93Devotion and Desire
Chapter 2
Hello again readers. Here is chapter two please let me know what you think about it.
I'll let you know what I think; I think this needs a beta. It's hard to correct and critique your own work.
Like nothing he ever experienced before, an ancient magic took hold of him and gripped him tight, almost painfully so. The power was continually hitting him full force before he was no longer in the garden with his family, he was transported to his mate.
Marcus was simply astounded.
One moment he was in a vortex of chaos and power and now… now there was peace. It was an eerie silence after the confusion of the 'Calling', the transportation.
Marcus didn't have a clue as to where he was but he knew that the sleeping woman in front of him was his mate. He could barely take his eyes off the quiet form to look around the room, which wasn't safe. A demon of his status must always be aware of his surroundings.
But at this moment, his ranking didn't matter. All he was aware of was the scent that assaulted him. Taking her scent into his lungs, he was overcome with the smell of mangos. Her delicious perfume was all he needed to know. "This is her" he thought. "After all these years, finally"
While Marcus would never admit it aloud he was embarrassed that his Quivering had taken centuries to occur and he was beginning to wonder if Fate chose a solitary existence for him. But no, long at last Fate chose this being twisted in her own sheets to be his mate.
His human mate.
Human mates weren't uncommon among the demon population but they were for his bloodline. His family always had demon mates and full- blooded demon children but now… Now is a good time for change. Marcus decided, unwilling to entertain the fact that she would not be accepted by either his family or the council that helped with the ruling of the kingdom. The council was going to give him problems, he knew that immediately, they were just a bunch of demons giving their opinion when no one wishes for it.
Kill them spoke a voice in his head Take what is yours and kill all who threaten our mate.
His beast was angry and more forceful than usual on this night. It did not like these thoughts about others rejecting their mate and frankly either did Marcus.
I will handle any opposition to our mate. He assured his beast, trying to calm it. A rumble of discontent was his only response.
Marcus snapped out of his thoughts when the creature before him stirred, sending mango filled air into his being. It was then he realized he voiced his displeasure with a soft growl.
He was unconsciously leaning closer towards her from his position at the foot of her bed but at her movement he straightened and blinked a few times to get his bearings. Marcus looked around him and noted that his mate slept in a small room with a single window that was closed and the curtains drawn.
Surprisingly, the Demon Prince noticed another occupant sleeping across the room from his mate. Slightly frustrated with his lack of attention, he immediately extended a large hand and cast a spell over himself and his sleeping human. His power ensured their privacy; no one would be able to see them, giving Marcus ample time to study his mate.
He crept around to the side of the bed, careful not to step on several items left on the floor. She was facing towards him with one arm tucked under her pillow leaving her smooth neck exposed. The air in his body left him in a whosh as he saw his mate's profile.
He quickly put every detail of her face into memory; the curve of her rounded cheeks, the slight bump of her nose, her full, parted lips tempting him to lick his own. He leisurely ran his eyes over her curved form hidden underneath a rumpled sheet.
Marcus watched her chest slowly rise and fall, as her eyes moved beneath her closed lids as she dreamed. She had a youthful looking face but from what he could ascertain of her figure it was one of a mature woman; he could guess her age to be about late teens, early twenties.
Her smooth features caused havoc on his body and the sight of her brown hair falling all over her pillow made him quite aware of to his beast's reaction to her. Painful arousal. The front of his pants quickly became tight with need as a surge of feelings coursed through him.
Never before had he felt such chaos in his being and vaguely he registered that he disliked not having a solid grip of his emotions. As his father taught him, that could be deadly.
Focus! He told himself pushing away all unwanted thoughts. Marcus knew he couldn't waste this time this night. He must find a way to protect his mate. He must bond with her, the Quivering instinct was riding him hard to do so.
One touch was all he needed to start the Acknowledgement , the most preliminary stage of the mating ritual. In this step a demon's beast recognizes the other as a mate and unleashes its inner most magic, magic only accessed to a mated demon. Once started this would allow him to bond with her and start the mating ritual. Bonding would allow a more intimate connection and permit him to act as her guardian. But he can't go that far tonight, not with a mortal mate.
A female demon would not mind being woken up by her new found mate and would gladly bond with him even before names could be exchanged. A mortal woman would definitely mind.
