maybe she was worried about his temperament if she didn¡¯t deliver quickly and he knew that was only his fault.


    He didn¡¯t normally act this way towards others. His short temper and harsh attitude was something that seemed to only emerge around her. He still couldn¡¯t forgive being tricked and it made him irrational and snappy. Plus, the way she set his blood on fire confused him further as it clashed directly with his anger at her part in stealing his dream from him.


    He saw the light seeping from under the door of the library as he neared it and took in a deep breath as he opened it slowly. She was still bent over the book, not even reacting to the door being opened. He stopped and watched her for a moment as she continued to focus intensely on reading the words in front of her. She must have called for parchment at some point as there were several pages spread across the table, filled with ink and a new page lay at her right, a quill in her delicate fingers.


    As she ran her left index finger along the words in the book her lips moved silently, just as when she was browsing the books earlier. Did she read to herself like all the time or only when she was really focused he wondered. He took a few steps closer, waiting for her to notice the presence next to her, but she seemed to be in another world as her eyes remained locked on the book. No wonder Altazar had sent him to fetch her. Only another dominating soul could rip her away from this moment.


    He cleared his throat and finally she seemed to snap from her bubble and looked up to him. She blinked a few times and then looked around the library, taking in the dark state of the room as the candles on her table struggled to keep the darkness at bay.


    ¡°Oh. I didn¡¯t¡­I didn¡¯t realize it had gotten so late. It¡¯s been so long since I¡¯ve read something so fascinating.¡± She mumbled to herself and rubbed at her eyes. He noticed they were slightly red and held out his hand to her. She looked at it, then up to him, suspicion clear in her eyes and the sight made him feel slightly guilty.


    ¡°Your legs are no doubt going to give out if you¡¯ve been sitting here all day.¡± He said, struggling to find words suddenly. She blushed and turned away, moving to get up herself.


    ¡°Thank you for the concern, but this is not the first time I¡¯ve spent a while studying. I¡¯ll be just fine on my own.¡± She bit out, her tone cold as she stood up. As soon as she put her weight on her legs they buckled and she began to list forward. He caught her, grabbing her upper arm and steadying her as he supported her weight. He realized she weighed almost nothing and he could easily lift her off the floor if he wished. Suddenly an image of him doing just that made him groan and he had to push it away as she attempted to pull from his grasp.


    ¡°I¡¯m fine. Did you come to see what I had gotten done? I thought you said you were going to send Altazar to get them.¡±


    ¡°I did, but I was informed you were still in here and decided to stop you before you collapsed from exhaustion.¡± He said and she finally looked back at him, having been hiding her face while she spoke and struggled against his grip. He saw something in her eyes and couldn¡¯t place the emotion as she swallowed lightly.


    ¡°Oh. I see.¡± She whispered and he wondered if there was more she was going to say as her mouth opened, but then closed quickly as she looked down. They stood like that for a moment before he cleared his throat again and released her arm as she seemed to have gained her balance again.


    ¡°It¡¯s late. I¡¯ll escort you to your chambers as I¡¯m sure you are still unfamiliar with the castle.¡± He said and turned, offering her his arm out of habit. She frowned and hesitated before placing her hand in the crook of his arm, the motion moved her closer to his side. He marveled at how right it felt with the way she fit next to him and how for the first time that day he felt a semblance of peace. As if his demon blood was settling down just from having his mate beside him.


    He swallowed at the thought as it was almost more unsettling than his reaction to her body. That could be written off as pure desire fueled by the bond between them and the fact he hadn¡¯t claimed her as his. Acknowledging he desired her presence just as deeply as her body was dangerous territory he couldn¡¯t allow his mind to wander into if he was going to break their connection.


    They walked in silence as he mused and she seemed distracted as well. He looked down at her, wondering what she was thinking about. If it was similar to his own troubling thoughts or if it had to do with what she had discovered. He decided to pry and see.


    ¡°Did you discover anything in the time you spent in the library?¡± He asked and she startled, blinking up at him before her eyes lit up in excitement. The look caused him to draw in a breath, but she didn¡¯t notice.


    ¡°It¡¯s amazing. There is still not much detail in the pages and seems to be more a story being told than any history, but I can see glimpses of the past in the writing.¡±


    ¡°Like what?¡± He asked, enjoying the way her entire demeanor changed as she began to tell him about what she had read. Her eyes shined brightly and she talked so openly and freely that it was like she had forgotten who she was talking with. She was simply enjoying the opportunity to share the knowledge with someone.


    ¡°There were tellings of how dragons are the original mages of the world and taught their magic to other races like the elves. How they used the sun and nature to fuel their magic and it¡¯s what led them to breathe the elements. It seems they were so powerful that their magic was unmatched and they would have Earth-shattering battles when it was released.¡±


    ¡°Did it say anything about what happened to that magic?¡± He asked and she shook her head, but looked hopeful.


    ¡°Not up to the part I read before you stopped me. It did retell a legend I¡¯ve heard before of the magic, but there was only a hint of it. Something about a dragon falling in love with a goddess.¡±


    ¡°What? It was a Demon King that had the magic stolen from them. That¡¯s the legend.¡± He said and she looked up at him, frowning.


    ¡°No, it very clearly said dragon and goddess. There was a legend like that here in your kingdom?¡±


    ¡°An old one, but it was said that our magic was stolen by a sorceress who tricked the Demon King. It¡¯s rumored why we can¡¯t use magic as well as our ancestors. Only a few of our kind can wield it and they usually get recruited by the Arcanian Temple.¡±


    ¡°It is the same among humans. We were never rumored to have an affiliation for magic and so those of us that can use it are revered¡­or feared.¡± She whispered the last word, but he had caught it anyways.


    ¡°Do you think you can find an exact answer to where it went like you said?¡± He asked and she nodded, looking very confident and held up her index finger in a ¡®just wait¡¯ motion. For some reason it made him chuckle.


    ¡°Just because this book seems to be nothing but old stories doesn¡¯t mean there isn¡¯t some truth to them. Or that I can¡¯t find it elsewhere. After all, this was only one book when there are thousands out there.¡± She said with such blissful child-like excitement that it made him laugh. A real laugh that echoed down the deserted hallway and when he looked down at her again her eyes had widened slightly and she was looking at him strangely. The look made him stop as he faced her completely, something in their depths calling to him.


    He reached up slowly and ran the backs of his fingers against her cheek. She sucked in a breath and her skin heated under his touch. She didn¡¯t pull back when he cupped her cheek, angling her face up towards him, slowly leaning closer. His eyes dipped to her lips, parted slightly as her breathing grew shallow and he could faintly hear her heart beat increase.


    ¡°Shouldn¡¯t¡­Shouldn¡¯t we be getting to bed?¡± She whispered and he growled low, his eyes rising to meet hers again. The matching desire he saw there was the only invite he needed and he growled again, ¡°Yes¡­we should.¡± Before he pressed his lips over hers. She melted into him and immediately wrapped her arms up around his neck, leaning into the kiss and moaning softly. Her easy acceptance both surprised him and fueled the fire burning inside him.


    He wrapped an arm around her waist and pulled her up along his body, molding them together. Her hands were going to his hair and he felt her fingers running through the strands, moving up towards the place where his horns rested. The second he felt her fingertips run along the rigid edge he felt like he would burst into flames. He moaned and deepened the kiss, sliding his tongue between her pliant lips and feeling her move to meet his.


    She wasn¡¯t holding back either, pressing herself up closer to him as if instinctually looking for the relief he could give her. Her soft moans were pushing him to the point of no return, so when she boldly grabbed his horn and pulled he lost any resemblance of sanity. He growled and lifted her off the floor, turning them and pressing her up against the wall. Just as he had imagined before, he settled between her thighs, her skirt bunching up as he supported her weight easily.


    She gasped, but it was breathy and filled with excitement as she met his hungry mouth again with her own fever. She reached up with both hands now and grabbed the horns on his head, having realized it drove him crazy as he moaned against her mouth. He released her lips and moved to her neck hissing,


    ¡°You are playing with dangerous fire witch.¡± He nipped at her skin and she moaned, arching up against him.


    ¡°I can handle anything you throw at me demon.¡± She responded and let out another throaty moan as he bit harder, sucking at the tender spot. He was going insane and yet didn¡¯t care as he continued to pull such sweet sounds from her throat. He reached her mark and ran his tongue across it, tracing the lines as his hand ran along the length of her thigh, searching for an opening.


    A loud crash pricked at his ears and he growled at the harsh interruption. He turned to see a maid knelt down on the floor desperately trying to clean up the tray she had dropped.


    "Forgive me your highnesses. I was told the queen had not yet retired and thought she may be hungry. I didn''t mean to interrupt. I was leaving when I got caught on the carpet and tripped. Excuse me!" She squeaked and bowed quickly before turning on her heels and retreating back towards the kitchens she had come from, no doubt to spread what she had seen to any who would listen.


    If their relationship was a normal one, the thought wouldn''t bother him. But¡­he looked back at the woman who was glowing in the dark from embarrassment.


    ''She''s not going to remain here. The more attached my people become¡­that I become¡­it''ll be harder to break the bond''


    He closed his eyes tightly, praying to gain control over himself as he let her down slowly until her feet touched the floor. He didn''t look at her as he whispered,


    "Go. Get into your room before we both further regret what happens." He heard her take in a sharp breath and waited for her to leave, but she wasn''t moving. He opened his eyes just in time to see her anger and magic flaring around her. He couldn''t move fast enough and the force of her attack threw him across the hallway, slamming him into the wall on the opposite side.


    He groaned, rubbing his head as he sat up from where he had landed.


    "Dammit you blasted witch, what do you-" He began to curse her, but stopped when he met her eyes. She was glaring down at him, but her eyes were gleaming with unshed tears and her cheeks burned with humiliation.


    "Regret by yourself you bastard." She spat at him before turning and slamming herself into her chambers.

 Chapter Three

    He went over the list in his hand, double checking that everything was running smoothly. As much as Ronnek protested, Altazar insisted they continue with the Presentation Ball. After all, Queen Eveleen wasn''t going anywhere. Altazar smirked as he thought of their new queen. She was beautiful and intelligent with nerves of steel. Bonus facts, she could speak their language so even the demons that couldn''t speak human dialect felt at ease around her and she had a genuine interest in their territory.


    He had spent more time with her than the king lately as he was forcing himself to stay away from the woman and she seemed perfectly content with that as well. The work she was doing was incredible and he still couldn''t believe she could read the ancient language. Had he not seen it for himself when he delivered it to Ronnek each night he would have thought his king a liar.


    It wasn''t just him though, everyone who had been around the queen spoke of how she was all they could wish for in a human queen. Hell, even in a fellow demon queen. The staff had come to adore her in the weeks she had been there and Altazar wished Ronnek would see what they all do. She was a far better match for him than the princess would have been. By now the tension and the way they avoided each other was too noticeable to be quelled and those within the castle knew the truth.


    This queen was not chosen by their king. Now they were aware that she had fooled the king and taken the place of the real marriage candidate. And¡­they didn''t give a single toss. Most had voiced-never within earshot of the king-that they were glad Eveleen was the one who came to them. Altazar wholeheartedly agreed and once more wondered if there was anything he could do to help the fools.


