Page 9 of Stegian: Project Exorcism 4

Chapter Five

Stegian pacedthe length of his chambers, feeling like a caged animal. He wanted to be out, searching for the beauty who had come to him just before dawn. He’d spent the day obsessing about her, trying to figure out who and what she was. He knew deep down his best chance to see her again was to remain where he was. She'd said she'd return for him. And she'd found him once, odds were, she'd find him again.

At least he hoped.

His demon was sated, having gotten its fill from the whore earlier. The man within him, the one he wasn’t sure even truly existed anymore, felt guilt over having had his cock sucked.

A deep, dark laugh tore from him as he stormed towards his chamber door. “An unnamed beauty would be my downfall.”

He threw the door open—only to find her there, her back to him as she gazed at a tapestry on the wall.

The gown she wore was a pale pink and dipped low, barely covering her beautiful backside. Her silken skin tempted him, so creamy, so flawless.

Stegian arched a brow and closed the doors to his chamber behind him.

“You surround yourself with such beauty,” she said, keeping her back to him.

“Who are you? How did you get in here? Where did you come from? What do you really want? Who sent you?” he asked, stepping forward. He'd had the day to think of endless questions for her and all of them seemed to be spilling forth from his lips at the sight of her. “Am I truly going insane?”

She glanced over her shoulder and met his gaze without fear. “If I tell you who I am, you will cease to keep an open mind about me and you will not fight your demon when it next rises, wishing to kill me.”

He stiffened. “You sensed my demon wishing you dead?”

She nodded, but still did not fully face him. “And I sensed the man in you refusing to allow it to do me harm. That will change when you find out who I am.”

Stegian ran his palms over his thighs, wiping sweat from them. It had been centuries since he could remember perspiring. What was it about the female before him that had him so out of sorts? “How can you be sure I would turn on you so easily? You are here and I have not harmed you.”

Yet.

She bent her head, refusing to look at him further. He could sense disappointment radiating from her every pore. “You took another within minutes of my departure. I can smell her on you. Her essence still courses through your veins.”

He had spent too many years as a leader to succumb to guilt, though it did trickle through the back of his mind. “I need blood to survive. It is that simple.”

The female touched the tapestry lightly. “But no part of you requires sex during a feeding, Stegian. Still, you allowed the demon to do as it pleased. That's how I know you will not stop it from harming me once you know who I am, and what I truly wish to do.”

He was a master in the game of chess and it was clear he had a young pawn before him. One who wasn't completely naïve to the game herself. He took another step closer, wondering what her next move was. “And what is it you wish to do?”

“Separate you from the demon you carry within. You once were a powerful sorcerer on Earth. So powerful the creatures of the night were drawn to you. The one who sired you tried to control you, to use your powers for his own, but he failed. You were stronger than him.” She turned and faced him. The gown she wore pushed her breasts upwards, as if offering the sweet mounds to him. “I wish to separate the two halves you carry and free the man from the demon.”

A sick-sounding chortle broke free. The absurdity of her words was too much for him. “It cannot be done. Unless,” he arched a brow, “you plan to end my life. In that case, I would most certainly be free of this demon you seem to know so much about.” He used his supernatural speed to appear in front of her. Taking hold of the back of her neck, he forced her head back. “Have you come to try to kill me, beautiful one?”

She showed no signs of being afraid. What a fool she was. “Stegian, you have it within your power to end my existence, but you should know that if you do, you'll never be free of the demon…and it will consume you.”

“It already has,” he said, inhaling her sweet scent. His cock hardened instantly and the need to bury himself within her silky-smooth depths was great. He rubbed his lower body against hers, assuring she knew just how hard his cock was for her. “Coming here was foolish.”

“I know. I understand you could force yourself on me easily, but I think you should keep one thing in mind.”

He snorted, amused by her bravery. “And what is that?”

Her royal-blue gaze locked on him. “That I'm more than willing to give myself to you, Stegian, the man. Not the demon. I will fight him with my last breath, but I will give myself freely to the man.”

He sensed the truth in her words and was shocked by them. “Are you mad?”

It was her turn to laugh. “A moment ago you thought for sure it was you who was losing touch with reality. Is it so hard to believe someone could care for you?”

“Yes,” he said without thought.

Embarrassed by the show of weakness on his part, Stegian gripped her neck tighter until she whimpered.

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