Chapter One:

Cherry blossoms were in full bloom in the spring of April creating a subtle aroma of floral and vanilla notes that wafted through the air. Those pink petals danced through the wind along snowy strands of jewel-adorned hair. Sapphires adorned the crown pinned through and around the bulk of his ponytail sitting at the apex of his head. Black spider lilies and red mums decorated his hair while a single jade dagger was sheathed in the crook of his ponytail. The hilt of the blade stuck out far enough that a gold chain with a moon pendant made of crystal hung like a ceremonial hair ornament.

Thick snowy hair loosely nestled underneath his ponytail and little waves of baby hair and parted bangs framed his defined face. His hair easily passes his plump buttocks.

A gentle melody accompanied him: Prince Min Yoshida. His delicate fingers plucked at his gayageum; a heartstring instrument made of paulownia wood with twenty-five strings. Min’s pearlescent polished fingernails were trimmed and shaped into almonds with rose gold rings decorated with shimmering sapphires to match his hair. Min is considered an ideal beauty despite never properly allowing his hair to be fully and neatly done up.

He sat on an extraordinarily carved and lacquered chair low to the ground. The seat was furnished with a purple silk pillow and featured a foot-rest where he sat. The details in his chair were a testament to his royal status among the all male attendants accompanying him.

He hummed softly in tune with his playing. After a few minutes had gone by, he sighed, stopping his music. “I wish Father would stop harassing me with suitors. I barely escaped from another of those arranged dates today!” He vented to his attendants. They looked at each other with unsympathetic frowns.

“Mother, if I may, you know it is your duty as our next Lunar mother to mate and carry an heir into this World. This will ensure our Kin’s blood.” The overseeing Lunar Knight named Chaelynn muttered nervously. The title of ‘Mother’ in relationship to Min was a casual ceremonial word referred to a royal L type Lunar Beast such as Min. The proper etiquette is to refer to him as ‘Lunar Mother’ which is a connection to their Moon God Mercury and how he will be the next mother of his clan.

Min shot her a fearsome glare. “I will not be a brood whore for my father’s whims or any other man’s that he’s attempting to arrange me with.” His tone is electric and firm, causing Chaelynn to huff at him.

Min exhaled his frustration when all he got in return was a huff. “Can’t you understand me? Why should I have to be bred like a horse when the birth rate isn’t affected by me giving our Kin an heir?” Min defended himself in hopes they gave him empathy.

Chaelynn remarked underneath her breath, “You are meant to serve us…” Min’s heart dropped at that comment feeling it was no use anymore. He became melancholy shifting himself off his stool and into the icy blue colored grass giving his attendants a shock. “The grass will stain your robes! Then what about all the work we’ll have to do to beat out those stains!” Chaelynn shouted at him as if she were the prince in this situation. Today Min wore a very basic kimono since he never felt like properly dressing when he was playing hooky.

Min ignored her and stared listlessly at the emerald sky. ‘I wish I could be free… I want love not an arranged marriage. Is that so much to ask? Why am I considered selfish for this desire? I don’t get it.’ He pondered with bottled emotions festering in his heart. He began to think about his differences compared to his brother,’ As an all-male species we have two different types to categorize us. I am born as a type L which is stupid. I have a functional womb and vaginal opening as if I were a human woman, but unlike their clitoris, mine is shaped like a penis which grows from the size of a walnut to regular phallic size. But no ball sack? Dumb. Unfair.’ He shifted onto his side, propping his chin up by his palm and elbow pressed into the grass.

‘My brother was lucky by being born as a type A. They are typically more aggressive which fits. He has an easier time transforming without any downsides. Unlike me where I can only be in my beast form for a short amount of time.’ An attendant poured him some jasmine and peach tea. He rolled onto his other side with a contemplative expression.

‘They can perform incredible feats of strength, fitting into leadership roles with ease, extreme speeds, keen senses, and outstanding regenerative abilities. They also possess dominate pheromones capable of hiding and masking their partner, typically they pair with an L male to reproduce, and these pheromones keep their mate, and offspring safe. Which is what my father is hoping for by giving me to a man. I just don’t like it!! It’s utterly unfair! Dumb! Stupid! Ridiculous! I want to fight! I want to just…gah!’ He ruffled his ears with annoyance. His attendants watched him with a bit of amusement.

