by Alexia Praks
“Oh, and what if I am coming for you?” he asked, his lips now mere inches from hers.
Cecelia swallowed. “I’d rather think not, sire. For you do not know who I am and you do not know where I live. So this is a dream.” She sighed pleasantly. “It is unbelievable, is it not? That I am dreaming of a demon king?”
Drake wanted to laugh at that. Did she not know how wrong she was? That he had already found where she lived. But a matter of who she was, was indeed another story. He needed to get his confirmation.
“Tell me your name,” he said softly. “Tell me your name.”
Cecelia blinked, wondering why such a question was being asked in a dream. “Cecelia Van Zandt, sire. That is my name.”
Drake looked deep into her eyes and knew she was Lord Peter Van Zandt’s daughter. It had been perhaps ten years ago, when Drake himself was but a young demon, and he and his friends had made a short stop on Rosevalley Island. Cecelia herself was but a child, brave and daring, wearing breeches, carrying a sword, and climbing on trees. She’d been a beautiful child. During that short stop, he’d seen her four times, though each time he’d never officially met her. He had seen her from the far distance whilst he’d been with Lord Van Zandt. The father pointed her and her brother out to him and his comrades during their exploring trip.
“There, my daughter and son,” he’d say with sparks of love in his brown eyes. “Aren’t they a pair?”
Drake cocked his head to one side now as he watched his little thief who had stolen his pearl.
“What are you doing to me?” she asked suddenly. “I feel wonderful. My body is feeling pleasant. Perhaps, sire, you are making love to me in my dream?”
Drake raised his brows at her.
“Do you want me to make love to you, Celia?” he asked.
She sighed pleasantly. “It is very nice, sire. In my dream, yes. I would like you to make love to me. But in reality, no, because you are the demon king and I do not like you very much.”
Drake cocked his head to one side, amused. So she didn’t like him very much, did she? Even during that loving they had together in the woods?
“And do you consider this a dream, Celia?”
Cecelia watched him as he was now playing with her nipple. She shivered deliciously as a groan escaped her lips. “It feels too real for it to be a dream, sire.”
That being said, she pushed him off her, which Drake reluctantly obliged. She rushed to the other side of the bed and clutched the thin material of the towel against her person as she eyed him, trying to make sense of what was happening. Surely, this must be a dream, for the demon king could not have found out where she lived so quickly. Furthermore, he couldn’t be present here at this time of the night. There was also that white and gold halo about his person. Surely, this was her dream and he was in it.
Drake was fascinated as he watched her shuffling through her thoughts, trying to make sense of it all. He shifted his gazed from her face to her body that was eagerly awaiting him to make love to.
In a flash of a moment, he moved and caught her wrist. He pulled her to him and made her sit on his lap. Cecelia struggled in his arms and demanded he let her go immediately. He silenced her with his kiss. His hot mouth and tongue ravished her as she tried to free herself.
Drake dug his fingers deep into her hair, holding her there, preventing her from escaping his clutches.
Knowing she very well couldn’t win him, Cecelia mellowed her fight. Drake took the opportunity and pulled the towel off her, throwing it away to the floor.
Cecelia gasped at his brute treatment. “My towel,” she gasped. “You cannot do that in a dream.”
Drake laughed. “Still thinking this is a dream, eh?” He brought her closer to him and ran his hand down her front. It was then he felt the scar across the side of her belly.
“I suspect right it was really you that night,” he said, referring to the young woman he’d made love to in the woods.
Cecelia raised her head haughtily and said, “Aye, sire. It was I.”
He laughed harshly. “Ah, I see now. You meant to steal the pearl that night? I came in on time and caught you? Oh, how stupid I have been,” he said more to himself than to her.
“You’re in my dream,” she said, closing her eyes. “You’ll be gone in a moment.
“I will not be gone, sweetheart. Not yet,” he said, running his hand across her scar and then lower to the valley between her legs. There he dipped his finger in and stroked her folds.
Cecelia gasped and then groaned loudly. Drake kissed her again, driving his tongue into her mouth while at the same time his fingers caressed her down there.
