When a Princess of Hell found a dragon egg, she nurtured it till it hatched. Asher has been a loyal guard and servant since then. Both have convinced themselves that their mutual affection is nothing more than platonic. When she goes missing, the truth of that is tested. **All Stories Posted to "The Imperium Chronicles" Page**
After some rest, a dragon needs to do dragon things...
(using the moodboard I made a few days ago...cuz I can)
“Ash, I want you, whatever condition you’re in.” She held up her hand and watched him slide the ring on, as tears made slow tracks down her face, the happiest tears she could ever remember crying. “You are my best friend, my love, my everything, now and always. No one else, just you. .” Their fingers intertwined and she had to keep looking at the brilliant white gold ring that had a dragon wrapped around the princess cut diamond. It, just like him, was absolutely perfect.
Asher’s heart had thundered in his chest at Kaylin’s words, but it couldn’t keep his eyes open. “My eternal princess, you are my very life.” His words were a bit slurred, as he brought her hand to his lips to kiss the back of it. The relief of knowing she was safe, that she loved him, and more so that she wanted to be his wife as much as he wanted her to be, only served to relax him, not awaken him more. While Kaylin’s friends and family had done much to heal him, there were some things his body had to do on its own and to do it, he needed rest. So with her in his arms, the soft feel of her head on his chest, and their hands still entwined, he slipped into a peaceful sleep.
Kaylin knew the moment he had slipped into that sleep as well. While there was so much she wanted to talk to him about, so much that was rattling around in her brain, she also knew that her brave and strong dragon had endured much that day. The evidence of it was still all over the clothes that were scattered about the bathroom floor, staining them a bright yellow. She was just thankful that he was there in the bed with her and not still down in the infirmary in worse shape. The amount of healing power that had to be used to accomplish that was great, and she was thankful to every one of those who had contributed.
In the dim light, her eyes once more fell to the ring on her finger. She was afraid to close her own eyes, lest this all be a dream and she would wake up back in her father’s castle with her love chained in the dungeon still being tortured. That was an irrational fear and she knew that, yet her heart still clutched and buried at just the thought. No matter how many more centuries she lived, the image of him hanging there would never leave her, which made him more precious to her.
Closing her eyes and laying her head upon his chest where she could hear the strong and steady beats of his hearts, Kaylin slowly started to relax herself. There would be more days for them to talk about things, more time for them to celebrate not only escaping and surviving her father, but their coming future.. Nothing on her mind was so important that it could not wait until they both were more rested. While she had not endured the abuse Asher had, she had still taken a beating from her father. The jewelry her grandfather had given her had only revived her to a degree, so she too needed rest. So, with that in mind, she allowed herself to relax in the safety and warmth of Asher’s embrace and slip into the silken bonds of sleep as well.
*****
It was after dusk had settled when Asher awoke. He could feel Kaylin’s even breathing and knew her to be in deep sleep. Now rested and further healed, he, however, needed to shift and ensure that everything in his dragon form was as it should be. However, he did not wish to rouse Kaylin from her rest. She too had been injured by Damien, not to mention the emotions that had taken their toll on her. So with the utmost caution, he slid from the bed and left her sleeping. Once he was sure it was safe to fly about the castle, he would leave clear indication where he went so that when she woke, she would not be worried.
After quickly dressing in enough clothes as to be decent, Asher mysted down to the legion garrison within the Palace complex. The last thing he needed was to take to wing only to have the guards attack him. Being healed twice in one day was not something on his agenda. Not to mention that Kaylin might lose all sense of herself and begin taking out her cousin’s warriors that would most likely be needed to face off against Damien soon enough. Best to just make a quick visit, let them know it would be he in the sky, and then go see if she had awoken yet.
Just as he figured, no one in the garrison had any issue with him flying about the Palace, and he got an extra warning about the reinforced wards which if he exited might prevent him from getting back within the Palace without summoning Abriella or Cruz, both of whom were currently occupied. Not that they couldn’t be reached or summoned, but there would be a delay until they were free. He was thankful for this information and promised to stay within the wards, best for everyone involved. It also made it easier if he was not fully healed and needed to quickly land.
Once his visit was complete, he mysted back up to the suite he was sharing with Kaylin. She had not moved since he’d left and seeing her resting on the satin bedding made his heart clench. So peaceful in her sleep, she looked all the princess that she was, and he once more felt that he did not measure up to the man that she deserved. Yet, there upon her finger, was the engagement ring he had so proudly placed, with Cruz’s blessing, just a few hours prior. Whatever deity he had pleased, he was forever thankful for it.
Asher’s hand dropped from where he’d had his arms crossed over his chest to gently move some hair off of her face, caressing her cheek as he did. There was still part of him that felt like this was a hallucination of his dying brain back in that cell in Damien’s castle. How long had his love for her burned like an ember in his chest, held down by what was proper for his station in the castle, only to now find that the feeling had been mutual. Before he’d felt a fool for desiring her, now he felt a fool for not having confronted her about it earlier. He would not let that diminish the moment now though. One last look at his beloved before he stepped back to let the curtains surrounding the bed close to keep the warmth in and the light out.
Walking over to the balcony, he pulled back those curtains, then opened the double french doors out onto the balcony to the rooms. Stepping out into the din light of twilight, he breathed in the fresh air, clearing out the smell of blood and gore that had seemed to compete in him with the sweet smell of Kaylin’s perfume. Now the jasmine that Abriella kept in the garden wrapped around him like a fragrant blanket to drive out the horrors of the start of the day from his memory. Home. This was now home and those within the walls of this Palace would become his kin. Thanks be to the Source.
Closing his eyes and stretching out his arms to his side, he shifted into his large dragon form as easily as he breathed. Circling in the air over the gardens, he rose to the top of a parapet and took perch. He stretched his wings out, inspecting to make sure there were no tears or damage. Once he was satisfied, he once more took to the air, relishing the fresh air and the sense of freedom once more.
When the sun shines, we'll shine together
Told you I'll be here forever
Said I'll always be your friend
Took an oath, I'ma stick it out to the end
Now that it's raining more than ever
Know that we'll still have each other
You can stand under my umbrella
WARNINGS - mention of blood, mention of wound, spice
After Asher was through the door, the full weight of what Lucifer had said hit him and he leaned back against the heavy wood of the door for support. Had Kaylin truly thought that he would in any way blame her for what happened? As he tried to figure out why, he realized it was probably the same reason that he felt guilt that he hadn’t done more to try and protect her. They loved one another and failing to protect the one you loved always brought guilt. He’d always been able to get between them before, but seeing what Damien had done to her when she’d made it down to that cell had gutted him and caused a pain that was worse than what had been done to his back. He’d die for Kaylin.
As he stood there, he could hear the shower off of Kaylin’s bedroom and headed in that direction, dropping the clothes he was holding on the couch in her bedroom. He’d been in the suite numerous times when they’d stayed at the Palace both before and after Lucifer had been dethroned. The rooms so familiar, he almost didn’t need to have his eyes open to know where to step.
At the door to the bathroom, he leaned against the doorframe, his heart breaking as he saw Kaylin leaned up against the wall of the walk in shower, head bowed, obviously crying. Asher hated that she’d been so broken and he’d been able to do nothing to stop it, but he also was aware that neither of them could have done a damn thing to stop it once Damien had set things in motion. Time to comfort the only woman who had ever had his heart. Stripping, with some effort and more than a little pain, he headed over to join her.
You have my heart
And we'll never be worlds apart
Maybe in magazines
But you'll still be my star
Baby, 'cause in the dark
You can't see shiny cars
And that's when you need me there
With you, I'll always share
Because
Kaylin was still trying to get her head wrapped around everything that had happened at her father’s castle when she felt strong arms wrap around her from behind. Startled, she took a deep gasp of air, before the scent of smoke and spice wrapped around her and was as comforting as the feel of the arms themselves. Why he wasn’t down in the infirmary resting and making sure that their friends had healed everything, she didn’t know. For a moment her head fell back against his strong chest and she just relished his strength around her, her comfort.
Turning in his arms, Kaylin looked up into those greenish hazel eyes she adored so much. “What are you doing here?”
The instant widening of his eyes and loosening of his grip around her waist told her instantly had misinterpreted what she meant. Quickly her arms went around his waist as she worked to clarify, the last thing she wanted to do was hurt his soul as her father had so injured his body. “Shouldn’t you still be down in the infirmary resting.” The dark circles under his eyes worried her. “I was going to come down when I…” Her hand reached up shakily to cup the side of his face as her brain tried to figure out what she was going to say.
Kaylin wasn’t even sure what to say she was going to do in that minute. Stop blaming herself? Stop feeling sorry for herself? Got her head on straight? She wasn’t sure, so she let that hang there as she continued. “I just had to get the blood off of me. Yours, mine, ours.” Her thumb ran over his cheekbone where a dark pink, ugly mark showed where a wound had recently healed; the scene in the cell when she’d lifted his head up flashing in her mind, how scared she’d been that she was too late. Her heart ached as she looked up at him.
Her first question had been like a slap in the face to Asher whose nerves were so frayed that he hadn’t even considered she could mean anything but the rebuke that Lucifer had insinuated. When Kaylin had clarified, he had been able to start relaxing and accept that Luc had just been testing him, and that the woman he loved with his whole soul didn’t hate him. “You think I wanted to stay down there with them fussing over me?” One side of his mouth rose, his arms tightening around her to pull her closer once more. The feel of having her in his arms meant that this was real and not some illusion his mind was creating in a delirium. “And I want all of this blood off too.” He turned them so they were both under the warm spray of water. A loud hiss came from him when it hit his back, his eyes closing momentarily as he steeled himself against the sting he hadn’t expected. It might be mostly healed, but that didn’t mean the skin wasn’t sensitive as fuck.
“I needed to see you Kay, to make sure you were okay. To make sure you’re safe.” His head lowered till their foreheads were touching. When he’d seen the bruises and cuts on her face from her father, he’d wanted to gut Damien himself. He’d never felt so useless as he had in that dungeon; now he wanted to make all that up to her, even if none of it was truly his fault. “I was going crazy down there not knowing how you were, and you not being there…after seeing what he did to you…” His eyes closed, his hands gently running over her back. He’d been barely conscious when they landed in the Palace, and remembered little of what happened in the gardens. Her not being there when he woke up in the infirmary had terrified him. It had taken more than one Horseman and a few fallen to keep him there.
When the sun shine, we shine together
Told you I'll be here forever
Said I'll always be your friend
Took an oath, I'ma stick it out to the end
Now that it's raining more than ever
Know that we'll still have each other
You can stand under my umbrella
You can stand under my umbrella, -ella, -ella, eh, eh, eh
Under my umbrella, -ella, -ella, eh, eh, eh
Under my umbrella, -ella, -ella, eh, eh, eh
Under my umbrella, -ella, -ella, eh, eh, eh, eh, eh-eh
“Ash…” Kaylin’s voice was soft as she brought her lips to his. She could see his emotions playing out across his face and they almost mirrored her own. She had been so scared for him, but she’d known that she would only be in the way down in the infirmary. Trying to stand by and watch them work on him with his blood, so much blood, on her hands and arms had just kept bringing fresh waves of fear and worry. It was what had convinced her to let her grandfather bring her to her suite to get cleaned up. She was going to be useless till her head was on straight, she still wasn’t sure that it was. Now here he was, not able to stay away from her either.