The moment of contemplation was interrupted as the wind’s strength increased. Min sat upright to gauge why powerful gusts were stirring. His attendants quickly hid behind him fearfully because something was off about the turning sky. “Leave!” Min ordered standing to his feet and pushing them urgently. “Inform Father, a Demon is coming! I can sense its aura! It’s a powerful one, but I should be able to handle it! Hurry, escape!” Chaelynn led the charge away, returning a reassuring shout, “I’ll find your older brother!!”

“Pfft, my older brother huh, yeah right.”

Min inhaled then exhaled out all his annoyance. He bravely unsheathed the jade dagger from his hair. Embedding his spiritual powers into the curved blade, it lengthened into a sharp Dhan. Locking his gaze on the forming clouds, his grip tightened on his weapon. He stepped into a guarded stance to prepare for an oncoming attack. “Come at me Demon!! You are no match for my blade, I’ll cut you to pieces without even moving!” He barked his threat with an undertone of a growl baring his canines. His fox-esq ears folded backwards to indicate his ferocity. His amethyst eyes changing to brilliant yellow while his dilated pupils became thinner, sharper, and intense.

A few centipede serpents slithered from the red-gray and Smokey clouds covering above Min. They rushed at Min who slashed his blade releasing a golden light that cut the serpents into chunks. “Ha! Not a chance!” He mocked with adrenaline hyping his confidence. ‘This is so fun! I’m always on the sidelines while Snow fights MY battles. This is thrilling!’ His heart thumped wildly. As an L type male in the Lunar Beast clan, he is unable to fight in combat. L types are born to be bred and do others jobs. This cultural rule is both something he hated and understood based upon their differences compared to Type A Lunar men.

It wasn’t because he had a particularly big difference in fighting. Unlike type A men, type L beast men can use magic, while being unable to remain in their beastly form for long durations. Their magic requires high brain function, and quick thinking.

The ability to use elemental magic; Light, Shadow, Earth, Fire, Wind, Water, and Cosmic, is a counterbalance that their Moon God Mercury gave them. Type A beast men are required to enroll as a Lunar troop by the age of 15 and are assigned under the overseeing Prince of each fraction. Currently there are 8 clan fractions.

Clan Yoshida; The Main Royal household

Clan Ishida; The bedrock supporting the main household.

Clan Morimoto; At the base of the forest surrounding the mountain acting as watchful protectors of the main household.

Clan Hayashi; A group shielding the main household like strong oak trees.

Clan Hoshino; A wise group that provides guidance with a close connection to the stars and Moon God Mercury. They are responsible for prayers, ceremonies, and anything regarding Moon God Mercury.

Clan Akagi; A stronghold like a red castle far off. Lunar troops train here. Main military force resides with this family.

Clan Takeda; Impeccably flexible warriors that are both another main military base and where ore, gems, wood, and weapons are held and made.

Clan Asahina; This family enforce the main households’ laws. Their loyalty to the Empire go beyond mortal comprehension. Crossing this clan is deadly. They act to uphold tradition and will not hesitate to execute even royalty who break laws.

Clan Fujiwara; A delicate group that is responsible for providing materials like fabric, spices, and various seeds to feed the royal household which will then distribute it throughout the places they govern. They have obtained a trading permit from Shadespire after the treaty came into place with Demons.

A few more emerged and since they were invading his clan’s territory violating the treaty by immediately being violent, he didn’t feel any hesitation. He swung his blade again to release the golden light but before the light could eradicate them, a tumble of gust-like blades cut them down. Min blinked in disbelief searching for where it came from. ‘What the Hell…’ He thought.

Soon his eyes landed on the culprit. A Demon-noid with gigantic Cecropia Moth wings: Beautiful silk Moths. This man’s wings were Black with faded brown surrounded by bands of white, red, and tan. His skin dark as the hues of twilight full of silver stars embedded all over his body like gleaming splashes of flicked paint. Extremely long crimson hair cascaded down his athletically muscular body. His muscles were sculpted enough to be seen on his arms, thighs, and chest while his abdomen looked softer.

Fuzzy Raven colored antennas with tips of Lavender Nightshade pushed his hair behind his sharp pointed ears. The inner workings of his ears to the outer ridge were encrusted in gold that formed dangling moons at his earlobes.

