The Veil of Darkness

Annalise was stunned into silence for a couple of seconds as she contemplated her options and realized that she didn’t have one, to begin with. If there was something she could do in her current situation then it was to accept his terms and conditions. The question was, could she really handle his games?

"Since you look so confused, I will give you a moment to make your decision." Damien offered as he tilted his head to the side and gave her a look that seemed like he was actually enjoying their current situation.

Annalise took in a deep breath as she bit down on her lower lip while her hands moved to rest against Damien’s muscular arms. She raised her gaze to look straight into his deep orbs as she answered in a firm and assured tone, "I am ready to play your games as per your rules but I have a condition."

Her words immediately picked his attention he arched his eyebrows high and spoke, "Let me hear."

Annalise had to gulp down her saliva to relieve her throat which was going dry as anxiety and excitement burned inside her. She was well aware of the trap that she was stepping into but she was still doing it anyways to get something special out of it. "I want you to teach me how to work with your shadow element."

There, she had finally put forward her demand. Now, it was all about whether the second dark lord would agree or not. She waited with her breath caught in her throat for the man to give her a response.

"And why did you want that, Princess?" Damien asked as he kept looking at her with that amused look in his eyes. He was keeping all her attention focused on him that she could barely spare even a second to look past him and at her two other husbands to see their expressions.

Taking in a deep breath, she answered, "Because while I can easily play along with Valerius and Kenric’s elements and work my own powers alongside them, I still can’t do the same with your shadow element even though we are already mated. Your element does play along with mine but it never allows my powers to seek through their high walls and learn their secrets. I want to get through those walls."

Damien’s smile only stretched further as he spoke, "Don’t you think you are asking for something really intimate?"

This time, it was Annalise who smiled as she answered, "Considering I’m your soulmate, I’m perfectly eligible for asking something that is considered so private and intimate."

Damien chuckled softly as he stepped closer to her, closing the small distance that he just created a couple of moments ago. He placed his hands on her waist and rested his forehead against hers as he whispered, "Fine, I agree with your condition. I will teach you how to get access to my shadow and you... you will learn the rules of my interest and let me direct our nights together as per my wish."