When your name is whispered by a soul who longs for their other half, you are bound to answer their call. It is the law of magic and of soul mates.

I am a devil, one of the exiled, cursed to live in the Enchanted Forest in the human realm.

And she, she is my soul's mate.

As our gazes lock, a surge of energy pulses through me, a sensation both foreign and intimately familiar. It is as if a dormant part of my soul awakens, recognizing its counterpart in her. A faint tremor courses through me as our souls, long separated, begin to intertwine.

Her lips are parted slightly, and her breaths are shallow gasps.

"Who are you?"

I can feel her fear, her uncertainty. She is frozen in place, staring up at me.

Her skin, a warm shade of brown, glistens with the remnants of the rain shower. Her hair, dark and wavy, frames her face, accentuating her wide, fearful eyes. The rain has left her clothes clinging to her, the white blouse now almost translucent, revealing the contours of her form beneath. My gaze cannot help but wander to her hard, dark nipples showing through the thin fabric of her shirt.

I am a devil, but I am also still a man. My desire for her is instant and undeniable. It burns in my chest, a raging inferno.

"I am Ciaran," I say, my voice low and husky. "And you, little angel, are my soul's mate."

I can see her pulse beating frantically in her throat, her heart pounding. I can more than see it. I can feel it through our bond that is slowly locking into place.

She shakes her head, as if to clear it. "That is impossible," she whispers. Her voice is soft and sweet. I want to hear it again, to listen to it forever.

"It is true," I say, taking a step closer.

She tries to back away, but there is nowhere for her to go. Her back is already against the cave wall.

"I am sorry," I whisper. "I did not mean to frighten you."

"You are a devil." Her words are a statement, not a question.

"Yes."

"How...why..." She cannot seem to get the words out.

"Our souls are meant for each other. The magic in our blood called us together. You called for me."

Her eyes are wide, her breath coming in frantic gasps now. I can feel her fear and confusion. "I feel like I am going to be sick," she whispers.

She is fighting the bond. This is not good. It will rip her apart if she does not relax.

"Do not fight it," I whisper. "Just breathe."

She tries to take a deep breath, but it comes out as a sob. Tears spill down her cheeks. "It is too much," she says, her voice breaking. "I cannot..."

I feel it, too; the intensity of our bond, like a flood of magic rushing to fill every crevice of my being. It is not overwhelming to me. I am used to this kind of strong magic coursing through me. My little angel, though, seems to be having a hard time.

"Shhh," I whisper, gently wiping her tears away. "It will pass. You're just overwhelmed."

I wrap my arms around her, pulling her close. I can feel her trembling, her heart racing. But beneath it all, there is something else-a spark of recognition, a yearning for what is been lost.

I have waited a lifetime for this moment. And now, I will do everything in my power to make her mine.

"What is your name?" I whisper, trying to keep her talking. If I can keep her talking, maybe she will calm down enough for this bond to fully snap into place.

"Adwin."

I repeat her name, the syllables rolling off my tongue. it is a beautiful name, befitting her.

"Are you...are you real?" she asks. "I must be hallucinating."

I cannot help but smile. "I am as real as you are."

Her eyes, wide and curious, fixate on the horns crowning my head. "Are those...?" she begins, her voice trailing off in wonder.

"Yes," I say, reaching up to touch one. "Those are my horns."

She hesitates, then raises a tentative hand to trace the outline of one. Her touch is gentle, almost reverent. It sends a jolt of pleasure, of longing through me. My cock stirs at her touch, and I suppress a groan.

"Do they hurt?" she asks, her voice soft.

"No," I say, barely able to keep the huskiness out of my voice. "Quite the opposite, in fact."

Each second that her fingers linger on my horn feels like an eternity. Her fingers brush over the sensitive tip, and a shudder runs through me. My body is aching for more of her touch.

She retracts her hand, her cheeks tinged with a blush of realization. "I am sorry," she says, her eyes downcast. "I should not have..."

"Do not apologize," I say, cupping her chin and tilting her head up so she is looking at me. "Never apologize for touching me."

Her eyes widen, and her lips part. She is so beautiful, so perfect. I want to devour her, to consume her.

"We are made for each other," I whisper, brushing my thumb across her bottom lip. "Our souls were destined to be one."

She opens her mouth, about to say something, then turns to the side, throwing up.

I reach down, gathering her hair as she leans over. Her body is shaking, and her stomach is empty.

"Shhh," I whisper, rubbing her back. "It is okay."

She is overwhelmed by the force of the bond, her body and mind not able to cope with the intensity.

After a few minutes, her heaving subsides.

"Here," I say, taking off my cloak and wrapping it around her. "You need to stay warm."

She snuggles into the warmth of the cloak, her body trembling. "Why...why does it feel like this?" she whispers.

"Like what?"

"Like I cannot breathe. Like my heart is going to beat out of my chest."

"It is the bond," I say, pulling her closer. "Our souls are reaching out for each other, trying to unite. And you are fighting it. Whether you are meaning to or not. It is an overwhelming sensation, but it will pass."

"I do not think I can handle it," she says, her voice shaking. "This is not what it is supposed to feel like. This is not what others have described."

