Page 101 of Their Demon

Lillian didn’t acknowledge him outright, but she was fighting a smile, biting down on her lip while her cheeks turned a beautiful shade of pink.

Aiden leaned in from his seat. “Agreed.”

I tipped my head to the side, leaning down to whisper in her ear. “I doubt they’d mind the show, princess. I’ve been dying to be inside you all morning.”

That one broke her. She shook her head, her tongue coming to the top of her open mouth. “I cannot believe you three. I am trying to intimidate people here. I can’t do that when I am thinking of you all fucking me.” She said the last part even quieter than the rest of her words, making sure no one could hear her.

“So you do want all of us to fuck you?” Nicholas asked her, a cheeky grin spreading on his face.

“At the same time?” Aiden added, sporting a similar smile.

Instead of answering them, she looked over at me, as if she wanted me to answer for her. My heart pounded hard against my ribcage. I was caught off guard, not intending for the teasing to come to a discussion about meactuallysharing herduringsex.

Before I could attempt to voice any type of answer, the doors swung open, silencing the whispers of everyone in the room.

Father.

He arrogantly strode into the room, greeting each of his councilmen with a nod before acknowledging us. His eyes lingered on Lillian, which irritated the fuck out of me. I didn’t like how he looked at her, like she was nothing.

But she was everything, and she would be his undoing.

“I’ve got places to be, gentlemen. Let’s move this along. As you all know, the second trial must be decided today.” He motioned to one of his men, who handed him the bag he’d used at the last meeting. “For everyone’s convenience, I kept the notes from the previous meeting, so I shall draw the trial now.”

He wasted no time reaching into the bag and withdrawing a piece of paper. He handed the bag back before opening the note, and I wanted to shout at him to hurry up and read it.

I felt my entire world halt as we waited for him to reveal the next trial. A million scenarios of what horrors he could announce ran through my mind.

I didn’t realize I’d been wiping my hands on my pants nervously until Lillian’s hand landed on mine. She wrapped her fingers around me, her thumb stroking the back of my hand. I squeezed her fingers, the feeling of her bringing a calmness over my body.

Breathe, her voice sounded.

I should be telling you that, I teased.

She squeezed my hand tightly, and I clung to her like my life depended on it.

Father cleared his throat. “Can you swim, human?” he directed at Lillian.

At first, she seemed caught off guard at his question, but then she composed herself and said, “I can,Your Majesty.”

I held back a snort, amused at how she addressed him, wondering where this woman came from and if she knew what she was doing. He was not one to be trifled with.

His jaw ticked as he worked to keep his poise. “Good,” he said with annoyance. He flattened the paper out in front of him. “The second trial is to dive into the Lake of Hell and retrieve a seahorse egg from its nest.”

Lillian looked confused as she processed his words, not that anyone could blame her. Not letting the confusion remain too long, she gathered herself, gave him a smug smile, and nodded.

She fuckingnoddedat the king of Hell.

I was under a spell, unable to look at anything but her with my beating heart in my hand, falling more in love with her by the minute. The expressions on the twins’ faces assured me I wasn’t the only one. They were staring at her too, watching her face off with Satan himself as if she was looking at a random person on the street who dared to look ather.

Watching this once timid, apprehensive woman look at Satan like he was a nuisance did unexplainable things to my body. I wanted to throw her up against the window and claim her body right here, right now, not sure I’d have the patience to clear the room first. It was intoxicating watching her handle herself like this.

I’d spent so much time being afraid she’d get too independent to need me, I didn’t stop to consider just how hot it would be to watch her hold her own while I sat back and enjoyed the show. I wanted to sink to my knees for her, beg for her attention like it was the oxygen I needed to breathe.

My attention was stolen by my father, who was walking around the table, headed right for our girl. Instinctively, I stood, ready to protect her. The twins did the same. Nicholas stood next to me, Aiden back with Lillian, his arm wrapped around her.

Our father laughed while he shook his head. “I’m not going to kill her…yet.” He motioned for us to move, but our feet remained glued to the floor. I snarled at him, ready to tell him he could fuck off for all I cared. He wasn’t getting close to Lillian.

Suddenly, I felt Lillian’s hand land on my shoulder. “It’s okay.”

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