“Revenge is something that I can understand.” His voice softened. “The depthless rage that poisons your heart. Vengeance can cripple a person, or it can be the whetstone that sharpens the blade. It is something I know well.”
His expression hardened, amusement sliding away like a discarded mask.
“Tell me, why should I join your cause? They will follow me.” He jerked his head at the scene unfolding in the hall.
“Because he has helped you and fought for you. Because he is your friend and would have done the same for you. Is that not reason enough?”
“No.”
“We have thrown a party for demons, given you mortal blood and women on the surface. Surely you owe us a favour.”
“Perhaps that will be enough to convince one of the others, but not me.”
“If you were a man of honour—”
“But I am not a man. And I don’t care for honour or valour. Is that all you have?”
She reached out with her consciousness, hoping to sense his thoughts and what might tempt Lucifer to join them, but she was met with thick walls of darkness. The walls of the demon king’s mind were impenetrable—shiny and black like onyx.
Searched for a chink in his armour, she found none. Crestfallen, she retreated, easing back to her own mind.
Suddenly, something trapped her mind in place. Frantically, she tried to yank free, but she couldn’t move.
Clever mortal.
Tendrils of darkness cocooned her consciousness.
Sneaky woman. A mind reader, are you?
Terror flooded through her as she struggled against his hold.
Shall I make you see things that aren’t there? Torture you into oblivion? Make you dance a jig until your body collapses from exhaustion?
Could you,she asked, her heart in her throat,could you really do all that?
All that and more. I am a demon king, after all.
Talons of obsidian stroked her mind, and she shuddered, frozen in place.
Hold still. This will not take long.
Memories flew past—her childhood, her time with her parents, her friendship with Charlotte, her failed engagement. Then, glimpses of her time at the castle. She fought desperately to hide her intimate moments with Caspian.
But Lucifer sifted through everything, pulling memories at will. He paused on memories of her childhood and the events of the Midsummer’s Ball with interest, before moving on. When he reached her discovery of magic, the green fire at her fingertips, he paused.
A mortal … with magic. I see Betsael’s fascination now.A deep rumbling laugh echoed in her mind.Give me your eternal soul, and I will aid you.
I cannot. My soul is mine, and mine alone.
For some reason, he released her. She gasped, breathing heavily as if she had just run.
“So, you care for him enough to venture into a den of bloodthirsty demons, but not enough to trade your soul for his safety?”
“Yes,” she managed.
“Do you love him?”
She exhaled sharply in derision. “Love? Love is for fools.”
