For two members of the manor, today was a very special day. The rest remembered what day it was as well. It was for those reasons that the patients behaved and the staff didn't slack. Paris made sure to pick out a few of his best recipes for his old friend. He couldn't really imagine what his life would be like without Shae. He may have been a grumpy, but he was still one of his brothers. That's the way they all looked at it.

Today wasn't his birthday or anything like that. The demon wasn't much for celebrating that anyways. No, today was the most important day of the year to him. On this day, several years ago, he married the love of his life. It's a beautiful reminder of the best damn thing that's ever happened to him. Jasper made it a point to everyone that today no one was to ruin his good mood. It was rare he had a reason to be this happy.

"I don't think I've ever seen him smile." Ryan muttered to his nephew.

Felix laughed under his breath, "There's only one person capable of making him smile. Today is his and Yuki's wedding anniversary. Their eighth or ninth, I think." 

They really thought Shae was out of earshot, but that was a mistake. At the moment he was stocking a few things in the supply closet across the hall when he spoke up, "Ninth. Oh, and by the way, he's not the only one capable of making me smile. He's just the only one that tries." 

"I swear, his hearing is even better than my dad's." Felix grumbled, "You know, even if Marci was healthy enough, I still don't think we could have sex just because I wouldn't want my dad to hear it. He hears everything."

"You had no problem fucking Maxine in the next room." Ryan replied.

"That was different. Maxine was never meant to be mine and we both knew it. Marci, though, she's the girl I want to marry someday. She's not the type of girl you want your parents to hear you fucking. At least I get a little break from him. He's always breathing down my neck."

"It'll take a few weeks for them to get back here. Don't worry. I don't think they'll plan on staying, either." Ryan stood up from the stairs, adding, "I better go. I promised Beau I'd help him gut out Colton's old office."

Felix got up too, deciding it was time to go back to work. He was surprised at how much he enjoyed having his uncle to work alongside him. To his knowledge, he hadn't talked to Jasper about staying permanently. Everyone was secretly hoping that would be the case. They all really liked Ryan, even if some people like Shae were too stubborn to admit it. 

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After a nice, quiet dinner together, away from all the main table, Shae and Yuki retired to their rooms for the night. Shae was used to eating breakfast and lunch in the kitchen. Doing so at dinner, however, was a nice change. While the others were their normal hectic selves, he'd gotten to enjoy a nice candle lit meal with his angel. Now came dessert. 

"My little mouse," Shae mused as he stood over his mate, "You're so beautiful. I don't know how I ever managed to live without you in my life. I doubt I could ever go a day without that amazing smile. I love you."

Yuki was practically glowing with happiness. "I love you, too. You make me feel safe." His English wasn't that great, considering light elves didn't speak the language traditionally. Even after all the time he'd spent around English speakers, he still struggled. It was one of the small flaws that Shae had come to love about him.

The demon picked up his love by his hips and gently set him on their tall bed. Their size different was almost to a ridiculous point. Not to mention, as far as light and dark go, they couldn't be more opposite. How they found love in each other may have been a mystery. Yet, they had one of the most unbreakable bonds imaginable.

Shae knelt down and tilted his head to the side. He kissed along Yuki's jawline slowly, causing him to shutter in enjoyment. His small hands grasped onto his husband's biceps as he softly moaned for him. Due to their drastic size difference, they rarely ever had sex. Tonight, it went without saying that they would rekindle their love. 

"I want to see you," The small elf whispered, "Please." 

"I don't think that's a good idea. I can barely make love to you in human form. I'd tear you apart in my true form." He said. 

Yuki looked up at him with the biggest, purest eyes you've ever seen, "I promise I'll be okay. I've waited ten years. Please, I want you to make love to me in your natural form. I want to know what your love feels like when you're not hiding."

It was hard to say no to someone so sweet. Shae was torn on the matter. On one hand, he wanted to give his husband what he wanted. On the other, he was afraid he didn't know what exactly he was getting himself into. There's no way in Hell Yuki's tiny frame could handle a demon in their true form. It'd been so long since the little elf had seen Shae's true form. He figured that maybe if he reminded him, he'd change his mind.

He sighed, "Okay." 

Shae couldn't remember the last time he even changed back into his true form. He was a monster, yet Yuki wasn't afraid of him one bit. Taking a step back, a venomous red smoke rose up from the ground. It wrapped around him until it consumed his over seven feet tall frame. Most demons can only manage to bring their height down by two feet. When he turned from his human form to his true self, he went from seven feet tall to over nine feet. 

He towered over his love. Yuki really did look like a mouse next to him, but he wasn't scared at all. No matter how vicious Shae looked, he knew he'd never hurt him. Most demons have a single barb on the end of their tail. Shae's was made completely of barbs, one going into the next. It could grow much longer if he needed to to, something impossible for most demons. 

His nails and teeth were drawn to a point sharper than any sword imaginable. He could cut through bone and steel with a single swipe. The only chains he couldn't break were the ones that encased him. Along his ashy red skin were countless symbols and markings. It consumed his whole body. Laid on top of them were thick chains. They not only wrapped around his body, but they went through it. Several went straight into his torso, through his organs, and out his back. There was no start to them, just as there was no end. 

Yuki gently traced his fingertips over some of the metal links. "I don't understand. Hell was destroyed. Shouldn't they have broken?"

"It wasn't necessarily destroyed. It was just frozen over. The Black Valley still exists and my soul still belongs to it." Shae held out his palm and took Yuki's hand as delicately as he could. It looked almost like a child's hand in an adult's. "Jasper is a man of his word. I have faith that one day he will find a way to free me of my curse. I have already given you my heart, mind, and body. I promise, there will be a day when I can finally give you my soul, too. I won't rest until I've given you my entirety."

"Don't you see? You've already given me all I need. You've given me your love and I couldn't live without that." He softly smiled, "You're my great protector. Please, never leave me."

"I wouldn't dream of it. I will be by your side until the day you die. I promise." Shae leaned over and gently kissed him. "I don't want to hurt you, Baby. I'm worried if I make love to you think way, I will."

"I'll be fine. Even if I do look like I'm in pain or if I cry, I want you to promise me you won't stop unless I tell you to. I can take a little pain, okay?"

"Yuki-"

"Shae," He interrupted, "Promise me."

It was rare he ever used Shae's name instead of a pet name. That meant he was serious. The demon sighed, "Okay. I promise." He hated himself for agreeing. In his head, he cursed at himself for doing something so stupid. If he hurt his angel, which he knew would happen, he could never forgive himself. 

All those who have come here had a story of agony behind them. Some were created out of that pain, and others were born from the light. Shae was much different than they were. It wasn't tears of tortured people or a war torn past that gave birth to his existence. The land itself created him as a balance. You may recall once Chris had spoke about the smoke in Hell, how there were great voids filled with it. No one dared to try to find out what existed beneath it or what it really was. 

That smog created a demon so powerful, he could take down armies with the swipe of his hand. As you've probably guessed by now, that demon was Shae. He was made by the spirits of Hell's past to protect the Black Valley. Until the day the Valley is destroyed, his soul will forever be trapped there. To break an ancient spell like that was nearly impossible, but he knew if anyone could do it, it would be Jasper. For Yuki's sake, he could only pray that his faith wasn't wrongly placed. 

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A/N: I will continue the smut in the next update, I promise! I just wasn't in the mood to write it right now. Also, I have a new story up called "Night Train"! :D