25. Elora
25
ELORA
L ife seemingly returns to normal one we return to Amon’s realm. He never mentions anything about the incident with Balial, and I don’t pry.
Amon refuses to let me return to my room, though, and instead moves my things into his, including Nyx. A small smile spreads across my lips at the thought of sharing a bed with him.
It sends a shiver across my skin.
The feeling is short lived, however, when Amon doesn’t come to bed that night, or the night after, or the night after that.
He only shows briefly to check on me and to join me for meals here and there. Conversation is limited, and the shadows in his eyes run deep.
I get frustrated when I ask him what’s on his mind, and he simply assures me everything is fine.
When he flashes me one of his smiles, it never reaches his eyes.
Our embraces become shorter, and Amon reverts to placing soft kisses against the back of my hand rather than my lips.
A sense of rejection starts to brew within me, and it sours my mood and makes me standoffish, which seems to push him away further.
Today, I had skipped breakfast with Amon, choosing instead to move my things back into my room. I’d had Amara help me, who just looked at me with a questioning gaze.
I didn’t care to talk about it.
Nyx is the last thing I move, and her little chirrups of protest squeeze at my heart. If he disliked being around me that much, maybe it was better this way.
It definitely brought me some comfort knowing I wouldn’t be pining over his company every night.
I flop down onto my bed with a sigh, and I’m flooded with thoughts of the previous days. I wondered if his actions were the result of what happened.
He knew I didn’t intend to put myself in danger. I’m sure he knew it wasn’t his fault.
Or… what if he thought it was?
I shake my head, dashing the thought away.
There’s no way I would ever put that on him. But what if, instead, he was feeling like he couldn’t protect me here?
I could convince him that I was capable of taking care of myself.
I trusted Balial too much. I trusted her because Amon trusted her.
Determination overcomes me, and I stand back up, grabbing my bow and flinging my quiver over my shoulder. I grab the leather greaves that Amon gifted me and open my door, stalking down the corridor towards the garden.
I would show him I’m not weak. I can be just as strong as the next person… demon.
Whatever.
He’ll see. I’ll make him.
Amon
Almost a week passed since we’d come back from Allocer’s. I had insisted on Elora moving into my room, mostly so that I would have some peace knowing she was safe.
My room was warded against lesser.
No one would be able to pass without me knowing about it.
I stayed in another chamber not far. Night after night I fought the urge to stalk down the corridor and claim my mate.
I paced, a lot, and day after day I noticed Elora becoming more and more withdrawn. I chose not to push her away further by forcing her into my arms, and instead resulted in leaving soft kisses on the backs of her hands when we saw each other.
Even that simple action was becoming less common, and it pained me to see my mate in so much distress.
I wished I knew the reason so I could make it better.
I was tired of this, and it was making my mood foul.
After a brief conversation with Allocer this morning, I had every intention of confronting Elora and demand that she speak to me.
Yell at me, anything.
I stalk down the corridor and towards my chamber, pausing at the door before flinging it open.
My fists clench involuntarily when I realize she’s not there.
I set my jaw as I move to the washroom, flinging back the tapestry to find it empty. She’s not here either.
Turning on my heel, I spy the bed.
She’s pulled up her furs, and her pillow is fluffed.
She never made her bed.
Walking over to it, I pick up her pillow, burying my face in it and inhaling deeply. Her scent was faint, and I let out a growl as I toss it to the bed.
I turn, opening the chest next to the bed. It’s empty.
Slamming it closed, I stalk to the wardrobe on the other side of the room, flinging the doors open to slam against wall loudly.
It’s empty too.
I slam the doors closed, shoving a hand through my hair.
Stalking over to the fireplace, I plop into my chair heavily. Anger courses through me, and I snap right back up, stomping to the door of my chamber.
I fling it open, hollering into the corridor.
“Elora!”
I bellow her name, as I make my way towards her chamber. I open the door, and it slams against the stone wall, the sound reverberating through the corridor.
Pausing to look for her, I walk to her wardrobe, pulling things out and filling my arms with her clothes.
I stomp back out, bellowing her name again.
“Elora!”
I re-enter my chamber, tossing her clothes on my bed before walking back out and down the corridor towards the library.
“ELORA!”
I bellow as I round the corner, the walls seemingly trembling with the force of my voice. Looking into the darkness of the library, I growl. She’s not here either.
The garden.
I turn and jog towards the garden, my heart hammering in my chest, and my skin tingling with anger and frustration.
