Chapter 23

CHAPTER 23

L eviathan paced the chamber, the same chamber where he’d worshiped Ashe’s body not too long ago, and he was a wreck without her.

He paced back and forth inside his lavishly decorated chambers, unable to sit still or focus on anything else but the vision of her delicate form dancing through his mind. The dulcet tone of her voice echoed in his head, mingling with the scent of her skin—soft and sweet like wildflowers on a spring breeze. Scents he shouldn’t even know as a demon, but somehow did.

His fists clenched as he recalled how she felt beneath him, how she moaned and arched into him, seeking more of his touch. Just as he thought he couldn’t bear it any longer, a rustling of fabric came from just behind him. He turned swiftly towards it only to find one of his servants trying to offer him some wine. But all he could see was Ashe’s face when she whispered those life-changing words - her decision to leave behind all he could offer her.

Ashe’s absence was like a void within him, an emptiness that no amount of power or envy could fill. It should have been inconceivable, but she’d stirred so much within him that there was nothing left with her gone.

His eyes scanned the room filled with beautiful artworks from around the world. Pieces that were the envy of every collector at some period in history or another. Every piece seemed to lose its luster in comparison to Ashe’s radiant presence.

And then he caught sight of it. A glimpse of red hair peeking out from behind a tapestry hanging on the wall, reminding him that she was close by but just out of reach. His heart raced as he dashed towards it, tearing down the heavy curtain and revealing an empty corridor beyond.

The cool marble underfoot did nothing to stop the fire burning within him as his loneliness turned to rage. All he could think about was having her back in his arms where she belonged.

He stormed through hallways, getting as far from the chamber as he could, forcing away the thoughts of the only halfling he’d ever met who could take both forms. She’d made her choice, and he had no choice but to agree with it because he’d foolishly needed to taste her lips under his.

She had chosen a mortal life over immortality with him.

Leviathan’s heart pounded with each step he took, the need to find Ashe consuming him. He pushed his demonic senses to their limits, searching for her familiar presence. Of course, he could not feel her as she was in the human realm.

Frustration pulled a growl past his lips, and he slammed his fist into the wall of the corridor. The marble cracked and crumbled under his strength, but it did little to satiate his anger.

With a roar of fury, Leviathan continued down the hallway, passing by servants who cowered in fear at the sight of their angry master. He paid them no heed as he marched towards the main doors.

He burst through the doors and out into the night air, inhaling deeply as if hoping to catch a trace of her scent on the wind. But all he could smell was envy.

He flew high above the city walls, past towering spires that jutted menacingly up towards the starry sky, their tips lost in the clouds. The castle behind him was a distant glowing dot now, and he reveled in the freedom of movement that flying afforded him.

The prince’s wings beat against the air, propelling him towards the edge of the realm where he could feel her. He needed to see her again, even if it was just for a moment. The space between the realms would allow him to glimpse the other world without a portal that would alert her to eyes.

The wind whipped through his black hair and chilled his skin, but it didn’t compare to the burning ache within him. Every fiber of his being longed for her presence. She’d somehow gotten under his skin with her tenacious will to survive and bravery. Her skills at bringing him to release were not enough to cause this borderline obsession. This was about her as a person.

Leviathan soared to the edge of his realm and the world began to fade into nothingness. The stars above twinkled in the vast expanse of space, their light barely reaching him as he flew higher and higher.

Leviathan finally stopped at the edge of the world where darkness swallowed everything, dropping down to stand upon a cliff overlooking oblivion. Here he could see forever—or at least until it vanished into nothingness.

His heart thundered in his chest like a war drum, echoing in his ears along with the rush of air rushing by. Here, he could see her, could peek beyond the veil of worlds with a single thought of her.

Her image swirled into existence, not a memory but a true image of precisely where she was at this moment. Her beauty smacked into him as it had the moment he first laid eyes on her, and he suspected it always would.

Ashe sat cross-legged on the floor in a chamber lit by only a single, flickering candle and carefully unwound her long red hair, braiding it into tight, intricate plaits. The room was small and cozy, adorned with beautiful tapestries depicting scenes from earth that made her heart ache for freedom. She stopped to catch her breath every few moments as she worked on the tangles, reveling in the quiet solitude.