Dazzling Opal eyes sat underneath lush crimson lashes, boring into Min’s soul. This man’s features were stunningly crisp. Brooding brows, plush heart shaped lips, and a defined masculine nose.

‘Oh…wow.’ Min limply held the hilt of his sword as he took in the extraordinary view fluttering down to him. His own feet seemed frozen in place. The yellow faded to his natural eye color as he soaked in this mysterious Demon’s appearance. His fluffy ears flipped forward in a relaxed position.

While gob smacked, the handsome Demon approaching Min grinned. His smile grew from ear to ear with crescent dimples in his cheeks adding to the charm. “Taiga.” He casually introduced himself without so much as a hint of fear. This wasn’t a normal encounter. Demons tended to avoid Lunar Beast’ due to their reputation of killing them off for the sake of duty to protect the human’s. Recently in the last 100 years a treaty had been put in place. However, the terror ran deep. So, for Taiga to be nonchalant gave Min an idea of how fearless he is.

“I must say, you are breathtaking.” His vocal cords were honeyed by low notes that sounded as if velvet took form and seduced him. Min took a shaky breath feeling suddenly swept in unfamiliar emotions. ‘He talks smoothly for a Demon.’ He thought having made note of Taiga’s approach.

“What is your purpose for interrupting my battle, and killing your own Kind no less?” Min moved to interrogate this man finally having found his strength to move again.

His feet touched the grass gracefully and he folded his wings inside his body. “I’m not interested in fighting women. I’m only here after seeing you from above. You were fighting lower scum not worth your time.” Taiga’s warm and coaxing tenor voice tickled Min’s gut with butterflies. Taiga had no idea that he misidentified Min as a flat-chested Woman because he wouldn’t ever think that a man could be so gorgeous.

Min cocked his head to the side with amusement hearing this demon refer to him as a woman. “Well, I’m a man, though I’ll savor that compliment.” He mused softly to Taiga catching the Demon off guard. ‘He wanted to kill his own Kind because they are scum. Does this make sense? Can he be so easily persuaded by beauty?’ Min puzzled over the mysterious Taiga’s true intentions for approaching him. It didn’t make logical sense to him.

“Ah, my bad, I simply assumed based Upon your ravishing appearance. All the men I’ve met previously looked unkempt.” Taiga ran his fingers through his hair feeling awkward that he’d jumped to conclusions. ‘Shit, bad first impression.’ He dreaded meetings that didn’t go according to his plans.

Min chuckled and disarmed himself by sheathing his dagger back into his hair. “How weirdly humble for a demon.” He decided this man wasn’t dangerous. If things did go south, he felt prepared to take care of himself, and he knew his brother would be here soon anyway. He wanted to enjoy this time while it lasted. When would he get another chance to talk to a Demon? Never.

Taiga took in a shaken breath because the multiple hearts in his chest kept pumping with desire for Min. “Well, I’m not deterred from admitting when I’m wrong.” He stated as matter of fact then took a few steps closer to Min. Placing a hand atop his exposed abdomen, he bowed his head to show respect since he gathered by how Min is dressed that he held status.

“They call me Taiga Ayaki, and may I know yours?” He finished and stood still to not alarm Min after a more formal introduction.

Taiga surprised Min by bowing. This captured Min’s undivided attention. ‘A demon with etiquette? How odd. This is such a drastic difference than what I’d been taught growing up in the palace. I wonder how Snow would handle this interaction. Would he immediately kill him? Would he sit to listen?’ What his older brother might do played through his mind with questions rather than answers.

“Lunar Mother Prince Min Yoshida.” He introduced himself formally. “I still cannot comprehend why you’d kill your own for the sake of pleasing me.” Min touched the tip of his left fluffy ear for a second. “Why? Explain it to me because I do not trust you.”

‘Ah, he belongs to the Lunar Beasts clan as the next Mother of their Kin. No wonder he blinded me with his beauty.’ Taiga reached to Min’s cheek and tenderly caressed it as he longingly peered down into Min’s mesmerizing eyes.

“A shame that you’ve been spoken for, I’m no stranger to your Kin’s traditions.” His voice became heavy as he remembered, ‘These types of males are impressive at being bred, not able to maintain their beast forms long, and have a harder recovery time. The pregnancy stage lasts for 9 weeks due to how their bodies excel at creating offspring, which helped create more soldiers during wartime. They are blessed with exceptional fertility, a guarantee they will become pregnant. I should be wary. He is surely spoken for.’

