27. Chapter 27

Chapter 27

I ris clung to my hand outside the portal in full sight of the entire court, her scent filled with nerves.

“It’s going to be fine,” I soothed, smoothing a hand down her hair and pulling her in for a hug. “I’ll be back in under an hour.”

“Don’t take any unnecessary risks,” she ordered raspily.

“I’ll be on my best behavior.”

“You’d better be,” Astrid grumbled, stomping past to wait at the portal. I didn’t take it personally—she’d outright refused to let any other ex-Hunters come with us, adamant that no one was adequately trained enough to help and insisting that they’d be more of a hindrance than anything. I understood the logic, though it meant that she was putting a lot of pressure on herself.

“I’ve arranged dinner for us afterward—just the two of us,” I told Iris quietly. I couldn’t let myself think about that now because all of my concentration had to be on the upcoming trip.

“Oh.”

“ Oh ?” I pressed, alarmed by the faint concern in her voice.

“No, no. That’s fine,” she said hastily. “I’m sure it will be lovely.”

“Are you really sure? Because you don’t sound sure.”

Iris smiled a little too brightly. “Very sure. It will be so lovely.”

“Damen, hurry up,” Astrid ordered, shifting her weight from one foot to the other. It may have been the most unsettled I’d ever seen her.

“Focus,” Iris said sternly, grabbing my jaw with both hands and holding my head in place. “We can talk about dinner afterward, okay? Focus on the task at hand.”

“Yes, princess.” Her scent immediately sweetened, and I was incredibly smug about it. “I’ll see you soon.”

I pressed a kiss to the top of her head, wishing I could more blatantly tell everyone that Iris was mine in a way that wouldn’t be off-putting to her, before joining the others and heading through the portal.

Our small party was comprised of Astrid, Soren, Andrus, Galen, and myself—and only Andrus and Galen would actually be feeding. The rest of us were there for protection, and to scope things out and make sure it was all above board.

“Everyone ready?” Soren asked, keeping a hand on Astrid’s back as we headed toward the agreed-upon exit point near a park.

“Absolutely,” Andrus replied, rolling back his shoulders. “I’ve been ready for this since the day feeding in the human realm was banned.”

“Be smart about it,” Soren warned irritably. He was too noble to say out loud that Andrus was one of his least favorite members of the Guard, but I was confident it was true.

Harlow was waiting for us when we emerged through the darkness of the trees, dressed head to toe in black with a look of grim determination on her face. In my incorporeal form, I couldn’t communicate with her, but Astrid could translate. Her mating mark from Soren had given her the ability to hear us speaking to one another.

“How is everything looking?” Astrid asked, voice tight with tension.

“No concerns,” Harlow replied, whipping out a device I’d come to learn was called a phone. “I’ve got a live feed going too,” she said, showing Astrid the small, bright rectangle. “Um, do you guys need instructions or anything? You’ll just do your thing right?” she asked, looking between our shadowy forms.

“They don’t need instructions,” Astrid replied, a faint smirk on her face as she glanced at us. “You’ve got two minutes. In and out this trip, remember?”

Off you go , Soren ordered.

As agreed, Andrus and Galen shot off in different directions. I trailed after Andrus since he was the more experienced of the two and better able to handle himself, while Soren went after Galen and Astrid waited by the entry point so we could leave quickly.

Andrus quickly zeroed in on his target—a woman tapping away on her phone, not paying attention to her surroundings as she walked through the dark, silent park. A chill ran down her spine as Andrus approached, and she shut off the bright light, tucking the device close to her chest and wrapping her arms around herself, looking around as though someone was going to snatch the phone away at any moment.

Andrus struck immediately, taking advantage of the opportunity the woman and unknowingly given him by turning her portable light off. He pressed his face close to hers, drinking down her fear like it was water, his form growing darker and more defined as he drew strength.

And then it was done. The woman’s casual nighttime stroll turned into a jog to get back to the safety of the streetlights. Andrus was fed and pleased with himself.

It was dull and routine and predictable.

Exactly the way it should be.

This was the way it was always meant to be, and balance was finally returning. A little fear—the kind of fear that kept you cautious and alert—was part of the human experience.

