You Are Mine [A Dark Fairy Romance] Bk.1 (EDITED)

Chapter 10

The Royal family of Pixie Hollow was enjoying the late afternoon sun in their meticulously manicured back garden, the air alive with the gentle hum of tiny wings and the sweet fragrance of starbloom. Queen Titania was overseeing the pruning of a luminescent rose bush, while King Titus, his ample belly preceding him, was engaged in a lively game of chase with their youngest daughter, Princess Lily, her laughter like tinkling bells. Princess Diane, elegant and composed, sat sketching in a leather-bound journal nearby. Their peaceful tableau was shattered without warning.

One moment the air was filled with floral scents and childish glee, the next, a dark tear ripped open in the very fabric of the sky above their garden, and a figure plummeted down with surprising grace.

Literally.

Daemon landed smoothly on his feet on the soft mossy lawn, the impact barely disturbing a nearby patch of glow-in-the-dark mushrooms. He straightened his impeccably tailored dark suit, a faint wisp of shadow dissipating around him.

"Hello," he said, his voice a low, resonant drawl that seemed to steal the very air from their lungs. "Hope I'm not interrupting anything important." His gaze swept over the stunned royal family, a hint of amusement in his dark eyes.

"Daemon," King Titus managed to stammer, his jovial face now etched with a mixture of shock and dawning fear.

"I feel honored that you remember me," Daemon replied, a sardonic smile playing on his lips.

"What do you want?" King Titus puffed out his chest, attempting to shield his family, though his considerable girth offered little actual protection against the formidable figure before him.

"Let's talk Rhaena. Can we do that?" Daemon's tone shifted, becoming deceptively reasonable. "I would hate to hurt her family, so let's do this peacefully." With a subtle flick of his wrist, a sleek, black chair materialized behind him. He sat down, crossing one long leg over the other, his gaze unwavering.

"I heard she's getting married," he continued, his eyes fixed on the pale faces before him.

"To Prince Arden, yes," King Titus confirmed, his voice trembling slightly.

"Was getting married to him. You see, there was a little problem." Daemon adjusted the cuffs of his coat, his movements deliberate and unnervingly calm. He settled a cold, piercing gaze on the king. "His head went rolling."

"You monster!" Queen Titania gasped, her hand flying to her mouth, her other arm instinctively pulling a wide-eyed Princess Diane closer.

"I'm a monster, yes. Not going to deny it," Daemon conceded, his smile widening, revealing the sharp points of his canines. "But you see, Rhaena is mine. She belongs to me."

"If you hurt my daughter, I wi-" King Titus began, his voice rising in a surge of protective fury.

"Will what? Choose your words correctly," Daemon interrupted, his voice dropping to a low, dangerous whisper that sent a shiver down their spines.

King Titus bit his lip, his blustering anger suddenly extinguished by the sheer menace emanating from the man before him. He fell silent.

"Good boy." Daemon's gaze swept over the trembling family. "Rhaena is not a princess of this little kingdom. She's a princess of the Fae Realm. She's my queen, and I will strike down and set the world on fire if someone even thinks about trying to take her from me."

He stood up, his movements fluid and predatory, and with another flick of his wrist, the portal reappeared behind him, swirling with dark energy.

"I make promises that I keep," he stated, his gaze lingering on their terrified faces.

With that, he stepped through the shimmering portal, the dark energy swallowing him whole as it sealed shut behind him. He raked a hand through his dark hair as he materialized back in the familiar gloom near the waiting car.

Elias, ever watchful, looked at him for any sign of blood or disarray, but saw none. "Go good?" he inquired, his voice low.

"Very," Daemon replied, a hint of satisfaction in his tone.

He opened the car door and slid into the back seat. Time to go and retrieve Rhaena. He hoped she was getting along well enough with the women at the safe house. Some of them could be... difficult.

The drive back to the Fae Realm felt like an eternity, the familiar shadowy landscapes doing little to soothe his impatience. Opening another portal so soon would drain his energy, a price he wasn't willing to pay just yet. He tapped his gloved fingers impatiently against the leather seat, the image of Rhaena's surprised and slightly fearful face flashing in his mind. He needed to see her, to ensure she was safe.