El-kharis pov.Her body tasted like heaven on earth. Every thrust made me want to devour her whole. We had just consummated our mating bond, and the sexual tension had been too much for either of us to bear. She lay on my chest now, her breath steady, her skin slick with sweat. She'd had a rough day, and I...I couldn't wait for her to fully regain her energy before I pounced. At least she'd eaten.We lay there, our bodies tangled, our slow heartbeats in sync. God, she tasted good. The intense pleasure lingered in my mind, and I felt myself harden again. Her hand rested on my cock, soft and smooth, but she didn't move. Not stroking, not rubbing. Just resting there. I cursed inwardly. Normally, I'd have grabbed her and forced her to continue, but I had to be gentle. I didn't want her thinking I mated her just for sex—even though that was the main reason.Slowly, her hand began to move, and I groaned. I'd never moaned or groaned for any woman's touch before, but she...she made me do it.
Gladious snarled, flames flaring around his fists, but I held my ground, unwavering. The room crackled with energy as our powers clashed, the heat of his flames meeting the cold fury of my storm. Azazel's gaze flicked between us, her body tense, ready to bolt at the first sign of violence."Do you think you can challenge me, El-Kharis?" Gladious spat, his voice a low rumble, the floor beneath us vibrating with his barely contained rage. "You dare to insult me in my own domain?""I don't care about your domain," I shot back, my voice cold as ice. "This realm is under my protection, and that includes my mate. Your little trysts with Azazel are of no concern to me, but if you think for one moment that I will allow her to conspire against Esteria, you are sorely mistaken."Azazel finally found her voice, trembling with fear and fury. "El-Kharis, please, I was only—""Silence!" I roared, the very air in the room trembling with the force of my command. "You will stay out of Esteria's affair
Author pov...After they had taken a moment to rest and rehydrate, the training grounds were filled with a sense of calm, a brief respite before the next challenge. Esteria sat on the grass, her chest still heaving from the exertion of the race. She wiped the sweat from her brow, her thoughts racing just as fast as her heartbeat.Lord El stood nearby, his gaze fixed on the horizon, lost in thought. Esteria couldn't help but admire the way he carried himself—an air of quiet strength and authority that commanded respect. Despite the intensity of the morning's training, he seemed as composed as ever.Esteria's thoughts drifted back to the race. She had given it her all, pushing through the pain and fatigue to reach the finish line. The memory of Lord El's subtle smile when she crossed it brought a sense of accomplishment, though it was tempered by the knowledge that she had much to learn and improve upon.Lord El turned to face her and the others, breaking the silence with a tone that wa
Esteria lay on her bed, staring up at the ceiling, her thoughts a chaotic whirlwind of fear, anger, and confusion. The room was dimly lit by a single candle, casting flickering shadows that danced across the walls. Despite the comfort of the silk sheets and the gentle breeze from the open window, she couldn't shake the terror that had seized her heart. The news of vampires in the land had struck her like a blow, dredging up memories she had fought so hard to bury. She had been betrayed once by Vincent, the vampire who had promised her love and protection, only to stab her in the heart—literally. The mere thought of his name sent a shiver down her spine, and now, with the possibility of his return, she felt as though the walls were closing in around her. "Is he back? Is he here for me?" she whispered to herself, the questions gnawing at her mind.But despite the fear, something deep within her—a small but resolute voice—insisted that she was not alone. Lord El-Kharis would protect he
The door had barely hit the ground before El-Kharis stormed in, his presence a terrifying mix of raw power and unyielding fury. The air seemed to crackle with energy as he stepped into the room, his electrifying blue eyes locked onto the scene before him. Levy, Leon, and Rowland followed closely behind, their expressions grim and determined. For a split second, the vampires froze, their predatory confidence wavering in the face of such a formidable opponent. But then Vincent's brother sneered, stepping forward as if to challenge the Demon God himself. "Fools," El-Kharis's voice was like the rumble of distant thunder, dark and ominous. He moved with lethal grace, faster than the eye could follow. In one fluid motion, he was upon the first vampire, his hand crackling with dark energy. With a mere flick of his wrist, the vampire disintegrated into ash, a scream of agony dying in the air before it even began.Levy and Leon were right behind him, blades drawn. Levy's sword was a blur of
As the morning sun filtered through the windows, casting a soft glow over the breakfast table, Esteria sat with Levy, Leon, and Rowland. The air was still heavy with the memory of the previous night's events, a tension that hung like an unspoken shadow among them. Despite the comforting aroma of freshly baked bread and warm tea, Esteria couldn't shake the worry gnawing at her. Adrian's image, bloodied and unconscious, played in her mind on a relentless loop."Has anyone checked on Adrian this morning?" Esteria asked, her voice trembling with concern.Leon, seated beside her, offered a reassuring nod. "He's stable. The healers said he'll make a full recovery, though it'll take some time."Esteria sighed, relief mingling with the lingering anxiety. Her hands trembled slightly as she reached for her cup, trying to focus on the present rather than the haunting memories.Just then, the door to the dining hall creaked open, and in walked El-Kharis. His presence commanded immediate attention
