It had been a week since her last encounter with the prince.

She hadn't seen him since.

Reina told herself she didn't care. That it was better this way. But deep down, she felt embarrassed. Sad. Even... heartbroken.

He doesn't want me, she thought bitterly. I'm nothing to him.

She knew she had to escape the palace soon. Before these feelings got any worse.

As she walked into the kitchen one morning, she noticed something.

The back door was open.

Cold air flowed in from the desert beyond, carrying with it the scent of sand and freedom.

It was enough.

Reina didn't think. She just ran-as fast as her feet could carry her-out the door and into the vast, desert-like valley that stretched endlessly before her.

"Your-Your Majesty, one of the slaves escaped! Through the kitchen door!"

The old woman was trembling so badly she could barely speak.

"I-I promise, Your Highness, it wasn't my fault-"

Daresh sat at the table, eating his lunch without looking up. He was about to pardon the old woman-she was clearly terrified enough-when a thought struck him.

Which maid would be brave enough to run away?

"What slave?" he asked, his voice cold.

"One of the humans. A girl. The one who serves Your Majesty tea."

Daresh's hand tightened around his fork, the metal bending slightly under the pressure.

Reina.

A strange, unfamiliar feeling gripped his chest. Fear. And worry.

"We have to find her," he said, standing abruptly.

Clifford, who'd been standing nearby, observed the prince carefully. This human slave seemed to arouse emotions in him that Clifford had never seen before.

"We can't go after her, Your Majesty," Clifford said cautiously. "She'll be dead by now. It would be a waste of time."

Daresh's blood boiled.

Without another word, he stormed out.

The demon realm was crawling with lower-class demons-monsters that ate humans, tortured them, did unspeakable things to them for sport.

The thought of what might happen to Reina made Daresh's heart ache in a way he didn't understand.

I have to find her.

Luckily, her footsteps were easy to trace in the sand.

Reina had been running for hours.

It was getting dark now, and the desert seemed to come alive with eerie noises-howls, screeches, things she couldn't identify.

She thought about turning back, but she'd gotten lost. She had no idea which direction the palace even was anymore.

Then, a figure emerged from the ground ahead of her.

At first, it looked almost human.

But as it got closer, she saw that it wasn't.

It was unnatural-a grotesque being with thick blue skin, its body covered in rusted chains. It had sharp teeth, long claws, bulging eyes, and a bald, misshapen head.

More of them began to rise from the sand, surrounding her.

Reina screamed.

"Well, well, well," the leader said, licking his black, ugly lips with a long, forked tongue. "What do we have here? A human."

One of them grabbed her, pinning her to the ground. She cried, kicked, begged-but they paid no heed.

They were determined to harm her.

The leader leaned forward, his breath hot and rancid-

And then he froze.

All of them did.

They dropped to their knees, heads bowed.

Reina felt it before she saw it-an overwhelming aura, powerful and commanding, pressing down on the air itself.

She pulled herself up and looked.

Daresh.

He stood there, silver hair gleaming in the fading light, blue eyes burning like twin flames. He looked beautiful. Deadly.

And every single monster bowed before him.

"Your Majesty," the leader stammered, his voice shaking. "Forgive us. We didn't know she was yours."

Daresh's expression didn't change. "Who said she was mine?" he said coldly. "She was trying to run away from me."

The demon looked up, confused. "Is... is she yours, Your Majesty?"

Daresh's eyes shifted to Reina.

There was something in his gaze-pity, maybe. Or something deeper.

"Only if she says she is," he said.

The silence stretched.

Reina's heart pounded. She understood what he was asking. What he was offering.

Her survival depended on her answer.

"I am his," she said, her voice trembling but clear.

I just gave a demon prince possession of myself.

Daresh smiled-wildly, almost ferally.

In a blink, his sword was drawn.

And in another blink, all the demons were dead.

They didn't even fight back. They just knelt there and let him kill them, one by one, their bodies turning to ash.

Before Reina could process what had just happened, Daresh scooped her up effortlessly and placed her on his horse.

They rode back to the palace in silence.

He took her straight to his room.

"Have a shower," he said, his tone leaving no room for argument.

UA maid appeared moments later with clean clothes-silk clothes, soft and luxurious. It was the first time Reina had worn anything like this since she'd been captured.

She washed her hair, letting it fall in waves behind her. She looked at herself in the mirror.

She looked like a princess again.

