Chapter 1

The halls of the University of Southern Valoria were alive with energy. Tonight, the grand ballroom glittered with chandeliers and echoed with the murmurs of excitement and whispers of awe. The most prestigious university in the supernatural world, it was renowned for producing the fiercest warriors, the wisest council members, and the most powerful Alphas. Creatures from all corners of the globe—fairies, mermaids, werewolves, and vampires—mingled, each aware of their own power but looking towards a future of mastery and dominance.

Yet, despite the grandeur and the legendary alumni, tonight, all eyes were on Rylan Blackwood. The Council President, future heir of Valoria, and the most feared yet admired lycan in the kingdom. His presence commanded respect; his icy black eyes, like shards of glacial steel, missed nothing.

However, Rylan's attention wasn't on the lavish decorations or the hopeful girls dressed just for him, begging for his attention.

No. His gaze was locked on one person—the girl standing alone in the corner, Azura Frost. She was a vision of lethal beauty, and even among the hundreds of powerful beings in the room, she stood out like a flicker of darkness amidst light.

She was a mystery wrapped in cold elegance. The sole surviving demoness from a war that had decimated her kind. Feared and avoided by most, her green eyes, sharp as emeralds, surveyed the room with a calculated precision that sent a chill down the spine of anyone brave enough to look her way.

Rylan's heart pounded in his chest as he watched her. Her beauty was dangerous, her presence intoxicating, and the pull she had on him was maddening.

He wasn't just watching her out of curiosity or attraction—it was obsession. Ever since the moment he had laid eyes on her, he couldn’t stop. And tonight, it was no different. He had joined the party for one reason and one reason only—to stalk her.

She stood there, alone, a black-clad shadow amid the sea of vibrant people. The sleek dress she wore hugged her figure in a way that made it impossible for him to look away. And when she flicked her long dark hair over her shoulder, revealing the intricate designs woven into the fabric, Rylan's blood surged.

His pulse quickened as he took another sip from his glass of whisky, trying to steady the primal urges stirring inside him. He had been watching her for hours now—or perhaps it was better to say, he'd been watching her for far longer than that. From the moment she entered in his life, she had captivated him, drawn him in like nothing else in this world ever could.

And now, as he observed her green eyes flick up to the balcony where the authorities' meeting room was, he knew something was brewing in that beautiful, dangerous mind of hers. She was up to something. He could feel it.

She moved with a predator’s grace, her eyes darting around the room, checking her surroundings to make sure no one was watching. If only she knew.

Rylan’s jaw clenched as he downed the rest of his drink, his focus sharpening on her every movement. Damn her.  Even the subtle sway of her hips as she made her way toward the stairs set his body aflame. His down part, already aching with need just from her presence, became painfully hard as she walked, her elegance laced with the promise of danger. Every inch of him screamed to chase after her, to follow her into whatever plan she was cooking up.

And he did what he always did. Quietly, without drawing any attention to himself, Rylan followed her. His movements were stealthy, fluid—like a shadow slipping through the room. He knew every corner of this university, every hidden passage, every blind spot in the security.

Azura, for all her cunning, was unaware of the predator on her trail. He had made a habit of it, watching her from the shadows, learning everything he could about her without ever revealing his presence.

His eyes narrowed as he watched her approach the sealed doors of the authorities' meeting room. She paused for a moment, inspecting the intricate locks placed there to prevent unauthorized entry. Her expression remained calm, but Rylan could sense the subtle shift in her energy, the way her focus intensified.

Suddenly, her eyes changed—turning fully black, with no trace of white. She was unlocking her demon power. He watched as she murmured something under her breath, her voice low and filled with dark energy. The seal on the door pulsed, as if resisting her for a brief moment, before it gave way with a soft click. She did it. The doors creaked open, and Azura slipped inside, satisfied with her work.

From his hidden vantage point, Rylan smiled. She never failed to impress him. Every time he watched her, he discovered something new, something more dangerous, more intriguing.

It was as if she was an endless puzzle, each piece more fascinating than the last. No other woman possessed what she did—her raw, untamed power, her defiance, and that darkness she wore so effortlessly.

She was the forbidden flame he could not stay away from, the girl his father had warned him about. But the more he watched her, the more he craved to know every secret she kept, every hidden strength she wielded. She was more than just a demoness—she was a mystery, and Rylan Blackwood was determined to solve her, no matter how many rules he had to break.

Hello everyone!

I hope you all enjoyed the first chapter of His Demon Lover. This book is sure to give you sleepless nights and keep you on the edge with every twist! If you have any questions or want to connect, feel free to follow my Instagram page. I’ll do my best to answer each one of you.

Thanks for reading ❤

—Ariana Patterson