“You’re not getting rid of me that easily.” Her voice was barely above a whisper as their lips parted. Her eyes fluttering open to look back into his again. Until she thought she’d lost him, she didn’t realize exactly how much she loved him. “I didn’t wait this long to finally know you wanted me like I did you, just to let you go so quickly.” Tears again pricked at her eyes. How long had they danced around one another without either one professing their love for each other in a way other than platonic.
One of Asher’s hands left her back to brace against the wall, his head starting to swim, but he didn’t want to step away from her. “I’m not letting you go either, Kay. But, I’m losing the battle against exhaustion.” His lips ghosted over hers, the softest of kisses as he focused just on staying standing. It had been his sheer stubbornness and need to see her that had kept him upright before; but now that he knew she was alright, his body was failing and needed rest. “Ready to get out?” One side of his mouth raised, trying to keep things lighter and not let them go down the dark path of what *could have been* back at her father’s castle.
These fancy things
Will never come in between
You're part of my entity
Here for infinity
When the war has took its part
When the world has dealt its cards
If the hand is hard
Together we'll mend your heart
Because
Kaylin reached over and turned off the water, then told Asher to stay there and use the wall to help him stay up. She knew that if she tried to help him walk, they might fall. She still wasn’t too steady herself, but knew that the jewelry her grandfather had gifted her had eased the damage she had received. Easier to take one thing at a time, there was no reason to rush at this point. After she got herself dried off, she secured the towel around her chest and between her breasts and then grabbed one for Asher. It was then it even occurred to her that they’d both just been naked. She’d been so worried about him, and he about her, that neither of them had even seemed to notice. Now as she returned to him, she couldn’t help but notice, and appreciate his form from behind.
Once she made it back over to him, she helped him dry off. Of the two of them, she was in better shape. How he was even standing still mystified her. Standing before him again, she had him let go of the wall and hold onto her, then she traced them into the bedroom, next to the bed. They both needed rest, and neither of them were willing to be separated again. After helping him into the bed on his back so it wasn’t twisted, she went and pulled the drapes of the room closed to leave the room barely illuminated in a soft light then she returned to him and slid in next to him, laying on her side to face him and pulling the blankets over them to fight off the slight chill in the room.
“Ash…” Kaylin waited till he was looking at her, “I’m sorry I didn’t just bring us here when we decided that we wanted to be together. I should have known grandad would be on our side.” There was regret etched on every line and curve of her face, it almost seemed to pull the sides of her eyes down with it. Her heart hurt knowing that if she hadn’t put him off and just skipped the meeting with Xavier, her father would not have had the chance to hurt the man she loved.
“None of that. We could *what if* it all night, but it changes nothing. We made it here, and I’m not leaving you, no matter what happens. Kay,” he reached up and ran the backs of his fingers over the petal soft skin of her cheek, “I love you. I’ve always loved you. Nothing is going to change that.” Asher hated seeing the guilt on her face, like she’d done something wrong. “And I’m going to do everything I can now to make sure that you are protected. I can’t lose you.” His fingers slipped behind her neck to pull her to him for a kiss.
“I love you too, Ash.” She replied when their lips finally parted again. “I have for a long time, I was just scared you didn’t feel the same.” Her eyes dropped to his chest. “I knew about the other women…” it was an admission that she hated to make. He’d kept his sex life completely private, but their rooms had been joined by a door and sometimes accidents happened and she had almost walked in on him with someone else in his bed. Her eyes rose back to his, “and I was so jealous…” She could feel the heat creeping up into her cheeks. It seemed a slightly humorous admission now that she was the one laying in the bed naked with him. Even if neither of them was remotely in the mood for sex at the moment.
Asher’s brow rose, how the fuck did she know? He had been so careful, every single time. Not because of Kaylin necessarily, but he wanted his private life just that, private. “You did, huh? Kind of like I know about the Generals?” He assumed it was the same way, that damn door between the rooms. A door that was not soundproof. The fact her cheeks were now flaming red answered his question.
“Too bad you never told me you were jealous.” He did wonder how much she’d seen as he pulled her tight against his side. “You would have learned a secret that they never knew….” He watched as the eleven lines between her brows deepened. A smirk formed on his lips as he watched her trying to figure out what he was talking about. His hand cupping the back of her neck, he brought her ear near his lips. “It wasn’t their face I saw when I closed my eyes, it was yours.”
When the sun shine, we shine together
Told you I'll be here forever
Said I'll always be your friend
Took an oath, I'ma stick it out to the end
Now that it's raining more than ever
Know that we'll still have each other
You can stand under my umbrella
You can stand under my umbrella, -ella, -ella, eh, eh, eh
Under my umbrella, -ella, -ella, eh, eh, eh
Under my umbrella, -ella, -ella, eh, eh, eh
Under my umbrella, -ella, -ella, eh, eh, eh, eh, eh-eh
For a moment, Kaylin just froze there in his arms. Part of her wanted to call him a liar, but she knew he wasn’t. He was being honest. “Then count me a fool for taking you for granted for too long, Ash. But I won’t ever do that again, I love you far too much for that.” She turned her head so their eyes could meet. “When I thought I’d lost you in that cell, I felt like my heart stopped.” Her hand gently cupped his jaw. “No matter what we have to face from here on out, I always want you at my side.”
“You’re making me wish I’d pressed you earlier.” Asher smirked, currently kicking himself for not. “Maybe I should send Xavier a thank you gift, for getting us to finally talk about shit.” There was a tightness in his chest. He hated talking about feelings, but as much as she thought she’d lost him, Lucifer’s words outside her suite had just completely gutted him till he’d told the truth. He couldn’t lose her either. “You’re never going to have to face anything, not one single thing, without me there for you Kaylin. You never did. I do have another admission…” He let it hang there for a minute, the tightness in his chest getting worse. It was the other reason that he wanted to get to Kaylin, one that he hadn’t told Lucifer.
You can run into my arms
It's okay, don't be alarmed
Come into me
There's no distance in between our love
So gonna let the rain pour
I'll be all you need and more
Because
“If it’s like the last one, I am very interested to hear.” An affectionate smile lit up Kaylin’s face. She still wasn’t sure how they reached this point after so long of dancing around one another, but she wasn’t going to question. She was too thankful to the Source that they were here.
“It’s a little different.” He admitted and pulled her in for a soft kiss as he gathered his courage. Meeting her inquisitive gaze afterwards, “I talked to your cousin, Cruz.” He watched as her eyes started to widen. Calling on his own magic, he manifested a ring from his hoard, yes all dragons have one, and held it up where she could see. “Seems he has no problem with a Princess and a dragon marrying, and even offered to perform the ceremony. If you still want this battered and bruised dragon. Kay, I don’t ever want you to doubt again just how much you mean.”
It hadn’t even occurred to her to talk to her grandfather about the possibility of a wedding, let alone to approach her cousins. She’d been so wrapped up in what had happened, but it only reinforced how serious Asher was about everything. Here she had been the one that had promised to talk to them, and he took the initiative and already had a blessing.
“Ash, I want you, whatever condition you’re in.” She held up her hand and watched him slide the ring on, as tears made slow tracks down her face, the happiest tears she could ever remember crying. “You are my best friend, my love, my everything, now and always. No one else, just you. .” Their fingers intertwined and she had to keep looking at the brilliant white gold ring that had a dragon wrapped around the princess cut diamond. It, just like him, was absolutely perfect.
When the sun shine, we shine together
Told you I'll be here forever
Said I'll always be your friend
Took an oath, I'ma stick it out to the end
Now that it's raining more than ever
Know that we'll still have each other
You can stand under my umbrella
You can stand under my umbrella, -ella, -ella, eh, eh, eh
Under my umbrella, -ella, -ella, eh, eh, eh
Under my umbrella, -ella, -ella, eh, eh, eh
Under my umbrella, -ella, -ella, eh, eh, eh, eh, eh-eh
A confrontation in the hallway has the potential for getting ugly...
TW - mention of blood and passing mention of trauma, nothing graphic on either
Lucifer had stayed with Kaylin till most of the tears and shaking had stopped. He had helped her go through the closets and make sure that any clothing that she would need was in the suite. If she had needed anything, he would have gone wherever topside was currently daylight to buy her whatever she needed or wanted. He was worried about her, a feeling he was not used to. The feeling of helplessness to ease the ache in her heart or calm her troubled mind bothered him more than anything had in centuries. Finally, with an assurance that she was going to get a shower and then rest, calling to the kitchen whenever she was ready for food, Lucifer left. He promised to go straight to check on Asher in the infirmary, returning as soon as he could.
It turned out that he would not have to go far to find out the dragon’s condition. He had barely shut the door behind him when he saw Asher, one arm over Arioch’s shoulders, just two doors down in the hallway slowly making his way towards where Lucifer now stood. “Shouldn’t you be down in the infirmary?”
“Don’t argue with him. He’ll try to shift and we have to start healing again. He’s a stubborn bastard.” Arioch chuckled. The two males were friends, so he was no doubt teasing the dragon. There was a touch of seriousness to the fallen’s face though, indicating that probably at least once that had happened in the infirmary.
“I only did it once and that’s because you all were poking my ass with shit.” Asher growled and shook his head, closing his eyes and giving a wry smile. Then he looked at Lucifer. “If you think they’re going to keep me in a bed down there, when she’s down here alone after all that happened with Damien, then you obviously have forgotten who I am, old man. I can rest down here making sure she’s safe.” His gaze didn’t waver from Lucifer’s, even as the fallen’s brow rose. The truth was, it wasn’t just about keeping her safe, he NEEDED to be near her. While he knew that she was safe in the Palace, he needed to feel her in his arms again after what they’d just been through. Being away from her was causing him a physical pain in his chest that he couldn’t quite explain.
“And what if she doesn’t want to see you?” Lucifer was testing him. With how fragile Kaylin’s psyche was, he wasn’t going to take any chance if Asher blamed her at all for what Damien had done to him.
His words brought Asher to a stop, and the male swallowed. “She blames me?” The pain laced through his voice was palpable as his eyes closed and there was a tear forming in one eye. His breath stuttered, his eyes closed, his head fell, and his grip on Arioch tightened.
Arioch looked stunned at Lucifer, sure that HE hadn’t heard his brother correctly. As much as Asher had been a pain in the ass in the infirmary, it had been clear it was only because there was a drive to get back to Kaylin. No one had thought that she wouldn’t want to see him. In fact, Mithos and Arch had ended up doing some of their best work to get him up and moving so he could. All Arioch could do was look at Lucifer as if he’d once more grown a second head.
At that moment, Asher was wishing that Kaylin had left him in the cell, at least then all of the pain would be over. Taking a deep shaking breath, Asher raised his head and looked at Lucifer. Before the fallen was a dragon defeated. “She told me she loved me before she freed me, I thought she’d forgiven me for failing to protect her. Maybe love can’t overcome what happened. I do love her, Luc. I’ve always loved her. Make sure she knows that.” His jaw clenched, his breath once more stuttered and he started to take a step backwards, not sure where he was going to go now.