Staring down at his mate Marcus made another comparison, female demons were notoriously graceful creatures even in their sleep. But not this human. No, she was on her back spread across the bed, with one knee bent and her arms were twisted in a way that looked painful.
She was certainly not graceful as a she-demon.
With a small, satisfied smile Marcus continued to gaze at his little mate. He certainly didn't care if he had to wait to fully bond with her, looking down at the curve of her hips and the swell of her breasts, he knew his patience would be worth it if he was allowed to claim this body.
Entranced by her allure Marcus removed her blanket with a quick expel of magic, desperate to see her body. Both Marcus and the beast growled at the sight of pale, exposed skin.
She wore an over-sized shirt that swamped slender shoulders and shorts that revealed a good amount of her legs. He properly took in her form and found himself pleased. She was not rail thin, as was popular in today's age, but a healthy woman with mouthwatering curves. It must be that she was his mate that he approved of her body to such a painful extent (his pants really were hurting him).
She emitted an allure that drew him in, much like a siren, and without conscious thought he noticed his hand extend closer to his sleeping mate.
He slowly stretched his hand over her bared neck, getting closer to the source of her unique aroma. His sharp eyes were able to locate the thick vein the side of her throat. He could feel the warmth of her skin as her pulse beat loudly in his sensitive ears.
The Quivering instinct joined his beast's fierce demands to touch her smooth skin. Marcus held back in order to give their mate a slight mental push to remain asleep; he could not respect her human boundaries if she were to wake up now while his emotions were brutally chaotic.
With a surge of excitement, the Demon Prince cupped the back of her neck and pressed his thumb against her pulse.
Instantly, white-hot energy surged into every fiber of his body. He sensed the raw power of the Quivering but now all this power was his to keep. Looking back on this night Marcus would describe the feeling of this first touch to be nothing short of earth-shattering.
He started the Acknowledgement and his beast was reacting. Within his consciousness, he was aware of the creature growing, evolving itself in preparation of their mate. His senses, already acute, became impossibly sharp; he could hear leaves rustling outside, feel the life force of other humans in the area yet his entire being was focused on his mate's soft breathing, could only feel her pounding heart. He was drowning in her heady scent.
Right now his beast had total control of his consciousness. It filled Marcus' mind with lustful desires and protective instincts. His beast was prepared to allow Marcus access to its power so he could defend his right to mate and to care for their chosen in any way needed.
Eventually Marcus let out one long breath as an indication that the Acknowledgement passed. The now, fully matured beast rumbled in satisfaction and relinquished control back to Marcus. It was completely docile now that its life companion was close. Only with a compatible mate would the beast react in such a way and it made itself very clear, that they had found their perfect mate. Thank Fate.
Marcus breathed heavily; everything was different all his sensory perceptions were dramatically altered. He could feel his new power rippling underneath his skin and frankly it was frightening.
Looking down at his mate, Marcus found that his thumb was idly tracing circles on her neck. The sight of her lifeblood housed by fragile, human skin mesmerized him, the two contrasts of feminine flesh verses masculine strength held his attention. She is so soft, he thought with satisfaction.
His mate unconsciously stretched into his hand and he quickly jerked away before his baser instincts reacted to the temptation.
Male satisfaction stretched his lips when she made a soft sound of discomfort at the loss of his touch. He was immensely pleased to know that on some level she recognized him. "My mate," he whispered reverently, grateful beyond words for his little human.
Marcus needed to leave since he could go no further this night with a mortal mate but an ache bloomed in his chest at the thought of separating from her. Gritting his teeth, the Demon Prince strengthened his resolve to respect her privacy. He traced a series of slashes into the air to perform a powerful protection spell. Almost like a bubble around her, Marcus would know when danger was near his mate. Instantly he noticed the difference in his power level, he now preformed the spell with little thought and with greater effect than he ever had before. A gift from his beast to protect their mate.
Marcus leaned down towards his life mate, taking a deep breath, trying to forever remember her wonderful scent. With the barest of touches he kissed her forehead and murmured "Thank you for this wonderful birthday." He tucked her back under the covers and with that he disappeared from the room.
Okay so I know there are mistakes in here and I might have written things weird but here is chapter 2. Please tell me what you think
Alkedema