"Tales of Desire: Forbidden Stories – Story 1: The Demon Queen's Throne". Genre: Dark Fantasy / Erotica / Power Play)
Chapter 12: The Court of Claws
—
The morning came with thunder.
Not from the sky—but from the gates of the Demon Queen's citadel.
Kael stood beside Velzaria on the high balcony, a soft wind tugging at the silk robes she had placed over his bare shoulders. The warm afterglow of the night before was replaced by a creeping chill.
Below, hundreds of armored demons gathered—soldiers, advisors, nobles. Their voices rose in low growls, grumbles of protest. Among them, one voice boomed louder than the rest.
"He is mortal!"
Kael narrowed his eyes, focusing on the speaker.
A tall figure with crimson skin, clad in jagged obsidian armor. Twin horns curved back like a crown, and eyes burned like molten iron.
Velzaria's lips twisted slightly. "General Taragon. One of my oldest commanders."
"He looks like he wants to kill me," Kael muttered.
"He probably does."
—
The Challenge of Blood
Taragon's voice boomed again through the court plaza. "Your Majesty, you insult your throne. This man is no warrior! No noble! He hasn't earned the right to stand beside you!"
Velzaria stepped forward, her voice calm and cutting. "And yet he did what none of my generals could. He survived me."
A murmur spread through the court.
Kael stiffened. Not exactly helping, he thought, but said nothing.
Taragon sneered. "He lies in your bed, nothing more. If this is your new consort, then let him prove it!"
Velzaria's wings twitched, a flicker of danger. "What do you propose, General?"
"A duel. Blood to blood. Let him stand against a true demon. If he wins, we accept his place. If he dies… we feed his bones to the hounds."
Kael felt every eye turn toward him.
Velzaria was quiet. Then she looked at Kael.
Her gaze asked the question she didn't speak aloud.
Kael stepped forward.
"I accept."
—
The Arena Below
Later, Kael stood in the central courtyard ring, shirtless, sword in hand. Across from him, Taragon towered like a mountain, wielding a great axe soaked in ancient battles.
The court watched in hungry silence.
Velzaria sat on her obsidian throne above, her fingers tight around the armrest.
A bell rang.
Taragon charged.
Kael barely dodged the first swing. The axe struck the ground where he'd stood, sending cracks through stone. He rolled, came up with a slash—but the blade barely scratched the general's armor.
Taragon grinned. "Weak."
He lunged again. Kael ducked low, this time stepping in and slicing toward the exposed side. The blade bit in slightly, drawing a thin line of black blood.
Taragon snarled.
"Not weak," Kael said through clenched teeth. "Just not suicidal."
But he was tiring fast.
Taragon was a wall of muscle and fury, and Kael was no match in raw strength.
Then he remembered Velzaria's lessons.
"Demons respect what you take."
Kael stopped retreating.
Instead—he ran toward Taragon.
The general blinked, surprised.
Kael dropped to his knees as he slid under the axe swing and drove his blade up—not at the chest—but at the armpit joint of the armor.
Steel met flesh.
Taragon howled as Kael twisted, yanked the blade free, and rolled to the side. The demon stumbled.
Kael didn't stop.
He leapt up, sword reversed—and brought the pommel crashing down on Taragon's skull.
The general hit the ground like a felled beast.
Silence.
Then—
Cheers.
Demonic cheers.
Kael stood over the fallen general, chest heaving, blood splattered on his arms. His blade clattered from his hand.
Above, Velzaria smiled.
For the first time, the court bowed.
—
The Fire Between Them
That night, Kael returned to Velzaria's chamber alone.
The door was already open.
She waited inside.
No throne, no armor. Just her—wrapped in nothing but shadows and silver hair.
He stepped in.
She rose, slow as a flame, and walked to him.
"You bled for me," she whispered.
"I bleed with you."
Velzaria cupped his face. "No man has ever stood for me like that."
Kael kissed her then—deep, slow, full of heat and gravity.
She pulled him to the bed, and this time, there was no teasing.
Only fire.
Their bodies moved together like they belonged—her moans a song against his mouth, his hands memorizing every line of her scars and strength. They didn't rush. They devoured. Worshipped. Consumed.
When she cried out his name, it echoed through the tower like thunder.
—
Dawn After Dominion
After, they lay tangled in each other, sweat cooling on skin, the scent of sex thick in the air.
Velzaria pressed her head to his chest. "The court will obey now."
"They fear you."
"And now," she whispered, tracing circles on his chest, "they fear you, too."
Kael smiled. "Then let's give them more reason."
She lifted her gaze.
A challenge in her smirk.
Desire in her eyes.
And still more chapters to come…
—
[End of Chapter 12 – The Court of Claws]