9. Livy

CHAPTER NINE

LIVY

H aving indulged in well over a dozen donuts each, Ferina and I rolled our swollen bellies back to her car and jetted to the castle.

Truth be told, I had been eyeing one last blackberry cream donut, but Malek called, asking us to return as soon as possible.

The way Ferina was driving, I'd expected to return to see the palace engulfed in flames. Avoiding the traffic, she mainly took the sideroads, digging up gravel and revving up her engine through quiet neighborhoods.

The palace came into view and there wasn't a puff of smoke to be seen, and after clearing the gate, we careened down the driveway.

Malek greeted us at the front door, wearing a black suit and bowtie and wow did he look good in a suit. He was the image of sophistication with his once wild black hair tamed into a sleek and gelled down style.

Malek's eyes twinkled as we strolled up, hopping out of the car. "How did the training go? Learn any new moves?"

Ferina's face reflected concern .

"She was excellent. We went over emergency exit drills and practiced several tactical maneuvers for fighting off both water and fire-based incantations. She was an amazing teacher," I volunteered.

"Well done." His nose wrinkled as he praised his sister with a look that said he was proud of her.

"Now it's time for your surprise. I've prepared a dress for you in your room. Once you've changed, I'll have the driver pull the car around." His hands clasped behind him.

"Right this way." He offered me his arm.

"Wait, isn't your sister coming?" I looked back to see Ferina take out her phone and start watching something on the screen.

"Ha! Mally sent a message that he would rip into me like the mage if I third wheeled on another one of your dates," she shot me a mischievous grin and Malek narrowed his eyes at her.

The moon was rising fast and Malek was dressed like a man ready for a party; but just what kind of action did he have in mind? The last time we were alone, he'd left me so hot and bothered, I might have given myself to him if Ferina hadn't arrived.

"I said nothing of the sort." Malek flipped up his collar. "A gentleman would never threaten his own sister." Malek said in a superior tone. "You must have misunderstood what I meant."

"Sure, I did." Ferina gave a fingerful wave goodbye as Malek took my arm and we went into the palace.

"You kids remember to use protection! Safety first!" Ferina shouted at the top of her lungs. Malek took a few calming breaths as we started toward the staircase.

I gripped my sides, fighting back a laugh. With their sibling rivalry this fun to watch, who needed TV?

Ferina was way off base though. I was entranced by Malek's smoldering, hot gaze last time, but now I'd seen his tricks and knew what to expect .

This time there wouldn't be any touching of any sort between Malek and me. I was going along with this for one reason and one reason only. To get to know him better so I could pry into his secret past.

In my room, a flowing red dress was laid out for me on my bed, with matching red heels perched on the floor beneath it. Once I'd gotten ready, Malek and I left in a chauffeur driven car.

The ride was short, lasting about twenty minutes. The car rolled up in front of a grand concrete structure. It almost reminded me of the palace, but this wasn't as big and had a full parking lot out front. The building was a pristine white, glistening under the moonlight. It had a dome like shape, with four equidistant towers jutting out of the structure. Though smaller than the palace, it was massive, with golden columns at the entrance and bright flood lights beaming up at the sky, illuminating the night.

"The surprise is that we're going to a ball?" I rolled down the window, watching the well-dressed demons line up at the grand entrance way.

"Close, this is the Riviera Opera House. The nicest stage show venue in Demon City." He shimmied along the back seat, peeking out of the window.

"Stage show? You mean we're going to watch an actual live performance?" My mouth gaped as I maneuvered to face him, my eyes going wide.

All my life I'd heard about operas and plays and I always dreamed of seeing one. But without a single stage in my pack and Alpha Prometheus forbidding anyone from leaving the Packlands, I thought I would never get the chance.

"Same old Sunny." He looked pleased with himself, and he leaned back, nestling in his seat. "See, I told you I know what you love."

Excitement plucked my heart strings, I could barely sit still as the car pulled up at the entrance and we exited.

Inside the opera house, we were welcomed by marble statues of naked people and roman style pillars that created the illusion that we'd been flung back in time.

