BENEATH HER DARKNESS: The Alpha's Little Demon by Cassandra M

BRAVING THE DARKNESS: One Night With The Demon King

BENEATH HER DARKNESS: The Alpha’s Little Demon Book 2

Chapter 54 – The Banquet (LUCIUS)

My eyes roamed around the vast banquet that was prepared for the formal rise of the King and Queen

of Kalmerus and Athwart. I was glad that I didn’t hold a feast for me so that I was able to share this

coronation with Patrea.

The big hall was already filled with guests from the other two kingdoms of the Underworld: the Kings

and their offspring. Some of my siblings and my own spawn had arrived. They had yet to meet Patrea.

Celebrations like this were usually done in demon forms, but since Patrea was only half demon, I

requested everyone to present themselves in their human form, and it seemed that no one was

objecting as everyone came in presentable clothes.

Also, from what I heard, even the kings were eager to see my queen, probably because the

Underworld had never had a queen in a long time, even centuries before me.

A smug smirk tugged on my mouth at the sight of Lucija and Stone. They took Luther with them, and

even though he was just a few months old, his aura was strong — stronger than most of Lucien’s

bloodline — and it didn’t slip my notice the way they were eyeing him.

At just a few months old, my nephew had already made enemies.

But the thing with demon babies is they had the most potent power to protect themselves from another

demon, even without knowing how. So it would take a powerful demon to put them down.

I had to repeatedly explain that to Stone because he was hesitant to take Luther with him today as the

event would have too many demons in one place.

But I was glad Lucija was able to convince him.

The only one absent was Althea. As much as Patrea wanted to celebrate this event with her, taking her

here was considered a big risk.

Alastor was still unfound, and we had heard nothing about him. It would also be a risk to show Althea

around, as humans and witches were not ordinary guests in the Underworld, and many might see her

as prey. So, Patrea wanted her away from the Underworld, and I had no issue with that.

Besides, taking her here meant taking the other dog with her too. Stone was already too much. I didn’t

need another growler in m y kingdom.

I leaned back on my throne chair, propping my elbow on the armrest with my hand on m y chin as I

anticipated Patrea’s arrival. I could already sense her.

The noise around the banquet heightened, and I could hear murmuring. Some of them were still

referring to her as a witch.

It looked like some of them were unaware that I had marked my queen and was now carrying demon

venom in her body.

The big door at the end of the hall finally opened, and Patrea emerged, making me rise to my feet as I

stared at her.

She was wearing a regal red ball gown, making my heart skip a beat at the sight of her.

Her gown made her look young and innocent, but I knew behind the innocent facade, I had a powerful

female behind it.

The mark I gave her was glowing on her neck, making the demons around us, especially the she-

demons, gasp in surprise and envy.

The mark meant one thing: whatever power

I held, Patrea also had, making her as powerful as me and as powerful as the other kings in this

banquet.

‘My king…’ A seductive voice rang in my head as our eyes locked. ‘Do you like what you are seeing?’

‘Yes. You are beautiful, my queen. I’m in awe just by looking at you.’ I told her.

She didn’t reply, but she gave me a warm smile.

Patrea stopped after a few steps from the entrance, and a wicked smirk formed on my lips. I watched

fire slowly engulf the trail of her red dress until it crawled up and fully covered her. Soon, I could no

longer see my queen as both the fire of the spirits and the Underworld circled around her form.

The demons sitting down rose to their feet in anticipation of Patrea’s transformation. At this point, I was

the only one who had seen her in her demon form.

It took a moment before the fire swirling around her body calmed down and eventually subsided.

Finally, Patrea’s demon form emerged from the flames and floated a few feet higher from the ground.

She emerged with big horns on her head, crimson-red eyes, two sleek tails, and pointy nails. Her armor

suit was encrusted with stones representing her witch’s side, while fireballs were on her hands.

Patrea was the embodiment of the female I never knew I needed. She was beyond perfection.

Her aura was so powerful, but it didn’t threaten me at all. Instead, it gave me a calming presence. With

my power and Patrea’s, I knew we were stronger than the other two kingdoms combined.