“Or she thinks you blame her.” Lucifer’s voice was haughty, even a little condescending, and it was taking all he had not to admit the truth to the male before him. He was sure if Asher told his granddaughter about this exchange she would light him up later for it, but he had to be sure, after what her own father had done. Seeing the effect his further words had on Asher made him regret them all, as the dragon seemed to almost crumple. He had no doubt that only Arioch was holding Asher up, and the male seemed completely lost. Kaylin would skin him if in trying to protect her he caused Asher to leave, or hurt him further, so it was time for his test of the male to end. “Asher, she does love you, and is scared for the damage her father did to you. She is scared you do not want her and blame her for it all. She is terrified you will now reject her.”
Slowly Asher’s head came up to look at Lucifer in the same manner that Arioch still was. He was pretty sure he’d misheard Lucifer somehow. How could she think that? What could he have ever done to make her think he would not want her? Or blame her? “Blame her for what? She fucking saved my life, Luc. I still don’t know how, but by The Source she was gorgeous and brutal as she assassinated the guard. Her strength, she fucking carried me out of that cell... What did her father say to her to make her think I would ever not want her?” His voice lowered almost to a growl, causing Arioch’s grip on him to tighten out of fear the male was about to do something stupid, and they’d have to start the healing all over again. It wouldn’t be the first time, and at the present Asher was in no shape to do anything more than kill a fly.
Lucifer raised one hand, stopping things from deteriorating and possibly having to deal with a pissed off Arioch and Mithos and Arch and Abriella, which meant Cruz…and getting his ass kicked. “She blames herself for asking you to shift and be human in her bed. In her mind, if she hadn’t done that, she believes that her father would not have hurt you. So, she thinks you’ll blame her and hate her. She’s in showering. As you can see from what has rubbed off on me, she was covered in your blood. You look like you could use one too, why don’t you join her?.” He opened the door to the suite to let Asher in. His expression now was softer, trying to make up for the harshness of his earlier words making sure of Asher’s motives and intentions.
Asher put one hand on the wall and made his way over to Lucifer, his free hand holding the clothes that Thinius had gotten for him. At least he had something clean to change into once he got cleaned up. Once he finally made it to Lucifer, their eyes met. “I LOVE her, Luc. You, of all people, should have known that. I blame her for nothing. And if you doubt me, then say it now. I’m not going to walk around these halls with everyone doubting me, least of all you.” His eyes were downturned and heavy, his shoulders slumped, but there was a determination in his tone that made it clear he was extremely serious.
Lucifer put his hand on Asher’s shoulder, imbuing him with some energy at the same time. “I know, Ash, but with how fragile she is, I had to be sure. Her father will pay for this, and my grandson may be the one who delivers that justice. Go on in before you fall over.” He affectionately rubbed the dragon’s shoulder, knowing that the male would care for Kaylin. Guilt, another emotion that was oft foreign to Lucifer, creeped in on the edges of his emotions. He had added to Asher’s suffering, even if it had been with good intentions.
Asher nodded and headed into the suite with Lucifer closing the door behind him and sighing heavily. He then looked over to Arioch. “Has anything been heard from Damien? I find it hard to believe that he will not come at some point to try and get Kaylin back. With what she said he did to not only her, but to Asher, he is not going to give up until Kaylin is back in his grasp and Asher is dead….or he is. I prefer the latter.”
Arioch’s head shook. “No, he has not yet reached that level of stupidity, yet. However, I do believe he will. Like you, I believe he’ll show up and demand their return to him. I am not sure which of your grandchildren will pay him back for what happened. Abriella isn’t any more happy about it than Cruz is. She is also trying to figure out how to keep six of her best friends from panicking over this. It’s not like going to war on the front lawn of the Palace won’t be messy.”
Lucifer closed his eyes and signed again, Cassandra. “Yes, her friends. I have one of them I need to apologize to and get to know better.” His head lightly nodded. “I cannot say that I am disappointed that the ball was canceled this evening. I’m not sure that I could pretend to enjoy that bullshit tonight. The company of a fine woman, yes. A huge crowd with gaiety, NO.”
Arioch chuckled, “Luc, we all know that you want to see that woman in a dress. All of her friends are stunning. It’s not like you’ve ever turned down a beautiful woman in a fancy dress being on your arm.” His brow rose. “I mean if you don’t want to escort her, I can take that over for you and you can train with the stupid new recruits that Mithos is about to lose his skull over.”
Lucifer rolled his eyes. “I don’t think so, asshole. Besides, last I knew there was a nice little demon in there that had your eye.” He grinned, knowing there was. Not that he could blame Arioch, Marit was a captivating creature. A young likho, she was powerful and very talented. Had Arioch not already had his eye on the female, Lucifer would have already enjoyed the female himself without regret.
Arioch grinned, but didn’t deny it one bit. “I’m not the only one, there was a party for the legion last night. I am hearing rumors that Thenasus’ protege for the ball ended up going home with her Captain. I lost a bet on that one. I think you did too.”
“Do Mithos and Thinnius know?” Lucifer asked, totally amused now as the two males made their way back down the hallway towards the main part of the palace where the rest of the residents were. He had a feeling that Thinius would not be bothered by it, but Mithos seemed to hate Marcellus. Jealousy most likely.
“Not yet. As long as they don’t fuck up and get sloppy, it’s all good. We’re fuckin demons!” Arioch shrugged. “We’ve always done this shit and it’s worked fine. With the new tactics and teaming up with the nephilim, we are in a much better situation than we were under the princes. You can’t argue with that, Luc.” He elbowed the fallen next to him.
“I ended up on a wall, like I can argue my granddaughter is a force of nature. I have no doubt that any army she leads will be fine.” His head shook. As they got closer to the main lounge where most of the inner sanctum of the Palace hung out, Arioch turned off to talk with the others, while Lucifer continued on to meet Cassandra. He had one little stop in his old chambers to grab a gift to get back on her good side, then off to seduce the sorceress that he had no doubt he would find quite enjoyable.
A short piece as Lucifer makes sure that Kaylin get safely to her suite, even if mentally she is a mess..
Lucifer walked the old and empty halls that had once been his residence as he escorted Kaylin to her chambers, their footsteps softly echoing off the stone walls and floors that quietly surrounded them as if a tomb. In a way he guessed that was a fitting comparison. The halls they were walking now were relics of when he had ruled and been King. Just a few short years, yet seemingly a lifetime ago. Now the memories and objects that were within these walls were like funerary objects left to symbolize his reign and celebrate that life.
Kaylin was still trembling next to him as they walked, his arm around her shoulders at times the only thing that kept her upright. He didn’t have to ask what had happened at her father’s castle, he knew. The silver and obsidian pieces that she wore had connected her to him the instant that she had put them on. The rage that was burning within him would not be quenched till his son’s blood flowed like water around him. From his grandson’s reaction to seeing Kaylin and Asher, he would not be the only one to greet Damien with a less than friendly welcome should he show up at the Palace. If he knew his son, and he did all too well, the confrontation would be soon and it would be epic. They should all prepare for war.
Soon they came to the doors of the suite that had always been, and always would be, hers. Everything was as it had been left the last time that she had visited, even though it had been a few years prior. She had come since he had been freed from his confinement on the wall of the ballroom, but had not stayed as she had when he ruled. Their relationship slightly evolving with the fallout with her father due to the rise in power of Abbadon and Abriella at the time. He had feared for her then, and it seemed with very good reason. There were few times when Lucifer hated being right, and this was one of those times.
“Here, my darling, everything is as it should be. Asher will be along shortly, I am sure. Until he is, is there anything you need? Anything at all that I can help with?” Since they left the gardens, Kaylin had made not a sound, and he worried for her. To not only have endured the beating she had received, but to know that Asher had been tortured by her father…he did not know how that was affecting her. While they have may have thought it a secret, it was obvious to anyone with eyes what they truly felt towards one another. All it took was to see them around one another for a few moments and you could see it in their eyes as at they looked at one another, in the way the light touches that they exchanged, probably without even realizing it, and the way that their voice slightly changed when they spoke to one another. If you knew them, it was so obvious that you would have had to try hard NOT to see it.
Kaylin’s head lightly shook as she finally raised her eyes from looking at the polished marble floors to look at his worried brilliant blue eyes. “No, papa. I don’t even know what I would ask for. I…” she trailed off. What did she want? How did she feel? Could she even say herself? She wasn’t sure. “I just want to know Ash is ok. Daddy…he..” Her breathing started to get erratic again as the memory of how he looked when she had found him in that cell flooded her mind once more and threatened to destroy her. Blood…there had been so much blood…the floor painted golden yellow from it, and Asher’s pants had been staine from it as well. Because of her, all because of her, he had almost been killed.
“He is fine. Mithos and Arioch are both strong healers and were there as soon as I was. They are just making sure that there is nothing the Seraph demons missed. I assure you, he will be with you shortly, darling.” Kaylin was pulled tight to Lucifer’s chest, a kiss placed atop her head. “And your father will never hurt you again. Never. Again.” His eyes closed and he made a vow to his father that he would avenge what had been done. A promise, that unlike the ones he had broken at the dawn of time that had damned him from Heaven, this one he would not break.
“It’s my fault. Papa, he’s going to hate me. I wanted him to shift from his dragon form. To lay with me in the bed. If he’d stayed a dragon…” Her voice broke as she sobbed against his shoulder. Her hands fisting in the robes he was wearing as she clung to her grandfather as if letting go of him would end her existence. Lucifer was her only tether to reality, to sanity, to any hope for redemption for almost ending the man that she loved, had loved since childhood but had denied because….because…she couldn’t even explain why she had anymore. Foolishness? Pride? Ego? To prove that she needed no one? But she did. She needed him.
“Then your father would have lost his mind over it at a later time. Do you think that I did not know this would happen? Why do you think I had those pieces made and gifted them to you?” Lucifer’s voice was quiet, comforting, and most unlike what those who knew him were used to, it was loving. He held the trembling Kaylin to him, wishing with a desperation that rivaled only his to reconcile with his father, that he could ease her pain and erase the worry in her mind that Asher would abandon her after what happened. He knew the male and, unless he had sorely misjudged him, the male was probably feeling he’d failed her as much as she felt she’d failed him. “You did nothing for him to hate you. Do you think he would have shifted if he did not want to? He was aware of the dangers of being caught with you. Neither you nor he are responsible for the evil actions of my son.” He could not bring himself to call Damien her father, for the male did not deserve such title. Unfortunately he had sired the male, so would forever be burdened with that knowledge. Kali be damned.
All the while Kaylin had been trying to get Asher to the door of his cell, she had been calling on her powers. So when Asher had propelled them through the doorway, she was able to clear the entire hall of the demons who were preceding her father down the stairs by sending hellfire in all directions as the two of them fell towards the floor. They never met that floor, however, because she also had been trying to trace out of the castle and now that they were free of the wrought iron of the cell, she was able to do that.
One moment they were surrounded by Kaylin’s hellfire protection, the next there was a huge splash as they landed in the massive fountain in the garden of the Palace of Imperium. Not knowing where her grandfather or cousins were inside the castle, or anything relatively soft would be, it was the best place she could think of for the two of them to land. It was also sure to get attention, which would no doubt get a healer for Asher’s ravaged back. Even if guards came, it would get word to her grandfather, Lucifer, what had happened.
