Page 79 of Chained to the Devil's Daughter

“You’re speaking of treason!”

“This is a mutiny!”

“Devil will hear none of this!”

I held up my hand, but the room did not go quiet. I shouted over the din, “Devil has no sway here. It is up to you—”

Fire. Smoke. It leaked from the petulant rich folks. I stumbled backward up the dais and ducked behind the Bone Throne.

Then silence, and the scent of ash. I peered around the throne as Ash’ren stalked in, magic blazing.

“Perfect timing, my love,” I said under my breath.

By the time I felt safe enough to step around my throne, half the pentagilaire were tied to their seats with whip-like strands of black fire. I wiped my hands on my skirts and approached the head of the table. Surveying those not tied up, it was a pleasant surprise to see a few strangely proud faces looking back at me.

Some were familiar as the small handful of nobles who’d supported me in secret, either through reallocating funds or allowing Filaris to ship supplies to their homes to avoid suspicious mail activity elsewhere in the rings. Those nobles, I had vetted with Filaris, who had an uncanny knack for the worthiness of rich people.

“I aspire to bring our people together. To make Hell a strong, thriving community that betters the land around it. We have the largest number of bones of the Forgotten One in Fyre, and we horde it to ourselves. Oh! We’ve recently discovered another material with the potential to—well, I’m getting ahead of myself.”

“What is it?” a six-horned demon with black ribbons covering their torso hissed. “Where did you find it?”

My brows shot up. I rounded the demon’s chair and patted them on the head like a misbehaving puppy. “Oh, I’m sure you’d like to know, huh?”

“Your little arrangement with Devil’s death hound will not last, child—oh!”

The noble’s voice cut off with a shout as one of Ash’ren’s men tipped the chair back. They carted the rich asshole straight out the door.

“My father allowed you all to do whatever the fuck you wanted, so long as you didn’t question him. That status quo ends now.” I didn’t raise my voice. I found I didn’t have to.

Spotting an empty chair, I sat between two wide-eyed demons. I leaned forward onto my elbows. “Don’t expect me to coddle your wealth. Do expect me to consider your views. Don’texpect me to burst you into flames for speaking out of turn. Do expect your business and financial decisions to be monitored. Oh, also, do expect my new pentagilaire to have members from every walk of society. My goal is equality in Hell! Who the Hell is with me?! Equality in Hell!”

My monologue ended in excitement but was met with stunned silence. I’d worked myself into a frenzy and had no clue when I’d stood, nor when I’d picked up a spoon and started twirling it in the direction of the stunned faces before me.

“Oops,” I whispered as I realized I’d flung whatever had been on the spoon all over the noble to my right. I cringed and dabbed at the squishy substance, which looked like banana pudding.

“I’ve thrown a lot at you, I know,” I started, cringing at the person I’d literally thrown pudding at. “I have one more surprise.”

I nodded at the guard posted at one of the many innocuous doors used by servants. It opened, and for a long moment, nothing happened. I sent the nobles a reassuring smile that stretched too wide and rang fake in my muscles.

Then, they began to filter in.

New members, all from the outer rings.

I noticed Tayman’s feet were bare of wrappings, his recently calloused skin looking comfortable in the fashionable footwear from Fyre. The former brothel worker walked with the same pride as when I’d first met him in the healing tents, ranting about the lack of respect in the skin districts of Ring Six.

They were all magnificent and so, so brave. Worthy, deserving, and lovable, every single one of them.

“Please, take a seat anywhere!” To the rest of the table, I exclaimed, “Meet our pentagilaire’s newest nobles. Nielara, Lordess of Welfare. Jadan, Lord of Industry. And Tayman, our new Lord of Six and Propriety.”

“Where is Lord Chakram?” a breathy voice interrupted. I looked to see Pyrona, the estranged daughter of Fervis, Lord of Five. Former Lord of Five, that was, for Pyrona currently sat in his seat.

“Not here,” I replied firmly. I wanted to saydon’t worry, he’ll never hurt you again, but I kept that part of our conversation quiet and hoped my eyes could relay that message well enough. They seemed to, for Pyrona settled into the seat with more poise, her ashen high ponytail as straight as her posture.

“WhereisChakram?” asked Infernia, lordess of the merchant ring. I had always admired Infernia, and the way she helped the less fortunate with her savvy business choices. She appeared more bored and curious than anything, but as the only woman on Devil’s Pentagilaire, she undoubtedly knew of Chakram’s gross tendencies.

“Chakram has ever-so-sweetly stepped down,” I announced with all the cheer I truly felt on the matter.

Infernia snorted. “How very kind of him.”

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