Page 54 of Devil's Doom

His anger seems to evaporate as he pulls me closer. He offers me another piece, and as I take it into my mouth, he whispers, “I enjoy you the most when you beg.”

Lech chokes on a sip of blood and Woland gives him a cool look. In that moment, I understand he’s still jealous despite my assurances that no man touched me. That’s what all this is about. He puts on a show for Lech, which is utterly ridiculous and petty.

The realization makes him seem more real and approachable, just like the bed and eating. He’s a man with flaws and needs, someone tangible and warm, and not a nebulous force of evil made of shadows and menace.

I remember how he once said I couldn’t jerk him around by his cock, but this new revelation makes me think he was wrong.

Woland’s claws dig into my hip, and when the upir stops coughing, the devil grabs the back of my head and pulls me in for a savage kiss.

I kiss him back, delighted by my discovery. He sucks on my lip, kisses me once more, and pulls back. He doesn’t look at me but at Lech, whose cheeks grow pink, the unforgiving redhead complexion revealing his emotions.

“She’s magnificent, isn’t she?” Woland asks, leaning back on his throne, one hoof carelessly propped up against the table’s edge. “I suspect no disguise can hide her tenacity and power. Such a strong woman. Why have you brought her to me only now?”

Lech swallows, eyes darting between Woland’s face and mine. “To be completely honest, it was for her own good. Alina—I mean Jaga… She has a tendency to break the wrong rules. She needs to learn, and you need more people. And we… I hope for protection.”

Woland nods, extending a hand. His wine goblet floats into his grasp, and he offers it to me. I drink.

“You brought the child and its mother because you’re terrified of Jaga’s rule-breaking that saved the boy’s life,” he says, nodding. “As if that wasn’t the most magnificent thing about her.”

Lech opens and closes his mouth, his brow furrowing. Woland drinks from his goblet and sends it back to the table, calling his fork instead. He feeds me another bite.

“So you know,” Lech says. He glances at Rada, who looks between us, confused and wary.

“I do. And now, both of you will forget such a thing ever happened. Jaga never broke any laws. The boy has been healthy and fine all along, and neither of you needs to worry. Is the blood to your satisfaction?”

A flash of bright light passes over Lech’s and Rada’s eyes. They both freeze for a moment, and then Lech smiles, looking far more relaxed.

“Yes, it’s excellent. Thank you again for inviting us, master.”

Rada smiles, too, looking down when Dar wakes up with a soft cry. I frown. Woland feeds me another bite, and I chew slowly, looking at my friends, until I understand what happened. He used magic on them just now.

Suddenly, we’re surrounded by his shadows, just the two of us. Woland stretches his neck, his vertebrae cracking.

“They are fine. I simply made them forget,” he says. “It’s just a precaution. I won’t have you hauled away for tampering with life and death when your nervous friend inevitably blabs it out. If you have objections, say them now, and let’s go back. The upir is right. You need to learn a lot.”

I stare into his eyes, the gold sucking me in. Everything that happened between us today swirls in my head, and the more I try to understand him, the more tangled it gets.

Does he really care about me? Is he jealous because I’m important to him, or just because of his pride? Does he look out for me only because I’m the key to his victory? Whatisthis thing between us—lust, mind games, or something else?

And what do the marks on my skin actually mean? Is he in control, or am I? How much of what he said today was true?

“Well?” Woland asks, getting impatient. “Decide. You need to eat more, too, before you go. I won’t let you starve again.”

“It’s fine,” I say, still gazing into his eyes. They hold all the answers, and I wish I could pull them out one by one. “But who will removeyourmemories? How do I know you won’t give me away if it suits you?”

Woland throws his head back when he laughs, his throat bared, the knife within my reach. I wait, my fingers tingling, and when he finally looks at me, his expression is fond and a bit exasperated. I know it well.

“Darling, Perun would never believe a word I say. He is far too smart for that,” he says with a wicked glimmer in his eye.

I reach up and gently wrap my fingers around his throat, using both hands. His neck is muscular and strong from bearing the weight of his antlers.

Woland’s smile falls away, his eyes watchful but not afraid.

I squeeze just a little, just once. His cock jerks under my thigh, and I smile.

“I don’t know the rules of the game you’re playing,” I say softly as his lips part, tongue darting out to lick the lower one. “But I will learn them. And then I’ll cheat and win.”

The smile he gives me is predatory and dark, edged with cruelty. It makes me shiver from fear and lust, a familiar combination that has me hooked.

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