Chapter 1

It was too much. Alora couldn’t think straight. Caution and any sense of morality had long been discarded for the wet sounds of slapping flesh and her tightening core.

Frost coated the stone railing under her fingertips and danced around Alora in purple snowflakes as she bent over the balustrade, nails scraping the stone as he drove, harder, deeper. Hands splayed across her hips, anchoring her as a thick cock drove into her from behind with merciless precision. The black gown she’d been wearing was now hastily bunched around her waist, leaving her ass bare and her breasts to hang freely, her taut nipples grazing the railing with each thrust.

It was too much. Alora was going mad. Each thrust made her knees buckle, but his grip kept her pitched forward, ass high, her gown bunched at her waist in a spill of rich onyx silk. Her thighs were slick with her own liquid. The raw ice magic coiling inside of her stomach was growing stronger, crackling and snapping, demanding more. This was the man she needed, the only man that could satisfy her.

She glanced behind her wanting to see her companion, but the lights from the ballroom leaking out onto the dark balcony obscured his face. All Alora caught sight of was the wedge of broad, dark shoulders straining the seams of a gold-trimmed uniform with an ouroboros brooch fastened to his lapel.

Turning back, Alora burrowed her head into her elbow as another moan worked its way up her throat. Frost spread along Alora’s arms. But the cold did nothing to chill her, not with the man’s body caging her in—not with his fire magic pressing down against her, his heat, his grunting breath, the obscene thickness of him inside her. The friction inside her was relentless, every slap of flesh echoing not just in her ears but through her entire body, the rhythm so intoxicating that she was sure this would be the end of her.

“Ahh!”

Alora’s toes curled; the sound escaping her before she could stop it. From the corner of her eye, the magic snowflakes evaporated with a hiss. Red bangs, the color of blood, tickled her cheek. And a low, pleasant voice breathed against her ear.

“You’ll want to be quiet; if you don’t want to be found.” One of the hands spread across her ass moved to her breast. He took a hardened nipple between two calloused fingers, rolling the nub. “Not that I particularly mind.”

Alora bit back a moan at the slow, deep voice.

“Please. I-I want it.”

A pleased rumble that could have been a chuckle vibrated through Alora’s back as the man pressed his forehead to her shoulder. Hot breath blew across her neck. Magic flickered and crackled.

“If you only knew how long I’ve waited.”

The words held a weight that Alora couldn’t understand. Before she could form a coherent question, the body covering hers shifted, pressing against her fully. Alora’s spine arched. Strong fingers gripped her chin, turning her head towards the side.

Alora’s breath caught, and it was like she forgot how to breathe as she met a pair of yellow cat-like eyes flecked with gold. His gaze burned beacons in the darkness of the balcony. His fingers tightened around her jaw, the strength in them only tempered enough not to hurt her. His slitted irises shook as he stared into her with a ferocity and desire that made it feel like she’d be burned.

Warm breath that tasted like wine brushed her lips. “From now on, I’m not going to hold back anymore.”

Light flickered in his golden cat-like eyes like flames.

The man leaned in. And heat seared her as his lips pressed against her.

Teeth scraped her ear, and Alora came with fire in her veins.

‘Crack!’

Glass shattered. The bathroom shook. And the vision of the night sky, yellow-eyed man and smell of musk dissolved like a spell cut off abruptly.

Alora’s eyes snapped open, heart pounding as she was thrown out of her dream and back into the bathroom now covered in a sheer coating of ice. Purple delphinium magic fogged the air, replacing the steam from the water with frost. Stalactites hung like glimmering diamonds from the magic lamps, and the wrought iron mirror above the marble sink was shattered into a fissure of spider webs.

Alora stood horrified at the destruction. Her mind couldn’t comprehend it. She had never lost control of her magic before. Even during the darkest days of the war, Alora had kept her magic in check.

The sound of pounding footsteps came from the other side of the bathroom door, and the wood shook as it was flung open. A young maid stood in the doorway, hands raised. Her breathing was hard and face flushed with anger. Dark green magic coated her palms like gloves.

Millie’s light brown eyes darted around the bathroom. “My Lady! I’m here! I won’t let those demons –“ Millie’s words cut off. Her mouth parted in shock as she processed the scene.

Alora’s stomach twisted. Her lips parted. “Millie.”

Before Alora could finish, Millie rushed forward and grabbed her by the shoulders. “My lady, are you hurt? I knew it! Olgen was planning this all along. It was a trap!”

“No.”

“They were doing this to sabotage the negotiations!”

“Millie, no –“

“They had someone sneak in to assassinate you and start the war all over again!”

“Millie!” Alora pinched Millie’s freckled cheeks. “Enough.”

“S-sorry.”

Alora sighed. She let her maid go and stepped back, brushing her hands against her corset as tingles ran through her fingers. “I’m not hurt and no one snuck in.”

“Huh?”

Alora swiped a trembling hand through her black hair, and glanced at the fractured mirror. The image reflected there was of a young woman with flushed pasty skin, dressed in a corset, breasts full and popping out of the garment like squeezed pumpkins. The ache of a headache built in the back of Alora’s skull.

She pursed her lips. “I wasn’t thinking is all,” Alora said, turning from the mirror. “Can you clean this up? I need to get ready for the dinner.”

“Right,” Millie stuttered.

Alora ignored Millie’s confused gaze. She stepped around Millie and back out the door into the bedroom. A faint scent of pine and hiss of melting ice indicated that Millie’s magic was at work. Forest green smoke followed after Alora, and as it brushed against her skin, a wave of discomfort came over her.

Alora covered her mouth and staggered towards the canopy bed. Her stomach twisted. She grabbed onto the poster and stood, breathing heavily as the dizziness passed.

Whatever was happening to her was concerning. It was as though she were suddenly sensitive to magic. But Alora had never been affected by Millie’s magic or anyone’s power before. Another unusual symptom since arriving in the demon kingdom.

Alora let out a shaky breath and sunk down onto the edge of the bed. Her onyx silk gown was spread out across the dark sheets of the large bed. That was something else strange Alora had noticed since arriving at the demon castle.

The way the demon king was treating their party was unusual. Not that he was unkind, in fact that was the concerning part. He was overly kind to diplomats that had only a year before been his nation's enemy.

Alora pressed her lips into a thin line as she took in the room. Everything felt opulent, as if meant for a guest of royal lineage. The bedroom was large, a gothic masterpiece of shadow and elegance. A huge canopy bed took up the majority of the room, its dark mahogany frame carved with intricate designs of roses and thorns. The walls were draped in heavy velvet curtains, and a grand chandelier hung from the vaulted ceiling.

Above the headboard was a large painting of a demon and demoness twisted in sexual desire, their bodies entwined in a tangle of limbs.

Even not having a background in art, Alora could tell it was a magnificent piece. The expressions and lighting capturing the urgency and need between the pair.

She licked her lips as her gaze followed up the male’s exposed torso up to the hard angles of his face and the dark red hair that was the same color as the man from her dream.

Alora’s face heated as realization hit her like a slap. She tore her gaze away from the painting. She didn’t know what had gotten into her. Alora had never been prone to visions or fantasies before. Since when had she become so deviant? And not only that, but the man she saw herself with – Alora dropped her head into her hands in embarrassment.

No way!

There was absolutely no possible way that person would want to do any of those perverted things with her. He hated humans, and had only spared her life because he thought Alora was a disgrace. She was crazy to imagine being with the demon general in any romantic or sexual relationship. Even if it was only sexual, there was no way that man would want to be with her.

Her eyes closed, and Alora was pulled back into her memories.