19. Elora
19
ELORA
O nce I’m in my chamber, I place Nyx back in her cage. She makes her way to her bed, turning in little circles before plopping down with a little huff.
I shake my head at her.
“You are unbelievable.” I say, closing the door. I walk to my bed, flopping onto the furs with a sigh.
My lips still tingled from our kiss, and I run the tips of my fingers over them.
Amon tasted of wine, and something uniquely him.
I craved more.
I was half tempted to waltz right down to his chambers and demand….
What?
That he ravish me?
Did I even know what I was asking?
The throbbing sensation between my legs tells me that yes, I did indeed know what I was asking.
I cover my face with my hands, squeezing my thighs together.
I wanted him, and he obviously wanted me, so what was stopping us?
I pull my bottom lip between my teeth, closing my eyes as visions of him dance in my mind.
I didn’t even realize I had fallen asleep until I’m shaken awake harshly.
“Princess.” The voice is a hushed whisper.
I sit up, rubbing my hands over my eyes as I attempt to clear the sleepy fog from my mind. I squint, seeing Balail standing next to the bed, her expression unreadable.
“Is everything ok?” I ask, moving to sit on the edge of the bed.
Balail nods. “Yes, everything is fine, Amon has asked for you, but you need to come now.” I’m officially awake, my stomach filling with nervous butterflies.
“He wants me to-to come now?”
Balail nods again, looking slightly frustrated.
“Yes! But we must go now. He’s not very patient.”
She ushers me out of bed quickly, wrapping my robe around me. She glances behind her at a tapestry on the wall, and I frown.
I follow her from my chamber, or rather, she all but pulls me out.
She reaches out to grab my wrist, pulling me down the corridor in the opposite direction from Amon’s chamber.
“Isn’t Amon’s chamber this way?” I dig my heels in, gesturing behind me.
Balail sighs, spinning on me.
“Yes, but he has prepared a place for you.”
My stomach flips in anticipation, and I pause.
Gathering my nerves, I smile, following Balail willingly down the corridor.
I reach down, pulling a fistful of my night gown into my hand to quicken my steps, attempting to keep up with her longer strides.
We round a corner into another corridor, and Balail ducks into a smaller room. It’s dark, save for a single candle lit in the middle of a small table in the corner of the room.
It’s simply decorated, and not near as ornate as mine or even Amon’s chamber. I frown, walking further into the room.
Balial stands in the doorway, and when I turn to face her, the smirk on her face makes my stomach drop. I rush towards the door, but Balail pulls it closed before I can reach it.
Fear blooms in my stomach, and I reach for the latch. It’s locked, and I pull on it. “Balail?” I try the latch again, banging on the door with a fist when it doesn’t budge.
“Balail! Jokes up!”
I listen intently, placing my ear against the door. I don’t hear anything on the other side.
I back up and frantically try to pull on the door. “Balail!” The pitch in my voice rises as fear starts to take over.
I fly around intending to look for something-anything I can use to jimmy the lock on the door.
I gasp as I turn to face the most fearsome creature I’ve ever seen.
I look up into the green eyes of a very large demon. His face and nose resemble that of a dog, but the horns protruding from it remind me of an elk or a deer.
He bears his teeth at me, and I lift a hand to my nose. His breath is rank, and drool drips from the corner of his mouth.
The demon towers over me by a good two feet, and a deep growl emanates from deep within his chest.
I raise my hands slowly, backing up against the door.
The creature reaches out, raking a claw down my cheek gently.
“Pretty.” It growls, more drool dripping from its maw.
Nausea boils up in my throat, and I scream.
The creature reaches out, striking me across the face, and the room goes dark.
Amon
I startle awake, sitting straight up in bed. My body is covered in a thin sheen of sweat, my heart hammering in my chest.
I listen for something, anything that may be amiss.
Everything seems normal, but I pull myself from my bed, walking to pull the tapestry that leads to Elora’s room.
I fling open the door, stalking down the narrow passageway, flinging spiderwebs out of my way.
As I near her door, I pause, running a hand through my hair, sighing heavily.
I stop, listening intently.
I don’t hear anything.
She’s probably sleeping.
I turn to go back to my room, pausing again as a feeling in my gut forces me to turn back towards the door.
I pause a moment before turning the knob on the door and stepping inside.
The space is dark, and the only light are the dying embers in the fireplace. I walk to the bed. The furs are rumpled, but not pulled back, telling me Elora never went to bed.
I pull the furs up to my nose, inhaling deeply.
She had been gone a while.
Her scent was already starting to fade.
Fear blooms within me as I walk around the room, looking for any signs of her.
I fling back the tapestry to her washroom, growling when I find it empty.
I stalk to the main door of her chamber, flinging it open to slam against the wall with a deafening bang.
The sound reverberates through the corridor.
Somebody had my mate, and I would tear the filament from the Earth to find her.
Stepping out, I throw my head back, releasing a roar.