Chapter 1 - I Found A Mate

Thail

This must be the ugliest creature that I've ever seen. Where are the feathered wings?! Why doesn't it have a demon's tail? I'm so confused.

This is the desert, and this female, I believe, just dropped down from the sky.

"That was quite a fall..."

It's talking, but I can't understand it. Not a single word. I decide to approach it cautiously. It might be tiny and wingless. It also lacks a tail and glowing eyes, yet you never know when you might get bitten.

This one might even be carrying diseases...

I shouldn't get too close, but because my curiosity has the best of me, I examine her: no sharp teeth or horns. We share the same skin color and body type, though. But since she is small, I'm worried. With that frail body, she couldn't possibly survive on her own.

Curious, I sniff the air again. She doesn't smell like a demon like me, but I can tell the creature is a female. It has long brown hair and a delicate heart-shaped face. Does our hair feel the same?

While crouching, I lean forward to grab some of the creature's hair between my digits. It prompts the little female to sit up and bolt away from me.

"Oh-my-god, who are you?! What are you? Why are you so big!?"

I tilt my head. "Excuse me?"

With a scream, the female scurries away from me quicker than lightning. She crawls in the sand, only to flop down from what I'm guessing is exhaustion. Yet that doesn't stop her from lifting a finger at me.

"It talks!" She is hyperventilating. "Oh gosh, it talks... But what did it say?"

I gaze at the female, unprepared when the mate bond strikes me like sudden thunder when I make eye contact with her. My soul has lain dormant and silent my entire life. It recognizes no mate amongst my kind. Yet it burns and sings at the sight of this new creature.

The little one is my mate.

Mine.

I'm so conflicted.

My hammering heart stops altogether. I can't take my eyes off the female. I'm shocked when I feel the resonance grow stronger to the point I can't block it out. My inner fire tells me to mate with this thing, which freaks me out.

Like, come on, HER?!

SHE IS NOT A DEMON!

This creature can't be my person and future wife. I try to convince my inner fire that this female isn't the one. It must be a mistake! But the longer she stares at me with those big batting eyelashes, the more I start to agree with my inner fire.

She is rather pretty.

For being wingless and not even close to my height...

What would I even do with her?

How would we mate?

I grit my teeth as I argue with myself. The female is smooth and soft. She is short in height and skinny, which is funny since an incubus like me is the polar opposite: we stand proud and muscular. This thing? There is no muscle on her.

"E-easy there, big guy," the creature is still talking gibberish, and now she is holding up her palms while sitting on her tiny ass. "No sudden movements. Stop showing me your teeth."

I have no clue what she is saying, but she is curious, so I walk forward... Only for her to whimper. It amuses me. Can't she feel the bond between us? The humming between her legs? The need to mate?

I feel it loud and clear.

"NOT A STEP CLOSER!"

Oh, she sounds excited already!

"I'M WARNING YOU! I WILL HURT YOU IF YOU COME CLOSER!"

What does that mean?

I get closer, and my mate, my precious mate, hits me in the face.

Her knuckles connect with my skin, and immediately, she howls in pain. I'm puzzled. Why would she hurt herself? I rub my cheek where her fist connected. It didn't really hurt.

"How come I'm the one who is hurt after I punched you?"

My mate pouts at her fist, and I snort in amusement.

I have to teach her how to fight...

She shoots me a glare. "Why are you laughing at me? And ugh, your face felt like a rock... Are you going to hurt me after I hit you?"

Again, I don't understand what she is saying, but we should get out of here.

I want to take my mate into my arms and take her home. Later, I will offer her pleasure beyond her wildest dreams. I will spread her thighs and bury my head, nose, mouth, and everything between them. Fill my nostrils with her scent now that I've finally found her.

My fated mate.

Tears claw behind my eyelids. I'm so happy.

She might be different, but we will make this work. I crouch before her and spread my arms to pick her up, which results in her screaming at me?

Why?

What have I done wrong?

"Okay, you're mad at me for hurting you, but please spare me! You're much bigger than me. Intimidating. Shit. I regret hitting you! What are you going to do to me? Kill me?!" my mate is speaking and damn near crying in that weird language again. "Go away!"

She is so loud...

I smile and hope to come off as friendly and charming.

"Oh no, you have sharp canine teeth!" the woman says, shaking while howling." Please don't eat me!"

I tilt my head and fold my feathered wings behind my back. "I don't understand you, but don't be scared. I'm just going to pick you up so we can leave this place."

No response.

She is shivering, and I reach out my arms to touch her. This makes her freeze. Her eyes widen as she stares at my hands that lands on her delicate shoulders.

So smooth.

I run my hands down her arms and to her sides. The female is curvy. I find that attractive. She is wearing thin clothing that won't protect her from the cold. I want to rip it off her body and examine the rest of her, but she looks weak and will need clothes when the cold night comes.

How has she survived this long without freezing to death? Wings would keep her warm, but she lacks those. It's weird. Yet, despite our differences, I find my mate gorgeous.

She can be soft and weak. I like her already. Touching her feels like a dream, and my heart swells inside my chest. She is my mate, my new reason for existing, and I will protect her. It confuses me how she is acting all scared, though. It’s almost as if she does not want to mate with me.

But that will change. We just need to spend time together.

I determinedly pick her up into my arms. She is lighter than a feather. My heart warms while my mate shrieks and trashes around as if wanting me to put her down.

