Page 14 of Wishing Upon a Monster (Monster Brides Romance #40)

Olan

M y wife trembled in my arms like a newborn calf, and a rage I had not felt in centuries rose within me. To invite us, no demand for us to bring ourselves before their council and then attack my mate’s mind?!

Min lille skat trembled in my arms while the demon stopped the vehicle. With a wave of my hand, the doors blew off the van.

“Oh, Dis,” The demon said, wrestling with her seatbelt, “Olan, please, sir, it was an oversight, a stupid, fucking oversight, but––”

I cared not for what the demon had to say as I swiftly carried min skat towards this foolish Council. They wished to incite fear? They wished to forget that my precious Aurora was coming?

It was a mistake they would soon not forget. I called upon my shadows, pulling them from every overhang, every ridge of stone, and I sent them upwards, dismantling their fool enchantments. All would be revealed, all would know they would not trifle with min skat, my gods-sent Aurora .

Alarms blared, and men and women poured out of the building, but with a wave, my shadows had them all bound and trembling, gasping, and feeling as she did.

“OLAN!”

I heard a buzz, a faint, sweet sound light upon my cheek, delicate flesh pressing into my own. But my vengeance would not hear it. I would not hear it.

I cut off the offending humans’ air, letting them gasp and writhe. Darkness wrapped around the building, ready to level it down to its foundations, before the golden face of my wife surged forward, her lips crashing into mine.

Time ceased to be. Her lips were warm and searching, and they pulled me from my retributive haze.

My hand, which had directed the shadows, fell, releasing the humans and sending the shadows swarming us instead.

I groaned, for such a sweet bounty was foreign to me, and I hungered for more.

I took. I plundered her ripe lips, nipping and sipping as if she were a delicacy I would never have the chance to savor again.

But as with all things, the end came sooner than one would like, and min Aurora pulled back, her breaths heaving, her thighs clamped around my chest. She stared into my eyes as if she had not considered the consequences of her actions.

I could feel the consequences, stiff and aching, having risen to the occasion.

“I am okay,” she said, still breathing deeply. “We are okay. They were stupid and made a mistake, and it won’t happen again.”

My eyes searched hers, afraid to see regret and disgust, but all I spied was concern and flushed cheeks, swollen lips, and perhaps... the kindling needed to start a fire between us.

That alone had me lowering my shadows enough to see the Magic Users around us, circled and wary, with their useless weapons and magic drawn .

Fools. And yet perhaps I shall allow them their lives for the spark they have lit within my bride.

“Will you stand down, Olan?” The demoness called, her true form revealed, skin red and horns black and high, her slitted merlot eyes wary.

“I will only because my wife asks this of me, but a grave error was made this day,” I rumbled.

“There was, and we will make sure that it does not happen again,” she called, her hands waving to her fellows. “We will lower our guard now.”

I laughed mercilessly. “It is best you do, for else you would not survive me a second time. It is her grace that saves you.”

The magical energy around us lowered considerably, the alarm still blaring as I released my shadows back to where and whence they came.

We were surrounded by Magic Users, some in uniforms, some in clothes much like min skat wore, all wary, as they should be.

I disliked the phrase minor god, as if this somehow made me less of a god than any other. My worship was minor, not my power.

The demoness strode forward, her jaw clenched.

“I speak for all of my fellow enforcers when I say we apologize for the mental anguish we inflicted on Aurora Aurum. The Council has been called in, and those responsible will answer for the offense. If you are willing, we would still like for you to come inside and meet with the Talentless Reg–.”

I growled, the sound harsh, causing many of the fools around me to flinch.

“––with the registration folks as planned, and I will stay with you to ensure that no one makes another mistake,” the demoness finished.

I turned my head to min s?de skat, my brow raising inquiringly. “What do you want to do?”

“It would be best to get this over with. That way, we can leave and never come back to this place.” She looked out across her fellow enforcers. “It is obvious there is a lack of training here, and that needs to be addressed.”

“Yes, ma’am, it does,” the demoness agreed.

I believe Aurora knew my feelings, my desire to not let her go in such a place, and she allowed me to shift her onto my side just above my hip.

I tried not to think about her hot center bouncing along my side as I walked.

It would not do to become distracted. But with this new position, I had a hand free.

As for my other hand, well, I did my best not to squeeze her strong thigh or slide my hand up to her luscious ass.

The things I did to fight my nature were truly astounding.

“ You are quiet, min lille skat ,” I asked her in her mind.

“A lot just happened. I want to think this was a mistake, but at the same time, I have to wonder. Were they testing your power? Was this a setup?”

“I know not, but either way, they have their answer now, do they not?” I nuzzled the side of her head.

A confused jumble of awareness, lust, confusion, and shock rushed through her system at my action before her crown snapped around her mind, blocking her feelings out.

I would not apologize for the insight they gave me.

When I saved her life, when the gods deemed her worthy, I had hoped we would be partners in all things, mentally, spiritually, physically, and carnally.

I knew that as a mortal, she needed time to come to terms with our arrangement.

Our marriage was the will of the oldest of gods, and I admit my golden one did not make this decree a hardship.

They showed me all of her, her essence when she wished; she was worthy, and I hungered for her.

I wanted to plunder her very being, to have her golden form writhe in ecstasy as she rode my hane . Never had I wished for something more.

The demoness led us through an ostentatious great room through a maze of hallways to an equally extravagant room done up in blues and gold.

I carried us to a smaller couch, where I sat us.

I tried to look at ease, although the demoness’ power levels were uncharacteristically high.

