BRAVING THE DARKNESS: One Night With The Demon King
BENEATH HER DARKNESS: The Alpha’s Little Demon Book 2
Chapter 34 – A New Contract
BLADE.
I knew I wasn’t invited here and that I shouldn’t be here, but I wanted to see the guy that was getting her attention. Not that I could do something about it, but if I were to lose Althea to someone, he better be worth it and he better be someone who could protect her.
But looking at him holding her in his arms, I doubted all of that.
Althea looked stronger and smarter than him. Not that I judged people.
Hell, f*uc*k that! Of course, I judged people. I was never nice and had never given any compliments.
Not even to Althea, even if I wanted to. She looked so f*uc*king perfect in that short black dress that hugged her body perfectly. The only thing missing was me beside her, and that’s why I was here, trying to look comfortable in these formal clothes when I just wanted to rip them off my body. These clothes were made as if I was not allowed to put a crease in them. What the f*uc*k was I supposed to do — stand still all night and not move my arms so it would remain perfect?
These humans determined what looked good or not, but I still think being naked or wearing fewer clothes is still better than this.
“Why do I need to open the gift in front of you? Why can’t you just give it to me, and I can open it later?” She asked as we walked toward the parking lot. She was walking a little ahead of me.
“I don’t think the gift will fit inside the hall,” I told her before taking out the car key from my pocket and pressing it, making the dark purple SUV almost in front of us blink lights.
She halted walking as she stared at the car and asked. “Is that your car?”
“Your car,” I answered before handing her the key. “Are you trying to buy me?” She crossed her arm against her chest, ignoring my hand, and I had no choice but to slip the key into my pocket again.
“I don’t think all the money and things in the world could buy you.”
“So why are you even trying?”
“I’m not buying you. It’s a gift. Do you ask that question when your friends or your boyfriend give you something?
“Leave them out of this conversation, Blade. What I’ m trying to say is that I don’t need these fancy things. If you want to buy me a car, why not settle for a smaller, cheaper one? And I’m sure you custom -made this to give me this color.”
“I will not fit in a small car,” I told her directly.
“What gave you the idea that I would let you in just because you gave me this?”
“Aman’s got to try,” I said, scratching my head before I let a crooked smile tug on my mouth. ” Does it mean you’re accepting it?” “I don’t even use the money you gave me.”
“I know.” Her eyes widened at my words, but she didn’t say anything, so I continued talking. “You deposited the money in the bank, and it’s been sitting there for months.”
“Lucy told you.”
“No, Lucy never did. She never liked me.”
“So Alpha Adan did.”
“Our family owned the bank where you deposited it. Fabian before he died — bless my brother’s soul — told me that he saw your name on the newest list of depositors with a big amount.”
“And you’d been keeping an eye on it ever since? Oh, spirits! Is there anything I can do without you knowing?”
I bit my bottom lip, lost for words. I wasn’t stalking Althea, but maybe from time to time I would ask about her on Adan or have someone check on her. “So that’s the reason the interest rate ballooned like crazy, and I thought maybe because I deposited a high amount!”
Guilty again.
“What are you trying to do then? Do you want to help me with those savings so I can use them for my future husband and kids? What do you exactly want from me, Blade?” She asked too many questions, but my eyes focused on the way she rubbed her palms against her arms.
“Are you cold?” I asked, but I was already walking toward the car to grab my coat. It was almost summer, but the night wind was chilly, and she was wearing a short, spaghetti-strap dress.
I didn’t even need to tell her. She followed me, and the moment I opened my coat for her, she just went through it and slipped her arms onto it.
“Spirits! This is too big and heavy!” She exclaimed, and she looked disappointed.
“Let me help with that.” I took the coat off of her. “What are you doing? I just said it, but it’s ok because it’s really cold.” She sounded more disappointed now.
I slipped my coat into my body before pulling her into my arms, my coat and my arms hugging her as I pressed her body against mine while I rested my a*s*s on the hood of the car.
“What are you doing?”
“Keeping you warm. So, we can talk as well.” I told her as I rested my chin on the top of her hair. Her presence was calming me and my wolf.
“Ashton will be furious if he finds out.” She said it in a soft voice.
“We can keep this as our little secret then.”
She scoffed, but at least she wasn’t trying to move away from my arms. “You’re crazy. I need to get back inside.”
“Soon. But I need to ask a favor from you first.”
“So this is what the car is all about?” “No. The car is for you, and I’m not asking anything for that. I just want to invite you to my Alpha ceremony in the coming weeks. I don’t have a special guest, so I thought maybe you will grace me with your presence.”
“Adan and Lucy can be your special guests.”
“They’re always there at the pack, so my people knew them already.”
“I’m sure there are others who can help you with that.”
“I want you there, Althea.”
“What am I supposed to do there? Stand beside you, hold your hand?”
“I was thinking you should stand beside me, but holding my hand is not bad either if you’re up for it. II
“You’re crazy if you think I will even agree to be there.” She took off my arms around her and began walking away.
“Althea, please… What do I need…” I was not able to finish my sentence when a black smoke rose in the air in the space near her before something moved too fast, and the next thing I knew, Althea was swiped by something, and she was gone from where she was standing.
A loud growl escaped my throat and marred the silence of the night before cars around the parking lot started alarming.