It turned out that Kaylin’s thinking had not been wrong, and her actions in vain; for within seconds of them coming to rest in the waters of the fountain, Lucifer, Mithos, and Arioch were at their side, helping to raise the injured Asher off of her, and Kaylin out of the water. Kaylin found it interesting that Lucifer didn’t seem surprised to see them and was in his battle gear, but when just a few moments later both her cousins showed up with Thinius and Raguel, they all all were highly confused. Mithos and Arioch were too busy trying to heal Asher’s back for her to tell what they were thinking.
“I take it…there was…a battle?” Thinius finally broke the silence of everyone staring at one another in shock. He knew who Kaylin was from his many years in Imperium when it was Hell and from her visits to the castle even after the division. Why she had just landed in the fountain with Asher looking like he’d been tortured, and she the same, was something he wondered about. If the one of the Princes had gotten into Imperium and waged an attack on her father’s castle then they would need to get the several units together to mount an offense against them.
“I would venture this is the work of her father.” Lucifer said calmly and with venom dripping from his voice as his fingers danced along the exposed skin of his granddaughter causing the bruises to fade as he healed internal and visible wounds. “The bracers and pendant she wears were gifted to her for just such an occasion as my son finally lost his composure. I did not wish her to end up as her mother did. I knew as soon as she put them on, I’ve been expecting her arrival since before dawn, although not with either of them quite in this state. I enlisted Mithos and Arioch in case Damien decided to try to follow.” He leaned in and kissed Kaylin’s forehead as a tear escaped one of her eyes.
“And Asher? Damien was able to do that?” Brie looked over to the male whose back looked to be almost completely healed now with the wounds just a bright pink from what the two demons next to him were doing. She had seen how ravaged it was when she and her brother had arrived. That her uncle could have, would have, have done that to him seemed illogical. Asher had been one of his bravest and most powerful warriors in human form, not to mention as a dragon.
Kaylin had not said anything, but now that they were safe, her emotions were threatening to overwhelm her. The reality of all that had happened setting in. Her father was going to kill the man she loved and and allow his entire legion to…to…to….she suddenly started to collapse in tears, not even being able to finish the thought. He hated them, both of them.
Lucifer caught his granddaughter, holding her head tight to his chest and whispering something softly to her. “We shall talk on this later, Abriella. But yes, this is definitely his work. Do you have a suite they can stay in, or can you create one for them. Please? As a favor to me? Or can I..” He was willing to beg, to bargain, to offer anything, but he wasn’t even able to complete his sentence before he was cut off.
“Do you really need to ask? They’re family.” Abriella’s eyes were filled with tears as she interrupted. She didn’t know what happened but it was clear that it had been horrific. Even with all her power, how many times she had been to battle, the devastation she had personally wrought against the forces of the Princes, it never failed to draw for great empathy from the core of her being whenever one she cared about was suffering. “And they will be protected here. If he..”
“Let. Him. Come.” Cruz cut his sister off with a firm declaration in a voice so low and full of venom that the air around them all seemed to vibrate and that left no doubt in anyone regarding the level of his displeasure. He had been standing stoically behind her, with his arms crossed over his chest. “I dost believe I should most like to have a conversation with him about his manner of handling his displeasure, and express mine own upon him.” While his voice was not raised, his words not hurried, and he had not moved, it was clear that the King of Imperium was NOT happy and that if Damien showed up, he would not be the victor in any confrontation.
“Ya know boss, you scare me a little.” Thinius looked over at his best friend. The two of them had kicked ass together several times, and there was no one the chaos demon would rather have at his side in battle or out huntin for the Princes, but damn the man was intimidating as fuck when he was in a bad mood.
“It is not you who should be worried. Tis might be Hell in which we reside, but there still art rules to be abided by. It should be mine pleasure to deliver the justice for breaking such.” The smile that started forming on Cruz’s face disturbed…everyone.
“And on that note,” Abriella said, her own brother starting to unnerve even her, and as the Horseman of Death, that was quite a feat, “let’s get these two somewhere quiet where they can be more comfortable and rest. Maybe get a shower. You know, I believe that Kaylin had quarters here when it was your Palace, grandfather, do you remember where those were?” Her eyes narrowed as she tried to think, and when Lucifer nodded, she smiled. “Oh good, good, Arioch and Mithos can help Asher to the infirmary to ensure that he is completely healed, and we’ll have a pixie come later to size him up for some clothes. He looks about Thinius’ size so he can get him some clothes from the garrison that are the right size until then.”
She then walked over to Kaylin who was clinging to Lucifer as if her life depended on it. “I do not know what happened,” she laid her hand on the other woman’s cheek, "but you are now safe. Should your father make the mistake of trying to come here,” Abriella paused for a moment and glanced over to Cruz, “it will not end well for him. Rest, and if you need anything it will be provided. We have other guests with us right now too. We’ll have you all get together tomorrow. I think it will do you all good to meet one another.” She leaned forward and kissed Kaylin’s cheek. “Welcome home, sweetheart.”
Kaylin knew that Lucifer would welcome her, but she had wondered about her cousins. Now, seeing their reactions, she felt guilt for ever doubting them.
Love is not romance and flowers. Love is not always butterflies and longing looks. Love is action, sacrifice, and hard work. It is sometimes brutal, bloody, and violent. It will drive a person to do unspeakable things to protect another. If Valentine's Day is about love, true love, then this is the perfect story for today.
TW = VIOLENCE, MENTION OF TORTURE, BLOOD, DAMIEN IS STILL A DICKHEAD...K?
While Damien had taken precautions with Asher, those with Kaylin had been far more lax. He had imagined her nothing more than a weak and spoiled Princess like her mother. That is where his grave miscalculation came. His own Generals and Asher had trained her to fight, use weapons, and in magic. So it was before dawn when she roused from the unconsciousness her father's boot kick had relegated her to.
Her body ached, her head thumped, the world around her felt unstable, but she was unguarded and alive. The last two were the most dangerous for both Damien and anyone between her and Asher, because there was one more thing Damien didn't know: his own father had known that one day he would turn on his daughter, and he'd made provisions. Provisions that would change the course of everything
Sunlight is too much for you to bear
It's high time you came up for air
Don't hide a single thing
Behind your perfect skin
Don't keep your secrets in a prayer
As soon as her head cleared enough that raising it from the stone floor did not make the world spin and bring forth a new wave of nausea, Kaylin crawled over to the massive wardrobe that was opposite her bed. Laying flat on the floor again, she stuck her hand underneath and pulled out a silk bag that made a slight jingle. Inside were two black cuff bracelets and a golden chain with what appeared to be a carved obsidian pendant. They were gifts from her grandfather, Lucifer. She'd been told to hide them and if her father ever became a threat, use them. She had no idea what they would do, but Lucifer was the person she trusted right after Asher.
As soon as she slipped them on , the nausea abated and the vertigo ceased. She could feel her healing speed increasing. Maybe her great-grandfather Div had a hand in the creation of the pieces as well. Soon she'd be able to ask them herself, but she had other matters to attend to first.
Sitting up, she pulled open the large doors to the wardrobe as quietly as she could. Her strength WAS returning; but she wasn’t ready to try out her ability to fight just yet, and certainly not naked. First thing to do was clothing, and she knew just what she wanted. At the bottom of the wardrobe, hidden behind all of the garments appropriate for royalty was a set of black utility pants, a black long sleeve top, her thick socks, and her boots. It seemed the perfect outfit for the occasion, and her father HAD always preached being appropriately dressed at all times.
There is nothing you can say or do
I won't cut you loose, no
So break the silence
We know that we can brave it all
Whatever enchantment her grandfather, and possibly great-grandfather, had placed upon the jewelry seemed to be increasing in its speed of healing. By the time she had retrieved all of her clothing, she was able to stand up to put it on. No unsteadiness remained at all. That fact had a malevolent smirk forming on her lips as she walked to her bed and began to reach under the mattress to pull out a few weapons that Asher had gifted her. He could not have known she would one day use them to save him. Since she was sure Div wasn't going to be on her father’s side, nor Lucifer, nor her cousins, that meant everyone between her and Asher were now well and truly fucked.
When she started to head out of her room, dawn was just breaking. Soon she knew Asher’s execution would take place. Her father had ordered him to the dungeon so she traced to a small storage room at the bottom of the stairs that led there. For several minutes she stood still and silent listening to everything that was transpiring outside.
Her father’s voice could be heard giving orders. There were at least two others with him, but she couldn't hear Asher. Tears pricked at her eyes but rage burned in her heart as she believed she was too late. It had taken her too long, and she had failed him. But she would give payback.
If you're hoping we'll be home
Don't be afraid to ask for help
It won't make me love you any less
It won't make me love you any less
Don't hide behind me
You're strong enough to face the fall
It won't make me love you any less
As soon as she was sure her father had gone up the stairs into the main part of the castle, Kaylin exited her hiding place with the stealth of a trained assassin. She crossed the short distance to the guard at the bottom of the stairs. Not a sound was heard to give him warning before she struck, the blade on her dagger so sharp that when she slit his throat she nearly decapitated him. Black blood coated the opposite wall and the bottom two stairs.
There hadn't been the sound of anything been dragged when she heard her father pass the room she'd been hiding in, so she hoped that he'd left Asher’s body in whatever cell he'd been held in. At least she could take him to the Palace and see if Abriella could do SOMETHING. She'd beg, even trade her own life.
Just as stealthily as she'd snuck up on the first guard, Kaylin moved down the hallway that led to the cells. Keeping to the balls of her feet, she was soundless. As she came to the last corner, he was relieved to see there was only one guard. Asher had to be dead, her father would never leave only one guard with him. The guard would just become a snack.
No shame, no hurt, nothing to lose
My love my heart don't need to prove
And there's nothing you can say or do
There's no one that can change my mind
It's not a weakness, we all have our crosses to bear
Even though once more Kaylin was absolutely silent, the guard caught movement out of the corner of his eye and turned to face her. "Well, what do we have here? Daddy just went to get you, little girl. Come down early to have some pre-festivity fun?" He leered at her and she felt nauseous. She kept her dagger behind her back, she was going to enjoy his death.
"You could say that." Kaylin’s voice was smooth as silk. Years of faking obligations for her father had ensured she had no problem acting a part. "Do you really think you're man enough to entertain me?" She wasn't even having to work to fall into seduction mode, it was easier than it had been with the Duke. "I can be very particular in how I like to be pleased."
The guard sauntered over towards her, leaving his weapon on the small table next to where he'd been standing. It was clear that he found her no threat. She did so love to be underestimated. The saccharine sweet smile remained on her face until the very last second, giving no indication of her plans. Then she struck without warning.
This time she was facing her opponent and while her movements were to fast for him to stop, she did end up covered in a significant amount of blood when she effortlessly slit his throat then flipped her grip on the dagger to drive it into his temple til the blade tip exited on the other side of his skull. When she withdrew her blade, he fell to the floor, dead.
"Enjoy Caligo, bastard." She spat on him.
If you're hoping we'll be home
Don't be afraid to ask for help
It won't make me love you any less
It won't make me love you any less
Don't hide behind me
You're strong enough to face the fall
Woah, it won't make me love you any less
Kaylin closed her eyes and steeled her heart to go into the "traitors cell" where her father always conducted his torture. She knew what she would find, her heart breaking and her resolve threatening to crumble. But she couldn't leave his body there, she would not give Damien that satisfaction. She would take it with her to the Palace and beg for her cousins to let her bury him there in the Field of Warriors if Abriella would not use her powers of necromancy.
