I was furious.

Words cannot even begin to describe how badly I wanted to kill him. And I mean that in a literal sense. I could've had a mate out there, true it wasn't likely, but it was possible. What if I found them one day? What would they do, knowing that I had chosen someone else?

Chosen.

That made him my chosen.

Fuck. Fuck. Fuck.

Choosing was unheard of in the demon world. You found your mate and then lived happily ever after, the end. But in some cases, demons who loved each other but weren't mates could become one another's chosen. Many demons saw choosing as a disgrace and the fact that Cassius was now mine ruined everything.

I stared up at him with hatred burning in my eyes.

"I will never forgive you for this," I stated, my words were sharp and decisive, but Cassius was unfazed.

"You will, give it time," he murmured and placed a hand on my hip. My lip curled in anger but it soon died away as the crushing reality of the situation fell on me. I would have to spend my life with Cassius. I would have to have children with him. I would be a prince.

Would it be so bad?

I bit my lip, I couldn't let him cloud my judgement. He took away my mate, if I even had one to begin with. But maybe this was the best option, no one else would want me. What of my mate had another mate?

I closed my eyes and pursed my lips. I wasn't going to cry.

I'm not going to cry.

I'm not going to cry.

I'm not going to-

I'm crying.

Tears poured out of my eyes before I could stop them. I tried for blink them away but it was like a faucet that I couldn't turn off. Cassius pulled me close to him and I just gave in. I slumped against his firm chest and sobbed.

I hated this.

I wished everything would just go back to normal, before Cassius happened. But then again, I wanted to stay with him. I wanted to have a relationship with him without all the drama. Was that too much? Did I not deserve to live happily ever after? Were all the things everyone had ever said to me true? That I was worthless, that I was made only for the pleasure of others?

But Cassius doesn't think so...

That stupid voice! I kept doubting myself, but it was true. Cassius always told me that I wasn't a whore, he told me I was worth it. And he treated my nicely. Most guys just took advantage of my needs and used me as a quickie. It was awful and degrading. But Cassius took his time and made me feel good.

Would it be so bad?...

"I'm so scared Cassius," I whispered and clung to him like he would disappear if I let go.

"I'll take care of you, I promise," the prince replied and turned off the water. He guided me out of the shower and smoothed my hair.

"Why didn't you ask me? I would've..." I gulped as he began to dry me off. "I would've said yes."

Silence.

"I was afraid," he finally murmured, "I was afraid you would say no. And you would leave me again. I can't function properly without you anymore."

"Cassius, you don't-"

"No, Alabaster, listen, I love you. Ever since I first laid eyes on you in that club. I love you more than you could imagine." He looked down at me with a raw look of adoration and love in his eyes, my breath caught in my throat.

Now. Do it now. Tell him.

"I-I-" my lip trembled and I looked at my feet, "I need some time."

Damnit!

Cassius kissed the top of my head, "I understand."

Do you?

-

Cassius had gone off to speak with his father and left me alone to think about everything that has happened in the past few days. I sat against the headboard, my knees curled to my chest. His shirt hung off my shoulders and a fresh pair of my boxers clung to my hips. I was so tired.

I needed to talk with Cassius. I wanted to tell him yes. I wanted to love him back. I wanted him to hold me. But this was all so much.

What's holding me back?

I frowned and buried my face in my knees. Everything is so fucked up. Maybe I just need to go see him.

-

I found myself pacing in front of the door, biting my nails.

Did I really want to go?

Yes, I-I had to, we can't just not talk about it.

But what am I going to say?

I'll know when I see him... hopefully.

I clenched my jaw and stopped, facing the door. Yes, I needed to go. I slid my hand around the cool metal knob and twisted it open. A gasp bubbled from my lips as I poked my head out and two guards were leaned against the walls on either side of the door. One looked very young, younger than me at least. He had floppy brown hair that looped around his face in round curls. The other seemed a bit older with streaks of grey staining his dusky blond hair.

"I- uh, need to see Cassius," I mumbled and looked at my feet, a little bit staggered by their sudden appearance.

"Oh sure, you want me to call him?" The older one asked he had a gruff kind of gentleness in his voice.

"Uh, no he's in his office right?" I responded awkwardly, a good portion of my body was still inside the room.

"Yeah, do you need me to show you the way?" the younger one interrupted, I looked up at him and shook my head.

"No, I've been there enough times," as soon as the words slipped out of my mouth, my cheeks burned with embarrassment. That sounded like I went there to regularly fuck.

"Sure, but don't tell him we let you go off on your own or he'll have our heads," the brunet joked, his sea green eyes shone with amusement. I gave a curt nod and stepped out, making my way down the hall. I felt suddenly conscious of my outfit, I was wearing Cassius' clothes and a robe. What did that say about me? My mouth twisted into a frown as I took a right and came upon the familiar door of his office.

My hand grasped the knob and twisted, slowly pushing the door open. I poked my head in and froze in shock. What is with the fucking jump scares today?