My body swiveled around, looking for any signs of her, while my heart was thudding loudly.
“Althea!” I bellowed.
A wicked laugh erupted in the air, and my head snapped in the direction where the sound was coming from, and I found a female with orange hair clutching Althea by her neck as she sat in the hood of a sedan.
I could feel the female’s aura, the same as Lucy and Lucius’, but hers was weaker. Nevertheless, if she’s a f*uc*king demon, Althea was in great danger. And how the f*uc*k do I save her?
I raised my hands as I walked slowly to where they were. “What do you want? Let her go and take me instead.”
“I might take that offer, Blade. Did I get your name right?” She licked her lips as her eyes raked my body up and down.
I let a crooked smile tug on my mouth. “I’m sure you can do more with me than that female in your arms.”
“Hmmm… interesting. But I need her, not you, but of course, we can talk after I’m done with her.”
Althea’s eyes were darkening, as her chest heaved. I was hoping she wouldn’t trigger the demon, as she could easily inflict pain on her.
“Tell me what you want from her?” I asked again, “What do you want, Princess Nyneve?” A voice erupted from my back, and without looking, I knew it was Lucy’s brother.
My eyes were just focused on Althea, as her eyes were also on mine.
“It is an honor to have your presence here, King
Lucius. But at this point, I don’t need you either. I’ m here for her.” The she-demon pointed at someone behind me.
As much as I wanted to see who she was pointing at, I didn’t want to risk losing sight of my mate.
PATREA.
“It is an honor to have your presence here, King Lucius. But at this point, I don’t need you either. I’ m here for her.” Nyneve pointed at me.
If I was furious at her earlier, I was now in full rage. “What do you want from me, bitch?”
She laughed maniacally before her grip on Althea’s neck tightened.
“Let her go!” I yelled, but I was sure Blade yelled something as well as he tried to step forward, but Nyneve threw a ball of fire at him, which he dodged easily.
“Stay where you are, or I will burn her and you!” She warned him.
My heart was pounding loudly at the thought of Althea being burned. I was hoping she would remember to cast a spell to protect herself from fire, but I doubted if she would because when I was in danger with Nyneve, I forgot too many spells as I was caught off guard by that attack.
“What do you want from me?” I asked in a calmer tone, and this time I could feel the auras of the demons beside me rising.
“I want to make a contract with you… Accept it, and
I will let you and Althea live in peace.”
“Say it…”
“Patrea…” Lucius hissed beside me. “Don’t f*uc*king agree with anything. We can take over soon..”
“A contract to not contact or be bothered with King Lucius again. In short, get away from him!” Her eyes blazed red as flames stared at the hem of my granddaughter’s skirt.
I panicked, and I almost said yes before loud hisses and growls erupted in the air.
“F*uc*k you!” But I heard Lucius’ words clearer than every other sound around me.
Everything happened at once.
Blade shifted into the biggest wolf I had ever seen as he jumped into where they were, and the demons beside me disappeared only to reappear around Nynever.
Lucy was in front of her, clutching her neck with her demon claws out, while Lucius was behind her, twitching her arms.
Adan was on the other side and rolled onto the ground with Althea and Blade’s wolf. He caught his wolf and took Althea away from Nyneve’s clutch.
I didn’t know where to look, but the moment I locked my eyes with Lucius, it gave me the a*s*surance that everything would be okay, so I dropped my gaze from him and darted it to Althea.
Blade was licking the flame out of her skirt before he lifted the dress and began licking the burned skin on her thighs.
“Nice to meet you, Nyneve. My name is Lucy, and you made a f*uc*king mistake crossing Patrea and Althea.” Lucy said this in a calm manner as she squeezed Nyneve’s neck tight, but I thought she was doing more as red veins began to crawl on the she-demon’s face as she gasped for air.
Adan stood up after making sure Althea was able to stand as I hurried toward them, then walked to where Lucy and Lucius were.
“We’ll take care of her. Take charge here.” Lucius told Lucy before he locked eyes with Adan, who just nodded his head at him.
“Fine. Don’t let her go away.” She let go of her neck, and not even a second had gone by when Adan and Lucius disappeared, taking Nyneve with them. “Wait!” I shrieked.
“Calm down,” Lucy said as she walked toward us. ” We need to clean up here and send these kids home. II
I nodded my head, but I was worried that Nyneve might seduce both demons. I knew I shouldn’t, but I couldn’t help it. “What if she seduced Adan and Lucius? Did you know she’s the princess of seduction?” I asked her in a low voice while Blade shifted into his human form and scooped up Althea from the ground.
“Relax, Adan will never be seduced. I trust him, as for Lucius, if he wanted to, he had given in before. What makes you think that after the stunt she pulled on him, she could still get his favor?”
“Lust. Lucius is…”
Lucy flicked the tip of my nose before a smile curled on her lips. “Have a little faith in my brother.”
“I do.”
“But you’re jealous.” She chuckled softly. “Don’t worry, I can take you there once everyone…”
She stopped before our eyes went to a naked Blade, who was walking toward his car with Althea in his arms.
“Hey! Where are you taking Althea?” I asked as I hurried to where they were.
“I’m taking Althea to my territory.” He said it in a grumpy tone without looking back at us. “Because nobody f*uc*king bothered to tell me that my mate was being hunted by a f*uc*king demon!”