The Demon's Maid

In Search Of: A Decoy

Clover was down for the remainder of the night. Honestly, Braith had to admit that he felt a little guilty about it. As the time reached four a.m, Braith finally resigned himself to the fact that he wouldn't be getting any sleep. He was too busy wallowing in regret to sleep.

It wasn't that he regretted sleeping with Clover. He didn't regret anything that had happened, but he felt like he could have had more control over himself. Not long after he himself had come down from his high, he had noticed right away that Clover had hand shaped bruises along her body. Hips, shoulders, legs, arms...all of those bruises he had been responsible for and each one of them made him feel guiltier than the last.

I shouldn't have been so rough with her... He sighed, deciding to go downstairs and make himself a cup of coffee. He didn't want to wake Clover and he certainly wasn't going to ask Roran to do it. He was afraid that the next time he let the tiny demon anywhere near a stove, he would blow the whole mansion up.

He got dressed and gently covered her up, kissing her on her forehead he left. As he walked, he lost himself in his thoughts. Last night was incredible...He thought, running his hands through his hair, smirking. When she had yanked on his hair like that, a part of him hadn't expected he nor his demon to like what she did, after all, he never liked it when other women had done it. What makes her so different? What makes last night any different from any other night I had spent with a woman?

Braith got the coffee pot going and he sat down at his island to ponder those questions. He really didn't understand why it was so different. Compared to his night with Clover, others paled in comparison. He hadn't felt that wanted, that out of control before. It frightened him a little but at the same time he craved those sensations. No one had ever made him let go like that, ever. And now this woman had come along and completely flipped everything upside down.

"Gods, it's too early. I need coffee for this." He groaned, hoping his coffee was done, and it was. Gleefully he poured himself a cup and took a few sips, grinning. It wasn't often that he found that would enjoy coffee, but it worked wonders on some sleepless, thought filled nights. These were the nights his mind ran miles a minute and he couldn't get himself to calm down.

"Why...why is it so different!?" He snapped, getting angry.

She's our mate, Braith. That is why. His demon rumbled into his mind.

Braith felt his heart stop. Clover was his mate? There was no way. A mate was someone you loved unconditionally, someone who would stay with you until the end. They felt the need to stay with you, to never leave your side. And to Braith, it felt like Clover couldn't wait to leave him behind.

"Well well well, aren't you awfully broody this morning." So lost was he in his thoughts, he didn't notice the figure that appeared behind him. Shifting quickly, he snarled as his body became that of a large, snow white wolf. He bared his fangs at the stranger, sniffing. Braith began to internally panic when he couldn't catch a scent coming from the intruder.

"Calm down, fur ball." The stranger said, smirking at him from beneath his hood. "I could kill that girl upstairs if you try anything. It would be as easy as killing a newborn babe. Well, only because you knocked her out. Then it would be your fault."

Braith snarled, crouching low. He felt beyond enraged that this stranger would threaten what was his. Studying the stranger, he did notice an aura of power, one that could rival his brothers. Braith knew this man meant business. Transforming back, he glared at him. "What do you want?"

"I've come to deliver a warning. Your time is coming soon, along with your families. You all have ruled this land for too long and now someone else is going to take your throne. Be careful, Braith Dracul. Or you'll lose the one thing that's most precious to you. She'll be gone faster than you could even blink." The stranger started laughing before he disappeared into a cloud of flowery smelling smoke.