44. Power over me.

"D-Darius, d-don't." Ally stuttered, trying to push him away. The more she tried to fight back, the heavier he seemed. The young woman tried her best to slide away from his iron grip, yet no avail. Darius stared down at her with the most predatory look all over his face. When their eyes met, Ally gasped, unable to move a muscle. Whatever he felt, whatever he thought of- all of it was mixed in the look of his eyes- the mischievous sparks dancing alongside with the mist of love and adoration.

"You don't understand, do you? Ally, I want to be King in your story.
I want your heart to beat for me and me only. I've been the most primal man for centuries, yet I have never felt something close to the feeling you give me. I'm ready to give up on everything that I hold dear to see that smile forming on your lips. I'm addicted, stuck." Darius wouldn't allow her to look away. He had so much weigh on his shoulders; the male needed at least a little bit of happiness in his life. Ally didn't understand or didn't know about way too many things. She thought of him as a stalker, yet never asked why exactly he was watching her.

"I can do whatever you want, just please don't do this, I'm not ready." Ally pleased, unaware of what were the real reasons why Darius tried to rush the marking process. It didn't surprise him, for as much as he had seen, the Princess never cared about her safety. Memories flashed through his mind, that one time when she fell off the tree. He was ready to lunge at her, scare away everyone who tried to approach her, and hold her as she cried. Ally was a little daredevil, acting way too grown for a person who was under ten years old. Darius, on the other hand, admired her more than hated her actions. His mate was tough, healthy, and independent. But like any other good thing- it came to an end. The older she became, the more Ally wondered about life outside the walls of the castle. When the young woman had a chance to leave, she lost herself and any senses she used to possess. It wasn't a surprise, since every other teenager would feel and even act the same after leaving their nest.

"Remember the lake in the moonlight? Remember how you shivered and shone? I'll never forget what you looked like; the tight red dress would make you stand out anywhere, even between those damn beasts. The problem is that you have no idea how much power you have over me. I get it, you don't want to bare my mark, perhaps you will try to reject me in time, but that would be a problem for another time. You are the Princess, firstborn daughter of King Azra, which already puts you under quite a lot of danger. Now, aside from that, you're the one who's mated to the deadly sin. You've met a lot of creatures, trying to hurt you, to get closer to me. You are my weakness, my only weakness, and they will use it for as long as you're not baring my mark." Darius seemed way too calm, making Ally a little suspicious. Usually, he would go crazy about a possibility of her being in danger, but now he spoke about it as if it was the most natural thing ever.

"What about the law, Darius? You, the same as I, know that the Moon Goddess would never forgive us all, and probably disown us both. The Underworld and the Kingdom aren't supposed to cross their roads or form alliances. We might be created for each other, but it doesn't mean that we have the right to go down that road. Have you ever thought of the possible consequences?" Ally tried to reason the male, reminding the only strong argument she could use against him. It wasn't that she didn't want to be marked by him, yet the Princess felt too young to go through such a thing. Shifters, regardless of rank, usually ended up building families as soon as they met. The young Princess had no intention to become a mother within a few years, let alone a couple of weeks.

"And that's your biggest concern? Selene? She would do nothing since she is the one who paired us. I'd be worried about those living underground, more than those who live up above the clouds. Are you scared, little wolf?" Darius cupped her cheek with such gentleness; Ally couldn't believe that it was him. She wasn't the one to listen to words spoken by people who envied her, so many rumors were ignored. Then again, she had seen enough of how truly vicious and aggressive Wrath could be. Deep down, she wasn't entirely sure if she could spend the rest of her lifetime alongside him.

"Stop calling me little; I'm not that little anymore. You're trying to claim me; I'm sure you wouldn't do such thing to a child. And what do you mean when you say that you would be more worried about those living in the underground? Is there anything I have missed but should know?" The Princess snarled, showing off how truly irritated she became, listening to his words. For years, Ally had pushed herself to any kind of success, trying to prove that she wasn't just any other regular child. The young woman frowned at the thought, catching herself thinking about how his words carried a bit of truth. He was thousands of years old while she was barely seventeen; of course, Darius could see as a child.

"Alright, no need to throw a temper tantrum, I will do anything in my power to avoid calling you little. Oh, not a big deal; maybe I just want the Devil to hate me. Nothing you should be worried about." Darius grinned, nearing his face to Ally's. Her breath hitched, as usual, her body had a mind on its own whenever he was so close.