Then she heard the sweetest sound she'd ever heard in her life. Her name. Just a whisper. The faintest whisper. But HIS whisper and that was all that mattered.
Time to call me from the cold
Time to let the truth be told
It won't make me love you any less
After digging through the guards pockets for the keys, she was in the cell in a flash. The sight of yellow blood splattered on everywhere had her desire for vengeance rising with each beat of her heart. Asher’s head was hanging, his hair saturated with his blood, and a pool of it surrounding his feet; but as she drew close to him she could see his chest moving still. Thank The Source that he was alive and she hD not imagined that whisper! Placing her hands gently on the sides of his face, she raised his head and looked into his eyes, tears brimming in hers and found her breath stolen by all she saw. The normal spark that she saw in them was dimmed and fading, but the fight was still in them. She had to get him out of the cell so that he could heal and so that she could get them to the Palace for help.
“Hold on, Ash. Please.” She pleaded, then added what she had been unable to tell him earlier due to them being interrupted. “I love you too.” A soft kiss on his lips he, then she gently released his head down. Kneeling, her fingers slipped in his blood a few times but she was finally able to undo the shackles holding his feet. She knew they didn’t have long before someone found out that she wasn’t in her room and came looking for her, so she was trying to hurry, but the amount of blood in the cell was a hamper. No doubt that they would know that she was down with Asher. They’d have to know she would never leave without him.
Once his feet were free she stood, letting him lean against her to take the weight off of his already ravaged wrists. His yellow blood coated his forearms, and even partially his upper arms as well, making then slick also. As fast as she could, she found the key on the ring that released the manacles that held his wrists. When his full weight fell on her, he knees buckled at first, but she was too stubborn to fail now. Locking her legs, she slid her arms under his shoulders, “come on, Ash, you’ve got to help me. We’ve just got to make it to the door. I'll get us home.”
Closing her eyes and summoning every ounce of strength she had in her aching and still bruised body, she started backing towards the door. Her hands on his back could feel that it had been completely ravaged by her fathers sadistic brutality; of the two of them, he was the worse off by far Kaylin was determined that even if she died when they landed in the Palace, she was going to get him out of here and make sure he was safe. This was her fault, all her fault. He had paid for her wanting him in human form in her father's castle.
With each step that Kaylin took, Asher tried to as well. He knew his weight on her was slowing them down, but the damage that Damien had done was not healing because of the iron that had been on him and encased the room was slowing his healing. He couldn’t let her die in this cell for trying to save him, he’d already failed up in her room by letting them get the upper hand on him and not defending her better. He should have taken her from this place when she admitted that their feelings were mutual. If he'd just protected her they wouldn't be in this position. Instead, he failed her.
If you're hoping we'll be home
Don't be afraid to ask for help
It won't make me love you any less
It won't make me love you any less
Don't hide behind me
You're strong enough to face the fall
Woah, it won't make me love you any less
They were only a few feet from the door when Kaylin heard her father’s voice bellowing down the stairs from the floor above to search the whole castle for her. She didn’t hear his boots coming down yet, but that didn’t mean that he wouldn’t be at any moment. One foot out of the cell, that was all she needed. One foot out and she could get her fire magic to work and trace to the Palace, anywhere in the Palace. “Okay, dragon, now would be a good time to shift into your tiny form, or help a little more. You’re kind of heavy and we’re about to have guests, handsome.” She kissed his cheek because she was about to cause him more pain and she hated it, but there was no way around it. They HAD to get the fuck out of that cell. "I'm so sorry…"
Asher was about to give a sarcastic retort back to Kaylin’s comment when she locked her hands across his ravaged back and yanked, throwing all of her weight backwards and pulling. He knew WHY she was doing it, but that did not mean the white hot, blinding pain that shot through his entire being, almost making him lose control over all function, was any more bearable. What it did do, however, was to cause him to jerk one foot up as his body tried to free itself from whatever was causing the further torment that his nerves were being subjected to. When that foot came down it was forward of his body. Focusing every single ounce of strength that remained within him, he pushed against the floor with that foot with a roar. He could feel when they cleared the threshold, then they were engulfed in flames.
TW - VIOLENCE, BLOOD, TORTURE, MENTION OF RAPE, MENTION OF EXECUTION
Damien's a complete and total asshole k?
When Lucifer had ruled Hell, his sons had been granted great power in the realm. When he'd been overthrown, some had tried to grab the throne, and now were in Caligo for their troubles. Damien had played by the rules, even if that meant bending them occasionally. He was not willing to give up his power, but after seeing exactly how much of their own his niece and nephew wielded, he knew that he would not be able to overthrow either of them. That did not mean, however, that he did not rule those within his castle with an iron fist that came down swift and harsh on any who crossed him.
Down in the bowels of the castle, Asher had been hung by his wrists from manacles attached to the ceiling of a cell that had wrought iron walls, ceiling and floor. His feet were also manacled with a chain that ran through a loop on the floor that they barely touched. All the way down to the dungeon, Asher had fought the guards to try and get free so he could get back to Kaylin. He had known that there were too many of them for him to defeat them all, but he had to try. Too many times he’d seen Lord Damien’s cruelty against those who displeased him, and Asher feared for what Kaylin was being subjected to now that they were alone in her room together.
When Damien made his way down to where Asher was detained, the black blood on his shirt was indication enough to Asher that he’d hurt Kaylin. How badly didn't matter, the Prince had laid hands on her in violence and the dragon within him yearned to strike out in a violent and vicious vengeance. Straining against his restraints that bit into his wrists and ankles, he tried to lunge at the Royal Prince. Curses flowed from his mouth like water as he promised pain and death to Damien, who in turn just darkly laughed in return. He knew the iron kept Asher from shifting or using any other kind of magic. It was why that cell was used. Containment.
“You can threaten till your voice runs out, but you can’t do a thing, dragon. You're as helpless as the day you hatched, the day I really should have killed you; before you could ruin my daughter. You’ll only get out of those chains when I take off your head in the morning.” Damien grinned malevolently as he circled Asher, taunting him. “Maybe I’ll let you live long enough to hear her scream as my entire legion,” he leaned in close to Asher’s back to whisper in his ear, “fucks your memory out of her.”
The roar that came from Asher could be heard through most of the castle and got the attention of all the guards who were in the lower two levels of the dungeon area. All were supremely glad the dragon could not escape his bonds. If freed, there was no doubt not a demon nor a stone would be left unscorched by his fire. While there were none that would question Damien’s orders, they also knew that crossing Asher often lead to death, and a painful one at that.
“I will kill you before I let you or your men touch her again!” The manacles cut into his skin, causing his yellow blood to start to slowly drip down his tanned skin that was stretched taut over his straining muscular forearms. He didn’t know how quite yet, but he would figure out a way to get free and he would get his revenge on Damien for this. Oaths were silently made to deities that he wasn’t sure existed, but he did believe in.
The laugh that came from Damien next was pure evil. "You can't shift, you can't even change positions. You'll do nothing but endure my wrath. The pain you feel will be the cost of ever thinking you were worthy of my daughter. Her punishment will be much more drawn out. Remember that as you receive your own…" Reaching to the table behind him, Damien took hold of the cat of nine tails that had imp claws at the end of each of the warg leather lashings. Sharp as razor blades, there was no doubt the damage that would be inflicted. His grin was malevolent as he slowly turned the leather wrapped handle in his handle, already anticipating the joy of making Asher suffer. There was a warmth of satisfaction that spread through his breast.
For the first few lashings he received, Asher did not give Damien the satisfaction of hearing him scream. His jaw clenched, his eyes closed, and though the skin on his back was flayed open, he did nothing more than grunt at the white hot pain that each strike brought with it. Behind his eyelids, he was focusing on Kaylin’s face and the firm belief he would find a way to get free and save her. Even with golden blood forming building rivers that were starting to flow down the backs of his legs, he refused to admit defeat.
Every hard strike that Damien delivered had him jerking against the chains, soft puffs of dust coming from around the bolts that secured Asher’s chains to the floor and ceiling. Even restrained, the dragon was strong and fighting hard against the bonds that held him. But Damien had planned ahead; the wrought iron contained his magic and slowing his healing. It was only a matter of time before Damien would break him, and there was plenty of that before dawn. Pain was one thing that he loved to deliver and he was not particularly choosy about who it was delivered to. Unlike his father, Damien had no love or compassion within him, only a drive for more power.
By alternating the direction of the strikes across Asher’s back, Damien was ensuring maximum damage. After hours of flagellation, it was not just Asher’s back that was raw, his throat was as well. His voice long since lost from screaming at the ever intensifying pain and the deepening realization he was powerless to protect the woman he loved. He now prayed to any deity listening for death, but it seemed that no one was listening since Azrael didn't appear to claim his soul. How he would have welcomed the angel he'd been avoiding all his life, if he'd only show up now.
When light started to filter through the small window in the cell, Damien decided it was time to retrieve his daughter for the execution of her lover. He was no longer enjoying the torture of Asher since he had lost the ability to scream and his strength was failing so he just hung limply from his chains. At least he would get some pleasure from his daughter watching him die, then what he planned for her after.
“Guards!!” Royal Prince Damien bellowed, his face a mask of fury at the scene before him. “Bind him and take him to the dungeon, I’ll deal with him later and his head will be on a pike in the morning as a warning to what happens to traitors to the crown!” Now he was snarling, barely able to contain himself from setting the whole room ablaze from his blind rage. Now he knew why his daughter had not been courting any of the noblemen who had come calling, she had been slumming it with the dragon shifter and being his willing whore. He should have killed Asher when he was just a welp; he’d known that he’d be nothing but trouble.
Asher tried to fight against the guards who had traced in right next to him, but they had quickly slapped a wrought iron manacle around his wrist, which kept him from shifting or using any of his magic. He could not even trace out of the room to take them on one at a time. White Asher was plenty strong in the form he was in, but he could not overpower so many at once. They might succeed in capturing him, but he wasn’t going to make it easy on them and give a few injuries along the way. Already he had landed blows to two of them, bruises darkening and one bleeding from below his eye.
“FATHER!” Kaylin screamed as she too fought with the guards trying to shackle Asher. They were being slightly less violent and brutal with her, she was the Princess after all. She was furious for the intrusion, and more so for her father treating her like a child in this way. She managed to set two guards aflame in a way that would not extinguish with her powers before her hair was yanked with such force backwards that she saw stars when her head hit the floor. It took her at least five seconds to even realize what had happened, and in that time her father was in her face and the look on his face terrified her more than any other sight she had beheld in her life.
“You traitorous little bitch. Just like your mother, you are. Unlike her, you’re still useful to me, so I won’t kill you. But you will marry and you will come to heel.” The back of his hand then impacted the side of Kaylin’s face, making her head spin and her mouth filled with the taste of her own blood. She could hear Asher still fighting and yelling in the background, but she was having trouble getting her bearings to even try to help him. Her hands clawed at the stone floor, trying to get purchase to fight back or at least get away from her father. It was to no avail, his blow and her head impacting the stone had done something she was having trouble recovering from.
