Page 22 of How to Accidentally Become the Devil

I step between them before she comes back with a retort. “Come on,Amica Mea,I’ll show you the best seat in the library.”

Her eyes light up and she gasps as I grab her and jump over the railing, gliding us down to the first floor and steering us toward the corner where the fireplace sits.

eleven

Madelyne

"Okay, I love to read as much as the next book lover, but I need a break," I toss my current book,Herbal Remedies for Demonic Ailments, on the table before pushing out of my chair. The seats here are ridiculously comfortable but I need to move. Stretch my legs. I need toDO SOMETHING.

"I'm going cross eyed. It's beendaaaysand we're still no closer to finding a way to stop this." I pace the floor, avoiding eye contact with my three mates. I know they can feel my agitation in the bond, but that doesn't mean I want to talk about it. Or have them "fix" it.

“Maddy-” Belz starts but I walk away. I can't right now.

“I'm going for a walk,” I mutter as I leave my mates.

Hell, maybe I'll go for a fly.

My wings flutter at the thought of being able to soar through the skies again.

I really need to make more time for them

Like I always do whenever I venture out of the library, I head straight for Luc’s room. Something feels different as I walk into the closet. I can't tell what, but ifsomethingis different, maybe it's Luc. I rush to check on my grandfather, desperate to see a change in him.

I stop beside him and drop to my knees. He's still in the same spot he was when I found him days ago. He hasn't moved an inch. He's like a statue in his despair.

Tears silently fall down his frozen face. I feel like such a failure. I’m supposed to be some powerful demon. The next ruler of Hell. Yet I can’t even figure out how to help my grandfather deal with his intense emotions. I’m a fucking preschool teacher. I should know all about helping people process big feelings. I know this isn’t the same, but it doesn’t stop the imposter syndrome from setting in.

Oz is always telling me I can do literally anything I can think of with my powers. And he’s been proven right time and again. So why can’t I make Luc better?

I cup his cheek with my shaky hand and close my eyes.Come on magic. Do your thing. Fix him.

Nothing. This is pointless. Sighing, I drop my hand and look at Snowball. She looks at me as if she believes I can bring her master back from his comatose state and it kills me to keep disappointing her.

“We’re still working on it, Snow. I’m sorry, girl. I wish I could do something. But I just can’t.” I sniff away the unshed tears. I’ve never felt so useless. She bumps my thigh with her nose and I leave my pity party to scratch behind her ears. “You’re right. I think I just need a break. Watch over him. I’ll be back soon.” I kiss the top of her head before standing and leaving the room.

After I leave Luc’s quarters, I roam the palace halls mindlessly. My thoughts haven’t slowed since I was kidnapped—for the second time, for those keeping track. I’m hoping I’m just overthinking everything and once I give myself a break, the answer will come to me.

Unfortunately, that doesn’t happen before I spot one of my mates walking toward me.Of course, they would come looking for me. Looks like Zeph pulled the short straw.

“You didn’t have to come look for me. I was going to come back.Eventually,” I mutter under my breath.

He arches a brow and opens his mouth, always ready with a smart comeback, but before he can say anything, his breath hitches and he starts sobbing loudly. Just like Riz and the other demons.

“Zeph!” I cry as I fly down the hall, Elphaba and Glinda flapping hard enough to propel me to him in time to catch him as his legs give out.

The moment my arms wrap around my mate’s familiar body, I realize I was wrong. It’s not Zeph. It’s his identical twin whohatesme.

Elphaba and Glinda flutter to a stop as my feet settle firmly on the floor. Slowly, I lower us to a sitting position. I’m not a weakling or anything, but this demon is solid muscle. I know my strength enough to know I won’t be able to hold him up for long.

My skin must brush against his as I steady him because suddenly new emotions slam into me with such force, I’m left reeling. His anger is only overshadowed by his pain. It’s different than my mom and grandpa’s pain, and I can sense it’s from an old wound, but it’s got its hooks in him deep. So deep I wonder how he functions. It breaks my heart and I wish we had the kind of relationship where I could comfort him and he would welcome it. I can tell he needs it, but I doubt he’d appreciate it coming from me.

I hug him regardless. I can’t help it. My mate needs me. He may want to deny any connection we may have, but I can’t. I finally understand the pull of a mate bond. I don’t know what’s going on with him, but he doesn’t get to reject me without even knowing me.

I hold him as he cries tears that aren't his own, determined to save him not only from Luc, but whatever is holding him back. Something happened to turn him into this angry, wounded shell of a demon and I’m going to get to the bottom of it even if it means beating it out of him.

Zarreth

I almost turn away when I see her, but I get caught in her fucking snare. She’s so beautiful she can captivate even the most unwilling demon. Which I certainly am. I’ve made my disdain for her known. There’s no reason at all for me to stare at her as she walks the halls mumbling to herself.

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