Her mewls were turning softer, turned into small quivers as I drove into her, driven by an animalistic instinct to fully claim her, to douse her with my scent, inside and out, to mark her as MINE.

Sweat poured over me, my breathing turned ragged, and she long ago pleaded for mercy, yet I was unable to stop thrusting into her. Mindful of my claws, my thumb found her clit; the little nub was swollen and hypersensitive, and I gently rubbed our juices over it while she spasmed underneath me.

Only when her body was fully limp and I filled her belly four times with my seed, did I cease. I pulled her against my chest, where my hammering heart was further proof of our perfect union.

"Happy?" I asked her.

"Hmmhmm," she retorted, and I took that as a yes.

While she slowly drifted off to sleep, my hands brushed her drying hair, my claws carefully pulling out the knots, and I marveled at the silkiness of her tresses. I wondered how many times I had touched a female's hair and never noticed how soft it was.

I made sure she was warm enough since Nayphyllym were more delicate than Daemons. Without disturbing her, I pulled the sheet over our bodies to keep the aircycling chill from her.

As her body fell deeper and deeper into slumber, the other girl popped into my head, Phoenix, Phoolan… I was drawing a blank until I remembered it was Phoebe. I didn't exactly feel guilty over leaving her alone in my royal chamber without much of an explanation, but I knew she deserved to know what was happening at some point.

If I was to keep Fay a secret from Behlial and my brothers, I had two options: one, to play along and make Phoebe my bride, or two, explain the situation to Phoebe and hope she would play along.

My problem was that one, I didn't know if she would play along or use my confession against me. The devil knew my brothers would. And two, I would not, could not, pretend she was my bride, not in the full sense. I would never bed her; I wasn't even sure if it would be physically possible after having been with Fay. Even before I chose her, I had felt no desire for her.

I wasn't entirely sure what her role as my bride would entail, but I was fairly certain that we would have to make several appearances in front of Behlial and the others.

So far, I hadn't told Phoebe anything. I made sure she was comfortable in my royal chambers and gave her an abbreviated version of what was expected of us. The relief on her face when she realized I wouldn't force myself on her had been evident. I gave her the run of my chambers but warned her not to leave them. Guards were posted outside to ensure she stayed inside per Behlial's orders. For the first time in my life, the bastard had actually played into my hands.

I had nearly stormed out of the chambers with the desire to see Fay, to be with her. And now that I had claimed her body, I would never be able to let her go.

How I would accomplish this and keep her a secret from Behlial and the rest of the ship I hadn't quite figured out yet, but I would. I would never subject her to the likes of the male who called himself my father.

A lie.

The day I realized Behlial hadn't actually sired me, had been the best day of my life even though Behlial insisted we call him sire.

My brothers and I had been conceived in the very same manner that was now expected of us to father more sons for Behlial's hellish quest. His journey, his styx.

Seven sons were to be born to the seven sons of the King of Darkness. During this time, the seven sons were supposed to outwit one another and kill each other. Only one son would be allowed to live. And that son would have to be me because I had found my karamia. Fay. I would never leave her unprotected.

So now my objective needed to change slightly from staying outside the fray to immersing myself within it and fighting my brothers to the death. All the while keeping Fay safely hidden from them.

The consequences of my brothers or Behlial finding out about her were unthinkable.

Iwokeuprestedand relaxed, with my head on Azazel's chest, listening to the steady beat of his heart.

Azazel!

I opened my eyes with a start as memories of what we had done last night resurfaced. Heat rushed into my face, but at the same time, I felt finally complete.

Even though I had experienced the most incredible sex with a stranger, an alien, a demon, a vampire, I refused to feel guilty about it. I had finally discovered what sex was all about, and I wouldn't give it up, ever. And if Azazel was the only being in the universe who could make me feel this way… well, there could have been worse candidates I supposed.

His lips brushed my hairline. "You're awake."

I nodded against his chest and lifted my head to look at him. His red eyes still disturbed me, but when he smiled and flashed his fangs, only a shiver of pleasure ran through me, reminding me of the things we had done last night.

"Yes, good morning."

His hands moved up and down my body and my flesh pebbled in response.

He bent forward to kiss me when something dinged. With a curse, Azazel turned his head and reached for a tablet on the nightstand.

"Fates be cursed," he groaned when he read a message.