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 encounter this narrative on Amazon, note that it's taken without the author's consent. Report it.

  "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.