Marzan hunched his shoulders and looked to Malachi, who shook his head. This seemed to give the little creep confidence because he stood straighter.
"Did you taste her like I commanded?" asked Malachi, intently watching my face with his purple, evil eyes.
"She passed out before I could get to that point." Marzan's whiny voice grated on my ears.
Oh, how he will pay.
Malachi rose and sauntered forward, dropping to a knee and laying a hand on Anna's forehead. He closed his eyes and channeled ether into her mind.
Her eyes popped open, and she tried to rise. "Oh God," she moaned.
"Not God, human." He bunched the flannel of her night shirt, then ripped the material open, exposing her breasts and simple white bra for everyone to see.
"Do not touch her," I growled, "or I will cut your head from your body and feed it to the hounds."
Malachi let out a low laugh. Instead of responding, he gripped the waistband of Anna's pajama bottoms.
Realization must've dawned in her, because she sat up and raked her nails over his face. "No!"
"Oh yes." He caught both of her hands in his palm and jerked them over her head, the shoulder joints making an audible pop. Her face twisted with pain.
Anna's scream, shrill and sharp, stabbed my heart.
Samael took one step forward. His mouth thinned and he clenched a fist, but he moved no further. His eyes pleaded with me.'Trust me, Lucian,'he whispered in my mind, then said no more. He gave a slight nod toward Malachi, as if telling me he could say no more.
"Marzan," Malachi commanded. "Pull down her pants and eat that sweet pussy Lucian loves so much." Malachi turned to the crowd with Anna dangling from his grip like a limp rag. "This disgusting human woman is the reason ourLordleaves his kingdom. He fathered a human son, and now he plans to instill a human lover over us…overyou."
Agitated murmurs began circulating at the back of the crowd.
I should've cared more about what Malachi's treachery meant for me and my kingdom, but all I could focus on was Marzan's hands pawing and tearing at Anna's body, how close his teeth came to her flesh.
He will eat her alive, and I cannot do anything to save her.
"When Marzan is finished," Malachi said to the crowd, "the rest of you shall have a turn, too. I want you to show her over and over how pathetic and inconsequential human life is compared to a Fallen." His gaze met mine. "And while this is happening, we will hang our former leader from the ceiling of his own fortress and lower him into the fire slowly. He will watch his weak, very mortal human being violated again and again as he suffers in endless torment.Hisjudgmentwill never end."
"Fuck you, Malachi," I screamed. "I swear you will pay for this. And any who have aided you."
He opened his mouth in a wide, fake yawn, then snapped his fingers.
Lilith rushed to his side. "My Lord?"
"If Lucian says another word, I want you to cut off her hands."
A chill shot down my spine.
"Marzan?" He turned to the ugly little imp. "Fuck her until she passes out. I'll bring her back around."
"Yes, yes." Marzan's black tongue ran across his lips.
Anna, with her clothing tattered and missing in some spots, crouched. "I don't fear you, demon. I'll kill you."
Her words were brave. Her heart was brave. But her body would not withstand the things one of my kind could inflict.
I had to assume if Malachi had cut off my power, then it meant he'd also annulled the protection I'd given to Anna.
The silver pin in her hair seemed to shine in mocking amusement.
Marzan pounced on Anna, his razor teeth nipping at her upper arm.
