Chapter Twenty

"You okay mom?" Rina pulled her innocent child into a hug and sighed.

"Of course sweetie. I want you to meet your…father, Damien." His little hands wrapped around her neck. She picked him up and faced the demon Lord.

Turning around hazel eyes with a hint of gold met deep golden irises.

He nodded his head in respect. "Hello my name is Nathaniel." then raised his small hand and waved at him.

On the outside Nathaniel looked calm with the presence of his new found father, but on the inside Nathaniel was practically bursting with joy. His wish had come true just like he wanted, even better than he wanted. He tightened his hands around his mother.

"How old are you?"

"I'm one." Nathaniel lifted his pointer finger.

Damien had no idea how to speak or even act towards a youngling let alone his. He studied Nathaniel, he inherited most of his features, only to have his mother's eyes.

right now, no one knew an heir to the western territory existed. This information could potentially endanger the pup. He would need protection as well as his mother. He witnessed Nathaniel slaughter the rogue demon so he knew the pup could at least defend himself. But he very much doubted he could against a full grown demon.

Even at a time of peace the greed for power was very much alive. Demons and humans alike shared this unfortunate trait. Many craved the power he held, his territory flourished under his ruling. As Lord many tried to sway his decisions, even attempts to manipulate him were made but they all failed.

"How did you learn to defend yourself?"

"My mom and uncle taught me."

Rage filled him. 'Tristen knew?'

Damien raised a brow in question. "Tristen and your mother taught-"

"No…my mom's brother Kacien. Today was my first time meeting Tristen and you."

"Where have you lived this whole time?"

"I stayed with my mom and her family."

"And where is that?" Damien asked.

"I can't tell you."

'Smart pup.' his beast growled in the background.

'shut up.'

As much as it annoyed Damien. Nathaniel was purposely avoiding his questions and refusing to give him information. At the same time he felt pride knowing that his pup was being cautious and not giving out important information to a person he barely knew as much as the thought stung him.

"Very well…I need to speak to your mother."

"It's okay." Rina said. She set Nathaniel back on the ground, he ran back towards Sarah and Michael.

Damien walked towards Rina as she leaned against a tree.

He could smell the mark his beast placed on her. The mark that made her his mate. He cursed himself for not noticing her scent earlier but he was too focused on who Nathaniel was. Her scent intensified as he came closer.

A ripple of heat rushed through his body, a low purr barely audible rumbled through his chest. The scent twisted around him coaxing him closer, it was unlike anything he had ever experienced. Fear struck as the thought crossed him, yet here he was being seduced by a mere scent.

'Mate.' the growled bounced around in his head.

Stepping closer, Damien did not realize his own movements as he leaned in bringing his nose to the nape of her slender neck. Two silver scars marked her junction. Their bond was incomplete, she also had to mark him in order to complete their bond. Something he wasn't sure she wanted. He wasn't sure what he even wanted.

He pulled away as soon as he heard Rina's breath hitch. Looking into her hazel eyes, she turned her head to the side completely avoiding eye contact. It angered him that she would not look at him. Immediate rage consumed him, the small rejection fueled his actions.

"Look at me."

She refused.

Damien curled his clawed finger under her chin and pulled her face towards his, their nose's almost touched. Suddenly she shoved him back and turned away from him taking deep gulps of breaths.

" I'm…sorry it's just…ever since that day I don't like anyone touching me." he made her feel things she'd never felt before. He did things to her that had left her body wanting more even though her mind fought it. Her body ached at the close proximity of the demon Lord. Her small hands balled into fists, her mind and body continued to be at odds since the day of their union.

Her words were followed by a knot in his chest, forming an ache he felt…pain, guilt for what happened; it didn't matter that his beast was the one to actually commit the incident. It was his fault for not having enough control to stop his beast from letting it do what it wanted. He had not felt these lost emotions since he was a pup.

He didn't even understand why he touched her, he just felt the need to comfort her and touch her.

"I can assure you that no such actions will happen to your person…again or from anyone else and I." he sighed as he looked at her shaking form. She was so small next to him, he towered her. The image of her below him rushed forth forcing his body to instantly react. Heat rushed to his loins, his eyes flashed red before gold irises took over. He clenched his teeth then closed his eyes. A moment later he opened them.

"Rina…"

She finally looked up; her eyes glistened with unshed tears. Damien was taken aback from her beautiful orbs. He felt a spark of anger at himself knowing he was the cause. He was angry with himself. His beast not only coaxed her into having intercourse, but also marked her as his mate without his knowledge.

He took away her decision in her own life, their mating bond no matter how weak it was, was an eternal commitment. They would be bonded even after death, they would only have each other.

"Damien…before when you asked why Nathaniel was a full demon instead of a halfling, I think I know the reason."

Rina only brought this up because she saw Damien's eyes tinge red in anger. She had no idea what he was thinking about but she couldn't imagine the situation he found himself in was easy to deal with.

She needed to distract him before the anger consumed him. Demon's were very volatile creatures, they functioned on instinct first logic next. Only demons such as the one before her could pull logic before his instincts. It was the reason he held on to his throne for so long. The cold Lord had absolute control until she came into the picture.

"If my theory is correct, the combination of your demonic energy and my holy powers might have equaled to Nathaniel becoming what he is today." she fiddled with the ends of her sleeves. "I never heard of a priestess and demon pairing having a child so we are probably the first. And Nathaniel also has a combination of our powers."

That caught Damien's attention immediately making him wonder just what his-their pup was capable of doing.

"He has your poisonous-acidic whip yet he can fuse purification energy with it at will. Nathaniel also can heal faster than any demon I've come across. He can transfer his purification energy into a weapon he is holding at any time and run like hell." Rina took deep breaths as she finally finished saying some of the things Nathaniel could do. She felt pride coarse through her, her son had accomplished so many things at such a young age.

"I can go on forever on what Nathaniel can do, he is very strong for a child."

Damien was astonished and this made it all the more interesting in sparring with Nathaniel to see what he was capable of at first hand.

"Nathaniel will need to be introduced to the demon society." Damien already dreaded even mentioning it.

"What! Why?!"

Damien had to stop himself from physically flinching as his sensitive ears started ringing from her questioning. "The three Lords need to know about my heir and…my mate."

Rina's face paled.

"I'm do not know how you have managed to hide him until now but it must change." his eyes narrowed. "Not to mention all the preparations that would have to be made, you and Nathaniel would have to be trained properly and move into the palace -"

"Wait hold on a second rewind, what the hell do you mean train and move in?"

Damien ignored her tone and question; and continued.

"Nathaniel must be introduced to the demon society and you too…whether it was traditional or not you are still my mate and the Lady of the Western Lands." Damien softly added.

Rina wanted to scream in frustration of what Damien said. So many things happened today, too many to count. she wasn't sure where to begin. everything was happening so fast.