Fix Me Up (Unknown Succubus Series book 2)

Reaffirming an End

"Miss, please wake up now. Breakfast is prepared and waiting." A nervous voice stirred me from my unplanned nap. I cracked open an eye to see a small demon girl with fidgety hands. It took me a moment to process where I was. A frown tugged at my lips when I remembered how much of a mess the confrontation had turned into. Instead of clearing everything up and leaving I'd made things more difficult and confusing.
  "I'm awake, you don't have to stay here if you want to leave. I know how to get to the dining hall." I mumbled tiredly as I sat up on the bed. With the fog of sleep leaving my head I was able to notice I was still in Luke's bedroom. My clothes were sleep ruffled but otherwise still on me. He hadn't touched me at the very least. The dark haired demon had some boundaries he wouldn't cross.
  "I have been instructed to help you dress, Miss. I cannot leave until my task is complete." She almost whispered as her gaze remained locked onto the ground. My eyebrows furrowed in confusion. He'd never had others dress me. The clothes I'd been provided during my time here had been normal and didn't require help putting on. So what changed?
  "I'm quite capable of dressing myself." I informed the girl before climbing out of the bed and wobbling towards the bathroom on shaky legs. My stomach still felt jumbled and nauseous but it had improved over my nap. I relieved myself and avoided looking in the mirror as I washed my hands. When I returned the girl was still there anxiously twisting her hands in her dress skirts. On the foot of the bed was a dress that was held together by ribbons in the back. It would be impossible to tie them up alone.
  "Please allow me to help, Miss." She pleaded softly with a tinge of fear in her face. I sighed but gave her a nod of permission. She would probably be punished if I sent her away and went out as I was. I'd let Luke have his way this last time. The girl didn't fight me when I insisted on undressing and pulling the dress on myself. She tied the ribbons with trembling hands before brushing through my hair gently.
  "I'm not putting that on." I stopped her just as she went to grab a delicate crown encrusted with rubies and black diamonds. It definitely fit Luke's aesthetic and was a way for him to say I was his again. I'd wear the dress he provided but I was not going to wear that crown and let it seem as though I was under his control. I was here to end things as a queen should.
  "But Miss, my king insisted on this." The demon girl argued back in a terrified voice. It broke my heart to see someone so scared. I'd felt like her before. I knew what it was like to fear for your own wellbeing.
  "I won't wear it but I will take it with me. Now go so that you won't catch any blame." My voice was calm as I ushered her out of the room. I slipped on a pair of shoes that matched the lovely shade of amethyst the dress was. It took a moment for me to gather my strength and leave the bedroom. There was an audience awaiting me this time and I had a feeling things weren't going to go well. This wasn't going to end prettily but it was going to end. The chapter in my life where I let myself be controlled was done and closure was going to reaffirm that.
The cold metal of the crown bit into my hands. I kept my head raised high as I walked the familiar halls. There was no time to rethink when I reached the dining hall. Instead I stepped right up to Luke's seat and dropped the crown on the table right in front of him. The hall was silent as the metallic clang rang out. Surprise was palpable in the air. I turned and took a seat myself without meeting a single gaze. Luke had to be fuming but he hadn't said anything yet. I'd openly rejected him before but this was on another level.
"Aspen!" Christian's excited voice squealed out my name and broke the silence. My eyes drifted to the ecstatic little boy. A smile graced my lips for the first time since I'd arrived. Sam was wide eyed next to his brother. He stared at me as though he was seeing a ghost.
A hand wrapped around my wrist and jerked my attention away. I whipped my head around to face Luke. I'd been right in my assumption that he was fuming. Red tendrils of power coiled around him like an aura of rage. "What is the meaning of this?" He demanded in a dark tone.
"As I have already stated, I am refusing your proposal. It is my choice if I want to marry for an alliance and I do not wish to. My kingdom is strong and a political marriage is unnecessary." I announced clearly with a sense of resolve building in my chest.
  "What? Then I will conquer your kingdom and you will be mine as war spoils." Luke snapped angrily.
  "Try that. Because I will be on the frontlines to fight for my people and you will have nothing if I die. Just accept that I am not some naive little Succubus you can control." A serious air had surrounded me as I spoke. This time I would not be intimidated until I backed down. I would hold my ground until the end.
  "You are making a mistake, Aspen." His cold amethyst gaze narrowed viciously as he uttered those words.
