Chapter 30
ALIX
D aemon and I barely get a few seconds alone before—as it so often does—things get worse.
He lifts me and carries me up the rest of the stairs, and together we stride back into the castle. Kastian meets us at the entrance, and I manage a faint smile in his direction just before we find ourselves in the midst of chaos.
If I thought the riot would have subsided just because Thorne is gone, I was wrong. The entire room is buzzing with violence and explosive anger, like the impending sunrise is feeding the courts fury.
I see Odessa over by the stairs. She meets my gaze through the crowd and her violet eyes widen. Immediately, she starts pushing her way toward us. Beside me, Kastian stiffens, like he’s holding himself back from something.
Daemon turns to Kastian, drawing his attention. “Take Alix and leave now.”
“No,” Odessa says as she finally reaches us.
“There’s no reason to wait any longer. This is the end.” Daemon gestures behind him at the rainy but rapidly lightening sky.
“But it’s raining,” I begin. “It’s dark, so?—”
“It won’t matter,” Daemon growls. “The curse becoming permanent means the sun is irrelevant. You all need to run. Better yet, fly. Put as much distance between yourself and Vernallis as possible.”
“We’re not leaving you here, Ashwater,” Fox says.
I glance behind me. I don’t know when he arrived, but his seldom used words pack a punch.
“Yeah!” Jett cries, as he fights his way out of the throng and lands panting beside Odessa. “I’m not leaving either.”
“You promised you’d go,” Daemon growls, more to Kastian than the others.
“We will,” Kas assures him, “But not yet. We want to stay with you until the end. We–”
“No!” Daemon bellows, making everyone go silent. “No. You’re not waiting here with me.”
“But if there’s only a few moments left…” I start, my throat constricting with unshed tears. “What’s the point of running now?”
It’s too late anyway. I know it’s too late because the sun is rising and the first light of dawn is creeping through the open door and shattered windows. It steams across Daemon’s face, illuminating his eyes as he stubbornly glares down at me.
“The point is that you’ll be safer.” He insists, as if he can’t see the sun. Or, perhaps he can, but that’s only making him more certain. He reaches out and brushes a tear off my cheek, tipping my chin up so my gaze meets his. “I fucking love you, Alix. I love you–” he looks back at his friends “—I love all of you, but I can’t protect any of you. I’ve exhausted everything I can think of and it wasn’t enough, so you have to go. I’d gladly sacrifice my last minutes with you if it means you’re safe.”
Before anyone can respond, a deafening boom reverberates through the castle causing the stone walls to quiver. I instinctively throw my arms out to steady myself, struggling to maintain my balance as the floor beneath me trembles violently. The chandeliers sway precariously above, and the ground feels as if it's alive, shifting and convulsing with a forceful intensity.
Daemon reaches for me, his arms closing around me as we all fall to the floor, knocked over by the force of the earthquake.
Daemon's strong arms draw me even closer, his lips brushing against my ear. “I love you,” he whispers, sending shivers down my spine.
Before I can respond, he captures my lips in a passionate kiss, stealing away any chance for words to escape. The taste of him is intoxicating, like honey and fire and everything in between. I don’t pull back until the shaking ground finally quiets. When we break apart, I feel the warmth of the sun on my face.
I look behind me. It’s still raining, but the sun is breaking through the clouds in some places, sending an array of rainbow colors dancing across the sky.
My heart pounding out of control, I turn my face back to Daemon. He blinks back at me, confused. “What’s going on?”
“Do you feel okay?” I ask nervously.
“Fine,” Daemon says, eyebrows pulling together.
I glance around the destroyed castle entryway. All around us, the Fae nobles are also looking at each other with bewilderment. No one is acting animalistic—in fact, they all seem far more civilized than mere moments before.
Pushing himself off me, Daemon gets to his feet and walks stiffly over to the nearest beam of sunlight. He stands still, the rainbow beams of light reflecting off his handsome face.
We collectively hold our breaths.
“You feel like yourself, Ashwater?” Jett calls. “What’s my name?”
“Fuck off,” Daemon growls.
Jett grins. “That’s exactly right. He’s fine.”
“Oh my god,” I blurt out, happiness starting to rise in my chest. “Did it work? Did killing Thorne fix it?”
