Page 31 of Ashes to Ashes

“Unfortunately, a human cannot enter nor bear this collar. Send her away, but for her obvious envy, let her live so that I may enjoy her power one day.”

Ignis was gone as silently as he appeared.

“I will tell you this now,” Leviathan spoke to the hoard in his chamber. “The next to fail will meet their end by my hand. Think before you try to trick power from me.”

The air filled with the deafening sound of squawking demons, their chaotic wings beating wildly as they scrambled and tripped over each other in a frantic race to flee the throne room. The stench of sulfur permeated the space, thick andsuffocating. Every surface seemed to tremble under the weight of their panic and desperation. It was a scene straight out of a nightmare, one that would be etched in the memory for years to come of all the demons who would one day pay for their treachery.

Their deception ignited a burning fire within him.

Leviathan was done.

“Get. Out.” Each word was loud, but spoken calmly. Clearly.

As Leviathan’s intense gaze swept over the remaining demons, his formidable presence seemed to fill the air. His body coiled with restrained power, a warning to any who dared to challenge him in this state. The demons, cowering and trembling, scattered like a swarm of insects fleeing from a burst of water. They knew better than to ignore the Lord of Evy in his wrathful form.

Sinking back onto his throne, Leviathan tried to calm his rising rage, lest he look like another prince and not himself.

His breath came in harsh gasps as he tried to calm himself down. The scent of burning ash lingered in the air, reminding him of what he had almost found. A low growl rumbled in his chest as he stared at the now-empty space where the line of liars had been displayed moments before.

With a sharp flick of his wrist, Leviathan sent every item tumbling across the room in a furious display of power. Dishes cracked, wine bottles shattered on the floor, and even the walls trembled under the force of his wrath. But still, there was no sign of the woman he sought. Only broken dreams and shattered hope.

He stood abruptly, wings snapping open with an audible crack that echoed through the room as he paced restlessly back and forth.

Leviathan was alone now, surrounded by the empty space where he’d dared to believe something waited for him. He’dassumed his offer would have brought the demoness back to him, but it seemed even now she believed herself better than him.

“Sir,” Ignis walked from in front of him, returning with a frown on his lips. “This human insists the necklace is hers. She would not leave and has insisted she will sit there on the steps.”

Leviathan did not bother to contain a snarl. He did not have the patience for this right now. This woman was not merely filled with envy, she was clearly prideful and in the wrong realm.

Leviathan gave the demon lord Ignis a look filled with irritation and annoyance, one that would make lesser demons cower. His wings flared wide, casting large shadows on the floor as he turned away in a huff.

“Fine,” he snarled, standing so that he might end this sooner rather than later.

With a fierce thrust of his wings, Leviathan burst into the air, shattering the glass ceiling of his grand throne room. The shards rained down around him like sparkling crystals, amplifying the menacing aura that radiated from his demonic form. He couldn’t let this foolish human underestimate him—he had to remind this human woman of his true nature. As he soared higher, the wind whipped through his ebony feathers, carrying the scent of smoke and brimstone with it. His powerful wings beat against the currents, propelling him towards his unsuspecting prey.

Before him, the City of Envy spread out like an intricate puzzle of despair and corruption, with its twisted spires and smoky skyscrapers reaching toward a blood-red sky. Below him, demons scurried like roaches under a powerful light, their foul smell assaulting his senses—a mix of rot and burning flesh that made him feel alive.

He descended upon the steps like the wrath of hell itself, his dark wings casting a shadow that engulfed both him and the human on the top step. The wind howled in his wake, whistlingpast his ears as he landed with a thud that sent vibrations through the ground beneath their feet.

His trajectory almost halted when he saw the long mane of red hair and knew the stupid human who stood before him without her looking.

“Ashe,” he snarled her name, longing to see fear in those piercing ice blue orbs of hers. How could she be here?

Instead, she stood tall and unyielding, staring back at him without flinching. He couldn’t help but be impressed by her bravery—or perhaps it was foolishness.

His heart quickened at the mere sight of the human, but he forced himself to ignore it. This wasn’t about her, and yet she managed to captivate him with her boldness for coming here. The way her icy eyes sparkled in the dim light and how her hair fell in soft waves around her face were impossible to ignore. But he couldn’t let himself get distracted in this crucial moment. The sound of his own racing pulse echoed in his ears, a reminder of the stakes at hand.

Ashe did not belong here. Ashe would never belong to him.

Her beauty had only grown since the day they had first met. Her striking features and captivating gaze were like a spell, drawing him in with every glance. The thought that she could have any claim to the demon necklace was absurd, impossible even. How could someone so ethereal and pure be connected to something so dark and menacing? It seemed inconceivable.

His thoughts raced with a mix of intrigue and suspicion.

“State your business, mortal,” Leviathan demanded, his voice dripping with authority, “And be quick about it, lest you wish to suffer the consequences.”

“I’ve come for the necklace that you’ve boasted you have.”

“As have so many others. Let me tell you,” He walked a tight circle around her, shielding her from the view of others whileensuring his power washed over her. “I just made a vow to destroy the next demon who failed to get it correct.”

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