Page 31 of Promised to the Demon King (The Demon Brides #1)

She woke up wrapped in his bed chamber again. The smile graced her face as she stretched and sighed in contentment. She was hoping she would be here again. She missed him.

"Asmo?" She softly called out; he wasn't in bed with her.

"Good Evening, my beautiful Queen." His profound yet gentle voice called from behind her, causing her to gasp and be startled.

Asmodeus' eyes twinkled with amusement as he chuckled before pulling Nova into an intimate hug. Their energies intertwined, sparing the growing bond to life once again.

She breathed him in deeply as he did.

"I missed you." She whispers, pressing her nose into his barrel chest, breathing his mixture of masculinity and spice in. Filling her entire body with nothing but him.

"I missed you more, my love. In just a few more weeks, you will forever be mine."

Her heart flutters at his words, and she warms at his intent to claim her forever. She wanted nothing else than to be by her Asmo's side.

"Come. You must be famished. You didn't eat much today on your Earth's realm," he glanced displeasedly at her. Asmo separated their bodies and led her to the table.

"How'd you know that?" she asked in surprise, refusing to move.

"I always watch over you, my Queen. It's the greatest honour for a King. To protect his Queen."

"And what shall my honour be then? Protecting my sexy King?”

She smirked the way she noticed it drove him crazy, and without fail, Asmo pulled Nova back into his arms.

"The honour will always be mine. You just bask in my forever devotion and love. You are my balance. My calm." Dipping his head low, he pinched her chin gently to lift her face to his. They shared a knowing smile.

Nova giggled at his words. "I can see that. Mister Sex God has to show patience for his young virginal Queen. If that's not balance, I don't know what is." Nova smirked, and before she said anything more, he caught her bottom lip between his sharp teeth. He wasn't hurting her; he was asserting himself. She rose on her tiptoes, wrapping her arms around his thick neck. Asmo released her bottom lip and waited for her to take the lead.

Her lips hovered over his own. A ghost of a kiss was teasing his senses, and he loved Nova's awakening temptress side.

She was his most significant test of patience. He wanted nothing more than to claim her and crown her right then and there, but being in her presence also grounded his urges. His lust for her was a constant, but being with her like this at night brought him a great peace he'd never known before.

He finally understood his brothers and their words of balance through their Queens. He had that now.

He stole a quick kiss, defeating her tease game and pulled back slightly with a victorious and cocky grin.

"That's enough for now before I lose my restraints and take you right here. Allow me to feed my Queen to satisfaction." He took her hand and delicately guided her to the head chair at the table.

There was only one chair at the grand table; Nova followed Asmo's lead, unsure what he had planned. Was she eating alone?

Before any more questions or confusion could form, Asmodeus sat upon the large, beautifully handcrafted chair, pulling Nova onto his lap as he did.

"I bet you're near ravenous, my love. You need to remember to take better care of yourself. We are too close to our Claiming Ritual ceremony for you to fall ill now." Asmo gently reminded her of her self-loathing as he allowed her to adjust herself into a more comfortable position on him.

"I'm sorry, Assi. I was sad." Nova lowered her head as she spoke.

"Why were you sad, my love. Did someone hurt you? Give me their names, and I'll bring them to the pits!" Nova felt his body tense, and the warmth on his skin told her he was getting upset at her being hurt.

"No. No one hurt me. But,"

"But, what?"

"I don't trust my mother and her intentions. I have to tell someone; she had my father murdered. I believe it was over his money, but I didn't realize she'd get none of it. That is why Timothy, her second husband, suddenly has financial and legal issues. I think my mother is behind it. I wish she could go to these pits that you speak of."

"Is that what you want?"

"What do you mean?" genuinely curious.

"Your mother is riddled with sin, but most of her sin is Greed. She will not end up in my domain, but I can make a deal to claim her if you wish. But where would you wish to place her? There are the pits of despair and darkness, or you can keep her in a cell and have all the fun with her soul that you could possibly want. Whichever you decide shall be her fate. That is my gift for you."

"Do I have to answer now?" Nova asked tentatively.

"Of course you may, my love. I will never pressure you on anything. We do everything at your pace. I promise." Nova smiled at his words. She felt like he'd see her heart beating wildly out of her chest if she were a cartoon. He always said all the right things. Placing a quick kiss on her forehead, he smiled.

"Let's start you off with a sweet." Asmo practically purred as Nova leaned into his chest on his firming lap.

He reached out, collected a sizable ripe strawberry, and teased it across her bottom lip. Her lips instinctively opened, and she captured the tip of the plump berry between her white teeth. Her eyes locked onto Asmodeus as she did.

He watched lustfully as the contrast of her pearly whites sliced through the quarter of the brilliant red berry.