Leon escorted Esteria back to her room, the silence between them heavy with the echoes of their earlier sparring session. The walk through the quiet corridors gave her time to process everything—the fight, Adrian's condition, and the weight of her responsibilities. By the time they reached her door, the exhaustion was beginning to settle in."Thank you, Leon," she said softly, offering him a tired smile."Anytime, Esteria," he replied, his tone gentle. He gave her a nod of respect before turning to leave, his footsteps echoing down the hallway as he disappeared from sight.Once alone, Esteria closed the door and leaned against it for a moment, letting out a slow breath. The room was dimly lit, the soft glow of candlelight casting shadows across the walls. She moved to the center of the room, her fingers absentmindedly reaching for the hem of her clothing.As she undressed, the cool air brushing against her skin, a memory surfaced—of that night with El-Kharis. The intensity of his pres
**Esteria**The warmth of their shared moment lingered as El-Kharis began to dress, his movements deliberate yet distant. Esteria watched him, her emotions tangled in a web of confusion and longing. She wanted to say something, anything, to bridge the growing chasm between them, but the words refused to form. Her lips parted, a silent plea hanging in the air, but he didn't notice—or perhaps chose not to.Fully dressed, El-Kharis stood at the doorway, his back to her. He paused, and for a fleeting moment, Esteria thought he might turn around, offer her some reassurance or at least a final glance. But he stepped forward without a word, the door closing softly behind him, leaving her alone in the dimly lit room.Esteria's heart sank, the realization settling in with a weight that made her chest tighten. She had expected… more. A conversation, perhaps, or even a gesture that acknowledged the intensity of what had just transpired between them. Instead, she was left with the cold reality of
The grand dining hall, once a place of comfort and camaraderie, now felt cold and heavy with unspoken tension. El-Kharis, Esteria, Adrian, and Rowland sat around the large, polished oak table, their meal untouched as their minds grappled with the weight of recent events. The quiet murmur of their conversation was abruptly shattered when Lilith burst through the doors.Her usual calm demeanor was replaced by a tense urgency. The shadows cast by the flickering candlelight accentuated the severity of her expression, and her eyes, normally so composed, now held a storm of emotions."El-Kharis!" Lilith's voice cut through the silence, her tone a sharp contrast to the serene atmosphere that had filled the room moments before. "Levy is dead."The words hung in the air like a dark cloud, and for a moment, it was as if time itself had stopped. El-Kharis's face went from a controlled mask of concern to a blazing inferno of rage. His fists clenched at his sides, knuckles turning white. The room
The chamber was dimly lit, the air thick with an unsettling silence that hung like a shroud over the gathered assembly. A heavy book lay open on the table, its pages empty, yet it seemed to pulse with a hidden power, as if waiting for the right moment to reveal its secrets. Around the book stood a group of figures, their faces obscured by the darkness that clung to the corners of the room. Each of them carried the weight of their master's will, and none dared speak as they awaited the signal.Elijah was the first to stir. He was a dangerous-looking man with an aura that spoke of countless battles survived and a soul steeped in darkness. His eyes gleamed with a predatory light, the kind that came from years of hunting and being hunted in return. A jagged scar ran from his left temple down to his jaw, a mark of some long-forgotten battle, but it only added to his menacing appearance. His black armor, etched with ancient runes, seemed to drink in the light around him, casting his figure
[ warning mature content]Strictly R-18El-Kharis's eyes smoldered with a dark, irresistible desire as his voice, rough and commanding, broke the silence. "Now, it's your turn to pleasure me."Esteria's heart pounded with a mix of anticipation and nervousness. She was eager to reciprocate the intense pleasure El-Kharis had given her but felt an overwhelming pressure to perform perfectly. She took a deep breath, her eyes darting over his powerful, muscular frame as he lay sprawled on the bed, his erection standing tall and firm, throbbing with need.With trembling fingers, she reached out to him, her touch tentative at first. As her hand made contact, El-Kharis's body shivered, a low, throaty groan escaping his lips. The heat radiating from him was almost overwhelming, and Esteria could feel the hardness of his desire through her palm. She wrapped her fingers around his length, feeling the heat and the pulsating throb beneath her touch.Her strokes were slow and deliberate at first, te
