Bride of the Demon King Page 3

  She ran her hands down his cheeks, feeling the texture of his skin that was slightly denser than her own. “Were you always this colour?”

  He shook his head carefully in her grip. “No, I was a simple and slightly horned human with gold eyes when I was young. When you were born, my wings sprouted and my skin darkened. When you started your moon cycle, my horns grew.”

  He leaned in and whispered in her ear, “And when you had your first climax, unheld, untouched, and alone, I kicked my concubines out of my chamber for two weeks.”

  Emrie’s eyes widened. “I had forgotten about that.”

  “How did it happen?”

  She shivered as he slowly began to circle her. “I do a lot of riding, and I have to dress in a hurry. That particular day, I had to run out to assist a midwife with a stalled birth. I pulled on my outer garments but forgot a layer. The friction of the fabric and the saddle caused the climax.”

  He was behind her now. “Did you enjoy it?”

  “It was startling. It was nearly pain but something else. I had to put it out of my mind and get to work. I was needed.”

  He slowly moved a hand around her waist, and he pressed his long fingers against her. “Would you care to feel it again?”

  She gasped and placed her hands over his as he began to rub at her clit. He lifted her left hand and wove his fingers through hers.

  Harrow kissed her neck and slowly ran his tongue along her skin. His fingers continued to rub at her, and the spiral of lust and magic swirled outward again.

  She felt the slick honey ease from her as her breathing hitched and staggered. A slight groan and grunt came out of her throat. She blushed. This lacked dignity.

  He bit her gently, and the spiral spiked, bowing her back as she gripped his hand and wrist tightly. The high-pitched sound that emerged from gritted teeth was unfamiliar, but he continued to stroke and press at her mound until she buckled forward and pushed at his hand to stop the relentless sensation.

  He wouldn’t stop, so she leaned to the right and bit his arm. He let go, and she staggered forward, catching herself on the desk with both palms, her lungs struggling for air while her body continued to pulse.

  “Was it still a surprise?” He asked it innocently.

  She turned her head and flushed when she saw him licking the fingers of his right hand.

  “No, it wasn’t a surprise, but I wasn’t expecting... that.”

  He smiled wickedly. “Neither was I. I look forward to doing it again when you aren’t so heavily dressed.”

  “This is the uniform of my occupation.”

  “No, as of today, you are the Demon Queen of Spanel Demesne.”

  She blinked. Emrie was stunned. He was right. Her time being just a healer was over. “Well, hells.”

  He chuckled. “Indeed. A change of wardrobe is in your future.”

  She gave him a dark look. “I am not going to be wearing those flimsy, transparent silks that you had the concubines in.”

  “As tempting as the idea is, it would be inappropriate. A seamstress will come in a few hours, and you can choose something you consider correct for your purposes.”

  Her body felt like it was under her control, for now, so she stood up straight and gathered her hair up.

  “No, leave it.”

  She snorted. “It is damned inconvenient, and you already know that I am your queen.”

  He grinned. “I know it. Why did you take Tyda on as your secretary?”

  “She has been raised near a demon lord, and she knows their ways. What we do will not shock her, and now that she is a demoness of her own line, she has the power to choose her own lord when she wishes to.”

  He moved to her and wrapped a hand around her neck again. “How did you do that?”

  “It is my particular gift. It has occurred in queens before. They can create lesser demons from those who are worthy. If they are not worthy, the magic will not shape them.”

  He blinked. “There is no record of that. Courts have been made up of lesser demons, but their origin is supposedly natural.”

  “You are reading books about queens, not the diaries of them. It is a different perspective.” She smiled. “The propagation queens made courts of the most loyal and trustworthy men. They also kept their own most trustworthy women close and transformed them as well.”

  “How?”

  “The queens give. That is what they do. We give you a sexual outlet—”

  “Yes, please.” He grinned.

  “Hush. Sexual, social, and emotional outlets, we catch what the demon kings spill over. We give them strength, power, stamina, and wisdom. A demon king can only be as good as his queen.”

  He wrapped his arm around her and pulled her in close. “In that case, I may be in line to rule the world.”

  A knock at the door brought their attention around. In unison, they yelled, “What?”

  Reemor opened the door, and he cleared his throat. “With the harem dismantled, where will Miss Tyda reside?”

  Emrie answered. “How large are the queen’s quarters?”

  “A bedchamber, a dressing room, and a study.”

  She frowned. “Is there a room next to mine that is not occupied?”

  “Yes. There is a guest chamber.”

  She smiled. “Wonderful. Air it out and put her there. When the women have left, I will take a look at the harem and tell you what my plans are for the space.”

  Reemor blinked and looked at Harrow. “My lord?”

  “Do as she says. This is her home now, and she will shape it to her purpose.”

  Reemor looked startled as if he thought that Horrow wouldn’t carry through with his promise. “Yes, my lord.”

  When the retainer left, Emrie looked up at Harrow. “He isn’t going to like me very much.”

  “He is used to women who fawn over me, not to those who are emotionally mature.”

  She grinned. “I never fawn. I do look forward to exploring you thoroughly. There might be a few looks of admiration there.”