"What did they say?"

"That it is like being complete, like finding the other half of your soul. That it is a feeling of peace and contentment. This...this feels like chaos."

"Everyone's experience is different," I say, gently stroking her hair. "Some bonds are stronger than others. Our souls are connected by more than just a thread. They are entwined, a perfect fit."

She buries her face in the crook of my neck, her body pressed against mine. I can feel her shivering.

"You are cold," I murmur. "Let me warm you."

I conjure a blanket of shadow, wrapping it around both of us. She sighs in relief.

"Better?" I ask, holding her close.

"Yes," she says, her voice muffled. "Thank you."

I inhale deeply, breathing in her scent. She smells like lavender and honey, sweet and intoxicating. I cannot get enough of her.

As we sit in the shadows, her breathing slowly steadies. I can feel her heart rate slowing, the panic subsiding slightly.

"Adwin," I whisper, unable to stop myself from saying her name again.

"Mmm?"

"You are the most beautiful thing I have ever seen."

She lifts her head, looking up at me. "You do not even know me."

"I know everything I need to," I say, tucking a strand of her hair behind her ear. "Our souls have already spoken to each other. We were destined for this, to be together."

She swallows, her eyes searching mine. "I am scared," she whispers.

"You do not have to be," I say, cupping her cheek.

"This just is not what I was expecting. What I have always wanted."

"It is a lot to take in," I say, running my thumb along her bottom lip.

"I do not even know where you come from. Who you are." She pauses, the next words coming out in such a mournful tone that it pulls at my heart, my soul. "Why you waited so long to find me. I have been so alone."

Her words stab through me like a physical blow. I do not know what to say, what to tell her. I cannot tell her the truth. Or, well, the whole truth. Not until our bond is fully snapped into place. Not when she can still reject it.

"I am sorry," is all I can manage.

"I have been waiting," she whispers, her voice cracking. "I thought there was something wrong with me. That I was broken. That I did not have a soul's mate. That the stars forgot me."

"They did not forget," I say, my voice low and rough. "They could never forget you."

She closes her eyes, leaning her forehead against mine. "Why do I feel like this, then? Like I have been ripped apart, like there is a piece of me missing."

"Because our souls are incomplete. They have been since the day we were born. But we have found each other now. And we can be whole. Your soul is making room for mine, as mine is for yours."

I pull her into my arms, burying my face in her hair. She fits perfectly against me, as if she was made for me. And she was. She was made for me the day the stars spoke her into existence. She was made for me, as I was for her. She was made for me the first moment her mother's heart started beating, the moment her father's soul was pulled from the heavens, the moment their two halves fused into a single, perfect being. She was made for me from that very first second.

"Let me show you," I whisper, lifting her chin and capturing her lips with my own.

Her lips are soft, pliant, and she tastes like the sweetest nectar. I deepen the kiss, and she moans, a soft sound that fills my heart with desire. I want her. More than I have ever wanted anything. More than I have ever needed air to breathe. But I know this is not the time to go further. I need to take things slowly. The bond is already overwhelming. If we strengthen the bond any more than it already is, it will surely rip her apart. So I kiss her, and only kiss her. But as I kiss her, I can feel her soul opening up to mine.

Her hands clutch at my shirt, and her body melts into mine. I can feel her heart racing, her body trembling. The bond is connecting us, our souls becoming one. I hear a quiet, far away voice, and I know it is hers. The bond is strong enough for me to start hearing her thoughts.

She is scared, but she is also excited. She is not sure if she wants this, but the way she kisses me back, the way she clings to me, tells me otherwise. She is conflicted. Her soul is desperate for the bond, but her mind is not yet ready.

I need to tread carefully.

Our tongues entwine, and she tastes like everything I have ever dreamed of and more. I want her, every part of her. But I know I cannot take her. Not yet. Not like this. Not while the bond is so strong, and her mind is still trying to comprehend it.

My body, however, has different plans. My cock is aching, throbbing with desire. I need her, and my body is desperate to claim her.

She breaks the kiss, panting. "I am sorry, I just need a moment."

I smile and run my fingers through her hair. "It is okay. We will take this slow. You just need to relax."

I pull her into my lap, cradling her in my arms. Her head rests against my chest, and I can feel her heart pounding.

"I have been waiting for you," I say, pressing a kiss to her temple. "I have waited my whole life for you."

She sighs, and I can feel the tension leaving her body.

"It is okay," I whisper. "I have got you. Just relax. Let the bond take hold."

I can feel it, the magic between us, swirling and strengthening. it is powerful and intoxicating. I have never felt anything like it. And neither has she.

I am not sure how long we sit there, wrapped in each other's arms, but eventually, her breathing slows, and her heart rate returns to normal. She is fallen asleep. Her breaths are deep and small groans of discomfort escape her lips as she struggles with the bond in her sleep.

I hold her close, feeling the warmth of her body and the rise and fall of her chest. it is a feeling I could get used to.

She is perfect, and she is mine.

I watch the sky outside the cave. The rain has stopped, and the moon is bright.

I know that she is scared. I can feel it. But I also know that once she lets go, once she accepts it, she will have nothing to fear.

At least not from the bond.