I fling open the doors to the garden, and see Elora standing there, her bow drawn, arrow nocked. She jumps and turns to me, her eyes wide as she releases the string of the bow.
The arrow wizzes towards me, sinking itself into my pectoral muscle. I don’t stop.
I don’t even register the pain as I reach down and snap the shaft off.
“Why did you move your things out?” I ask, stalking towards her. She takes a couple of steps backwards, her eyes wide and full of fear.
“Amon you’re hurt-.” I cut her off, bellowing at her.
“Tell me why!”
She frowns before standing up taller, raising her chin at me as I walk to stand feet from her.
“Because.” She says, her response clipped.
“Because isn’t an answer, female.” I volley. “WHY did you remove your things from my room?”
I gesture behind me towards the castle.
“Because YOU don’t want me there!” She bellows back.
I pause, shocked.
Her eyes bore into mine a moment before continuing.
“Why would I stay? You’re never there. You can’t even stand to be around me!” Her cheeks heat with anger, and I flinch at her words.
Wait, she thinks I don’t want to be around her?
I’m so confused.
“What in the seven hells are you talking about?” I ask with a sneer.
“You think I haven’t noticed?” She hollers, stomping her foot. “You can’t bear to touch me, you never come to me at night. I hardly see you during the day…”
I stare at her, slack jawed.
“I was giving you your space! I had you move into my room because it’s warded against lesser! I was TRYING to keep you SAFE!”
I bellow again, and it echoes through the empty courtyard.
Elora doesn’t flinch this time, and instead crosses her arms over her chest.
“Well, YOU didn’t tell me that! How was I to know? I thought you couldn’t even stand to look at me!”
I stand there, mouth agape, anger roiling through me.
She thought I didn’t want to look at her…
What in the world would make her think that?
“Fuck.” I curse, closing the last few feet between us. Elora holds her hands out in front of her defensively, her eyes widening in fear.
I reach out, snagging her wrist in my hand, yanking her to me before I slam my mouth against hers.
She pushes against me, but I don’t relent, melding her body against mine. She bites my lower lip, and the metallic taste of blood blooms across my tongue.
I back up, glaring at her incredulously, a hand flying to my mouth. I turn to spit before reaching for her once more. She attempts to run from me as I advance on her, abandoning her bow.
She doesn’t get far.
I reach out, wrapping a hand around her upper arm. Spinning her around, I pull her back against me, backing her up against the stone wall of the castle. She swats at me, and I press my body against hers.
When she starts to pummel my chest, I snatch one wrist and then the other, holding them above her head.
She sobs, her body going lax in my grasp.
I look down at her, my heart hammering in my chest. Our ragged breaths mingle, and I lean down, crashing my lips against hers again. Elora moans against my mouth, and I release her wrists to wrap a hand around the nape of her neck.
She returns my kiss fervently, her arms flying around my neck.
I growl against her mouth, reaching down to grasp handfuls of her skirt, lifting it. In one fluid motion I grasp her thighs, lifting her to wrap her legs around my waist.
I angle my mouth over hers, spearing my tongue into her mouth to deepen the kiss. Threading my fingers into her hair, I pull, angling her head back, baring her neck.
Another growl escapes me as I run my lips along the sensitive flesh there, nipping gently with my fangs. Her body responds instantly, arching against my touch. When she gives out a breathy moan, it’s all I can do not to come.
I grind myself against the apex of her thighs. The sensation sends shockwaves of pleasure through my body, and I groan against her neck.
“Does this look like I can’t stand the sight of you?” I ask, scraping my fangs along her neck. She shudders against me.
“Does it feel like I can’t stand to be around you?”
Elora’s nails scrape down my biceps through my shirt, and I revel in the feel. Her body trembles against mine as I grind into her. I can feel her delicious heat through my pants, and I reach down to start undoing the ties.
If I can just move her undergarment to the side, if I can just let my cock spring free, she’ll be mine.
Right here.
Right now.
Someone clears their throat loudly, breaking the spell between us. Growling, I release Elora reluctantly.
Her cheeks are flushed, and her lips are swollen and red.
My cock throbs from the sight, and I let out another frustrated growl as I spin on the intruder.
“What is it!” I bellow.
Allocer stands just past the threshold of the courtyard, his hands in his pockets. He has the decency to look guilty.
“I apologize for interrupting,” He starts, “But this is incredibly important.
“There’s no way around it. I have to send her back.”
I sit, head in my hands, grief lancing through my heart. The pain from the arrow didn’t hold a candle to this, and I rub the spot subconsciously. It had already healed, and my body had pushed the arrowhead out.
