Beneath Her Darkness: The Alpha's Little Demon by Cassandra M novel Chapter 196

Book 2

Chapter 44-Athwart

PATREA.

‘Lucius?’ I called for him again and I was already beginning to panic.

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‘Here.’ He appeared beside me as a body fell from the top and hit the ground with a loud thud Arturos’ body was totally deformed, and his head was missing. But his head came crashing down after a few seconds, smashing to the ground as his brain and blood splattered on the demons around that area.

My head snapped back to look at Lucius, who was now back in his regular demon form, probably so he wouldn’t tower over me. In his hands was Arturo’s heart.

The demons everywhere stopped fighting, and some of them just suddenly disappeared, their bodies crumbling to ashes as they just vanished in the air.

“What’s happening?” I asked Lucius.

“Those demons were revived by Arturos, on his death, they would come with him.”

“And those who are still alive?” “They will become our demons.”

“Does it mean you will rule Athwarth as well?”

“We will rule Athwart.” He said c*oc*kily.

“But his heir?”

“I have Arturos’ heart. The kingdom is mine. They have to take my heart to get it. Or if I submit Athwart to them. But it’s not going to happen.”

He flashed me a smug grin before he bit a portion of his heart, blood dripping, and it was still pulsating. I didn’t cringe. Instead, my mouth watered, making me lick my lips as I stared at it. “Not too fast, my queen. I want to share this heart with you, but I want my blood to be the first one you taste and drink.”

He threw the heart to Adan, which he caught without a problem. I heard Lucy telling him not to eat it as she didn’t want to rule Athwart. It made me smile because Lucy was still firm in her stand to never rule the underworld. “In front of our demons, mark me and drink my blood,” Lucius asked me.

“Lucius… that’s a big risk.” I shook my head as my heart clenched.

“Do you doubt if I love you?”

“I don’t care if I can’t prove if you love me or not. I just don’t want you to die.”

“Mark me.”

“Lucius…” I hissed.

“I love you, Patrea. I didn’t even understand the meaning of the word until you came. And if I died because you bit me, I would die knowing that I love you and that you love me back. What a beautiful way to die. Isn’t it?”

Don’t say that. It’s scaring me, Lucius. I will be okay without marking you.”

“I want your mark on my skin.” He tilted his head to the demons below us who were looking up at us.

“Ad genua tua procumbe et reginae tuae inclina! “ [Drop to your knees and bow to your queen.] He roared at them, and they obeyed without any rebellion.

“Ave regi et reginae Kalmeri et Athwart!” [Hail to the Queen of Kalmerus and Athwart] Dorian roared, and every demon followed suit.

“Don’t fail me. Mark me.” His voice was so low like he was begging to have this.

“I will never forgive myself if something happens to you.”

Lucius took my hand and laid it on his chest. “Do you hear my heart beating? When I thought you were dying, I was ready to claw at my own heart so I could follow your soul. I was so devastated, Patrea, that I failed to notice that your soul didn’t smell death. You see, I can smell the souls of the living on the brink of death. But I was so terrified of losing you that I didn’t see the signs that there was no sign of death looming around me.”

I bit my bottom lip as tears welled in my eyes. I could understand his grief, and it was the same thing I was feeling at the moment at the thought of marking him.

“But it made me realize a lot of things. I was fine with living on my own for two centuries. But since you came, I’m not sure I can last a cycle [ day] without you. I love you, Patrea, and I would do everything in my power to make sure that you will like the Underworld.”