“And yet,” Kaelith seethes, “have the whispers not told us of Korithax preparing to marry a mortal, you insolent prick?”
The creature no longer looks like the arrogant beast that stole me into the night. Instead, he looks like a quivering servant, terrified of the man in front of him. What kind of man was Kaelith if a creature as vile as that feared him?
Kaelith’s eyes flick back to me, panic rushing into his voice. “My dear, I am?—”
He stumbles where he’s stood, a thunderous boom shaking the mountain, causing the platform beneath us to tremble. Several of the crystal lights lining the platform shatter as a form crashes down like a meteor from the sky. Cracks web across the stone around him as he lands in a crouch, one knee touching the floor. His wings are flared out and still twitching, the curved spikes at the end of them glinting under the light.
“Korithax,” I breathe, so quietly I barely even hear myself say it.
He lifts his head slowly,his chest heaving, sweat lining his brow. The look in his eyes steals the breath from my lungs. They’re entirely black, utterly devoid of any of the white that used to reside there. Raw fury rolls from him in waves, the heat that emanates from him hitting me even from the other side of the platform. He’s covered in a black substance that’s mixed with dried, flaking blood. His hair hangs limply around his face, slicked with sweat and gods knows what else. He looks like he’s just torn through an entire army. The creature that took me tries to flee, scrambling backward with a gaping mouth.
“Not so fucking fast,” Korithax snarls. In a blur, he grabs the creature by the throat and lifts him into the air with one hand.I see his nostrils flare slightly, his jaw clenching so tightly the veins on his neck bulge.
“You took something that belongs to me,” he growls, “and you smell an awful lot like her blood.”
“I… I am so sorry, Prince?—”
The creature’s words cut off in a scream as black fire explodes from Korithax’s fingers, burning his throat under his touch. The smell of his scorching flesh makes me gag, and I push my hand over my nose to evade the smell.
“You’re very lucky that I don’t possess my full magic,” he hisses, before crushing the creature’s neck in his grip. Korithax holds the lifeless body in his hand for a few more moments, his chest heaving before letting go. The creature’s body hits the ground in a crumpled heap, smoke still wafting from the fresh corpse.
I’ve never seen Korithax use any other power except teleporting. He’s utterly terrifying, the true embodiment of a demon King. My king. My soon-to-be-husband. Gods above.
He turns to Kaelith next, prowling forward with an animalistic look on his beautiful face.
“Ah, Prince Korithax,” Kaelith begins, hands slightly raised in a defensive position.
Korithax punches him clean in the face without hesitation, not even deigning to speak to him as he pushes past the stunned ruler. His eyes are set solely on me as he drops to his knees in front of me. Korithax’s hands are gentle as he wraps the torn cloak around my shoulders. He scans me from head to toe, nostrils flaring at each cut and bruise he spies across my body.
“Little flower,” he breathes, cupping my face in his hands. “Are you alright?”
I nod, the tears now spilling over at the sound of his voice, the warmth of his touch against my frozen skin. I fling myselfforward without thinking, arms wrapping around his neck as I collapse into his chest.
He grunts slightly, and I pull back on a gasp. “I’m so sorry. Are you hurt?”
He gives me the softest smile I’ve ever seen grace his face, the sight making my heart flutter. “It’s okay. I’m okay,” he whispers.
He glances once more at my wounds, then, without another word, scoops me effortlessly into his arms. He turns to Kaelith, his voice deadly, “I suggest you find us one of your finest rooms immediately. I want your best godsdamn healers there before we arrive. And maybe, if they heal her to absolute perfection, I’ll consider not reducing your realm to a pile of ash. Do you understand me?”
Kaelith nods his head once in obedience, not bothering to wipe the violet blood that trickles down from his nose. “Please, follow me.”
The roomthey bring us into is unlike anything I’ve ever seen before.
It’s carved into the side of the mountain, the walls smooth and gleaming with veins of crystal that pulse softly with light. Massive windows stretch across the far side, revealing the endless stretch of night sky with the northern lights dancing to a symphony only they can hear. The glass is curved and pristine, giving the illusion that the stars and galaxies are within arm’s reach. A roaring fireplace of black stone crackles gently on the side wall, casting a soft golden glow that flickers across the ceiling like fireflies.
The bed is enormous, sitting beneath an arch of natural stone that’s carved into the wall. The blankets look impossibly plush, layered with furs and deep violet silks that look heavenly. Everything seems to glow faintly, as if enchanted by the verymagic of the realm. And by the bed stand several healers, already waiting just like Korithax demanded.
Korithax gently places me atop the soft furs on the bed, my cloak being peeled away by one of the younger looking helpers. A gasp escapes me when they begin cutting the dress away from my body, revealing my black laced bra and matching panties beneath. I burn with embarrassment, but Korithax doesn’t look away. Instead, his eyes track down my body slowly, his jaw tightening visibly, a muscle jumping beneath the surface.
“Is she allowed no modesty?” He growls.
“Sorry, sire. We need to access the wounds,” a healer responds.
I screamwhen the healing begins, gripping the bed sheets as my back arches off the mattress. The pain is excruciating, my ribs feeling like they’re splintering, the gashes along my side igniting with searing heat.
“What are you doing to her?” Korithax bellows, storming forward and grabbing a male healer by his robes.
Another one of the healers raises their hands in a calming gesture. “Sir, we are healing her. Our methods are different from those in your realm. We fix everything with our hands, not healing tonics. She has a broken rib and deep wounds along her waist. We are making the bones and wounds knit themselves back together.”
