To Bewitch a Devil

“Come in...” he spoke softly, and Neera walked inside. Zavian looked at the pillow in her hands and wondered why she had brought it; was she intending to sleep on the floor?

He looked at her and then pointed to the other side of the bed;

“Lie down and sleep.” He said before he got into the duvet and closed his eyes.

Neera stood for a few seconds before she walked to where he had pointed and laid down.

She couldn’t keep doing this... disturbing Zavian. Although sleeping on his bed was more comfortable and chased her nightmares, she couldn’t keep knocking on his door every night and asking to sleep in his room. Neera sighed softly as she shut her eyes to sleep, she would have to tell someone about her dreams, and the earlier she did so the better.

Neera hadn’t closed her eyes for long when she felt Zavian’s hand go around her waist and pull her to him. He breathed a low sigh as he hugged her closely. There was a long silence in the room her heart pounded against her chest. Suddenly, he spoke;

“Touching you was not a mistake...”

Neera froze as his words met her ears.

.....

“And I did not mistake you to be Lilah. I had only thought of you when I touched you. I don’t want you to think that whatever I do to you, I do because of Lilah...” his voice derailed as the hands that held her waists, turned her around so he could look at her face. The windows were opened and the full moon illuminated the sky.

Zavian could make out the silhouette of her face in the darkness and he raised his hand and caressed her chin softly.

“So don’t run into conclusions or take things I do for you in light regard.”

He said and Neera instantly remembered what happened at the inn.

Was that why he had not been talking to her? He had been mad because she had said that what happened meant nothing to her.

Neera couldn’t help smiling in her heart. Does it mean that he thought of her fondly?

She asked herself but she quickly dismissed the thought. That was giving her hopes that didn’t exist. There was no way that he would think of her so fondly. Maybe what he meant was that he knew the difference between her and his wife and although he touched her, he wouldn’t replace Lilah with her.

Neera smiled thinly. She should be happy to hear this, but why did she feel sad? Why was her chest too tight that it was hard to breathe?

“I understand; your majesty,” Neera spoke in a low tone, as she tried to appear okay; not wanting Zavian to see her discomfort.

Zavian pushed some strands of hair behind her ear and then he spoke;

“Whenever we are alone, call me Zavian.”

He said and Neera looked at him, confusion in her eyes. He was asking her to call his name? He was king... and she was a maid, how could she?

Neera’s head was a mess at this point, earlier, she had thought that she meant completely nothing to him, but at that moment, she was more confused than ever. Asking her to call him by his name, meaning that he wanted them

to become closer. Neera stared at Zavian confused; what did he want from her?

Neera was still asking herself questions when she suddenly felt his cold lips on hers. Her eyes closed reflexively, as the kiss instantly calmed her nerves.

Zavian raised his hand to her face and held her close as he deepened the kiss, sucking on her lower lip. Neera melted like a block of ice in summer as he kissed her. She had been confused a minute ago and tensed but the moment his lips touched hers, she forgot every thought that bothered her and leaned into him.

In seconds, the kiss grew heated as Neera’s back was suddenly on the bed and Zavian on top of her.

Her tiny fingers held his shoulders as they kiss harder. Suddenly, and shockingly, Neera heard a growl form at the back of Zavian’s throat.

It was not just any growl, this one was low-pitched and intense. She had never heard something like this before and so she stopped, but Zavian was still kissing her, she tried to stop him but he seemed out of it as he wasn’t responding to her. He just continued kissing her hungrily.

Neera had not seen him like this before. The last time they kissed, this did not happen, it was like he was taken over by something.

Suddenly, Neera felt his fangs grow longer and before she could stop him, his lips left her mouth and kissed down to the side of her neck.

He growled as he licked the side of her neck which was pulsating with blood and Neera instantly knew what was happening.

He was trying to mate her!

She had heard of demons mating the woman they loved and wanted to be with for the rest of their lives. Once mated, they were bonded together. The bond grows stronger as they continue to mate and resolves when they stop mating.

But why was he trying to mark her? What was he doing? Without a second thought, Neera used all of her strength and pushed Zavian off her, jumping out of the bed.

Her heart banged fast against her chest as she stared at him from the corner of the room;

“Your majesty... ” Neera called, panting as she tried to bring him to himself; confused as to what just happened.

The color drained from her face when Zavian looked at her and she saw that his eyes were glowing and his fangs were elongated. She inched away from him as fears crippled her.

As though something left him, Zavian closed his eyes suddenly and then opened them. When he opened them, his eyes returned to normal and his fangs slowly went back to their normal form.

“Neera... ” he called when he came to himself and he quickly went to where she sat on the ground. Neera moved away from him in fear, as her heart banged against her chest.

“It’s okay... I’m not going to hurt you.” He said as he held her hand, reassuring her.

Neera looked at him, he was back to normal and he looked sane. When she was sure that he was not going to hurt her, she stood up from the ground, but still maintained a distance.

Zavian walked to the candles and turned them on, pouring some water into a cup, and he brought it to her.

Neera took the cup from him, and said;

“You were trying to bite me...” she said as she held the cup, not drinking from it.

Zavian shut his eyes for a few seconds, and when he opened them, they were filled with regret.

“I’m sorry. I had forgotten that today was a full moon, it won’t happen again.”

He said and Neera looked at him confused;

“What happens on full moons?” She asked.

Zavian was quiet for a while as he went to the bed and sat down;

“The full moon makes it difficult for demons to resist mating. Demons naturally can control mating a woman on other days, but on a full moon, it is close to impossible. There are only two ways a demon can stop the mating process, which is not sleeping with or close to any woman on that day.”

There was a moment of silence, and Neera asked; “and the second?”

She asked and Zavian thought for a while; “The second way to resist the mating process is if one of the two is in love with another.”

The room grew quiet at Zavian’s words, and Neera blinked. She was not surprised by his words. She was not stupid to think that he had fallen out of love with Lilah, he was still completely inlove with her and it was fine. It was fine.

What she had guessed was correct; she meant nothing and she had just deluded herself to think that he wanted her.

“Oh... ” Neera said, her voice derailing; “I cannot sleep here then, I have to return to my chambers.” She said but Zavian was quick to respond;

“Don’t worry, you can sleep here, I will control myself.” He said but Neera shook her head;

“I do not want to inconvenience you, besides I think I am fine now. I’ll let you know if I get the nightmares again;” she said and without waiting for him to respond, she kept the cup on the side stool and took her pillow, and turned to the door.