Dark Souls

The Challenge

"I would die a hundred times over, just to have you standing  here alive in front of me." -Bonnie Bennet, The Vampire Diaries. 

If there was a time where Cole said he was happy, really truly happy to his damn bones. 

It would have been the first two months he and Amaya first got to Valor. They settled in remarkably well. His father threw a massive party for his return home and recognized Amaya as his mate and the future queen in front of everyone. 

They spent their days roaming their lands. Seeing everything they could see about their new home. They flew on the backs of dragons, talked with the different people of their kingdom, and slowly but surely settled into the role they always felt was theirs.

The went to different realms...

Where they were treated like royalty and pampered. But they were also berated for their opinions, harassed about their past in the last dimension and how they could be good for Valor.

Cole fell more in love with Amaya in these days as everyone and everything stressed him out. She held him down, told him everything would be alright and kept his mind sane with her beautiful body. Her soft encouraging words in his ear lulling him to sleep on her breast at night. 

So Cole was able to work his ass off. Settling land fights between demons, keeping the peace between witches and pixies. He had his work cut out for him somedays. But Amaya made it all worth it. And so no one could undermine or try to say they weren't right for the job. 

But he had decided after almost two weeks of non-stop work, they needed a break. 

One afternoon he packed a canoe and roared them threw the enchanted lake. As he rowed them through woods, he and Amaya talked excitedly so happy to be them. Occasionally he would fall silent as she sang a pretty song, the sun shining down on her raven hair. 

When they got to the icy pixie forest, it seemed they had stepped out of spring and into winter. But neither felt a chill in the air as they walked through the beautiful white snow. Cole unpacked their lunch on a blanket and both enjoyed a hearty lunch gushing over the beauty of their surroundings. 

When blue little pixies came and saw the loving mates kissing, they giggled as their little bodies danced in the air. They zipped around the couple, the ice on their wings falling in beautiful little sparkles around the couple. 

Glowing as both Cole and Amaya made noises of appreciation. 

He had pulled his mate on to his lap hugging her body to him loving her curves against him, "I love you, Amaya." He told her brushing her long black hair back. Amaya smiled and whispered, "I love you too." 

And in the snow, with ice fairies as their witness the two had a passionate lustful coupling that had them immobile for hours after.  

But that had been weeks ago. 

And after weeks of peace, things were getting bad now. 

So bad, Lucy had wanted to go home to their previous dimension with Sophia. 

Some demons, some who fashion themselves better than them, refused to bow to Cole. Even though he was the rightful heir, they felt he wasn't "demon enough" and his witch genetics polluted his demon blood. 

Cole, of course, tried to be diplomatic about the demon's claims and reach an understanding. But they would prefer to be savages and fight. 

While Cole, Carlisle, and Ambrose talked strategy, Amaya put her energy and focus into helping Sophia and her new little friend Topaz with their training. 

Topaz was a dress maker's daughter, the most famous in the land actually. When Sophia had met the young witch, she had been eager to actually have a friend. Amaya liked Topaz because she had a good heart, and it was warm for her new bestie. 

As the three of them were growing plants and using the elements, Sophia sighed bored, "Okay can we do something fun now?" Amaya smirked, "Fun?" Sophia nodded eagerly as Topaz's eyes begged for entertainment. 

"Okay, I have an idea!" The three of them ran into the hall and into the dining room silently. Seeing two men carrying  a large cake, Amaya whispered the enchantment to the girls and all three concentrated on the cake as they whispered, "Subvolo." 

The cake suddenly floated high in the sky as the men looked up at his stupidly confused. When the girls dropped their gazes, the cake went splattering on the men, smearing them in rich buttercream frosting. 

Amaya pulled the giggling girls along, and as they all cackled at their misdeeds they were met by Cole and Carlisle. "And what have you three naughty little witches have been up to?" Cole teased. Topaz and Sophia exchanged looks and then pointed to Amaya, "She made it us do it!" 

Both took off running as Amaya scowled playfully at their backs. 

"Traitors!" 

Carlisle chuckled seeing passing maids laughing as his butlers all chuckled discreetly. 

No past queen and king had the love from their people like Cole and Amaya. It was only a select few that wanted to cause trouble for no reason. 

Cole kissed his mate's sweet mouth as he teased, "So what have you been up to mate?" Amaya smirked as she purred, "Just being a little mischievous is all. No one was harmed in my little prank."   

Growling Cole held his mate tight, "You're being naughty, but I like it. Keep it up." 

Carlisle looked at the always eating Ambrose, "Do they tend to go into heat and forget people around them?" Cole and Amaya blushed as Ambrose scoffed, "Sir I had to run to get out one time or I would have seen more Cole than I wanted to see." 

Carlisle laughed as his son and daughter in law blushed, grumbling about them picking at them. In reality not only was Ambrose jealous of them but so was Carlisle. It wasn't every day a demon or witch found their true mate. 

Seeing Amaya and Cole so happy only made them hope they could maybe one day have it too. 

The four made their way to the throne room when a butler ran in, protection spell runes glowing as they surrounded his body in circular blades. "Sire!" He bellowed, "We have intruders. They've come to do you all harm!" 

Amaya stiffened and then whistled to her familiar Luna, who purred her eyes glowing a bright blue, "Find Topaz and Sophia. Take them somewhere safe Luna." The sabertooth tiger bowed to her, and her strips glowed an eerie blue, she jumped through space and time to Sophia.

 Turning to her mate, Amaya whispered, "We've been challenged for the thrown." Cole faced his mate with a deadly look in his eyes, "It's going to be the last."