The moon hung low and silver over the Spirit Kingdom's whispering woods as Hal urged his steed forward. The ancient trees glowed softly with spirit-lights, and fireflies danced like living stars between the leaves. He dismounted outside the small cottage nestled in a clearing, heart pounding with a storm of hunger, love, and dread.
Saskia stood waiting by the door, bathed in moonlight. She was a vision of gentle innocence—a simple green linen gown hugging the soft curves of her untouched body, a woolen shawl draped loosely over her shoulders. Her long brown hair fell in loose, tousled waves down her back, and her wide grey eyes lit up the moment she saw him. A shy, radiant smile curved her full lips.
"Hal," she whispered, voice breathy with joy and longing. She ran to him without hesitation, throwing her arms around his neck.
He caught her easily, lifting her slightly as their lips crashed together. The kiss started tender but quickly ignited. Saskia gasped softly against his mouth, her inexperienced lips parting under the insistent pressure of his. Hal groaned low in his throat, one large hand sliding to the small of her back, pressing her flush against his hard, muscular frame. His other hand cupped the back of her head, fingers threading through her silky hair as he deepened the kiss.
Their tongues met—hers tentative and sweet, exploring with innocent curiosity, while his was bold, hungry, teaching her with every slow stroke. Saskia whimpered softly, the sound sending fire straight to his core. She tasted like wild honey and fresh rain, and he drank her in, devouring her soft moans as he backed her gently against the warm wooden wall of the cottage. The night air carried the scent of jasmine and her own intoxicating essence, driving his demonic instincts into a frenzy.
"Hal…" she breathed when he finally pulled back just enough to let her gulp air. Her cheeks were flushed deep pink, lips swollen and glistening. Her hands trembled as they clutched at his surcoat, innocent desire shining in her eyes. "I've wanted this all day. Clan duties were too demanding?" she asked, cupping his face with her small palm.
"Yes." He nodded, snuggling to the warmth of her palm. He had told her he went to handle clan duties as the second in command to the clan chief. A lie. However, it could be very much likened to the truth. He was second in command to a ruler, the ruler of the Demon Realm, not some clan chief. The truth was yet to be unhooded and till he was ready to do so, he remained a simple panther Spirit of the Kingdom.
"I thought about coming home to you all day." He smiled sweetly, then kissed her palm.
"Coming home to me?" her cheeks flushed at the sound of that. "But this is not your home," she withdrew her palms from his chin. "It belongs to Vesper and I. I only allow to come around because Vesper now lives in Emberbloom palace, it is still not your home." She pouted.
"I sure got ahead of myself right there, forgive me." He took her knuckles and pressed a sweet kiss on them.
"That does not mean that this cannot be your home." Her grey peepers stared intently at him, her heart throbbing with each word as she was too anxious too speak but she had to. "We can make this place our home, would you like that?"
He answered with another searing kiss, slower this time, savoring every second. His mouth trailed from her lips to her jaw, then lower, pressing hot, open-mouthed kisses along the delicate column of her neck. Saskia tilted her head back with a soft, surprised moan, exposing more of her pale skin to him. Hal inhaled deeply—her scent was pure addiction: warm honey, wildflowers, and the sweet, untouched musk of a woman awakening to passion. His tongue traced her racing pulse, slow and deliberate, tasting the salt of her skin as she shivered violently against him.
A low, possessive growl rumbled from deep in his chest. He nipped gently at the sensitive spot where her neck met her shoulder, then soothed it with his tongue, licking and sucking until she was panting, her fingers digging into his shoulders. One of his hands slid down her side, tracing the curve of her waist and hip through the thin linen, never venturing too far, but enough to make her tremble with new, overwhelming sensations.
Saskia's breathing came in short, needy gasps. "Hal… that feels… oh my, I don't know what to do with all this heat inside me," she confessed shyly, voice trembling with both embarrassment and desire. "I've never felt this way before. Only with you. I want… I want us to be a family. To make this place our home."
Her words twisted something deep in his chest even as lust burned hotter. He pulled back slightly, black eyes darker with restrained hunger, forehead resting against hers. His hands framed her face tenderly, thumbs brushing her flushed cheeks.
Yet the truth clawed at him. She had no idea he was no panther spirit. He was a high demon—second only to Lucifer—born of fire and shadow, a member of the most feared and brutal race in all the realms. How could he tell this gentle, naive girl that the man she loved was a beast capable of unimaginable darkness?
