AOD Ch. 03

Luciel's jaw went slack. She never knew this, but could imagine Davariel doing everything the vampire had just told her.

"Luciel," the vampire bowed low, "I am at your service... and lord Davariel's."

Luciel felt excited when she walked into the bedroom she shared with Davariel and her babies at the were-tigri compound. It wasn't much, with its plain white walls. A long white dresser with frosted glass doors took up an entire wall, the door to the adjoining bathroom was on the opposite wall, and a large platform-type bed took up the rest of the quarters. The babies' bassinet was directly in front of the bed and was made of white wicker. There had been a mirror behind the bed, but Davariel had it taken down. He hated mirrors.

Davariel lay sprawled out and face down on the bed, fast asleep, without a stitch of clothing, making her smile.

"Why are you always naked?" she laughed caressing one taut buttock, startling him awake.

"What?" He turned over rubbing his sleepy eyes, his body immediately reacting to her touch.

"You're always out of your clothes, Davariel. Not that I'm complaining, but, I swear, if it were up to you, you'd probably prance around the entire compound with nothing on."

"Well, what's wrong with that? Everyone stares at me regardless."

"It would make me jealous," she admitted.

He blinked in surprise. "Why?"

"Because you're mine and I don't want anyone so much as fantasizing about having you the way I do."

His eyes seemed to moisten and the emotions he emanated confused her. She could feel sadness, anxiety...self-doubt. Self doubt? What could he be insecure about?

"Yes. Your desire for me has always been very strong." He took a deep breath, sniffing at her. It reminded her of the first time they had encountered each other. Those big glowing orbs regarded her with unasked questions.

"What's troubling you now, Dava," she asked, concerned.

For a moment he seemed as if he were about to say something, but then he gave her a smile that didn't quite reach his eyes and replied, "Don't mind me. I...should be satisfied with your desire for me. I haven't learned to just accept what's offered and tend to always over-reach for more than I deserve. At least you care about me. That's better than nothing, right? No one ever cared about me before."

He sounded as though he was trying to convince himself more than he was trying to convince her.

"Satisfied with my des...What are you . . .?" The realization hit her like a lightning bolt, making her jaw drop. He thought she only desired him, nothing beyond that. He'd asked her once if she could ever love him and she'd replied never. He was always telling her he loved her and she....

"Good God." She'd never told him she loved him. "You think that what I feel for you is just lust?"

Once more, he sniffed in her direction. "It's a little different than what I usually get from others. There seems to be another essence interlaced with it that grows stronger. I don't know what it is, but it's always been very pleasing to me. I once thought it was your lo...." He stopped abruptly, his face reddening. "Let's not talk about this anymore. Let me love you, Luci."

He reached for her, but she stopped him. She couldn't continue to allow him to think she only desired him while he clearly loved her.

"Davariel, you think I feel nothing but lust for you?" She caressed his face.

He suddenly looked wary. "It's okay. I just hope my feelings for you don't make you feel uncomfortable." His smile was apologetic as he shrugged. "It's hard for me not to love you. You don't have to love me. I'm very pleased that you care at least. You've been very kind, even though I've behaved like a little turd, I know...."

She couldn't believe what she was hearing. He was the most selfless loving humanoid she'd ever known. "But, Dava, I do lo-"

"No." He placed his fingers over her lips to keep her from saying more. "You don't know what you're saying. You don't know all the horrors-"

"That was another Da-" she began, cutting him off, only to have him cut her off again.

"Not another. Me. Davariel of Angelos. The dark prince." His tears flowed unrestrained, as he trembled. "I killed so many beings; butchered without mercy. I killed my best friend, Kabiel, because he refused to put down his sword." The last word came out as a sob. "My poor sweet Kabi," he choked out.

"You were filled with hatred, Dava; hatred and anger. The demonic symbiotic wings implanted into your back were poisoning your blood. The surgeons that reconstructed your back found extensions of poisonous roots from the wings embedded into your spine, right up into your brain. The demons used your rage, and hurt to manipulate you. You're not completely to blame for what happened."

"How could you be so blind," he sighed, closing his eyes in misery.

She gripped his muscular shoulders and shook him. "Because I love you, you moron."