The air was sweetened by caramel popcorn as we wandered through the concession stands. Long lines of guests snaked from the concession stand's cash register to the theater's entrance, everyone intent on getting their food before showtime.

"Don't worry, we won't be joining it. Dinner will be brought to our sky box during the show." He pointed to a private theater door on the left, with two large built security guards manning it. "That's where we're going." He whispered in my ear and a flame caught under my skin as his lips grazed my skin.

He barely touched me, and my senses went into hyperdrive. Maybe being alone with him so soon wasn't the best idea. I could go toe to toe with the best of them, but the tall, domineering demon beside me was an all-new breed.

His smoldering eyes flickered down to mine, a questioning look igniting within them. "Are you afraid to go into the sky box alone with me? Despite the fact that I have fangs, I wouldn't bite you. Not unless you wish for it."

Warm desire rolled off his lips like steam, my eyes lingering on his long thick fangs. My pussy quivered from the thought of any part of him sinking into me.

"Scared? Who said anything about fear? Is it strange that I would be hesitant to enter a dark lonely room with a man I barely know?"

"But that's why we're here. I want to help you to reclaim your memories of us. Deep inside you somewhere, I know you still remember me." His fingers combed through my hair, the pad of his thumb caressing my lips.

His gaze lowered to my neck and chest, lingering there like he longed to see what laid beneath my dress.

Whispers drew my attention to the line. Demons and demonesses smiled brightly, gazing up at Malek with the rosy cheeked reverence usually reserved for gods. It reminded me that accessible as he made himself to me, he was anything but an average male .

A few of them cautiously drew closer, seemingly wanting to talk to him.

Before they could get too close, Malek's arm encircled my waist, and he escorted me over to the skyboxes entrance.

Dipping his head to the men at the door, we crossed the threshold into a dark velvet curtained tunnel.

"That wasn't nice. You should have stuck around and said hello to your people," I said as we started up the long spiral staircase.

"Just because they're demons, doesn't mean they're mine," he muttered. It was cryptic and in a tone that didn't seem as jolly as he'd been moments ago.

Every time I saw Malek with other demons who weren't inside the palace walls, he was either slitting their throats or running away from them. For the God of Demons, he didn't seem to like demons very much.

At the top of the stairs, we took a left and he opened the third door on the right. Now in the privacy of the skybox, the joy returned to Malek's expression. He relaxed and his demeanor was just as jovial as in the car.

The box was small and intimate with six velvet cushioned seats, the three chairs were in two rows. I peered over the gold railing at the front of the box. We were on a balcony overlooking a lofty theater with over a thousand seats. There were a dozen other boxes, but ours had the best view of the stage, right in the center.

The stage lights twinkled like stars, brightening the vast and expertly decorated stage.

"Do you see those Grecian statues right there?" Malek took my arm, directing it to the stage, to the left. "I chiseled those myself."

"A thousand years ago?" I asked and he burst out in a roaring laugh.

"No, Sweet Girl. Last month. They're not real." He flicked a tear from his eye. "They're only for show."

I liked watching him laugh, even if it was at my expense. It made the differences between us seem less significant, making me feel more at ease around this towering, huge male.

Something drew me to his long, black horns and my eyes stayed there for a while. His horns were as magnificent as they were terrifying. An ancient power emitted from them. He leaned in, giving me a better look at them. The outline of his ample muscles made creases in his tuxedo, calling attention to his incredible size.

"I suppose they are much bigger than they were when we met all those years ago. Do my horns frighten you?" His eyes darkened as if worried by what I would say.

I took his left horn in hand and tugged at it gently. His eyes went wide as dinner plates. A soft moan slipped from his lips, he seemed surprised beyond words by what I'd done.

"Sunny," His voice lowered. "Please let go of my demonhood. If you don't, I won't be able to hold myself back from taking you right here and now." A dark promise twirled through his words, the promise of pleasure hidden in the deep tumble of his masculine voice.

I removed my hand, but the piping hot need written on his face didn't diminish. Instead, it intensified like I'd thrown wood on the fire of his desires.