Daemon shakes his head frowning deeply. “Impossible. Nothing happened when I killed him. I’m sure that wasn’t it. He didn’t make any sacrifice. The curse said–”
“—the curse will only break when the King of Vernallis admits he is powerless and sacrifices whomever he loves most.” A feeble voice interrupts.
I whip around, searching for the speaker and find myself staring directly into the face of a feeble old man.
He stands hunched, wearing a ragged servants uniform and a torn and muddy cloak. He’s Fae, I can see that from his ears, but he’s old and withered in a way I’ve never seen another of the Fae before. I can’t even imagine how old he must be.
“What did you say?” I ask, unsure if this old man was really the one who spoke.
“Hey,” Daemon says sharply. He comes up behind me and puts a protective hand on my back all the while scrutinizing the old man. “I remember you. You were in Dyaspora with us, I–”
“You freed me,” the man says with a slight nod, as if he’s tipping an invisible hat. “Thank you for that.”
Daemon falls silent behind me, evidently as confused as I feel. I plow on, determined to understand what’s happening before I let myself feel hopeful. “Do you know what’s happening? You’re right about the curse, but it’s impossible. The king is dead and he didn’t sacrifice anything.”
The man smiles. “There’s this interesting thing about monarchies. The king can never really be dead because the very second one ruler dies, the reign of his heir begins. There is always a king of Vernallis.”
And then, I get it.
“It’s you.” Everyone turns to look at me, but my gaze is only on Daemon. “With Thorne dead, you become the king, right? Wasn’t that why he hated you? That means that technically your reign began an hour ago.”
Daemon’s expression goes blank. It’s like he’s looking at me, but seeing nothing. I’m sure the realization is hitting him just as it’s hit me, but still I voice it. “From our first conversation you told me you didn’t care about yourself. You knew you’d be cursed forever, it was about saving your friends…and me, sacrificing your final moments with us.”
Behind Daemon, Odessa laughs, throwing her head back in some exclamation of relief and joy. Kastian’s usually serious face splits into a manic smile, and even Fox looks happier than I’ve ever seen him as Jett starts dancing an erratic jig in a circle around them all.
“I love you too,” I blurt out. “From before. I just wanted to respond…so, there it is.”
Daemon's piercing gaze is fixed on me, his expression a mix of shock and delight. Suddenly, his face breaks into a wide grin, revealing his perfect white teeth, and in the same second any awkwardness or doubt flees my body.
A spark of excitement ignites within me, building to a crescendo with each passing second. Until in one swift motion, Daemon scoops me up in his strong arms and spins me around, holding me so close it’s as if he never intends to let go.
In the light of day, no one knows what to do.
The palace and the city are in shambles, and somehow the courtiers themselves are worse. Since they’d never expected to see another moonrise, no one knows how to react knowing they’ll not only live but have to live with whatever they did in the days leading up to the crisis.
Daemon holds my hand tightly and leads the way back into the throne room where we find the majority of the court standing around the ruined space looking a bit lost.
“I guess they’re regretting destroying everything now,” Daemon grumbles.
I squeeze his fingers. “You need to say something to them.”
He reels back, looking disgusted. “Me? Why?”
“Because you’re their king now, asshole,” Kastian replies, grinning.
Daemon shakes his head. “I don’t want to be.”
“Tough shit, Ashwater,” Jett beams. “Who else is going to do it?”
“I don’t know,” Daemon growls. “Anyone.”
“Not just anyone can rule people,” I say gently. “Dominance and leadership are instinctive traits. Look what happened when a bad leader was in charge.” I gesture vaguely around the ruined room.
“Anyway,” Odessa smiles. “I think it’s got to be bad luck to turn down the crown after you just ended a century-long curse.”
Daemon still looks dubious, but I really don’t think he has much of a choice in the matter.
As we’ve been talking, the court has begun moving closer. There’s a crowd of forty or fifty nobles, all straining their ears to hear what we’re saying. And behind them, more people are streaming into the entrance hall. Soldiers, nobles, even the occasional peasant or goblin-like creature. All faces are turned to Daemon, looking for answers.
“It doesn’t have to be a long speech,” I prompt. “Just tell them what happened and that everything is going to be fine soon. We’re going to make sure it’s fine.”
I grab his hand tighter and squeeze. “Don’t overthink it. You were literally born for this.”
His back stiffens, but as I squeeze his hand more tightly a determined look passes over his face and he turns to the rapidly growing crowd.
