Page 95 of Devil's Doom

“Why do you care?” I ask with a sigh, already knowing I’ll give in.

“It’s like I told you. I hate the thought that you might betray me. If you wear my ring, you’ll remember to whom you belong, and that’s my only goal.”

I clench my jaw and extend my right hand. Woland slips the band onto my ring finger with a pleased huff, his eyes hooded as he looks up, bent low over my palm. As soon as the ring is in place, a searing pain stabs my skin underneath.

“Ow!”

I rip my palm out of his and examine it. Nothing seems to be amiss, and the pain already fades, but when I try to pull the ring off, my finger explodes with agony.

“Just a little something to make it harder to take off,” he says with an innocent smile, his tail twitching smugly. “My thorns gave me the idea.”

I gape at him, shocked by this new audacity. “Do you mean to say this ring has thorns that stick in my finger? Are you out of your mind?”

“Yes,” he says with a bright, shameless grin. “I’m out of my mind with love and jealousy. Show me your hand. Isn’t it pretty?”

I get up without a word, my hands shaking from anger. Woland follows me with a laugh. At the door, I turn and stomp my foot.

“Don’t you have something to do?” I hiss.

“Of course. I need to examine the progress my dearest consort made under Wera’s watchful eye. Make sure to show off the ring. Her reaction should help you appreciate it a bit more.”

“Oh, just leave me alone,” I whine in exasperation, turning my back on him.

Something lashes my ass. When I turn with a growl, his tail hits the fronts of my thighs.

“I already left you alone and it ended badly.” He takes my hand, the one with the ring, and places a soft kiss on the inside of my palm. “Get used to me. I’ll accompany you as much as I can from now on.”

“You think I’ll leave again,” I say flatly, pulling my hand out of his. “That’s what this is about. How is your plot going? Do you have me where you need me?”

He twines his fingers with mine, walking by my side.

“I don’t know what you mean. There is no plot, pet. Only a man besotted with his consort. Here, you must be tired.”

When we reach the deadly staircase Draga had me run up every morning for the past month, Woland sweeps me off my feet with a grin. He carries me all the way up, humming a cheerful melody under his breath, and I let him, though my mood only gets worse.

“You are ridiculous,” I tell him when he kisses my forehead, going down a corridor toward the forge. “Whatever you’re doing, it won’t work. I won’t fall for this.”

His white teeth glint in a roguish smile that makes him look young and very handsome. “Shh, pet. Let me be happy.”

I scoff but say nothing else. When he carries me into the forge, the sounds of fighting die down until the room fills with deafening silence. People stop their workouts and duels, dropping into hasty, almost panicked bows.

Woland waves an indulgent hand, still carrying me in his arms. “As you were. No need for that, soldiers.”

Their reluctance to go back to training, as well as the uncertain looks the rebels throw each other, make me realize Woland doesn’t normally show up here. On the far side of the room, Wera watches us with narrowed eyes, her head still bald, the healed skin shining as if polished.

“Put me down,” I demand in an undertone, knowing how these people would react if they heard me speaking to their master like that.

“Soon. I know how sore you are, my witch.”

Unlike mine, his voice carries. He walks through the forge without haste, and people can’t help but turn and look at us as his hooves thud on the stony floor.

“And what’s the purpose of this performance?” I ask, my lips barely moving since I try to keep my face impassive against the curious glances.

“Just showing you off, pet.”

He deposits me in front of Wera, his hands lingering on my shoulders as he stands behind me, tall and warm. She drops into a deep bow, her fists clenched. I realize why—it looks like she’s bowing tome.

This, finally, is the one thing I don’t hate. Woland huffs with amusement when Wera straightens, ignoring me completely as she addresses him.

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