Undying Devotion
Under Your Claim?

“I never had a clue that you would be interested in such things.” He cooed amused.

It had taken her pleading with him to stop reading the smut out loud. But in truth his seductive voice reading those lines had been doing something to her body she couldn’t explain. “I don’t read it for the reason your thinking!” She exclaimed half panicked.

“And what am I thinking?” His dark eyes had locked with hers as the corner of his lips crept into a smirk.

“I don’t get off on it, I like it for the story!” That sounded even more absurd when she said it out loud.

His deep menacing laughter mocking her and her resolve. “I’m not judging, just surprised.”

“Why, you didn’t think I could be anything but bland, boring detective Shannara?” The line an ex had used to describe her floated off her lips, she didn’t even know why she was entertaining the notion that she cared what he thought.

“Nothing of the sort, you have been nothing if not entertaining since my time here.” He leaned forward placing his chin in his hand as he watched her panic and fumble for words. “Bland and boring are not the terms I would use. Exhilarating and captivating is a better fit.” Glancing at the book he added. “Alluring.”

She felt as though she were overheating, his voice, his demeanor, his gaze, he was everything she had ever read about in every romance novel. He was the type of man she fantasized about, and he was wooing her. Her resolve was very much slipping around him, almost to the point that she may soon admit to liking having him around. Clearing her throat she picked up her latte and pushed the documents that Desmond had prepared for them before they had left the station. “Read this instead, it’s more relevant.”

“Nothing is more relevant than the wants and needs of my to-be wife.” He pulled the files closer to him. “Also it’s nothing to be ashamed of.”

She tried to hide her burning cheeks and ears as she sipped her drink. Please change the subject! She wasn’t sure how much longer she could hold out. She watched as he flipped open the document. She was curious herself and hadn’t looked through them yet.

“This is extraordinary!” He exclaimed as his face fell from mockery to a more serious expression.

She smiled into her glass. Desmond was a brilliant hacker, she had discreetly asked him to look into the CIA and what they knew about the occult that could relate to this case. In truth, this could help them find out who had access to this information, what information they had and how they got it. He’d told her it was heavily guarded and he hadn’t gotten all of it, but it would be what the killer could most likely access if he were indeed an inside agent.

He pulled out a photo and turned it toward her, sliding it across the table he tapped his finger on the image twice. “This item is from my world, it contains the ritual that we witnessed and many others.”

Looking at the photo it appeared to be a rather worn journal, the pages were browning in color and the writing was barely legible. “But how did it end up here?” She asked.

“If this is the journal I believe it to be, it was meant to be destroyed a long long time ago. I too would like to know that answer.” He looked up from the image to meet her gaze. “I employ you, after this killer is caught will you help me find these writings? I need to destroy all traces of them, they are not meant for this world or any good for mine for that matter.”

She looked at him slightly surprised, he was asking her for help? A demon! Asking her for help. He could wreak havoc and get want he wanted and disappear in an instant back to his realm. The masses would write it off as a freak accident or a gas leak with no evidence. “Why...?”

“It is simply too dangerous for such a tome to be in this realm, I am King and I care for my people and my realm. I don’t want to see another war between our kinds.”

Noble as it sounded she still didn’t understand. “Why me though?”

“You my dear, have great skill and knowledge of this realm, it would be idiotic of me to attempt anything on my own without your aid. The owner of the tome is long dead, tracking it is nearly impossible. So you see, I need a detective.”

She half smiled, it was nice to hear such praise, but it also begged another question. “Once this is all over, and if I decide to come with you... What can I do in your realm? I don’t want to be just a trophy wife, I need to be busy and do something meaningful.” She didn’t miss the gleam in his eyes as she spoke about their life after this.

“So, you are considering it?” He pulled the photo back toward him and placed it back inside the folder.

“I’m weighing up my options.” In truth, she wasn’t entirely sure this whole situation wasn’t of his orchestration yet.

“You have doubts about me.” His cheeky grin was close to taking her breath away.

“I’m being cautious, I won’t deny that.” She shrugged.

“Then this question is a test.” He responded.

“Perceptive as ever.” She sat back in her chair eyeing him.

“Well then, in response I will tell nothing but the truth.” Leaning back in his chair he lulled his head to the side as he crossed his arms over his chest. “It may be different at first to find a place for you, we do have a division of law enforcers that I would suggest you join, but the learning curve would be steep. However, I have no doubt you would be an asset in due cause.”

“You guys have criminals and murderers in your realm?” She asked curious.

He frowned. “As much as I hate to admit it, yes. The level of violence and barbouchary is something I fight to change every day.”

“So, you’re saying it’s a dangerous world.” She placed her glass on the table.

“As is everything with beauty.” His eyes watching her every move.

For some reason, she didn’t believe he was lying. But she still felt very much in the dark. She got the feeling that he wanted her for a specific reason, she wondered if she could get him to spill the beans. “Are there other humans there?”

“Not at the moment, but there has been in the past.” His answers were quick and on point.

“What happened to them?” She pushed.

“They died.”

She creased her brows. “That’s not very comforting.”

He laughed. “Yes, I don’t suppose it would be, but most creatures of my world live a much longer life span. Many are even undying or... what’s the term you use... immortal?”

“The henchman you killed wasn’t immortal.” She pointed out. But that made sense, humans probably had a shorter life span compared to beings that could use magic.

“Longlivety may be a better way to explain it. We grow old much much more slowly.” He concluded.

Then what was the point of a human bride... She couldn’t shake the feeling that there was still more to it. “I have a request.” She suddenly asked.

He raised a brow. “Another?”

“It’s only fair since you have asked for my help now aswell.” She rebutted.

He let out a single laugh as he smirked. “Very well, what is your request?”

“Before I make my decision, take me to your world for a time. I want to know what I’m getting myself into.” Was she seriously considering this? She was surprising herself at this point.

He looked deep in thought for a moment.

“Is there a problem?” She asked.

“One slight one yes. Without someone having taken claim to you it could be dangerous to stay on your own. You would need to stay by me, in my residence.” He made it sound like she had meant that she wanted to explore without him.

“I think I would honestly prefer that. Better to be with something that knows the area.” That didn’t seem like an issue to her.

He furrowed his brows. “I don’t think you understand. You would need to be under my claim to stay with me, as are the rules with the royals.”

She frowned. “Under your claim?”

“It is as it sounds, you are to be mine. But you wish to wait to make your decision.”

“You mean the marriage? We can just tell people I’m your fiancé for the time being.” She offered.

“Not quite. Our traditions are different to your realms.” He was dodging past something.

“Arion spit it out already!” She was growing frustrated.

He lowered his voice so only she could hear him. “I need to mark you with my scent.”

Her mind immediately went to a dog marking it’s territory, surely not! She frowned, so what did that mean? Her mind was reeling.

He tapped the book on the table that held the prolific scene he had been reading aloud earlier. Oh! Her eyes opened wide as she caught on.

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