Page 38 of Dating the Dealing Demon

Or a demon princess.

Theo straightens. “Ready?”

I ammorethan ready.

He glances to Monty. “Soul guardian, if you’re coming, then get in the bag and don’t show your furry face tonight. We don’t need you sparking another demon war.”

I’m still in a daze when we teleport. I close my eyes tightly until thewhooshingsensation passes. Nausea has me flinching, but the sickness isn’t as bad this time. With a firm hold on Theo’s forearm and the bag holding Monty, I steady myself, taking a deep breath in and out.

“Welcome to the Infernal Palace,” Theo says in a tone that’s anything but welcoming.

I open my eyes and wish I hadn’t. “What the actual hell, Theo?”

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

Val

Theo’s demon face morphs into a blank mask I can’t read, and the transformation from a rogue hellbent—pun intended—on seducing me to this hollow martyr awaiting doom sends sick, ugly fear slithering through me.

The Infernal Palace stretches high above us, a behemoth of an ornate stone that looks part cathedral, part mausoleum, and all terrifyingbring all ye virgin sacrificesinside. I half expect the walls to bleed any second now.

Flames shoot up from every arched opening. Hell, the stairs in front of us lead to what looks like a water fountain except it too is engulfed in flame, spewing lava. The heat stings my skin.

“Should we call the fire department?” I ask, reaching for my classic defense mechanism.Snark is my superpower. “Do demons even have fire departments?”

Theo doesn’t give the slightest hint of a smirk. Well, shit, I guess he meant it when he said this meeting with his dad is serious.

Making sure I have a tight hold on the bag carrying Monty, I bump Theo’s side. “Hey, talk to me. Tell me what to expect because right now I don’t know if I’m supposed to pray to the weird castle.” I gesture toward the church-looking architecture. “Or mourn whoever they buried in that hella big, scary-ass tomb.”

“Wrong palace. The tombs are in the Valley of the Gods.”

Oookay. “Right.” I don’t ask where the Valley of the Gods might be, who’s buried there, or if we can stay far from it. “Do we have to go inside for this meeting with dear old demon dad?” I’m hoping he says no.

“Yes.” A muscle in his jaw tics below a cut that has barely healed. “While we’re here, you must stay by my side.”

“Sure.”

He finally stops staring at the palace as though he’s willing it to disappear and locks his scarlet gaze on me. “I mean it, Vicious.”

I grin. “I think I’m starting to like that nickname and the exasperated way you say it. Your annoyance even makes the itty bitty black horns on your forehead dance beneath the big ones.” His growl has me stopping, but at least I made him think of something other than dread for whatever waits inside. “Please. As if I would wander off in a place as sketchy and scary as that. I’m not stupid.”

“You charged into a mob of cyclops.”

“One time,” I argue because it’s better than agreeing he’s right. Ugh, why does he have to be right? “Come on. Let’s go.”

He continues to stare at me, not budging.

“Fine,” I say. “I promise. Can we get this over with now?”

“I would like nothing more.” He sweeps a claw forward, nudging me with his wing. The protectiveness of the gesture makes me melt a little.

Inside, the ceiling rises dizzyingly toward the sky.

“The better to allow flight,” Theo explains in a murmur.

Low purple flames fill a trench that runs along the center of the enormous entryway the same as most would decorate with a nice rug.

“Brimstone fire,” he says.

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