The Demon's Claim [House of Arcane #2]

‘Nora, you’re awake, thank goodness,’ Logan said before he was hugging me. I noticed that I was in the bedroom which was kind of strange with the laces, the drapes and the silks. It was like I was stepping into a fairy tale.

Or a very extravagant house.

‘Did you hurt? Are you feeling unwell? Are you alright?’ Logan asked me as he was looking at my body, which I did not know was covered with only one thin silk gown before I was taking Logan’s hands into mine.

He turned to look at me before I smiled at him. Now that I know the truth, I know that he will always love Cornelia because their love was eternal and I was the reincarnation of her. but for once, I just wanted Logan to love me, and not because of his past life.

But me, Nora McCarthy. His present and future.

‘I know the truth now,’ I stated as Logan was looking at me. I smiled before I was laying my palm on his hands.

‘I know who is Cornelia and what she means to you in your past life, Logan. I know who you are, the true you and,’ I paused, chuckled a little before I was looking into his eyes.

Those gorgeous eyes that will ever look at me for who I was now.

‘And I understand that you married me because you believe that I am the reincarnation of your old love. And I am,’ I sighed.

‘I am grateful that we have found each other but something…something inside me has changed,’ I said as I was looking at his handsome face. The face that I wanted to look at first thing in the morning and the last thing at night.

But I have to tell him my truth for Cornelia said not to be afraid. That I am not to keep this alone in my chest.

‘But I’m Nora McCarthy now. I cannot be the Cornelia that you have loved in the past and I will never live up to her memories, even I have them,’ I chuckled as I was touching his cheek. Logan leaned into my touch as I was leaning closer to him.

‘And I will always be Nora McCarthy for the rest of this life. So if you cannot love me for new me, I don’t think—‘

I did not finished my sentence for Logan was kissing me, cutting me out of my speech. I was stunned at first before I was wounding my hands around his nape and pulled him closer. I leaned back and my back hit the mattress. Logan was roaming my body before someone was clearing her throat.

We broke the kiss and stared at Lia who was smirking at us.

‘What the heck are you still doing here?’ Logan grunted before Lia was rolling her eyes and crossing her arms in front of her chest. I smiled before I was hiding behind Logan.

‘Well, thank you for your service, Lia. I could have not done that without you,’ Lia imitated Logan before she gasped and she inclined her head.

‘Oh course, anything for my family and I will do anything to make sure that you’re happy, my dear cousin. And suddenly, you attack your wife that just recovered from her near death experience,’ Lia said as she glared at Logan. He shied away before I was sitting up on the bed and I was looking at her cousin.

‘Now, if you excuse me, I have my shop to be attended to as I have spent my last week here and I did not have any profit yet for this week. So, be careful and do not exaggerate her,’ Lia said as she was putting her hand on Logan’s shoulder.

‘Oh, and Connor’s back in Dublin. I hope you will be greeting him later?’ Lia said before Logan nodded. I smiled as I waved at Lia as she exited the door. Then, Logan smirked at me.

‘Now, where were we?’ he asked as he was kissing my flat stomach before I was pushing him at my arm’s length.

‘Logan, you heard what your cousin said. I must recover first before we’re indulging in that,’ I said as Logan smirked at me.

‘No, I meant what are you trying to say that you will never be Cornelia and you thought I would not love you the same way like her?’ he said before I was looking into his turquoise eyes. I bit my lower lips before Logan was sighing.

‘The first time I saw your photo…it was not about Cornelia in my mind that wanted me to tie you down,’ he started as I was looking at him.

‘I have been drawn to your hair, well mainly because it was the same color as hers but there was something in your eyes,’ he said as he was looking into my eyes. My heart was beating fast as I was breathing hard.

‘There was something that pulled me toward you. It was never Cornelia when I first saw it. All I can think about was…you being you, Nora. No matter if Cornelia was reincarnated as someone else. I just want you for my wife,’ Logan said as I was tilting my head to the side.

‘Really?’ I asked him as I smiled. Logan chuckled.

‘Really. Why do you think I seduced you in the shower if I don’t want you to warm my bed?’ he asked me before I rolled my eyes.

‘Because you’re used to have women in them. And I was one of those women that you conquered,’ I said nonchalantly before Logan shook his head. He took my hands and kissed my knuckles before he was kissing his way up to my mouth.

Not that I was complaining.

‘For your information, I was never been intimate with anyone when I was reincarnated as Logan O’Sullivan, love. Which means you’re the only woman that has been and will be warming my bed for the rest of my life,’ he whispered before shivers ran through my backbone. I was looking at him skeptically before I was pulling him by the nape.

‘Then, you will have that luxury for I am never letting you go, Mr. O’Sullivan,’ I whispered before Logan smirked.

‘I know you wouldn’t,’ he said before he kissed me and everything inside me was becoming whole again for a second time.

Logan O’Sullivan’s POV

I was looking at my wife who was sleeping soundly on our bed in the castle. It has been forever since I was roaming around this castle in the Underworld with my wife and right now, everything seemed alright again.

But I will have to make a choice for my father had warned me that there will be people to overcome me. I sighed before I was looking at my aunt and uncle who were dining in the dining hall as I can hear the laughter again in this castle.

‘Ah, Logan,’ Aunt Eva said as she stood up from the chair. Uncle Dan followed before I went to hug them.

‘I can see that you are enjoying yourself, uncle, aunt,’ I said curtly at them before they went back to their seat and I was looking at them with the intention in my mind.

‘Well, it was okay but I think I have some suggestions that can improve the place—‘

‘Eva, we’re not staying here. Logan will be ruling it from now on,’ uncle Dan said before I chuckled.

‘Actually, I came here to talk about those,’ I said as I was looking at my uncle and aunt. They glanced at each other before they were turning to look at me.

‘Oh, that sounds serious.’ Aunt Eva said before I was showing the crowns for the rulers of the Underworld.

‘I think you can get the gist of what I will be saying and I was hoping that you will agree to it,’ I said as I was looking at my aunt and uncle. They did not seem convince with my declaration before I explained to them why I did this.

It is time for a change in this kingdom after all.

*****

After that talk in the dining hall, I went to the room to contact the Mortal realm. I was drawing some pentagram before I was looking at the living room of my cousin’s apartment. Show off, I mused as I stepped through the portal and I was sliding to the walls to hide myself from the sunlight. My cousin was flopping himself on the sofa before I was chuckling from the dark shadow against the wall.

‘Well, if it’s not Connor O’Sullivan,’ I said as I heard he sighed. Then, Connor turned to look at me. He seemed…different. Must be because of the newlyweds stuff that he was doing.

I know I was doing the same thing with my wife.

‘Hello, Logan. Fancy seeing you here. Don’t you have somewhere to be?’ he asked before I chuckled. The sun was set and I went to seat beside him at the sofa. The fire crackled in the fireplace.

‘Well, I must say, I was being very busy with the business doing so great and I have a marriage to attend to,’ I said as I was looking at him. Connor looked at me warily before he got my gist.

‘Well, my wedding would come soon, but no later than next weekend I supposed,’ he said as he leaned against the sofa. I arched my eyebrow at him.

‘Oh, and that reminds me, the father sends his regard for you,’ I said before I was producing the old wedding invitation of Connor’s parents. I was smiling inwardly when they will be getting married and crowned as the new Lord and Queen of the Underworld.

It would be perfect for all of us, especially me and Nora.

‘What it got to do with this?’ my cousin said as I stood up while I was pulling at my cuffs. I wore my business suit since I will be leaving the Monster realm for good later. I turned to look at him before I shrugged at him.

Perhaps it is time for Logan to face his fear now.