Chapter 9 Too beautiful

I stretched my limbs luxuriously and let out a long yawn, which revealed my sharp ivory canines glinting in the light. It felt invigorating, as though the act itself awakened something primal within me.

Doomed from beginning to end.

I closed my eyes; this form is one I will never relinquish, for it is my only chance at freedom.

This male is unworthy of the one he dared to mate with-though I share the blame.

"Your true form is perfection," I shivered, lifting one of my twin tails. 'AS IS YOUR OWN MASTER.'

"You are my mate," he whispered, his gaze fixed on me. I looked away, recalling that day when he was dying. I felt that letting him die might be best, but the shell wouldn't allow it. Half of his soul was already lost, and no one knew. At fifteen, his soul's pain cut me so deeply that it awakened my beast. I rushed into his room; had I not fought against it, I would have truly claimed him as my mate. But the shell intervened, sobbing and sinking her fangs into him, extracting the poison from his soul and healing him. The backlash left her in a deep slumber, while I slept for three months, mending his soul and the injured shell. Young and foolish, she had mated him to save his life, altering him forever. No one knew-only the shell, him, and I. The foolish shell, upon recovering, told him, 'WE WERE YOUNG AND YOU WERE DYING.' I said it offhandedly.

It's a clear fact, but honestly, one that I simply didn't care to acknowledge at all.

"I am your mate." Please, as if that could ever be true, only in his wildest dreams.

He was nothing more than a hollow shell of a person, and they truly deserved one another. But the truth is, if needed, I would not hesitate for a second to eliminate that shell before she had the chance to stake her claim on him. Such a claim would never actually come to fruition, not on my watch. In a moment of distraction, I absentmindedly blew gently on him, and I couldn't help but notice the way he chuckled softly in response.

I decided to close my eyes for a while and focus, creating an invisible shield around us, a protective barrier against any unforeseen threats.

When I eventually woke up and stretched, I was somewhat surprised that none of the remaining thirty had chosen to launch an attack during my slumber; their inaction truly annoyed me. The distinctive scent of warm blood wafted into my nostrils, and a smile crept across my face. My life was, in fact, not so bad. I mused to myself that even if he were to marry a demoness, I would be able to endure it as long as he found genuine happiness in his life. After all, that is what truly matters, isn't it? I am his servant after all.

My gaze then fell upon the male standing nearby, who was emitting a captivating sweet scent of blood, one that was intriguingly tinged with suppressed violence. It was intoxicating, and I licked my lips instinctively, fully captivated by the striking contours of his demonic form. He possessed bulging muscles that rippled with power, thick thighs that hinted at speed and strength, a slender forked tail that swayed slightly behind him, and twisting horns that curved elegantly from his forehead. His long hair cascaded down his back like a dark waterfall, enhancing his formidable presence.

"You slept so beautifully; I had no desire to wake you," he said, his deep voice resonating through the air as he tilted his head slightly, glancing at me from the side. The angle of his face was mesmerizing, drawing me in deeper, while a few drops of blood on his skin glistened tantalizingly, capturing my full attention and curiosity.

It became abundantly clear why I was so irresistibly drawn to him-he was too beautiful, too seductive, with an alluring danger that made my heart race. Each detail about him seemed to weave an unbreakable spell, leaving me utterly entranced and craving more.

"It was a deep sleep," I replied softly as I moved closer to him, my voice barely above a whisper. "You smell absolutely wonderful." I took a deep breath, savoring his scent, and my tongue darted out to lick his face, his impressive horns, and his heavily muscled chest. "There were fifty, with thirty nearby. So many will leave stains on my body, marks that will remind me of the encounters I've had."

"Oh, that's so much. It's really fascinating," he remarked, his curiosity evident in his tone.

"Earlier today felt so different from not long ago," I continued, reflecting on the passage of time.

"You will marry and become king soon. As the only son of the ruling red demon emperor and empress, it is your duty and responsibility," I informed him gently, licking him again to emphasize my affection. He remained silent for what felt like an eternity, contemplating my words, before finally responding, "It is a bothersome thing, this expectation."

"It is your duty as the prince, and you must accept it," I reminded him, trying to instill a sense of obligation.

"I only wish to mate with you alone and watch you swell with my spawn," he whispered, his voice low and filled with longing as he rested his head against my wet nose, compelling me to inhale his unique scent deeply. "We can never go-"

"Why do you always go against me?!" he suddenly exclaimed, his voice turning stern. I stiffened at his outburst, taking a step back as I shifted into the form of the grey demon, looking up at him with wide eyes before I spoke. "I am a servant demon, a halfling. My mother is a she-wolf, my father a shadow demon. I feel unworthy every single day of my existence."

"With you, my spawn would be powerful! Royalty! Your father-"

"My father abandoned his female for another, taking a daughter who could-" I couldn't bring myself to finish that thought and instead faded from sight, retreating into the shadows of my own despair.

My parents were not unlike those on Earth, but here, none cared about me or my well-being. At least on Earth, my father had taught me valuable lessons, but here, he discarded me to serve early, without a second thought. He had taken me from my sick mother, leaving me to fend for myself in a world that felt so cold and unwelcoming. I could have been a princess, lived a better life filled with love and care, and experienced mating with a male who was truly mine, someone who would cherish me!

Unfortunately-

"I love you, you know that. I will fight for you-"

"Do not fight for me. In the eyes of your parents, I am utterly unworthy. As their son, you have no choice but to obey their wishes, no matter how much it pains you."

"Why? Do you want me to suffer like this?" His voice was filled with heartache, each word heavy with emotion, but I felt no pity for him-only a growing frustration with this stupid shell I found myself trapped in!

I was consumed by the turmoil of such emotions that only served to torture me, leaving me in a state of endless conflict and despair.