Page 38 of Hell-Bound

Ren bit back a retort. She turned, surrendering to her fate and still a little dizzy from the entire encounter.

“Oh, and Ren,” he called before she could escape. “Next time, please don’t hesitate to join in on the fun. Zelaia and I were most disappointed last night, and if I recall correctly, you didsoenjoy it last time we all were together.”

Ren’s breath hitched and her treasonous body flushed inwant. She had no idea how to respond. She wanted to object. To call him out on his disgusting lies.

But you don’t know, though…do you?

He only smirked wickedly at her.

So she turned and marched out the door with as much dignity as she couldmuster.

It was not hard to convince her. She is desperate. But so am I.

A blink and Ren was back in her dusty room. Jester was waiting for her, sitting on the floor crossed-legged, reading a book.

“Well, you took long enough!” he said, throwing the book behind him before it vanished.

Ren reached up to feel her forehead. It was clammy with sweat.

“Was I really there? Or was it just a dream?”

“Well, that depends,” he said, shrugging, “did you see a handsome Devil who talked to you about your contract?”

“Yes.”

“Then it wasn’t a dream.”

Ren could have sworn she heard him murmurdummyunder his breath.

“Why are you still here?” she snapped, shuffling around the room.

“I am here to help you!”

He held out his hand and, with a flick of his wrist, produced flame. It smoldered for a moment before forming into an elegant black envelope.

“You seem to beveeeeeryimportant, Ren.My lord already trusts you with an assignment.”

Ren flicked her eyes to the envelope but didn’t approach.

“My Lord? So you sold your soul to him too?”

He smiled slightly less gleefully.

“I guess we are in this game together, aren’t we?”

“I still don’t trust you,” she grumbled, walking forward to snatch the envelope.

The words on the front were a sophisticated script—redwith a dripping wax seal on the back that was still damp.

"To my beautiful muse," it said.

God, enough with the dramatics.

God? Did you summon me, my sweet?

Are you always in my head? Because I’m definitely not okay with that.

Oh no, no, no. I can only be in your head when you summon me.

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