The Witch's Demon Mate

The night was too quiet.

Aria Blckthrone stood in the center of moonlit circle, every nerve in her body alive with dread. The coven's sacred grove shimmered with candles, their flames bending toward her as if drawn by invisible strings. All around her, the sisters of Moonveil Coven watched in silence, their faces pale and expectant.

It was supposed to be the most important night of her life--her Awakening. The ritual that would reveal her ture affinity, her place among the witches. For most, the Awakening brought comfort. A blessing of moonlight. A spark of flame. A whisper of water.

But Aria, the air felt wrong. Heavy. Hungry.

"Step forward, child," intoned the High Priestess, her voice low and commanding. "Offer your soul to the Moon, and the Moon will answer."

Aria swallowed, her throat tight. She dropped to her knees, pressing her palms against the etched runes craved into the earth. The circle hummed beneath her touch, alive with old magic. She whispered the prayer every girl learned from childhood, her voice trembling:

"Moon above, guide me. Shadows below, protect me."

At first, nothing. Then-- heat.

It started in her chest, sharp and sudden, like a spark catching flame. She gasped as fire raced through her veins, too strong, too wild. The runes beneath her hands glowed red instead of silver, the earth splitting with jagged cracks.

"Stop the ritual!" someone cried.

But it was to late.

The circle roared with power. Shadows bled across the ground, thick and withering. Aria's vision blurred as her body arched, mouth open in a scream that tore from her soul. Pain seared into her wrist, craving a brand into her skin.

A sigil. Not the soft cuvre of the moonlight, nor the sacred spiral of the earth.

This mark burned, sharp and cruel, a rune none of the coven dared speak aloud. A demon's seal.

Her eyes flew open, and for a heartbeat the world stilled.

From the darkness at the edge of the circle, a pair of eyes stared back-golden-red, glowing like embers. She swore she heard a voice, deep and velvet, whisper her name.

Aria...

She collapsed, gasping, her wrist smoking as the sigil pulsed with molten light. The circle's candles snuffed out in unison, plunging the grove into silence.

The High Priestess knelt beside her, horror ecthed into her lined face. "This cannot be," she breathed. Her hand shook as she covered Aria's branded wrist. " The bond has been forged."

Aria blinked up at her, tears burning her eyes.

"What bond?"

The prietess's voice broke into a harsh whisper, meant for the coven alone--but Aria heard every word.

"The demon has claimed her."

Hearing the words the High Priestess utter, Aria was in disbelief. She started to panic even more.

"No, no, no! What do you mean by claim me?"

The priestess ignored her questioning.

Slowly picking her up by her arm and rushing back to the home of the covenet. On the way back, Aria fell faint in the arms of the high priestess.

The last thing that fell from her lips was a name.

"Kael..."