    "I still can''t believe the king''s foolishness! How can he ignore the queen¡¯s feelings like this!?" The whispered hiss reached his ears as he passed a storeroom and he stopped at the clear anger in the woman''s voice.


    "I know! Have you seen her lately? She looks exhausted. All she does is study in the library from dawn to dusk. I thought for sure they¡­they at least liked each other."


    "Based on what I saw, they more than like each other. I can¡¯t believe I got caught on that blasted carpet¡­ so many times I''ve cursed myself as I know something happened after and I feel like it''s my fault for interrupting. Especially as the king looked fit to kill."


    "Fit to kill you say?" They both startled and turned to see Altazar smirking at them. He leaned towards the kitchen maid and purred.


    "Tell me exactly what you saw that night, my pet."


    _____________________________________________________


    Eveleen sighed and leaned back from the volume she was translating. This one was more historical than the others she had read and was on loan from the Arcanian Temple. Ronnek had requested to have it transported to the castle so she could look over it. They had been reluctant until she had proven she could translate it and promised to create a copy for their archives as well.


    She looked down at the book and traced her fingers delicately along the words written there. "Dragons only took one mate their entire lifespan. The mate they bonded with was their soul mate and should one perish the other would surely follow from heartbreak." She unconsciously reached up to cover the mark at her neck and sighed again, but from frustration. Both at herself and the brute that had her in such a state.


    If she stopped working on translating for even a second she would remember that night and the utter humiliation that followed. Even now she knew that if he came looking for her, her body would betray her. She still got flutters in her stomach when she remembered how it had felt to be kissed so passionately. His display of strength when he had held her up against the wall still made her insides melt and she let out a soft groan, burying her face in her hands. How could she still desire him when he was so infuriating!?


    Her anger would also flare when she remembered the last words he had spoken to her. Further regret he had said! She was very aware of their unusual circumstances but there was no denying the attraction sparking between them. And¡­she didn''t regret anything. After opening herself up like that, letting her guard drop completely as she gave into the fire that burned between them of course she had reacted violently.


    Logically she knew he didn''t want her and it was the bond controlling his actions, but her wounded pride wouldn''t see reason. As foolish as it sounded when she admitted it to herself, her feelings were hurt. She couldn''t reason why, just that they were and she wanted an apology that would never come. She was thankful that he wasn''t seeking her out anymore as she worried her resolve would weaken if he touched her again.


    "Your majesty. Forgive the interruption." Eveleen looked up to see a familiar face over these last few weeks. Dariux was the guard assigned to her by Altazar, which she had tried to respectively reject. He had explained that he wanted her to get used to having one. And no matter her circumstances with the king, she was still currently the queen and they couldn''t risk something happening to her.


    Dariux usually stood outside the library, despite her trying to get him to sit inside or take breaks. She felt guilty having him stand there all day, but he insisted it was good endurance training. Seeing him come inside the library before sunset was rare and she wondered at what had caused it.


    "Would you like to take a break, your majesty?" He asked and it caught her further off guard. It was the first time he had even asked that, usually it was Altazar trying to get her to take rests throughout the day. She shook her head,


    "I''m fine Dariux. I should get back to this."


    "Well¡­" He started to say but stopped, rubbing the back of his head. His brown hair fluffed out at the action, making his horns disappear.


    "The truth is I was hoping to stretch my legs for a bit. I know I said this is good training, but I didn''t sleep well and so I''m going drowsy out there." He said, turning his face away from her so she only saw a hint of a blush to his tan skin.


    "You can take a break Dariux I''m-"


    "Not while you''re in here. I know I have no right to ask this, but I need a favor from you just this once." He mumbled and she thought he looked guilty for some reason. She sighed and thought about it.


    "I suppose¡­a quick walk through the garden won''t put me too far behind." She had to smother a laugh at the way the male practically sagged with relief as he came to pull back her chair. She accepted his arm and followed him towards the garden. As they made their way through the castle, they passed several servants who stopped them to speak with her.


    Eveleen made sure to listen to each one, remembering the names she could and insisting the others remind her until she did. She had been surprised at the warm reception she had received. Even now when surely they knew the truth about her, they continued to treat her as the queen. She only wished one more demon could be so warm¡­right on que her mind searched for him and she sighed again.


    "Your majesty?" Dariux asked at the sudden sigh.


    "A quick turn. Then I have to get back." She whispered, more to herself than the guard beside her.


    _______________________________________________________


    Ronnek growled in frustration again, throwing the book in his hand across the room. Nothing! Not a thing on how to break a bond. He was losing his damn mind. If he stopped working for even one second he would start to think of her. Of her reactions to his touch and how he knew if he sought her out again she would meet his passion with her own. ¡®If she¡¯s not still burning with rage.¡± He thought and sighed, running his hand over his face.


    At first he had avoided her because he wasn¡¯t sure how to apologize for that night without getting attacked again. Then, he just couldn¡¯t find what he was apologizing for as he came to realize he didn¡¯t regret what happened. That realization had startled and terrified him as that meant he had wanted to hold her. And so he had continued to avoid contact with her out of sheer desperation as his two halves warred with each other on what to do about his mate.


    So whenever he got a moment in between his duties, he would do his own research. Hoping he could find a way to sever the ties he had with that blasted witch and her intoxicating lull. He growled again as the moment of silence allowed his mind to torture him again with an image of her, this time in his bed with open arms, begging him to join her.


    He needed some air. He had been forced to leave the castle grounds more and more lately as distance was the only sure way to prevent him from giving in and seeking her out. That and he had grown rather tired of the looks he was receiving from his staff. Altazar had offered him no support when he voiced the way he was being made to be the enemy.


    ¡°Then stop acting like one sire. Maybe if you would do what we¡¯ve all done, you¡¯d see why the staff is irate with you.¡±


    ¡°Do what, exactly?¡±


    ¡°Get to know her.¡±


    Ronnek growled again and threw open the balcony doors and spread his wings to take to the skies, but a faint sound stopped his motion. He looked down and searched out the source. Then he saw her, no one else had hair that set fire to the air around it. He felt his breath catch as it had been some time since he had seen her. She was never outside the castle-hell she was hardly outside the library. So why was she out in the garden and with¡­Ronnek¡¯s eyes narrowed at the large male walking beside her. He recognized the guard immediately and vaguely recalled Altazar mentioning assigning the demon to his queen.


    Dariux was an excellent knight and was a good choice for the queen¡¯s personal guard, but even so Ronnek felt his blood boiling. The sound he had heard that stalled him was her laugh. Something he had yet to hear and this other male had done something to entice the sound from her.


    He continued to watch them, his hands gripping the balcony so tight it was a wonder that the stone didn¡¯t crack. He watched as the two continued to walk beside each other and even from this distance, he could see how at ease Eveleen was. Her body seemed relaxed and comfortable around the other demon. Dariux stopped walking suddenly so Eveleen was forced to stop as well to look back at him. Ronnek saw red next and leapt from the balcony.


    ______________________________________________________________


    Eveleen had to admit, the fresh air was very soothing and maybe she had been cooped up for too long. She looked up at Dariux and smiled,


    ¡°Thank you for making the excuse to get me out here.¡± She said and he startled before looking down at her in surprise. She laughed at the dumbfounded look he was giving her, not being able to hold it back.


    ¡°I do appreciate you making it feel like a favor, but I also know from the time we¡¯ve been around each other, that you would never admit to being unable to do your job properly.¡± Dariux stopped walking, rubbing the back of his head again as he laughed.


    ¡°Forgive me your highness. I was asked to convince you to get out for even a short time by Altazar. He insisted that I get you out of the library today or it¡¯d be my head.¡± He said and she chuckled again, guessing that Altazar had threatened him with some awful chore around the castle.


    "He seems rather forceful from what I''ve seen, but he keeps the castle running smoothly."


    "Yea. Love him, but my cousin can be a complete nightmare when he gets an idea in his head. There''s no stopping him." Dariux sighed and Eveleen laughed again. At the sound Dariux grinned as well. Then he turned to the side and reached for a white rose from the bushes that lined the path. When he turned back to her there was a faint hint of a blush at his ears as he ran his nail along the stem, surprisingly removing the thorns with ease.


    The author''s content has been appropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.


    "I do feel bad for tricking you though. I took advantage of your kind heart and for that I truly apologize." He reached out and placed the flower into her hair.


    "We''re all just worried about you, you''re highness. We just wish-" He stopped suddenly as he whirled around and took a defensive stance with her behind him. She couldn''t see what had put him on guard, but the minute she heard that low growl, she knew who it was that had surprised them .


    Dariux also startled as he straightened once he recognized Ronnek. He opened his mouth to speak, but Ronnek moved before he could. He grabbed the demon by his collar and tossed him away from her, sending the man several paces back the way they had come from.


    "What are you doing!?" Eveleen shouted as she made to go to Dariux to see if he was okay. The action made Ronnek growl low as he caught her wrist and pulled her back to him, trapping her up against his body. Then he shot a threatening glare at Dariux, who had managed to regain his footing.


    "Keep your hands off my mate or I''ll make you regret it." He hissed and Dariux surprised her by growling back in defiance. She felt Ronnek stiffened at the sound and his wings unfurled slightly as if to make himself appear larger-not that he wasn''t already compared to the other male.


    "Then maybe you should treat her like your mate and stop neglecting her feelings." Dariux challenged and Ronnek¡¯s eyes narrowed as he took a step towards the demon and Eveleen knew if she didn''t intervene Dariux would be trampled. She didn''t think shouting would work so she did the first thing that came to her mind. She placed both hands against his cheeks and whispered,


    "Ronnek." His gaze immediately met hers and she saw first surprise, then quickly the heat at her calling his name in Draconian took over his red orbs, turning them a dark crimson. She felt an answering shiver run though her body. She looked back at Dariux.


    "Dariux. I need a moment to speak with¡­the king. Return to the castle." She said and saw him start to argue, but she gave him a look that stopped any words he had been about to speak. Instead he only bowed to them and turned to head back for the castle.


    Eveleen watched him walk away, waiting for when she was sure he couldn''t hear them. It must have irritated Ronnek further as he let out another soft growl and pulled her up against him, dipping his head to her neck. She gasped and whipped her head back around.


    "Stop watching some other male when I''m in front of you." He growled and she hated how the possessiveness in his voice thrilled her. He began to place soft kisses along her neck and she let out a strangled moan as it set fire to her blood, but she desperately needed to fight against her reactions. It was as she feared, her body was still reacting to him and if she let him continue she''d only open herself up for more hurt.


    He took in a deep breath and let it out in a soft sigh, some of the tension leaving his body as he hugged her tighter.


    "I''ve missed you." He whispered and she scoffed, pushing against his chest, needing distance between them. He pulled back, looking surprised at her struggling. She got free-most likely because he let her-and took several steps away from him.


