Page 12 of Demon Seed

I lift my head to meet his gaze, those amber eyes still burning with an intensity that makes my breath catch. The moonlight filtering through the window catches on his obsidian horns, giving them an ethereal glow. I reach up to touch them again, stroking them, fascinated by how they curve elegantly from his temples.

"You keep touching those, and we'll be starting round two sooner than planned," Vesper warns, his voice a low rumble that vibrates through his chest.

I smile, deliberately running my fingertip along the ridge of one horn. "Is that supposed to discourage me?"

He growls, the sound more playful than threatening, and rolls us until I'm pinned beneath him again. His weight is delicious, grounding me when I still feel like I might float away.

"You're playing with fire, little nymph," he says, nipping at my collarbone.

"Good thing I've always been drawn to flames.”

Vesper

Iwatch Selena's chest rise and fall with the deep, hypnotic sleep rhythm. Her dark hair cascades over my pillow like a spilled pot of ink, and I fight the overwhelming urge to brush the stray strands from her serene face.

After the intensity of last night, Selene needs this rest. The vivid memory of her beneath me, surrounding me, ignites a fiery rush through my veins. But duty looms, and I extract myself from our bed with the stealth of a shadow. I am now a mated male, and there’s nothing more important than protecting my female.

When I arrive at the main tower, the dim morning twilight—the meager light we receive all day—barely pierces the sky. Morrigan is already there, her armor radiating like a beacon in the pale light. She stands with unwavering resolve, her gaze a laser beam on the horizon.

"You're late," Morrigan declares, her voice sharp, without even the courtesy of a glance in my direction.

"And you're early," I retort, striding to stand beside her with a deliberate air. "As always."

A flicker crosses her lips, a ghost of a smile, the most I'll extract from her at this ungodly hour. "The eastern scouts cameback an hour ago. They've uncovered talismans scattered like a sinister web throughout the woods encircling the castle."

My muscles coil with tension. "How many?"

"A dozen, perhaps more. These witches are quite cunning. The talismans were hidden by magic, but I uncovered them easily. It’s one of the many gifts I inherited from my mother.”

I curse under my breath. “Is this interference sanctioned by Queen Isolde? She promised she’d keep out of my affairs.”

"I don’t think she’s in league with them. But I sent Cassian to question her involvement as carefully as possible and learn for sure. He’ll be back soon,” Morrigan continues, finally turning to face me. Her eyes narrow as she studies my face. "You look… rested."

Heat creeps up my neck. "What's that supposed to mean?"

"Nothing," Morrigan says, but there's knowing in her voice. "Just good to see your queen has a positive effect on you."

Suddenly, Cassian's silhouette appears at the gates. His steps are heavy, each one echoing the weight of his journey. The guards, recognizing his familiar figure, swiftly open the massive iron doors. Despite the exhaustion evident on his face, his posture remains straight as an arrow.

I watch intently as he delivers the news that the Witch Kingdom of Shadowhaven has nothing to do with the intrusion into my lands.

"You're certain?" I ask, needing to hear it again. "Queen Isolde has no involvement?"

Cassian nods once, sharp and definitive. "After her staunch denial, I tracked the magical signature myself. It leads solely to the Divine Peaks, not the royal palace. This is the work of a rogue coven who resides on the mountain. They’re allied with the elves and nymphs, not the queen.”

"Why is Selene’s family trying so hard to be banished?” Morrigan stands beside me, her voice tight with anger. “I don’tunderstand what they hope to accomplish. It’s forbidden to come between mates. And how do they hope to win against a legion of dem?—?”

Morrigan’s voice is abruptly severed by the piercing howl of a wolf, its sound cleaving through our conversation like a sharpened blade, cutting her off mid-sentence. I lock eyes with Cassian, whose hand reflexively grips the hilt of his sword, muscles tense, ready for action.

“Hold your urge,” I caution, gesturing toward the menacing black wolf prowling by the edge of the trees. “That one is unmistakably one of the Wolfram brothers. He wouldn’t be here without a purpose, and Lycans are wise enough not to meddle with the mate bond.” My mind flashes back to the formidable black beast that emerged to shield Selene in the woods. “If he approaches the gates, allow him passage. I must uncover his intentions to ensure Selene’s safety.”

As if he could hear my words, the black wolf approaches our gates, his movements deliberate and steady. With a subtle flick of his muzzle, he signals the other wolves in his pack to remain in the shadows. Smart. The guards exchange nervous glances but allow him passage as instructed. I'd given explicit orders about this visitor.

My heart hammers against my ribs as I rush across the courtyard, boots crunching on frost-covered gravel. The black wolf pads through the entrance, his amber eyes finding mine immediately. I welcome him into the study, and offer him a place by the fire.

"You came alone," I say, lowering myself to one knee before him, not out of deference but to better meet his gaze. "I appreciate the gesture."

The wolf's fur ripples violently, darkness folding in on itself with a menacing twist. Then Dorian Wolfram stands before me, stark naked and utterly unashamed. The transformationis always a brutal spectacle—bone and sinew snapping and reshaping in the blink of an eye.

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