Yusilin’s eyes widened, but she didn’t argue, merely squeezed my shoulder and backed away. When she’d closed the door, I got to my feet as Pischiel stalked toward me.
“Danica Amana,” he breathed, his eyes hard. “It’s nice to finally meet you.”
I gave him a slow smile, even as my pulse thudded like a drum, my hand tightening around the back of the chair.
“I’d say the same to you, but I’d be lying.”
“How are your escape plans going?” I stiffened, and he scoffed. “You seriously think I haven’t noticed? You’re about as subtle as a sword to the gut.”
“So what, you decided to watch me and see what happened?”
“I thought I’d take my entertainment where I could find it.” His smile was cruel. “But you erred, princess. You tipped off the wrong demon, and you’re merely lucky he came to me and not Lucifer himself about your little mission.”
Shit. Who had I miscalculated with? I swallowed and surveyed every inch of Pischiel’s face, hoping for some hint about what I had to work with. There were no hints. One didn’t end up in Lucifer’s upper echelon unless they had a damn good poker face.
“And I suppose you’re here to bargain for your silence.”
“Maybe.”
I gave him a slow smile. He’d get his throat slit if he fucked with me, that’s what he’d get.
Pischiel took a step closer to me, his expression dangerous. “What, exactly, are you hoping for here? You think you’ll turn your grandfather’s own people against him?”
I shrugged. “It’s none of your business what I’m hoping for. You lied to me,” I hissed. “You told me you’d tell Lucifer I was sleepwalking that night.” And then I’d ended up with my memories wiped.Again.
He let out an incredulous sound halfway between a groan and a laugh. “I did. I told Lucifer exactly that. And everything might have been fine if you hadn’t mentioned the man with thesilvereyes.”
“Forgive the fuck out of me for being a little confused after my brain was turned to mush.”
Pischiel took another step closer. His arms lashed out, his hands clamping onto my upper arms as he shook me. “Your only chance of making it through this is to convince your grandfather that he succeeded in turning you. Convince him you loveme. He’ll be happy to keep you under his thumb, to rub it in Samael’s face that you’re going to rule with his second.”
I gaped at him. “You seriously think I’d do that?”
“I think you have few choices,princess. Do you think I enjoy this? I’m trying to keep you alive.”
I glowered at him, but kept my mouth shut. He studied my face and then smiled. “You believe Samael will make it down here and rescue you.”
I jerked, but he didn’t let me go. “Did he not tell you he’s completely powerless down here? You’d sentence your mate to certain death instead of keeping him safe?”
“Keeping him safe by one day ruling as Lucifer’s puppet withyou?” I was pretty sure Samael would rather die.
Pischiel’s expression hardened, and his hands tightened on my shoulders. I was done with this.
“Let me go.”
He shook his head. “I’m trying to save your life.”
I punched him in the throat. He wasn’t expecting it and he gaped at me, struggling to catch his breath. I followed up with a knee to the groin and he folded, his hands releasing me as he wheezed.
“Touch me again without permission, and I’ll kill you.”
“Ah, princess. You’ve just proven why Samael will stop at nothing to get to you.”
“Then you’re really going to love it when I gut you like a fish.”
His eyes sparked. Then they lit with humor. “I’d almost like to see what would happen if you went up against Lucifer.”
“What will it cost for your silence?”
