I had fallen asleep against the huge cupboard where there were many books in a secluded area of the library.
I had read until very late at night and hadn't realized that I dozed off with the book on my lap.
Later, the duke came to relax by reading some books. It was his daily routine every evening; so he shut himself in his library. Anyway, he was the only one to read in this house. His eldest sons were uneducated, preferring to practice swordsmanship than read a good strategy book. Gabrielle was far too brainless, and the only thing she liked to do as cultured was to read fashion catalogs. His wife was hopeless so no need to think about her.
The only one who could have been interested in reading is his daughter Mylène. He is sure that since her sudden change, she would be interested in a few reading sessions with him.
He called the butler and asked him to bring some tea to stay all night… He was tired from the situation with the forest of nightmares; he hadn't slept a wink especially when he thought that the king wanted to take these lands from him.
He would have liked to conquer this land, but with these beasts guarding it, it was impossible… This forest was precious to him, it was there that he met Christal, Mylène's mother.
Yes, Mylène's mother because Karl and Edward were not her children. He had been married to a count's daughter, and despite their marriage, he met Christal and had fallen madly in love. He met her at the edge of the forest of nightmares one night when he was fleeing his monotonous life.
She was as beautiful as a devil… He knew she was not normal because she normally had green eyes but when she came to kiss him, they changed color to become golden...
At this time, he hadn't known where she came from but he was so in love that he would go crazy just trying to make love to her until the end of his life… He wanted her so much, it was almost a curse.
Their meeting , however, was not easy because she was mysterious and he had a lot of difficult times because of her.
But the desire was stronger than reason and he had ended up giving in… Giving to her and that's how she came into their lives.
*******
A young man of 24 was galloping on his horse toward the forest… He had drawn features and only one idea in mind, to go far away.
His world suffocated him, he was a woman's husband and the father of two boys whom he looked at as if they were not his… He wished it were so...
The marriage, first of all, he did not want but his father had forced him because the domain of Hosten needed this union.
His wife had fallen in love. She said it was true even though he was the simple son of an aristocrat of breath. He was a handsome man with great beauty that many women wanted in their beds and maybe marry him.
He was tall, his features were fine, his stature perfect and he was very good at the sword… He was the perfect man. The only downside was that he did not have a high status… But this count's daughter had succeeded in marrying him and he had two children with her.
He had taken over the estate and thanks to his influence, he had become prosperous to become a duke. But he was a prisoner of his life… He can't stand dinners with "his family"...He was just trying to escape…
He galloped without looking ahead and it was the evil aura of the forest of nightmares which stopped him.
He had galloped past the forest and was about to turn back when he heard a woman's voice.
" Wait, don't go…"
He turned around wanting to know which woman was venturing into this cursed place. The answer was quickly given to him when he saw a woman arrive. She had long wavy hair dancing in the evening wind, flamboyant hair that made it look like flames about to devour him.
She was beautiful, beautiful to damn him, her green eyes were so haunting and captivating. Her milky pale skin seemed soft and made for his touch, she had a black dress that made her feel like she was dangerous… A fascinating danger, she was so intriguing that he came down to his horse and mechanically advanced towards her with a slow step.
" You became so Handsome…"
The voice of the woman danced in his head as she moved toward to meet him. Finally, they met in the middle of the path and the woman was not shy as she caressed his cheek.
" I waited for you for so long...Claude Von Hosten."
" H... how do you know my name?"
" Because you are fated for me, my love…"
" What's your name?"
She stood on her tiptoes and whispered words in his ear before withdrawing and kissing his cheek.
" We'll meet again."
He closed his eyes and when he opened them again, she was gone. He thought it was a dream then the smell on his clothes reminded him that no… It was insane.
Since that evening, he had started having recurring dreams that left him panting and exhausted… He didn't know how long he was going to take it.
He seemed so exhausted.
Each time he found himself in a place he hadn't known…The same one for months...since he met this woman.
He was back here. He knew it before he opened his eyes because of the way the freezing air chilled his bones. A smell of sulfur wafted through the air, floating like a bog in a dark world. He opened his eyes, staring at the familiar geography that had been his dreamscape since they met.
It was a world of total darkness, a fine mist that surrounded him as a predator would do with his prey. He knew she resided in the mist.
The owner of this world.
He stood in his night clothes, a loose white long-sleeved shirt with black pants, staring apprehensively into the mist. It had started as a bad nightmare, one he would easily forget after waking up sweating and taking a bath.
But it became far more important in the weeks since that first night of terror.
