I didn’t know what tomorrow would bring, but we had today, we had each other. That was all we needed. Tonight, I wanted to focus solely on us, not on my worries or the future. Tonight was ours.
As we walked through the woods, the peaceful sound of a nearby river filled the air. Dagon squeezed my hand, and I turned toward him, feeling a pang in my chest when I saw his eyes swimming with purple warmth. They were full of love and gentleness.
“What are you thinking about?” he asked.
“I’m just enjoying the moment, the woods, the sound of the river, and you. I feel happy and free.”
“Free?” He tilted his head, looking adorably confused.
“Yeah, free.” Sighing, I looked up at the starry sky and tried to explain. “I always felt like something invisible held me back, like chains. I always hid my true feelings, but with you, I don't need to. I often felt like an impostor in my own life."
“How do you feel now?”
Stopping, I faced him fully. Staring into his eyes, my world, I said, "Like myself, without judgment or shame. I feel your love. I know I'm not alone anymore."
His smile made my heart skip. His smiles were precious, and I vowed to make him smile every day of our lives.
"You'll never be alone again," he whispered. "I'm proud of you, my love."
He kissed my forehead, pulling me close. We stood embracing each other, relishing our connection.
Sometimes, guilt crept in about not sharing everything sooner with our family. But now, I realized it had always been my choice, my timeline. I needed time, and so I gave it to myself. Now, I could look back and appreciate myself, my efforts, and the misplaced fear of rejection, which didn’t make it any less real. The fear of rejection and my family changing how they saw me was still present. The difference was that I loved myself a bit more and was ready to open to the ones I loved.
Dagon wrapped his hands around my neck and sealed our lips in a searing kiss. When he pulled away too quickly, I needed more. Crushing our mouths together, I pushed him gently against a nearby tree. He yielded willingly, moaning softly as our bodies pressed tightly together.
Our kisses deepened, tongues exploring, breaths mingling. Slowly, I moved to his neck, biting lightly at first, then harder, leaving a mark that made him shiver.
I wanted to mark him completely. Possessiveness surged within me. Ever since seeing him hurt, I felt fiercely protective. No one was getting their hands on my Dagon ever again.
I traced my tongue along the mark, savoring him.
"Fuck, Di," he groaned. "If you keep doing this, I won't be able to hold back my real form."
"Then don't," I said firmly.
He didn't ask twice.
The shift happened under my mouth. I felt it first as heat, his skin rising several degrees against my lips, the kind of heat that meant fire in the blood and demon at the surface. Then I felt the rasp of horns curling up past his temples, brushing against the side of my face. Then the sound of his wings unfurling behind him, the change in the air and the strange whisper of feathers settling. The space around us got smaller because his wings were spreading and pulling me in at the same time.
I pulled back to look at him.
Dagon in his demon form, pressed against a tree, his eyes purple-black and blown wide. Horns gleaming under moonlight. Wings half-spread behind him, throwing shadow across the bark. The bite mark I had just made on his neck darkening into something purpler than a regular bruise. The most dangerous thing in these woods. Mine.
"Hell," I breathed, "you're so fucking beautiful like this."
"Then come and take me," he said softly, "the way you want me. The way you've wanted me since you stopped pretending."
My cock was so hard it hurt.
He crushed our bodies together, our kisses deepening. Desire burned through me, overwhelming and consuming.
With effort, I pulled back, looking seriously into his heated eyes.
“I’ve made my decision.”
"What decision?"
“I want to complete our mate bond.” He froze, stunned, breathing heavily, eyes darkening intensely. "Would you want to complete the mate bond with me?"
