Prisoner of Darkhaven by EMMA PAUL Read Free Book Online Page A

helped her to her feet. He turned to the scrolls
    on the desk, a bit damp from their mutual juices.

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CHAPTER SEVEN
    When Elise opened her eyes, she was back in the cave. Around her
    were countless golden baskets, filled with beautiful shimmering
    jewels. She still gripped Damien's Pendant. Had it been a dream?
    The soreness between her thighs told her otherwise. She had little
    time to reflect on it. A thin tall shadow crept through the entrance of
    the cave.
    Grand Duke DeMumart stepped into the cave and stopped short.
    His face darkened to an evil grimace. The temperature in the cave
    dropped several degrees.
    The duke walked slowly towards her until he was only inches away
    from her face. He peered down. Elise sensed an immense power that
    seemed to permeate the air around the duke. Death. He smelt of
    death and impiety
    He sneered, "So little maiden, I see you've completed your task."
    He walked a slow circle around Elise. "Well done".
    He smiled, but it did little to comfort her. She forced herself to
    ignore his disapproving scowl and curtsied, "Thank you M-My Lord."
    DeMumart glared for a moment before turning to his men.
    "Guards! Help the little lady into the boat, the King awaits our
    arrival."
    Elise did not miss the disgust in DeMumart's voice. Surely, he
    suspected something. Unconsciously, she stroked the pendant around
    her neck and immediate felt a warm comfort.

    * * * *
The King's castle was just as grand as she would have imagined.
    Solid gold sconces lit smoothed, shiny marbled corridors. It was
    magnificent. For a brief moment, Elise actually felt honored to have
    been selected as the King's bride. The opportunity to live in such a
    glorious home, an actual royal castle, was every little girls dream
    come true.
    For Elise however, it felt more like a prison. Damien . He was
    forever in her thoughts. That was where she needed to be, wanted to

    41

    be. She wished that their meeting could have been under different
    circumstances.
    How had this happened? How had she fallen in love with a Demon?
    She knew now that was what he was. Somehow, she had known from
    the very first day they met.
    Yet, it didn't matter. She loved Damien Dontaleone, Lord of
    Darkhaven and it burned her very soul to know she would most likely
    never see him again once the king claimed her as his Queen.
    They entered an extravagantly decorated throne room. King
    Horace sat at the far end of a long red-carpeted walkway. Knight's
    armor in various battle poses lined the entire length of the room. The
    walls shimmered with etched gold and silver latticework..
    A single table, elegantly carved from marble, with golden legs and
    trim sat next to the dais. An exquisitely designed oil lamp graced its
    center. The dais had three chairs positioned side-by-side King Horace
    sat in the enormous center chair. He looked more like a young child
    sitting, cross-legged on the plush red cushions Gold and purple lace
    roped decoratively around the arms and legs of the chair.
    Two smaller chairs sat at his right and left. Although, not as
    grandiose as the king's, they were still elegantly made and larger than
    any chair Elise had ever sat in.
    Duke DeMumart walked ahead of her. Two of his guard stood at
    either side and led her down the long walkway. Once she stood in
    front of the Dais, Elise got her first real look at the King.
    He was nothing like she expected. In fact, unlike all the stories of
    his manly prowess, before her sat a short balding sickly man who
    looked much older than his professed thirty years. If he had not been
    wearing the fine silk purple robes of a King, she would have mistaken
    him for a pauper. No wonder, people never saw much of the King in
    public.
    He stared at Elise with little interest. Duke DeMumart approached
    him just before stepping and motioning to her.
    "Your Majesty, I present Lady Elise Brenton of Haven."
    She curtsied as low as she could. "Your Majesty," She stood.

    42

    King Horace blinked several times, his