Cecelia’s body was shivering and shaking as he sweetly tortured her with his expert hand. He was thrusting his finger into her wet secret spot, loving the feel of her tightness and the silky, soft texture of her nectar. She clung onto him as he continued the process.
“A dream,” she whispered in between groans and moans. “Just a dream. Oh God!”
Drake moved his lips down the line of her throat and then lower to her breasts. There he took a nipple into his mouth and sweetly sucked and teased it until the bud engorged to a marble of pinkness. Cecelia whimpered and squirmed in ecstasy as she clutched onto his head for control. Drake felt her melting on him, restlessly writhing and moaning and groaning in response to his touches. He laid her back so she was beneath him, and then he thrust his hardened shaft into her.
Cecelia gasped at the intrusion while Drake gritted his teeth. Holy Mother of God! But it felt so real. His body stiffened at the hard pleasure and wondered how could this be? He’d used his power for the vision before, but none had ever felt as real. The power only allowed him to see his target and its surroundings. Not make him feel as though he were actually there in the flesh.
And indeed, right now, he felt as though he were actually here in the flesh with his little thief. Though, he must admit he’d never done anything like this before either, making love to a young woman in his vision.
“Sire,” Cecelia groaned. “I… Please move inside. I’m begging you. I can’t take it much longer if you just stay still.”
Drake eyed her, his face hard. “My pleasure, princess,” he said, a smile on his lips. Thus, he moved, at first slowly and then more forceful. His hardened member thrusting back and forth within her silk tightness, increasing the pleasure that was coursing through his body by more than a hundred folds. He gritted his teeth, his muscles tense as he continued the process.
Cecelia couldn’t believe the pleasurable sensation running through her being as the demon king drove into her. She couldn’t believe something like this existed in a dream. As if by instinct, she raised herself up and wrapped her arms around the apparition of Drake, drawing him close to her and at the same time feeling him getting deeper into her womb.
Drake pulsated into her, in and out, in and out, as she danced below him, singing, “Sire! Sire!”
He chuckled breathlessly. “Drake. Call me Drake.”
Celia hid her face against his muscular neck as she felt she was going to come soon. She couldn’t handle it anymore. “Sire… Dra… Drake, I can’t take any more.”
He tightened his hold on her and propelled into her faster and harder as she cried out louder and louder. Then it happened. Her whole body contorted, her hips buckled against him, and she came, long and pleasant and in wonder. Drake watched her as he too came with her. He held his breath as he did so, his body exploding with an unimaginable pleasure.
Breathless, Cecelia relaxed and closed her eyes. She rested against him, her face hidden in the crook of his arm. Drake moved slightly so he could see her face.
His heart skipped a beat as he felt the wind knocked out of him. Aye, she was a beauty all right. Without thinking, he gently kissed her on the lips. He stayed there, watching her, sketching her features within his memory. Then, as if he fully came to his senses again, his face hardened and his usual scowl appeared in full force. He moved, laid her down o
n the bed, and covered her with the blanket.
He stood watching her, a smile about his lips. “I will come to claim you, Celia.”
* * * * *
Chapter XV
THE DEMONS ARRIVED WITHOUT ANNOUNCEMENT seven days later, killing at least three hundred of their strong soldiers guarding the palace and injuring about a hundred more. What was more embarrassing was there were only thirty demons, and not one of them were injured during the whole carnage that took less time than a proper dinner. King Leroi, the coward that he was, wanted to flee for the safety of his precious life. He’d thought the threat he’d received from the demon king one week ago regarding a thief and his missing jewel had been a mere jest. But now he knew better, for standing before him was a demon that was as fearsome as his infamous name. Tall, big, dark-headed and with a fierce scowl on his face, the demon king sent King Lerio’s legs shaking with fear. His gut was churning with dread as he approached the demon with all the strength he could muster. Instantly, he felt as though his dinner wanted to come back out of his stomach.
“King Leroi,” Drake sneered, his eyes as dark as the night and as intense and hot as the raging fire.
