Page 10 of Demon Seed (Mated to the Monster: Season 3)
Vesper
I watch Selena's chest rise and fall with the deep, hypnotic sleep rhythm. Her dark hair cascades over my pillow like a spilled pot of ink, and I fight the overwhelming urge to brush the stray strands from her serene face.
After the intensity of last night, Selene needs this rest. The vivid memory of her beneath me, surrounding me, ignites a fiery rush through my veins. But duty looms, and I extract myself from our bed with the stealth of a shadow. I am now a mated male, and there’s nothing more important than protecting my female.
When I arrive at the main tower, the dim morning twilight—the meager light we receive all day—barely pierces the sky. Morrigan is already there, her armor radiating like a beacon in the pale light. She stands with unwavering resolve, her gaze a laser beam on the horizon.
"You're late," Morrigan declares, her voice sharp, without even the courtesy of a glance in my direction.
"And you're early," I retort, striding to stand beside her with a deliberate air. "As always."
A flicker crosses her lips, a ghost of a smile, the most I'll extract from her at this ungodly hour. "The eastern scouts came back an hour ago. They've uncovered talismans scattered like a sinister web throughout the woods encircling the castle."
My muscles coil with tension. "How many?"
"A dozen, perhaps more. These witches are quite cunning. The talismans were hidden by magic, but I uncovered them easily. It’s one of the many gifts I inherited from my mother.”
I curse under my breath. “Is this interference sanctioned by Queen Isolde? She promised she’d keep out of my affairs.”
"I don’t think she’s in league with them. But I sent Cassian to question her involvement as carefully as possible and learn for sure. He’ll be back soon,” Morrigan continues, finally turning to face me. Her eyes narrow as she studies my face. "You look… rested."
Heat creeps up my neck. "What's that supposed to mean?"
"Nothing," Morrigan says, but there's knowing in her voice. "Just good to see your queen has a positive effect on you."
Suddenly, Cassian's silhouette appears at the gates. His steps are heavy, each one echoing the weight of his journey. The guards, recognizing his familiar figure, swiftly open the massive iron doors. Despite the exhaustion evident on his face, his posture remains straight as an arrow.
I watch intently as he delivers the news that the Witch Kingdom of Shadowhaven has nothing to do with the intrusion into my lands.
"You're certain?" I ask, needing to hear it again. "Queen Isolde has no involvement?"
Cassian nods once, sharp and definitive. "After her staunch denial, I tracked the magical signature myself. It leads solely to the Divine Peaks, not the royal palace. This is the work of a rogue coven who resides on the mountain. They’re allied with the elves and nymphs, not the queen.”
"Why is Selene’s family trying so hard to be banished?” Morrigan stands beside me, her voice tight with anger. “I don’t understand what they hope to accomplish. It’s forbidden to come between mates. And how do they hope to win against a legion of dem?—?”
Morrigan’s voice is abruptly severed by the piercing howl of a wolf, its sound cleaving through our conversation like a sharpened blade, cutting her off mid-sentence. I lock eyes with Cassian, whose hand reflexively grips the hilt of his sword, muscles tense, ready for action.
“Hold your urge,” I caution, gesturing toward the menacing black wolf prowling by the edge of the trees. “That one is unmistakably one of the Wolfram brothers. He wouldn’t be here without a purpose, and Lycans are wise enough not to meddle with the mate bond.” My mind flashes back to the formidable black beast that emerged to shield Selene in the woods. “If he approaches the gates, allow him passage. I must uncover his intentions to ensure Selene’s safety.”
As if he could hear my words, the black wolf approaches our gates, his movements deliberate and steady. With a subtle flick of his muzzle, he signals the other wolves in his pack to remain in the shadows. Smart. The guards exchange nervous glances but allow him passage as instructed. I'd given explicit orders about this visitor.
My heart hammers against my ribs as I rush across the courtyard, boots crunching on frost-covered gravel. The black wolf pads through the entrance, his amber eyes finding mine immediately. I welcome him into the study, and offer him a place by the fire.
"You came alone," I say, lowering myself to one knee before him, not out of deference but to better meet his gaze. "I appreciate the gesture."
The wolf's fur ripples violently, darkness folding in on itself with a menacing twist. Then Dorian Wolfram stands before me, stark naked and utterly unashamed. The transformation is always a brutal spectacle—bone and sinew snapping and reshaping in the blink of an eye.
"I have a message for you," Dorian growls, his voice a raw, gravelly snarl. "And I didn't think bringing my entire pack to your doorstep would alleviate the simmering tensions."
“What kind of message?” I surge to my feet, tossing off my cloak and offering it to Dorian, still shivering from his transformation.
Cassian suddenly appears by his side and offers him a glass of whiskey. He gratefully accepts it and takes a seat across me by the fire.
"First and foremost, congratulations on finding your mate. It's a rare occasion when a demon is graced with eternal love.” Dorian runs a hand through his dark hair, using his fingers like a comb until he's satisfied with the results.
I nod, struggling to keep a triumphant grin from breaking free. He’s right. I’m extraordinarily blessed. Dorian is the alpha of his pack and has spent hundreds of years searching for his mate—his Luna. That’s an unusually long time for a Lycan. They typically find their fated mates before their fiftieth birthday.
Dorian wraps the cloak around his shoulders and sighs. “The witches are being led by Calista, and she’s been told you kidnapped Selene from her home and dragged her here. The Lunaire family convinced her that you claimed your mate against her will. If she knows the truth, she may cease their incessant stalking.”
“Why do you have so much interest in my mate? You’ve risked your life crossing into my kingdom. There must be a reason.” I regard Dorian’s face carefully as I ask the question that’s been on my mind since I first spotted him guarding my mate.
Dorian's eyes narrow slightly, that aristocratic mask of his slipping for a heartbeat before he regains control. "My interest in Selene?" he echoes, swirling the amber liquid in his glass. The firelight catches in it, casting golden shadows across his sharp features. "Is it so unusual to take an interest in a woman of her… qualities?"
"Cut the bullshit, Wolfram," I say, leaning forward. The chair creaks beneath me. "You've been tracking her movements for the past two days. And gathering information on her family. Why?"
Dorian smiles a predator's smile that doesn't reach his eyes. "Perhaps I simply find her intriguing. Don't you, Vesper?"
The way he says my name makes my skin crawl. Dorian Wolfram has always been dangerous, but there's something different about him lately. Something hungrier.
"What I find," I say carefully, "is that men like you don't spend resources on mere intrigue. You want something from her."
Dorian sets his glass down with deliberate precision. "We all want something from someone, don't we? But unfortunately, I can’t disclose my motivation." He stands and downs the rest of his whiskey. "I promise I have good intentions and no desire to remove Selene from your care. Time will reveal everything."
"That’s convenient," I mutter.
Dorian sighs, "I understand your suspicion. In your position, I'd feel the same." His eyes meet mine, surprisingly earnest. "But I give you my word—I am honor bound to protect her."
"Your word?" I repeat. "That’s the currency of liars."
Dorian strides to the window where the moonlight carves his silhouette into something almost ethereal. "There are forces at work far beyond your comprehension, Vesper. But I swear I'm here to aid, not harm.”