My flesh fevered as his gaze explored my body possessively. There was something about being desired by such a powerful male. Something carnal and primitive in me loved that he was more than twice my size, infinitely more powerful than I was and yet he wanted me so badly.

A man like Malek could snap a person as if they were a twig.

But by the animalistic need written on his face as he glorified my lips with his gaze, he would much rather fuck me than snap me.

"Ancients, soft faces and thraxies, the show will be starting shortly, please take your seats." A voice sounded on the intercom and the demons below shuffled down the aisles, searching for their seats.

"Ladies first." Malek stretched out an open palm toward the front seats.

I nestled into the front right seat. He took the one beside me as the lights dimmed and beautiful orchestra music pervaded in the theater.

"You know, we once made a puppet show together." He craned his head toward mine prompting his seat to creak.

"A puppet show, us?" I tried to remember, only drawing blanks.

"Yes, using animal puppets we found in an old trunk in your attic. Yours was a fluffy white rabbit mine was an alligator with bulging eyes." He made bunny ears with his finger as his voice cracked from laughter. "I wanted to make the show a comedy, but you- you insisted we make it a romance. One with Mr. Crocodile and Miss Bunny falling in love. Naturally we went with your idea. I never could say no to you."

Our gazes crossed and so many emotions mixed together in the darkness of his eyes. Past the smile that wrinkled his cheeks, was an unspoken sadness, one that was thinly veiled by shadows of the past.

"Did we perform in front of an audience?" I asked as the background music lowered and the red stage curtains drew closed in preparation for the show to commence.

"No, it was just you and me, the way I've always wanted it." His thick chest rose and fell stretching his suit as he steadied himself in his seat. His gaze burned a hole into my forehead.

"And just how did this love story end?" I asked as the curtains drew open and the overhead lights dimmed.

A demoness in a flowing white dress sang a beautiful melody in a pristine alto, luring in both mine and Malek's attention.

The cast of actors took the stage by storm. Their costumes were straight out of second century Rome, the days of elegant aristocrats and courageous gladiators.

The lead actress, continuing her melodious singing as a tall and handsome male twirled around her like a swan flying, his deep soothing baritone harmonizing with her voice like two perfectly tuned instruments .

They sang in Italian, but I didn't need to understand it to follow the story as it all played out in tantalizingly, fast paced action. The singing and dancing were perfectly choreographed, designed to steal attention and retain it.

This was a love story, passionate and deeply enthralling. I loved every minute of it and after around twenty minutes I checked to see if Malek was enjoying it.

Ignoring the show, he drank me in with his steely gaze and I wondered just how long he'd been watching me.

"What do you think so far?" I asked and his brows tugged upward.

His head quickly jerked away, as if he were embarrassed I caught him staring.

"What did you say?" he cleared his throat, hand to his lips.

I repeated the question.

He gave me a confused look. Making a sweeping gesture with his hand. "I can't hear you over the music."

I heard him loud and clear and couldn't see why he couldn't do the same. His mission became evident the moment he scooped me out of my seat like a ball of ice cream and gently deposited me onto the seat of his lap.

"Much better. Now what were you saying?" His lashes fluttered and he looked very pleased with our new seating arrangement.

"You could have leaned closer." I folded my arms. "There was nothing wrong with my chair."

"It was too far. I want you closer."

"Beside you was too far away?" My eyes squinted but deep down I liked how much he wanted my attention. Watching this powerful, ancient conqueror with limitless power acting like a lost puppy stirred emotions in me I've never felt before .

"I've been without you for hundreds of sleepless nights. I don't want you too far from me ever again." He looked serious as a shark bite despite the fact that what he was saying was crazy.

"You can't keep your hands on me every day for the rest of your life. It's impossible," I declared.

"Just watch me!" He sucked in all the air around him as if commanding it to come to him. It wasn't just the air he summoned. His steady seductive stare, beckoned to me in ways impossible to resist.

"Nothing in this world will ever separate you from me again." He said it in a way that sounded like both a promise and a warning. "I will keep you safe, Sunny. If it takes my dying breath."

The temperature suddenly skyrocketed as if the box had filled with steam or hell fire, or maybe both.