But it was part of the Shade one too. The human realm was our equalizer, the one place where irrespective of power level, a Shade was vulnerable. Maybe some of the egos at court that had grown increasingly outsized over the past few weeks would shrink back down to normal when they experienced this level of risk once more.

Or maybe they wouldn’t—only time would tell.

But for now, my priority was going home to my love. I had a question for her that I desperately needed an answer to.

“Why are you in such a rush?” Soren asked. “Where are you going?”

“I thought I might try proposing again.”

Astrid coughed loudly, giving me a slightly disbelieving look. “Really?”

“Yes,” I said decisively. “I can see now that I asked too early last time—a foolish error in hindsight. And then I labored under the ridiculous notion that I shouldn’t propose again at all , which was obviously not the right call.”

“And what is the right call?” Soren asked curiously.

“Keep asking until Iris says yes.”

Astrid spluttered. “No, that definitely doesn’t sound right. That sounds like the kind of thing that would get you a restraining order in the human realm.”

“What an unromantic place,” I observed seriously, wanting to see how red Astrid’s face could go. Obviously, I fully intended to respect Iris’s choices—that was never a question in my mind.

But if there were other requirements she wanted fulfilled prior to marriage, then I would work my way down the list until I’d met them all.

And I fully intended each proposal to be better than the last. Fortunately, that required very little work this time around since my first attempt had been so dire.

This time, I would give Iris the proposal that I should have given her the first time around.

Just in case she was ready to say yes.

Only my brother, Ophelia, and their small retinue were waiting for us outside the portal. Allerick quickly scanned each of us, checking that everyone who’d left had returned.

“Any problems?” he asked, scrutinizing Andrus and Galen particularly closely. They were both clearly content and well-fed, which I hoped would put his mind at ease.

“None,” Soren replied, launching into a detailed description of everything that had happened. I walked right past them, heading for the palace steps. I guessed everyone had been sent inside—would Iris be in her room? I’d check there first.

“Where are you going?” Allerick called out.

“Soren will explain!” I yelled over my shoulder, picking up the pace.

Iris was in her room, sitting in the center of her bed and brushing her hair idly with her fingers.

“You’re back,” she said, exhaling with relief. “How was it?”

“Perfectly dull—the way it should be. Are you ready to go?” I asked, letting myself into her room.

Iris chewed on her lower lip, twisting her fingers nervously. I hadn’t picked on it right away because the doors were open for Tilly, but her scent was definitely unsettled.

“Iris, what is it?”

“I want to ask you something,” she said, her voice shaky. “But I’m scared.”

I crossed the room, immediately grabbing her trembling hands and giving them a squeeze. “You can ask me anything, Iris.”

“I already disappointed you once before,” she whispered.

“You haven’t disappointed me once since I met you.”

She lightly squeezed my fingers back, sniffling lightly. “But I said no when you asked me to marry you. And I regret it so much. If I could go back—”

“You don’t have to go back.”

“Damen, I shouldn’t have said no—”

“Can we go for a walk first? And then we’ll talk more?”

“Oh. Um. Okay. If you’d prefer that,” Iris replied uncertainly. “Should Tilly stay here?”

“If you’re comfortable with that.”

Iris nodded. “I’m comfortable with you. Stay, Tilly.”

Fortunately, it was a short walk through the palace and a private drawing room to the small courtyard I’d set up for the occasion. Iris’s nose twitched the moment we stepped outside.

“What is that smell?” Iris asked. “It’s so nice.”

“We’re in one of the private courtyards. Some of the night-blooming flowers have been brought in—they’re arranged in pots around the edge of the circular area we’re standing in. There’s a string of glowing orbs above us, though as few as I could manage—just enough to illuminate the space. There’s also a fire in a stone pit here, would you like to move closer so you can feel the warmth?”

“Yes, please,” Iris murmured, looking slightly baffled as I guided her closer. I’d wanted as many sensory experiences as possible, and there were platters of all of her favorite foods on the table too, but we could get to those later. “This is so nice, Damen. You did all this for me?”

