Page 130 of Enchanting Her Monsters
“But it appears you have mated with five males. That is not common in the mortal realm, is it?”
“No, it’s not.”
“Were you coerced into bonding with these mercenaries?” he asks, as if he’s concerned for her agency. “Did they give you no other choice?”
“No. I chose them on my own, after fate put them on my path. My soul was drawn to each of them and picked them as my mates,” Jade says with conviction, allowing no doubt to seep into her voice.
“When you made your choice, you were obviously ignorant to all this realm has to offer a female such as yourself.” He smiles, attempting to seem accommodating. “I could have the bonds dissolved, and you would have your pick of demons here to shower you with attention and meet your every need.”
Jade cocks her eyebrow and her hip defiantly. “Oh? So you’d kill off my loving, chosen mates just so you can all knock me up with your spawn?”
“I don’tneedto kill them.” Muldon waves his hand dismissively. “But yes, we’d like a chance to continue our race with your cooperation and in exchange, we’d keep you well fed and well fucked. And isn’t that everything you need?”
Jade narrows her eyes at him, calculating how to deal with this situation. “I wish you luck in finding someone else who would appreciate that offer, but I already have everything with my mates, who offer me more than only food and cocks. Besides, I have no interest in accepting a breeding role inanyrealm.”
Muldon clenches his jaw. He never did like the word no, and especially from a female.
“If I may interrupt,” Erwald cuts in before Muldon can respond. His voice comes out with a commanding force. I can feel the room bending to his will. I suspect he’s more magically powerful than those sitting on the council. “This court owes me a life debt. I claim my progeny, Jadeana, to remain free as that favor. All hellborn will leave her in peace, in all aspects, for however long she lives. Do you understand?”
Muldon’s eyes bulge out of his head, and he shakes with rage. “This? This is what you call in your favor for? She could be the answer to the lords’ dwindling numbers.”
He rushes down off the dais and attempts to grab Jade.
I dart in front of him, and he crashes against my chest. I’d sacrifice myself for Jade’s freedom. If I have to fight him, I will. He sees the call for an official challenge written in my eyes and I’m pleased as I see nervousness in his returning gaze.
We growl at each other while I sense Jade being pulled into Flint’s arms for protection.
“She is mine!” Erwald snarls and seems to grow twice his size. “And I will not have her used for your power games and passed around like she is nothing but a hole to fuck and incubation chamber.”
“Come now. She is obviously not opposed to fucking multiple males!” Muldon shouts and moves to look at her again, trying to circumvent me.
“Herfatedmates!” Erwald steps closer to Muldon, and the lord shrinks back. “Thisis why demons are cursed. You did not value those offering us love and offspring and now you’re paying the price with a dying species. We should have been cherishing and protecting our female counterparts, instead we turned against them and now they choose not to incarnate for your bidding and abuse.”
I glance back to check on her, and Jade’s eyes are wide with a genuine look of surprise and being impressed by her father’swords. Finally, the bastard is some use in her life—first with Galiana and now here.
“And this is why I chose not to stay here in hell and sit on this council under your thumb,” I add. “I could not claim a seat with someone who harms our precious females.”
My stomach turns as I remember how Muldon abused his mate and when she failed to offer him more spawn, my mother was found dead.
“But now that Ihavea mate, I suppose I could challenge you for a seat on the council. Actually…” I wave my hand over to Erwald and Jade. “They are also of royal lineage, so perhaps they might also decide it would be easier to challenge you than to have you decide Jadeana’s fate. Three of us on the seven seats sounds fairly tempting.”
Muldon snarls at my comment. He knows we could easily be his end.
He turns to Erwald. “Fine. Keep your spawn. I doubt she could produce quality demons anyway, since she’s a fucking mutt.” He doesn’t wait for us to leave and storms out of the chamber.
Another council member speaks up. “Lord Erwald, never mind his theatrics. Consider Jadeana safe from hellborn via your life debt favor, with the condition that none of you attempt to challenge for a seat on this council. And I hope your reappearance now means you’re back to your regular visits and reports of goings on in the realms.”
“Yes, it seems that since Jadeana’s secret identity has been revealed, there is no reason for me to hide away.”
“Since you have claimed her as your progeny, then we expect that to be the case. In the coming years, we expect her to be trained in diplomacy and in spy work. Perhaps because of her unusual blood lines, she can be a bridge to all three from her lineage. We all know magic is dwindling, and it’s time we stopblaming and root out the source. I’ve heard a rumor that the Fae Queen is trying to find a solution. Perhaps Jadeana can be the bridge between the witches, the fae, and the demons, so we may all survive.”
I sense Jade’s anxiety skyrocket as she feels the implications of what Lord Krall is asking of her. But at least we already have a way in to the Fae Queen’s court through me. Krall has always been the most sensible demon on the council, and I can see what he asks will benefit all the realms.
“Can you agree to this?” Krall glances between Jade and Erwald.
Jade glances up at her father, who stares at her proudly and nods. They both respond with a yes.
“Then I will see you soon,” the demon lord says.
