Chapter 3 -3

Ayla regained her composure, but no amount of supplication could soothe her apprehension.

She had yet to take her eyes off the doors the demon had gone through, expecting his return with unease.

She knew well of the binding contract the crown of Mistfall had with the demon, and for the umpteenth time, she cursed the man who sired her.

Not only had he ruined her mother's life, but despite their efforts to keep their distance from him, he still managed to reach her with his influence and destroy her life too.

Ayla gathered her courage and slowly got off the bed, she wouldn’t let that happen if she could help it. She absolutely wouldn't become the bride of a devil.

While looking over her shoulder constantly, she made her way to one of the windows, parting the curtains to peer out of it.

Ayla wasn't quite sure what she expected to see. Demons lived in hell, a barren plain where sin and cruelty ran rampant. She didn't quite know how she would manage to escape from such a hellscape but she had to try.

The sight of the sprawling city before her was completely unexpected. The buildings touched the skyline and went even farther, showing her a glimpse of the sheer magnitude of the Demon King's kingdom.

For a moment, she was caught off guard, her brows furrowed. Demons living in civilized cities was the very last thing she expected.

The sound of the doors opening startled her out of her findings and in a panic, she hurried back to the bed, gingerly getting on it.

She had to be cautious for now, large cities aside, the selfish nature of demons was well documented. She didn't want to become a victim to a Demon King's whims.

Ayla braced herself as the demon walked back into the bedroom. He had washed the blood off him, it revealed his dusky skin underneath.

His slightly long hair was damp, it framed his hard face, brushing the tops of his powerful shoulders. Nestled in the inky black hair were powerful horns which curved inwards.

Alya clenched her bloody dress in tight fists, her breath felt trapped in her lungs, the Demon King's mere presence emitted a powerful pressure that threatened to crush her.

She lowered her head to the black sheets, braced for whatever was to come. In his presence, all of her bravery fled her slender body, and tears stung her eyes again.

Unaware of the intimidated priestess on his bed, Caede beelined for his bed. He was dressed in his sleep robes, the robe unbelted to reveal his dusky, muscled torso.

He fell on his bed, ready to get a well-deserved rest when he caught a flash of white out of the corner of his eye.

Caede glanced over, reminded of the bride he had brought home, moving with a speed that belied his lazy air, he closed the distance between them.

Ayla flinched at that, it should have been obvious when the demon stole her away but he was immense. When he was right in front of her like this, he was all she could see, his gray eyes like sharpened blades.

Curious about what his bride looked like, Caede ripped off her veil without ceremony, barely hearing the strangled sound she made because he was riveted on her face.

The High Priestess wore an unflattering white robe which couldn't completely hide her slender figure, but her veil completely obscured her features.

He didn't expect to look right into vibrant blue eyes, her delicate features framed by waves of reddish gold hair. Her fiery looks were at odds with her austere carriage.

Ayla glared up at the demon with hateful blue eyes which were misted over with angry tears. Anger quelled some of her trembling, braced to fight if she had to to protect her innocence.

With his curiosity sated, he reached for her, his cold, handsome features giving nothing away.

Before Ayla could react, she was tossed out of the bedroom, the double doors closing behind her.

She stared at the embossed doors blankly in shock for a few moments, slowly understanding that she had been thrown out.

Ayla glanced over at the two ends of the forbidding hallway she stood in, elaborate wall sconces the only sources of light.

She stood nervously next to the doors, she felt naked without her veil but she had been thrown out before she could retrieve it. She had entertained thoughts of escape before but now that she was essentially free to go wherever she could, she found that she couldn't move.

Ayla hardly stood outside for a few minutes before she had company, she recognized the shrouded figure before her but that did nothing to ease her.

Vitalis slowed down at the sight of the human bride standing outside His Majesty's chambers like a mere guard, his lips twisting dryly beneath his mask. King Caede knew nothing of formalities.

"Have you been out here for long?" He showed concern.

They still had a binding contract with Mistfall and the High Priestess was of noble blood, she couldn't be treated like a mere servant.

Ayla had instinctively pressed herself against the wall at the demon's appearance, caught off guard by his question. "No." She found herself replying, her voice sounding strange in her ears.

"Please come with me, I will lead you to your personal chambers." Vitalis offered generously.

Ayla eyed him suspiciously, "I won't be sharing a room with..." She trailed off, her voice soft and cold.

She trailed off because she had been about to refer to the Demon King as an abhorred devil and she knew better.

"Not until the wedding," Vitalis explained, leading the way down the hallway. "I believe your Solarian Faith disapproves of premarital cohabition."

Ayla fell silent, every word the demon spoke drove deeper the nail in her coffin. She scoffed in her heart, what use was there in pretending they respected her faith.

"However, you're simply not sharing a room with His Majesty because he dislikes company while he rests." Vitalis went on, shattering her preconceived thoughts that she held any importance.

The demon stopped a short distance down the hallway, "This will be your personal chambers from now on. Rest assured, there is a connecting door to His Majesty's chambers."