  "Our kingdoms are equal in power. I sincerely doubt I will regret rejecting you when there is no advantage in marrying you. It's you who needs me to produce an heir. I need you for nothing." I said as I pried his hand off of my wrist. Those red tendrils flicked through the air furiously. When they neared too close my own power shot out to block them. My chest burned with determination. A small smile twisted up my mouth. I was proud of myself. "This is over, Luke."
  He didn't answer me. Instead he stood from the table and stormed out like an angry teenager. The tension still hung in the air tight enough to snap at the slightest provocation. Servants brought out food hesitantly. I ate before addressing Sam.
  "I need to send a message for an escort to my own kingdom. Will you help me?" My question took him off guard but he nodded in response. Christian rushed over to sit on my lap when he finished eating. He threw his arms around my neck and hugged me tightly.
  "You made him so mad! I love you so much Aspen! Don't leave! I'll be so lonely again." Christian squeezes me tighter as he spoke. A painful sensation gripped my heart.
  "Why don't you come with me?" I offered hesitantly. It wasn't my place to take him but he was too good to be raised by such monsters.
  "Can I? Really?" His face lit up with excitement. I was so focused on his happy little face that I missed the look of unease on Sam's face. He'd paled considerably but kept his lips sealed.
  "Of course, now let's go send that message so that we can leave as soon as possible." I answered as I ruffled his hair with my hand. Sam led me to a secluded study and provided paper and a pen for me to write. He promised the message would be delivered by tonight. I was wary to trust his resources but he couldn't trick me anymore. I was too powerful for him to hurt now. His threats were meaningless and his physical strength wasn't enough to intimidate me.
Once I finished writing the request Sam took it and left. Christian has fallen asleep on the sofa waiting for me to finish. He looked so small sleeping and I couldn't help but smile. I was actually getting him away from this toxic place. He'd be safe and far away from such negative influences.
  Luke was no longer a threat to me. I wasn't scared of being hurt anymore. He couldn't put his hands on me again or use his power. I had my own and it was stronger and under my full control now. Not that I could control when my features shifted fully yet. But I was stronger now and no one would intimidate me again. My friends would be proud, well angry but also a little proud. As I was lost in thought Christian yawned and blinked sleepily up at me. "Can we play in the garden?" He asked sleepily.
  "Of course we can." I replied with a happy little laugh. Christian stretched before rolling off the sofa. He grabbed my hand with his tiny one and pulled me out of the study.
  "My lady, you're back." A familiar voice called out in the hallway. I looked up to see Stark walking toward me leisurely. My gaze narrowed suspiciously. To my surprise he stopped when he saw Christian and bowed his head to the little boy.
  "Tread carefully, demon." I warned with a sharp glare. I hadn't forgotten how he'd tried to play with me every time I'd be alone in a hallway. It was not going to happen again. I'd castrate him if he even tried to touch me.
  "Stark, leave Aspen alone." Christian ordered in a strangely serious voice. The little boy tugged me along in confusion.
  "As you wish." Stark murmured in response but we were already out of earshot. We played chase in the garden until lunch and shortly after Sam informed me the message had been delivered. I was to expect my people to arrive for me in the morning. I just needed to stay out of Luke's sight until then. Risking his murderous rage right now was not on my agendas but it was going to prove impossible.
  I was half asleep when the door to the bedroom I was staying in opened. My sleep blurred vision saw a man in the doorway. Dark brown hair was messily falling across a strangely familiar yet unfamiliar face. I blinked to clear my vision and when I opened them the man was gone. Christian stood in the doorway with a scared expression.
  "What's wrong?" I asked as I sat up in bed. His bottom lip trembled for a moment before he ran across the room to me. He buried his head in my shoulder and held onto me tightly.
  "Can I sleep here? I'm scared." He begged in a broken voice.
  "Yes, you can. Did you have a nightmare? Is it your brother?" I tried to question him but he didn't answer. After a moment I gave up. Christian cuddled close to me as we went back to sleep. It was as we were sleeping that my door was thrown open violently. I shot up in the bed startled. Luke glowered at me.
  "Luke, you will not bother Aspen again. Leave." Christian snapped in that eerily serious voice again. To my shock Luke did leave but not before shooting me a look that hinted he wasn't done just yet. "It's okay now Aspen, shhh let's sleep." Christian mumbled into my ear and yanked on my shoulder until I laid back down. He curled up against me and held on tightly. A strange pulling sensation dragged me back under the waves of sleep.