BENEATH HER DARKNESS: The Alpha’s Little Demon
Chapter 72 – The Bond Between Us
LUCY…
I had removed all traces of blood from almost all parts of his body except those near his wounds and cuts. I didn’t want to touch them, as I didn’t want to wake him up if I ended up hurting him. I wanted him to rest and gain his energy back.
I couldn’t explain what I was feeling at the moment. Never in my wildest imagination did I think Adan would end up looking like this. He had always been so strong that I felt no one could hurt him, and seeing him so vulnerable while he slept was breaking my heart.
I caused him this. If he didn’t meet me, maybe he was still okay, living like a god in his own world.
‘But then he’ll never be this happy.’ Angel reminded me.
‘Do you think he’s still happy? Maybe he regrets following me here. I don’t understand what I did wrong for him to suffer like this because of me?’
Angel didn’t answer. She must be saving her energy, but I didn’t mind at all. I knew she didn’t have the answer either.
I was torn between having Adan around me and sending him back to the human realm. Up until now, I had no idea what my father wanted from him, but if he found a way to hurt Adan without me feeling any pain, I knew he would not stop hurting him.
I just hoped he didn’t find a way to break the bond; if he did, I should have felt it the way I felt a rope tightening around my heart when Althea connected me to him.
Speaking of Althea, I needed to stop my father from hunting her. I needed to do something; I just couldn’t let him hurt. anyone, especially Adan, to make me follow his command. But the problem was that, up until now, he hadn’t told me. a thing about what he wanted me to do next. He just kept disappearing hunting Althea without bothering to speak with me.
I let my fingers run gently along my mate’s face, letting the sparks give me strength and hope that one day all of the pain would be over and I would get to enjoy being Adan’s mate and spend our life together. I just wanted a simple life where I got to love him without any complications like this.
But I knew that as much as I was hoping for that – reality was already slapping me hard in the face. I wondered if being a demon meant I would be treading this world alone, like my father, like Lucius, like many of my siblings. I lowered my body and lay on my side beside Adan, being careful that I was not touching any part of him before I closed my eyes and sent a silent prayer to Selene.
‘Selene, I know I am not worthy of your attention, but I hope you still remember the little girl you visited in this realm once. Although I have more pain in my chest now, it is still me. I’m still Lucy. Before, my only worry was if I would ever find my mate, the one you destined for me and if he would like me. I found the answer already, and I am beyond grateful for what you gave me. Adan. He’s just perfect, even if he is annoying at times and grumpy, he is still perfect in my eyes.
I was just wondering if you would let me keep him. Because I really like him. I loved him. Please help me. I don’t know what to do anymore…’
My hands went to my chest as I clutched my cloth while tears trickled down my face. I was trying to be tough, but beneath the facade of being a demon, I am just a girl hurting for the way life was throwing things my way.
I just wanted to be free to love Adan. Was I asking too much?
My body shook as I cried my heart out. I let my emotions flood out of me, but I stifled the sound of my cries because I didn’t want to wake him up. I didn’t want him to see me like this.
Cry, Lucy. Cry…
After this, I would no longer cry. I would be tougher. And I would face whatever life had in store for me – head-on.
I remained in my position, just staring at Adan for quite a while until I decided it was enough and I needed to take action. I pecked his forehead before I climbed out of bed and wrote him a note, stating that I would be back soon and that he should not step out of my chamber until I came back. I then proceeded to change my clothes. I wore a long, black, flowy dress that reached my wrists and ankles.
I also double-checked the foods I requested for him. They were no longer warm. I touched the metal cloche covering the food with my palm and transferred heat to it to warm it up just in case he woke up while I was gone. I took one last look at my mate before opening my bedroom door and walking my way to the main double door of my chamber.
Simon showed up almost right away after I locked my door with a simple demon spell.
“My lady, you summoned me,” Simon said with a bow of his head.
“Stand here and guard my chamber, or ask someone to do it for you. No one is allowed entrance, not even the King. If he insists, tell Father I will meet him in his throne room. Am I understood?”
“Yes, my lady.”
I was not sure what I was trying to accomplish here. Although my father had never transported directly into my room like Lucius had been doing, he of course could do that if he was denied entrance to my chamber. But it was a silent warning to him that he was not allowed to touch my mate anymore.
“Let me know if anyone attempts to come Right away.” I didn’t wait for his response, as I immediately transported my body outside of the tower and landed on the spot where I could easily make my way to Patrea’s cottage.
I needed an answer as to why I didn’t feel any pain when Father whipped Adan. I had to get to the bottom of this before it was too late.
♡♡♡
“Did Father ask you to unbind us?” I asked Patrea as soon as she opened her door and let me in.