The sounds of the scuffling and Asher’s voice started to fade, meaning the guards had succeeded in their task, bringing tears to her eyes and causing rise to her panic. They would torture him, of that she was certain. She could still feel her father’s power in the room, which terrified her for her own safety. He was enraged beyond reason and had just admitted to killing her mother. What he would do to her was uncertain, and while he had said he would leave her alive, in what condition was an unknown. Now they were alone, he had no witnesses to whatever debauchery and violence he would unleash. She wondered how many others knew of what her father had done to her mother, and done nothing. Had left her with him to be possibly disposed of in the same way when her usefulness faded. Did her grandfather? Did her cousins? More importantly, had Asher?
Kailyn wasn’t given too long to consider this before she felt her father’s massive hand on her face, squeezing her cheeks together painfully ripping open the wounds on the inside of her mouth again that had just started to stop bleeding. She cried out in pain but ended up with his other fist in her stomach, which just made her cry out again and then sob as the wind was knocked out of her and she was sure that at least a couple of ribs broke. Pain radiated throughout her whole body, making her want to curl in a ball, but her father was not ready to grant mercy yet. He might not be going to kill her, but she had a feeling he was going to get pretty close. His anger was legendary, and there was no one there to try and temper his rage.
“Shut the fuck up, you mewling brat. I tried to be nice and give you a choice of who you wanted to marry. Let you pick which of the princes and dukes that came here was good enough for you. Instead you spit in my face,” Now he changed from her face to her throat as he slammed her into the wall, her head bouncing off and making the world spin again as she felt like her brain was trying to escape through her eyes and ears simultaneously. Nothing was in focus, and there was a whooshing noise that she wasn’t sure what it was. As she fought for air to breathe with her father choking and to not vomit from the vertigo that now had a firm hold on her, he continued to berate her in a tone that had fear coursing through her veins and chilling her ice cold. The profanities were long, and he degraded everything about her. Nothing about her was left untouched by his ire and malice. Any preconception she had that he loved her was shattered, and the shards ground to dust beneath his boots.
In the end, she was finally tossed onto the floor, so weak she could do naught but lay there as she heard him head for the door. Every millimeter of her body ached, even her hair seemed to be in pain as she laid there, but she was still defiant and would not go quietly. She was not the contrite and docile child he had desired, she was the warrior that his Generals and Asher had raised while he had ignored her. Raising just her head up, which took all of her strength she could muster, she whispered. “I’m never going to forgive you for this…” Then her head thumped down onto the floor.
Damien turned with a chuckle and walked back over to her, “my darling, I don’t fucking care!” Her head was then impacted by his boot, completely knocking her into unconsciousness. “You want to act like a whore with that dragon, then you’ll be treated like one in the morning by my legion. You will learn to behave.” Reaching down he ripped her nightgown off of her, leaving her naked on the cold stone floor as he strode out.
Later the same night, Asher lay curled up in his smallest dragon form on the pillow next to the one that Kaylin was propped up on reading a book as they relaxed before preparing for bed. They had not gone to Earth after all for dinner, but instead had just had dinner brought up to her suite to enjoy together. It was nothing fancy, but they had gone out on her balcony and eaten it under the moonlight and chatted about a lot of nothing in particular. Quiet, comfortable, and relaxing. After the upset with the Duke, it was needed. There would no doubt be more upset later from the Royal Prince, but they would worry about it when it came.
Now Asher’s eyes were becoming heavy and he was about to drift off to sleep in the quiet warmth of the bedroom. They hadn’t talked any more about going to the Palace of Imperium or her cousins, even though he wanted to. He was eager, but he wouldn’t pressure her. She had enough stress and pressure from the Duke and that situation. It was what he was thinking about as he laid there, keeping her quiet company.
“Ash?” Kaylin’s voice was quiet and slightly hesitant, but he had no problem hearing her.
“Mmm..?” His little head raised up off of his front paws to look over at her. She looked troubled and the scales over his brow ridges drew together, wondering what was on her mind that could be causing worry. He assumed her father, who was volatile when in a good mood and ruthlessly violent when not. More days than not anymore, it was the latter.
For a moment, she chewed nervously on her lower lip. There had never been a time when she'd been afraid of asking or telling Asher anything. Now though, she was nervous and her stomach felt like it was twisting and turning in belly. Things have changed between them, and she didn't know why that mattered. Now that they both knew how the other felt, should that not make it easier?
"Would you..uh..would you mind being human tonight?" Finally she asked, then chewed on her lip some more. What if he said **no**? Or thought her stupid for wanting such a thing? She, of course, accepted him in whatever form he was in.
Asher blinked, then he blinked again. Kaylin had never asked him to sleep in his humanesque form with her. His little head gave a nod anyway, and a few seconds later he was laying there as a man. Thankfully when he shifted his clothes went…somewhere, but they were always on again when he shifted back. So at least he had on lounge pants rather than being nude and making this unusual situation awkward in addition.
Rolling over onto his side his every shifting hazel eyes met her beautiful green ones that seemed darkened with something, troubled really. "Any special reason you want things to be different tonight?" He was curious why the change and wanted to know what was going on in that beautiful mind of hers. Reaching over, he gently laid his hand atop hers. Whatever was bothering her, he didn’t want her feeling alone.
Kaylin marked her place, then set her book on her nightstand and turned back to him, trying to come up with the right words. "Do you remember our conversation when we were planning for Xavier's arrival?" Asher’s head nodded and his eyes narrowed slightly, making her more nervous. He was probably trying to figure out what one had to do with the other and where this was going. At least that is what she hoped he was doing.
Thinking maybe being in the same position he was would help calm her nerves, Kaylin laid down on her side and mirrored him. A hand slowly reached out to him to just run her fingertips across the skin of his chest. "You're not going to be my **dirty little secret** and you were right, I don't want my bed empty next to me." Just two sentences but by the time she finished her heart was thundering in her chest. They’d had this conversation, but if there weren’t actions to back those words then they were just sounds in the air and nothing more. That Asher believe her and know that her heart beat only for him was something she wanted more than anything, no, needed more than anything.
Before she passed out from nerves, Asher took pity on her. Well, pity was hardly the word for it, but he did end her suffering by rolling onto his back and pulling her over tight to his side so her head could rest on his shoulder and she could curl into him. Something he immediately regretted because he realized if she ever changed her mind, he'd never forget how wonderful she felt in his arms right then. There wasn’t anything he could think of that he wouldn’t do to ensure she never changed her mind and was never taken from him. He’d imagined this situation many times, dreamed of it even, but until their previous conversation had never considered it more than whimsy.
"Then you won't have to worry about it ever again." His head turned so he could look at her, his eyes searching hers, but for what he didn’t know. "You aren’t going to have to worry about me complaining about having you next to me, or being pushed away." His free hand reached over to softly caress her cheek as he gave her a soft smile. The sight of her head on his shoulder was something he could definitely get used to, and immensely liked. Part of him was afraid he was dreaming and would wake up back to everything being platonic and kept at arm’s length.
With Asher’s reaction, Kaylin began to relax and let one hand gently lay on his chest. Even in all their years as friends, or whatever they had truly been to one another, they had never laid like this together. Close, but normally he had more clothes on and she was not in a thin nightgown. Never before had she felt the butterflies cascading around in her stomach like she did in that moment either; something that confused her since she had never felt anything other than relaxed around him. Was this what love felt like? She was relaxed and comfortable, and yet a vibrating bundle of nerves all at once. It was exciting, thrilling and terrifying all at once.
“Saying things like that, Ash, you may spoil me.” She smiled at him, feeling a warmness come to her cheeks as her eyes dropped so she was looking at him through lowered lashes. Slowly her hand left his chest to move instead up to the side of his handsome face. Dark brown, almost black stubble had formed as the day ebbed on, and gave him a rougher look, but she liked it. Her thumb lightly swept over his cheek as her palm gently rested against his strong jaw, and her eyes fully returned those mysterious hazel-greens that seemed to shift color depending on his mood. At the moment they were a light shade of green, one she’d never seen before but found utterly gorgeous. “What are you thinking?” She finally asked them after a few moments of comfortable silence, knowing that there was something causing not only his eye change, but the look that could best be described as serenity on his face.
Asher paused a moment before giving her an answer. He wasn’t sure exactly how to put all of his thoughts into words, or if he even could. Their previous conversation about *them* had awakened hopes that he had fought for so long, loosed feelings he’d kept locked away, and now he was grasping with what it all meant for him, for them, and for the future. Looking into those beautiful green eyes of hers didn’t help him any. They were their own type of siren’s song that lured him in and threatened to drown him in their depths, a fate he was more than willing to hand himself over to. There was so much he wanted to say, but there was just something keeping any of it from coming out. She was the only one who mattered to him, who ever had mattered to him, and his fear of ruining it all with the wrong words or sentiment made him hold back, no matter how badly he wanted to earnestly tell her everything.
Slowly rolling up onto his side so they were facing one another, noses touching. “That I like this and have wanted it for so long.” His voice was low, husky, and there was emotion in it, truth. The hand that had never left her cheek, once more ran its thumb over her cheekbone. His eyes were expressive, showing his emotions in ways not even he could understand, but after years of being around one another, she did. “You mean everything to me, Kay. You always have. There is so much tumbling around in my head, I don’t even know where to start, but it all revolves around one thing,” he paused, his heart seeming to freeze up and his breathing becoming harder. The room seemed to shrink around him and he could have sworn that someone sucked all the air out of it. Before he continued he swallowed, afraid that his next words would break whatever spell had been cast that gave him everything he had desired for so long. “I love you.” Saying them didn’t make it better, instead he felt his ability to breath completely removed and his lungs burned from the lack of air. There was a second or two after the words had left her lips where he just stared in her eyes, waiting for rejection or a change of heart to come. When none did, he became somewhat emboldened and his lips found hers in what started as the softest caresses of lips against one another then built in intensity.
Over the years, Kaylin and Asher had expressed feelings to each other in many ways, but neither of them had ever told the other they loved them. Adored maybe, but never the actuarial word “love”. Love was sacred. They’d shared laughs, tears, and everything in between. Maybe all along they’d known, but neither of them had said it. Neither of them had spoken it into existence in the universe, potentially in fear that it would ruin what they had. The conversation before the Duke’s visit had erased those fears, and it had been when Asher had vowed to the universe that if what she had said to him was true that he would be the one to say it first. That no matter what happened, she WOULD know what had been in his heart all along.
For Kaylin’s part, she was glad that Asher kissed her, not only because she was thoroughly enjoying it, but also because if she had to have come up with something to say at that moment it would have been a catastrophe. It was not that she did not love him, quite the opposite, but hearing it from him did something to her that she could not even begin to put to words. Tears pricked at her eyes as emotions overwhelmed her, and while she was sure that he could feel the moistness on her cheeks when a couple of them escaped, she was eternally grateful that he couldn’t see them at the moment. Her heart felt like it would burst at knowing that he loved her, and that no matter what happened she was safe with him.
It was at that moment that the door to her room slammed open, something that should not have been able to happen. That meant only one thing, her father was pissed and hell was about to rain down.
