Page 123 of Demon with Benefits
Valefor growled. “I will not be manipulated.”
“Try it,” she snapped. “Try fucking with me and see what Meph does.”
He said nothing.
Iris took two more steps toward the gate. It was not currently connected—unlike the one in Meph’s bedroom, she could feel no Sheolic magic thrumming from the sigil—which meant she’d have to activate it herself.
She didn’t know how to properly initiate hellgate magic. After she’d returned to Earth following her and Lily’s accidental trip to Hell, it was the first thing she’d started researching. The knowledge that if she’d known how to do it, she could have prevented Lily from getting thrown in the Pit with Paimon had been a pretty big motivator.
But it had only been six months since then. She hadn’t had time to practice properly. She’d stupidly thought that there was no more immediate danger.
Still, she was going to try, and she hoped like hell her instincts would kick in and her newfound power would help get the job done.
She stepped closer to the gate. Valefor still hadn’t moved. She kept expecting him to lunge at her at any second. He was twice the size of her. He could take her down in a heartbeat, and they both knew it.
But he was letting her go. Because he knew she was right—he could only control Meph as long as Iris wasn’t there.
Her heart was breaking at the thought of leaving Meph behind, but she promised herself it wouldn’t be forever. She’d come back with Bel, Raum, Ash, and Mist and drag him out of here kicking and screaming if she had to. But right now, she had to save her own ass.
Iris stopped at the edge of the gate, still facing Meph and Valefor, her feet inches from the outside line on the floor. Then, she closed her eyes and focused.
Feeling the magic of the gate behind her, she tapped into her inner power and visualized the other gate she wanted to link it to. She pictured the sigil on the floor of Meph’s bedroom. She pictured the messy clothes strewn all over the place and the smell of his cologne in the bedsheets.
She felt the magic connect.Holy shit, I’ve done it.The gates were linked, and she could feel the hum of energy at her back telling her it was active. Her escape was so close.
She looked at Meph. “I wish you’d come with me.”
“Silence,” Valefor hissed. “Leave now before I change my mind.”
She gulped, glancing between the two demons. One step backward, and she’d be through the gate.
“Please come?” she whispered to Meph. “I can’t offer entire demon armies for you to eat, but I can offer you a safe place surrounded by people who care about you. Remember Jacqui? And your brothers? They all miss you. They all want you back—”
“That’s enough!” With a roar, Valefor lunged.
The massive demon leapt off powerful hindquarters toward her, his claws poised to cut through her flesh like butter. Iris stumbled back into the gate, and the ground vanished beneath her feet.
The demon watched the prey disappear. His master lunged at her, swiping his large claws right where she had been standing moments before. Had she not fled, the blows would have struck her down.
The demon did not like that.
He didn’t like that the prey had left without him either, but the master had promised him more feeding if he stayed. He could prolong the frenzy and consume another castle full of fearful beings. He’d already fed so much, but he was still hungry. He was always hungry.
What the hell are you doing?the weakling hollered in his head. The demon had successfully suppressed his voice while he was lost to the hunt, but of course, his feeble counterpart forced his way through now.Don’t just stand there! Eat this fucker and go after her!
At that moment, the master straightened from his post-pounce crouch beside the empty hellgate and spun around. “I let her escape, of course,” he informed him, clearing his throat. “Just needed to give her a bit of a scare so she would shut up. I’ll go after her later and finish what I started, but for now, we need to focus on Murmur. Your little rebellion is over, Mephistopheles. You will obey me now or suffer the consequences.”
The demon growled. He was tired of obeying. The weakling’s suggestion echoed through his mind.Eat the fucker.
Eat the master.But the master was not for eating—
Why not? He’d done it before, and it had gone quite well for him. He’d gorged himself, escaped the pain of the hellfire whip, and stolen the prey and claimed her as his own. He had chosen to give her pleasure instead of fear, and she had accepted him. She belonged to him now.
And then you just let her leave the second Vale-fuck offered you some food? If she’s yours, then go get her, damn it! Stick to the plan!
“You will go to Murmur’s lair as I ordered,” the master declared, striding purposefully toward him, a claw pointed in his direction, “you will feed to your heart’s content, and you will bring me back that book. You will go now.”
Still, the demon hesitated. Though the master promised more hunting, the prospect of another mass feeding didn’t seem quite as thrilling anymore. Not without the prey at his side. He had enjoyed it most when they were together, when he could keep an eye on her and make sure no one tried to eat her but him.