    "What did you come out here for?" She asked, glaring at him as her anger began to boil. At both of them, even after what he had done, what he had said to her. How could she still look at the demon and think he was one of the most magnificent creatures she had ever seen? His prowess and strength called to something dark within her and she desperately wanted to reject it.


    "I saw you with that other male and how he thought he could freely touched my mate when I-"


    "You sure like to throw that word around when it''s convenient for you." Eveleen spat and he startled back, but she continued before he could respond.


    "You call me your mate only when you''re angry that someone else is speaking with me. But when it''s just you and me I''m witch or regret." She hissed, the stinging in her chest tightening her throat and she felt tears form in her eyes. She turned her back to him, not wanting him to see just how hurt she was by his actions.


    "You don''t see me as your mate. Hell you don''t even see me as a friend, just some intruder that''s useful. I understand why you don''t want me here and I know the part I played in that, but I can¡¯t change that, and I wouldn''t. Each time you do these things to me, I lose my mind. So please, stop acting like you want me when you''ll only regret touching me each time."


    "But I don''t." He whispered, and he was so close. Having moved up behind her while she was talking. She looked up at him, upset that the tears were slowly falling down her cheeks despite her attempt to hold them back.


    He lifted his hand up and she flinched away. He stilled for a second, then sighed and slowly placed his hand against her cheek, wiping at the tears with his thumb.


    "I thought about that night so much. And I''ve realized I don''t regret it. The only thing I regret right now, is that I''m the cause of these tears." He whispered, reaching up with his other hand and mimicking the motion, wiping at the tears on her cheek.


    "I''m sorry Eveleen. I wanted to seek you out to tell you that, but couldn''t find the words. You and I just seem to spark everytime we are near each other and I feared you would throw an entire bookshelf at me next time." He grinned and despite everything she laughed. His eyes softened at the sound and took his hands from her cheeks, but let them slide to her upper arms.


    "How about this? Let''s make another deal between us. Just as you said before, I don''t see you as a friend and you sure as hell don''t see me as one¡­


    "But maybe we can go back. Before all the confusion and words. Let''s start over and try to become companions while you stay here. Will you accept my apology and work with me towards friendship?" He asked and she hesitated, wondering if she could do what he said so easily.


    She looked up into his eyes and thought she saw worry in his crimson orbs. She could forgive the words spoken as she knew the emotions that had fueled them. Her fear was she was already physically attracted to this demon, what would happen if she began to learn more about him. Could she stop her heart at just friendship?


    "I will accept your apology if you will accept mine. I''m sorry I tricked you and put you in this position, but I will keep my other promise to make up for that." She smiled at him then,


    "And I promise to only throw small objects when you''re acting like a jackass." She teased and he laughed, just as he had in the hallway that night and the sound eased some of the ache in her. Although she was still worried about her heart wavering, she had to admit, she did want to know more about this creature. Friendship sounded much better than being at each other''s throats all the time afterall.


    __________________________________________


    Altazar hummed from his spot, watching them from the tree branch he was sitting on. He was grinning like a maniac. So the maid had been right, his friend was crazy about the woman and didn''t realize it. Or was just actively denying it for some prideful reason.


    He owed his cousin a favor now as this had gone better than planned. He didn''t even have to trick Ronnek into seeing the pair together. It had all happened naturally and Ronnek¡¯s protectiveness of his mate was all the answer Altazar needed. Ronnek may not see what they all did, but Eveleen would be a good match for him. She didn''t shy away from his temper and had managed to calm his violent rage with just one touch.


    He knew it would take time, but with their agreement to at least start being cordial with each other there would be progress. He relaxed as his part was done. There would be no more manipulation from him as he wanted this to also happen naturally. And he was confident it would.


    "Now to find the best bottle of mead I can as an apology for almost getting my cousin killed." He chuckled and teleported from the tree.


    ______________________________________________


    Ronnek felt lighter after his conversation with Eveleen in the garden. Since then he had been going to her in the library each day to see what she had learned. He was heading there now to get her to take a break for a meal. Which they had also been having together each day.


    The air about them was no longer charged with tension as they only argued about her research now. He chuckled as he thought of how she wouldn''t hold back from correcting him when he said the wrong thing. Her work hadn''t produced much beyond what they already knew. The magic had weakened over the years with each generation, but there was no definitive clue yet as to why.


    "So your ability to teleport and the small magic I''ve seen the staff perform is what''s left of your inherent connection." She had explained, saying that if they could restore the magic the demonfolk would be even more affluent than even the Elven clans.


    "It''s strange. They keep mentioning this thing called ''Ragnorazik'' but I can''t figure out what it means since it doesn''t translate to anything else." She had mused, a tiny frown forming between her brows. He had been tempted to smooth the spot with his thumb, but had managed to resist.


    He sighed suddenly at the thought. Just because the hostile tension was gone, didn''t mean all the tension had dissipated. He still fought against the urge to hold her close and the need to claim her had certainly not lessened with their new meetings.


    His bond was still pulling at him and it was a struggle at times to treat her like a friend. Not that he didn''t enjoy her company, but he had come to enjoy it too much. Her intelligence intrigued him and he found it was easy to relax around her, he genuinely enjoyed her being beside him. Talking with him freely, her guard dropped as she didn''t hide her emotions or thoughts from him.


    He found his heart wavering and it frightened him as he still very much loved Odette. He had thought about it the other night while walking Eveleen to her chambers and the urge to kiss her had washed over him as memories of the feeling flooded his thoughts. He had almost given in when her words from the garden had hit him.


    It wasn''t fair to her if he let his desire rule him when his heart belonged to another. And it was then he realized that yes, despite how he enjoyed Eveleen''s friendship, she was not truly his mate in his heart. So he held back and wished her a simple goodnight.


    He reached the library, seeing Dariux standing guard as usual. And as with each meeting the two tensed and glared at each other. He still didn''t trust the male around Eveleen as the loyalty he displayed could easily be a youngling''s infatuation. And it seemed Dariux hadn''t forgiven his earlier treatment of the queen.


    But as per usual upon Ronnek¡¯s arrival, the guard bowed and left. It had been Eveleen who had assured him that he could leave her to Ronnek. Claiming she was perfectly protected with him around and the demon deserved the rest. Dariux had shot him a look that was clear between the two males.


    ''But who will protect you from him?'' Ronnek wanted to deny that, but with his inner struggles acknowledged it was a valid concern.


    He opened the doors and watched as she continued to write notes without noticing his presence. He smiled softly as it was always this way when she was deep in her work. She wouldn''t realize the castle was on fire if she had found something interesting. He chuckled and it was that sound that alerted her to his entrance.


    "Oh Ronnek. Is it that time already?" She asked and her gentle tone sent a wave of warmth over him. He hadn''t realized before how her guarded attitude before had affected him. Now she smiled at him without thought and her stance was at ease whenever he came near.


    "Indeed. If I don''t fetch you for dinner then you will remain here until morning." He teased and grinned at how her cheeks blushed at the truth in his words.


    "It''s not entirely my fault. I think I found something." She said and the excitement in her voice drew him closer. He indicated that she continue and she pointed at the passage she had been translating before.


    "Remember that word I could translate before?" She asked and he nodded. She looked up at him and there was a fire burning in her eyes.


    "That''s because it''s a name. Or more specifically it''s the name of a ritual site."


    "Ritual? For the dragons?" He asked and she nodded, happy he had guessed correctly.


    "For what or where I haven''t found the answer yet. So it''s like adding a piece to the puzzle and discovering you have a hundred more to go unfortunately." She said and he chuckled.


    "It''s still further than we''ve gotten in the last hundred years. But if there''s still more to discover it can wait until tomorrow. If I don''t get you down to eat, the staff is sure to come looking for you." He teased, offering his hand and she laughed as she took it. The sound did strange things to him as he had begun to seek the sound out more often. Her laugh was like the sweetest song to his senses and the only sound that was more enticing were the moans she¡¯d let slip when he had kissed her. Again he smothered a groan as his mind and body were now in sync with the desire for this woman.


    He led her down the hallways listening as she mused over the possibilities of this mysterious ritual. Ronnek watched her as she greeted any servant that approached them and it amazed him how she was able to remember little things. A sprained ankle, a sick relative, Eveleen made every effort to connect with those around her and he was beginning to understand why they had turned on him.


    She had already become an ingrained part of the castle and he saw how protective everyone had grown over the woman. They were growing to love her, and the thought stabbed him with guilt as she wouldn¡¯t be a permanent part of their lives. Unless she chose to stay in the territory once they were no longer bound to each other¡­The thought of her leaving left a sour taste in his mouth and he had to reason with himself that it was what he still wanted. He looked down at her and watched as she laughed at a joke and responded in Draconian. Right?


    __________________________________________________________________


    Eveleen sighed and stretched back in her seat. She was still desperately trying to find what this ¡®Ragnorazik Ritual¡¯ was, but nothing was jumping out at her. She knew it was a ritual performed by all dragons at some point in their lives, but there was nothing specific yet as to the nature of how it was performed or why. She looked around the library and smiled, it was more like a home to her now and not a prison or an escape from a certain demon.


    At the thought of Ronnek she had to place a hand to her heart that began to thump loudly against her chest. She had been right in her worry about how being closer to him would affect her emotions. Now that she was learning more about him and his kinder side, she was no longer just physically attracted to him. He was something of a mystery to her as well. She would often watch him from the corner of her eye when he stayed behind in the library with her.


    It wasn¡¯t just his large frame that made him dominate a room. His intelligence and commanding aura was impossible to ignore and she could see how the people deeply appreciated his leadership. It was probably a breath of fresh air after the ruthless ruler that had been here before. She had yet to broach that subject, but she was very curious on how he had become king. She decided to let that lie for now as she also appreciated his presence. Although, appreciate seemed like such a mild word to how she felt when he was near.


    She had often felt the desire to reach up and stroke his horns when he leaned over her seat as she explained something to him, remembering how he had reacted before. The moments would halt her thoughts and she would just sit there until he turned those eyes on her. Everytime she met that heated gaze, she felt her insides melt as she remembered how he had looked at her before. This ¡®friendship¡¯ was becoming torturous as she forced herself to hold back. Knowing if she gave into her desires and tried to reach for him, Ronnek would reel back immediately and they would be back to how it was before their truce.


    She wasn¡¯t the queen, the mate, the woman he truly wanted. All the physical pull for him was the bond that she knew he was still researching. She had accidentally seen it when he had come for another book. Catching the title ¡®Everything About the Bond¡¯ had stung worse than she thought it would. She knew that he was hoping to break the bond between them as it was not what he wanted, but she had foolishly begun to hope he was growing to care for her.


    Eveleen sighed and rose from her seat, deciding she wanted a break sooner than normal. She was debating on what to do as one part of her wanted to seek out Ronnek to see what he was doing, while the other half wanted to escape to a quiet place where he wouldn¡¯t find her. The answer came unexpectedly as the door to the library opened and said demon walked in. Her breath caught as his smile widened when he met her gaze and she felt her heart flip as it wished it was because he felt the same excitement when they met as she did.


    ¡°Eveleen, I hope you standing means that you¡¯ll be able to take the rest of the day off.¡± He said and she tilted her head in curiosity.