Wrapping his arms around me like a heavy rope, he took my lips into his, drinking me into him.

I trembled against his powerful abdomen . My need grew with every pound of his quickening heart. The promise of his sweet kiss broke down my defenses, coaxing my absolute surrender.

Every damn thing about him demanded surrender. If his essence could speak, it would say that he was the commander of fate and all the walls that dared to stand between us must disintegrate or be destroyed.

It wasn't a fair fight. Malek's tongue entered my mouth like a wrecking ball, battling my tongue for dominance, captivating it as he roughly played with it.

My lips became raw from his relentless sucking. I drew back and took a much needed breath. His eyes went feral, a flicker of hot jealousy burning through them as he didn't seem to like that I would choose air over his kiss.

The air between us was burning, electrified and supercharged. My lust soared to new heights as I imagined Malek naked. My heart thundered just from the fantasy .

"Let me see you. I must taste them." He commanded, his longing gaze lowering to the swells of my breasts.

I wasn't sure if it was the fact that my pussy was now as wet as Niagara Falls or that my heart was pounding vigorously, but my body was starved for that sweet sensation that only Malek could provide.

I tugged the top of my dress down, exposing my pink bra.

He craned his head, ripping my bra open with his powerful teeth. Electric fire seared my tender flesh as his warm tongue drew circles over my nipples, first the left then the right.

My peaks puckered for him, swelling under his tongue's teasing flicker. I moaned his name and he lightly bit one of my tight buds.

I cried out, my spine twisting from the intense pleasure and pain that flowed like a river.

I tilted my head back giving him more space to lap at my eager nipples. I didn't know how much my body needed this. His arms caged me to him as if worriedI might run from him. But right now, running was the furthest thing from my mind.

His arm ruffled up the hem of my dress, his hand sliding underneath it.

I breathed in quick, shallow bursts as his fingers smoothed along my inner thigh.

My pussy's cries were almost loud enough to hear. She begged for his touch, envious that my nipples held his tongue's attention.

Sliding aside my panties, his thumb pressed down on my clit like a pleasure-seeking missile. Something inside me sang a song of pure joy.

He circled around my eager clit with his index finger. "Does this please you, my Bride?" He bit his lip, visibly straining to contain his strength and be gentle.

"Fucking yes." I cursed; and taking that as encouragement, he slid two fingers into my tight pussy. It made a squishing sound that made Malek's face light up like the Fourth of July .

Done talking, he covered my nipple with his lips once again and tugged at it with increasing strength.

Stars twinkled in front of my eyes as the explosions of pleasure went off in my core.

He finger fucked me slowly, working up to a masterful rhythm designed to drive me insane. The pace quickened and my nerve endings sang as he grazed my g-spot.

"Where did you learn to do this?" I gurgled, as he sent every muscle in me twisting into tight knots of ecstasy.

"When you've been around for millennia you pick up a few things. But I could live for another millennia and never feel another pussy like this one. You're amazing, Sunny."

His fingers delved deeper and pleasure and pain ripped through me.

"Tell me exactly how you want me to touch you." He glided his tongue over my nipple just slowly enough to throw fodder to the flames of my burning need.

Pleasure stole my words and I was desperate to show him what I wanted. My hips undulated back and forth as I rode his fingers. My writhing hips plunged him deeper into me, ramming me harder.

Watching me take my pleasure mesmerized him, morphing his expression into one of lust and dark desire.

Using the motions of my hips as instructions, he quickened his pace and deepened his finger thrusts, adding one more finger.

"That's it, just like that. By the gods, you'll drive me crazy if you stop now." I bellowed, only now realizing that the singing on stage had ended and the cast now danced to fast paced orchestra music. Music with a tempo that matched the rhythm of Malek's fingers.

"I wouldn't dream of stopping. This will only end with you exploding all around me. "

The more he pleasured me, the more I needed his touch. His savage caress was like a drug that if I wasn't careful I'd get hooked on.

Most addictive of all was the way he looked at me, like I was the most precious thing to him and he would rip the world in two just to keep me safe in his arms.