" Claude"
He froze, his large dark eyes wandering in search of the owner of that voice. It was She. Her voice was sultry and low, the tone promising another night of terror. He tried to turn around and run, but his legs were frozen in place. In this world, he had no control. He was immobilized by her will.
At first, he could run, run away until she caught up to him, but now she had complete power over him. She couldn't force him to do anything, but she could stop him from doing anything.
"Go away."
He said sternly, closing his eyes and wanting to wake up. She laughed, and the sound sent a shiver down his spine. She was so dark...so evil...but so beautiful and seductive.
" You don't want me to go away, Claude"
She said, and suddenly he felt her breath on the back of his neck. There she was, materialized from the mist to trace her fingers along the muscles of his broad neck.
" You want me to stay, I know it's your wish, my love"
He opened his eyes, turning to look at her. Her face was forever etched in his retinas as if it were a bright light he had been staring at for too long. Regardless, he would remember that face.
Her hair was long, the color of embers. Her body was buxom, with exquisite curves and creamy legs. Her fingers wrap around his neck with long, talon-like nails. But what lingered most in his mind were her eyes. Sometimes they changed to green but here they were a brilliant golden color. Her gaze was silky smooth, confident, and possessive as she smiled darkly at him with sharp fangs.
She was dressed in a long black dress whose bottom was torn, it looked like she had been attacked by a wild animal. The fabric was thin and light to accentuate her curves.
She didn't have horns or wings as black as night, but he knew what she was. Her dark nature and insatiable desire combined with those fangs and claws were enough.
She was a demon.
"I do not want you"
He said again.
" Go away"
She made a small sound in the back of her amused throat.
" Claude, how many times do I have to say it?"
she whispered in his ear smiling at him.
"I'm not going anywhere until you're completely mine."
He tried to pull away, but she wrapped her arms around his chest and held him in place with incredible strength. She kissed his neck, and he couldn't help but shiver as the warmth washed over him. No matter how many times he told her to go away, she smiled at him and kissed him, causing obscene thoughts in his mind.
Even if he had told her and himself that he didn't want her, there would still be that little voice in the back of his mind whispering otherwise.
Her lips trailed up his neck to his ear, her teeth biting the earlobe to make him moan softly. He blushed as she giggled in dark pleasure in his ear, whispering words he didn't understand as her hands roamed the front of his body, slipping under his shirt to trace the finely toned muscles underneath. All the while, brushing against one of his nipples to make him gasp with desire.
" You are so weak... obeying your carnal desire so easily"
she scoffed, a maniacal smile on her face.
" But when I'm done, you won't be anymore... no other woman will make you want it... even if you chase me away, you will never be able to have pleasure for someone other than me."
He didn't understand that. She talked about this stuff every time he met her, and once again, he turned to ask her what she meant, but she just disappeared in a fit of laughter.
He was alone again in her world. He thought maybe she was done for the night, that he would be left alone until the next time she came to torture him, but he was sorely mistaken.
As his eyes lingered on where she had just been, he felt her clawed hands cup his face and force his head to look at her.
" Say my name"
She whispered, her lips inches from his. She was everywhere and nowhere. One moment he was watching her from behind, and the next moment she would be right in front of him. It was her domain; her world. She controlled everything inside. And he was inside.
" No…"
He said defiantly. Saying her name only meant giving in to her.
" Say it"
She whispered again, her claws scratching the side of his face almost painfully. She smiled sickly at his grimace.
" Say it now."
" No"
She licked her lips, her eyes following the movements of his tongue.
"I guess I'll have to tell you…"
The hand cupping his face traveled down his neck, chest, and pants. He inhaled as she smirked at him, her claws digging lightly into the top of his pelvis teasingly. He looked at her, her hand going through the hem of his pants. She pulled him out and slid her hand inside his pants, suddenly grabbing his member to make him gasp.
" So big…"
She chuckled as she hugged him tight. He groaned, unable to stop the blush creeping down his cheeks from her actions. He had never felt that. Sex with his wife was simple; he took her as a missionary and when he was done, he got up and left without kissing her. He had never shared such a feeling.
His mind came back as she tugged on his member, starting to jerk him off slowly. He bit his lip, trying not to moan. When he didn't make a sound, she frowned and pulled harder, almost painfully, and he moaned in pain and pleasure.
" You won't last... my Claude... Say it... say my name"
He felt his resolve weaken. Lust and pain mixed inside of him as she stroked him slowly but hard, her claws digging lightly into the flesh. After a few moments of heavy breathing, he submits.
" Christal"
She laughs, her fangs gleaming in the dark. He watched her eyes lock on his, those captivating golden irises shifting and turning completely green as she opened her mouth and rushed over.
He didn't know it but it was the beginning of his torment.