    ¡°Perhaps, is it something urgent?¡±


    ¡°Not exactly where you¡¯re concerned, but I wanted to see if you would be interested anyways. I¡¯m getting ready to go inspect the local schoolhall and thought the younglings might enjoy meeting you. They¡¯ve never seen magic so I was hoping for your help.


    ¡°They tend to hang on me as soon as I arrive and it makes inspection take longer. So I could use the help.¡± He finished explaining and she laughed,


    ¡°So basically, you¡¯re taking me as a distraction for the kids so that you can get your job done.¡± He laughed as well and nodded.


    ¡°Alright. I¡¯ll go with you and act as your shield to the little ones.¡± She laughed and noticed how his eyes grew darker as a recognizable heat began to seep into their depths. She had to swallow at the sight and repeat her mental mantra that she didn¡¯t want to ruin the fragile friendship they had. So she turned her eyes away first and as soon as she did, she heard him clear his throat as if also realizing the dangerous line they were toeing.


    ¡°Let¡¯s go then.¡±

 Chapter Four

    Eveleen laughed again as a youngling jumped on her back, hugging her around the neck, talking excitedly to her-along with about ten others. Ronnek chuckled as he watched the tiny demons surround her, bombarding her with questions as he figured they would. They had started to surround him when he arrived, begging him to play as usual. But the minute they noticed Eveleen, he stopped existing.


    When they learned she could use magic beyond that of what they¡¯ve seen before they had become enthralled. She had made small explosions of lights and colors for their delight and was now taking a break as she let them climb all over her. Ronnek felt a strange warmth swell in his chest as he watched them, barely listening to the officials with him. Watching her interact so naturally with the younglings made him imagine her with her own children. Maybe a little horde of their own, hugging her as she smiled up at¡­He snapped back to reality as the path of his thoughts hit him. Had he just been imagining Eveleen mothering their offspring.


    He looked at her again and watched as a demon boy shyly gave her a daisy. She took it with a wide smile and thanked him, placing a gentle kiss on his cheek as the other little ones giggled. He forced himself to turn from the sight as the strange feeling in his heart was confusing and he didn¡¯t want to chance dwelling on it for too long, as it wouldn¡¯t make her leaving any easier. He focused on the task he was there for and willed himself to avoid looking at her again for the remainder of his inspection. Which is what led them into the trouble that happened next.


    He was going over the plans to replace the roof when several of the younglings came running to them screaming, a couple were even crying. The adults startled as the teacher tried to sooth them enough to understand what had upset them. Ronnek looked around and felt his blood run cold.


    ¡°Where¡¯s Eveleen?¡± He whispered and one of the kids ran to him, pulling on his hand.


    ¡°Your majesty! Klavik wanted to give the queen a Panoria Lily since she liked the other flowers we gave her so much. I tried to stop him, but he said he¡¯d be quick. When the queen noticed him missing she ran after him!¡±


    Ronnek felt his heart drop and immediately began to run back outside, his wings spreading as he took off into the sky. The Panoria Lily grew on the edge of a forest that housed a variety of dangerous beasts. Some that were immune to magic! He flew as fast as he could, sending a thought to the Heavens that he would find them completely unharmed and this was all just a needless worry in his heart. But when he reached the spot they should have been and found it empty his gut wrenched.


    ¡°Eveleen! Eveleen are you near!?¡± He shouted, swinging around in hopes of seeing a glimpse of her, cursing himself for not bringing Dariux to watch her. He had thought she¡¯d be perfectly safe with him, even if he took his eyes off her for a second. As the seconds ticked by and he was only met with silence he felt his panic rise as all kinds of scenarios played in his mind. He flew up again, hoping the height would give him a better vantage to spot them. As time passed and he still couldn¡¯t find her, his chest tightened further with worry as he trained his ears for even a hint of them.


    ¡°Come on love. Where are you?¡± He whispered and suddenly a loud explosion resounded behind him, coming from deep within the forest. He whirled around and watched as a second went off, it was a much larger version of what she had done at the school, but the sparks of colorful lights were definitely similar.


    ¡°Eveleen!¡± He shouted and shot for the source of the light.


    ___________________________________________________________


    Eveleen was breathing heavily, sweat forming on her brow as she held her hands in front of her, magic swirling around them. The demon child was crouched down behind her, crying as the giant beast circled them. It was a massive, black dog with red, pupil-less eyes and seemed to possess an impenetrable hide. The magic she had thrown at it hadn¡¯t left a scratch and only seemed to be throwing it back and making it even angrier.


    She could feel herself weakening and knew that she wouldn¡¯t be able to hold it back much longer. There was no way she could outrun it and she feared if she had the child run it would draw the dog¡¯s attention or he would encounter more monsters. So she continued to hold it back while trying to think of something. By now others had to have noticed they were missing, but she wasn¡¯t sure how fast they could get to them. Suddenly she felt the mark on her neck burn, eyes widening as she looked up, taking aim and shooting her magic towards the sky.


    It exploded in a bright flash and she fell to her knees as most of her strength was waning. The beast growled and moved closer, seeing her weaken it was getting ready to attack again. The child hugged her back, burying his face in her dress and she wrapped one arm back around him. She took a deep breath and held her hand up towards the sky.


    ¡°Ronnek¡­please.¡± She whispered as she shot a second bolt into the air, the loud explosion made the hound growl again as it crouched, leaping through the air at them. A loud roar shook the air and she looked up towards the sky. The hound was caught mid-air and knocked back away from them with a loud snarl. Ronnek growled low as he faced the hound, standing in front of them protectively.


    Eveleen¡¯s eyes widened. This is how she thought demons would look when she¡¯d first met them. He no longer resembled a human man as he fought the beast. He was just like the illustrations in her books with his skin having turned as dark as his wings. His face had a longer snout and both his fangs and claws had grown in length. He looked like a monster from a story and she suddenly realized why the human army had never stood a chance against the demonfolk.


    The beast lunged again and Ronnek did as well, moving faster than the hound and getting behind it. Before the hound could react Ronnek had his powerful arms wrapped around its neck. It struggled against the hold biting at the air, its claws catching Ronnek¡¯s legs before it began to whine. At the sound Ronnek hurled it back away from them where it slammed into the trunk of a tree.


    He unfurled his wings and growled at the hound, but the dominance battle was won as the beast tucked its tail and ran off into the shadows of the forest. He let out another ears splitting roar before folding his wings and turning back to them. He lifted his hand toward them, but hesitated in moving closer.


    "Eveleen." He whispered and she ran to him. She didn''t hesitate as she threw her arms around him and buried her face in his neck. She felt him stiffen for a second then his arms went around her, holding her tightly. She opened her eyes to watch as steam seemed to be wafting off his body as it returned back to his other form.


    After a moment he was back to the Ronnek she saw each day. His hand at the back of her head as he held her so tight she thought a rib might break, but she needed the feeling. Needed to have him there with her as she drew strength from him. He was shaking slightly as he took a deep breath,


    "I thought my heart would stop." He whispered and she felt tears fill her eyes as she hugged him harder. A tiny pull on her skirt made her look back and the child was there with the most guilt filled eyes she had ever seen.


    "I-I''m so s-s-orry! I j-just wanted to-'''' Eveleen let go of Ronnek to kneel down and hug the child to her chest.


    "Thank Heavens you are unhurt. Let''s get you home." She whispered and lifted the child into her arms, or at least tried to as he was heavier than she thought. Ronnek saw her struggle and took the child from her arms. He placed the kid on his back and the little one instinctively hugged his neck. Then Ronnek surprised her by scooping her up into his arms. He held her close to his chest and she could feel his heart pounding. She placed her hand over the spot and he growled low in answer before taking off into the sky.


    ____________________________________________________


    Ronnek couldn''t calm down as he silently carried Eveleen to her chambers. He had refused to put her down even when she insisted she could walk. He needed her in his arms, needed to feel her warmth and know she was alright. He was a giant mass of tension and the staff must have sensed it as they didn''t try to approach them as he walked by. Eveleen had quieted in his hold as well and he wondered where her mind was.


    He had been surprised when she came to him in his other form. He had hesitated going to her because he had feared frightening her. Demons were more powerful in that form, but it was harder to control their rage if it went on for too long. He was well aware of how intimidating he looked like that and he thought it would remind her of when her kind had fought against his. But she had surprised him by coming to him without hesitation and held him, even in his beastly appearance.


    Ronnek pushed open the door to her chambers, still holding her and the maids startled bowing low.


    "Out." He ordered and felt Eveleen stiffen in his arms as they hurriedly scurried out, shutting the door behind them. Once they were alone, Ronnek finally set her on her feet. He sighed and turned his back on her, running his hand into his hair to calm his sudden emotions.


    "Ronnek?" She whispered and lightly brushed her fingers against his wings. He growled and turned, grabbing her wrist suddenly, making her gasp.


    "What the hell were you thinking!?" He shouted and she jumped at the anger in his voice. He reached out and grabbed her other wrist, holding her trapped as he narrowed his eyes at her.


    ¡°What would possess you to go into the forest alone!?¡±


    ¡°I was just looking for the child. Would you have preferred I did nothing?¡± She shouted back and he growled, releasing her wrists to run his hand over his face again.


    ¡°Yes! No¡­I would have preferred you came to me if something happened!¡±


    ¡°There wasn¡¯t time! You barely made it to us! If I hadn¡¯t been there-¡±


    ¡°Exactly!¡± He shouted and grabbed her arms. He lowered his head so she couldn¡¯t see his expression.


    ¡°I barely made it in time¡­Had I been just a second too late¡­you would have been-¡± He took in a shaky breath and pulled her to him, hugging her close. He buried his face in her neck, breathing in her scent to calm his racing heart.


    ¡°I almost lost you.¡±  He whispered so low he wasn¡¯t even sure she heard him. He held her tighter, as those words hit him in the gut. She could have been killed and he was almost unable to protect her. She placed her hands against his chest and leaned into him, nuzzling close to his heart. It was then he realized she was also trembling.


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry¡­I know it was foolish and I should have come to you, but I just reacted. I didn¡¯t think beyond protecting that child. I just had to do what I could. I didn¡¯t think that my magic wouldn¡¯t be enough. I-I have never felt so helpless in my life.¡± She sobbed and he felt a new wave of emotion wash over him as his hold gentled and his touch turned comforting. He held her close as she finally came to grips with what had happened. Ronnek sighed as he wanted to keep scolding her, but with her shaking in his hold he found he was losing his hold on his anger


    ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter now. I did get to you in time. I got you Eveleen.¡± He soothed and she pressed closer to him. He ran his fingers through her hair, and continued to whisper to her that she was safe with him. She pulled back and looked up at him with a teary gaze. Ronnek wiped at them, hating to see the fear in her emerald eyes.


    "I know why you don¡¯t feel you can, but please¡­promise me that next time you¡¯re in trouble, you¡¯ll come to me for help. I¡¯ll protect you Eveleen. I may not be reliable in your eyes yet, but-¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s not that.¡± She interrupted, placing her hand over his, pressing it up against her cheek. He felt his heart skip at the way she was looking at him in that moment. He swallowed as she took a step closer.