King Leroi swallowed hard and looked over to his guard to make sure they were at a good distance to protect him from the slaughter. His guards, puny weakling beings compared to the demons, stood nervously with their swords drawn, ready for battle.
Drake paid no heed to the pathetic soldiers. His sole attention was targeted on the trembling king who looked as though he were about to wet his pants.
“I’ve warned you, King Leroi, have I not?” Drake drew out coldly. “I’m here for the thief and my treasure.”
King Leroi shuddered. “What treasure? There is no treasure of yours here, demon! You have merely used such accusation to raid my kingdom. To kill us!” He pointed a shaky finger at Drake and his comrades Adam, Gerick, and Leon who were flanking on either side of Drake. They looked as angry as Drake and were ready to go in for the kill with their mighty weapons drawn.
“Do you want an all-out war, King Leroi?” Drake asked harshly. “I will only be too happy to oblige.”
King Leroi paled at the thought. “Nay, ’tis not what I want. But I am telling you the truth. There is no treasure of yours here. As for the thief, I will only be too glad to hand him over to you.”
Drake glared at King Leroi in disgust. The greedy man valued treasure more than a life. As far as Drake knew, that life was also King Leroi’s niece, his bloodline. That man was as worthless as a rat. Drake was physically repulsed at the sight of the fat man adorned in silk and jewels. No doubt this king had never seen a battlefield in his life. Well, that was until tonight.
“Cecelia Van Zandt,” Drake growled loudly, causing everyone in the room to shrug back in fear. “Bring her to me!” He scanned around the room, his eyes sharp. When no one moved, he shouted, “Now!”
Again, the room was silent, and Drake’s mood changed from that of impatient to anger and lethal. With his scowl now darker than ever, he marched forward, his sword drawn, ready for the kill. The Dardanian guards rushed to their king, but they couldn’t do much more than that, for they feared the death look on Drake’s face and the demonic power radiating about his form. The force field kept them at a distance as Drake headed toward his intended target.
King Leroi panicked, took a step back, and fell on his backside. Just as Drake was about to come up to him, Queen Eliza intercept him by standing in front of her husband, her gown blowing in every direction from the force of energy Drake emitted.
“Agnes!” she shouted to the maid who was hovering about the room. Her voice was shaking as she continued, “Go get her.”
Agnes nervously curtsied and rushed away.
Queen Eliza, tall, pale, quite beautiful, and at least two decades younger than her husband King Leroi, sailed toward Drake once he calmed his power, reduced to nothingness by his command. Eliza gave him a nervous smile. “I do apologize, my king, for not granting your desire sooner,” she said. Then she slowly curtsied. “Please, sire, make yourself at home whilst we wait for that little thief.”
Drake wasn’t interested in pleasantry, and it disgusted him that this queen was trying to do just that. He’d murdered more than three hundred of her men, for God’s sake, and she wasn’t at all tormented by that thought.
Gerick came forward and queried, “Queen Eliza, isn’t it?”
Eliza turned her attention to the younger, more handsome demon. He really did take her breath away, and she wondered instantly what this demon was like in bed. She was really tempted to find out, and no doubt, so were her two cousins, Rosanna and Juliet, for they looked as though they wanted to drag him to their bedchambers and do pleasurable things to him despite the dire situation they were in at the moment. And all because of that stupid little chit Cecelia. If they got through this, and the little rebellious monster didn’t die under the hand of this fearsome demon king, then she’d kill the girl herself. Then again, only if she were allowed to because, from what she knew so far, Marcus Arthur was also interested in Cecelia.
“Why, yes,” she said pleasantly to Gerick.
Gerick cocked his head to one side and gave her a devilishly handsome smile. Then he turned his attention to the two women who were batting their eyelids at him. “And who might you ladies be?”
Rosanna eagerly stepped forward and said, “I am Lady Rosanna Van Dyke, my lord.”
“I am Lady Juliet Van Dyke, my lord,” Juliet said, not to be outdone by her sister.
Adam rolled his eyes. “We’re not here to make pleasant talk with these people, Gerick,” he reminded the younger demon.