His heart seemed to beat faster as he watched her. He wanted to be between her fingers, being touched with so much thought and attention.

Something is not right with you. You crave this human.

Levi watched intently from his perch between the worlds, taking in every detail - the shine of her hair under the soft light, the gentle rhythm of her movements as she worked.

Her skin radiated warmth even from this distance, a stark contrast to his frozen perch on the edge of oblivion. He could almost feel the silkiness of her hair between his fingers and smell the faint scent of lavender she used to clean herself. He could hear her soft breaths and almost taste the sweetness on them from where he stood.

Finally finished with her hair, Ashe rose to her feet and stretched languidly before climbing under the heavy velvet canopy of her bed. The mattress barely dipped with her slight weight as she laid down on top of it, staring up at the ceiling dotted with tiny stars that matched those in Levi’s realm. Her eyes drifted shut as if lulled by a demon of sleep.

Inhaling deeply, Ashe let out a contented sigh and nestled deeper into soft linens that shifted around her body like living things caressing their mistress.

Only when her breathing grew slow did he give into the consuming need to see her. To touch her one last time before he could acknowledge she’d chosen to be elsewhere.

Leviathan leaned against the crumbling edge of the cliff, his eyes scanning the darkness of her room.

He closed his eyes, trying to center himself and focus on Ashe’s energy. He reached out with his senses, letting them extend beyond the limitations of his physical form. And there it was - a faint flicker of life force, barely perceptible but enough to fuel his determination.

With a deep breath, Leviathan spread his wings and leapt off the edge of the cliff. He fell through the void, feeling like he was being pulled towards her by an invisible thread.

Ashe’s life force grew stronger and stronger as he neared the other world, guiding him towards her location. He could feel her presence now, like a beacon in the darkness.

Suddenly, he burst through into her realm—a realm that was filled with light and color compared to the darkness he had just left behind. He landed gracefully on solid ground and took a moment to adjust to his surroundings.

The air here was different, cleaner than the realm filled with decay and blood. And there was a fragrance in the air, something sweet and floral that he couldn’t place that he’d smelled the first time as well.

But all thoughts were pushed aside as Ashe came into view. Her long hair cascaded over the pillow in waves, catching the light from above and making it shimmer like gold.

Leviathan couldn’t take his eyes off her. she was a prize to be envied.

His heart thudded in his chest. With a sudden and rough movement crashing his thigh into her bed, Leviathan woke Ashe up with a soft groan. She blinked her eyes open slowly, focusing on the ceiling as her eyelids fluttered.

“Leviathan,” she breathed out his name on a hushed whisper while looking up at him from under her lashes.

His lips met hers without a second thought, and for a moment, the world around them melted away. It was just the two of them, in a bubble of passion and desire. She tasted sweet, like strawberries and champagne, her tongue dancing with his as he held her close. Her body was warm and soft against his, her breasts pressing against his chest. His hands roamed over her body possessively, tracing patterns on her skin that made her shiver in pleasure. The sound of their breathing grew more ragged as they lost themselves in the kiss.

The bed creaked under their weight as they moved together, their bodies entwined. Her heart raced against his chest—a wild thing beating in time with his own.

When he pulled back for air, he gazed down at her flushed cheeks and smirked devilishly before diving back in once more. His hunger for her knew no bounds.

Their tongues tangled together while his hands explored every inch of her body she had to offer —her slender neck, round hips, and firm ass cheeks. He couldn’t get enough of her taste,or touch, or smell.

Ashe moaned into the kiss, arching into him even more as he ran his hands through her hair and down her back. Everywhere he touched ignited sparks of fireworks inside of her - a sensation unlike anything she had ever felt before. It was raw and primal, yet somehow tender all at once. She clutched at his shoulders as if trying to hold on to him.

To keep him close forever.

He gazed upon her with desire and adoration, taking in the pink flush staining her cheeks and the sparkle in her eyes. Her lips, swollen from their passionate kiss, were still moist and inviting. He could see the rise and fall of her chest as she caught her breath, her skin glowing with a rosy hue. Every inch of her form, from head to toe, was a vision of beauty to him.

She may have chosen the human realm, but she was as affected by him as he was by her.