    ¡°It¡¯s not that I can¡¯t rely on you Ronnek¡­it¡¯s that I¡¯m afraid to. What happens when I grow to rely on you too much? When I rely on you so much that¡­that I can¡¯t leave.¡± She whispered and he sucked in his breath at the implication of those words. He froze as he wondered if she meant them as he heard them. While one side of him wanted to rejoice at the thought of her staying with him, the other pushed against the idea, arguing that Odette was the one he wanted. While he stood there unanswering she took in a deep breath and reached up, placing her hand on his cheek. She leaned up slowly and although he knew what she was doing, he didn¡¯t turn away or stop her.


    The second her soft lips met his, he was lost. He groaned and reached up, holding her face and angling it back to deepen the kiss further. She moaned and ran her tongue along his lip, surprising him with her boldness as his blood boiled. He growled and opened for her, letting her set the pace this time. She didn¡¯t hold back, wrapping her arms around his neck and pulling herself along his body, molding them together. She tangled her tongue with his and he almost buckled when she ran the tip of the muscle along one of his fangs.


    He slid one arm around her waist, bending her back as he felt starved for her. He couldn¡¯t get enough of her as his tongue explored every inch of her sweet mouth and her intoxicating moans made the rest of the world disappear. At that moment, he wasn¡¯t thinking about anything else except the woman in his arms who was matching his passion in spades. He forgot about all the complications involved with holding her and forgot his worries about giving into his desires. He felt her reach up and stroke his horns and shivered at the touch. She smiled against his mouth, growling as he pulled away and moved to her neck.


    The author''s tale has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.


    ¡°You know exactly what you''re inciting, don''t you witch.¡± He hissed, licking the soft skin as her head tilted back giving him more access, which pleased him more than he¡¯d like to admit.


    ¡°And if I say yes. What are you going to do about it, demon?¡± She teased. He growled against her neck sucking at the skin so she gasped and her grip on his horns tightened.


    ¡°Only what you want.¡± He lifted her up against him and recaptured her mouth, swallowing her moan as he walked them to the bed. He lay her down on the mattress and held himself above her. Her red hair fanned around her like a fiery halo, her emerald eyes shining up at him. Ronnek reached up and ran his fingers along her cheek, watching as she sucked in a breath and the skin flushed further. He ran them down to the juncture of her neck where his mark was and felt his blood pounding in his ears as his fangs itched to sink into her flesh again.


    His instincts were screaming for him to claim her-claim his mate. Ronnek growled as he leaned closer to the spot, running his tongue along the lines and nipping lightly over the mark. Eveleen hissed as her nails dug into his arms, arching up slightly at the sensation, unknowingly rubbing herself against him. He groaned and forced himself to pull back, taking several deep breaths to calm himself down. He worried if she pushed him too far he would fall on her like a beast. He knew that this couldn¡¯t continue like it was as his control was fraying and soon he wouldn¡¯t be able to stop.


    ¡°Ronnek?¡± She whispered and there was something in the way she said his name. He looked back at her and saw the worry in her eyes as clear as the desire. She reached up and cupped his cheek.


    ¡°Ronnek, please.¡± He realized she thought he was about to reject her as he had before and he felt his heart twist as he saw the hurt enter her gaze. He took her hand and kissed her palm.


    ¡°I¡¯m not running¡­but I¡¯m also not going to claim you.¡± He whispered and felt something within him protest against the idea. She frowned and opened her mouth, but he rubbed his thumb along her lip to stop the words. He rested his forehead against her.


    ¡°I want you desperately at this moment. But I also know that if we go too fast and allow what happened today to affect our actions we may regret it.¡± He said and saw the hurt deepen, but he shook his head.


    ¡°I don¡¯t mean it like I did before Eveleen. But think about it¡­you almost died today. Our emotions are ramped up and we both need to make sure this is what we want and it¡¯s not just a rash reaction.¡± He ran his fingers through her hair, capturing a few strands and bringing them to his lips.


    ¡°I can¡¯t deny what¡¯s between us anymore and I won¡¯t run from it again. We will see where this goes together¡­So, I will stay with you tonight to assure both of us that your heart still beats and¡­¡± He leaned closer to her mark again and growled as he placed a soft kiss to the center.


    ¡°The next time we get this far¡­I won¡¯t be stopping.¡±


    _____________________________________________________________________


    Eveleen sighed and stretched in her bed, rolling over to get closer to the warmth source beside her. She opened her eyes and blushed as she was met with the sight of the sleeping demon. Ronnek was still resting peacefully on his side, one arm lazily draped over her waist. She felt her heart rate increase as she remembered how she had fallen asleep wrapped in those arms. He had held her to his heart, stroking her hair and setting her heart racing as she struggled with her inner thoughts.


    It was a miracle she had fallen asleep at all last night, but she supposed Ronnek was right that she had been through a lot. She took this opportunity to admire him as she let her realization last night wash over her. There was no logic or reason behind it, but she knew it the minute she had seen him in his other form and still felt her heart call out. Confirmed further when he had held back his instinctual desires in order to assure they were not just reacting to the adrenaline fueled situation. She had meant what she said last night when she told him that she was beginning to imagine a full life here and couldn¡¯t see herself leaving permanently. Of course she would love to see her family, but¡­


    She looked up at Ronnek¡¯s face and reached up to brush back a strand of hair that had fallen across his face. She smiled as his brows furrowed at the tickling sensation and she sighed as she let the strand slide through her fingers. She snuggled up to him and rested her head over his heart.


    ¡°I love you.¡± She whispered and gave a soft sigh as the confession was both freeing as well as heartbreaking. She wasn¡¯t fooling herself into believing he was completely over her sister and she was too afraid to bring it up so soon. So she would hold this feeling close to her heart and accept this creature with her entire being as soon as he came to her again. As far as she was concerned, Ronnek was her mate-her chosen partner. She just hoped that his words last night meant that he was starting to see a future for them as well. If he wasn¡¯t going to run from the spark between them, then was there a chance he could grow to care for her as well?


    He groaned in his sleep and the arm around her tightened, pulling her closer as he nuzzled the top of her hair with his nose, breathing in deeply and letting it out in a soft purr. She smiled against his skin and felt her eyes drifting closed again as his warmth lulled her back to sleep, unwilling to give up this moment just yet. The hope in her heart blossomed and she decided to stop worrying for one morning.


    _____________________________________________________


    Eveleen sat in front of the mirror as Cortessa and Navie talked excitedly about the feast they were preparing her for. She felt her stomach twist as she thought of what was happening in a few hours. She was going to be ¡®presented¡¯ as the queen. Altazar had assured her that it was a simple affair as all she had to do was wave at the people. Then there would be a feast within the castle with a few demon lords in attendance. She was only assured of the fact that Ronnek would be by her side through the whole ordeal.


    Her cheeks flushed as she thought of the male. He was far more affectionate with her than before and would steal a kiss whenever he got the opportunity. But there had been no further development than that and he had always left her alone at night after giving her a heated kiss. She wasn¡¯t sure how he was handling it as she felt ready to burst with the fire in her stomach. Each time she tried to reach for him to ask him to stay, she noticed something in his eyes that stopped her. He had said they would see where this went together and she could tell something-or someone-was still holding him back from fully coming to her. So she was trying to wait patiently as the need threatened to consume her.


    ¡°There! All done your highness.¡± Cortessa announced and Eveleen was pulled from her inner thoughts back to the present as she stared at herself in the mirror. The two maids had worked hard to curl her hair and arrange it up in a beautiful, intricate style. It was pulled up with braids wrapping around it to hold it in place with a few strands left loose to brush at her shoulders. She stood to look at her appearance fully and blushed. The silver dress she wore left her shoulders bare as the fabric hugged her figure and fell straight to the floor. She blushed as she took a step and the slit in the side revealed her leg up to her midthigh.


    ¡°Are you sure this is alright?¡± She mumbled turning so that the other side also shifted, revealing her leg. Navie giggled and nodded, coming up to take Eveleen¡¯s hand.


    ¡°Do not worry your majesty. You will only stand out for your immense beauty and not the dress you wear.¡±


    ¡°Besides, you need to trust us that this dress will make the evening¡¯s festivities easier. It will not be like the human events you¡¯ve been too.¡± Cortessa added with a laugh and Eveleen sighed, hoping they were right that the attendants wouldn¡¯t look at her as an imposter. She hadn¡¯t spoken it aloud, but she was worried that the lords and mistresses of the demon territory would sneer at her as she was only a mere human who was bartered for peace. Maybe they wouldn¡¯t say anything to her face as they would fear Ronnek¡¯s reaction, but in private there was a chance. She had begun to desire their approval as she planned to stay here as long as the king wanted her¡­which hopeful would be for life.


    A knock at the door signaled it was time and she felt the nervous flutters in her stomach triple as it opened. Luckily the demon who had come to fetch her was just the one she needed to calm her. Now the flutters in her were caused by the sight of this impressive creature. Ronnek was dressed for a formal event and the black coat he wore had silver designs stitched into the hems, hugging his figure to show off his sheer strength and physique that dominated any room he entered. His hair was pulled back and tied behind his head and there was a silver fur cloak tied off on his right shoulder. He was adjusting the black leather gloves when he entered, but the minute he looked up and saw her, he froze.


    The maids giggled as Eveleen blushed brightly, clasping her hands in front of her, feeling strange at the way he was looking at her. In that moment he was staring at her as if she was the most beautiful woman he had ever seen and deep in her heart, she prayed it was true. He seemed to snap himself out of his musings as he suddenly smiled brightly and came to her, taking her hands in his and placing a kiss on her knuckles.


    ¡°You look beautiful darling. I nearly embarrassed myself just now as I thought surely this angel was not meant for me.¡± He flirted and her face flamed as she tried to ignore the maids¡¯ light laughter and responded,


    ¡°Don¡¯t joke Ronnek. I am about to crumble from my nerves without you teasing me so.¡± She mumbled and he frowned, reaching up to cup her cheek, forcing her eyes to meet his.


    ¡°I¡¯m not joking though¡­Eveleen you look absolutely stunning. Any male would be out of his mind not to fall in love with you at first sight tonight.¡± He said and her eyes widened as the words almost left her lips ¡®does that mean you as well¡¯ but she managed to swallow them. Which was a good thing as he cleared his throat, seemingly having realized his slip as well, looking uncomfortable at the implications.


    ¡°The younger demons will be vying for even a second of your time, so I¡¯m sure I will be kept busy keeping an eye on them.¡± He added and she gave him a weak smile, knowing it didn¡¯t reach her eyes, a slight hurt stabbed at her heart and dampened her mood a bit. He offered his arm and as they were leaving Eveleen heard a hiss behind them.


    ¡°He could have left it at the first part. Who¡¯d have guessed our king could be so clumsy with romance.¡± Cortessa whispered to Navie who hummed in agreement and Ronnek growled low as he heard the comment as well, but didn¡¯t reprimand the woman. Eveleen smothered another sigh as she knew why he had felt the need to clarify his words¡­didn¡¯t make it sting any less.