Asher was in his smallest dragon form, his tail laying across one of Kailyn’s delicate collarbones as his head and front claws were laying on the opposite one. For this occasion, he had turned his scales an iridescent blue and green with flashes of gold and purple. With his eyes closed and laying very still, he could be mistaken for a piece of jewelry if someone didn’t know to look for his small sides to be moving with his breathing. Few outside of the castle that Kaylin lived in knew of Asher’s secret, which is how it had been kept for so long.
Her dress was black, strapless with an empire waist, and went all the way to the floor. Simple and elegant, it fit Kaylin’s style perfectly. She had chosen mid-height heeled pumps since she was hoping that the Duke would not like being rebuffed, but if he chose to be stubborn she was prepared to have to stand her ground. Better to have shoes on that she could have stable footing if he chose to abandon all pretenses of being a gentleman. It would not be the first time that she had to deal with disappointing a potential suitor, but she was determined that it would be the last.
Even with Asher curled up and resting around her neck, Kaylin was nervous. From an early age she had learned to wear a mask of soft indifference on her face, no matter what was going on within her mind. It was expected as a Princess that she was never to appear troubled, regardless of her true feelings. When her mother had been slaughtered before her in the court by a traitorous soldier, she had been chastised later for her scream and outburst of grief. Only Asher had stopped her father from physically striking her. She had only been fifteen at the time, but already she was expected to react to nothing. However, she was different than her father, she felt too deeply.
That was where the rift had started regarding suitors. Her father just felt that she should pick one that she found attractive enough to have sex with and bear him children. They could both have affairs after the wedding, but that marriage was just a contract between families, not for love. After the conversation that she and Asher had a few days before, Kaylin was even more convinced that she and her father would never see eye to eye on this and the only solution was to go to the Palace in Imperium City and see her cousins. They would have to have an idea of some kind of solution. Even if that meant leaving all she’d ever known and starting anew.
Right on time, the Duke arrived as Kaylin was thinking all this over. Part of her had wanted him to be late as an excuse to pick a fight for him and send him home humiliated. Of course it would not be that easy, not with this one. He seemed determined to use her to raise his status in the realm, and she was just as determined not to be a stepping stone for him. Asher had never treated her as less, or even more actually. They were truly best friends, equals, and now that she knew his true feelings, the Duke had no chance.
“Princess Kailyn, you look ravishing.” Duke Xavier spoke, condescension dripped from his voice. He still did not understand why he was negotiating the land treaty with a female, let alone one that he was supposed to be convincing to court him. Surely the Princess did not have the education, training, or knowledge to be able to do these negotiations. Already he had tired of trying to explain to her why she should compromise with him on where the lines would be between her father’s and his father’s lands. However, she was stubborn and ignorant.
“What a unique piece.” Xavier stepped too close and acted too familiar as his finger lightly ran over her collarbones near where Asher lay. “Its beauty suits yours, Princess.”
Kaylin had to fight not to physically recoil from his touch and she was glad that Asher remained motionless. She was quite sure that neither of them were happy with the level of familiarity that the Duke had assumed. When she didn’t immediately respond favorably, he thankfully stepped back a few feet, which allowed her to feel as if she could breath freely again.
“Thank you, Lord Xavier. I do have a dinner later I must attend to.” The only dinner she had later was the one that she and Asher most likely would share together like always. She was considering having him take her to Earth, Maine to be exact. She was craving lobster and found that the preparation in that part of the Earthly realm was by far the best. That was not something she would mention to Xavier however, as that trip would be made in jeans, a heavy sweater, boots, and a parka at this time of year on Earth.
“I envy whomever’s arm you shall be on, Princess.” Xavier fought to keep his face impassive and not show that he was displeased that whatever dinner that she was going to, it was one he was not invited to or even aware of. How had that slipped by his father? “I wish you would have told me sooner, I would have been most pleased to accompany you and not leave you having to search for an escort.”
She saw the shocked and now clearly displeased look upon the Duke’s face at her words, but she failed to care as she stepped forward towards him. Tiny claws bit into her collar bone as Asher tried to warn her not to be too hostile to the Duke, there were still diplomatic relations to be kept in mind, after all. “You are here, sir, to negotiate regarding our realms and kingdoms, are you not? I do not know why you then assume that I would ask you to escort me anywhere. Do you assume such of males who you are negotiating with?”
“You assume I shall be on anyone’s arm.” Unlike Xavier, displeasure was immediately clear on Kaylin’s face and if the Duke had missed it, the change in the tone of her voice would have been another clue. She had been looking for a reason for a fight to put him in his place, and now she had one. “I can assure you, Duke Noir, that I am quite capable of attending a state dinner on my own without the need of escort from a male.” Her chin lifted definitely and there was challenge to her eyes.
Xavier was at a loss for words at her challenge. He could not deny that he would not have said similar to a man, but admitting that would give her the upper hand and his father was steadfast in his demands for the negotiations that were ongoing between their territories. His father had also assured him that the Princess was looking for a suitor, but now he was wondering if that information had been in error, as she seemed most resistant to male attention. He could not think of what he could have done to upset her, it was not as if her place was really to be doing such diplomacy. Females were to be cordial and make dignitaries feel at home, not work out treaties. The only exception being Imperium’s Queen of course.
“I apologize for if I offended, Your Majesty.” Xavier bowed slightly, trying to save face and rescue the negotiations before he was summarily dismissed and the whole arbitration was canceled. If he had to go back to his father with nothing, the punishment would be severe, of that he was sure.
“I would suggest in the future, Duke Noir, that you remember you are here on matters of diplomacy ONLY. There is no further reason for you being here and for our talks. If you were given reason to believe otherwise by anyone other than myself, then you were misled.” There was no doubt that Kaylin was fully annoyed and done with the Duke. “Now, we have matters of this land treaty to discuss. My social calendar is not open for more discussion.”
Turning away from the Duke, Kaylin headed over to the meeting table where the maps had been spread the previous day. While then she had been contrite and demure, she had tired of him, and his forward nature had soured him receiving such pleasantries now. As her heels clicked against the stone floor, she could swear she felt Asher purring and she knew she felt his front feet lightly rub against her skin. She knew that he was pleased that the Duke had been rebuffed and also that he was trying to reassure her for the coming discussions on land partitions.
“Now, your idea of boundaries between our kingdoms within Imperium is not agreeable. Not to myself and not to my father. We do not want war as that would involve my grandfather and cousin, and you do know how dearest Abriella likes to avoid conflict within Imperium.” There was a smug smirk forming on Kaylin’s lips. Xavier seemed to have forgotten that little tidbit of information based on the look upon his handsome face. It was, after all, Kaylin’s ace in the hole the whole time. Challenge her family, and they would just go up the food chain. They didn’t need to renegotiate territory, this was a favor to the Noir dynasty, not hers.
“Princess, i was hoping that after you looked over what we were proposing that you could see our reasoning behind the new boundaries. The logic that motivated them. It would benefit both of our peoples in the end.” The Duke implored her; and possibly if she had been a simple female without the rearing and education that she had received, she might have fallen for it. However, her father had not only educated her, but so had Asher and others in the court who saw her as more than a trophy for her father to hand off to the first suitor to impress her.
“You do insult me, Duke Noir. You want me to hand over this land,” she gestured to the low land that led to the sea, “where our fishing and grazing of livestock is done. And you also want me to cut my people off from one source of water by giving you this forest here.” She motioned to a large green spot on the map. “I understand that to you these seem logical to go along the streams and rivers, when in reality the only logical reason to suggest such a thing is to weaken not only our infrastructure but our people’s ability to survive without relying on anyone else.”
She saw the Duke swallow and her smirk became more pronounced as she leaned over the map table that now separated them. “I will give you neither of these lands. In fact, I will not even take this latest proposal to my father, for the insult could lead to us demanding you hand over a large portion of your land as recompense. I suggest you go back to your father and tell him that the Dufrene’s are neither fools nor are they blind to the overtures that you are making.” A slight malevolence entered her expression. “If your dynasty’s acquisitions do not cease to threaten our sovereignty within Imperium, we shall be forced to take action, and I can assure you, Duke Xavier,” his name was said with a heavy dose of derision and her eyes became intense as her hands flattened on the table. “Not one of your family will survive.”
Xavier swallowed and took a step back. Nothing he had heard of Kaylin or her father had prepared him for this. He had fully expected to come in and charm her into a courtship, or possibly even a betrothal, along with an acquisition of land that would benefit his family. Instead it was clear that at some point he had committed a weighty offense and now was going to be lucky to escape with his life. Why no one had warned him of this, he was not sure.
“My sincere apologies, Princess Kailyn. I will pass your sentiments on to my father. I am sure that no offense was intended by his proposition of the changing of boundaries. As you say, we were only…” a raised hand from Kailyn silenced him. The look on her face was nie on rage.
“Sir, if you would like to exit this chamber with your tongue and head still in their original locations, I suggest you remain silent and exit NOW.” Kalyn was now standing erect, arms at her sides, and her gaze ice cold as she stared at the Duke.
Without another word, he bowed, turned on his heel, and quickly exited the room. Once had left, Kailyn sunk down in one of the large chairs that surrounded the table. The cushioning doing little to provide relief from the cold firmness of the hardwood they were made of. A tickle of magic across her skin told her that Asher had resumed his human form, so she was not surprised when a warm, large hand landed on her shoulder. She simply stared at the map and gave a small nod to acknowledge him. The gravity of the situation weighed on her. While she had every right to react as she did, and her father would back her up, it did not mean that what was tantamount to a warning shot at a neighboring kingdom would be well received.
For his part, Asher stood quietly next to her. He had known her long enough to know that there were no words that would ease the burden, and that what she needed was just for him to be there.
“Until you find your groom.” Asher said against her thumb, his dark and intense eyes never wavering from hers. There was a dull ache, a squeezing, in his chest he tried to ignore at that thought. He wasn’t quite able to and his jaw visibly clenched.
“Supposed I don’t want one. Maybe I have other ideas for my future.” There was almost a smug defiance to her tone and a noticeable lift to her chin as she made her statement. There was something in his intense gaze that made Kaylin’s breath feel hard to draw and her heart seemed to thunder within her breast. Suddenly the room seemed to fade a bit and close in around them at the same time. That seemed to happen more and more lately with him when things got serious between them in times such as this..
“You know you do, Kaylin. You want your groom, maybe not some royal prick that is going to look at you as a possession or trophy to show off to his friends and other lands, but you want that man who is going to see you as an equal. One that’s going to cherish you, Princess, and give you everything you want in life. Someone you love and who loves you with a burning intensity that rivals even the hottest star in all of the known realms.” His voice had dropped a bit. Her hand on his face was getting to him, especially now she had slid it back on his cheek so he could talk again. Its soft warmth against his skin was both a comfort and a reminder that she was everything he could want, yet never touch. He wished it didn’t, or that feelings were mutual between them. She had no clue what she did to him, and that ached as much as considering her with someone else. When their deep friendship had morphed into something more, he could not say.
“Maybe I don’t need that from someone else when I have you.” Kaylin didn’t know where the sudden bravery came from to say something like that out loud to him, let alone to him with him so close. Yet, she did, and did so without flinching back or dropping her eyes one bit. There was a second when she considered adding something to lessen the impact of it or change the meaning to friendship. However they had sworn many moons ago not to lie ot one another or to keep secrets; yet she had a feeling they both had their share of secrets regarding feelings that they had been keeping, each for their own reasons.