[Warning mature content]Kharis's gaze was molten with desire, an unmistakable hunger simmering beneath his calm exterior. With a swift yet gentle motion, he swept Esteria into his arms, carrying her across the room. The solid wall greeted her back with a cold shiver, but the heat between them quickly turned it into nothing more than a fleeting sensation. His strong arms pinned her in place, his body a cage of warmth and power that left her breathless.The world outside this moment faded, leaving only the two of them, their breathing the only sound in the quiet room. El-Kharis's fingers brushed across her skin, deliberately slow as he began to undress her. The fabric fell away with a soft whisper, exposing her to his hungry gaze. His touch was firm yet gentle, a contrast that made her pulse quicken, the anticipation a sweet torture.As the last barrier fell away, he pressed his lips against the curve of her neck, a trail of heat following where his mouth traveled. He took his time, sa
The night air was thick with a palpable tension, the stillness of the room punctuated only by the soft sounds of their breathing as Esteria rested against El-Kharis's chest. His cool, steady heartbeat was a soothing rhythm beneath her ear, and his fingers lazily combed through her dark hair, each gentle stroke lulling her into a sense of calm she hadn't realized she craved. Despite the intimacy of the moment, a nagging unease gnawed at the edges of her consciousness, a whisper from the past that she couldn't quite shake."How was your training today?" El-Kharis asked, his voice a deep murmur that rumbled through his chest, vibrating against her cheek."It was... challenging," Esteria replied, her voice quiet, almost detached. Her mind was elsewhere, adrift in memories she had long tried to bury. "But I managed."He hummed in response, a sound of approval, but said nothing more. The silence that followed was comfortable, yet heavy, as if both were lost in their own thoughts, reluctant
Esteria's heart thudded in her chest as she stared into El-Kharis's eyes, the intensity of his gaze pulling her in like a riptide. The room seemed to shrink, the space between them charged with a tension that made the air itself feel thick. She could feel the heat rising in her cheeks, the warmth of her recent shower doing little to combat the coolness radiating from him."You're back," she finally managed, her voice barely above a whisper.El-Kharis tilted his head slightly, his enigmatic smile never wavering. "I never left, not really," he murmured, his voice a soft caress in the quiet of the room. He moved closer, his presence overwhelming, and Esteria felt the familiar, intoxicating pull that always accompanied his nearness.For a moment, neither of them spoke. The only sound was the quiet rhythm of their breathing, the tension between them growing thicker with each passing second. Esteria's gaze flicked down to his lips, a sudden, fierce longing surging within her. She wanted to
Esteria awoke with the first rays of dawn spilling through the thin curtains of her room, feeling the weight of the previous day's events resting heavily on her. The darkness she had mastered with Lilith's guidance was both a blessing and a burden, a power she could not afford to ignore. But today, her thoughts were elsewhere—on completing her training and finally returning home. The longing to leave this place and resume her lessons with El-Kharis had grown stronger, but it wasn't just the lessons she missed. The thought of El-Kharis brought an unexpected warmth to her chest, something more than mere anticipation for training.She sat up, glancing around her room. The maids were absent, but a gown had been neatly placed on the stand beside her bed. For once, she decided to dress herself, without the help of the maids who were always so precise and swift. The task proved more cumbersome than she had expected; the delicate fabric and intricate laces tested her patience. It took her lon
Esteria awoke with a start, the remnants of her dreams fading into the quiet of the chamber. The soft light of dawn filtered through the heavy curtains, casting a gentle glow across the room. She blinked, feeling the residual ache in her limbs from the previous night's training. As she stirred, her eyes fell on a familiar figure seated by her bedside.Lilith."Good morning," Lilith greeted, her voice smooth and almost soothing in its low timbre. There was a certain intensity in her gaze, as if she had been watching over Esteria the entire night.Esteria sat up slowly, wincing slightly at the stiffness in her muscles. Lilith's presence, though comforting in a strange way, was also a reminder of the grueling night before. She had delved deep into the darkness within her, guided by Lilith's relentless yet nurturing hand."How are you feeling?" Lilith asked, her tone laced with genuine concern."Sore," Esteria admitted, managing a small smile. "But I feel... different. Stronger.""Good,"
Esteria sat up slowly, the lingering heaviness in her limbs making her wince. But she was determined, knowing that the darkness within her needed to be understood, controlled—if she was ever to feel like herself again.Lilith watched her with those sharp, crimson eyes, a hint of both amusement and pride playing across her features. Esteria could sense the power radiating from Lilith, a dangerous yet captivating aura that made her both want to trust and fear her at the same time. Lilith's smile widened as she observed Esteria's resolve."You're stronger than you realize, Esteria," Lilith remarked, her voice silky yet firm. "But strength alone won't help you master the darkness. You must learn to dance with it, to make it your own without letting it consume you."Esteria swallowed hard. "How do we start?"Lilith stood and gestured for Esteria to follow her. They left the chamber, and Esteria was surprised by how stable she felt on her feet, the weakness from before slowly ebbing away. T