Page 86 of Hell-Bound

Azur froze, staring at Ren as if puzzling something out. He finally sat, lacing his still-blooded hands together.

It struck her.

No. Jester!

“What did you do to Jester?!” she screamed, voice cracking with agony and rage. The tears came now, unobstructed.

He did not break eye contact with her.

“What if I hurt him, Ren? What would you do?”

She drew her obsidian dagger.

“I don’t give a fuck if you’re Immortal. I will stab you until youwishyou were dead.”

Her tone was venom. She would. She would die there, making this creature regret ever touching her friend.

Azur smiled wickedly.

That wasit! She launched herself across the room, screaming and holding her dagger with both hands. She leapt into the air to swing down upon him as she vaulted the desk.

She froze—literally froze, hanging in mid-air.

Azur was holding a lazy hand up, still smiling. He sighed as if speaking to a lover.

“You are utterly remarkable. Though you would never allow yourself to admit it, we are similar. Beauty covering the heinous beast inside.”

He let her drop, landing roughly on his desk, with papers and quills flying.

“You have surprised me, my dear, and I am so very rarely surprised. For this reason alone, I won’t lock you up and torture you like that old fool in the dungeons. But to answer your question, no, it’s not Jester’s blood. I quite like my Jester, actually, and appreciate his unwavering loyalty.”

Her breathing was shallow, and tears still streamed down her face, smearing the ink on the various documents on the desk.

“I didn’t work with Xarek. I didn’tknowabout the tome,” she gritted through her teeth,

“Very well,” he said firmly. “Then our next step is that we must destroy Xarek. You and I.”

“Why should I help you?” she spat, anger still bubbling at the surface.

He raised an eyebrow.

“Did you forget that he plans to use you? Even if the prestigious Gilded Trianglecouldsend you back, Xarek is a powerful High Devil who will stop at nothing to hunt you down. You want to take fate into your own hands? Help me kill him.”

In her own hands. Freedom to make decisions for herself—to show The Planes, all the beings, Azur included, thatshewould decide her destiny. Killing a High Devil would definitely make her feel gloriously in control of her fate.

“What do I need to do?”

“That’s my girl,” he said, eyes gleaming. “I’m planning to host a party. All the High Devils, lords, and ladies of the plane will be invited. Xarek will not be able to resist this opportunity to challenge me. When he does, I will remove his head from his shoulders,” he said casually.

“Why can’t you just go do it now?”

“There are rules in my court. Xarek is Immortal, and as such, he is under my protection until he violates one of my edicts. Threatening his king publically would give me the freedom to act as I see fit in regard to his life.”

“And where do I come in?”

Azur sat back, looking like the picture of comfort.

“Xarek wants to use you. I will take you as my consort to show that you are mine. Every Devil in the planes will know that you cannot be touched. I have a feeling, however, that Xarek, in his devilish arrogance, will try to see how far he can get with you, and try to collect information. Instead, I wantyouto discover his plans. Then I kill him.”

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