I'm devastated by her reaction.

This woman, this defenseless creature who is less than half my size, is my fated mate. How can she possibly think I will harm her? I look into her eyes, smiling softly.

"You're safe with me, little one," I tell her, making her body stiffen while her eyes blow wide. She stares at me, and I snort at her, entertained. "Am I speaking funny to you? Can't you understand me?"

Her speechlessness is the only clue I need: she doesn't understand even a single word I say. I frown but force another smile when I realize nothing can be done about it now.

"Fear not, my beautiful mate. We will fix this problem with a spell later. It will take some time to prepare. Be patient, my love. For now, there will be a language barrier between us. But you're mine, and I'm yours—I will protect you even if I can't understand you."

With that, I tuck her to my chest and inhale the scent of her brown, soft hair. She whimpers in response, and I chuckle.

My mate is stinking adorable and all mine. I've been alone for years, but that is all about to change. First, I will take her home, and then we will mate.

All our problems will be solved after that.

My mate will bear my children, and I will spoil her rotten. I will feed her the best food, give her orgasm after orgasm, and fend off any other demon that might wish to kidnap her.

Will my fellow tribe members try to steal her from me?

Females are hard to come by, but I would snarl at anyone who tried to take my mate from me.

She is mine.

"This might be a bumpy ride," I whisper into my mate's ear and tighten my hold around her body. She weighs nothing, yet her presence is larger-than-life in my mind. My precious. "I will take you to my home, and once we are there, I will mark you."

"Oh god, are you planning on eating me? Will you skin me alive? Why do you have wings and glowing eyes?! You're a demon, aren't you? Fuck-fuck-fuck, I don't want to die!"

I snicker in response to her words. I have no idea what she is saying.

All I know is that we must mate tonight. I'm not sure of the customs of my mate's people. Perhaps I need to woo her before getting to the sex? I'm a good hunter. Maybe I will bring home a nice kill for her to impress her and make her see I'm a capable hunter.

I need to show my mate that I can provide for her and the demon babies she will carry. Because courting her, I must. I can't think of a lonelier fate than her rejecting me. My inner fire dreads that idea, and my heart clenches simply thinking about it.

I don't want to be alone anymore…

I peer down at my mate, who is fighting my arms. "Release me!"

More gibberish.

I snicker while spreading my large wings. "Relax, I won't harm you."

She goes still and relaxes. I smile at her, and she smiles at me. Trust is building, and I can feel her breathing return to normal.

A second later, I leap into the air, and my mate is no longer calm.

"Oh my god, I trusted you! You smiled and used your gorgeous appearance against me, and now you're trying to kill me!"

My mate screams for her dear life when I fly higher, and I press her to me, chuckling. Her arms are looped around my neck, and when she shoots me a glare, I understand what she is saying without knowing anything about her language.

"Don't you dare drop me!"

I smirk at her.

I can tell that was a threat not to drop her. It makes me lean closer and lick her neck. She turns tense in response, and the faintest whimper leaves her lips when I kiss her jawline. Huh. Does she like that?

Interesting.

I kiss her again and notice her pulse flaring. She isn't immune to me! This fills me up with hope, and I nip at her skin. The faintest moan escapes her, which awakens my playful side. Earlier I didn't know if she could feel the bond, but now there is no doubt.

Tasting her neck has aroused her, and her round face is turning pink. Embarrassment? So cute.

"You're so beautiful," I say and slide my hand up her inner thigh. She is wet for me underneath her odd clothes, and I rub between her legs, knowing it will please her. "My mate."

She shudders and whispers nonsense back. "To think I'm wet for a demon… And this height… I might pass out…"

I don't know what her words mean, but she sounds afraid. It makes me lean closer and whisper into her ear. "I won't drop you. There is no need to panic. I'm only taking us somewhere warmer. You're ice-cold, but you're safe with me. Calm down."

My mate, however, doesn't calm down. She doesn't like the height and glues herself to my chest. It makes me purr—a demon feature when our mates show us affection.

It doesn't matter that she is choosing to get closer only because she is terrified of me dropping her from the skies. I still circle my arms tighter around her, pressing her cold little body to my chest.

I also continue to rub between her legs. My mate, who has been shuddering like a leaf, gives a small sigh of pleasure, liking it when I touch her. It pleases me when she presses herself to me out of her own accord.

"What am I doing?" She mumbles. Her words sound a lot like her arguing with herself over something. "This man looks like that demon on the book cover! I shouldn't cuddle with him, much less let him kiss me, but he is warm… And he has incredible abs… He even smells nice..."

I'm not sure what she said, but I'm happy regardless.

The nearness of my mate's delicate little body is calling out to me. She smells incredible, and later, I want to explore her body.

I want to plant kisses everywhere. This woman already has me wrapped around her finger, and I can barely fight my growing arousal.

My cock is rock-hard, eager to bring pleasure to my mate. If she gets this excited over a hug and me rubbing her wetness, I can't imagine what making love to her will be like. Is she a silent girl or a vocal one in the furs?

I meet her eyes again, blinking when she touches my face. That little innocent touch prompts a groan escape me. I'm already swelling, needing to bury my steely length deep inside her.

I hope we will make it to the cave before I lose my mind. Holding my mate above my head and eating her out until she is clenching around my long tongue sounds like a great idea…