Page 87 of Chained to the Devil's Daughter

My elbow dropped. Then my whole hand.

“That’s it, dear one. I never meant to hurt you.” Victory dripped from Devil’s tongue. He reached out and wrapped his arms around me, and damn it, I leaned into his embrace. I had to get a little closer. . .

My hands fisted Devil’s robes. I smashed my cheek against him, letting my weight be fully supported. It was the third time in my life that he’d hugged me.

Behind his back, I raised my dagger.

“I’ve been working on something huge, daughter. Do you recall this book?” One of Devil’s arms dropped away, but he held my waist with the other as he indicated the book my dagger was aimed for a baby’s breath ago. “I found a way to lengthen your life, Little Torch. When I’m gone. . . Do you know why I called you Little Torch all those years?” He chuckled, and I could’vesworn I heard true affection in the sound. “You hated me for weeks when you discovered you had no name. But I’ve always had grander plans for you. As the centuries pass, my dear one, you lose track of names. But legends remain.”

“What are you saying?”

“You’ll live centuries by my side. You will carry on my torch. Me, living on through death.”

On instinct, I brandished my dagger, slicing and dicing wildly. Devil caught my wrist. I struggled in his grasp, wrenching back to gape up at him. “That’s what you’ve been doing? What all those undead things are for?”

“Yes, daughter. It has all been for us.” Devil smirked at my dagger, squeezing my wrist and thumb so hard it stung. “This book had been lost to me, but your grubby little hands unlocked it. I’ve been eating worlds, but there’s an excess of power.Thisis how I know the land would cede to you! Prepare yourself, Little Torch. This will hurt like a bitch.”

“Wait, now? No! Wait!”

I sputtered, raising my hands defensively, but Devil was faster.

The next few seconds were a blur.

Devil pressed one hand to my chest with enough force to send me falling, but he caught me like a dancer. My chest burned. My vision narrowed until all I saw was his malicious gaze.

“The book!” I shouted. “The book!”

Black fire filled my periphery.

I lashed out.

Devil made a noise. An incoherent shout at first, then my name.

Darkness crept around the edges of my consciousness. The sound of metal clattering to concrete.

Then, nothing.

48

Ash’ren

Istruggled against two undead fuckers, panic swamping my lungs. Devil had known of our presence the whole time. By the time I broke free of the slimy fingers grasping for me, Searra was a crumpled heap on the ground.

“Searra!”

“Hello, puppy,” Devil laughed, but it turned into a cough. Searra’s dagger was buried to the hilt in his side. Devil gave a gargled cry as he yanked it out and tossed it to the floor. Goopy poisoned flesh bubbled from the gash. Annoyance flickered over Devil’s features as he pressed a hand to the mottled flesh.

Last time, I’d played with my food. Today I was ready to fucking feast.

First I commanded my fire to drag that damned book back to the void. Then I lunged, hands coated in black flames. The old man expertly parried, a molten flame erupting from his open palm, the other pressed to his rapidly festering wound. Dodging the attack, I dared not glance at my beloved.

“You managed to steal her away from me,” Devil snarled. “How fucking quaint that you could do so from so many miles away. It’s over now.”

The old demon slapped his hands together. When they parted, crackling strands of magic connected his palms. I tried to snuff it, but the book was still burning black, draining my power.

“Don’t credit me with your work. You gave her up the moment you locked me away. In fact,” I paused, jumping to avoid the tendrils of fire flung my way. They smacked the concrete and sizzled to an end. “You’re more of a professional con artist than a ruler, aren’t you?”

Devil laughed. His tone turned sour like he was speaking to a mangy dog on the street. “Poor thing, someone took his bone.”

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