Leviathan couldn’t help but chuckle. She was his now, truly, and he was going to savor every moment of it. His hands slid down her back, tracing the delicate line of her spine until they reached her perfect round ass, which he squeezed gently before letting one hand drift lower still, teasing at the wetness between her legs. He growled low in his throat as she gasped and arched into him even more, her body begging for release. He kissed her deeply once more, his tongue dancing with hers in an erotic tango that left them both breathless.

“I love the way you taste,” he murmured against her skin when he finally pulled away to catch his breath. Pulling away slightly, he looked down at her flushed face with desire burning bright in his eyes. “You have no idea how much you torment my thoughts,” he whispered roughly. “There’s a power you seem to hold over a demon prince that should not be possible.”

Leviathan lifted his head to meet her gaze, his eyes dark and full of desire. “I cannot resist you,” he confessed huskily. “You are my greatest envy, I can admit this to you and only you.”

He let the tips of his fingers trail gently over her arm. She shivered under his touch and his cock twitched with anticipation. He hadn’t come here for this, but he would be damned if he left without having her.

“That seems like quite a bold statement for a demon.”

“I’m glad you see the importance of this.” He closed his eyes and inhaled, reveling in the musk of her desire from just a few kisses. “I have thought of little but you this past week. I am not foolish enough to ignore a perfect specimen. I also will not deny the way you’ve somehow edged into my mind, under my skin. Come back with me. Choose envy and all the power I can give you. I will not ask again.”

“I don’t understand why you would want me,” she replied softly, looking down at their almost touching fingers before steeling herself back up to meet his gaze once more. “You could have anyone you desire.” Her words were hushed yet strong, showing an inner strength that only added to the allure he found within her.

Leviathan raised an eyebrow, amused by her response as he leaned in closer, their breaths mingling together in the cool night air. “It’s not about desire,” he murmured against her lips lightly brushing against them teasingly. “It’s about possession.” His voice was rough with need now as his hand cupped her cheek gently yet possessively while pulling her closer still until there wasn’t an inch between them any longer - their hips pressing against each other teasingly, their hearts racing wildly against one another’s chest. “Now give me my answer and I will give you what you desire by taking what I intend on possessing.”

“Yes,” the word was filled with all the lust he’d seen swirling in her gaze. “Under one condition.”

“I don’t believe you are one to make terms.” He snickered. “But go on.”

“Time is spent here, in the human realm. I will not go without the sun and flowers again.”

“I am not permitted extensive stay in this realm, but I will agree to two months whenever you wish.”

Her lips curved up into a wicked smile. “Then consider me your princess.”

Leviathan’s blood warmed with excitement, his strong hands gripping onto Ashe’s waist possessively as she stared at him. She looked up at him with those piercing ice blue eyes of hers, full of defiance and determination, not the least bit intimidated by his demonic form. He couldn’t help but admire her strength and resilience. She was everything that could survive by his side - beautiful, intelligent, and fearless.

And part demon.

“You drive me mad,” he whispered against her full bottom lip teasingly before taking it into his mouth gently yet firmly. His long tongue traced its outline as if mapping out every curve and contour, tasting her sweetness mingled with desire that only fueled the flames within him further. The taste of her was intoxicating. It was like drinking the nectar of the gods themselves. His other hand trailed down her neck to find its way between them, where they were pressed together so tightly he could feel the heat emanating from her core as if it were a beacon calling to him.

With a low growl that came from deep within his throat, he picked her up effortlessly and forced her legs around his waist. Her gasp for air only made him wild.

His hand glided down her slender neck, tracing the delicate line of her collarbone before resting possessively on her shoulder blade. Their lips brushed against each other again, his tongue just grazing the seam of her mouth as he felt her breath mingle with his. Her scent was intoxicating, a sweet floral aroma that ignited something primal within him, causing his cock to stir beneath his robes. She tasted like honeyed wine and desire, the tip of his tongue teasing her lower lip until finally she opened to him, allowing him entry. He groaned against her mouth as their tongues tangled together, a deep sound that echoed in the quiet.

“Tonight, you are mine to mark. What we did on the balcony will seem like mere touches. Tomorrow, I will claim you before the entire realm.”

His kiss was aggressive and he pushed her against the mattress, determined to ensure every inch of her human skin bore a mark from him before the sun rose.