“With all due respect, Majesty … Idohave to watch.” The words came out sharper than intended.
Around them, the debauchery escalated. Rivulets of red ran everywhere, and she felt like she had front row seats in a twisted pleasure hall. A woman thrust her hand down a demon’s pants and … Elizabeth had to avert her eyes, blushing. Another demon kissed naked breasts, drawing blood that coated his face as he raised it skyward, revealing fangs.
I had no idea how much Caspian restrained himself with me,Elizabeth realized, her chest tight.
“Do you not want to join … the entertainment?” Lucifer asked. His voice was deep, sounding like sin and silk sheets.
“I am fine where I am, thank you,” she said stiffly.
“Does it bother you? Seeing your humans used for blood and body?”
Court training kept her smile bland. “It is not my place to question, Your Majesty. We said we would host the demons, and we have.”
“Lucifer. Not Your Majesty. I don’t bother with fancy titles.”
She smiled in acknowledgement, hoping he’d move on.
“And why must you watch? You would not be missed if you retired to your chambers.”
Elizabeth cleared her throat. “Because firstly, hosting you might ensure we have the best chances of convincing you to save Caspian.”
“And secondly?”
“I don’t think I should say in present company.” Truthfully, she was transfixed because Caspian had done all this. All this and worse. For centuries. And she knew he was perverse in his desires, had seen as much with her own two eyes, but had no idea how much he restrained himself in her presence.
“Please, now I must insist.”
Across the room, demons were openly having sex with their partners. One of the demons had bent a woman over, and another was spreading a woman out on the couch like a banquet. It was a bloody, demon filled orgy. The girls moaned in euphoria as demons bit them, riding the waves of pleasure that rode their blood.
Her cheeks burned.
Another demon joined the group on the couch, bringing his waist near a girl’s face. The girl rubbed the front of his pants excitedly until the demon let out a low purr.
Elizabeth’s eyes widened.
Lucifer was surveying her with raised brows.
“You are human, yet you stand aside while my friends bleed and fuck your friends?”
“You seem very interested in my reasons and not at all interested in the women here tonight,” she said, meeting his amused gaze. “Go join the entertainment, if you wish.”
Join them and leave me alone.
“I like puzzles, and you standing here unbothered is … puzzling. You should be begging to join them with all the suggestions we are throwing into the air.” His voice was pure temptation. “Yet here you stand, unaffected.”
“Asmodeus invited you,” she reminded him.
“Asmodeus would not stand before me requesting help, not in his current condition. It was you. You are the only factor that has changed. Asmodeus is a good demon, but he is spineless.”
Asmodeus unglued himself from the lips of the woman in his lap. “Hey!”
Ignoring him, Lucifer fixed his piercing gaze on her. “A woman who made Betsael run into enemy lines for vengeance on her behalf. Who makes Asmodeus do whatever she likes, even if it’s against his nature. How does a mortal woman have two demon princes wrapped around her finger? Perhaps you are a little witch, some monster wearing human skin.”
“I’m not sure I understand your meaning, Lucifer.”
“You know exactly what I mean.” He gestured at the hall. “Why are you okay with the entertainment? Aren’t humans preachy do-gooders? I’ve seen humans run screaming, seeing much less.”
“The part of me that was virtuous and law-abiding died long ago,” she said, her voice turning cold. “There is nothing I would not do to get Caspian back and have him avenge my family. Everything else is of little importance now.”
