The Demon's Maid

In Search Of: His Mate

Clover woke up that morning feeling deliciously sore. Parts of her ached that before she met Braith, she hadn't thought could ache in the first place. Seeing Braith side of his bed empty again, she scowled. Clover had really hoped to wake up before him. Grumbling, she decided to go through the hassle and drain of making clothes for herself, so she fastened leggings with the moon phases on them and a baggy shirt with a pentagram on it. Instantly she felt the pull on her body and she sighed. It was going to be a long day.

She fashioned a hair tie and tied her hair up in a ponytail, smiling satisfyingly. She didn't do it often, but she supposed it could be a nice change every now and then. Clover felt like she had cottonmouth, so she decided to steal some toothpaste and a toothbrush. She happened to glance into the mirror and nearly screamed. There, winding up her neck, was a wispy drawing that resembled either a wolf or a dog, and smack dab in the middle was a pentagram. Clover blinked once, then twice, trying to see if she was imagining things but no, she wasn't.

She gently reached up to touch it, hissing at the ache it caused. Clover tried to remember how it would have gotten there in the first. It had to have been last night...but when damnit!? Wait...was it last night? Going through her memories, Clover nearly banged her head against the wall. It had, in fact, been yesterday morning when Braith rocked her six ways to sunday.

Growling and feeling mildly irritated, Clover set out on a hunt for Braith, ready to force answers out of him if need be. It was a solid hour of her scouring before she finally found him. He was holed up in his office, alternating between going through paperwork and furiously typing away at his computer. But, like always, he seemed to sense her presence almost immediately and he looked up, a soft smile on his face. "Did you sleep well?" Clover tried hard to not feel irritated at his tone, she really did, but it was difficult when he sounded like he was struggling not to laugh at her.

She scowled and shoved off the door frame, stalking towards him. "Yes." She grumbled, leaning over his shoulder. "I don't understand why I slept so long in the first place. I'm fine..." Clover sighed.

Braith's hand covered hers over his chest and he rubbed his thumb over her knuckles. He leaned back in his chair and sighed. "You are not fine, love," shivers went down her spine and a smile teased her lips, "your body is still healing. You lost too much blood, nearly drained all of your magic, and would have died had Kaida not been there." Braith's hand tightened around hers, and she realized just how much the battle and her wounds had affected him. "I am not surprised that your body still needs rest."

"I promise baby." Clover leaned over him, placing a kiss on his neck as the nickname passed her lips, feeling foreign to her. "I promise I won't let anything like that happen again." She felt the tenseness leave his body as he relaxed at her words.

"I promise as well," he tilted his head to meet her gaze and the smile on his face was bigger than before, "mate. I make this promise to you, to always protect you. I will not let you get hurt anymore. I would sooner die than let that happen."

Clover's eyes went wide and she gawked at him. It had finally clicked. Him biting her in their passion yesterday, the new, strange mark on her neck. It all made sense. Braith had laid his claim and she was his mate.

His rough, calloused hand caressed her cheek, snapping her out of her mini daze. "Braith are...are you sure?" She whispered, unsure. Did he really love her that much?

He got up from his chair and slowly backed her up until she felt a shelf dig into her back and she had no more room to move back. Clover tilted her head to lock eyes with him and what she saw there nearly made her cry. It was such heartfelt happiness and love, a devotion she never thought someone would ever hold for her. "I am sure, Clover Aria. I love you more than any other. I will always treasure you and make sure to remind you every day that you are mine and only mine."