And for the first time in weeks, she felt like one too.

When Daresh walked in and saw her, he stopped.

He was spellbound.

"You'll stay here for now, Princess," he said softly.

The word hit her like a blow. Princess. He'd called her a princess-not because he knew she was one, but because he wanted her to be his princess.

"Why?" she asked.

His blue eyes locked onto hers.

"Because you said you were mine," he said simply. "So I'll treat you like mine."

He turned to leave, then paused at the door.

"Get some rest, Princess. I'll be back soon."

And then he was gone.

Daresh couldn't help but stare at the girl sleeping in his bed.

His bed.

She looked so peaceful lying there, her brown hair spread across the pillow like silk, her breathing slow and even. She was beautiful. More than that-she was his.

His mate.

He knew it. Had known it from the moment she'd looked him in the eyes in that courtyard. He was just too afraid to say it out loud.

He'd fought for this human girl. Killed for her. And he wasn't turning back now.

He could read her thoughts-heard them even now, soft and hazy in her sleep. She liked him. Maybe even more than she wanted to admit to herself.

But it didn't change the fact that this was wrong.

He still had to find a mate. A proper mate. And his mate certainly couldn't be human. It was against the law. Against the natural order of things.

Demons didn't mate with humans.

And yet...

He couldn't help himself.

He wanted to touch her. Hold her. Pull her into his arms and never let go.

But that might scare her.

So instead, he sat down in the chair beside the bed and just... watched her sleep.

His gaze was so intense that it must have disturbed her dreams.

She shifted in her sleep, her brow furrowing slightly. Her breathing quickened.

And then her eyes sprang open-suddenly, sharply, as if she'd been jolted awake by a nightmare.

The first thing she saw was him.

Those silver hair. Those burning blue eyes. Staring at her.

Reina's cheeks flushed a deep pink, embarrassment flooding her features. She turned slightly on the bed, pulling the blanket up higher.

"Good morning, Your Highness," she said, her voice still thick with sleep.

Daresh's jaw tightened. "I thought I told you to call me Daresh."

"Okay, Your Highness," she said with a small, defiant smirk.

He couldn't help the way his lips twitched.

She was stubborn. And she knew exactly how to annoy him.

He liked it far too much.

A knock came at the door.

Daresh stood and opened it. A maid stood there, her head bowed, holding a beautiful silk gown draped over her arms.

"For the girl, Your Majesty," the maid said quietly.

Daresh took the gown and closed the door. He turned to Reina.

"Get dressed," he said, handing her the gown. "We'll have breakfast together."

Before she could respond, he walked out of the room, giving her privacy.

Reina stood there for a moment, holding the gown. It was beautiful-deep emerald green silk that shimmered in the light, embroidered with gold thread. The kind of dress a princess would wear.

The kind of dress she used to wear.

She changed quickly, her fingers trembling slightly as she fastened the buttons. The fabric felt like water against her skin, soft and cool. She found a brush on the vanity and worked through her hair until it fell in smooth waves down her back.

There was perfume too-something floral and light. She applied a small amount.

When she looked in the mirror, she barely recognized herself.

She looked like a princess again.

Taking a deep breath, she walked out of the bedroom and into the main chamber.

The dining area was set up near the window-lavish didn't even begin to describe it. The table was carved from dark wood, set with gold plates and crystal glasses. It was bigger than the entire dining room in her father's palace. Three times the size, at least.

And sitting at the head of the table was Daresh.

He looked up as she entered.

And froze.

His blue eyes swept over her, from her face down to the emerald gown and back up again. His gaze was so intense it made her stop in her tracks.

"Is something wrong?" she asked, suddenly self-conscious.

"No," he said, his voice low and soft. "You just look..." He paused. "Beautiful."

Her cheeks flushed pink.

"Sit," he said, gesturing to the chair beside him. "Please."

She sat, trying to steady her racing heart.

The table was laden with food-more food than she'd seen in weeks. Fresh bread, roasted meats, fruits, cheeses. Delicacies she'd forgotten existed.

They began to eat in silence.

It had been so long since she'd tasted anything like this. In the servant quarters, they got scraps-stale bread, thin soup. This was a feast.

After a few minutes, Daresh spoke, his voice breaking through the quiet.

"Did you sleep well?"

She looked up, surprised by the question. "Yes. Thank you. For saving me."

He set down his fork, watching her carefully. "You keep running away from me."