“The king is dead,” Daemon begins.
There’s a ringing silence following his proclamation, then someone cheers. Soon hundreds of voices join the chorus and the entire court is yelling their approval.
“I don’t think they mind,” I mutter out of the corner of my mouth.
Daemon shakes his head, looking worried, despite the fact that everything seems to be going in his favor.
“What’s wrong?” Kastian asks.
Daemon puts up both hands to quiet the crowd. “Thorne’s death means the crown falls to me, but I don’t want it. That is, not unless you want me to have it. For far too long none of you have had any choices. I won’t begin a new reign by stripping you of more autonomy.”
The crowd falls silent for a moment, then all at once the cheering begins again.
“I think that’s a yes,” I mutter. “Congratulations.”
“I have no idea how to be king,” he replies, looking slightly dazed.
My modern human brain is already thinking about getting everyone into emergency therapy and how to set up social safety-net programs, but clearly that’s not the sort of help the court is looking for. At least, not for the immediate time being. “I’m not sure anyone knows how to be a king. Maybe just do what feels right.”
“Instinctive, you mean?” he asks, the corner of his lip turning up.
I grin sheepishly. “Exactly. First, I’d probably help restore the town and the palace, help people find their families and rebuild their homes.”
“Good idea, Peaches.”He smiles for real, the grin lighting up his entire face. Then he gives my fingers another squeeze, then strides away from me to talk to the nearest courtiers.
Odessa comes up beside me, taking Daemon’s now vacant place at my side.
“That didn’t take long,” she observes.
“I see what you mean now,” I say. “I mean, I did before, but now it’s really clear.”
She furrows her brow at me. “I don’t know if you’re picking up bad habits from us or what, but you really need to work on explaining yourself better.”
I laugh and jerk my head toward Daemon, who is now standing with a large group of soldiers on the opposite end of the destroyed hallway. Daemon is explaining something emphatically to the group, while Fox looms behind him, arms crossed. The soldiers look equal-parts inspired and terrified, which I’m sure is the point.
“He’s a good leader. I think he’ll make sure everyone recovers.”
“So will you,” she points out.
I nod, smiling slightly. I hope she’s right.
It’s evening again by the time Daemon and I get another second to talk. We walk the familiar path back to my bedroom together, and Daemon shuts the door behind us.
I let out a sigh. “It’s weird being in here again.” Daemon doesn’t answer, and I glance back at him. He’s leaning against the door and for a second, he just stares. The glowing smile he’s been giving the court is gone, and now there’s so much going on behind his eyes that for a moment I falter. “What are you thinking?”
His fingers flex at his side, curling into fists and back out again. “I’m trying to decide if I should yell at you for risking your life, or just be grateful you’re alive.”
I bite my lip. “Both?”
He lets out a growl low in his chest. “This isn’t a fucking joke, Alix.”
“I know it’s not. I really meant ‘both.’ Don’t you think I’m upset that you risked your life, too?”
His eyes flash with something unfathomable and he pushes off the wall, stalking toward me and closing the space between us in two strides. I back up, and he ends up caging me against the side of the four-poster bed—a familiar position for us by now. My pulse picks up, despite the hard look on his face.
“You’re mad that I was in danger?”
“Of course.”
“Even though there was never a chance I would lose?”
I bite my lip. He’s lying to himself, or maybe just to me. That fight was far closer than I would have liked it to be—then again, now that it’s over, I suppose there’s no one else to worry about.
“With that logic, there was never a chance I’d get hurt either,” I breathe, tipping my face up to his. “I was wearing the vest that whole time.”
He makes another low rumbling growl. “This could go on forever.”
“Then let’s not let it. Let’s just be grateful.”
He lets his head fall forward until his face is pressing into the curve of my neck. His shoulders relax and he inhales deeply, breathing in my scent. “I never thought I’d see you again.”
My stomach twists and my chest seems to squeeze, a combination of emotion and longing and fear all at once. Unsure how to voice that, I reach for the familiar defense mechanism and try to brush it off. “Oh, I’m sure you would have gotten over it. I bet there are thousands of Fae women who would love to throw themselves at a king.”
He stiffens and pulls back, looking me dead in the eye. “No. That would never fucking happen.”
