Page 5 of A Daemon’s Alliance (Daemons & Lumens)

Morax

I might have tricked her into blood-sharing, but when I realized this little lumen girl was my mate, I nearly lost control.

Blood-sharing was not uncommon for daemons.

And the only requirement was the offer had to be given freely, the blood could not be taken by force.

When Michaela offered hers to me, my soul began to sing with desire.

It took every ounce of my willpower not to take her back to my home and breed her until every inch of her milky white skin was marked with my scent.

She was the most beguiling thing I had ever encountered.

When Michaela’s blood hit my tongue, my cock was so fucking hard and my mind screamed with a possessive need so intense I groaned out loud.

She didn’t even look frightened when she spoke the words and leaned in to consume my blood.

As soon as she did, I felt every emotion dancing through her.

Fear. Curiosity. Desire. The last one nearly sent me to my knees again.

She was perfect in every way. And she was all mine.

I never expected to find a mate. It was rare for daemons, and for a daemon and lumen to be mated was almost unheard of. My brother Phen would have a field day with this news. He told me it would happen, that I would find a mate in this human world, but I refused to believe him.

“Wait.”

The change of her tone pulled me out of my rabid thoughts.

“What did you call me?” Her voice was barely a whisper.

I smiled. “Valdis. Your mother’s family name.”

She attempted to back away, but I held her wrist tightly to keep her close. She would never be rid of me.

Michaela sighed, absorbing this information quickly. “I guess I shouldn’t be surprised you know who I am.”

I chuckled, and pride filled my veins. She would need this strength in the months to come. My beautiful mate stared down at her palm, and we both watched as the wound began to heal.

Michaela smiled and held out her free hand. “A little gift from my mother. I’m a fast healer.”

I cocked my head, curious. “How much do you know about Aurora?”

She shrugged, her golden hair shimmering in the moonlight.

“More now than I ever did before. She didn’t tell us anything.

Well, at least not outright. My mother told us strange bedtime stories that I suspect are more than that.

But I only learned she was something more than human after she was killed. ”

“She was a lumen. Akin to what the mortals think of as angels. She was exceptional. Royal. Half of your blood is that of a queen’s.”

Her blue- and honey-colored eyes grew round beneath dark lashes, and I ate up her undivided attention. She frowned, and instantly I wanted to take away the pain.

“I guess that makes sense. Otherwise this stupid cult wouldn’t give a shit about me or my sisters.”

I nodded, because this was mostly true, and smirked at her dirty mouth.

“So crass, mae domina . But, yes. Your eldest sister was a full-blooded lumen and heir to the throne. The stories became hazy after her birth. There was much fighting among her people. Not unlike what my own people dealt with at the time. A prophecy came to us, and it was said a child born of a lumen and a daemon would rule us all. The lines between daemons and lumens began to blur as those in power sought to create such a powerful child.”

Michaela crossed her arms. “What does that have to do with us, though?”

She really had no idea the trouble she was in. “Your other sister, Seraphina, is believed to be that child. These…what do you call them? Obscuritas? They are working with my brother to find her and use her to take control of your world—and ours.”

Michaela let out a heavy sigh and ran her fingers through her long hair. I ached to do the same. “Well, that sucks.”

I laughed, the nonchalant response catching me off guard. I was positively enthralled by this woman. “Yes, I suppose it does.”

Michaela shivered, and I reached out to sense her feelings, realizing the damp air of the early morning was making her cold.

I wasn’t wearing a shirt and did not have a cloak to offer her.

I wrapped one arm around her shoulders. “Come. I will return you to your home before anyone realizes you are gone. Tomorrow, I will arrive as your new personal bodyguard. Your father will believe he hired me.”

She nodded, absorbing my words as we walked out of the woods and toward the small cabin she shared with her father.

There was more she needed to know about her situation, and I growled possessively before uttering my next words. “There is more, Michaela.”

Her head snapped up at my tone. “What is it?”

I sighed, but from her reactions thus far, I was certain she could handle this information.

“The Obscuritas will come for you and your father. And you will go with them. It will become known I was a plant, working for this cult. It is the only way to infiltrate them and for me to remain by your side.”

Michaela stopped walking and frowned up at me. “Why? Why can’t you just kill them all now?”

I smiled down at her, letting my teeth sharpen as I held her petite face in my hands. “I will, mae domina . But there is so much more to this than you know. I need you to trust me. For now.”

She stared back at me, and I swear her pretty eyes could see directly into the darkness of my soul. I wanted to tell her everything. Every secret I ever had. Tell her she was mine, my mate for eternity. But she was not ready for all of that. And I could wait. For her, I could wait.