Before Dola started to yell, "It is done. He is my mate, and you will not harm him. Adam will eat and be escorted to my room for the mating ceremony."
Dola's anger rolled off of her like lava from a volcano. She stayed silent and looked at the door. "Why are you protecting this sorcerer that you barely know?"
I paused and laughed. My sisters, the demons, everyone always wanted a reason for everything. I just liked to make a decision and say that it was done. I walked away, and my sister stayed outside the dining room. I could feel her anger and frustration. As a deprivation demon, she specialized in removing all hope and reason by creating an everlasting sense of disadvantage. She was great at what she did.
As I walked, I felt Dena laughing behind me, she started antagonizing Dola. I sighed as I finally made it to my room. It felt like yesterday when my sisters and I were sleeping on whatever patch of grass we could find. The sorcerers had stripped demons of their necessities by blocking the minds of all humans and essentially starving us of the human essence.
I went to my window and stared out at the stronghold's grounds. The demons called this a castle, while sorcerers called this a fortress. I wanted to call this home.
Cedar knocked on my door. "You may enter, Cedar."
"Madam, the quarters for the sorcerer are now complete."
"His name is Adam. Please inform everyone that my mate will be called by his name." Outside the window, I saw commotion as several humans entered our stronghold. "Cedar, has that group decided on a name for our home?"
Cedar smiled. "The Council of the Demolition of Barriers has scheduled a date to vote on a name for the stronghold. They are also re-evaluating calling this place a 'stronghold.'"
"Their 'council' name is pretentious and misleading."
"Madam, you can join at any time. As leader, you can change the name and function. They have only the power you and your sisters allow."
I stared at Cedar and wondered why it sounded like he was alluding to something. "Hmm. Tell Dena and Dola to join their next meeting. I will be acclimating my mate to the way of things. I will join after."
Cedar bowed. "Anything else, Madam?"
"No."
"I will send a few of the OtherWorld fairies to help prepare you for the mating ceremony tonight."
I turned to look at Cedar to protest, but he was already gone. I went to the door to try and escape, but Clio and Calli were already there, smiling mischievously.
Both were fairy vexing demons and some of the oldest creatures in our stronghold. Clio, a demon who was drawn to beautiful creatures, was known for her obsession with love and physical touch.
Clio was slender, with chocolate eyes that flowed like the ocean. Her skin matched her eyes and emitted a smell similar to the human treat, meant to entice and make you believe she was sweet.
Then there was Calli, even more troublesome than Clio. She was an interesting fairy, with little known about her except that she liked to tempt men who were claimed by another. She was a bit shorter, and her curves were always admired by males. Her eyes were like the ocean and her skin like the clouds. She smelled of fresh seawater and claimed to be of the mountains.
I tried to run, but the fairies picked me up and carried me into my room.
Calli laughed, "We have been waiting for this day!"