I took a steadying breath, this time squeezing her hand to give myself comfort. “Yes. Because I wanted to give you the proposal you deserve. The one I should have given you the first time around.”

Iris was silent for a moment before she laughed. “You’re… proposing? You’d already planned this? But I’m proposing! That’s what I was getting to.”

“Cora and Jade hinted that you might—and I am more than fine with that, my princess—but I still wanted to give you the romantic experience you didn’t get the first time around.”

“Cora and Jade spoke to you?” she asked suspiciously.

I snorted. “Oh yes. And I’m glad they did—their intentions were pure, and I needed to hear that. My ego was a little bruised when you said no—but you absolutely made the right decision, it was foolish of me to have proposed then, even if I knew in my heart that you were the one. Even if I knew that I loved you then. I should have given you time to feel the same way about me. Maybe I was worried that you never would, and that securing your hand was the safest way of making sure I didn’t lose you.”

“You’re the one for me too, Damen,” Iris said gently, her scent sweet and perfect even as a rogue tear tracked down her cheek. “I’m sorry I didn’t realize it when you did. I love you. I can say that now without a single trace of hesitation or doubt. It’s you. It’s always been you.”

A piece of me that I didn’t know I’d been missing settled into place.

“I’m not sorry,” I assured her. “Your love was worth the wait, Iris.”

It wasn’t a Shade convention to get down on one knee, but Ophelia had mentioned that it was a human one and I didn’t want to let Iris down by not meeting every single one of her expectations. I kneeled awkwardly, clasping her hand.

“Iris Nash, you are the other half of my soul. Would you do me the honor of becoming my wife?”

To my surprise, she kneeled down too, her fingers trembling slightly where she was clinging on to mine. “Of course. Would you do me the honor of becoming my husband?”

I let out a surprised laugh. “Are you proposing to me too?”

“I’d already hyped myself up to do it.”

“Of course, princess. It would be the honor of my life.” I stood up before lifting Iris into my arms, her legs wrapping around my hips immediately and her hands finding my horns. A shiver ran down my spine at her possessive grip. That wasn’t what I’d intended for us to be doing out here, but I wouldn’t say no…

“Wait, I have to give you the ring first,” I mumbled, willing my cock to behave as I carried her over to the table.

“Kiss first,” Iris demanded sweetly, maneuvering my head back with my horns and pressing her lips to mine.

It was sweet for a second, but only a second. Iris dragged her tongue across my lower lip, rolling her hips as I got us situated on a chair, grinding her pussy against my aching cock.

I explored her mouth with my tongue, enjoying the little whimpers she made as she struggled to accommodate it, her arousal perfuming the air more potently with each movement.

We broke apart panting, Iris’s breasts heaving with each movement, practically begging for my attention. What would it be like between us a year from now? Five years? Ten?

I had the feeling that it would only be filthier as we grew more comfortable with one another and experienced more together. Iris was curious and unselfconscious, and I wanted to lick every part of her body I could get my tongue on.

She made a small whine of impatience as I reached behind her to grab the ring box on the table.

“Just a moment, princess,” I teased, slipping the ring onto her finger and admiring the way it fit. It was a very Shade design, and I’d been worried it wouldn’t suit her delicate human hands, but the contrast was very pleasing.

“Are they pearls?” Iris asked, rubbing her thumb over the row.

“Yes—or the Shade equivalent at least. They’re black but shiny, and they sit on a silver band. I thought it might feel the nicest to play with,” I added, slightly embarrassed. Perhaps she would have preferred something grander? But she was a very tactile person, and this would be the least obtrusive.

“It’s perfect,” Iris breathed. “Thank you. Is this place private?”

I laughed. “Did you have an activity in mind for us that requires privacy, princess?”

She smiled, sweet as always but with a slightly mischievous edge. “I need your knot, Damen.”

I choked on nothing, not expecting quite that level of boldness. “Now? What about dinner?”

Iris pursed her lips thoughtfully. “We can eat while knotted, right?”

“Yes,” I agreed immediately because why hadn’t I thought about that? What a wonderful idea. “Iris, if we have sex right now, I might find it difficult not to put a mating mark on you. It’s permanent. There’s no turning back from that.”