“Yes,” she answered before locking the door behind us.
“Did you?”
“No. I can’t. I’m not the one that bound you together. It will require very dark magic to interfere with the bond if someone other than the maker tries to unbind you. But even if I can, I will not help him.”
I let out a deep sigh as I slumped my body onto the small couch beside the window.
“Why didn’t you tell me Althea bound you together? She did it, right?”
I nodded my head. “I’m sorry. There were too many things running through my head that it slipped my mind, but I had no intention of keeping it from you. Father doesn’t know who the witch that performed the spell, so we should never mention her name again.”
Patrea told me once that her cottage had an enchantment no conversation could be heard from the inside but I wasn’t taking chances. Better to be safe than sorry.
“She knew the danger of doing this, right? Does she know that she might be facing one of the kings of the underworld with what she did?”
I nodded.
“She must be brave.”
“She is.” I know I should be telling her about Althea’s condition in exchange for this spell, but I didn’t want Patrea to feel guilty that she was the reason Althea risked her life to help me. But I vowed to help her get out of here, to fulfill my end of the bargain, and I just needed to figure out when. “Just like you.”
“Your father will not like it if he sees you here. He comes by every time he comes back to Kalmerus from traveling to different realms.”
“My father seemed to be fascinated with you.”
“Your father has an obsession with females who refuse his advantage. I’m lucky I’m a witch, I can protect myself.”
I wanted to say, unlike my mother. But pining over something that happened a long time ago was pointless at the moment. I had far more important things to think about and try to fix.
“I’m glad he can’t break you. But I will do my best to help you out of here.”
“We will help each other the best way we can. Lucien might be strong and powerful, but if he’s alone, he can’t do much.”
I nodded my head and smiled at her before something crossed my mind. “Do you know why, despite the bond between us, I was not able to feel any pain when Father whipped Adan? He was almost dead when I saw him, but I didn’t feel anything at all.”
“I’m not really sure. But are you sure the witch was able to bind you?” I nodded my head and told her how I felt pain when the dungeon keepers whipped Adan when he arrived at the Kosior.
“That’s unusual. Unless he willed himself to block anything from you.”
“What do you mean?”
“Aside from the witch’s bond, you have the mate bond between you, and although you were not marked, I believe bonds after bonds made you both so strong together that you can raise walls and control what others can feel.”
“Do you mean to say that he intentionally kept the pain all to himself?”
“Werewolves can do that. Block off their emotions from their partners, putting up a wall so the other half will not suffer.”
My hand slowly raised to my mouth to keep my lips from quivering as a memory of my conversation with Lucius came to mind.
***FLASHBACK to earlier***
“One day you will fall in love. And when you do, you’re going to do everything for the person you love. Even if it’s painful, even if it will hurt you, just as long as they end up okay.”
“Like what he did…” Lucius stated in a low voice.
“What do you mean?” I asked, my forehead creasing.
“Forget about it.”
“What did he do?” I growled at him.
***END OF FLASHBACK***
I didn’t get an answer. But Lucius’ words made sense now. My eyes watered as everything dawned on me. Adan shielded me from the pain. Adan even when his life was in peril, was still thinking of me. He should stop doing this or my father would use it to his advantage to t*ortur*e me. I stood up abruptly and met Patrea’s gaze. “I need to go now.”
“Are you okay?”
I nodded my head. “I just need to talk to Adan, but do you have anything I can give him to help his wound heal faster?”
“Do you know what your father used on his whip?”
“Lucius said wolfsbane and demon’s oil.”
“I have antidotes for demon’s oil but not for wolfsbane. I never had to use one before…”
“I understand. I’ll take what you have.” Patrea didn’t waste time and took out vials before mixing liquids while murmuring, which sounded like a prayer or a chant. After a while, she handed me the vial and gave me instructions on how to use it.
In no time, I was transporting my body back to my chamber.
“Where is he?” I hissed and spun around my spot to check my bedroom, but there was no sign of Adan.
“Adan!” I yelled as my heart thudded loudly while my feet rushed to the bathroom, but he was not there.
“Simon!” I screamed at the top of my lungs as I blasted the double door open and found Simon rushing forward to meet me.
“My Lady!”
“Answer me or I will cut off your horns! Where is Alpha Stone?”
“Your father took him, my lady!”
“And why was I not informed?!” I growled, my eyes blazing red as I grabbed his neck, choking him.
“My lady…” He struggled to gasp for air as he tried to pry my hand off him. “The king… prohibited me from… sending you… a message.
I pressed his Adam’s apple hard, making him ch*oke one more time before shoving him off to the ground. “Where did he take him?”