Yilan!
I gasped and leaped to my feet, desperately scanning the room.
I blinked.
The announcement.
Gall. Lucifer. Yilan.
The hound.
The cave.
I blinked again, as Gall stepped through a door to my right and started towards me. That’s why this room felt familiar. I was in the royal chamber at the palace, back in the city
Gall strode to stand at my toes, his face a hard, indifferent mask.
I didn’t flinch, but also didn’t speak as he stopped in front of me, his eyes full of flinty accusation.
Then he nodded without breaking eye-contact, and before I had time to think about how strange that was, something powerful kicked the back of my legs. My knees buckled, and I dropped to the stone floor. A hand planted on my shoulder, someonestrongstanding behind me.
“Go ahead. I won’t let him up.”
Ah. Jann. I should have known.
“Let him go,” Gall said. “If he stands, I’ll kill him.”
The grip on my shoulder lifted, and I was left staring up at my son from my knees on the floor. My pulse pounded in my ears, my heart hammering. A quick scan of the room revealed no sign of Yilan, and Ihoped.I prayed.
Then Gall leaned forward, grabbed my chin and levered my head up so I stared at him—until he let me go and hurriedly stepped aside when Lucifer shifted to stand in his place.
He’d left me kneeling before Lucifer.
With a growl, I pushed to my feet—but Gall’s roar was met with Jann’s bulk, tackling me from behind. I struggled, but let myself be wrestled to my belly on the cold floor, and pinned.
Then, for the second time on this Godforsaken night, I found myself on the ground, with Lucifer squatting in front of me like a friend ready to clasp hands and pull me to my feet.
Except, he didn’t smile or offer a hand.
His expression was blank. And his eyes pure flame.
Please, let Yilan have gotten away. Please, just let her be safe—and the others warned, and—
“You are stronger than even I had hoped,” he purred as if we were already in the midst of a conversation. “I can see whyyour female chose you—and why the others follow you. There’s a reason we call you abull.”
Unease skittered up my spine, as Luciferstrokedmy jaw and tilted his head, his gaze measuring me.
I stared him down as best I could, with my head craned back and my jaw in his hand.
Lucifer’s tone was nothing short of seductive. “I could give youeverythingyou’ve ever wanted—no nagging crown, but authority over those who determine the path. The freedom to walk away with your mate.Safetyassured.All of it.”
“The only thing safe with you, is the assurance of pain and destruction,” I said thickly through clenched teeth.
“You may want to reconsider that position,” Lucifer said quietly, stroking my cheek with his thumb. “My offer is genuine. If you don’t take it, I’ll be forced to enactother plans.”
I didn’t respond, just stared at him until he leaned down to whisper in my ear.
“I’ll take your mate—because it’s my right. I’ll violate and abuse her until she loses the child you spawned. Then I will breed her myself.”
