For the first time, that didn't seem like such a bad thing.
I’d take the crown made of Mark’s bones over this shit. Over running scared. Over being hunted by awful, deplorable demon lords who wanted to do who knew what with me.
Something shifted outside the door. I held my breath, even though my chest hurt.
Had they found me so quickly? Had Belial finally caught up?
The doorknob clicked, and the door swung inward with a groan.
“You can’t hide from us so easily, human,” a soft, delicate voice danced through the air, making my blood seize. “You reek of mortality. Your blood calls to us demons like a beacon in the night.”
Fuck.I was stuck with no way out.
I clutched the dagger for dear life, my fingers aching. If I couldn’t run or hide, I’d have to fight. What else could I do?
Fear left me frozen, perfectly still as the footsteps grew louder.
Maybe they’d change their mind. Maybe they’d go away.
Maybe Belial…Maybe he’ll come for me in time.
“Come out, come out, little human.” A demonic hand tipped with vicious claws reached beneath the desk, locking around my wrist, and dragged me out of my hiding space kickingand screaming. I fought before I even made out the white-blonde hair and little black dress, swinging Catherine’s dagger at Belphegor’s exposed skin. I managed a cut across his chest, which instantly bloomed crimson, but he hardly seemed fazed.
“You’re a feisty little bitch,” he snarled, grabbing my other wrist with impossible strength. He squeezed until the dagger clattered to the floor. He might have looked dainty in his female form, but his strength was obvious as he snatched my arms behind my back and bent me over the dusty desk. “I’m gonna have fun breaking you.”
He pressed close behind me, and everything in me froze as I prayed to whatever god was listening that he didn’t shift and…
“Fuck off, Belphegor,” Asmodeus said, stepping into the room. “I called first dibs. Wait your turn.”
He stepped up, coming to stand on the other side of the desk, a smug smile on his middle face as he dragged a claw down my jawline and over my collarbone. I cringed, fighting the urge to gag. I didn’t want his filthy hands anywhere near me.
“Fuck you, you ugly bastard.”
“I can see now why Belial likes you so much,” Belphegor snickered in my ear. “I wonder what else that filthy mouth can do.”
The thought of my mouth near any of these demented fucks turned my stomach, and bile burned the back of my throat.
“I’d rather die,” I huffed, fighting in vain against Belphegor’s hold.
“That can be arranged.” Mammon appeared in the doorway, a dark smile on his face.
“I can arrange to cut your dick off. How about that?” I spat.
In a blink, Asmodeus grabbed the front of my collar, wrenching me up onto my tiptoes. A nauseating grin broke across all three of his faces as he laughed. “I’m going to enjoy every second of you, little slut.”
“Belial will slaughter you all.” My nose flared at the threat. I could already see the Lord of Bones kicking in the door and ripping them apart with his bare hands.
“If my brother wants you back in one piece, he’ll do his fucking job. And if not…” His fingers wrapped around my throat, squeezing until I whimpered against the pain. “...he won’t get you back at all.”
I opened my mouth to fire off another retort, but something heavy bashed into the back of my skull, and everything went black.
Chapter Eleven
Belial
I deserved a damnmedal for resisting the urge to chase after Rayven and bend her over again, maybe this time in front of my suits of armor in the west wing. I was possessive over my little human, but fucking her in front of the souls languishing around my castle was oddly satisfying. Turned out, I liked showing off my most precious possession.
Maybe one day, I’d take her in front of the mirror I used to communicate with my brothers and let Leviathan watch. It wouldn’t help convince my brothers this wasn’t the same kind of infatuation I had with Catherine, that what I had with Rayven was different. Still, it might just be worth it to see the Lord of Envy’s scales turn an even deeper shade of green.