His jaw dropped even as she tangled both hands into his hair and jerked him to her. Luciel slanted her mouth over his and kissed him with all the passion and love she felt in her heart. He wrapped his big hands around her waist, gripping her hard, shaking with emotion.

"Please...please, Luci," he begged on a ragged whisper against her lips. "Say it again, my love."

"I love you, Davariel. I love you."

He tugged at her clothes, making a frustrated sound. "Why do you always wear clothes? They're so annoying."

She laughed through her tears as she teleported her solid black jumpsuit off, then groaned in ecstasy when he impaled her in one hard thrust.

The intensity of his thrusts had her inching up the slippery white sheets, until he gripped her shoulders and rode her without mercy. She cried out she loved him again and again, like a mantra. It didn't take long for both to find release in their intense emotional lovemaking.

Sweat covered their bodies as they tried to regain their breath afterward.

"Luci?"

She grunted.

"What's 'moron'?"

Laughter bubbled up from her throat as she hugged him to herself. How could such a randy badass continually come off like an innocent child?

"A deliciously sexy mindless twit," she answered nuzzling his neck with a smile.

He grunted. "Well, as long as he's sexy." His fingers caressed her back and hair. "What's in that box?"

Luciel remembered her purchase and good news. Giggling like a young girl, she released him and turned to retrieve the box she'd laid upon the dresser.

"Here, open it."

"For me?" He smiled and tore open the paper wrapping. Within the box was a soft, charcoal-grey, hooded cloak. Davariel gazed up at her in dismay. "More fabric to cover me?"

She looked at him sympathetically, wanting nothing more than to kiss his sad little pout away. "It's only temporary, baby." Luciel sat next to him, watching him bring the cloak up to his nose. He always needed to sniff everything. "Tomorrow we'll be leaving here. I'm taking you and the babies to Sjoria. If you like it, maybe we can purchase a home there."

He put the cloak back inside the box pensively. She wished she knew what he was thinking. For once, she was tempted to sweep through his mind and see his thoughts even though she knew it was a highly inappropriate thing to do.

"Are you still afraid that something will happen to the twins?" He nodded his reply. "And you feel that your reclosing the rift will prevent that from happening?"

"No." He paused for a moment. "There are seven demons, fallen angels from the realm of darkness. They must be killed. Once I get rid of them the twins will be safe enough for you to protect on your own."

Cold dread ripped through her. "Why on my own? What about you?"

"If I fail at killing even one, my sons won't be safe. As a precaution, I must evoke the portal of the realm of shadows. Once opened, it creates a powerful vortex, pulling in whatever is near. Only a Dominatio or the Divine One can pull you out once you've gone through. I don't really think I'll be receiving that kind of help after everything I've done."

"I already told you, the boys will be safe with us. There are too many powerful beings protecting them for anything to happen. I'd be able to sense if anything dark were to come near. I've developed the gift of foresight and have seen our sons as grown men with children of their own."

Davariel's eyes widened. "What about us? Are either of us in those visions?"

"I've seen you. Your wings had been restored."

"My wings?" Davariel's eyes narrowed.

"Yeah. You were sitting on the floor in a room filled with children's toys, playing with our grandchildren." Luciel made a face, remembering the vision. "You'd cut your hair. It was just this mop of curls...."

"I had wings, Luci?"

"Your wings can be cloned and implanted back on you, you know."

He cringed. "I would never do that, Luci. It wasn't me you saw."

"Then who, Dava?" She couldn't help the exasperated tone that crept into her voice.

"What about you? Do you specifically see yourself in these visions?"

"They come sporadically. I really haven't seen myself in any of them yet."

Davariel's face paled. "I don't want anything to happen to you, Luci. Please promise to let me go if anything were to happen."

She shook her head feeling her tears begin to spill down her face. "Would you let me go?"

"Not the same."

"Yes it is. I could never let you go. Especially now that I know our sons will be fine. What am I supposed to do without you? I've dreamt about you since I was a child, even before I was told who you were. It was my destiny to either destroy you or save you." She cupped his beautiful face with both hands. "So I've saved you, bore you sons...you're mine...and I'm yours. We can never let each other go, Dava. It would be easier to just stop breathing."

"But I don't want you to die," he said almost in a whisper as she pressed her sweet lips to his mouth.

"I don't want you to die either, but if you go, we go together, my love. Death itself will never separate us."

To be continued...