Cullen looked at him in horror. "You want a lone Diviner alone with a few hundred demons? Is this how my torture is going to start? They'll eat me alive."
Leviathan rolled his eyes. "You're mine. Nobody will harm you. They wouldn't dare anger me in such a way." He gave Cullen a smug look. "But if you get a little scared you can always call out for me and I will bring you with me up to my throne and hold you on my lap like a good little slave."
His cheeks began to burn again. "Never gonna happen."
Leviathan smirked. "We'll see."
To his surprise, Leviathan had supplied him with new clothes for the occasion. They’d been so nice that he'd dressedwithout complaint, and then moved to the window, where the crimson sun was setting, sending dark blotches of burgundy across the palace. He'd tried to open the window for fresh air, but had found it sealed shut. He'd rolled his eyes at that, but he knew it wasn’t a terrible idea. The dark urge was still there, still looming over him, but…he wouldn’t try it again. He knew that somehow.
He wondered if the windows had been sealed since that first day Leviathan had caught him sneaking off to the balcony.
Had he seen something in his eyes that made him realize what he was doing? Or was it as Cullen suspected, and the bastard had some kind of access to his mind? Since Leviathan had shown up so quickly, mere seconds after Cullen had made the decision, he would have guessed it was the latter.
The thought didn't sit well.
He cast another longing gaze out the window–and froze when he saw the dark figures coalescing on the barren landscape just on the other side of an old stone bridge.
The fear that gripped him at the sight of the demons appearing from thick patches of shadows in front of the palace was like nothing he had ever experienced.
Evil seeped from them in a nearly visible wave, washing over the ground and flowing across the bridge as they crossed it. He could hear faint laughter, even from here, with the window closed, and the sound was so…human. He might have been drawn to it, had he not seen the faces of the creatures.
They were all varying manners of grotesque; tall, spindly demons with big black eyes, short round ones that had no eyes at all, only huge gashes in their faces where their mouths should be. Low level demons. Some he could havetaken down with only a dagger or two… His hands twitched at his side, brushing against smooth fabric instead of the hilt of a blade. Stupid. He should have brought some back with him from the training room…
But it wouldn't have mattered anyway. Because the next demons that walked across the bridge… They were humanoid and dressed like regular people, in clothes far nicer than his own. High level demons. He wouldn’t have stood a chance on his own against them.
He frowned and moved away from the window, his stomach twisting. He was about to be in a room with all those creatures…
A thump on his bedroom door drew him out of the dark thoughts. He took in a slow breath before going to open it, trying not to notice the tremble in his hands as he pulled it open and faced Leviathan.
His eyes caught his attention instantly, his lips parting in surprise at the sight of them. No longer the pitch black of a snake's eyes, but…human. The pupil was still a small onyx circle, but a smooth, natural white surrounded it.
“H…how…”
Leviathan smiled, and Cullen nearly took a step back when he realized how handsome he looked like this, with those natural eyes and these clothes that were so human, so… Fuck, they matched. The bastard. Of course he would have planned something like that. Though Leviathan’s clothes were a few shades darker, the sleeves of his shirt rolled up in a way that Cullen might have admitted was attractive if he had been anyone else…
“I thought you might like this more.” Leviathan murmured. “It was something I overlooked before, but I’m sure my eyes…upset you.” He met Cullen’s gaze evenly. “I can teach you how to do it if you wish.”
He hesitated, giving his own wrist a slow squeeze for encouragement before he nodded. “I…I would…like that.” He hadn’t realized something like that would be possible. But if he could look human again, even in such a miniscule way…
“Then I will teach you.” He smiled. “After you play nice at the party.”
“What?!” He demanded. “But you just said–”
“I didn’t imply that I would do it immediately, Cullen. A kind gesture for a kind gesture seems fair enough to me.”
He glared at him, his jaw clenched. But after a long moment he sighed and let his gaze fall to the side. “What do I have to do?”
“Play nice, as I said.” He reached forward to touch his cheek, but Cullen slapped his hand away. “Don’t embarrass me. Don’t hurt any of my guests.” He stepped closer and Cullen tensed, his face growing warm under his gaze. “And if I ask you to dance,” he murmured, sliding a slow hand down his arm. Cullen bit back a gasp at the goosebumps that followed the movement. “You do not turn me down.”
“Not worth it.” He scoffed, stepping away from him. He fought the urge to rub the spot on his arm that had prickled. “I’ll just stay…like this.”
Leviathan chuckled. “You’re not a very good actor, you know.”
He said nothing, only glared at the floor as his face grew hot.
“Come on, pet.” He purred, sliding forward another step. “It’s just a night of simple fun. I promise none of your human friends will ever find out.”
“Stop making it sound like that!” He snapped, his face growing hotter.
