Chapter 1 #3
The creature hissed.
Every spike along its back flared outward in a rippling display of threat.
Aldric took a cautious step back.
Seraphae, meanwhile, bounced forward without hesitation.
Nimble trotted happily at her side, tongue lolling.
“Rae! Wait, it might—”
He didn’t finish.
She reached up and scratched the creature beneath its chin.
The massive beast leaned into the touch, letting out a deep, pleased gurgling sound, wings relaxing as it practically melted beneath her fingers.
Aldric just stared.
“…Gods above,” he muttered. “I will never get used to animals in this damned realm.”
Seraphae cupped both hands around her mouth and shouted across the street.
“Hey! Sir Knight! Are you joining us, or do you plan to walk?”
Aldric closed his eyes for a brief moment.
Inhale.
Exhale.
“Right,” he murmured to himself. “Not a dragon.”
He stepped forward as she pointed to the seat in front of her. A smirk tugged at his mouth as he reached up, lifted her with effortless ease, and set her down before him.
She giggled as if she’d just been asked out on her very first date.
Bright.
Giddy.
She practically vibrated with excitement when he slowly climbed on behind her and wrapped his broad arms around her and Nimble, drawing them both close.
He glanced down at her.
“Oh,” he said casually, settling in. “Hello, my lady. Do you come here often?”
She burst into uncontrollable laughter.
“Apologies,” he added smoothly, tightening his hold just enough to make her breath hitch. “Did I say something funny?”
“Aldric,” she laughed, half breathless, half undone, “please behave. You’re making me swoon all over you. We’re in public.” She tried, and failed, to sound serious. “I have a reputation to uphold.”
“Which is?” he asked.
“I’m unswoonable.”
He laughed, low and warm.
Then he reached forward, took hold of the reins of the definitely-not-a-dragon dragon, and leaned in closer.
“All right, my unswoonable princess. Where to?”
She didn’t hesitate.
“Home,” she said softly. “Nerathys.”
The beast’s eyes shifted, golden to crimson to emerald.
Then it launched.
Aldric tightened his grip, arms firm around Seraphae and Nimble as the world dropped away beneath them.
She screamed with pure, unfiltered joy.
Nimble panted harder, tongue lolling, ears flapping wildly in the rush of air.
The city vanished below.
The flight took less than an hour.
Even so, Aldric was grateful he’d thought ahead.
A thick fur blanket was wrapped around all three of them, shielding against the biting wind as the beast cut through the sky.
Seraphae had long since nestled back against him, warm and content, her wings and tail tucked close, Nimble wedged happily between them.
After a while, Aldric saw it.
The valley.
And at one of the slopes, a city.
Nerathys.
The capital of the realm.
Its towers rose dark and jagged, ominous silhouettes clawing at the sky, but the severity softened as they drew closer.
Around the palace stretched a valley alive with color and growth.
Gardens bloomed in sweeping terraces. Fields of fruit trees rolled gently across the land, heavy with ripening harvest.
Seraphae lifted a hand and pointed.
“Demon grapes,” she said proudly. “The largest producers of demon wine are right here in this valley.”
Aldric chuckled under his breath.
Unbelievable.
“Demon grapes?” he teased.
She twisted slightly in his arms to glare at him.
“Hey! We talked about this. Not everything is called demon and then the thing from your world.”
He laughed outright.
She turned a bit more and kissed him, deep, unhurried, stealing his breath as the wind roared past them.
When she pulled back, she smiled up at him.
“Any more comments?”
He tightened his arms around her, resting his chin briefly against her hair.
“…No,” he murmured. Then, after a beat, he added, “Actually, yes.”
She raised a brow.
He exhaled slowly, eyes lifting toward the palace ahead where shapes were already gathering along the terraces and balconies.
“Our welcoming party looks… sizable.”
Seraphae followed his gaze.
And smiled.
So it began.
The excitement.
The pointing.
“Oh! That’s the royal cook!” Seraphae suddenly squealed, nearly bouncing in her seat. “Gods! Wait until you try the cookies she makes… especially after a night out. I swear to the gods, unbeatable snack.”
