The Hideous Secret

DarkHaven

The lands of Darkhaven were easily visible by a black dome. On the inside the ground was darker and things seemed more sinister. Harlow passed through with ease and kept racing foreword--leaping over rocks and twisted thickets.

Aleksandar sat behind her stiff and out of sorts. "The castle will be visible soon...." His voice died away and Allahie blinked in surprise. Towering obsidian walls, lit with red obscure flames it  soared into the sky higher than the surrounding hills. The ground was completely bare on the edge and tore into the ground was a black oily moat. This was the castle of hell and the birthplace of her mate, and possibly her new home and their babe's.

"It's not all that bad. I personally feel its better than Light King Dunniver could ever muster. We have twisted ways but we are family here. Its not about who you know here but what you know. It allows much greater equality."

Hawlor raced faster and with a mighty leap soared over the lifted up moat and into the walls--it took Allahie a moment to realize Aleksandar had used his magic to help throw them in the air.  As they soared he held her tight and once they the cobblestones neatly Hawlor slowed down to a brisk trot.

Despite how dark and scary the castle appeared it was buzzing with live and Allahie sensed joy. The inhabitants were creepy but they went on with life in a normal way--even nodded their heads in respect at Aleksandar.

"I have about one hour to convince Kennith to talk to the king for me. Having found my mate and stopped my war path early he isn't going to be to happy. If all goes poor, Hawlor will find you and get you to safety."

"Alek, no, I may not have known you long but no matter what I am at your side." To her surprised he seemed to relax and then he kissed her cheek.

******

Kennith was surprisingly beautiful despite his war scars covering his face and arms. He had the same pale complexion, but with black hair and blazing blue eyes. The air about him was mysterious and constantly shifting. Kennith was certainly shorter than Aleksandar but his raw magic made up for that.

The Dark Lord panted with anger, "You mean to tell me, she made the baby hers!? After you completely stopped raiding their village."

"I thought you wanted...."

"I wanted you to find your mate! But I still wanted the baby!"

"Kennith," Aleksandar growled, "That could never have happened, besides I've come to a conclusion that I didn't get pregnant on my own. When I first started changing it was horrible since I could sense the being inside me wasn't of my own magic. While dark it didn't comply with me. You got me pregnant."

"You know how I feel about you!" Kennith roared, "You are just like my dead mate! I tried so hard not to, to not but it was so easy to get you pregnant! All I had to do was swirl a single strand of my darkness into your drink! After the king proclaimed our marriage I could have taken you, and made up for that!"

Allahie could sense Aleksandar struggling to contain his anger to not throw out an insult or start screaming with fury. "Well its not yours any more Kennith."

"I'm aware of that," the Dark Lord snarled, "Though I still detect traces of my magic. You check to see if your pregnant with more than one?"

"That's what I'm here for, and the fact LightHaven is after me."

"WHAT!?" Kennith howled, "How do those bastards still not know the baby would be neutral with no magic! Light and Dark would cancel out!" 

"Look I can confer with you and the king later but you have to help me. You know how insulted he would be after he ahem 'generously' gave my hand and body in marriage to you."

Kennith bared his teeth, "I'll cover you but your not going to like it."

"Tell me the cost."

"To visibly cover her stench...." Aleksandar growled in an animalistic way and Kennith took a step back before continuing.  "I am going to have to sleep with you, and fully mate you. There is no other way. Rathgar will smell right through my magic. After we tell him about the Light Kingdom for he will be pleased for a reason to attack them, you will proclaim to him she's your mate. I will step foreword and generously decline the wedding offer."

"There is a but...."

"If my magic changes the babe or one of the babes depending on how knocked up  you are, it is mine."

Allahie gritted her teeth but Aleksandar squeezed her hand. There was no other way. The light kingdom was already on their asses.

Aleksandar looked to her his golden eyes glowing with misery he wanted her support and consent, so Allahie nodded. He was going to hate being mated upon more than she was. The fact he was willing to for his family, even risk one of their babes just to keep them alive and out of the way of the king, she could consent with him.