“I know. Sorry, bad joke, I?—”
“No, I need you to understand this.” His fingers tangle in my hair and he holds me still, forcing me to keep meeting his eyes. “There will never be anyone else for me. Ever. That’s how bonds work. I can’t ever leave you and I won’t want to anyway, but if it hasn’t kicked in for you yet you could still go. You don’t have to?—”
My eyes widen and I feel my breath catch. “You’re saying I’m your soul-bond.”
His eyes go impossible wider and he swallows, looking confused for a moment. Then his eyes darken.
DAEMON
I still can’t fully believe she’s standing here in front of me. I wouldn’t believe it, except that the hole in my chest has closed and the thousands of daggers that had been stabbing at me, picking like thorns, are gone too. All that’s left is a warmth, a pulsing beat in my heart urging me to finish this. To claim her fully as mine forever.
“I didn’t realize I’d never told you,” I say, not really sure what I’m going to say next. “I somehow thought that you knew. You must know, because I can’t think of anything else.”
“I did…I do know,” she says, her voice shaking slightly. “But say it anyway.”
I move even closer, pressing my entire body against hers and plastering her back against the bedpost. “You’re mine, Alix. Forever. I’ll never think about anyone else, never want anyone else. I’ll follow you anywhere for the rest of my fucking life.”
Her mouth parts on a gasp and she stares up at me in wonder. I can feel her heart beating against my chest.
Alix is smiling, clearly picturing our future and I love that she’s thinking about it. I love her, but I can’t think about the future right now because we’re still standing so, so close. I can feel every inch of her against me, and the bond in my chest is riding me, needing to be completed. Consummated. I need to sink inside her and feel her squeeze around me, knowing that she’s completely and entirely owned.
My already hard cock pulses, and I press my hips harder against her stomach. Alix shivers, her gaze turning hooded and she draws her tongue over her lips.
I reach down and run my hand up her thigh in her tight black leggings. “Have I told you I like these?”
“No.”
I trail my fingers over the curve of her ass. “I like them.”
“Maybe I’ll wear them sometimes,” she says a little breathlessly. “Do you still have that leather jacket? Cause I’m sure we could work out some kind of a trade.”
I laugh under my breath, and let my head fall into her shoulder, pressing my lips against her hair, her ear, the curve of her neck. “Let’s negotiate later, Peaches. If I’m not inside you in the next five seconds I’m going to fucking die.”
She moans and shifts against me. I step back a fraction, letting her turn around so her ass is pressed firmly against my cock, her forehead against the bedpost. She raises her hands in the air and reaches up, clasping her hands around the post like she’s trying to climb it. She arches her back, pressing more firmly against me.
I don’t waste a second reaching for the waistband of her trousers and yanking it down, baring her ass.
She makes a sound somewhere between a moan and a hiss when the cool air hits her bare skin, but I won’t let her be cold for long. I can already scent how wet and ready she is. I don’t bother undressing fully or even taking off Alix’s shirt. I just undo my belt with one hand and free my painfully hard cock before fisting myself, lining up with her entrance and thrusting inside.
Alix gasps loudly and stretches, arching her back and somehow taking me deeper.
“Fuck, Peaches,” I gasp, closing my eyes against the black dots appearing at the edges of my vision.
This isn’t going to be gentle. I’m aching, starving for her, and there will be plenty of time later to take her again slower. To trace my mouth over every inch of her body, to look her in the eyes and tell her over and over how much I love her, until I eventually stop worrying she’s going to disappear again.
But not now.
Now, I start to move, thrusting in and out of her hard, getting high off her high pitched whines, and holding her hips so tight I know my fingers will leave bruises.
“Harder,” she says breathlessly.
I raise a hand and bring it down hard on her ass and she cries out, something between a moan and a scream.
I already know my wings are out before I see the feathers out of the corner of my eye. I should have known Alix was mine from the beginning—from the first moment I flew while holding her before I’d even known her for three hours.
I was taught that bonds aren’t predetermined. That they can snap into place at any time of shared heightened emotion, but if that’s the truth, then how would I have been showing signs of the connection before even leaving the human world? That doesn’t feel random, it feels like fate, and maybe I’ve never believed in fate before but I like the idea that Alix was always meant for me.
Suddenly I want to see her face.
I pull out and spin Alix around again to face me. She stumbles, her leggings holding her knees together, and I grasp her hips to steady her before falling to my knees in front of her.
“What are you doing?” she gasps, slightly out of breath.
