Blood of Desiderium (The Divide Book 1)

by Ali Stuebbe

“No matter in this world, or the one beyond it, I promise we will be together again. My heart will always be with you. I love you, my sweet child.”

“You must seek the girl with silver eyes far across the sea.”

Everyone dresses in light shades of color at this court, but my soul resonates with the dark, calling to it because it wants to dance with the night.

“I can’t promise you the love of a true mate, but I can give you love, Emma, and a good life with it,” he says, his toned back facing me as his head twists around to speak.

“You won’t kill me, because you never had a chance, little demon,” he growls. Who is he calling little demon? Yet, the name beckons to my shattered soul.

All of a sudden, a humming in my blood surges, growing stronger and causing my breath to hitch. I close my eyes to embrace the intoxicating heat surging through my veins, a fire that burns away all my fears, all my pain, and leaves them in the dust. What’s happening?

When my eyes land their mark, it’s Prince Draven, who still remains unmoving. I keep my face neutral, but my whole body ignites at those eyes. Like ice. They are the palest blue I have ever seen. The dim orange glow from the lanterns still cannot mask the pools of liquid light. Sharp diamonds pierce into me with a hardness that is impenetrable. I follow his line of sight and realize he’s glaring at the contact of my father’s hand on my arm, never straying. Looking about three seconds from firing sharpened icicles at him.

“Ugh. Fine,” I drag out the word. “He’s a cold-hearted sociopath who is unwelcoming with his ‘I’ve got better things to do’ look. And how attractive he is, is even more infuriating. He looks like he was sculpted from the Gods’ powerful hands, sent here solely to wreak havoc on a female’s senses.”

“And what do you think of him?” The smirk she gives tells me all I need to know. “He’s the Devil himself, all wrapped up in sin and, like you said, has the body of a God. It’s easy to see why so many females fall on their knees for him, begging to give him pleasure. I bet he knows exactly how to work a girl’s body to the point of screaming without control.”

“Wow,” he breathes. “You look amazing, like the moon to my sun, since we’re dressed like night and day.”

I’ve fought worse monsters than him, but what he doesn’t know is that I might be the darkest monster of all.

A mate is fate’s way of offering a love that’s pure, and one that can overcome anything. It’s the stars guiding you through the darkest of times. The embrace of magical bliss and promises of dreams coming true. There is a ritual performed to intertwine the couple’s souls, fusing their blood together in a bond so strong, not even wyvern iron can break it.

And the romance… Well, that’s self-explanatory. I like to read the love told between pages because I know I will never have that. But that’s just another thought I’ll keep to myself.

He’s…smiling. A true, genuine smile that softens his hard features, showing off his white teeth and… Gods. He has a dimple in his left cheek that dents in the center right underneath his trimmed scruff.

He looks like a beast that wants to devour me. Having already cornered his prey, the feverish want takes over all reasoning.

“I should probably mention violence turns me on,” I say, watching her face turn red with restrained irritation. She clears her throat. “We need your assistance.”

“Just tell me when we can rip the shadows from him and shove them up his ass.”

“What I want in this life doesn’t matter. I’ve been dancing along the edge of death’s tune for a while now.” He’s quiet for a moment. “You should never have to dance to death’s song alone, little demon.”

“Why help us?” I ask. The smirk I know too well from Prince Draven graces his face. “You begged, little demon.”

But I messed up. Because now, not only did she learn who I really am, but her scent has turned into a drug. One strong hit is not enough, and I’m left desperate for more, itching to have her close.

For some reason, the thought of being separated from the little demon infuriates me, bringing forth the beast inside that wants to steal her away.

The turbulent waves roaring in her eyes come crashing down, trying to take me with them and pull me under. But I don’t relent. I’d willingly be dragged to the depths of the sea, so long as she’s with me.

“If I remember correctly, little demon, you’re the one who was looking for me.” I lean in, speaking quietly enough for only her to hear. “Begging me.”

“I’ll be your villain if you need me to, little demon. But you don’t hate me. And even if you did, you wouldn’t be able to hang onto it for much longer.”

A secret that would cease to exist when the golden globe rises once again. Only us, the moon, and the stars would know. A forbidden chance to take what I want. A forever secret that will get lost in the dark.

“The aggression is only brought on by you. But yet again, you sound, dare I say, jealous?” I darkly tease. Anticipating his harsh, challenging words back. But then, something changes in his eyes. The ice begins to melt and the light in them dies down as they darken with sinful promises. “Maybe a part of me is,” he declares, catching me off guard with his honesty.

Kissing him feels like I’m free falling, letting go as if I slipped off this ledge to the drop below. The only question is, would he catch me? Or would he watch me fall to my death?

“Who the fuck did that to you?” A guttural growl leaves him with the harshness of his words. He’s blocking the entire entrance of the tunnel, as his shadows jerk and strike out around him, as if he’s losing control of them. I’m silent, not able to speak as shock and fear choke me in an unrelenting grip.

“I’ll kill him,” he says in a such a calm voice, it sounds deadly. A promise. The water starts to ripple and his power vibrates through the air making his body shake with rage. “No one deserves to live if they lay a fucking hand on you.”