“Your slave queen,” I said in a threadbare whisper, repeating the Lord of Bones' own words.
His grip on my arm turned sharp as his claws bit into my forearm. He jerked me close and lurched over me so his set of deadly teeth were precious millimeters from my nose. “You’re only a slave if you try to leave me.”
The silence punctuating his words suddenly had me uncomfortably aware of the guests. They were watching me through the holes of their eloquent yet somehow equally hellish masquerade masks.
The Lord dropped his cruel grip on me and offered me a hand. The music started again, and everyone gaped, waiting expectantly for me to take his hand in this next dance.
Like the obedient little pet I was.
Everyone expected me to obey. Why wouldn’t I? Belial was the God of this realm, and I was nothing but a toy for him to amuse himself with.
None of these people knew how much I loved breaking the rules, that the reason I was here in the first place was because I refused to acknowledge the laws of man. Why would the laws of a god be any different?
I made my own rules, my own decisions. I wasn’t about to stand here and be ordered around in front of his court. Especially not by this fucking backstabbing asshole.
So, I turned and ran, pushing my way through the crowd of onlookers.
There was a great crackling sound, and the room flashed blue as Belial cast his magic. The guests parted with a gasp, and something whipped through the air behind me.
I flung a backward glance over my shoulder in time to see a chain made of blue light snapping through the air toward me. It wrapped around my ankle as the Lord of Bones wound his end of the chain around his hand.
He jerked on it, viciously yanking me off my feet. With a squeak, I crashed to the ground hard enough to knock the air out of me. Hooves, skeleton feet, and rotting flesh all dressed in fancy shoes went in and out of focus as my vision blurred.
The chain slithered up my body, over my dress, and between my breasts before the end found my collar and latched on.
A blink later, massive black boots came into focus. I lifted my eyes to see the horned devil to whom I willingly sold my soul marching past me, toward his throne. He took a seat, andfrom across the room—the crowd had parted and spread to the perimeter—he beckoned me with the crook of a meaty finger.
“Come here, little human. My brothers will arrive any minute, and I’d like something pretty on my lap while I greet them.”
Chapter Five
Belial
For just a momentafter Rayven kissed me, I thought she might forgive me. Her lips against mine… The touch felt so final. I knew, in her mind, she was saying goodbye.
I hadn’t exactly planned on revealing myself like this, but I couldn’t wait a second longer. She had to know this wasn’t goodbye.
We’d be together forever.
When I revealed myself, I’d expected her to be angry at first. I’d anticipated the tantrum.
What I didn’t expect was just how scathing her reaction would be.
Whatever flickering flame of hope I had that she’d sweep her hatred for the Lord of Bones under the rug was devoured by something darker, something possessive.
How dare she try to flee from me again?
I’d prove to her and everyone else just howmineshe was.
I jerked on the chain connecting her to me, and she stumbled forward, quickly catching her balance. The hot fury in her gaze burned into my fleshless skull from across the hall, but I didn’t care. She would be my queen, and she’d wear my crown. It was up to her whether I’d have to force it on her.
Wrapping the chain around my forearm, I dragged her closer to where I sat on my throne. She fought me with every inch I pulled her closer, tugging on the magical links.
It was hopeless, even without the chain. If only she knew the power she’d given me by selling her soul…
“F—fuck—off!” she seethed, and the crowd whispered their shock at the way she spoke to their Lord.
I chuckled beneath my breath. They had no idea how much I loved this wild little human, how hard I got when I watched her fight me.