“Okay. Will you take my dress off?” she asked sweetly.

“Of course.” She was wearing one of the flowy ones I’d requested Astrid get for her, in a deep purple color that I found very striking. With some maneuvering, we pulled the fabric out from under her legs and over her hips before I dragged it up her body, sucking in a breath. “You’re not wearing anything under this.”

Iris bit her lower lip, trying to hide a smile. “This was going to be my distraction plan if you said no to my proposal.”

“Do you really think I can be distracted simply by the sight of your naked body, princess?”

Her cheeks flushed. “Honestly? Yes.”

I pulled the dress over her head, tossing it onto the chair next to me and kissing the tip of her nose. “You’re honestly right. I would probably agree to anything just at the mere sight of your breasts. And this sweet pussy?” A tendril of shadows snuck out to rub between her legs, making her jump. “It owns me.”

“More, Damen,” she rasped, spreading her knees as far as she could on the chair and gripping my shoulders tightly.

“So greedy,” I teased, though my voice was too strained to sound like I was teasing. Iris was greedy for me, and I was just as fucking greedy for her.

I sent a thicker tentacle to play with her pussy, while increasing the pressure on the one that was grinding against her clit. Two more appeared to tease her nipples, and Iris opened her mouth and stuck out her tongue expectantly, so it would be rude not to send a shadow limb down her throat too.

“You look so beautiful right now,” I told Iris, smoothing my hands over her ass as my shadows swirled around her. “So fucking beautiful.”

Her scent sweetened again, the movement of her hips growing a little more urgent.

“That’s not going to be enough, is it? You need my tongue.”

Iris made a muffled, desperate noise of agreement. She cried out as all the shadows vanished at once, grasping at my chest and shoulders like she could pull the phantom limbs back out of my body.

“Stand for me,” I commanded softly, cupping her ass and helping her to stand with her feet either side of my legs on the chair. “I won’t let you fall.”

“I know.” The pure confidence in her voice was one of the best feelings in the world.

My claws lightly pricked her soft skin as I dragged her forward, sliding down a little in the chair so I could perfectly angle my mouth beneath her dripping cunt. “What a feast you’re giving me, Iris,” I murmured, swiping my tongue up her damp inner thighs, cleaning up the slick that was clinging to her skin.

“Can we maybe have less talking right now?” she suggested breathily. I laughed silently, nipping her leg with my teeth before getting to work. If my princess wanted me to be using my tongue for other things right now, then that was what she’d get.

I groaned as Iris lowered herself a little more, seeking out the pressure that she was craving. Even though the angle was slightly challenging, Iris was so primed that she was coming almost instantly, her legs wobbling alarmingly until I pulled her down onto my lap, rubbing my cock against her clit as she rode out her waves of pleasure.

“Damen,” she gasped, reaching between us and wrapping her hand around my shaft. I almost came from the visual alone. The movements were clumsy and unpracticed as she lifted herself up on her knees and lined my cock up with her entrance.

“That’s it,” I encouraged as she sank down, taking me inch by inch. “You’re so beautiful, Iris. You’re taking me so well. I fucking love the way you feel.”

Her hands found my knees behind her, and I nearly swallowed my tongue at the view of her arching her body up, hair trailing down magnificently behind her. Most beautiful of all was the view it afforded me of her throat—smooth and unmarked, ready for my bite.

My ring looked nice on her finger, but not nearly as nice as my teeth marks would look on her neck.

Iris’s movements were slow and intentional as she rolled her hips, using her arms and thighs to lift herself. She was clearly experimenting, figuring out what felt good, and I was more than happy for her to use me as she saw fit.

“Good?”

“So good,” she breathed, pushing herself back up and wrapping her arms around my shoulders instead. I took over, bouncing her on my lap, the lewd, wet sounds we were making filling the courtyard.

“I’m going to knot you,” I warned, acutely aware that the possibility I would get her pregnant was very much present.

“Good.”

“And I’m going to bite you.”

“Even better.”

“And I’m going to love you for the rest of my life.”