    _____________________________________________________________


    Ronnek watched as Eveleen fretted beside him, still not understanding why she was nervous. The presentation to the people had been flawless as the demonfolk cheered and greeted their new queen with unabashed warmth and love. Word of her saving the youngling from the forest had spread like wildfire and all praised her as a queen worthy of their fealty. Afterall, human or not, any that wouldn¡¯t hesitate to throw themselves into a dangerous situation for a child that was not their own couldn¡¯t be anything other than pure.


    Eveleen had relaxed and waved with ease as she looked down at the people, then she had smiled and held her hands before her. Ronnek only realized what she was going to do at the last second as she threw the magic ball into the air and it exploded into several sprays of colorful lights. The lights morphed into the shape of butterflies and danced through the sky above the crowd as they cheered louder and the younglings present squealed in delight, chasing the dancing lights.


    She was the perfect queen in their eyes and he knew the higher lords would feel the same, but clearly she wasn¡¯t as convinced. He squeezed her hand and leaned down to whisper into her ear,


    ¡°Relax darling. No one will say a negative thing about you. They are going to fall in love with you if they aren¡¯t already. You need to have the confidence of a queen tonight. Just be the amazing person I see now and you will be fine.¡±


    She looked up at him, the worry still reflected in her eyes and he smiled, reaching up with his other hand to tuck a strand of her hair behind her ear and let it trace her jawline after, feeling her shiver through his gloves. He growled low and reminded himself that they were expected in the banquet room right now so he wouldn¡¯t steal her to some dark corner.


    ¡°Tonight, you are Queen Eveleen. And if any dare so much as whisper a negative thing about you I will rip their wings off.¡± He deadpanned, completely serious, but Eveleen laughed at that and the tension left her body. He smiled and leaned down to capture that laugh, wishing he could deepen the kiss, but knew they wouldn¡¯t make it on time if he did. He pulled back and kissed her forehead gently.


    ¡°Let¡¯s go show them how you shine.¡±


    ___________________________________________________________


    ¡°Presenting King Ronnek, and her royal magnificence, Queen Eveleen.¡±


    Eveleen was surprised when they entered the banquet hall, expecting it to be similar to the balls she had attended in her past, but it was far more intimate and had an air of comfort. There were plenty of people in attendance, all dressed similarly to her and Ronnek¡¯s formal attire, but it wasn¡¯t so many she feared getting swallowed by the sea. They all bowed as the two entered and then raised their goblets in a toast to the health and prosperity of the royals. Eveleen looked about the hall and was surprised to see long tables with benches lining either side piled with food that looked like it would feed a small army.


    Ronnek led her down the steps and across the center floor which was illuminated from above. She looked up to the domed, glass ceiling that let the full moon¡¯s light shine down into the hall, helping the candles brighten the room. As they passed, the demon lords and mistresses bowed again waiting until they reached the thrones that sat behind an intimate table set just for the two of them. Eveleen blushed as it reminded her of a wedding feast in the human territory, but she wasn¡¯t sure if that¡¯s what this was supposed to mimic. Ronnek turned them to face the crowd once they were standing in front of the table and cleared his throat.


    ¡°Thank you all for attending tonight to celebrate the arrival of my queen. We will be striving for the peace and revival of the territory and¡­¡± His eyes softened as he gave her hand another affectionate squeeze.


    ¡°And I know that anything is possible with this woman by my side.¡± He motioned to someone standing on the side and she frowned as Altazar came forward with a small chest in his hands and a wide grin as he shot her a knowing look. Ronnek released her hand so he could open the box and gently pulled out the necklace nestled within. Eveleen¡¯s eyes widened and she was too stunned to speak, it was breath-taking. The silver strands were lined with diamonds, emerald and fire rubies. It was spiderwebbed to rest across her chest, attached to a throat strap that was made entirely of tiny emeralds.


    He turned back to her and the look in his eyes set her heart racing as he moved behind her and carefully placed the necklace around her neck. It wrapped around her neck snuggly, but didn¡¯t choke her as if it was perfectly fitted for her. She reached up and gently touched the stones and felt her heart skip at the thought as Ronnek finished fastening the clasp. She turned to look up at him then and his smile widened as he reached up and held one of the fire rubies hanging at the end between his fingers, his eyes darkening.


    ¡°I was right¡­these do match your hair perfectly.¡± He whispered and she felt like she might faint with happiness. So it was made just for her and it made her heart swell with love for this man. She felt tears fill her eyes as she let that emotion fill her entire being and smiled back at him. His eyes widened and he placed his hands on her waist, drawing her to him.


    ¡°Eveleen¡­¡± He groaned, but stopped as he was leaning down to kiss her when the room erupted into cheers and whistles. Ronnek cleared his throat again, hiding his face with his fist and Eveleen smothered a giggle at the blush to his cheeks, clearly he had forgotten they weren¡¯t  alone. He motioned for the feast to start and guided her to her seat, pulling back her chair for her.


    The food was delicious and she couldn¡¯t believe how much of it there was. Ronnek insisted she eat as much as she could, offering her the dishes he thought she would like best. The room filled with lively music as the demons began to mingle about and a soft buzz of conversation filled the air. Some went to sit on the benches and enjoy the feast while others made their way to the head table to privately greet her and Ronnek. Again she surprised some who hadn¡¯t heard of her fluent knowledge of their language, but none seemed to hold any prejudice against her and she wondered if that was due to the affection Ronnek had shown at the beginning of the ceremony.


    Even if it was, she still silently thanked him as not only had it filled her heart with warmth, but it had also possibly chased away any negative feelings held by the attendants. Eveleen watched as several demons took to the center floor and began to dance to the music. It was nothing like dancing she had seen before and she smiled brightly at the movements. The only thing she could possibly compare it to was the ¡®country dance¡¯ she had watched couples do, but this had a lot more leaps and fast pace steps.


    Now she understood her maids¡¯ comments about her dress being normal. Indeed she couldn¡¯t imagine dancing like this with constricting material in the way. The women dancing showed no shame or guilt in their exposed flesh and actually seemed to be taunting the males with it. Eveleen laughed and soon was clapping along with everyone else to the tempo of the music, unaware that Ronnek was watching her instead, a soft look in his eyes.


    ¡°Would you like to dance as well?¡± He asked, startling her as she looked back at him and blushed. She looked at the people dancing and shook her head. She stumbled over her answer as part of her wanted to.


    ¡°No, I don''t think I can. It looks rather complicated.¡± She blushed and Ronnek laughed, pushing back his seatr. He smiled and held his hand out to her in invitation.


    ¡°Let me show you.¡± He said and she wanted to refuse, but the excitement in his eyes was contagious and she laughed, accepting his hand. He helped her from her seat and led her to the dancefloor where others cheered and shouted encouragement to her. She blushed as all eyes were on her, but Ronnek squeezed her hand and drew all her attention to him. He took both her hands and whispered,


    ¡°Don¡¯t think. Just feel and follow me.¡± Before taking a step back and pulling her along with him. He drew her into the circle of dancers and she tried to watch what the others were doing as she struggled to keep up. Ronnek laughed and let go of one of her hands, making her gasp as she worried she would lose her footing, but he spun her and drew her back into his arms.


    ¡°I told you love. Just feel the music, don¡¯t think about the ¡®steps¡¯. Just watch me and forget the world around you.¡± He whispered and the way his voice dipped at the last part made her toes curl. She took a deep breath and nodded, following after him again. It was still awkward for her at first, but soon she was moving in rhythm with the music and following Ronnek with ease. He grinned at her and released her hand so she twirled past him, her hand was caught again and she looked to see Altazar grinning at her as he pulled her further down the line.


    ¡°Can¡¯t let him keep you all to himself now.¡± He laughed and she did as well as they continued dancing and she followed along with everyone. Eveleen felt so free as she spun and moved even faster as the tempo increased, closing her eyes instinctively as she allowed the music to carry her away. She felt an arm wrap around her waist as she took another turn and she didn¡¯t need to look to know who it was, he moved with her fluidly and she spun to face him again a wide smile spread across her face.


    Ronnek grinned back, his arm tightening so they were pressed together as the music hit its crescendo and then he grabbed her waist with both hands and lifted her up laughing as the final note struck and everyone cheered. Eveleen laughed and when she opened her eyes she saw the most amazing sight. Ronnek was smiling up at her and she swore she saw more than affection in his gaze.

 Chapter Five

    Ronnek watched her as she spoke excitedly with those around her. Eveleen was surrounded by several admirers already and he had decided it was best to let her shine on her own with him keeping an eye on her from a distance. She had relaxed throughout the night and was now charming any that came near. He felt a swell of pride fill his chest as he looked at his queen. She was truly amazing and unrivaled.


    ¡®Then why are you still hesitating?¡¯ A voice hissed from the dark corners of his mind and his smile slipped. Why was he still hesitating with Eveleen? He enjoyed her company above all others as they continued to go over demon history together, trying to put the pieces in place. Her mind never ceases to amaze him as she seems to teach him something new each day. She was beyond beautiful in his eyes and the hunger he felt when she drew near was maddening. He could barely hold himself back each time she drew near. So why?


    Ronnek sighed as he knew deep down the answer. He wanted this woman beyond reason and his demon blood made him insane with the desire to finish the bonding. Every kiss, every touch made him burn for her like no other. She drove all his senses wild, especially when she spoke to him in Draconian, her voice growing raspy. There was a hell of a lot of desire between them, but he couldn¡¯t seem to take that next step?


    It was like a phantom held a grip on his heart, refusing to relinquish the rest of it as he tried to move on from the past. He knew that Odette was only a dream, a future he had created when he was naught but a child. Eveleen¡­his sweet Eveleen. She was real and there was a very real future to be had with her. He felt it every time he kissed her, saw it in her eyes when she smiled at him. And he felt it within himself as well.


    Eveleen was quickly becoming an immovable object in his life and he found it increasingly harder to imagine a day without her. So why was he so afraid to cross that invisible line separating them? Why couldn¡¯t he admit to himself that he was falling in love with her?


    ¡®Can you truly love someone you didn¡¯t choose?¡¯ Ronnek still felt conflicted and torn when he remembered that although he was drawn to Eveleen, he couldn¡¯t guarantee it was his choice. What if this is all the work of the demon bond and some lost magic? From what he knew it was like a magical pull that was impossible to resist no matter how hard you tried. Which is why now, bonding wasn¡¯t done lightly and the thought of breaking a bond was unheard of.


    He wanted to believe that his growing feelings for Eveleen were truly his own, but from what he had read on the bond, it was a strange magic that was passed down to them. Dragons were known to take only one mate their entire lifespans and had passed the instinct to their descendants, which manifested as the bond mark. It was ancient magic that for generations now wasn¡¯t questioned, so there were no answers.


    Ronnek wanted to know Eveleen was meant to be his. Which was why he still searched for a way to break their bond. He needed to break it before he lost himself to the pull of her and crossed a line they may not be able to come back from. If he loved her and then found that it was all a trick of some blasted magic¡­He looked at her and watched as she whispered something to Altazar. They would both be destroyed.