“I so wished you could’ve been a stray beauty that I could mate with, how truly unfortunate.” Taiga was a brazen man and Min was learning this at lightning speed.

Min kept still as Taiga touched his cheek out of pure curiosity and found this demon’s words odd. He wasn’t sure why it bothered him that Taiga assumed he was taken. He knew Taiga explained himself by mentioning his traditions, but this truly enraged him He couldn’t even focus on Taiga ignoring his question. ‘Taken!? Why? I hate this fucking assumption… he might’ve been correct if he had met my ancestors… not me.’

His brows furrowed and he scowled. “No!” He shouted. “I do not belong to them! And I refuse to mate with anyone that my father chooses.” He strongly declared. “You are right that I should be taken right now, but I’ve refused all candidates that my father has been shoving down my fucking throat.” His manners were sullied by curses that amplified his anger.

Taiga blinked at Min’s explosive reaction befitting a firecracker. ‘My, my, my, isn’t his temper strangely attractive to me. Mother always did say I was an odd one.’ He scoffed to himself as he was reminded of his mother’s loving taunts.

“Oh yeah?” He hummed deeply to soothe Min. “My apologies for such a disgusting and displeasing assumption my Darling Beast~” Though playfully said Min could tell Taiga was genuine.

“My father would have a heart attack if he saw me entertain a Demon such as you Taiga~” He sauntered closer while speaking his name in a tempting and poised manner to entice Taiga. “Should you keep calling me Darling, you’ll be rewarded sweetly~” Min dared him to carry on with his attempts.

‘He is more my cup of tea. That much is certain. I’ve many stuffy War generals to compare him to. I bet Father would banish me to that Dungeon again if he discovered my misdoings.’ Min sluffed off unpleasant memories.

“You are… oh so tempting saying my name like that.” Taiga composed himself to reframe from acting uncouth in the presence of Royalty. Regardless of their differences, he was taught to respect all life. Ah, well, most life. The centipede bastards didn’t count.

He choked down his circulating hormones, a harder task than he would’ve imagined. “Ahem.” He cleared his throat, and this broke Min into a fit of laughter.

‘Wow, he is so cute !!’ Min thought while his bubbly laughter brought tears to his eyes. He held his stomach since his laughing started to get a little painful.

Taiga looked confused. ‘He is cackling like a witch. Did I break him?’ He arched a brow. “Are you … possessed?” He seriously asked causing Min to hold a hand up to stop Taiga from saying anything more because he was dying of laughter.

“Holy cow, you are funny! A funny Demon!” Min exclaimed while wiping tears from the corners of his eyes.

“I quite like you, Taiga~” He mused seductively and pressed himself into Taiga. “You are my type, dumb in the best way.” His fingers ran themselves on Taiga’s muscled and inked torso, feeling everything, underneath the tight black cropped top that Taiga wore. His hands squeezed Taiga’s pecks feeling arousal begin melting between his legs. ‘He would wreck me…I know it.’

Taiga inhaled firmly as if to tell himself to relax. Those audacious touches had him on edge with impulse.

After coping a feel, he interlocked his hands behind Taiga’s neck. He peered up at Taiga with gleaming lust.

‘He is a sly fellow. I like it.’ Taiga threw away his hesitations, stomped them, chucked them, completely removed them from himself and wrapped his arms around Min’s slender waist.

He yanked Min Impossibly closer. “I suspect you desire me as much as I you, are I right?” Taiga needed to confirm this before he whisked Min away for impure activities.

Demons were quite simple creatures when it came to mating, though in that simplicity was loyalty that Humans could never hope to achieve. In fact, no one truly understood Demons. They were labelled as evil for the sake of protecting Humans. What is the truth of the war? Why is it lopsided? These were things that motivated Taiga outside of his horniness and search for his other half.

“I think I deserve to misbehave, and besides it’s my body to give to whomever I want.” Min was resolute in his decision to bed this man. This Demon. A sin in his culture to mix blood being the Lunar Mother. “This might be devoid of love, but I like you enough to give myself to you.”

Taiga felt a little agitated at Min for mentioning that love did not exist between them. Normally this did not bother him because it is true. He is no saint. He has bedded many people, though Min’s Kind would be a first for him. It still rubbed him the wrong way.