His office appeared remodeled. It was longer and more open with larger Windows. A long sleek table dwelled at the center and took up most of the room. Around it sat demons on each side, as soon as the door had peaked open they looked my way. I was mortified.

My panic stricken eyes found his cool silver ones where he sat at the head of the table.

"Excuse me, ladies and gentlemen," he announced and rose from his seat. I gulped and shut the door, pressed myself flat to the wall.

Oh fuck I'm in trouble.

The door clicked open and Cassius emerged, he looked down at me.

"What is it Alabaster, is something wrong?" He murmured with raw gentleness showing in his eyes and voice. I breathed a sigh of relief as he slid in front of me and cupped the side of my face with his warm hand.

"I'm- uh, sorry I don't know you were in a meeting," I mumbled and intertwined my fingers.

"It's okay, what do you need?" He whispered lovingly, my eyes fluttered closed and then open again.

"I just wanted to speak with you, but I can wait if you're busy," I muttered, my eyes trailing to his lips for a moment.

"Alright, you can stay in there with me, the meeting will be over soon enough," Cassius agreed and pressed a gentle kiss to my forehead. He to go back inside but I caught his wrist and pulled him back.

What am I thinking?

"W-wait," I stuttered, Cassius looked down at me with a quizzical expression. I clasped each of our hands together and looked at my feet awkwardly.

"Yes?" He murmured, I looked up at him with a bright blush burning on my cheeks.

"I, uhm, Iwantakiss," I muttered quickly and quietly, Cassius smirked down at me.

"What was that? I didn't quite catch it," the prince teased, but I could see how excitement flared up in his eyes. I bit my lip and squirmed under his gaze.

"Cassius," I whined, but he was unrelenting, my eyes squeezed shut and I opened my mouth again. "I want a kiss."

Cassius complied and pressed his lips to mine, slipping his fingers into my hair. I placed my hands on his shoulders as he overpowered me and slid his tongue inside my mouth. I purred in delight as he tugged gently on my black hair. I relished how his mouth molded perfectly with mine. He pulled away finally and I panted for breath.
"Anything else?"

-

We stepped into the room, flustered and in a slight disarray. My hair was a mess, but at least I'd fixed his tie before we entered. Once more, all eyes were on me as I took a seat in the corner of the room where a spare seat laid.

"Now we can pick up where we left off," Cassius declared as he took his seat at the head of the table. He opened his mouth to speak again, but some one interrupted.

"Excuse me, but this is a matter of secrecy and I don't think he should be here, no offense to you, your highness," a middle-aged demon spoke. He had dark black hair that was beginning to show his age and dark eyes that seemed dull.

"Alabaster is my mate, and as your future king, you would do well to treat him with respect," Cassius hissed in his direction.

"Ekko would be a better king than this incubus," the way he said incubus with so much loathing in his voice made me flinch. Had Cassius and Ekko really been involved with one another?

"I was not the one who threw your son aside, that was Zisael," Cassius retorted, "I've never expressed the slightest interest in him to begin with."

The other demon's face contorted in rage.

"But you're interested in this piece of-"

"Get out." Cassius' voice was grave, fury showed in his swirling silver eyes.

"You can't-"

"I said. Get. Out." The prince glowered, the demon looked like he was about to reply but caught his tongue and stood up.

"He will never be my king," the demon snarled and stormed out of the room. Everyone else sat in shocked silence until Cassius spoke up.

"The vampires have crowned a new king in the American district. Bane Dragomir." He explained, looking over the conversation that had just transpired. A few whispers floated around the table.

No one uttered a word, a few uncomfortable glances crossed the room.

"Yes, I've heard he is a formidable opponent in battle, they will be strong," a blonde demon woman remarked coolly, she didn't seem affected all that much.

"But Asura, their King Julius has just passed away," another demon piped up from across the table, he was young and handsome. "Surely they'll be mourning his death."

"And that makes them weak... and vulnerable to attack," an old demon with frayed hair muttered. By now I knew what they were talking about, the feud between vampires and demons. True, vampires were technically a class of demons, but they considered themselves apart from the whole. They had their own laws and rulers in each district of the world.

As of now, this war had been going on for centuries with no side yielding.

"What should be our plan of attack, sir?" The blonde woman inquired, everyone seemed to lean forward in their seats as the anticipated his response.

"You're right Caym, but so are you Asura," Cassius murmured referring to the young demon and the blonde woman. "Julius ruled for many years and they'll be vulnerable to attack, but that also means that their new king, Bane, will have a thirst to prove that they are as strong as ever."

"Then what do you suggest?" The old demon asked, I was curious myself.

"The traditional burial rights have yet to be performed, they expect us to have honor on the battle field," Cassius mused with a sadistic smile on his face.

"Are you suggesting we move in at his funeral?" The blonde woman seemed incredulous at the idea.

"We are demons Asura, when have we ever fought with honor?" The prince said, " Yes, we'll strike then, when they are at their weakest."

"We still don't know when it is though," the old man spoke.

"It won't be hard to find out, I'll call for you when I know, and then we can begin to prepare the troops," Cassius replied simply and rose from his seat.

"Meeting adjourned."

May 2018