Gerick laughed. “Come now, brother. Loosen up. Can’t you see these ladies are just trying to make us comfortable whilst we wait for Lady Cecelia?”
Drake narrowed his eyes at Queen Eliza. Under the current situation, he deduced immediately that it was the young queen who held the true power in this kingdom, and King Leroi himself was but a mere pawn. Ruthless, cunning, and hungry for power was what he saw within Queen Eliza’s aura.
“My Lord is right,” Eliza said, nodding her head. “Please, gentlemen, draw down your weapons.”
Drake eyed Queen Eliza and then turned his attention to the king. They both watched him nervously with dread.
Drake turned on his heel and went to stand by the window, looking out at the dead bodies in the courtyard. In the distance, just outside the great gate, an army of soldiers had just arrived. No doubt to take them down.
Drake began to laugh, louder and louder, drawing everyone’s attention. He turned to the queen and said, “Do you wish more death on your warriors, queen? If not, then give words to send them back.”
Eliza turned to look at her husband she never love, the man she used her body to seduce and manipulate. She saw him nervously nodding at her. Eliza tried hard to hide her anger. “Very well,” she said through gritted teeth and waved her hand to one of the commanders. “Tell them to stand down.”
The commander nodded nervously and quickly ran out the great hall to inform his superior. Drake turned his attention to Gerick and gave him the signal. Gerick nodded his head, a knowing, obedient smile on his lips. Then he bowed lowly to Queen Eliza, to which she frowned in suspicion, and then to both Rosanna and Juliet, smiling gleefully at him. That done, he turned on his heel and strode out the door.
“The north wing, was it?” he said to himself and headed that way, his footstep light and quick.
* * * * *
CECELIA FELT SICK TO HER stomach the moment she heard the cry of dying men and the sight of demons in the midst of the battle across the courtyard. With legs trembling, she sank onto the floor, her breathing heavy, her heart racing and her stomach flipping with nausea.
What have I done? She had stolen the Pearl of Life, and now the demon was here, slaughtering soldiers within the castle walls to get their pearl back.
She was still shell-shocked that she couldn’t even think straight when Brian
came to her, taking her into his arms.
“He’s here for you,” he said.
Cecelia nodded, tears in her eyes. “I know,” she whispered. She knew she must face the consequences. She had stolen the pearl, and she had vowed to return it even if it killed her. “I must go to him. I must go to the king and return his pearl.”
Brian frowned darkly at her decision and said firmly, “I won’t let him take you. I promise. Come, we must take you away from here.”
He pulled her to him and led her out the chamber, his hand tight around her wrist.
“Please, Brian, wait. I must return the pearl to the king,” she said hoarsely.
“Don’t be naive, Celia. He won’t let you go,” Brian said. “We must make haste.”
As they hurried out the door into the lit corridor by the courtyard, Cecelia said, “But he is here for the pearl, Brian. I must return it to him. It is no use to us now that we’ve made the potion for Mother. Besides, I promised I’d return it to its owner.”
Brian turned and said impatiently, “Aye, he is here for the pearl, Celia. But it doesn’t mean he’s going to let you go once you’ve given it back to him. And who did you promise to give what back?”
“But—” was the only word Cecelia managed to get out. A large body suddenly swung from above the side of the roof and landed before them silently on the cold stone floor.
Brother and sister stumbled back in shocked surprised, colliding against the wall. The instant they got their bearings back, Brian shoved Cecelia behind him to protect her, thinking it was one of the demon soldiers.
And indeed it was, and one of their best too, the lethal charmer and strategist Gerick McNamara. The tall, handsome demon cocked his head to one side as he appreciatively eyed Cecelia and then her brother Brian. A dark, devilish smile spread across his face as he noted brother and sister weren’t much different after all. Both with black hair and faces very pleasing to look at. Cecelia was slim and very enchanting in that pale-lilac gown that Gerick knew would indeed shock Drake to his core. The fake Brian turned out to be a beautiful woman in disguise after all. And as for the real Brian? Gerick returned his attention to the more interesting brother, his eyes twinkling with unmasked fascination.