There was no accusation in his tone. Just... curiosity. Maybe amusement.

"Why?" he asked, a slight smirk tugging at his lips.

Reina's eyebrows drew together, a flash of defiance in her eyes.

"Wouldn't you?" she shot back. "If you were captured and enslaved? Wouldn't you try to escape?"

For a moment, he said nothing. Then his expression softened.

"I would," he admitted quietly. "I did, once. When I was young."

She blinked, surprised. "You tried to escape?"

"Not escape," he corrected. "I just... tried to find somewhere I belonged."

The words hung in the air between them.

Reina didn't know what to say to that.

Daresh picked up his glass, taking a slow sip before speaking again.

"Your family," he said carefully. "In your kingdom. Were they kind to you?"

Reina's hand stilled on her fork. She hadn't expected such a personal question.

She looked down at her plate.

"No," she said finally, her voice flat.

Daresh waited, giving her space to continue if she wanted.

She took a breath.

"My father saw me as property," she said bitterly. "Something to trade. He didn't care about me. He just wanted to be richer, more powerful. So he decided to sell me off to an old man-some king who wanted a young wife."

Her jaw clenched at the memory.

"He didn't care that I hated the idea. Didn't care that I begged him not to. All he cared about was the alliance. The gold

And your brothers?" Daresh asked quietly. "They just... let him do that to you?"

Reina scoffed, a bitter sound. "They were worse. My brother said I was just a woman-only good for money, a bargaining chip. He said I was good for nothing." Her voice hardened. "They all despised me. Except my mother."

"My mother..." Reina's voice broke.

A tear trickled down her face.

"She kicked and cried and protested when my father tried to sell me. And my father-he slapped her. So violently I shook just watching." Reina's hands trembled at the memory. "That's when I swore I'd never be a slave to any man. I'd never marry anyone who treated me like less than human."

Her voice cracked.

"I just miss my mother. I want to know if she's okay. She's been through so much. It's not fair to her. It's not-"

She couldn't finish.

Reina broke down crying.

Daresh watched her quietly, something twisting painfully in his chest.

Guilt.

She'd been through so much. And he had contributed to her pain. His army had destroyed her kingdom. Taken her mother. Enslaved her.

She was sobbing now, and she looked so small. So vulnerable.

He'd grown up in a place where people boxed up their emotions, where everyone was strict and cold. He didn't know how to react to tears. Didn't know how to comfort someone.

But without thinking, he moved.

He scooped her into his arms and pulled her against his chest, rubbing her back in slow, soothing circles.

And somehow-surprisingly-it worked.

She leaned into him, her sobs quieting.

And it felt right. Like he belonged here. In her arms. Holding her.

"I'm sorry about your mother," he said quietly, his voice rough. "I'll help you find her. I promise."

A mother.

The word echoed in Daresh's mind.

He'd never known his mother.

His thoughts drifted back-back to when he was little. A young boy, not above ten years old.

FLASHBACK:

The Demon King had invited all the princes and their mothers to dinner. A rare occasion. A family gathering.

They sat side by side at the long table-each prince next to his mother.

Except Daresh.

He sat at the end of the table. The seat next to him was empty.

Callum spoke first. He was a few years older than Daresh and took particular pleasure in tormenting him. It hadn't always been that way. When they were both younger-below the age of five-they'd been best friends.

But then Daresh's hair had turned silver.

And rumors spread through the castle: forbidden child.

After that, Callum's mother had pulled him away. Told him not to play with Daresh anymore.

The King-Daresh's father-had always neglected him. The maids cast him ugly glances wherever he went. His only solace had been his swordsmanship.

So at an incredibly early age, Daresh had started learning to fight.

He was a fast learner. His skills were impeccable-far beyond what anyone expected from a child his age.

Callum's mother had clearly seen him as competition, because she'd pushed Callum into the training yard too. But no matter how hard Callum tried, he was never nearly as good as Daresh.

And that had only made things worse.

"Having dinner alone, white hair?" Callum said with a mean smirk. "Where's your mother?"

The other brothers laughed.

Daresh felt like disappearing.

He remembered another time-years earlier. He and his brothers had gone to welcome their father home from war. Daresh had followed them eagerly, excited to see the King.

His father had hugged each brother with smiles and warmth.

Until it was Daresh's turn.

The smile had disappeared from the King's face. Replaced instantly with a look of irritation.

He'd barely acknowledged Daresh at all.

