Page 72 of Insatiable

“I need to see Quinn,” Dade says, his voice steady, though he doesn’t touch the food in front of him. I’m impressed. Afterweeks of starving, I don’t know how he can just sit there without devouring everything.

“I already told you. That’s not possible right now,” Twila replies, her distress clear. She keeps shaking her head as if she can’t believe what’s happening. “I can’t believe you’re here. Hades is going to be pissed.”

Dade leans forward, his eyes focused on her. “What do you suggest we do?”

Twila grabs a bottle of wine and pours herself a generous glass. Without thinking, I grab the bottle next, pouring myself a drink before offering it to Ro. She glances at me and pats her stomach, reminding me she’s pregnant.

“The baby’s survived weeks without food. Surely it deserves a drink?” I joke lamely.

“I could use a drink,” Tate says, reaching for the bottle. A jolt of electricity runs through me as she takes it from my grasp, her smile indulgent. I don’t know how to feel about that, so I redirect my attention back to Twila. I’m sure Dade just asked her something important, but I’ve already forgotten what it was.

Twila shrugs. “I don’t know. As far as I’m aware, no one has ever descended a circle via the main elevator without prior consent from his highness.”

“His highness?” I echo, confusion creeping in.

“Satan,” she whispers hurriedly, glancing around the dimly lit room as if we’re being watched.

“Does it really matter? We made it here. I’m sure Satan will unleash even worse beasts or traps to prevent us from doing it again. It’s not like we actually escaped Hell; we just moved down a circle.”

“Yes, but by doing that, you’ve undermined the Inferno Games, making them almost pointless, and exposed cracks in Satan’s supposedly infallible domain.”

“It’s not that infallible if we could get through with nothing more than a few scraps of fabric,” Tate chimes in, popping a cherry tomato into her mouth. I swallow hard at the sight of her.

“Don’t you see how that makes it worse?” Twila sighs. “If you had somehow passed it by fighting to the death?—”

“Which you said was impossible,” I remind her. “And you’ll be pleased to know that I gave up on the idea of seducing it to get past.”

Tate snickers from across the table.

“Anyway,” I press on, trying to ignore Tate’s laughter, “you were the one who told us only an angel could pass it. We just dressed Dade up in white and the beast capitulated. If you think about it, this is kind of your fault.”

Twila buries her head in her hands, and I suddenly realize I might have pushed her too far when I see her shoulders shaking.

Ro looks at me as though I’m somehow to blame. I was only speaking the truth.

She reaches out and takes Twila’s hand in hers.

“No one has to know you helped us. We won’t tell anyone, right?” She looks around the table, and everyone nods in agreement. But it doesn’t really matter. If what Twila said is true, we’re all going to be toast in a few hours, anyway.

Dade clears his throat. “I have no desire to get you in trouble, Twila, but you have access to Hades. He helped us before. Is there any chance he could help us again?”

“Hades isn’t a monster. He helped you last time because you saved me. Plus, one of his very own demons was plotting against the games, and he was furious. This time, he has no reason to save you. You’ve disobeyed his rules. He may be lenient, but I can’t make any promises.” She sighs. “Facing him is your only chance here. You’re going to have to win him over.”

“Can’t you just hide us?” I ask.

“I’m pretty sure the Inferno Games leadership already knows you’re here. I’ve come to know demons, and most of them are gossips. The concierge would have rushed down to the demon level the moment we arrived at the Brimstone Bar.”

I scan the dark room for another exit, but it’s so shadowy I can barely see the far walls. “We should go and hide now, then,” I insist, rising to my feet. I pick up my half-eaten plate of food. I might be running for my life, but I’m not leaving food behind.

“Then what?” Twila asks.

“Then we get to survive, that’s what.”

Dade looks up at me, and I can tell he’s about to drop some dark, profound wisdom that I probably don’t want to hear. “If we hide here and Quinn and the others make it to the next circle, we’re no better off than we were in Gluttony.”

“Have you tasted this food?” I retort, holding up my plate.

“You won’t get back to the main elevator again. Satan might have been beaten by you once, but he won’t allow it to happen again.”

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