Feelings stirred, emotion flared. Guilt weighed heavier because he was gone. My oldest friend and best general left because I couldn't love him the way he wanted me to.
Basilea showered me with her affection, she pushed me to go and find him. Though my stubbornness made me lose track of him. Titus had searched high and low but failed to find him.
Today, I've accepted the notion that Magnus didn't want to be found, and I was okay with it and decided to focus on my little demon instead.
*****
"I thought you hated Ranulf, are you sure about this?" Basilea asked for the second time. She looked worried that I was still holding a grudge against the king for claiming Rain as his mate. The truth was it has been long since I thought about the wolf, not since Basilea warmed my bed.
"He invited me, maybe he's avoiding war or he was just trying to play nice. Titus said the information about my last attempted murder by Savaric had reached King Ranulf's attention."
What my little demon didn't know was that I had an ulterior motive for visiting King Ranulf. I needed to find out more about Basilea, about her previous life, and what she left behind. She had told me her version, but I need to know more if I want to protect her.
Titus had informed me that his warrior had found the demon, a crawlies so low down the rank that questioning him turned out to be a waste of time.
Though Titus did not become my best general for the lack of instincts, he knew the filthy demon was sent to spy on Basilea. The rigorous torture followed by questions about his master lead to the knowledge that Basilea was recognized for what she was. The heir to the royal succubus lineage and is the oldest one supposedly in existence.
"And you want me there with you?"
"My little demon, I am not leaving you here alone. I thought you'd enjoy the company of your fellow demons after months of not seeing them?"
Basilea pouted adorably telling me that she doesn't have any friends.
"Right, just lovers?" I teased grabbing her waist before kissing her sultry lips and claiming her as mine.
The kiss was interrupted when Titus cleared his throat informing me that his fleet of warriors was ready.
"That's right," I whispered in her ear. "I'm going there with my army of fallen angels, demons, and dragons and let Ranulf's generals welcome them," I smirked and get a chuckled out of Titus knowing I was going a bit overboard with the invite.
"Hey, his gargoyle warrior dared to almost kill me. If he wanted apology he'd wined and dined our soldiers and dragons."
I could see Basilea rolling her eyes and I slapped her ass telling her to go get changed to my royal color before we go. She was no longer Ranulf's, I needed them to know that. She might be given to me as a peaceful parting gift but I won't treat her as one. Basilea will wear the blue proudly as my generals and warriors.
We departed with our dragons, Basilea was excited that she was allowed to take Brontes with her while I spread my wings alongside her and Titus not far from us. The south accepted our arrival and Ranulf greeted us with Rain by his side. The wolf looked royally suited sitting by Ranulf and at that moment I didn't feel the previous steer of jealousy towards the king.
Pleasantries were thrown and we were ushered to a more informal reception area and let his generals greet my army. As predicted they were a bit overwhelmed with our numbers and also the dragons but they know we were not there to ignite a war.
"I was told about Savaric, I am sorry about the poison dagger. I've dealt with the issue with Maven, our demon sorcerer, and as part of my apology please take our hospitality in welcoming you to the South Kingdom. A friendly feast will be spread in the dining hall and you are welcome to stay at our guest royal chamber, our harem court is open for your pleasure."
I arched my brow at his last words and he laughed telling me that was part of his deepest apology for endangering my life.
"Come on, let Basilea get re-acquainted with Rain, we need to talk," I said to the king then moved to kiss her temple when Basilea raised her brow. She was silently questioning why I wanted to talk to Ranulf alone. But I did not explain and the king gladly ushered me to another room with a smaller seating area leaving his Rain and Basilea to themselves.
He invited me to sit before asking, "Is this about Basilea?"
I nodded and continued to ask. "What do you know about her past, we had captured a low demon lurking around my kingdom. It started weeks ago when we ventured for the dragons."
Ranulf nodded and then praised our dragons before he started telling me about her past.
"She came long before I was king. King Eustace took her in, she had lost her family, her kingdom, and her beings in one night. She seeks refuge, and safety in our kingdom, and as many have done so by being our harem. She was happy, she was a sexual demon after all."
Ranulf chuckled as if he was remembering the time they spent together. And that made me growled, it surprised him but then he smiled, telling me that Basilea is royalty within her kind, "She's a demon, she's nice in her unique way." Once again I almost growled wanting him to stop thinking about Basilea and addressed her as if he was still fond of her. The possessiveness was too great to be contained.
"I take it you've taken a like to Basilea."
"Why do you want to know? are you going to take her as your other mate?"
The issue that had been the past between us had long gone and we were both too eager to move forward. Ranulf had found Rain and now I apparently have deep feelings for Basilea.
"You know I'm not, I'm perfectly content with Rain, we love each other and now I'm seeing it between the two of you. I'm happy for her, and you, obviously." Ranulf explained quickly knowing I was within my limits before, he knew I had never been a patient being.
"She had always been close to Maven, I know if anyone would know her secrets it'll be our demon sorcerer."
Maven was summoned and we spend more time talking before I was satisfied with what Maven willingly shared about Basilea's past with me. Ranulf convinced me to stay the night and took pleasure in his harem court. I didn't want to insult my former nemesis when we finally came to a truce after decades of holding a grudge over him. So I decided to stay.
"King Armand," Rain greeted me when Ranulf and I join him and Basilea in the other room.
"Rain, you look happy." It was a compliment, an honest one.
"I am," he said smiling as he slid his hand on Ranulf's waist the second he was at the wolf's side. The king kissed his temple and whispered something in his ear that made him smile wider.
"Okay then, I'll be leaving you two to enjoy the evening. I'll get your room ready, King Armand. Basilea, it was nice catching up with you, we will talk again tomorrow." The wolf winked playfully before he and his king walked out of the room.
Basilea turned to me and then ask, "We're staying the night?"
"Yeah, I'm going to check out what's the fuss about the harem court. Maybe I should get one for my kingdom." I shrugged trying to show off my bored expression.
"You? A harem court? A brooding king who's too lazy to even put me in another room?"
"Um, maybe I changed my mind after tonight." I most probably won't, but it was fun to see her face cracked a bit, her calm posture suddenly tense.
I ignored the sexy demon and took her hands and told her to guide me to the infamous harem court.
The little demon didn't look happy, she looked like she wanted to bite my dick off but I stayed quiet, masking my true emotion while I was happily watching her various facial expressions as we stepped closer and closer to King Ranulf's harem court.