"I know I have no status or wealth of my own, I am not even a spirit. Our love is one that defies fate itself, the humans have long had a history of betraying spirits. But I promise you Hal, I will never betray you, our love or what we share. I love you so much Hal and I wish to spend the rest of my life with you, as your wife. To build a home with you, on the foundation of love and trust. Tell me, would you like that too?"
His gaze held hers. Her grey eyes peeking from her long lashes. He saw the sincerity and earnest yearning in them. She love him, no doubt and he loved her even more. However, he doubted their relationship was something this love could save. It seemed strong and intoxicating right now, prompting her to shamelessly profess her feelings to him. She was outrightly proposing to marry him and he could not be happier. He only felt a great sting in his heart because of the fact that he was living a lie with her. She loved Hal the panther spirit, not Hal the demon.
He knew this day would come and had believed he would know how best to handle it once it did. But now it was here, he could do nothing but stare back into her eyes, his gaze holding a mix of desire and sadness, he could feel tears begin to well up in his eyes but quickly turned away before she could notice.
"I know this is all over whelming for you right now," she spoke slowly, her gaze moving from him down to the ground. She believed her words and confession might be too much for him to bear. "You do not need to give me an answer now, she continued, "I just wanted to let you know how i feel and if you do not feel the same way, that is alright."
She stepped back after speaking, making to walk back into the cottage but with a strong grip on her left arm, he pulled her to himself.
She gasped, her forehead loosing the feel of the night's cool breeze for his raspy hot breath as he spoke to her.
"You are my mate Saskia so naturally I am bound to spend my whole life by your side." He lifted her chin to meet her eyes before he continued.
"I seek nothing more than to build a home with you."
"So your answer is yes then?" she smiled.
"Of course," he creased her cheeks. "It is yes and it will forever remain yes. Yes to you and yes to whatever you wish for even if I have to reach for the end of the moon to get it for you. I would bow at your feet Saskia if it so pleases you, my life is yours."
She was lost in his words and the deep black sea of his orbs but was called back by the racing of hot tears down her flushed cheeks.
"That is too much Hal," she sniffed, "I just need you to love me back and remain by my side." she cupped his face then tiptoed and pressed a sweet kiss on his lips.
"We are going to make the most beautiful children," her smile remained as radiating as ever. "I do not care if they come out human or spirit or hybrid, so long as they as ours, I will love them and cherish them for as long as I live." she kissed him again.
"I do not care if your clan members accept me or not Hal, you love me and I love you, that is all that matters." She held his large palms and kissed them lightly.
"Vesper would be very surprised to hear that we are getting married," she kept talking, not noticing that his whole eyes were slowly becoming darker.
"My parents would have loved you, I am so sure," she traced him arm muscles up to his shoulder then finally looked up to his face. The sight her eyes met terrified her a bit, dark circles engulfed his eyes as they looked tainted with crimson and his expression held nothing but wild lust and desire.
"Are you alright?" she swallowed her fear and cupped his face.
"I have to go now Saskia," he spoke quickly, but it was just enough time to reveal his elongated fangs to her and this even frightened her more.
She had not seen his true form before and would really not mind seeing it now. She had long asked him to reveal it to her but he always refusing, giving one excuse or the other. Maybe today he was finally willing and she was ready for it.
"I am not scared Hal." She blurted, wrapping her arms round his waist and staring directly at his face. "I have long anticipated to see your true form and I am not scared at all."
"My true form is very hideous Saskia, you are not ready for it yet, trust me." He tried explaining calmly but her resolve was solid.
"Oh don't be ridiculous." she scoffed. " You are a panther Hal, what could be so hideous about that?"
She awaited his answer for long seconds but he simply remained quite and only spoke again when she made to speak. "I am not a panther, Saskia."
"What?" her eyes widened.
"I am not a spirit at all." he continued, his breathing measured as he spoke as calmly as he could.
"What do you mean?" confusion sparked in her eyes, her grip around his waist loosened a bit.
"I am a demon, Saskia. High Demon Halerian Vemort of the demon realm, second only to the Demon lord Lucifer, a being of darkness."
His words were heavy on her or were her knees going weak, she could not tell. She only knew that right after he was done speaking, her head found it difficult processing it all and her eyes decided to embrace the void.