‘This is just sex. There isn’t any love between us…but I cannot help how disappointed I feel. I’m thinking too deeply about this.’ Taiga suppressed his abundant thoughts. He couldn’t distract himself. He had a want for Min.

“I’ll be sure to cherish you~” He whispered into Min’s ear giving Min shivers. “Please do, I’m yours now~” Min responded with a breath of anticipation in his words.

“Mine?” Taiga asked quizzically. “Yes, once you deflower me, I’ll belong to you. That is the unspoken bond formed during copulation as a Lunar Mother. It means I’ll be bound to you for all of eternity.”

Taiga held Min tighter in his arms and nestled his face in Min’s nape. ‘Wait…he wants to be mine? This sounds important…is he sure? Can he earnestly make this choice?’ Taiga’s mind grew plagued with uncertainty.

“Taiga, please, make me yours. Free me from all this madness.” His tone drenched in desperation that formed sympathy in Taiga’s many hearts.

“I know our union is forbidden but I do not care. You’ve shown me far more kindness than I’ve ever experienced in my life. Do I need another reason to give myself to you?” Min started to panic.

Taiga could be his way to escape. By chance he met this Demon who treated him extremely well. It was naïve to trust Taiga, and that is why he didn’t. But he couldn’t think of another way to make Taiga take him from his Hell. Besides, it wasn’t something he wanted to think on. He thought Taiga would jump at the idea of claiming a Prince, and yet the opposite was true. Though later he knew he’d feel grateful, right now he felt frustration.

‘Let me give myself to you…please.’ He pleaded in his mind and clutched onto Taiga tighter.

‘This is hard. I think this choice should be made without impulse. He deserves that. I shouldn’t do this.’

Carefully Taiga pulled himself from Min. His large demonic hands cupped Min’s cheeks.

He watched as those amethyst orbs flooded with crystal shaped tears that dropped like small waterfalls off his face. Taiga could tell based off that that Min knew.

“You should be loved when you give away something that precious. It’s a bond for eternity, and it’s not that I’m filled with evil intentions, but you shouldn’t do this.”

Min cried and sniffled his response. He knew that Taiga was right, but it stung. He did not want to go home. He couldn’t bear another second in that hate-filled and controlling Palace.

‘How is it that a Demon shows me such compassion when my own family won’t?’ His heart ached.

“Taiga…” He sobbed and Taiga encapsulated him in a comforting hug. “I’m sorry…” Was all he could utter to the trembling Min. He hoped his embrace would ease the pain by a bit. He is clueless to the torture that awaits Min.

‘I couldn’t possibly go through with this without us having a connection beyond surface attraction. If I were to make him mine…I want to do it right. I’ll woo him instead. Damn, I wish I had better direction in my life. What the Hell am I even thinking?’ Taiga was absolutely lost.

A few minutes of silent crying passed in Taiga’s arms. His emotions returned to normal as the high of escape disappeared along with his lust. Freed from Taiga’s grasp, he wiped his teary face.

“Min,” Taiga called out getting his attention. “Yes?” His voice hoarse due to the cries he let out. “Want to go on a stroll? I’d be interested in learning about you in the hopes to cultivate a meaningful bond between us.” Taiga held out his hand for Min.

A bit of laughter came as Min laced his fingers with Taiga’s. “I thought you were going to leave me; it seems I was wrong. I’d really love that.” He allowed him to lead them through the field and into the Crimson Forest. “This’ll be a first for me, running away with a Demon. Any one of my Kin would think you were kidnapping me, yet I feel at peace with you.” He confessed through another bit of laughter. He almost felt senile for feeling such happiness around Taiga, who truthfully was treating him normally. His upbringing had been so distorted that this basic level of humanity from a Demon had him smitten.

“I know a pond nearby that my mother took me to. The little frogs and critters that surround the pond make it a safe place which you wouldn’t think it since the Crimson Forest is known for bloodshed.” He informed Min who immediately questioned that, “How so? How does frogs and critters in such a place by a pond make it safe?” Taiga turned to Min as they walked closer and closer to the woods. He grinned. His dimples making another appearance.

“You’ll see soon enough.” He hummed with mischief. Min thought Taiga to be very strange for a Demon.