6. Odette

odette

. . .

It's been thirty-six hours since Valek Villainous crashed into my life and declared me his fated mate. Despite not accepting him as my mate, he has remained a constant presence, never straying far from Sorcery & Serenity.

But this goes far beyond his tenacious nature. I find myself unable to rid him from my thoughts. His presence lingers in the corners of my mind like a haunting spirit that refuses to be banished. Every thought, every moment, seems to be tied to him in some way, and I am left grappling with emotions I can't fully understand or control.

Why must things be so complicated? I've heard countless stories of witches who have defied fate and successfully rejected their primal instinct to mate. How difficult can it be for me? My sister, Queen Isolde, is the most powerful witch in our world. Surely, I inherited some of that magic from our parents.

As I lie in bed, tangled in a battle with my racing thoughts and the oppressive heat, a strange and unfamiliar sound cuts through the stillness of the night. Curiosity piques within me, causing me to sit up and shift toward the nearest window, my ears straining to pinpoint the source.

A haunting melody echoes through the air, a tune unlike any I have ever heard before. The voice that carries it is deep and guttural, filled with a raw longing that pierces my heart. The words roll off the singer's tongue in an ancient dialect, a dark and otherworldly language spoken only by demons. Though I have never heard him sing before, there's no mistaking it—it's Valek's mating song. My heart beats faster in recognition as my instincts urge me to my feet, drawing me toward him like a moth to a flame.

With an almost hypnotic rhythm, I turn the latch on my front door, unraveling the enchantment that surrounds my humble home nestled within the towering branches of an ancient tree.

Valek materializes from the shadows, a vision of devastating male beauty that steals my breath. His skin is as pale as the moon, a stark contrast to the abyssal black of his eyes. Long, midnight hair cascades over his broad shoulders, framing a face sculpted with both the finesse of an angel and the sharp angles of an ancient terror. Yet it's his lips, full and tempting, that draw me in—a promise of sinful delights wrapped in a smirking bow.

I can't help but wonder how he managed to find me despite the powerful spell that hides my treehouse, but I know deep down that mates always have a way of finding one another. The air is thick with anticipation and tinged with a hint of nervousness as we lock eyes, our connection palpable even from this distance.

As Valek's intoxicating voice fills the air, I can't help but feel a stirring of desire. His dark features exude an irresistible allure that makes me weak in the knees. It's not just his song that draws me in, but something deeper, more primal. It's as if a hidden craving is now being awakened within me. Against my better judgment, I find myself descending the spiral staircase surrounding the tree trunk, drawn toward him without inhibitions. His smoldering gaze locks onto mine, and I feel a pull toward him that I can't resist. Who knew that our two worlds, so long at odds, could hold such intense attraction?

"My beautiful mate, come to me," Valek whispers in a deep, velvet voice. He extends his arm, and I place my trembling hand within his giant palm, amazed by the size, but too transfixed to utter a word. His touch sends electric currents through my veins, igniting a fiery desire within me.

My thoughts are not my own. Every word that appears in my mind urges me to trust him, to accept his proposal, and run away to whatever dark place demons reside.

"How did you find me?" The question escapes my lips in a mere whisper, almost too soft to be heard. The moonlight casts a mysterious glow on Valek's strong features, making him all the more irresistible. As I stare into his piercing blue eyes, I feel as though I am under some kind of spell, unable to resist the pull toward him.

His warm embrace envelops me, pulling me closer as he answers in a low purr. His voice, like velvet against my ear, soothes any fear that lingers within me.

"Don't be afraid, my love," Valek murmurs, his breathing matched with mine as we become one. "You and I are bound together, now and forever."

I can feel the steady thump of his heart against my skin, a comforting rhythm that lulls me into a trance. At this moment, I surrender completely to my mate, lost in the sensation of his touch and the sound of his beating heart.

I trace my fingers along the defined lines of his chest, feeling each muscle ripple under my touch. His body radiates heat, like a furnace on a cold winter night, and I can't resist pressing closer to him. My resolve crumbles as my fingertips melt into his warmth, and I lose myself in the sensation of his smooth, solid physique.

"Valek." My heart flutters as I utter his name with a shaky breath.

His dark gaze locks onto mine, holding me captive in its intense heat. The scent of smoldering fire surrounds him, filling my nostrils and overwhelming my senses. With each passing second, whatever reluctance remains disintegrates like ash in the wind, leaving only an unbreakable connection between us.

"What do you desire, my mate?" With a tender touch, Valek's lips meet mine. He pulls me into a passionate kiss that makes me swoon like a damsel in distress. Perhaps sensing my need for support, he lifts me effortlessly into his arms and carries me up the winding staircase to my home.

My exhausted eyes fight to stay open, but the pull of sleep is too strong. My limbs feel like lead, robbed of all energy and unable to move. I battle against the darkness that threatens to engulf me, but it seems insurmountable. I push myself to keep going, but my body feels incapable of obeying my commands. I've become a puppet with broken strings, barely able to hold onto consciousness. As I slip behind the veil of sleep, Valek's soothing voice echoes through my mind like a lullaby, drawing me deeper and deeper into a state of blissful surrender.

As I drift into sleep, the world melts away, replaced by a hazy twilight realm where the air shimmers with unspoken promises. The temperature of the room shifts with his presence, the air becoming charged with a raw, magnetic pull. His power is palpable, a living essence that seduces every sense.

"Odette," Valek murmurs, his voice a dark melody that reverberates through my being. "I am here to claim what is mine." His words are both threat and promise, sending shivers down my spine.

As he climbs onto the bed, I'm entranced by the predatory grace of his movements. I can't look away—nor do I want to. He's everything forbidden, and all that I desire is encapsulated in one being. As he positions himself above me, the bed dips under his weight, the sheets pooling around us like clouds of midnight fog.

Valek's warm finger traces a burning path down my arm, lingering at my curves and hollows with an artist's appreciation. Every cell in my body comes alive under his ministrations—every breath turns shallow. "Let me show you the ecstasy that haunts your dreams," he whispers against my neck. His hands roam with proprietary ease over my body as if he has known it for eons rather than days. His fingers are skilled—teasing and exploring every secret place. With each touch, he ignites stars behind my closed lids—a map written in constellations across my flesh.

Valek shifts closer, and our bodies align with a perfect symmetry that feels predestined. The world narrows down to just the two of us—the demon lover and his willingly ensnared soulmate. As he enters me, his throbbing cock slowly tears through my virgin barrier, thrusting gently at first, then gaining fervor as our bodies entwine in a natural rhythm. His fingers clasp mine, and he sets a pace that is both relentless and reverent. And in a haze of lust, I scream my surrender once more.

Valek's growl is low and pleased with my submission—a sound so primal it seems to resonate within my very bones. In this dream state where my fantasies have materialized with vivid clarity, Valek worships me as much as I surrender to him—a cycle spiraling toward an inevitable crescendo. As the slick glide of skin on skin and the sweet pressure builds at our cores, my mate anchors himself deep inside me, and we shatter in a delicious pleasure that obliterates all else.

As we cling to each other in the aftermath, our breath mingling in ragged sighs, I know no dream could ever compare to this phantom embrace. Valek's presence begins to fade with the encroaching dawn, but his whisper lingers like a caress against my soul: "Until next time, my love."

Reluctantly, I surface from sleep back into reality, tinged with the echoes of our nocturnal dance—a dream so vivid it leaves an ache within me that not even daylight can erase.