Page 6 of Dasher, Dancer, & Demons?

“On earth. We are no longer on earth, squirt.” I tell her even as I try to find ways to bring a Christmas tree and maybe some decorations back to my dwelling.

“Well,that’s just depressing. I definitely need to be back on earth by Christmas. Hey! Maybe you can spend some time with me up there. I will show you what all Christmas is about!” Mazzy says excitedly.

I keep quiet as I finish making my way through the market. Mazzy flutters in and out, driving me absolutely mad. The next time she pops back onto my horn, I grab her and bring her close to my chest. I have officially lost it. All the demons around, the danger my fairy, my mate, is in being near these fuckers and not wearing my brand, my scent. I can no longer take it. Hades is just going to have to wait.

I need to get Mazzy home and marked… Fast.

“Hey big guy, remember I’m tiny in this form.You’re kind of squishing me.” I loosen my hold just a bit, but not enough for her to get away. I’m being unreasonable, but itcan’t be helped. I need to get her alone.

“Are you alright? You seem to be in a rush,” she comments, trying to get a good look around. We’re almost to the caves, barely hearing the echoes of laughter, fighting, and chaos behind us. When I turn to look, I notice everything is going to hell. What the fuck is happening in the underworld? I shake my head, not wanting to deal with that at the moment. I have more important plans.

“I can’t have all these demons around you. Not when you’re not wearing my brand. Not while we are not mated,” I tell her, barely able to catch my breath at the thought of someone trying to take her from me.

“Wait! Demons have mates?” she asks, and I swear I hear excitement and hope in her voice.

“We do. Most of the time,it’s to other demons, and some are so heartless they kill their mates for more power.” I hear her squeak at my admission, and Ican’t help but grin down at her.

“Youdon’t have to worry about that, squirt. I might eat you, but only in the most pleasurable ways, I promise. My goal is to keep my mate forever. I’m never letting you go,” I tell her softly.

“Dang! Well, this makes it easy! I thought I would have to talk you into realizing we were soul mates. I knew from the time I got a look at your pierced horn. By the way, what else is pierced? Oh, and what did you mean by brand? Are you moving in with me when we are done with business down here? Can you hold a glamor for that long?” I cut her off before she could lose me.

“No need to talk me into it, little one. I am well aware we are mates. Perfect for each other in every single way. I knew you were mine the minute I caught sight of you flying freely through the flowers in your greenhouse. There are many other piercings. We have reached my home so you can explore until you find every single one.” I wink at her, pushing open the door to my home before continuing, “When we become mates, we become one. There is a black mark right here,” I point to where my belly button would be if I were human.

“It will match mine and show everyone in existence that you are mine. We will work out where we will live later. I need to be deep inside you first. And I can hold my glamor as long as I want to. It does not take much magic.” Before she asks more questions, I gently set her on my pillow. My bed is a raised stone with the finest Strix feathers and the softest of silks.It’s a bed for a queen, and I’ve finally found mine.

“When I imagined my life, my first time, I can honestly say Iwasn’t expecting a demon but of course…” She trails off, and I watch as she closes her eyes, takes a deep breath, then stretches to her full human size. Well, full size, meaning around five feet even. “Fate delivers the best of gifts.”

“You think being paired with a demon for all of eternity means fate did you a favor?” I ask, completely confused. Most beings would curse fate or at least fighting back a bit, but not my fairy. She is looking at me with excitement and… love. Fuck, I thought it would take time for her to come to terms with the depths of my emotions for her, but looking at her face, looking in her eyes, I realize she is already there as well.

“How are you okay with this?” I ask, leaning down to kiss her. I crave her taste on my tongue like I crave fire licking my skin. It takes everything in me to pull back.

“With what?” she whispers, reaching to her side and unzipping her dress. I have to shake my head to remember what question I just asked because, with every slide of her hand, more and more skin is revealed.

“This. Us.It’s so fast, and look at me.You’re a beautiful, perfect little fairy. So full of life and love. You can see the beauty in everything, andyou’re mated to a demon. Someone who thrives from pain, fear, and darkness,” I tell her honestly.

“Do you kill for fun?” she asks, surprising me.

“Ihaven’t in eons,” I reply honestly. It never really was for fun, more of just what was expected of me, but I quickly learned who my true targets should be. I killed the darkest and most dangerous of demons and other monsters, and Iwon’t lie and say Iwon’t do it again in the future to protect those I love.

“Are you going to keep me in here, your prisoner, forever?” she asks, pulling the straps of her dress down her shoulders.

“To be honest, that was my plan from the beginning, but now… Idon’t know if I could. It would kill me to see that life, light, and love drain from your eyes.” That had another thought occurring to me. “Icouldn’t if I wanted to, though, could I? You could pop in and out with no issues.”

It makes me wonder how she could do it, but I have other, more important things to take care of right now.

“Thenthat’s all that matters. I trust fate, I trust love. You are mine and I am yours. Want to get over here and seal the deal?” she asks with a saucy little wink.

With a snap of my fingers, both our clothes are gone.

“Challenge accepted.”

Chapter Seven

Mazzy

“Oh, thank goodness. It’s sometimes hard to hold this form for long periods, and I want to enjoy this as long as possible,” I tell him, watching his brow furrow. Still, he climbs over me, leaning in to kiss me.

“I may have a fix for that,” he whispers, looking concerned.

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