I walked down the dais steps and extended my hand to her.

“[Underworld, may I present to you my queen, Patrea of Kalmerus and Athwart.]” I spoke in demon

tongue, and everyone present, including the kings, offered applause as they remained standing while a

fire burned the ground of the banquet as we formally welcomed our queen.

Patrea descended slowly from the air and let the fireballs in her hands disappear before coiling her

f*ingers around mine until her feet t*ouched the burning ground.

A wicked, seductive smile curled on her red lips as she followed me, with my hand still on hers,

assisting her as we walked up the dais step.

The single stone throne vanished, replaced by a double throne seat with no partition, symbolizing that

we lead as one, with no barrier between us.

The hoots, chants, and applause continued as I guided my queen to sit on her part of the throne before

I turned around and ordered everyone to take their seats.

When everyone was settled down, I turned to face her and dropped onto one knee before slipping my

hand inside my pocket and taking out a ring.

Patrea’s eyes widened, but she didn’t say anything and just let me slip the red diamond Gothic ring on

her ring f*inger. “[To my queen, I offer you my lasting loyalty not just in Kalmerus and Athwart, or the

whole Underworld, but in all realms, including the spirit and human realms.]”

I said those in a low voice, but I was aware that everyone could hear me.

The King of Eahteweth scoffed, and I was aware he was rebuked by my confession of loyalty to her as

no king had bowed down to anyone.

But it didn’t bother me at all. I had something they would never have.

“[My King,]” Patrea replied as she rose to her feet, her hand still holding mine as she guided me to

stand up.

We were face-to-face before she chanted something in her spirit’s tongue. Then, her demon form

disappeared, and her human form returned.

But she was not done yet, and soon my upper body was bare naked. Black mist swirled around our

bodies as if it were tying a rope around us, but it didn’t hurt as it tightened.

Patrea snapped her eyes open, and the mist vanished as black veins crawled on my body as they did

on Patrea.

“My king, I offer you my loyalty and love in the Underworld and all realms.” She spoke in the human

tongue, her voice laced with love and gentleness.

We were in front of demons, but I couldn’t help showing affection to my queen. My hand went to her

cheek, cupping her jaw tightly before crushing my lips into hers.

Patrea moaned as she parted her lips, letting me kiss her hungrily.

And I felt it.

The banquet swirled with too many auras — anger, loathing, resentfulness, and envy — and I basked

in them, letting my demon soul feed on the deadly sins coursing through every demon’s whole being.

After introducing her to the demons of the Underworld, I took time to introduce her to the high courts of

the other kingdoms, which means the king and his trusted entourage, including their kingdom heirs.

The lust swirling in their eyes every time their gaze fell on my female didn’t slip my notice, but I felt no

jealousy or anger.

If anything, I felt pride because Patrea’s eyes and attention were on me most of the time.

We were in the company of Lucija, Stone, and Luther when a big fire appeared on the throne, and

when it disappeared, King

Hades was seated on it. He was in his human form, sporting formal wear — a black suit that I couldn’t

deny fitted him perfectly.

All demons fell to their knees, as Patrea and I did.

Most of the regular demons, including the ones serving the banquet and the mistresses of some

princes, fled from the hall as Hades’ aura burned their souls.

Only the high ranks and powerful demons remained, and among us all, only Luther was not bowing his

head.

Luther’s hand reached out to Hades, and the God of the Underworld stood up from the throne and

walked down the dais steps before he crouched on the ground and opened his arms.

Lucija let go of Luther, and I could feel Stone’s body tense.

‘He won’t harm him. He never harms a demon child.’ I reminded him.

‘I know. I didn’t want his eyes on him, as he did to me when he met me when I was eight.’ He shared it

with me.

I didn’t reply because his feelings were valid.

We watched as Luther, who was eight months old, walked toward Hades. His eyes blazed red, and

when their hands t*ouched, Luther let out a fire that engulfed Hades, much to Hades’ enjoyment.

His laughter echoed around the hall as he picked up my nephew and carried him into his arms.

“Aren’t you as special as your parents?” He told him.

Luther opened his mouth and said his first word. “Hades….”