9. Lily

9

LILY

T he castle walls seem to close in around us, the weight of our shared secret pressing down. Enoch's hand brushes mine, a simple gesture that sends a jolt through my body. The corridor is deserted, save for the distant murmurs of other servants.

"You're trembling," he says, eyes locking onto mine.

"I'm not afraid," I whisper, though the words sound more like a challenge than a reassurance.

"Good," he smirks, pulling me into a hidden alcove behind a tapestry. "Fear doesn't suit you."

He leans in, his breath warm against my ear. "I can't stop thinking about you."

I swallow hard, the air thick with the scent of old stone and the faint, spicy aroma of his skin.

"I thought demons didn't think," I tease, my voice barely above a whisper.

He chuckles, a low rumble that reverberates through me. "We don't. We act."

His lips capture mine in a kiss that starts slow, almost hesitant, but quickly deepens. I melt against him, feeling the hard lines of his body pressed to mine. His hands roam, one tangling in my hair, the other trailing down my back.

I gasp as his touch ignites a fire in me, and I pull him closer, desperate for more. Our kiss grows more urgent, more demanding. His tongue dances with mine, exploring, tasting, claiming.

He pulls back, his eyes dark with need. "Lily," he breathes, my name a promise on his lips. He smiles, both wicked and sexy.

"What?" I say, tangling my fingers in his dark hair.

"I was thinking it's me who is the slave now."

I melt further into him, feeling a hot need between my legs.

"Command me," he rasps into my neck. I can feel his hot hardness pressing into my abdomen.

I gently touch him and he jerks under my fingers, then relaxes into my strokes with a moan.

I want him inside me. I want him now.

"Enoch," I reply, my voice trembling with anticipation. "Take me."

He doesn't need more encouragement. With a swift motion, he lifts me, pressing me against the cold stone wall. My legs wrap around his waist, and he captures my lips again, more fiercely this time.

Clothes are a nuisance, discarded in a flurry of movement. His skin is hot against mine, his touch electric. I feel his need, his desperation, mirrored in my own.

He is beautiful, muscled and lean. His shaft is large and eager. I shift my hips and slide across its length, making us both gasp.

"You're mine," he growls, positioning himself at my entrance.

"Yes," I breathe, arching into him. "Yours."

He thrusts into me, filling me completely. I cry out, the sensation overwhelming. He pauses and looks into my eyes, his breath ragged.

His look is intense and it burns into me. His member throbs inside me and I gasp, gripping his hard shoulder pulling desperately.

"Enoch," I gasp. "Don't stop."

He begins to move with a rhythm that matches the pounding of my heart, each stroke sending waves of pleasure through me.

The magic of our bodies flares to life, swirling around us in a visible dance of light and shadow. His power mingles with mine, creating something new, something neither wholly human nor demon.

"Do you feel that?" he asks, his voice strained against my neck. He kisses my neck and bites my ear as he thrusts harder, deeper.

"Yes," I gasp, clutching his shoulders. "More, more! Enoch!"

He obliges, his movements becoming more frenzied, more desperate. The magic around us intensifies, crackling with energy. I can feel it in every touch, every kiss, binding us together in ways I can't yet understand.

With a final, powerful thrust, we both shatter, our cries mingling in the air. The magic explodes around us, a blinding light that leaves us breathless and spent.

Enoch rests his forehead against mine, his breath coming in ragged gasps. "You're beautiful," he whispers.

"Stay with me," I say as he begins to move away. "Don’t leave.”

"I never want to stop touching you," he says. "I never want to leave your body."

He turns, holding me to him as he eases toward the ground and soon I'm sitting in his lap. He wraps his muscled arms around me and pulls me to his warm chest.

I snuggle there, feeling his heat, feeling him continue to pulse inside me.

The castle trembles, as if sensing our forbidden union. A chill races down my spine, and I pull back from Enoch, my breath coming in ragged gasps. His crimson eyes are wide, not with alarm as much as interest.

“Did you feel that?” I ask, my voice barely steady.

“I did,” he mutters, scanning the corridor. “The castle’s reacting to us.”

Before I can respond, the walls themselves seem to groan. Shadows twist and writhe, slithering down the stone like living things. I clutch Enoch’s arm, my heart pounding.

“Is this… normal?” I ask, hoping he’ll say yes.

“No,” he admits, his tone grim. “It’s never done this before.”

The magic that had danced around us now churns violently, sending sparks of energy crackling through the air. I feel it seeping into my skin, making the strange markings from earlier throb with heat.

“What do we do?” I whisper, panic edging into my voice.

“Stay close to me,” he orders, his tone brooking no argument. “We need to get out of here before it gets worse.”

He grabs my hand, lifts me and we hurriedly dress before we bolt down the corridor, our footsteps echoing in the suddenly hostile castle. The walls seem to close in, the air thick with oppressive magic. I can hear whispers, unintelligible, swirling around us.

"I can't tell what it's saying," I gasp. "Is it for or against us?"

"I think it's at war with itself," he says. "Or at least the forces that live in this castle are in conflict." He looks back at me and smiles grimly.

"Good versus evil?" I suggest.

"You might say that."

“Where are we going?” I ask, struggling to keep up with his long strides.

“To the garden,” he replies. “In case everything collapses.”

I nod, gripping his hand tighter. As we reach the door to the garden, it bursts open with a force that sends splinters flying. We stumble through, the fresh air a stark contrast to the oppressive magic inside.

The garden is bathed in moonlight, the roses glistening with dew. The castle’s magic seems to hesitate, the shadows retreating as we step onto the soft grass.

“Why here?” I ask, catching my breath.

“The garden’s always been a place of peace,” he explains. He turns back to look at me, his eyes beautiful in the moonlight. “If we are going to be crushed, I want to be in the only place that rivals your beauty.”

Despite my fear, I feel myself smiling and blushing. I glance around, the beauty of the garden at odds with the chaos we just escaped. Everything is quiet and calm.

The castle shudders in imitation of our final throes.

“Is it over?”

“For now,” he says, but there’s a tension in his voice that makes me doubt it.

I lean against him, feeling the warmth of his body against mine. “What’s happening, Enoch?”

“I don’t know,” he admits, his tone raw.

The garden feels like a sanctuary, but the approaching ball looms over us like a dark cloud. I rest against Enoch, savoring the fleeting peace.

“We need to separate,” he says, his tone reluctant.

I pull back, searching his eyes. “We aren't safe here?”

“My mother is watching everywhere. If she catches wind of us…” He trails off, his jaw tight. “She’ll use the ball to expose us.”

I shiver, the memory of Bethana’s threats still fresh. “What do we do?”

“Act normal,” he replies, his hand brushing my cheek. “You’ll be expected to serve. I’ll play the dutiful son.”

“It will be hard to pretend,” I say, my hand trailing over his skin.

He shudders and nods, his expression pained. “I know. But we must for now. Until we can find the artifact.”

I swallow hard, the weight of our secret pressing down.

“Let’s get through this ball. First things first,” he says, his voice firm. “Then we’ll regroup.”

I glance around, the garden’s beauty a stark contrast to the world that surrounds us. “I hate this.”

“Me too,” he admits, pulling me close for one last kiss. It’s desperate, filled with unspoken promises. “I love you, Lily.”

“I love you, too,” I whisper, my heart aching as I step back.

We part ways, the distance between us growing with each step. I head back inside, the castle’s darkness closing in. My footsteps echo in the empty corridors, the scent of old stone and damp earth filling my senses.