  He chuckled and raised his brows. “Would you like me to strip here? I will gladly do it.”

  She placed a hand on his chest and measured the beats of his heart. “I know you will. You are giddy with discovery today, but I have been planning for this moment since I was a child.”

  His golden eyes grew wide, and he looked a little embarrassed. “This moment?”

  She laughed. “The moment when I was with you.”

  He ran his hands down her back. “You weren’t scared?”

  “No. My guardians had the luxury of being terrified, but whatever made me, made me for you, and you for me. We were always a set, which needed each other to reach our goals. Now we can.”

  He smiled wryly. “You don’t even know what my goals are.”

  “I know that you do the best for your people. The city is clean, the villages are well tended and have their own basic wells and sanitation. These are not things that a careless or angry lord provides.” She tapped her fingers on his chest.

  “Can you make me fly?”

  The question came out of nowhere. “Why?”

  “Because these wings are only useful for gliding and short-range hops, and weapons. Flying is my dream.”

  She blushed and tried not to look at him. “You will be able to fly under some very specific conditions.”

  He put a finger under her chin and lifted it, so she faced him. “What would make you blush at this point?”

  “Pregnancy. I would have to be carrying the next generation for your wings to evolve for that purpose. It will also make you larger and turn you into a complete demon king and me a breeding queen.”

  He leaned back. “I thought demon kings were sterile.”

  She cocked her head. “That is truth and a lie. Most are sterile because they take weak queens. She has been raised to only know what he thinks she should and therefore has no proper sense of self. Her body has no power. These queens haven’t even developed their defensive weap
ons, and that is the first thing that you do when you are threatened.”

  “How did you develop your weapon?”

  She smirked. “I was seventeen, and it was a rapist in a brothel who thought that the healer costume was a turn-on for his benefit. The wounds from the weapon don’t heal, so I use it sparingly.”

  “You drew blood on Miska.”

  “And if she apologizes to me, I will allow the wound to heal.”

  “What if she doesn’t? She can be headstrong.”

  “If she doesn’t, she will continue to have a slow line dripping blood until she returns to ask for forgiveness.”

  He stroked her back slowly. “Let’s hope that she does.”

  They remained in silence for a few minutes and then destroyed the food he had brought in. They had a lot to do for their first day and the first day was just reaching noon.

  “These are really good. I normally have to fry an egg and make a sandwich in between clients. This is lovely.” She used her right hand only and completed her half of the spread.

  They were going to face the afternoon on full stomachs. The demon queen did not like getting the munchies.

  Chapter Five

  The embarrassment of being in Harrow’s arms was nothing compared to being measured and assessed by the seamstress. Tyda was with her and being measured the same way. It was a bit of common nudity that Emrie didn’t like but was glad she had a buddy for.

  “The harem had simple needs. What are you looking for to lure your demon lord?”

  Emrie rapped out her requirements, and the woman widened her eyes and took notes.

  “I will also need a very washable outfit for house calls. Folks are not fussy who they bleed on.” She smiled tightly.

  The seamstress kept her head down and sketched. “What colours are you looking for?”

  Emrie smiled. “Dark bronze. I wish to honour my lord in clothing if nothing else. Tyda will be wearing amber with gold trim.”

  The seamstress’s head came up. “She is not wearing the colours of the lord’s house?”

  Emrie pressed her lips together in a small smirk. “She is wearing the colours of my house. Eventually, our households and staff will be blended, but for now, she and she alone is under my protection. The men will have to fend for themselves.”

  The seamstress blinked slowly. “I see. So, my lady gets the bill?”

  “No, the bills are sent to Reemor, just as they always are, Lilidara.” Harrow walked in as if he owned the building.

  Emrie ran her hands through her hair and provided herself with a light cloak for modesty. There were benefits to having locks that felt like silk and acted like steel.

  Tyda was wearing a light robe for the fitting, but she squeaked when Harrow entered the room.

  Harrow ignored her and walked up to Emrie. “You are very fast with that. I only caught a glimpse of glory.”

  She wrinkled her nose. “You were trying to glimpse a little too earnestly. Is there something I can do for you?”

  His eyelids drooped, and he ran one finger down her torso. “Ah, so many things, but I am simply here to tell you that we have need of your services.”

  She cocked her head. “What?”

  “There is a dignitary who is travelling with his wife. He has suffered an injury, and his wife has gone into labour carrying him back to the stronghold.”

  His words let her know that she was dealing with non-humans. That was fine, they would not be her first. “I will just get dressed and attend to them. Where did my supplies end up?”

  He smiled and stepped closer. “Your equipment is in the rooms previously occupied by the harem. It has been unpacked for you with the greatest care. Your patients are waiting for you in the outer chamber.”

  She grinned, grabbed his horns, and pulled him in for a kiss. She could feel the outline of his musculature through his clothing and her hair. The urge to continue, no matter those viewing, was so extreme that she pushed herself away. He was holding her tightly, so it took some doing.

  She pushed him back by his horns. “Down, boy. Now, where are my clothes?”