Daresh had been a hurt child. Sad. Lonely.

He'd never known love. Never been shown compassion.

He was raised by the soldiers he spent his evenings with. At an early age, he'd been forced to bottle up his emotions, to show no signs of weakness.

The Captain of the Guard had been certain he'd make a great soldier one day.

And he had.

But at what cost?

He remembered another day.

His brothers and their friends had ganged up on him-cornered him in the training yard. They'd thrown him into a fire pit.

Not just any fire. The red fire-a mysterious, ancient flame that could burn even fire demons. Only the most terrible criminals were thrown into it. Some were left there to die.

Daresh had been terrified.

But even then, even as a child surrounded by flames that ate at his skin, he'd fought back. Defended himself.

He'd injured his brother Pierre in the process-broken his arm, maybe his ribs.

Pierre's mother had wailed and screamed, dragging her son to the King. She'd made such a fuss, crying about how Daresh was a monster, how he'd attacked her innocent boy unprovoked.

Daresh had tried to tell his side of the story.

But it fell on deaf ears.

The King had locked him in the dungeon as punishment. No trial. No questions.

Just... punishment.

That was when Daresh had first thought about ending it all.

One day, he'd wandered deep into the bowels of the castle and found it-a little underground pool hidden beneath the stone floors.

He didn't know what had drawn him there.

Maybe it was the water's extraordinary silver shimmer-like his hair.

Maybe it was the way it glowed faintly blue-like the flames in his eyes.

But either way, he'd felt... warmth from it.

Like a mother's embrace.

Like a long-lost love yet to be unlocked.

And he'd wanted to jump in. To risk his life. To unlock whatever secrets lay beneath that shimmering surface.

He knew the consequences. Fire demons couldn't survive magical water. They'd die.

But Daresh didn't care.

He had nothing to live for anyway.

He stood at the edge of the pool, staring down into the blue-silver depths.

Just jump. End it. The pain will stop.

He leaned forward-

And strong arms yanked him back by his shirt.

A familiar, unfriendly voice growled behind him. A dangerous aura pressed down on him like a physical weight.

His father.

The King was furious. Daresh could see it in his eyes-those cold, burning eyes that had never once looked at him with love.

He said nothing.

Just ordered Daresh dragged away.

This time, the punishment was worse.

They threw him into the fire again-held him there while his father watched.

The pain was unlike anything he'd ever felt. His skin burned. His bones ached. Every nerve in his body screamed.

But Daresh didn't make a sound.

Didn't beg. Didn't cry.

He just... endured.

Part of him wanted it to end. Wanted the fire to consume him completely so he wouldn't have to feel anything anymore.

When they finally pulled him out, his father ordered water poured over the burns.

Salt in the wounds.

Daresh walked out of that punishment room with his skin charred and blistered, his eyes burning a fierce, furious red.

He climbed to the top of the castle.

And he jumped.

"DARESH, NO!"

A shriek tore through his thoughts, yanking him violently back to the present.

"Don't kill yourself! NO, DARESH!"

It was Reina's voice-terrified, desperate.

It was the first time she'd ever called him by his name.

He blinked, disoriented, his heart pounding.

She was staring at him with wide, horrified eyes, tears streaming down her face.

"You-you were going to jump," she whispered, her voice breaking. "I saw it. I saw everything. The fire. Your father. You were just a child-"

Daresh's breath caught.

She saw his memories.

How was that possible?

Only mates could share memories. And he'd always thought that was a myth. A fairy tale demons told each other.

But she'd seen it. Seen everything.

His chest tightened. Panic clawed at him.

He didn't know how to process this. Didn't know what it meant.

So he did the only thing he knew how to do.

He stood abruptly, his chair scraping harshly against the floor.

And without a word, he turned and stormed out.