A bit of berry juice threatened to stain her full lips; Asmodeus couldn't fight the urge to lean in and slowly lick the sweet nectar from her tempting mouth.

Nova closed her eyes and moaned at the sensation of both the burst of juice on her taste buds and the exotic touch of his soft tongue on her mouth.

An arousing growl took hold of Asmodeus at the sound. He was pleased that she was just as turned on as he was by this.

"You have no idea how sexy you are, my little Queen."

Nova giggled and wiggled on his lap. There was a mischievous flash in her eyes. He felt her demoness responding to his aura. With each day, she awaken a little bit more. They were so close now. His hybrid Queen was just on the surface.

"My turn!" she proclaimed with a smile.

She took another strawberry and held it to his lips. With his creamy blue eyes never leaving her burning green ones, he dipped his head forward and took the plump, juicy berry between his teeth.

Nova surprised him by claiming the other side of the berry with her mouth.

The moment their lips touched, the embers of controlled desire burst into flames. He took control, grasping her hips firmly; Asmodeus lifted Nova and repositioned her to straddle his lap.

"My little temptress. You're playing with fire." Asmodeus spoke between scorching kisses and his branding touch of hands.

"Don't worry, my handsome King? You have a massive fire hose I can use to control this blazing inferno." When she said that, there was a hint of wicked temptation in her eyes. He could see her demoness, baby horns, and subtly altered features. The untrained wouldn't notice, but he was a King and one of hell's purest demons. She was there.

"Do you want to see your reflection, my beautiful Queen? You're starting to change." Asmodeus gulped for air like a fish out of water. It was becoming harder to refuse her desires, much less his own.

"I'm changing?" Nova tilted her head in confusion. Her cheeks were beautifully flushed from the passionate heat of their kissing. She was ever so slightly rotating her hips over his firming member. He wasn't even sure that she was aware of it.

With a snap of his fingers, a mirror appeared suspended in the air next to them. He watched as her eyes lit up at his simple parlour trick.

"How'd you do that?" She was marveled

Asmodeus leaned in and whispered the instructions, but she could only focus on his heated breath on her neck. A shiver took control over her body, causing Asmodeus to smirk victorious.

"So responsive," he chuckled, leaving a trail of featherlight kisses along her neck. Now, try and follow my instructions. Bring the mirror back." It took her a minute to realize the mirror was gone. Where'd it go? She looked around, startled.

Nova snapped her fingers a few times to no luck; her focus remained on Asmodeus and what he was doing to her body with his mouth.

"Too distracting?" He pulled away with an expression of innocence. "Try now."

Rolling her eyes, she took a deep, refocusing breath and snapped again.

Nothing.

"Try again, but focus on what you want to appear more clearly." His hands remained on his thighs, lightly rubbing up the length of them. He was creating a pool of desire beneath her, but it was easier to focus on than when his mouth was doing so many pleasurable things to her ears and neck.

Nova closed her eyes and then snapped. When she opened them again, the mirror was back. Her mouth dropped open, and her eyes widened in surprise and excitement.

"Perfect, my Queen. Now, will it away and then bring it back again." Asmodeus coached, his voice full of pride.

She does as he instructed and grins proudly when it works easier for her the second time.

"I did it. I did it, Assi!" Nova bounced excitedly on his lap, causing him to chuckle at her enthusiasm.

"You sure did, baby. I am proud of you. You learn quickly. Now, see your reflection."

There was a loud gasp. There were no words for what felt like an eternity to Asmodeus. He watched Nova's complicated emotions take over her expressions as she took in the details of her reflection. He watched as her shaky hand lifted from his chest and touched her baby horns. Tears welled in her eyes.

"Don't be afraid, baby. You are beautiful."

"Are these real?" Her eyes never left her own reflecting. Her features were sharper, more vivid and bold.

"They are, but only when you are down here with me. When you return to Earth for the remaining few weeks, you will remain as you always have."

"I don't understand. Am I evil?" Her voice was thick with emotion.

"Not a bone in your beautiful body is evil. You are a hybrid demoness; the more time you spend with me, the more your demoness side awakens. She is my hybrid Queen, responding to my calls and presence. Does this bother you?" Doubt started to fill him as he watched her critical observation of her reflection.

"I don't know what to think, Assi. I have been raised attending church. I've always been told that Demons and Devils were evil, and I met you, I don't sense that at all, but now I have horns, and I am scared. I don't understand."

"Do you accept me, Nova?" His eyes fill white, and he waits anxiously for her to accept or reject her.

"I will always accept you, Assi. I--”

"You what?"

"I love you. I just don't understand what's happening to me. I don't understand how any of this is possible. Isn't Hell evil? I need to understand."

"Then let me explain a few things and help you understand where you've been misled in your realm."

He cups her small face in his large hands and tenderly kisses her lips before explaining: Hell, he just hopes he doesn't regret it later.