Page 19 of Demon Sworn
That I know for a fact, because Akor’s experienced her when she’s in punishment mode. My eyes trail over Lucillania’s hand in horror, anticipation throbbing in my throat.
But the Queen of Hell simply strokes Katrina’s hair and lets my mate snuggle her like they’re besties.
All the guys get to see my shocked face, an expression I rarely wear because it makes me feel so damned stupid, but it happens now as I watch my queen and my mate embrace.
Part of me feels like taking a quick trip to Hell just to make sure it didn’t freeze the fuck over. But another part of me gets warm and fuzzy and shit.
I get the tiniest whiff of lust magic from Van, who clearly likes the idea of our girl and the devil hugging—or maybe just likes the view of Katrina’s ass as she pushes it out—but when I use my eyes to punch his lust in the dick, he starts to study the carpet instead of Katrina.
Akor opens his mouth, probably to say something stupid, so I walk on over and help him out by tossing an arm around his neck and squeezing in warning. His machete hand drops so that the weapon is level with my dick, but I don’t even flinch.
I’m the leader of this murder, and this is his warning. Besides, what he can do to me is nothing compared to what a pissed off Lucillania can do. I’ve heard that one bite from those hellhounds of hers can turn your veins into lava.
“No talking,” I whisper in his ear before releasing him.
He glares at me but doesn’t argue, because even though he's crazy, Akor knows what kind of punishment Lucillania gives to those who use their free will poorly. He’s had a first row fucking seat to it.
My eyes glide back to my girl, who is currently explaining why she disagrees with us about going to the peach farm.
“Angels can’t lie, right?” Katrina asks. “So if they said it wasn’t them, we have to believe them. It has to be someone else.”
Lucillania’s face twists into a snarl. If there’s one thing in the universe that she hates more than the fact that God has created a massive PR campaign against her, it’s the fact that he’s created an entire species without free will. His own personal set of slaves.
There’s a shift in the air, like the oxygen literally is sucked from the room. My throat clenches and my lungs burn in panic when it feels like I can’t breathe. All around, I see the eyes of my brothers go wide as they struggle as well. A glance at Katrina tells me jack shit because her face is turned towards the devil.
My mind flickers with commands.Check on her. Move. Breathe faster.But none of them seem to sink in enough for my limbs to do as ordered.
I watched dumbly, frozen, while one of the hellhounds rubs against the devil’s calf, and she looks down at him. He whimpers, and suddenly, air’s restored and we all gulp.
Lucillania reaches over and swipes Katrina’s cheek with a gentle touch one might think was a mother’s touch if the Queen of Hell didn’t look so young. I have to blink twice after I see it just to make sure there isn’t something fucking stuck in my eyes. I’d say a nightmare or an illusion demon had come in Lucillania’s place, but there’s no one in all the universes who can replicate her hellhounds…or the utter terror she evokes.
“You’re right, Katrina—angels generally aren’t able to lie.” Lucillania stands then, stalking across the room in her tight jeans, leather jacket, and heels. She’d look like some fifties gangster if it weren’t for the purple hair. A ball of flame jumps to life in her hands, and we all wait as she paces. The room fills with smoke as she tosses the ball from hand to hand.
Finally, she turns towards Katrina. Not me, head of my murder, but to my human mate, my sweet innocent Center.
“Whoever impersonated your parents isverygood at lying. And lying comes from my realm. One of the many abuses of free will.” Her voice drops an octave and gains a spine-chilling horror movie echo when she says, “We’ll find them. And they’ll be punished.”
Katrina stands up and swipes at the remnants of tears on her cheek. Her eyelashes are clumped together in beautifully sad little triangles above and below her eyes as she stares at my boss and asks, “How?”
The devil’s smile isn’t pretty. It’s the smile of a serial killer. But that sort of evil confidence sends glee swirling through my stomach. It means that Lucillania has a plan.
“I happen to have a demon who’s quite the expert in dealing with lies.”
Katrina tosses a grateful hand over her heart. The relief is evident in her breathy voice as she says, “You do? Oh, thank you, Lucy. You have no idea what this means to me. You’re the best. I’ll bring you a million chocolate muffins, I swear.”
I watch Lucillania’s smile grow soft, and I realize that Katrina’s sweetness touches her. My chest swells with pride that my mate can charm even the Queen of Hell. But of course she can. Katrina’s the purest soul that’s ever existed.
“So where do we need to go? What do we need to do?” Katrina’s tone gets a bit frenetic. It’s clear she’s desperate to take whatever next steps we need to find Adam. I am too.
But I’m completely unprepared for Lucillania’s next words. They hit me like a right hook to the jaw.
“Well, I think it might be time for you to visit Christmas Village.”
Dismay and disgust trickle in through my ears when I hear those words.No.
The devil’s head turns sharply as if she can hear my thoughts. “It’s time for you to get reacquainted with your old friend Cal, Raziel.”
Fuck.
