Page 93 of Married to the Devil

They don’t see the woman holding my gaze and wanting to secure this territory in a way that leaves the Council frothing.

She wants to win. I don’t know how she was ever able to hide in the shadows. Her light called to me even then. She was born to lead whether she knows it or not.

But all those higher thoughts are drowned out by baser instincts. The hunger that I attempt to temper roars to the surface. The guilt from my misstep this morning won’t stop me from devouring her lovely sacrifice. I’m only so strong.

“Be very careful wife,” I say, standing and striding around the table toward her. The sweetness of her scent has been driving me up the wall. I’d never spent much time contemplating the need for an heir. I’d never assumed that mating the witch I’ve been obsessed with would make me want to mount her, but the compulsion is one that buzzes in the back of my mind.

Stella’s breath catches when I get to a step away and stop. My mouth waters, but this is something that requires clarity.

I make my voice soft. “Are you saying you want me to put a baby in you?”

Strategically, an heir would be a boon. Stella’s aunt is correct. Along with the charms, it could be enough to tilt the odds in our favor. I’ll do my best to tip the scales of course, but an heir speaks of commitment. It realizes the need of the people here for our mating to be above suspicion.

Stella blinks rapidly and glances at Ben who is motionless, hands clenched at his sides. He doesn’t know that we’ve fuckedwithout his help, but maybe, just maybe, my queen’s knight will stay if she admits to needing him. It’s a concession I’m selfish enough to enjoy for this.

The love he has for her is the consolation prize she more than deserves.

I grasp her chin. “Do you wantusto put a baby in you?”

Her pupils expand.

Ben’s eyes widen, and he shakes his head. “It needs to be yours by blood?—”

“We’ll be careful,” I cut him off with a careless shrug. “Are you saying you wouldn’t want to help breed our witch?”

Ben’s mouth drops open, but the flare of desire is there in the reddening of his cheeks.

Ah, he assumed that this would be the moment he’d be dismissed. Shortsighted demon. His presence allows me to torment her in a way that we will all enjoy.

I like the flavor of her anger. And maybe if she busy gnashing her teeth and cursing my name, those wide eyes of hers will stop gouging my heart for what I can’t give her.

Maybe, with his help, I can put a baby inside her without fanning the dangerous flames inside me that could destroy everything I’ve ever worked for

Fuck. The forbidden part of my heart that tries to stir around these two throbs at the idea of tying us tighter together. Of filling our witch until my seed takes root. This is a claiming whether either of them considers it to be.

They will both be mine, and the rightness of that thought is a checkmate.

But I’ll still make her work for it.

Stella finds her voice, and it burns as hot as her determination. “If Ben helps, then yes.”

The demon in question is still stunned, but his nod is almost imperceptible.

My grin is so sharp it hurts. “Then let us begin.”

32

STELLA

My mouth falls open.I don’t know if I’m more surprised by the room in front of me or the cascade of events. Ben turns from his place in the middle of our bedroom, having teleported here from the library so Stoneheart and I could be seen by his people entering our room together.

He’d led me here with my hand on his elbow like some chivalrous king. Each step caused my heart to beat quicker than the last. It’s a relief that he didn’t try for small talk while scenarios of what we’re about to do flashed through my thoughts. How exactly will Stoneheart involve Ben in this task? The mechanics are simple enough. I’d had him inside of me just this morning, but maybe that’s the point.

Ben is here to keep this from feeling like what happened earlier.

I’m distracted from all the unknowns by the sight of our bedroom.

“What is this?” I ask, but don’t expect an answer other than Stoneheart’s shrug.

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