I wanted this moment to last forever. As the pleasure built up, his finger pounding intensified, and the ground seemed to tremble. Sensation battered my skin like a hurricane, as the music added to the rush.

All five of my senses were activated at once in a sensory overload.

The scent of powerful male and mint poured into my nose. His sweet kiss tantalized my taste buds once more. But this kiss was different than the last. This one was more desperate. A hidden meaning was locked inside it. The taste of sorrow mixed with his sweet flavor, embedded itself in every passionate clash of lip and tongue.

His kiss stifled my cries as I came. New life entered me as my orgasm mounted, robbing me of my ability to think or move.

Malek made me feel more alive and protected than anyone ever had.

The pleasure plateaued and slowly descended, my body going as pliant as wet newspaper in his lap.

Retracting his hand from under my dress, he ran his tongue along his index finger tasting me.

"Hell, Sunny. What have you been eating, and do you want more?" He said breathlessly, his eyes glossed over.

"Food is the last thing I want right now." I said lustfully, registering the hard poke of his cock on my thigh.

"Let's try this again, this time without your fingers." I motioned my hips with a circle move that made my ass rub against his cock.

His nostrils flared, his teeth clenching as if trying to contain the feral beast that laid within him .

"Dearest one, do you want me to break you in two in a crowded theater? Your screams will have them calling the police before I'm even half way inside." he said in a way that seemed like he was kidding, but there was no humor written on his face.

He was absolutely serious.

Someone knocked at the door and the smell of sugar and savory sauces seeped inside.

"Come back later please." Malek called out and my stomach growls could be heard over the music.

"Damn my lightning fast metabolism. That orgasm must have drained more of my strength than I thought." I rubbed my belly.

"On second thought, maybe now is better." Malek yelled in the door's direction, funneling his voice with a hand to his face.

Aftershocks from the climax still rocked my core and Malek was still as hard as a rock, if the hole his cock was boring into my dress was any indication.

But with one swift motion he fixed my bra and dress to how it was before, signaling that no matter how ready he was, he'd go wanting.

I just had the most powerful orgasm of my life and still I wanted more, just because he was near. His godly presence alone turned me on and I knew he felt the same. Was his cock really so unusually long and girthy that it would injure me?

The burning question of his size taunted me. Just thinking about it made me want to fuck him even more.

A waiter in a red hat and matching vest pushed a food cart into the box. He placed a plate filled with lobster, lamb and macaroni and cheese onto a tray, presenting it to Malek.

I got up and took the seat beside Malek. The waiter gave Malek a handkerchief and he spread it out on my lap. He rested the tray atop the handkerchief, accepted a bottle and two glasses of wine from the waiter and poured me a glass .

Only after he finished serving me, did Malek pour himself a glass and took his plate from the server. I was impressed by what a gentleman he was. I never would have imagined he would be like this, from what I'd heard about him in newspapers and on the news.

We both thanked the server as he left.

We ate our food while watching the show together. I looked over to see Malek still hard as ever, probably fighting his tremendous need. Yet, he didn't show it. Instead, he was smiling for me as we ate together.

"I hope you like the food. I aim to have you satisfied in every way I can tonight." He forked some mac and cheese.

"Just short of breaking me you mean." I poked some fun at him and the food dropped from his fork.

"All in due time." He whispered seductively in my ear.

Slowly my lust dissipated, and I was able to figure out how much of the opera's story we'd missed.

The only thing more entertaining than the drama that played out on stage, was the backstory that Malek provided.

He filled me in on some of the performers' more recent public scandals. Apparently, the actor playing the messenger had recently been caught by his wife sleeping with two male dancers. And the leading lady went to jail last year for licking soy sauce bottles at a conveyor belt sushi restaurant.

Malek went through most of the actors, telling me stories about them, each one more hilarious than the last. We ate together laughing, barely following the show as we got to know each other. Gradually, the iron wall between us lowered, his dark, long horns seemed less intimidating, and it appeared more and more that he was nothing like the vicious monster he portrayed to the world.

Right now, he was just Malek, and boy did he know how to push my funny buttons .