    ___________________________________________________________________


    After she explained what she wanted Altazar¡¯s grin doubled as he bowed and laughed,


    ¡°Of course your highness. I think it¡¯s only fair.¡± His eyes sparkled with mischief and she giggled at his enjoyment of causing Ronnek trouble. She looked for him then and when she saw him her heart skipped. He was off to the side alone, leaning against the wall, lost in thought by the look on his face. She couldn¡¯t believe how just the sight of him affected her so, but she didn¡¯t deny how her mouth watered with the thoughts his presence caused her.


    She made her way to him and he seemed to sense her before she reached his side as he looked up and whatever worries he had been thinking of disappeared from his eyes. He smiled and immediately opened his arms to hug her to him. He nuzzled into her neck and she giggled as it tickled her sensitive skin.


    ¡°I was beginning to think you had forgotten about me witch.¡± He whispered and she hummed, amazed that now that word didn¡¯t infuriate her as it had before. The way Ronnek used it as a pet name seemed to have erased her earlier aversion to the term. He meant it only with pure affection and it warmed her heart to hear it from him now. Maybe she was just insane.


    ¡°Never demon. You occupy my every free thought.¡± She whispered, adding heat to her words as they weren¡¯t a lie. He growled in response and she felt his arms tense, the muscles bulging as he pulled her closer. She laughed and although she wanted to allow him to continue, she pushed lightly on his chest to stop him. Ronnek did and pulled back immediately to look down at her.


    Just at that moment the room filled with soft, melodic strings as the violinists played a beautiful song. Altazar looked back at her and winked. Ronnek frowned as she pulled out of his arms and curtseyed-to the best of her ability with her dress.


    ¡°My lord, may I have this dance?¡±  She asked and he raised a brow at her, making her giggle as she straightened and took one of his hands in both of hers and gently pulled. He looked apprehensive as he followed her to the center of the now empty dance floor.


    ¡°Eveleen¡­I don¡¯t know any human dances.¡± He said and she smiled softly up at him, taking his hand and placing her other on his arm, urging him to put it to her waist. He did, but she could still see the hesitation in his eyes as he looked around them at the other demons. She whispered so only he could hear,


    ¡°Just watch me and forget the world around you.¡± His eyes widened, but she saw it again. That hidden flame that made her heart soar with hope as she took a slow step. He followed after her for a few steps, but then she slowly let him start taking the lead and it didn¡¯t take him long to gain the confidence to fully guide her to the soft music. They moved together with the music and the rest of the world melted away, their eyes only on each other.


    Eveleen watched as his eyes softened and the hand at her waist shifted to her lower back, pulling her closer as they were carried away by the music. She had never felt so at home as she did in this demon¡¯s arms. She felt like she was where she was meant to be and couldn¡¯t imagine ever being anywhere else. She loved Ronnek beyond words and she wished he could read how much in her eyes. He completely owned her heart and she hoped that the way he was looking at her now meant she could be allowed to dream.


    With each new kiss and every gentle touch she fell deeper and deeper. Eveleen found it near impossible to hold back her feelings. She knew why she was afraid to say it. She was hopelessly in love with Ronnek, but she couldn''t be sure he would accept her heart. Eveleen told herself she could wait, but she worried each time he held her close to his heart it would slip out . And she was terrified.


    She wanted to believe he wouldn''t reject her again as they had grown so close. Everyday he came to her in the library where they would work together to find answers. Every night they dined, laughing and talking into the late hours. Gods how she loved his laugh. And each night when he escorted her to her room, he would leave her steaming and frustrated.


    She wanted this demon like no other and wished she could destroy whatever barrier stood between them. She swallowed as a mental image of Odette flashed in her mind and she had to push it away. Eveleen hated that she also burned with jealousy over her sister, a feeling she had never once felt in her life towards the woman. But knowing that she could be the reason Ronnek hesitated marred her heart as she didn''t know what else to do to make him look at her. To see she was here, she was real and she could never fully explain what he meant to her.


    Ronnek was slowly stopping the dance as his crimson eyes darkened and he lowered the hand holding hers until he placed it over his heart. Her eyes widened as she felt it thundering under her fingers, but she didn¡¯t look away from him, trapped in those dark pools as he slowly lifted his hand to her cheek. He drew her to him as he dipped his head and she closed her eyes as his lips pressed against hers.


    He didn¡¯t pull her closer or deepen the kiss, but it was the most passionate kiss they had shared so far. There was something hidden in the kiss, something she couldn¡¯t grasp, but felt deep in her heart. A soft buzzing began to fill her ears and she tried to mentally push it away, but it grew louder until they pulled apart and the world around them returned. It was the others cheering and whistling as they had before, only this time it was Eveleen that flushed at having forgotten they had an audience.


    Ronnek laughed, grinning down at her, pulling her to him and kissing her again. This one was hot and needy, making her grow weak in his arms as he possessed her mouth for all to see as if he were loudly claiming to all ''Mine! This woman is mine!'' And the thought thrilled her more than it should have. How was she supposed to hold back when this felt so right?


    ____________________________________________________


    Eveleen''s brows furrowed as she struggled with a phrase. She could read it fine, but translating it was more difficult as it didn''t flow correctly if she did. She had learned more about the ritual, knowing it was a way for a dragon to come into their full power. Almost like a coming of age ceremony. Ronnek had questioned if this ritual could be performed again by demons to awaken some dormant magic they weren¡¯t aware of and she had to agree. It wasn¡¯t a guarantee, but from what she had read there was no reason to doubt the possibility.


    She had been hoping to find more about the ritual as far as how and where. Ragnorazik was only mentioned by name, but there was never an exact location and she feared it was knowledge passed down among the dragons without ever having been recorded. She didn¡¯t think this book would hold anymore answers so she was quickly trying to finish the promised translation so she could move on to the next problem to solve. Where was this Ragnorazik and could they recreate the ritual again. She hoped she could give this to the people and the thought of making Ronnek proud fueled her determination.


    A knock at the library made her raise her head as Altazar came in carrying something under a blanket. The shape was similar to that of a birdcage only larger and it made her frown.


    "Forgive the intrusion your majesty. But the ball last night made me realize something rather important." He said, placing the item on the table.


    "And what was that?"


    "We have been so enraptured with your presence that we neglected to inform your family that you had arrived safely."


    The quill in her hand fell, splattering ink and ruining the page she had been working on. How could she have forgotten as well? How worried they must have been these past months. She felt sick with guilt as she cursed herself for being so¡­distracted. Altazar went to her side and patted one of her hands between his.


    "Do not fret your highness. I left this morning to ''visit''. Was a bit worried as you weren''t there to stop my impalement this time, but no worries. They seemed relieved to hear you were happily living here as our beloved queen."


    If you discover this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation.


    "Did they look well? Odette and father, were they okay? I should have sent word right away. What they must have thought!" She placed her hands over her face, but Altazar gently pulled them back.


    "They may have been worried about your emotional state, but I think they knew you were alive when Ronnek didn''t immediately storm the castle with an army at his back." He meant it as a joke, but it did little to lighten her mood. He saw this and cleared his throat, reaching into his pocket.


    "It took some time to return as there were many questions to answer and¡­the princess insisted I wait for her to finish this." He pulled a sealed letter from his vest and smiled at her.


    "But I was happy to, as I knew what this would mean to you." He whispered and handed it to her. Eveleen took it with shaking fingers, her eyes welling with tears as strong emotions warred within her heart.


    "I will leave you alone to read in a moment, but first my present." He said and moved back to the thing he had carried in with him.


    "So this doesn''t happen again I had Dariux go collect one of these for you." He said pulling the sheet from the item and she had been right about it being a birdcage. She gasped at the bird in it as its amber eyes studied her curiously. She took a tentative step towards it and placed her fingers against the cage¡¯s metal bars. It titled its head and made a noise like clinking glassware.


    "Is this what I think it is?" She whispered and Altazar nodded, straightening with pride at the success of his gift.


    "Intelligent creatures that have been kept by our kind for years as they show a tenacity for deep loyalty and are able to fly over even our roughest terrain for days without tiring."


    "I never thought I would see a Phoenix in my entire lifetime." Eveleen was in awe of the magnificent creature. Altazar took her wrist and slipped a bracelet onto it.


    "This is the link charm. The matching one is there-" He pointed to one of the bird''s legs.


    "-It allows the Phoenix to know where you are at all times so when it''s returning to you it knows where to go."


    "How does it know where to fly?" She asked and he shrugged.


    "We have no idea. You just tell it where to deliver the missive to and off it goes. These things are some of the most intelligent creatures and I can''t believe they choose to stay with us over flying freely, but they must know something we don''t." He grinned and now she returned the smile and looked down at the letter in her hands. Tears filled her eyes again and she whispered,


    "Thank you Altazar. You can''t begin to imagine what this means to me." His smile softened and he wiped at the tears.


    "Yes I can¡­which is why I did it. I will leave you alone now to read." He bowed and left the library. Eveleen looked at the Phoenix and opened the cage''s door, giving it the option to move about. It did, but chose to perch on the back of her seat. She laughed and joined it there, moving the ruined parchment out of her way, not even worrying about the lost work as she tore the seal on the letter.


    My dearest Evie! I am beyond words at the joy I feel to hear you are okay! We have been so worried about you! How could you do something so reckless? Father was beside himself when he discovered it was me in those chambers and he realized what you had done. But we are both relieved that you seem to be getting on there. This demon said you were perfectly happy, but I won''t believe it until I read your own words as I would recognize your voice in the writing.


    Please tell me you are truly living well and that you are not a prisoner being mistreated! Oh Evie I have worried and guilted so at the thought of you with that brute in my place! I know you can handle yourself perfectly well, but you will always be my little sister who cried in my arms during a thunderstorm.


    Eveleen laughed at that as she had forgotten how afraid of thunder she used to be. She wiped at the tears on her cheeks and read the next line that stabbed at her heart.


    Evie. Tell me that you will be home soon. We miss you dearly and I want to hold you close again. Even if it''s only a visit. I would like my sister to see me get married. Especially when she worked so hard to make it happen. I hope to receive your letter soon. With all my love, Odette.


    Eveleen sighed and held the letter to her own heart, sending a prayer that her sister felt the love there as well. She began to write her reply not wanting to make them wait any longer than they already had.


    Darling sister, I am perfectly well and safe here. Everyone has been beyond kind to me and I am truly treated as a queen. You need not worry over my wellbeing I swear to you. Please send my apologies to father as I knew it was what I had to do. I also knew that if I told either of you I''d have been locked in a tower with magic resistant locks.


    I love you both eternally and only thought of protecting your happiness. But in a strange way I was protecting mine as well. I know it will be hard to believe with the circumstances of how I came to be here, but¡­I am happy. I have truly come to love this kingdom and its people. And I have come to love its king as well.


    Eveleen realized that although she couldn''t tell the man himself, she could spill her heart out to the only other person who would understand. Her sister.