His lips were too close for Ally to think rationally, yet he didn't make a move on her. It was one of quite a few things she admired about Darius. Everyone knew how hard it was for males to stay away from their mates, yet he could hold himself together rather well. Ally should be the one who teased him, but the dynamic between them and the possible relationship was everything but usual. The Princess licked her lips, silently wondering if he would go for another kiss. She wasn't ready to do many things and start, but the way his lips tasted against her was another lever of ecstasy. The more taste Ally got, the more she wanted him. And by the look on his face, Darius was very much aware of how she felt about him.
A corner of his lip lifted, sending shivers down her spine. *"Ally, you're so fucked,"* she thought to herself, staring deep into his eyes. It was a little weird to see how her life had changed after meeting Wrath. The male managed to invade her mind, dreams, and personal space. Then again, it wasn't like she would ever make a fuss about it. Ally knew what Darius was doing to her, yet she wouldn't admit her feelings until the time was right. And that wasn't tonight.

"Why would you want the Devil to hate you?" Ally raised an eyebrow, tracing her tongue over her dry lips once again. She had no idea what the seemingly innocent action of hers was doing to her mate. She had no idea what kind of sich and twisted scenarios ran through his mind, as Darius shamelessly stared at her lips.

"Why not? I wouldn't call that a life goal, but I wouldn't mind to piss off the old man either." Darius laughed, nearing a little closer to Ally until their noses touched. The beautiful smile wouldn't leave his lips, and the young woman didn't want to see a day when that smile would disappear for good. No matter how much she tried to push him away, Ally still feared to lose him. His intentions to annoy one's with a greater power didn't matter as much as his safety. Darius still held her down, but all the young woman could think of was what would happen the next time he would leave. Was she ready for another attempt at Darius, keeping his promise?

"Dumbass," the young woman smirked, trying her best to sound serious and angry.

"Your dumbass," Darius stated and, finally, their lips collided. Ally gasped in surprise, and he used the chance to slide his tongue into her mouth, exploring the sweet taste of his mate. He had heard many rumors about mates and how spectacular even a single kiss could feel, but until now, Darius felt that all those people were liars. Until he met the one who was capable of making his heart skip a beat. Darius knew that if anyone saw him around Ally, all of them would think that he started living under her heel. Damn it, they had no idea, but the male would bend and break himself for her happiness, no matter what others said or thought.
He let go of her hands, on an instinct, Ally wrapped her arms around his neck, pulling the male closer and deepening the kiss.

Darius had met many women over the years, but none was more than a one-time thing, a quick dose of pleasure before he leaves the place once again. He did hold tightly to the idea that no woman was worth too much of his time, the same as he never considered relationships. Until he met Ally until he got to hold her, touch her and steal a taste of her. Watching how she grew and turned into a beautiful woman was a fantastic experience. Still, over the years, Darius kept promising himself that Ally wouldn't be anything more than a test drive. Oh, how wrong he had been. She had him wrapped around her little finger, like a loyal dog, the deadly sin would follow each of her moves or demands.
Their lips parted, both of them tried to gasp for air, completely breathless. Ally had no idea that someone would ever taste so intoxicating, sending her body into an adventure of various sensations.

"I love you, Princess Ally Frost," Darius stated in full seriousness. His eyes searched hers, and within seconds a bright smile grew on his lips. She didn't have to say anything; her eyes held all of the answers Darius needed. As much as Ally could try to deny the attraction between them, deep down, she loved him as much as he loved her.
"May I please mark you?" Darius caught Ally off guard, smirking as she choked on her saliva and started coughing like a child. The Princess could expect a lot from him, but this was the first time he showed off how truly human the deadly sin could be. Before Ally got to give any answer, Darius spoke up again: "Don't misunderstand me, I'm not asking just because that is something I want to do. I mean, I want to, but here is a serious reason why I'm trying to do that. Do you trust me, Ally?" His eyes burned in hope and desire for her answer. Ally kept quiet, closing her eyes and silently wondering how her life would change if she would agree.

"I told you, you're in great danger for as long as I am not around. Baring my mark will make a lot of things easier. No matter if there will be someone from the Kingdom or the underground to try and hurt you, they won't be able to do that. My mark will keep you safe; within a few days, we will develop a decent min-link between ourselves, and in time you'll see how many creatures backed off because of the scent, aura, and mark you would possess. What do you say? Could we do thins? Just you and me, all you have to do is sit still and let me know if I hurt you. I'm not trying to take away anything you love and care about; all I'm saying is that I won't give up on you. No matter how hard it gets, no matter how much time I waste by chasing your "no's" and "maybe's." Ally, you are worth it, and even more. I would easily spend a thousand lives and a thousand more to get you where I want to see you. God fucking damn it if only you'd know how much I need you." Darius spoke words Ally thought were reality only in movies or romance novels. That guy kept surprising her; it doesn't matter what he did.

Ally pushed him aside and got up from the bad. Darius watched her actions, drooling like a wild animal over a piece of steak. One by one, Ally dropped her clothes as she headed for the bathroom. The young woman undid her bra and dropped it on the ground, looking back at him over her shoulder. "Come on, aren't you going to mark me?"