In answer, I hold her by the hips, my face aligned with her bare cunt. I lean forward and press my mouth lightly against her clit, while at the same time I drag my hands down each side of her thighs peeling her leggings down her legs.
Alix gasps, her hands falling to the top of my head.
I drag the flat of my tongue over her, slowly, then faster. I switch to nibbling at her clit, sucking it into my mouth and swirling my tongue until she’s trembling and close to falling over the edge. Then, at the last second I release her and drive my tongue into her hot entrance instead.
I have to lift one of her legs up to get the leggings over her foot, and I use the opportunity to spread her wider, pushing her knee to the side and licking her from ass to clit. She whimpers, her fingers tightening in my hair to keep her balance.
“Daemon,” she hisses. “Please.”
“‘Please’ what, Peaches?”
“Please. I can’t take this, it’s too much.”
In my opinion, too much is a good thing. I smirk against her, still using every inch of my tongue to make her legs shake and her entire body contact.
“Please,” she begs again. “Fuck me. I want you back inside me.”
I almost moan at that. I want to be back inside her too, but I want her to come first. I want to taste it when she falls apart, then sink into her while she’s still shaking.
Alix tips her head back and fists her hands in the fabric of her shirt.
“Take it off,” I demand as I finally free both her feet from her leggings and toss them behind me.
“What?” she asks, eyes hooded with lust.
“Take the shirt off. I want to see every inch of what’s mine.”
She grips the hem of the shirt and pulls it over her head, then does the same with the tight black undergarment she’s wearing underneath. Her tits bounce as they’re freed, and I groan then toss her legs over my shoulders and go back to eating at her pussy until she starts trembling once more, and finally screams, bucking her hips against my face.
Before the echo of her scream has even died in the room, I pull her down to the floor with me. Her body is loose and languid and she falls easily, sitting in my lap so she’s straddling me.
I push her hair back from her face and bring my mouth to hers.
Her lips part immediately, tracing her tongue over mine and undoubtedly tasting herself on my lips.
She wraps her arms around my neck and her forearms brush against my wings. She stops, reaching out to draw a finger over one of them. “I love these. You look like how I always pictured angels.”
“You’re the fucking angel, peaches. And I’m glad you like the wings because you’re going to be seeing a lot of them. I can’t ever control myself around you.”
“What if you wanted to lie on your back. Would it crush the wings or would they disappear?” She shoves lightly against my chest, readjusting so her knees fall to either side of my hips.
I force the wings to vanish and lie down on the rug looking up at her. Her hands rest of my chest, while mine fall against her splayed thighs. She adjusts slightly, dragging her perfect pussy against the length of my nearly dripping cock until the head nudges at her entrance.
She raises her hips, then slides down the entire length of my cock.
We both groan as she sits down fully once more. Then finally, just when I think I’m going to die if she doesn’t move, Alix rolls her hips.
I let out a hiss, and her mouth quirks up, clearly enjoying her payback. I’m enjoying it too-there is no such thing as too much of her.
First she braces her hands against my chest as she moves slowly up and down. Then I see a bead of sweat on her hairline, and her breath starts to grow erratic again. She leans back, her palms landing just above my knees, and opens her entire body up for me to admire as she rides me.
I lick my thumb and reach out, rubbing it against her clit as I watch myself disappearing in and out of her, faster and faster as she starts to lose the rhythm.
The heat that’s been pounding at the base of my spine since the second we entered this room reaches a peak and finally I can’t take it anymore. I pinch Alix’s clit between two knuckles and rub up and down. She closes her eyes tight, her body tensing around me once more, and opens her mouth in a silent scream.
And then as she pulses around me, I finally let go, looking up at her face as I erupt inside her.
An eternity later, Alix collapses, slumping forward against my chest.
For several long minutes we lie there in silence. The sun streams through the high windows and I watch the dust swirling in the air as I play absently with Alix’s hair.
“I get it now,” she breathes.
My hand stills in her hair. “What?”
“Happily ever after. I never really knew what that meant exactly. Like what happened after the story was over, but I get it now. It’s just this. Us.”
“That’s right, Peaches. And thanks to Thorne’s necklace, that’s going to be a really fucking long time.” I press my forehead to hers. “You and me for the rest of our immortal lives. Think you can handle that?”
She grins. “I can’t think of anything better.”