The Lost Heir

Chapter 40

RAVEN POV

I never wanted him to get hurt. I didn’t mean it. So why is it what happened? Amon laid unmoving at my feet. Marax to my left, missing part of his head and my dad, right next to Ami, with a gaping hole in his chest. Looking down at the pooling blood that surrounded their bodies, I noticed for the first time that Amon looked as though his heart was missing.

No! Dropping to my knees, I tried to cover my face only to find my hands covered in a red, sticky substance. Blood. Their blood. I soon became a weeping mess on the ground. How did this happen? I didn’t want them to die and leave me. I didn’t want to hurt them yet I did.

The loud sound of heavy footfall caught my attention. Through my blurred vision, I saw a large person approach. Wait not a person, a demon. I’m not sure how tall this demon was, but he had red scaled skin with a pair of half curling horns protruding from its forehead. Wiping my eyes and face dry, I watched in silent horror as the demon morphed into Leraje. Why the hell is he here when I’m at my lowest?!

“Don’t cry for these fool freak. They were only holding you back.” He sneered, spitting on their bodies. “Come. And I will show you everything you need to.” He licked his lips suggestively.

Growling low, I launched at him, slamming my head into his stomach. With him on the ground with me, I repeatedly slammed my fist in his face, each lash harder than the last. Coughing up blood, all he did was laugh. His hands reached up, grabbing me behind my neck. Bring my head down, he forcefully kissed me, the copper taste of his vile blood in my mouth. Spitting it out I jumped off him.

“Never touch me again!” I screamed.

“Why freak?” his voice was a soft whisper, which was unlike him.

“Raven.” The voice that called me sounded different.

“Raven. Come on.” Why is it so familiar?

“Come on little Raven. Wake up.” Ami!

My eyes flew open and I jolted up. Amon was there with me, rubbing soothing circles on my back. Seeing him beside me, I threw my arms around his shoulders and kissed him. I wanted to make sure he was real. He was caught by surprise at my actions but that didn’t stop him from wrapping an arm around my waist and pulling me closer. Licking the edge of his lips, I silently begged for access to his mouth. He obliged willingly. My tongue entered his mouth.

This taste. It’s Ami. My Ami. Pushing him back, I straddled his hips. His free hand went to my hip, slowly hiking my nightgown, gathering it there. His hands moved from their position to travel down my down, to my legs. Gripping me, he ground our hips together. A soft moan left my lips. Taking advantage of it, he kissed down my jaw to my neck, gently nibbling the soft skin. Without thinking, pressed my core against the bulge in his pants. Pleasure shot through me and I wanted more of it.

Pulling back slightly, I grabbed his jaw, tilting his head back, only to trail my lips down his neck to his chest. A strangle groan escaped from him, his grip on me tightening. I had reached his navel with my lips, peppering kisses over the skin, still heading lower. Before I reached my destination, I was yanked back up his body, his lips claiming mine once again.

When we finally broke free from the kiss, we were both panting. I laid on his chest, his fingers in my hair, lazily playing with the strands.

“Raven, are you alright?” Amon asked, concern lacing his voice. I nodded against his chest. “So then why did you attack me? Not that I didn’t enjoy it.”

I guess I have to tell him about the dream. Even though all I wanted was to forget it. “I dreamt you had died. Not only you. But Marax and my dad as well. And that it seemed as though I was the one to kill you. Leraje was in my dream, telling me that you were holding me back. I don’t want to be separated from you Ami.”

“Hey don’t cry. I’m not going anywhere.”

Cry? I wasn’t even aware that I was doing that. But true to what he said, the sides face were wet and so was his chest. His arms wound itself around my frame, holding me closer to his chest.

“That dream won’t come true little Raven. I will deal with Leraje when the time comes. Right now he has the trust of the council and that needs to be taken away. But soon he will no longer be able to torment you, awake or asleep.” His words sounded more like a promise than anything else.

Lifting my head off his chest, I asked. “Do you promise Ami?” I hated that I sounded scared.

“Yes. I won’t let that demon touch you again.”

He sounded so sure. So I will choose to believe him. Rubbing my face against his chest, I closed my eyes and drifted off to sleep.

°°°°°

I awoke the next morning, with Amon’s arms still around me. We had stayed in the same position the remainder of the night. I do hope he wasn’t uncomfortable while I slept peacefully. I tried my best to ease off him but his arms around me only tightened.

“Not yet Raven. Today is a busy day for me. Let me sleep a little longer.” He buried his nose in my hair as he said that.

Smiling, I stretched and gently kissed his chin. Snuggling up to him, I enjoyed the heat radiating off his body, being lulled by his soft snoring. Just as I was about to drift off to sleep once again, a loud knock on the door startled me awake. Groaning under me, Amon shifted before sitting upright. He pulled me to his lap as he sat up.

The door opened and Marax entered, looking unabashed as he did. “Its time to get up your Majesty. Good morning my lady.”

I watched as he placed a robe on the bed near Amon’s legs. He then went into the bathroom and it sounded like he was drawing a bath for Ami. This is the first time he’s done this while I was awake. What’s changed? When he was finished, he returned and made his way to the wardrobe, withdrawing a suit of clothing for the day ahead for Ami.

“Marax, what is all of this?” Ami growled low.

The smaller demon showed no fear, but he did lower his head in a bow. “Seeing as how she will be your queen soon, this is how your morning will be from now on.”

I felt hot air touch my nape as Ami sigh. the arm around my waist moved to my knees while his head dropped to my shoulder. He buried his face against the crook of my neck.

“So you won’t be giving her any privacy Marax?” his breath tickled my skin.

This time the demon looked up briefly, scanned me then lowered his head again. “If she were in A state of undress when I opened the door, I would have left. But she’s fully dressed, with some bedhead. I'm guessing you never finished last night's tussle in bed.”

Did he have a death wish? How could he say something like that? This time Amon placed me on the bed before running after Marax. The smaller demon ran for the door, quickly opened it and bolted down the hall. I did the only reasonable thing to do, I laughed.

THIRD PERSON POV

Raven's laughter was heard from down the hall. Leraje was passing on his way to visit the ancient chambers. He wanted to once again try to open them. But unfortunately for him, only the King could open the doors to the chambers. But the sound of Raven's melodious laughter stopped him. She sounded happy.

“Why the fuck is she happy?!” he shouted at

no one.

For the past few weeks since he tasted her, she was withdrawn and seemed she would break would the slightest touch. How did she recover? He was so close to breaking her spirit this time. So close. He will just have to try again. And this time he will succeed. He just needed to get her away from the fucking protector she had.

Walking down the halls, he tapped a clawed finger against his chin. “How do get her away from him? It’s not going to be easy.”

As he walked, he was greeted by the council members. A demonic, tooth grin formed on his lips. That’s right. He has the ear of the council. He can have them reject her as the new queen. Prove that she is unworthy to carry the new bloodline, or old since she is a Valac. A fact that the council member would never come to know. Her father and that foolish excuse of a King want to keep her a secret. Foolish idiots. With his plan forming he made his way out the castle.