A human is my mate

A human is my mate, Daresh said repeatedly fear cuddling his voice he wasn't afraid of the Other demons,he wasn't afraid of breaking the laws of nature he had always been defiant perhaps that's why he was so drawn to Reina

"Reina" he whispered under his breath, his mind went back to her and how peaceful it felt watching her sleep, how soothed he felt around her

He was scared for her ,she was human how would she defend herself against Attack

He was the most hated among his brothers,he had no alliances because he had no Demon wives and now he was about to break the rules of nature and bond with a human

Demons had a special bond deeper than marriage,as a demon your mate connects with you on a deeper level and one could have only one for their lifetime

Royal demons often married for Alliances and power so they almost never met their mates

The tradition of mate bonding seldom happened and was so rare that it became lost in the sand of time ,younger demons even believed it was a myth

Darish knew he had found his mate in Reina,he should have been happy, even prevented her to the court by now just to piss off his father and brothers

He would have if he didn't love her so much but now he couldn't risk her life,so he had to protect her

Lost in thought he realized he had rode too far away from home, and wandered into strange territory

Looking up he saw a grove of fire demons all chained up and building ammunition, like they were preparing for a war -a great war

Something sinister was happening and his mind raced back to the palace, Reina was In trouble

After Daresh stormed out, Reina sat frozen at the table, her heart still racing.

What just happened?

She'd seen his memories. All of them. The abuse. The fire. The suicide attempts. That little boy who just wanted to be loved.

Tears streamed down her face-not for herself this time, but for him.

For the child he'd been. For the man he'd become.

She wiped her eyes with the back of her hand and stood on shaky legs.

The room felt too quiet. Too empty without him.

She needed air. Needed to think.

Reina walked to the door and peered out into the corridor.

Empty.

No guards. No servants. Just the long, dark hallway stretching in both directions.

Where did he go?

Part of her wanted to follow him. To find him and tell him... what? That she understood? That she wasn't afraid of him?

But another part of her knew he needed space. Time to process whatever this thing was between them.

So instead, she stepped out into the corridor and began to walk.

The demon palace was massive-far bigger than her father's castle had ever been. The walls were carved from black stone, covered in strange symbols that seemed to glow faintly in the dim light. Torches burned with blue flames, casting eerie shadows that danced along the floor.

Reina walked slowly, taking it all in.

She passed grand doorways that led to rooms she couldn't see into. Staircases that spiraled up into darkness. Hallways that seemed to stretch on forever.

It was beautiful. Terrifying. Otherworldly.

She turned a corner and found herself in what looked like a gallery-portraits lining the walls. Demon kings and princes from ages past, their eyes seeming to follow her as she moved.

And then she saw him.

A portrait of Daresh.

He stood in full armor, his silver hair flowing, his blue eyes burning with that familiar intensity. He looked every bit the warrior prince-powerful, dangerous, untouchable.

But now, after seeing his memories, she knew the truth.

He was just as broken as she was.

Reina stared at the painting for a long moment, then turned and made her way back toward his quarters.

She didn't know how long she'd been gone-maybe twenty minutes? Maybe longer?

But when she pushed open the door to his room, something felt... wrong.

The air was different. Colder.

And there was a smell.

Metallic. Sharp.

Blood.

Her heart began to pound.

"Daresh?" she called out softly.

No answer.

She stepped inside, her eyes scanning the room.

Everything looked the same-the bed, the fireplace, the table where they'd eaten breakfast.

But then she saw it.

On the wall.

Just above the bed.

Written in dark, dripping blood:

"DARESH IS MARKED FOR DEATH"

Reina's breath caught in her throat.

The letters were large, jagged, still wet-as if whoever had written them had just left.

Her hands began to tremble.

Who did this? How did they get in?

She took a step back, her pulse racing, her mind screaming at her to run.

But she couldn't move.

Couldn't look away.

The blood dripped slowly down the wall, pooling on the floor below.

And beneath the message, smeared across the stone, was a symbol-a crude drawing of a crown split in half.

Callum.

Footsteps echoed in the hallway.

Reina spun around, her heart in her throat.

The door swung open.

And Daresh stepped inside.

He froze.

His eyes locked onto the message on the wall.

For a moment, he said nothing. His expression didn't change.

But Reina saw it-the flash of fury in his eyes. The way his jaw clenched. The way his hands curled into fists at his sides.

"Daresh-" she started.

"Get behind me," he said, his voice low and deadly.

"What? Why-"

"Now, Reina."

She didn't argue. She moved quickly, stepping behind him, her heart hammering.

Daresh's eyes swept the room, searching. His hand moved to his side, where a sword hung from his belt.

"They were here," he said quietly. "In my room. While I was gone."

Reina's stomach dropped.

"Who?" she whispered.

But she already knew the answer.

Daresh turned to look at her, and in his eyes she saw something she'd never seen before.

Fear.

Not for himself.

For her.

"They know," he said, his voice rough. "They know you're important to me."

He looked back at the blood-written message on the wall.

"And now they're coming for us both."