    Odette. Ronnek is nothing like we thought. He is kind and treats me so gently I found I have lost my heart to him. I never knew it would feel like this, or that it could hurt so deeply. I love him beyond reason and yet I can''t bring myself to tell him as I worry he does not feel the same. Was it ever like that with Edward?


    How I wish I could see you and ask you all these things in person. I am not a prisoner, but I have never thought to ask to return. Oh sister I feel horrible that I have not sent word to you and father before now. I am so sorry that I got so distracted here with¡­that I forgot to send word I was okay.


    I will do everything in my power to attend your wedding, just send word when it is happening and even a pack of Obsidian Hounds couldn''t stop me. She laughed and added,


    I''ll explain when I see you in person. Also please do not be startled by the messenger. He is beautiful isn''t he! I have not thought of what to name him yet. Perhaps you can help as you were always better at names whereas I always named pets after food.


    With all the love in my heart. Please continue to live happily. Kiss father for me, I will see you both soon. Eveleen.


    _______________________________________________


    Ronnek entered the library and watched as Eveleen finished sealing a letter. He frowned and then noticed the bird perched on the back of her chair.


    "Are you sending word to someone?" He asked and was surprised when she jumped and hid it behind her back. He frowned and moved further into the room, watching as she looked away.


    "Altazar delivered a letter from¡­from my family and I was about to send a response." She mumbled and he felt a strange sting in his chest. Did she trust his reaction so little that she felt she had to hide the letter from him? He swallowed the growl about to rumble through his chest as she would misinterpret his anger towards her. Or worse, believe it was at the mention of Odette.


    "You don''t have to look so apprehensive. I should have realized sooner that they would be worried. I''ll thank Altazar later for doing what I should have." He looked at her and noticed that she had taken the letter from behind her back but she still had a strange guarded look. He found he didn''t like that look and wanted to assure her she didn¡¯t have to worry around him, but knew with his hesitations she wouldn¡¯t believe he was sincere.


    He needed to chase away the cloud settling over them so he reached up and cupped her cheek. She calmed instantly and pressed against his palm, the tension leaving her body. He growled low and pulled her to him to kiss her. A loud screech stopped him as both flinched at the sound.


    "What the hell." He growled in irritation and looked at the Phoenix who was seemingly glaring at him. It flared up its wings and screeched in warning again.


    "She''s mine you damn pest! Go find your own mate!" He growled and Eveleen laughed, a deep airy laugh that made him swell instantly. He cleared his throat around the feeling, and shook his head. But thanks to the damn bird, the mood was lighter at least.


    He watched as she gave the letter to the fire pheasant and instructed it to deliver it to her sister. Ronnek waited until it was gone then wrapped his arms around Eveleen again, hugging her from behind and purred, nipping her bare shoulder. The gowns she wore now were more in style with his territory and he appreciated the feast it alloted his eyes.


    "Now. Where were we." He teased and she laughed, which turned into a soft moan as he kissed the juncture of her neck and shoulder, over her mark. He growled in response to the sound, loving the way it teased his senses. He turned her to face him and she placed her arms around his neck, smiling up at him with a look that made his heart race. He growled again and slid his hand into her hair, displacing a few pins as the soft strands tangled between his fingers. She sighed softly and met his hungry mouth with her own.


    She no longer hesitated when he touched her and seemed to revel in his attention, which made his mind go numb. He moaned as he bent her back, running his tongue along her lip, begging for entry. She parted willingly, her own slender tongue flicking at his as her nails lightly scratched the back of his neck. He was drowning and knew if he didn¡¯t come up for air soon he would have her on her back right there in the library. So against every instinct screaming inside him, he pulled back from her sweet lips.


    ¡°You distract me witch. I didn¡¯t come to attack you.¡± He growled and she chuckled, reaching up to slide her finger along the length of his horn and he shivered in response. The look in her eyes could steal anyone¡¯s heart and he was amazed his knees didn¡¯t buckle under her spell.


    ¡°You can attack me like this anytime you want demon.¡± He nearly combusted on the spot, but ignored the immediate reaction to throw her over his shoulder n race off towards his chamber. He mentally took a deep breath and shook his head.


    He smiled, laughing lightly as he kissed her forehead and looked around the library. It was strange how they had used similar words in this room several months ago when they wanted to tear out each other''s throats. But now anytime Eveleen called him demon in Draconian with her voice husky from desire he felt immense warmth fill his chest and wanted to steal her away.


    ¡°Before I get distracted further, did you still want to go out for a flight tonight?¡± He asked and laughed again as her eyes lit up with excitement. She had made a comment in passing about wanting to fly with him again as the last time she hadn¡¯t been able to focus after what had happened in the forest. He had offered to take her up again and she had reacted with a childlike wonder that made him just as excited to show her. He wanted her to feel the same thrill he did when he took to the sky and show her what a demon¡¯s greatest joy was. He offered her his arm and she wrapped her hand through, then looked at her work and frowned.


    ¡°I should really keep working though, I feel like I¡¯ve made the temple wait for a long time to get this back.¡± She mused.


    ¡°Nonsense. They would wait a century if it meant they could finally read that ancient book. Up until now it was unthought of and only a relic to be stared at. You¡¯ve offered them a gift beyond their imaginings. Speaking of¡­we are running out of places to put the bouquets they keep sending.¡± He teased and she laughed, following next to him as he led the way to his study. He glanced back at the window the Phoenix had flown through.


    ¡®I¡¯ll ask her about it later.¡¯


    _________________________________________________________________


    Eveleen couldn¡¯t hold back the excitement building in her heart as she stood out on the balcony with Ronnek. The evening air blew through her hair and she sighed in bliss as she closed her eyes and enjoyed the quiet for a moment. She felt him move behind her and instinctively leaned back so she was resting her head against his chest. His chest vibrated with his purr, a sound that soothed her heart.


    ¡°Are you ready?¡± He asked, his own excitement clear and she nodded, turning to wrap her arms around his neck again. He growled and stole a quick kiss before scooping her up into his arms. She unconsciously tightened her hold when he stepped up onto the ledge and spread his wings. He grinned down at her, a mischievous glint in his eyes before stepping off the balcony.


    She couldn¡¯t hold back the scream as they fell a few feet before he gave one powerful flap of his wings that launched them back into the sky. Eveleen¡¯s eyes widened as the Earth continued to shrink below them and Ronnek laughed as he hugged her closer.


    Seeing the world from up here and feeling the wind whip around her, the stars began to shine above them while the worries of the world were left below them. She looked ahead and suddenly understood why the curse he had placed would deter any demon. Losing this sense of¡­freedom would be crueler than just death. He drifted on the wind at a leisurely speed, as if he were just out taking a stroll. He leaned his mouth to her ear and asked,


    ¡°What do you think? Is it living up to your expectations?¡±


    ¡°Moreso. I never knew the feeling of flying above it all would make you realize how small you are when you''re down there.¡± She marveled as she looked down at the darkening land below them and he hummed in agreement. He stopped and straightened like he was hovering in place. She looked up into his eyes and he smiled down at her. The sun had fully set now and he nodded his head up towards the sky above them.


    ¡°That¡¯s not even the best part. Look there love.¡± He whispered and her heart flipped at the endearment, wondering if he was aware he said it. She looked up above them and her eyes widened, the Heavens reflected in their depths. She had looked at stars before, but up here it was like they were surrounded by them as if she could reach up and grab one. She actually did reach up towards them and laughed.


    ¡°It¡¯s beautiful!¡± She felt as light as the clouds floating through the air. Ronnek¡¯s arms tightened slightly and he was smiling as he began to fly forward again, his black wings blending in with the inky sky above them. She hugged him tighter and nuzzled into the crook of his neck, feeling his heartbeat thrum there. She was overcome again with how this was exactly where she always wanted to be. Sharing another piece of himself with her only made her love for him grow to unbearable levels. She could feel it bursting within her heart, begging to be let out.


    Eveleen pressed her lips to his hot skin to avoid the chance of the words slipping out and felt him growl at the contact. She smiled and felt bolder as she pressed gentle kisses to his skin as he often did for her. His fingers dug into her through her gown as he fought to focus, but he had slowed in his flight and was beginning to just hover again.


    ¡°Careful there¡­¡± He warned, but the way his voice had dropped and grown raspy only urged her further. She applied more pressure and even dared to press the tip of her tongue to his pulse point. He hissed in a breath and she felt him tremble as if fighting with himself. She moaned and on impulse she bit the same point lightly. Ronnek growled and drove for the ground suddenly.


    Eveleen screamed as the force of their drop made her stomach flip and she buried her face into his neck. He pulled up at the last second and gracefully landed. When she looked around they were in an open field that she didn¡¯t recognize. She looked around the for castle as Ronnek set her back on her feet.


    ¡°Wow, we were flying for longer than I-¡± Her words were cut off as Ronnek lips locked with hers. He moaned and immediately angled her face back, pulling her up against him. She softened and reciprocated as her hands slid up his chest, to wrap around his neck, pressing herself closer. Even in the cold air she felt like her body was on fire. Ronnek wasn¡¯t holding back as his hand slid down her lower back, applying pressure that made heat pool low in her stomach, whispering of delicious pleasure that she yearned to feel.


    She moaned and ran her tongue along his, sliding past it into his mouth as she explored every inch she could. She lightly ran it along his fangs and felt him shudder against her as a deep moan rippled through his chest. He pulled away from the kiss and pressed his forehead to hers, their breaths visible in the cold air as they both struggled to catch it.


    ¡°Eveleen¡­if you push me too far...¡± He growled and his eyes were so dark there was almost no red visible as his pupil had taken over. He looked feral and it sent a shiver through her, she leaned up to kiss him again. He groaned and pulled away, surprising her and she couldn¡¯t hide the hurt that stung her chest. He looked up at the sky as clouds rolled through.


    ¡°We should head back. It looks like a storm is coming.¡± He said in a low, guarded voice and Eveleen had to agree as she didn¡¯t respond. He picked her up again and flew towards the castle, but this time she didn¡¯t feel the same joy and kept her arms crossed over her chest. There was a storm coming, but it was the one raging within her own heart and this time she wasn¡¯t sure she could hold it back.

 Small update!

    Hello everyone! I am still working on this wonderful pair and my goal is to have this published by the end of next year! I know in my last update I said I would be leaving 10 chapters up, but as I''m nearing the end I realized it might not be as long as I thought so I have been deliberating on this as well.


    I have decided to make a change again in what''s best for me and the future of this book if I truly want to make this my first published novel. I will be cutting the chapters down. I will be deleting 5 chapters off this site and only offer five free as a stub.


    I appreciate all of you that have read what is posted so far and consider all of you as the reason I was inspired to push forward with this dream. I hope that the special sneak peak into the chapters you all got by being apart of the beginning journey still entice you to eventually buy the rest once I announce the publication of this book.


    This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.


    Thank you all again and from the bottom of my heart I really do appreciate you. The five chapters will be gone by the end of the day. I hope you all can understand my decision and why I decided this was the best choice for me. Hopefully I will be able to continue my writing journey even further to where I want to go!


    Love you all! Thanks for the support and confidence boost you all gave me! Hopefully I''ll see you again in the future!