There was a moment of silence that passed between them, neither one moving and barely breathing. The only sound in the room was the sounds of their breaths as they stood there with their eyes locked on one another. Asher wasn’t sure what to think of her declaration. She had never expressed anything like that before, certainly not in this kind of context. But her eyes were clear, her voice had been resolute, and her expression meant she wasn’t joking or trying to placate him in any way. “I’d think you would want one who you see as something other than family or just a friend. You cannot mean to spend you life with your bed empty, Kay.” His voice had dropped, his tone softer, and his gaze never wavered. He wasn’t sure what they were doing in this moment, but he wanted no misconceptions about what they were each meaning.
“Is that how you look at me? As just your best friend? A sister?” Her eyes searched his for an answer. She had though that maybe…possibly…potentially..he had felt the same towards her as she had secretly been feeling for him for a while. Ever since the feeling had become known to her, she had looked for signs, anything to mean that maybe he felt the same. She had thought she had seen glimmer..
“No…” That one word conveyed so much in two little letters. Slowly his arms were uncrossing as he tried to determine what had brought her to these confessions now. Was there an angle that she was playing with this Duke that he was not seeing? Kaylin had never toyed with his emotions or feelings, he was unsure of why she would start now and potentially put everything they had shared over the long years in jeopardy.
“That’s not how I see you either.” Kaylin swallowed, her breath shaky with the nerves that were making her feel as if her entire body were vibrating, but her gaze never faltered. In her ears she could hear the fain whoosh of her own blood in her veins, each beat of her heart bringing another whoosh that threatened to overpower any other sound in the room.. How did a conversation over the revolting Duke get to this point? She knew, it wasn’t just about the Duke, it had been a long time coming and this was just what had finally done it.
Asher’s hands softly landed on each of Kaylin’s hips as he pulled her gently closer. “I won’t be a dirty little secret, Kay. I won’t be made a fool of.” He was well aware of his station in the court and castle. He was her guard and friend. He was not landed gentry or royalty. While the main Palace of Imperium had twisted the old rules of Hell into pretzels, Kaylin’s father was a stickler for the rules.
“Never.” She felt like she couldn’t breathe suddenly as she looked up in his eyes, watching the green overpowering the brown of them. Her thumb swept over his cheek, the light stubble there prickling it gently.
“What are you wanting?” Gently he pulled her closer still. His chest was constricting, breathing harder and his heart seemed to want to thunder and stop simultaneously while he waited for her answer.
She knew the question was going to come, but she didn’t have an answer, not really. “You. But I know that is complicated.” They both knew it was. Neither of them were fools. Both of them knew how her father was. “I don’t know. I haven’t considered…” For the first time her eyes broke with his as they dropped to his broad chest.
“Then that’s only one of us.” That brought her eyes back to his, obviously not a response she had expected. “I have not abandoned you ever, Kaylin. I will not now, but do not think my feelings are something to be toyed with." His expression was serious, and it almost broke her heart. She longed to be with him, to love him the way she wanted to..the way he deserved to be, yet she knew her father would never give them peace. She hated him.
"Asher, I would never…" Kaylin’s eyes closed as she tried to put her thoughts in order. Finally they opened again and looked up at him. "First let's take care of the Duke. Then we can go see my cousins." Asher’s brow went up in question. "Abriella and Cruz were not always royalty and you know that they have upended things in Imperium City. They can change the rules. For them family is important. Maybe…maybe they can help…"
"You'll go to them for me? Leave your gilded castle and this life?" He was cautious about getting hopes up. It would be a large step for her to leave the only life that she had ever known. For him it would not be as hard as it would be for her.
"With you. You're my best friend, and more, Asher. Do you really think I could do anything I'm supposed to without you? Or wouldn't want you with me always?" Once more Kaylin was nervous, her teeth catching her bottom lip and worrying at it. He didn't seem to believe her, and that hurt. She couldn’t really blame him. She was the Princess Royal and had always done what was expected of her.
Asher’s expression softened and he pulled her closer, fully wrapping his arms around her. "Maybe I needed to hear it, Kay. I've sat back and watched you flirt and charm dozens of men for your father, and I want to believe I'm different. You mean more to me than anyone, I would die for you, so for you to say it means something." He admitted, swallowing as his chest still felt constricted.
Her hand softly slid to the back of his head and pulled his forehead down to hers, so that she could look directly into his eyes. There was no doubt, no question, no hesitation in her eyes as she looked in his. All that shone back to him was her affection and the truth of the words she spoke next. "Ash, I would and will defy even my father for you. We will figure it out. You and me. Together."
“So I’m going to be a fashion accessory for your outfit, am I?” Asher was leaned against the wall, his muscular arms crossed over his broad chest. The look on his face was none too pleased, something that his voice echoed as well. “Do I get to be a bracelet or a necklace this time, Your Majesty.” Sarcasm dripped off of the last two words as thick as honey off the comb.
Kaylin blew out a breath between pursed red lips, making her cheeks puff out as she turned from the mirror to face him. She hated fighting with him, HATED it, but she knew that was exactly what they were headed towards. Her light brown hair was pulled back and up in an elaborate style, but a lock chose that moment to fall free across her forehead, requiring her to try and get it back in place as she walked over to him. “Ash, don’t be like that. I need the Duke to think I’m vulnerable. You going in your human form will hardly make me seem alone and possibly impressionable by his charms.” Her head tipped as she looked at him from across the room. They had already discussed this before, many times, regarding previous meetings with other dignitaries from various realms.
“So you can make a deal? Or so you can seduce him?” There was a muscle in Asher’s jaw that wanted to tick so bad, and he was fighting clenching it. Instead, he gave her a sarcastic grin that matched the spite that was starting to creep into his voice. He hated being relegated to a fashion accessory or a trinket on a shelf during such meetings.
“The deal, Ash.” Kaylin’s lips pursed as she blew a breath out hard through her nose. “You know better than to think I want anything else with him. He’s older than my father.” Kaylin’s eyes rolled skyward and she blew out another breath.. No matter how young the Duke looked, there was something about him that Kaylin found off putting and had her senses on edge. She used his age as an excuse because she really had nothing else other than her gut feeling, but her gut feelings were rarely wrong. “You’ll be right there around my neck, getting an eagle eye view of everything. It’s not like I’m wanting anything more than to set up an alliance and I need you there for security and in case there is anything I miss.”
“Then the flirting last time was all an act?” He knew he was being irrationally jealous and pissy, but he didn’t care. His hazel eyes stayed riveted on her as she crossed the room. Not one motion she made escaped his astute perusal.
“Jealous?” She asked a bit smugly as she finally reached him and looked up into those eyes that could rarely lie to her. Her blue ones searched his as they slowly changed from a taupey sage to a truer green, but he wasn’t revealing much today other than a color change. Her eyes narrowed slightly and her tone took on a teasing lilt that she knew would get under his skin a little, “You know who will come home wrapped around my neck and laying on my chest, so why should you be? Even if I do flirt with him?” She caught the tick in his jaw, and it almost made her smirk. She liked getting under his skin when he was tying to keep his mouth shut. It normally resulted in the truth.
His response was a growl, and a cock of his head to the side. “I’m not jewelry and I’m not a pet, Kaylin.” He leaned down closer to her face and watched as her light brown hair changed to be almost as dark as his. She was a chameleon when she wanted to be, a way in which they were alike. Another way was that they were stubborn and he was not happy with the current situation with the Duke of Arcanda. “I don’t appreciate being thought of as either of them. I don’t need reminded of my station.” Normally he kept his tone softer with her, but at the moment he wasn’t in a mood to play nice and his expression and tone were one that would normally have guards in the castle backing up. He had little patience for button pushing that night.
“I know, Ash,” she was done poking him, he was touchier about this situation than she’d anticipated. They’d known each other long enough for her to know that she’d reached a point where things were about to go bad and quickly. “You’re my best friend and my protector. I need you there. I just need to make this deal, so father will stop thinking I need to marry some royalty from another realm to make alliances.” Her eyes pleaded with him to understand as she moved forward a half step and laid her hand on his cheek. “Don’t make me go to him alone, please, Ash.”
For a minute, his teeth ground and he had to bite back what words he wanted to spit out because he knew he didn’t mean them. There were things he couldn’t and wouldn’t say, but that didn’t mean they weren’t going through his head.. Go and watch her flirt and charm a Duke that she couldn’t stand, there wasn’t much he could think of that he would rather do less than that. Having her go alone was out of the question though. Kaylin was gorgeous and more than once he had been forced to intervene when a paramour had gotten over amorous. “FINE.” Asher finally ground out, his eyes shifting even more green as he stared hard at her. He was not liking a single, solitary part of this and he wanted that clear. “But if you end up in his bed…” his word was cut off by her thumb on his lips, her hand having slid off of his cheek and more onto his jaw.
“I won’t.” Kaylin assured him. She didn’t really know if he was jealous or if he had more of just an overprotective nature to him. There were days she thought one way, then days she felt the other. The older she had grown, the less she looked at him as just a friend, but she wouldn’t…no couldn’t…admit that. Not when she wasn’t sure. She had found his egg when she was only six and they had spent their entire youth together. Recently though, things had changed between them, or maybe she just wanted it to have. “You are the only male who has ever, or will ever, share a bed with me, Asher.” Even if it was in the most platonic of ways with him curled up as a small dragon on her other pillow, at the moment.
So much said in one statement. Asher had long ago figured out that Kaylin would one day marry royalty so any interest or attraction he had towards her was futile. It did not stop his heart from yearning that she would return his affections, and there were times he could swear that he saw similar emotions swirling within her blue pools, but he was not foolish enough to act upon that. If he was wrong, it would ruin their friendship and he would lose what he did have with her. He would not risk that for anything.
This is a reminder to everyone out there (and to myself)
IT’S YOUR BLOG. You make the content YOU like. You reblog the things YOU like. If you lose followers over it then those are the kinds of people you shouldn’t hang out with any way!
Asher was found as an egg by a young Kaylin. Now he can grow or shrink to whatever size she needs him to be, which will come in very handy later in their story. There may be some other dragons that come into play as well.
He'd been her playmate, friend, confidant, rock, protector, and so much more. No one knew her better. So when she disappears, there is one who knows that it is not of her free will
Daddie’s little Princess, literally, to one of Lucifer’s sons, Kayline never wanted for anything in Hell. So when she found a dragon’s egg on the beach on day, of course she kept it. She only half expected it to hatch, but when it did, she was thrilled. For the first year, she treated Asher more as an accessory than a sentient being. Then he shifted and she learned his true nature. Over the years they formed a tight bond and close friendship. He has been her ever present companion and guard. Never is she seen without him. The one time she is, things go sideways and things come to the surface that have been long hidden.
Asher was hatched from an egg by Princess Kaylin of what is now Imperium. His loyalty has been to her since birth and he has been an ever present protector and guard. More than once he has killed to protect her and would do so again in an instant. While he is most often seen small enough to ride on her wrist or shoulder, his true size is larger than the castle of Imperium itself. He has buried his feelings deep, not even admitting them to himself. Soon he will have to face them as his beloved Princes is put in mortal danger. When they come to the surface, what will her reaction be?
