These Shadows Become Her (The Divine Bride, #1)

by Demi Clorissa

To those who fear those long, dark nights will swallow them whole. Morning will come.

He waved a pale hand. “Go. Your misplaced desperation to be selected by these humans is suffocating me. These men are below you, and you aren’t even aware of it.”

“You’re looking for trouble, looking like you do, acting the way you do.” “Maybe I am. Are you trouble?” Mia asked, her words slightly slurred. A crooked grin spread across Idris’ face, pushing up a cheek, showing a dimple and making her breath hitch. Of course he has a damn dimple. He leant in, his large body taking up any space left between them. His lips brushed the curl of her ear as he whispered, “I can be anything you want. Your salvation…your destruction.”

“I’d take you anywhere you fucking want. A bed, a castle, in a dark alleyway.”

“You’re drunk,” Mia muttered to her reflection, poking herself in the mirror and leaving a smudge across the glass.

I resonate with Mia

“Shall we move this to the bed, or are you so desperate for a release that you want me to take you here on the wall, then on the floor, then against each damn surface of this house?”

“Good. I’d hate to hear you moan anything but my name.”

“You want me to fuck you, don’t you? Desperate for it,” Wyn crooned,

“Does Daddy know you’re out here, begging to be bent over by a man you shouldn’t?”

“You should have told me, Mia. I would have been more gentle.” “Gentle? Good goddess, I don’t want that. Not a single bit, Wyn.” “Well, I could have made sure you and your perfect little cunt were prepared to take me.” He paused, pinching her nipple between his forefinger and thumb, sending thrill to her throbbing centre, making her let out a soft moan. “Show you how fucking amazing your body can feel with just my fingers and my tongue.”

I will not hide my grief away. All will bear witness to my pain. And I’ll be brave in the face of Death, not wilting under his gaze.

“Revenge isn’t always the answer, little witch. It plants something dark deep inside you and feeds off the bitterness that revenge eventually brings.”

Idris turned to her, a sly smirk on his lips. “Yes, my wife.” She rolled her eyes. “You really hit your head hard, didn’t you?” “I hit it hard when I fell for you, my lovely Mia.”

“I’ve never felt so scared, so weak…” Mia’s voice faded as her lips trembled. “He enjoyed that fear. I could feel him enjoying it.” Idris abruptly rose, stalking into the darkness. His shaky exhales filled the silence between them. “You aren’t weak, Mia. You burn bright—that’s why he wants to extinguish you. Do not allow him to put out your fire.”

“But what if I cannot stop feeling? What if it drowns me?” Her friend’s hands found her elbows, forcing Mia to meet her eyes. “Then I will come down to those depths and drown with you. You are not alone. Not anymore.”

“We have missed you, witchling. Your sisters are waiting for you…”

“You are utterly, absolutely indecent in that dress, Mia. But, I think you’d look better out of it.”

“You do not touch what is mine.”

The burden of pureness and wholesomeness was firmly placed on women, never men. Until a man rips something from you—then you are used, dirty. Goddess forbid if a woman has a lick of desire, and wishes to act on it. The double standard never sat right with Mia.

“Are you scared of me, little witch? I can hear your heart racing in your chest.”

“You know nothing about what I need. What I ache for, Mia, is you,”

“That was a really beautiful dress,” he crooned. Grinning at him, her hands smoothed over the stiffening material. “Someone has to buy me a—” “Take it off, Mia, and get on that fucking desk.”

Your little cunt is dripping for it.”

With the same two fingers he had pleasured her with, he dragged down her throat, catching the running blood. He dipped them into his mouth, sucking off the mix of her slick and blood. His eyes fluttered closed, moaning. “Good goddess, Mia. You taste divine.”

“Tell me what you want. Tell me how you like it. I want to please you.” “I want you to take me right here on this desk. By the goddess, I want you so deep inside me, I don’t know where I end and you begin.” “As you wish, little witch.”

“Maybe they should see every woman they encounter as a threat. We have claws and teeth, James. Sharp claws and teeth.”

No one would ever shame her for her desires or wants again. She’d bare her teeth—each pointed one at Luc—and show him how razor sharp her claws were.

“You lied when you said I was safe with you. One part of me has never been safe with you.” That worried line formed between his brows. “Which part?” “My heart, Idris.”

“To hold a heart like yours is a pleasure and honour to do, Mia, and I’m not worthy of that honour. But maybe one day I’ll be able to hold it, and cherish the pouring of love that comes from it.”

“Oh, so desperate for another release, are you? Have I not pleased you enough?” Idris murmured against her skin, his voice gravelly.

“It appears not with how needy you are—and gods, so wet. We have to rectify this at once.”

“Use your words, little witch”

“What is life without pain and suffering?”

“Life is too short, even for those blessed with long lives, to deny yourselves the pleasure of being in love.”

could love bloom where grief had taken root?

he never replied, that he never said yes. He never promised not to crush those shards of her heart into nothing. Because he couldn’t. He couldn’t lie.

“M’eudail Mia,” he whispered against her. My darling Mia. “You will ruin me.”

“I’m drowning, Sorcha,” she croaked out, a tear rolling down her face. “Drowning in all of this. I try to keep swimming to the surface, but a firm hand snaps out, keeping me just under the water’s edge.” “Then we drown together.”

“It’s the truth, Mia. I broke it on a desk with you, your glorious body hidden from me. Now, what we did clouds my mind, lingering on every thought and in the mists of every dream. And I would do it again. The only thing I regret is how I left last night, how cowardly it was, and how I didn’t mean a fucking word in that letter, and that you turned to Wyn Neverclove for help when it should have been me.”

Have I lived a lonely life, locking a part of myself away? A part of me like the freckles on my skin, or the scar that cuts across my face? Am I a witch, blessed with shadows? Have I finally found who I am?

me. Tell me you want this,” Idris pleaded desperately. “I will not let him take you from me. You are mine, not his. He cannot ever have what is mine.”

That’s when she realised Death would have to pry them apart, finger by finger, or take them both.

“No, Mia. You don’t get to tell me you love me and then depart this world. I will not allow it.

“This heart, Mia, has always been yours. Each beat plays a song for only your ears, and here I was wishing and praying that maybe our melodies match. Now I know they do. I hope it plays in my ears until Oryah takes me from this earth, then in every lifetime she casts me as well. I will always find you by that thundering beat of your heart.”

“Oh, little witch, if you desire to see me on my knees, all you need to do is ask,”

“I needed you when I went through Heylla, Papa. But I found that all I needed was in here,” Mia explained, pointing to her chest, right over her heart. “I have a fire burning in my belly, and that is all thanks to you and Mama. You’re the reason I survived.”

“If you cannot touch me, then watch me touch…myself.” “Good goddess,” he uttered, biting down on his plump bottom lip. “Use your words, Idris.” “Yes,” he murmured breathlessly. “Sit back.”

“Good goddess, Mia. I’ve taken myself in my hand more times than I can count, just thinking of you.”

“Tell me what you fantasised about. I want to know each dirty, filthy thought.” Idris whimpered her name, his hand working faster. He must already be close. “Tell me.” “How divine it feels when your pretty little cunt flutters around me when I’m pleasuring you.”

“What are you saying?” “A prayer, Mia. Pleading with whatever god is listening to let this last,” he mumbled against her forehead. He continued with a soft voice, so soft she wasn’t sure he even spoke. “Begging all the gods to let me have you. To let me love you for the rest of my days.”