Chapter 2: Beneath the Surface
Days blurred together, it seemed, since that first day she met Lord Kaelen in a blur of confusion and growing unease. Her heart, once so steady, now fluttered at the most unpredictable moments when she thought of him. His eyes, deep red and cold, yet somehow filled with an intensity that left her breathless, lingered in her mind, stirring feelings she couldn't explain.
Her days should have been filled with royal duties, preparations for the grand ball in celebration of her engagement to King Ulric. But how could she pay attention to such trivialities when a demon, someone she had once thought was a myth, had stirred something deep inside her?
Standing before the mirror in her chambers, Evelina adjusted the delicate laces of her gown. Rich tapestry, the feel against her skin, and sweet scents of lavender filled the air. Amidst all the beauty of her royal garments, there was a heaviness that weighed upon her chest. She had known all along that her marriage to Ulric was a matter of duty, but now, with some strange inexplicable yearning creeping into her heart, she wondered if she had made a mistake.
The knock on her door broke her from her thoughts. She turned quickly, trying to clear her mind of the distractions. "Enter," she called.
Her maid, Lily, curtsied as she entered. "Your Highness, the council is ready to meet with you. They wish to discuss the preparations for tomorrow's event."
Evelina nodded, brushing a stray lock of hair from her face. "Tell them I'll be there shortly."
Once Lily had gone, Evelina took one last look in the mirror. The princess that stared back was the same poised, polished figure she always was-but beneath that, something had shifted. She felt it-the growing desire, the ache for something she had never allowed herself to want.
She entered the council room and, immediately upon entering, caught the eye of her father-the great King Alaric-standing at the head of the table. He eyed her before he motioned for a seat beside him.
Ah, Evelina," he said with a warm, wide smile. "You look radiant, as always. I am reminded that your service to the crown must take precedent above all things. King Ulric will come very soon, and we should ensure everything goes perfect with the ball.
Evelina nodded vaguely, her mind not really on her father's words. Her mind kept drifting back to Lord Kaelen, who seemed to be there even though he was not. She glanced at the other members of the council, her eyes briefly coming to rest on the single demon who sat at the far end of the table.
Lord Kaelen was not different. His features were as sharp as ever, his dark presence permeated with the promise of power and the air of being unapproachable. Behind his cool veneer, something stirred within his gaze as it met hers-something that shook her yet lured her all the same.
Princess," Lord Kaelen interrupted her thoughts in a low, silken tone that wove a shiver down her back. "I believe that we have not discussed the arrangements relative to the ball tomorrow. The role played by the demons in your kingdom's protection is central, and there we must remain and place ourselves, within the fetes.
She felt herself blinking, startled at his words, and had supposed the demons being honored guests were to be away from the main talk; after all, her engagement with King Ulric was the one which occupied the evening's limelight.
"Of course," she tried to say smoothly. "I trust you shall be treated as is due you, Lord Kaelen."
Lord Kaelen's lips arced into a faint smile, though it was edged with something darker, almost amused. "Respect is not what I seek, Princess," he said softly. "I seek the safety of your kingdom."
Evelina frowned, confused. "Then why are you here?" The question slipped out before she could stop herself.
The room fell silent, and all eyes turned to her. But Lord Kaelen didn't look offended. Instead, he regarded her with a gaze that sent her pulse galloping-that her question was something new to him.
"Because," he whispered, his voice dropping to a near whisper, "only the demons can protect you from the dangers that lie ahead.
Evelina's pulse quickened. There was weight in his words, an unnerving surety that shook everything she had believed. Her heart beat a little louder in her chest as his gaze nailed hers, unyielding.
As the dinner dragged on, Evelina's thoughts simply would not still. It was as if something drew her closer to Lord Kaelen-a pull she simply couldn't override. Maddening. How could a demon-one supposed to be so beneath her-arouse such a reaction? And how could she, a princess promised to another man, even feel this way?
But no amount of denial in her actions could hide it, and she knew it-she felt something for him, something potent and beyond control.
As the council meeting adjourned, Evelina stood to leave. But before she could make her exit, the voice of Lord Kaelen called her name, drawing her back.
"Princess," he said, his voice stern, his eyes never leaving hers.
She turned, her breath catching as their gazes met again. "Yes?
There is something I must warn you about," he said, his voice low and full of warning. "The demons here are not your only threat. There are darker forces at play, ones you are not prepared for."
Evelina's heart was racing as she waited for him to continue.
"You may think yourself safe with your betrothed," he said, his words laced with an underlying weight that sent a shiver down her spine. "But that is just a façade."
Her heart raced, yet she was at a loss for words. He had turned, his cloak sweeping behind him, before she could utter a word, heading toward the door.
She watched him disappear from sight, the weight of his words settling over her like a shroud. Something had changed; something dangerous had begun. She did not know what it was, but one thing was for sure: Lord Kaelen, the demon who had come to protect her kingdom, had now become the center of everything.