Allocer’s research over the past week was concrete.
“That’s not the case, brother. If you mate her, it will start a series of events-.”
I cut him off, standing to pace the library. “That’s if you find a mate, Allocer. Look how long it took me to find mine?” He looks at me, his eyes full of pity.
I walk to stand in front of the fireplace, hanging my head in defeat.
“I will not put her through it.” The statement comes out with a finality that sends heaviness settling throughout my very being.
“Brother you know what will happen.” Allocer says softly.
I nod, hanging my head further. “I know. But if it means she will be safe, I will bare anything that comes after sending her home.”
The laws were clear. If one of us found our mate and the bond wasn’t sealed or our mate rejected us, our powers would wane.
Eventually I would weaken and finally die. My soul would never ascend.
I would never live or breath again.
My soul would die a real death.
And if she stays…
I dash it from my mind. It doesn’t matter. I had made my decision.
Allocer doesn’t speak, but I hear him walk up behind me. A heavy hand settles on my shoulder, squeezing gently. “I am sorry, brother.”
Elora
I pace the garden, apprehensive, looking up at the study for the thousandth time. I don’t see any movement, and nothing has happened, so I guess it can’t be that bad.
Still, my gut tells me something isn’t right.
Not an hour ago I was in the arms of my demon, ready to give myself wholly to him. My body sang for Amon.
All the feelings, everything I had been fighting within myself…
He felt them too.
He needed me, as much as I needed him.
We were so close, if only we’d been allowed a few more moments.
A sinking sensation overwhelms me, and I place a hand to my abdomen, letting out a shaky breath.
I hear the clank of the glass door and look up to see Amon standing on the veranda. He regards me quietly before descending the stairs to walk towards me. He hangs his head as he approaches me, and my stomach drops.
I smile up at him, but he doesn’t return it. His eyes are shadowed, and his mouth is turned down at the corners.
The dread within me blooms outwards, and this time it stays.
“Amon, what is it?” I ask, wringing my hands nervously in front of me.
He stops just out of arms reach, his posture stiff and reserved. Silence impregnates the space between us, and I open my mouth to speak.
“I’m sending you home.” He says flatly, cutting me off.
My heart skips a beat before quickening. Surely, I didn’t hear him right.
“You-you’re… what?” I stammer, frowning at him.
His jaw ticks, and I reach for him.
He takes a step backwards, looking down at the ground. His expression is unreadable.
This isn’t my passionate determined demon.
This is someone else.
“You heard me.” He says evenly. There’s no inflection in his voice, and the words are spoken with no emotion.
His eyes find mine again, and I search his amber depths.
“I can’t go home-I… can’t.” I say softly.
Amon doesn’t say anything for a moment, but I notice his fists clench at his sides. “I’m releasing you from our bond.”
He reaches behind him, pulling out a rolled scroll a moment later.
I reach out, placing a hand against his forearm. “Amon, no. Don’t do this.” I plead, swallowing thickly as he unrolls the scroll, holding it out in front of him.
“Stop!” I say, my pitch rising.
“Elora, princess of Delyra,” He starts, his knuckles white as he grips the parchment, “I release you from our blood bond,” the ground shifts beneath me. “And I relinquish my claim on the sun-touched male child promised one-thousand years ago.”
“No! I don’t accept this!” I bellow at him, reaching for the scroll.
He rips the parchment down the middle, and something within me shifts. I double over, grief washing over me.
I dig my nails into his forearm, seeking purchase.
I feel like I’m going to faint.
“Amon…” I whisper, stars dancing in my vision.
He reaches out, wrapping a hand around my upper arm, and we are instantly transported to Delyra.
I tumble to the ground when he releases me.
Tears stream down my cheeks, but I don’t look up at him.
Amon stands there for a moment, and just as I start to look up at him, the air shifts, and he’s gone.
I curl my fingers in the dirt before looking around me.
Grief lances through me again and I let out a pained cry.
Amon
Once I’m back through the portal, I am forced to one knee. I clench my fist against the ground as grief washes over me.
Releasing Elora from our bond was one thing, but sending my mate away from my realm had an immediate effect on me.
I had never felt so weak in all of my existence.
Dipping my head, I allow the grief the lance through my heart. It was the least I deserved. I would never be able to forgive myself, and I would never forget the look on Elora’s face.
Allocer comes rushing from the castle, helping me to my feet. He snakes an arm around me, steadying me.
“I’m so sorry, brother.” He says.
I grunt in response as he assists me back inside.
The glass door closes behind us with a finality that echoes through my very soul.