I gasped at the voice that held all my senses captive and melted my panties, turning me into a goo puppet slut. “Now you talk to me, Damien?”
Now that he’d orchestrated everything to work for him, to make me so desperate I’d spare nothing in my power to go where he needed me to be. I bet he was the one that made the rock salt bullets fade that fast. A little nudge to wake up my demon so she’d do the rest.
I’m always with you, my queen.
Of course, but he chose when to appear to really be with me or hide in the dark to play me according to how best it served his plans. The way he was talking now reminded me of the first time he’d called me his queen.
“I want you to come to me willingly, my queen,” he’d said. “I told you once you didn’t know how important you were to me. I’ve always had my eyes on you. You’re the only creature worthy of ruling my kingdom by my side.”
His chosen bride. His queen, not just another soul to reap. And for that to happen, I’d have to take my throne by choice.
“I know you will be mine one day, my queen. You only have a tiny little choice to make, and I’ve been waiting ever so patiently for you to do just that,” he’d said.
He’d been waiting for me to choose him then, but I’d found a way to make my choice include them all and spared myself the trip I was obligated to go on now.
My mind was spiraling now as it did back then. “You think I’ll willingly choose to go to hell?” I’d asked him, and the memory slapped me in the face. I shook my head, sorrow swirling in me.Way to go, Belle, thinking you can outsmart the devil. Now look at you. Look at what you’re about to do.
Hell is not what you think, my queen. It’s a kingdom where you can have anything and everything you ever wanted.
“But—”
Say all the buts you need, but you know Hell is the right kingdom for you, Isabella. It’s what you really want. You’re just afraid to admit it. But I’m here. I will open your eyes and guide you to your throne. I will never leave you. I will always be by your side. Let me be your king, and I’ll serve under your feet. Every wish of yours, I’ll make it come true. Your deepest desires, I will serve exactly as you want them to be served.
He’d said exactly that back at that moment when I’d realized my desire for him wasn’t his doing. It was all me. That part of me that scared the shit out of me. The part that was so dominant now I was heading to Hell.
Willingly as he’d always needed.
The repetition was nothing but a confirmation to what I’d already known.
I can’t wait to put my babies in your belly. You know I’m the only one who can defy Heaven and give you what you want.
“You bastard. You’re hitting hard on my every need, luring me into your darkness. Why me, Damien? Why me?”
It’s always the same answer, my queen.
“No. I was an idiot for believing you the first time. I don’t believe you anymore.”
Why, my queen?
Tears stung my eyes. “Because you’re the Father of Lies. You’re the devil.”
The devil that is in love with you.
Rage jolted inside me so hard my fangs and claws popped up. “You’re not in love with me, Damien. You’ve never been. You’ve been pretending all along, making a deal you’ll never keep, playing house, lying to me, manipulating me, until I come to you with my full consent. Until I fulfill everything you want, exactly how you want it. Patience is your game. Isn’t that what you told me?”
I also told you that I loved you. Why are you choosing to believe some of my words but not the rest? I never needed to tell you I loved you to have you, Isabella. We both know that.
I lifted my eyes to the hidden sky so I wouldn’t cry and nodded in agreement. He was right. He was fucking right.
I do love you, Isabella. With all my heart.
“Then why?!” I howled. “Why wouldn’t you honor our deal? If you can really defy Heaven, you can do it from here, you know? Why make me your puppet? Why the chess game? Why does coming to you willingly matter the most? Why do I need to be your queen of Hell? Why is that the only way you’ll give me the child I’ve always wanted? Why Heaven is bending over backwards to stop us from having that child?”
My skull banged with the frustrated questions. “You might love me, Damien, but you’re not making me your queen for love. You’re using me for something else. Something related to that fucking prophecy, isn’t it?”
Just come to me, darling, and I’ll explain.
My eyes squeezed, and my claws dug into my palms. “If you really love me, why don’t you just tell me here?”