The show ended and we left the theater, funneling to the car and talking about the surprise ending.

"I can't believe Adrian chose Lucius. Antonius sacrificed everything for her. How could she just leave poor Antonius, alone and destitute?" I asked, taking my seat beside Malek, the chauffeur closing the door behind us.

"Love is war. Sometimes you win and sometimes you lose. If your love is true, you will win her at all costs. Antonius lost because Lucius was more determined to have Adrian as his own." Malek said as the car started moving.

Blue lights flashed from in front of the car as two police officers on motorcycles escorted us out of the parking lot and onto the street.

"Come on, you can't will everything into existence, sometimes you lose the one you love and there was nothing you could have done to prevent it. Some things are just out of our control." I tilted my head, peering through the windscreen and pointed at the sirens. "Malek, why are the police escorting us?"

"There is nothing a strong enough will can't achieve." Malek said matter of factly, taking my pointed finger in his hand and resting it on his leg. "There is a military march going on tonight, just a little exercise meant to keep the army alert and remind the citizens that they are safe. We'll be stuck behind the soldiers for hours without an escort to help us through."

The driver turned from the minor road onto the major road and the soldiers came into view. It was a residential street filled with high rise apartment buildings. Hundreds of demons in pajamas watched the soldiers pass from the sidewalks.

Hundreds of soldiers holding black batons with threatening metal spikes at the end marched in neat rows of six. Clad in camouflage and black caps, chanting something in Demonish, they looked mean, hardened and ready for battle .

"This march is so the citizens will know they're safe?" I pressed my nose against the glass, watching the police cut out a path for our car through the soldiers. The soldiers stopped, giving way to us as the ones ahead moved on.

We rolled through the gap as the police officer glanced down at me. His eyes cold as ice, his expression so unreadable it was like he was wearing a mask. The car slowly drifted past him and our eye contact broke as he hopped on his bike and followed behind us, the other officer riding up on his left.

I leaned back into the seat as the soldiers continued their march and we left them in our rearview.

"So, why did you say you came to Earth again? What was life like for you before? You know, before you came to Earth? Was there a lot of war down there and death? Is that why you left?" I asked out of nowhere. And judging by the tightening of his jaw, he didn't like it.

But I hadn't found anything that might help me stop the war. And with all the fun we'd had tonight, now seemed like as good a time as any to try my luck and dig deeper.

He changed the subject, going back to the show and how funny it was that Berilius, Lucius's best friend, was obsessed with everything ‘purple'. And how he only wore purple clothes, lived in a purple bedroom and mostly ate purple food.

Just like that, I felt the wall between us grow just a little bit taller.

We turned down a quiet street with a small smattering of pedestrians going in and out of a convenience store. Further down the street, I glimpsed the church I'd discovered the resistance in, mere hours ago.

The entrance was boarded up with overlapping plyboards, a sign at the front reading "we've moved location. Call (875)789-0074 to find the new meeting place for Wednesday worship and Holy Fridays."

The resistance was on the move. It made sense, even if they wiped Ferina's memory. It would be too risky to assume they could trust me. Or maybe they were spooked by all the soldiers and ran .

Malek took my hand, fetching my attention back to him. We chatted all the way back to the palace. Malek ensured we only spoke about fun things, and spoke of nothing related to his past or anything too personal. He'd made it clear that that was off limits.

I'd turned the resistance's plea for help down because I felt I could stop Malek on my own. But so far, all I'd managed to do was surrender to his touch like a junkie would his fix.

Well, I wouldn't pine for his touch another minute more, I thought as the palace poked out over a small hill. From now on, I wouldn't allow myself to forget my mission, or what was on the line. The freedom and safety of all shifters, mages and humans depended upon my actions.

I needed to get more creative in my approach because Malek wasn't going to make it easy to sleuth into his past. But all of my intuition told me somewhere in the past held the key to unraveling everything and saving everyone.

I would be damned before I allowed my attraction to him to be the ruin of the entire world. Funny, charming and ridiculously as seductive as Malek was, I had a duty to fulfill and I could not fail.