He could see through the bars that his sweet fairy was asleep in the big bed, her lithe body covered by all those blankets.
Freeing the padlock with his mind, he opened the door and stepped inside. He moved over to the bed, patted her arm.
“Good evening, gorgeous,” he greeted, watching her face for signs of distaste.
“Good evening, my king,” she rasped softly, her lids cracking open, a smile forming on her luscious mouth.
Nope. No signs that she wasn’t completely content to be at his beck and call. The mind control was still working.
“What brings you to me this evening?” she asked, shifting to her back as he pulled the blankets down, revealing her beautiful naked form to his hungry gaze.
“It’s time to prepare you for our guests’ arrival.”
Her eyebrows dropped an inch. “Prepare?”
“I’ve got an important meeting this night,” he informed her. “And it’s imperative that you’re there with me.”
“It would be my honor, my king.” Asmia slowly sat up. “What shall I do to prepare?”
Perfidious motioned for the exit. “I’ve got everything you’ll need in my chambers.”
He’d sent Sirius out last night to retrieve the items that would allow his female to pamper herself in preparation for the ritual Perfidious intended to perform. While he’d intended to send Sirius on his merry way, there was no denying the demon was still useful. Since Perfidious couldn’t leave Asmia, he needed someone to tend to his shopping and various errands. The male didn’t seem keen on the idea, but he didn’t have much of a choice in the matter. As far as Lucifer was concerned, Sirius was a minion to be used and abused by themesonneir. And since Perfidious still held the glorious title, he wasn’t above using his status to get what he needed.
“Come now.” He motioned for her to get out of the bed.
Asmia moved with grace, her long legs sliding over the edge of the mattress, her elegant feet lowering to the floor. Perfidious snagged her silk robe from where it hung over the bedpost, then helped her into it. Though he preferred she be naked at all times, he wasn’t keen on giving Sirius a peek at her. Not yet. Not until the ceremony. Until then, she was for his eyes only.
At that point, every demon in residence would see her beauty as he claimed her as his own.
And at that time, Asmia would get her first glimpse of what he truly was.
After all, it was the demon who would be taking her as his own.
Chapter Twenty-Two
“What exactly am I looking at?” Kajasked Blaz.
The male had insisted he have an hour of Kaj’s time first thing tonight to go over something important.
That was how Kaj found himself in what appeared to be an office. Oddly, it was set up much in the same way Kardobahn’s had been. The room had one wall of dark wood shelves lined with books varying in size and color. A navy rug with some intricate, old-world pattern lay in the center of the space. A wall of windows seemingly brought the outdoors in, though there wasn’t anything to see thanks to thedhirathe angels had erected. There was a fire going in the hearth. The Courtenay family crest hung above the mantel. And of course, there was an enormous mahogany desk with a burgundy-leather executive chair that was surprisingly comfortable if Kaj did say so himself.
A black leather blotter sat on top of the wood beneath the fancy Apple MacBook Kaj found himself staring at, a Mont Blanc sitting on a legal pad off to the side.
Blaz pointed over Kaj’s shoulder at the screen. “This is the email account we use to contact the Alpha.”
“Who’s we?”
“We,” Blaz said with a chuckle. “The common folk.”
Right.
Squinting, Kaj stared at the number reflected by the inbox. “Does that say … two thousand?”
“Two thousand, four hundred and seventy-nine to be exact,” Blaz agreed. “And believe it or not, I’ve been going through them for the past week. I’ve managed to tackle a good thousand, but they’re coming in fast.”
As though his comment triggered the sync, another four popped in. As he skimmed the names of the senders, he was saddened to say they weren’t junk email or spam. He scanned several of the others. Nope, none of theSexy woman seeks handsome manorThe last diet you’ll ever needorCBD is your best friendlingering for him to delete. All looked legit from where he sat.
Legit and more than a little daunting.