She was not a higher demon; I had spent time in Dis thousands of years past. Lesser demons looked as humans described devils in their lore: different skin colors, some onyx like mine, others ruby, gold, or emerald, some had horns, like she did, or hooves, which she did not, forked tongues, fangs, claws, or spikes.

How they looked didn’t particularly matter to me, but more often than not, they were not as powerful as the progeny of demons who mated with fallen angels.

These were the higher demons, and they looked human.

Perhaps in this case, she was mated to some being stronger than herself. That would boost her power levels.

“I am so sorry,” The demoness said, sitting across from us in a chair. “It has been my life’s work to create change in the Magic User community. As I am sure Mrs. Aurum can see, I am a Demon Mage.”

Min skat shifted in my lap, sitting so that her back is to my front. I hoped I could keep my biological responses at bay, even if the telltale purple blush stole across my face at her movement.

“I had wondered, the ECCM as a whole has been allowing more diversity within its ranks in the last few decades,” Aurora responded, leaning forward.

“Yes. A lot of that has to do with me. I have been pushing for diversity, having worked for multiple branches of Magic User government. When you’ve worked for an institution for half a century, you make an impact,” the demoness declared proudly.

“While it is still taboo to be born of a demon and a Magic User, the stigma is lessening with each new hire, with each interaction. I believe the same can be said for your good work, Mrs. Aurum.”

“I wouldn’t say that I’ve impacted that much,” Min skat demurred.

“I disagree. Being the daughter of the Aurum family, forcing them to accept you at Westhaven College on the magical enforcement track instead of as a historian and preservationist as other Talentless are forced to do––”

I rumbled at the word.

Aurora leaned back into my chest, her warmth soothing my ire.

“You are known in the Nyxian community, you protect the preserve just as fiercely as if you were one of their own. You may be classified as Talentless, but you are not powerless,” she said to my mate, giving me a pointed look.

I grumbled again, my anger on my mate’s behalf somewhat appeased that this St. James demon understood in part the abilities of my bride.

A light knock sounded at the door, and a dour-looking woman dressed in pale pink trousers and a matching coat entered the room.

“Hello, my name is Marjorie Brown, and I’m with registration.

If it’s alright with you, I’d like to proceed with the main reason you were asked here, followed by a report from our enforcers on why the wards were set to repel instead of just concealment and protection as they should have been.

Can we get started?” she asked, looking at me and my bride.

I gave my assent with a nod.

Aurora took a deep breath. “That’s fine with me, as long as Council Enforcer St. James stays as well.”

She looks up at me, seeking confirmation.

“Of course, min skat ,” I replied .

“Excellent, please tell me, how did y’all meet?” the registration woman asked.

“Well...” Aurora began.

“So, the cuffs are a physical representation of the bargain, like wedding rings?” the registration creature asked.

She made me feel as if I had been pinned up like an insect for her study.

“Yes, and they can’t be removed,” Aurora answered. “My boss had me check.”

“That this relationship exists will, unfortunately, not be easy for the higher powers to understand or accept. Knowing that this is a life-debt contract and that Olan has graciously put himself under a vow for your safety will help smooth the situation over,” the pinched Magic User said, adjusting her pink cuffs.

Aurora snorted, “Because the idea that Olan and I could have met at a bar and fallen in love is outlandish for someone of my power level. It’s all about future offspring, no matter what the species.” She gave a look of disgust to the room at large.

“Especially knowing that Olan gave a vow and there is nothing further to be gained from this union,” the odious woman began before I cut her off.

“You’ve made your point,” the shadows in the room stirred, making her draw back into her seat.

“Yes, well, yes. If you do manage to break this contract, let us know, Mrs. Aurum, as all updates in status are necessary, though I doubt we have to worry about offspring?—”

My shadows peeled from the walls .

“I only meant that you are not likely to be compatible enough to create life, sir! I didn’t mean anything else!” The pink toad scurried from the room.

I let her go only because min s?de skat leaned up and kissed the underside of my jaw.

“You’ve seemed to find my weakness, wife,” I grumbled.

Her laughter filled the office. “I’m sorry, we haven’t even talked about the physical aspects––”

I plucked her off my lap, then brought her back down firmly upon my erection, causing her laughter to sputter out.

“And that’s my cue to go make sure Ms. Brown has made it back where she needs to be.” The click of the door followed St. James’ departure.

I didn’t make any more moves as I stared into min lille skat’s eyes. Patient, I am a very indulgent god.

“I told you that I am good with casual affection, and I am.” She said, looking down at her hands in her lap. “I know what has happened today is not casual affection. It’s more serious, and I am still wrapping my mind around the idea that we are coexisting, er, living––”

I lifted her chin so I could look into her eyes, so blue, like Forget Me Nots.

“We are coexisting together, but when I said we were bound in marriage… We define what that is. It does not obligate you to be anything more than a partner in the strictest sense of the word. However, that Magic User has brought up something that you should know. I desire you, and we will be able to have children, if that is something you would wish. From what I have seen, they will look like the mother’s species but have a combination of our essences. ”

“I have always wanted children. Their magical prowess doesn’t mean anything to me so long as they are happy and healthy. And while I’m glad to know our biological compatibility is possible, I’m not sure about the rest yet...” She trailed off, her brows furrowing.

I felt the urge to smooth her brow and gave in to it; she said affection was fine. I lifted my hands up and smoothed her brows with my thumbs. “But you felt assured with a kiss?”

“Well, the first was a necessity.” She proclaimed weakly as I cupped her jaw with my hands.

“And the kiss under my chin?” I rumbled, leaning forward.

“Well, it just seemed the thing to do at the time,” she whispered, her eyelids fluttering.

“Mmmm, well if that’s how we are deciding things,” I murmured, leaning down to give her a gentle kiss.