Page 48 of Hell Bites

I stare down at my plate, unable to stomach even the smell. I’ve been in this mansion a couple hours now, and Xadrian has been nothing but nice and sweet. He acts like he missed me. It’s just him playing head games. I’m not so stupid to think he actually missed me. He was angry I was gone, that’s for sure. But missing me? He doesn’t have the sort of feelings you need to miss someone.

Felix on the other hand? I think he misses me. I think he’s looking for me right now.

At least, I hope he is.

Unless he thinks I abandoned him…

I blink a few times, my food coming back into focus. I wouldn’t be surprised if it’s poisoned. Xadrian would make me so sick I’d want to die just to punish me. It’s only the start of what’s to come. Or maybe it has some kind of sleeping agent so his men can get a turn with me without me complaining about it.

Wouldn’t be the first time.

I only ever found out about it because I caught them bragging. I was sick for weeks after, knowing what was being done to me without my knowledge.

Warlords, higher demons—like those in charge of keeping others in line—and of course the devil himself are the only creatures down here who have access to food and water. They’re the only ones who don’t have to suffer for eternity but instead get to make everyone else suffer while they live the good life.

Lucky them.

How is it I was born to not want to maim people like most other demons?

“Azizia,” Xadrian warns in that tone of his that tells me he’s losing his patience.

I pick up my fork and stab a red thing that looks like the beans topside, but are much bigger.

The food up there is so much better than what’s down here.

I put it in my mouth and chew, holding back the gag. But it only works for so long. I spit the food into the napkin and cough, reaching for the glass of water.

“You’ve been gone too long, my sweet darling. You’ll have to get used to the food all over again,” Xadrian says as he gets to his feet.

He moves to my side, pulling my chair out and kneeling in front of me, but making sure to not kneel so low he is beneath me. No, Xadrian has to be above me at all times, making me feel small. Which he does all the time anyway. It’s in his nature to look down at people and make them feel worthless. He’s great at it. Excels at it. He should win an award for it.

“You’ve been gone a long time, Azizia. Too long. You made me worried.”

You weren’t worried.

“I had a lot of men looking for you. Men who could have been doing other things. They went out of their way to find my missing wife.” He brushes his fingers along my cheek and I try not to flinch away from him. Doing that will only make him more angry. “And when it was reported back to me that you were found, do you know what I was told?” He raises a brow and I have to force myself to shake my head.

He smiles, though it isn’t a happy smile.

If Xadrian weren’t such an evil being, he’d be handsome. He has strong features. A square jaw, sharp cheekbones, and a head full of thick black hair. But the man is awful. Disgusting. Not even his good looks could make me like him.

“I was told that my wife was consorting with a blood sucker.”

His tone is gentle and calm, and if I didn’t know him as well as I do, I’d think he was actually worried. But when it comes to Xadrian, the more calm he is, the angrier he is. The worse it’ll be for me.

“N-no. I wasn’t. I didn’t… I had no idea that—”

“Shh,” he says, pulling me to his chest again and rubbing my back. “It’s okay, darling. You’ll have plenty of time to make it up to me. There’s no point in lying. I know the truth. I’ve accepted the truth.” He pulls back, keeping his hands on my shoulders. “But I have some truth for you, Azizia. Truth that is going to hurt, but I am only telling you because I care for you. Because you are my wife and I love you. This truth will be punishment enough for your wrongdoings.”

I frown, and he lets out a small laugh.

“I know, it doesn’t quite make sense. But it will. I’ve thought long and hard how I will punish you for what you did, but I am so grateful to have you back. The physical punishment didn’t stop you from leaving before, so I had to do something new. And when I saw who it was that you were with, well, let’s just say I thanked the devil himself for doing such a good deed.”

I don’t have a single idea of what he’s talking about, what he could possibly have to tell me.

A throat clears, and we both look toward the doors. Ziggy stands there, looking exactly as he did the last time I saw him. His body is stiff, straight like a soldier, his chin held high. I open my mouth, wanting to speak with him, but I snap it shut, knowing showing him any kindness in front of my husband won’t go over well.

“What is it?” Xadrian asks in an annoyed tone.

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