A moment passed as she scanned the gathering below, eyes darting eagerly.
“Oh! Oh! And that figure there—See him?” She pointed. “That’s Captain Brundir. He’s been in service of the royal court for the last two thousand years.”
Aldric followed her gesture.
The captain stood utterly still. Spine straight. Hands folded behind his back. Not a twitch, not a breath visible. If not for the faint gleam of awareness in his eyes, Aldric might have mistaken him for a statue.
“He’s very sweet,” Seraphae added cheerfully. “I can introduce you.”
Aldric opened his mouth.
Then the entire court moved as one.
Conversation died. Laughter vanished. Every demon present turned toward the palace, and knelt. Some bowed low. Others dropped to one knee, heads lowered in reverence.
The air itself seemed to thicken.
As they descended, Aldric saw why.
A single demon strode forward from the palace steps.
No escort.
He was massive. Muscular. His skin as dark as obsidian, catching the light like polished stone. Horns curved from his skull, each as thick as Aldric’s arm.
And his eyes crimson, glowing.
His gaze locked on them.
Before Aldric could so much as draw breath, Seraphae leapt from their mount.
She didn’t wait for it to land fully.
Midair, she dove toward the demon below, laughter ringing clear as a bell.
As Aldric guided the beast down and Nimble finally hit the ground with an excited bark, there was only one word cutting through the hush of the crowd.
“Daddy!”
Aldric stood where he was, Nimble planted at his side, the enchanted trunks hovering patiently behind him.
Daddy was… big.
No.
Huge.
At least eight, maybe nine feet tall. His shoulders were broader than three grown men standing side by side. Burly. Dense. Built like something that had never known fear and had never needed to learn restraint. His presence alone was suffocating. Brutal and absolutely terrifying.
Seraphae dropped lightly to the ground, spun around, and gestured proudly.
“Aldric,” she said, practically glowing, “this is my father. Goroth the Destroyer, King of Nerathys.”
Aldric straightened at once and inclined his head in a controlled, respectful bow.
“Pleasure to meet you, Your Highness.”
Goroth stared at him.
For a long moment.
Then he grunted.
That was it.
Acknowledgment.
A silence followed.
Heavy, expectant.
Seraphae beamed, eyes flicking back and forth between her father and Aldric, clearly convinced that some profound moment of mutual respect had just passed between them.
The silence didn’t last.
A chorus of squeals erupted as a flurry of women descended on her at once. Seven succubi, laughing and grabbing, dragging her into a storm of limbs and voices.
Her sisters.
And the chatter started.
Uncontrollable.
Loud.
Entirely unapologetic to the crowd surrounding them.
“Oh gods, is that your knight?”
“He looks like he knows what he’s doing.”
“Does he have brothers?”
“Saphie, why do you always get the good ones?”
Giggles. Teasing. Endless commentary.
The noise swelled until it echoed off the palace walls.
Aldric glanced sideways.
Goroth did the same.
They exchanged a look and almost, almost, shook their heads in unison.
Then the chatter died instantly.
Footsteps.
Measured.
Graceful.
The Queen.
She moved through the court like a cool breeze cutting through heat. Her light auburn hair moving slowly as she walked. Regal, composed, radiant. Her presence softened the air itself. As she approached, her daughters parted without a word.
She reached Seraphae and pulled her into a fierce embrace, moss green eyes glassy.
She whispered something into her daughter’s ear.
Seraphae mumbled a reply, cheeks warm.
Then the Queen turned.
Every gaze followed.
All eyes settled on Aldric.
Seraphae cleared her throat and gestured grandly.
“Aldric, this is my mother. Queen Elathiel. And these seven babbling succubi are my sisters. Lillith, Kaela, Zira, Nyxelle, Vaeris, Nyssara, and Thalyn.”
Aldric inclined his head again.
“A pleasure to meet you, Your—”
He didn’t finish.
The Queen stepped forward and wrapped him in a warm, unhesitating embrace.
“The pleasure is ours, Aldric,” she said, pulling back with a gentle smile. “Welcome to Nerathys. We are all very happy you came with our daughter.”
There was weight in the word we.