  The seamstress snorted. “I burned them. I have had my assistant run this up while we talked.”

  The long tunic was cut deeply in front and left the curves of her breasts on display. The sleeves were split, so as she raised her hands, her forearms were clear. The open sides from the mid-hip down gave her plenty of space to move.

  Lilidara scowled. “And since you insisted, here is the skirt that goes under it.”

  Emrie shimmied into the full skirt and tied it around her waist before she smoothed the tunic back into place. Once that was done, she pulled her hair out and worked it quickly into a thick braid.

  Harrow had taken a seat, and he sighed. “Aw, you put all my toys away.”

  She chuckled. “They are just away, not gone, and if you refer to me as a toy again, I will turn you from demon lord to eunuch.” Her smile was benign and pleasant.

  He sat straight. “Can you do that?”

  She walked up to him and ruffled his hair. “Push me and find out.”

  Tyda had scrambled into her clothing while Harrow’s attention was fixed elsewhere. “I will take you to the chambers, my lady.”

  Harrow stood. “I can take her.”

  Emrie gave him a bland look. “If they haven’t removed any trace of your coupling with another woman in those chambers, you had better not be within my sight when I scent it.”

  He paled. “Ah, right. I will have the cleaners sweep through it a few dozen times.”

  She nodded and looked to Tyda, winking, before turning back. “Make sure that they do the window ledges and seats as well. As well as every flat surface.”

  He went from pale to a rich crimson. “I will remain elsewhere.”

  “You are as wise as you are handsome.” She inclined her head to the seamstress. “Thank you, Lilidara.”

  Lilidara bowed. “I did not think that your ideas would work, but seeing them in place, I now understand. I will have my entire shop working on your order.”

  “Thank you, but please, excuse me, I believe I have a patient or two. Tyda?”

  Tyda nodded and led the way out of the new queen’s quarters and through several corridors to the harem. At least they weren’t next to Harrow’s quarters. That would have irritated her.

  Ogres. The couple was ogres. Emrie bustled in, and she took in the lacerations on the face of the male and the puddle on the floor beneath the female.

  “Hello, I am Healer Emrie, mage and demon queen. I believe that we should get you both comfortable. Lady, will you help me get your mate into a chair? Then, we can settle you in once I have stitched his face back together.”

  The ogress grinned, exposing terrifying teeth. “You know.”

  “Of course. I have worked with ogres before. You went into labour and struck him, as is your right. It looks like you had something in your hand at the time, so instead of the normal claw imprints, you sliced to the bone.”

  “My hairpin. I was doing my hair.” The woman levered herself to her feet, and together, they managed to get the ogre into the adjoining chamber, which had been arranged as a surgery for Emrie.

  “Well, he does move quick.”

  “My husband?”

  Emrie chuckled. “No, mine. He just managed to find me this morning, and the world is conspiring against our mating, but I think he thinks I need some tradition.”

  The male grunted. “Some women like that.”

  The female stroked his spiky black hair. “I do like it, Yosh, just not when there is a vise in my belly.”

  The ogre was set in a chair while his lady squatted next to it. Emrie quickly found the arranged medicines and got some gauze arranged so that she could clean the wound. Her curved needle and thread had been rinsed in spirits and were drying. “Now, if you bite me, I will rip out your tongue and feed it to your newborn.”

  He blinked at her with shocked black eyes. “I would never bite the demon�
��ahhh!”

  She pressed the cloth to get the caked black blood off and whispered a pain-relief spell while she was at it. He had to feel the pain, or he wouldn’t accept that it had stopped.

  When she finished with the basic scouring, she examined the wound. “Just a moment.”

  She got some pincers and returned. He was rather wary when she reached into the wound over his cheekbone, but as she eased three inches of the pin out of his flesh, he sighed in relief. “I thought there was something.”

  His voice was gravel over rock.

  “Yes, now, I just need to sew the muscle together and then the skin.”

  “What about Min?”

  “She has two hours of hard labour to go before her plate will slide back. I have time to deal with you first.”

  She pressed him into the chair with one hand on his shoulder, threaded the needle, and started to sew. Tyda was remaining at a safe distance.

  “Mistress, do you need me?”

  A quick glance up from her work told her the Tyda didn’t do well with the surgery. “Can you find someone in Harrow’s ranks who is a good medic? I will need an assistant.”

  Tyda bowed and sprinted out of the room.

  Yosh chuckled. “I don’t remember ever being that young.”

  She threaded her needle again. “Neither do I, but I do remember my first time next to someone getting stitches. The scents of blood, fear, sweat, and violence stick with you. It can be hard for humans to get used to.”

  “Not for you?”

  She pulled the needle through his grey skin. “I have never been human, and that is something that most humans have a problem with.”

  Yosh started to nod and then held his head still as she swiftly closed the wound.

  “You will heal well, so I will leave it open to the air until your child is in your arms, though it might be chewing on one of them.”

  He laughed cautiously and watched as she went over to his wife.

  Raising a labouring ogress to her feet took some effort, but after Emrie snapped her with two fingers between the eyes, Min came out of her pain-induced stupor and snapped at Emrie’s hand.