They arrived in front of a massive residence built into the black rock mountain. Arlan looked up at the imposing entrance door and tall pillars, feeling a sense of awe at the ethereal architecture, so different from anything in the human realm. The place was eerily quiet, as if untouched by visitors.
"This is Princess Esmeray’s residence. It once belonged to her mother, the previous queen, and later was passed down to the Princess." Xyron explained as he used magic to open the door. "Though no one is allowed to visit, the place remains unchanged. You all can stay here comfortably."
"We do not plan to stay here long, so it doesn’t matter," Arlan replied.
Xyron remained silent and led them inside. The three dragons could sense that this demon wanted their princess to remain in the Demon realm, but they had no intention of letting that happen. She must be Esmeray in her previous life, but now she was Oriana and they believed Oriana would want to return to human realm as well.
What about Esmerya? They were yet not sure about and it was something to worry about. But in the end, it would be her choice. Who could even dare force a demoness. As long as they could find a middle ground if she wished to stay here.
Snowflake looked around cautiously, alert for any potential threats, and followed them.
As Xyron had said, the place, though deserted, was meticulously maintained. The drawing room, with its minimal furnishings, contrasted sharply with the exterior’s dark rock. The interior was decorated with light-colored fabrics draped along the dark, stony walls and ceiling. The furniture had cushions in soft, light colors, adding a touch of brightness to the otherwise dark theme of the structure. They guessed this was due to Oriana’s mother, who came from the heavenly realm, had tried to make the place brighter.
Xyron guided Arlan through a corridor connected to the drawing room, leading to the princess’s bedchamber. Unlike residences in the human realm, there was no foyer or upper floor. Despite its grandeur and ancient design, the space felt closed and cozy, offering a sense of comfort and protection to its occupants.
The vast corridor ended at a beautifully carved, massive door adorned with a golden lotus motif. Arlan wondered if the golden lotus held special significance, as he had noticed a similar symbol on the entrance door. Xyron used his powers to open the door, and Arlan carried Oriana inside, saying, "You can stay outside. It’s my mate’s chamber."
Xyron had no intention of entering the princess’s chamber without her permission, though he noted the dragon’s protective warning. Inside, a large circular bed stood at the center of the room, draped with thin, translucent curtains hanging from the ceiling, creating a beautiful and ethereal canopy. The room was sparsely furnished but still felt comforting and serene.
Arlan gently placed Oriana on the bed. In her unconscious state, she appeared vulnerable, a stark contrast to her powerful and dangerous demonic form. No one could say this woman here could be so powerful and dangerous when she was angry.
Arlan caressed her cheek gently, the more he looked at her, the more he felt he was falling for her. The feelings he had for her, could not be expressed in words and he wished there was another way to do so, to let her know the depth of his love for her.
It didn’t matter to him whether she woke up as Oriana or Esmeray; he loved her regardless of who she chose to be.
He moved aside her hair to check the mark on her neck, noticing that the area still looked sore with two dots that seemed to be mark of his canines. His fingertips brushed over it gently. ’I hope it didn’t hurt much.’ Also the excitement to what kind of mark she would bear, filled his mind. He had seen the ones on Ember and Seren’s neck, which made him more curious about his own mate.
He observed the golden robe she still wore, despite having changed into other clothes, and wondered if she had expected him to mark her already. Finding the layers of clothing potentially uncomfortable, Arlan carefully removed her outer garments, leaving her in a thin black chemise. He then covered her with a quilt and slid in beside her, pulling her close to his half-naked body.
He had missed her terribly, even though they had been apart for just a day. Holding her now felt like the end of his longing. He breathed in her sweet scent, letting the beast inside him to feel calm as well.
Arlan could feel how much his Dragon side longed for her as well, but he did not hate it. In fact he felt a new connection forming between him and Oriana due to his beast, the connection as if their souls were being entangled with each other, it was pleasant to feel.
When she awoke, he knew he would not resist the call of his beast to consummate their bond. Instead he was now waiting to complete the bond so she would forever belong to him and no one could ever take her away from him.
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