Page 91 of Bellamy
Two days had passed since the attack on the mansion. After leaving Bellamy, I had wandered around Echo Bay for hours, then teleported across the world. I had no one. No friends, only enemies. It was how I’d built my life. Never trust. Never love. The underworld was the only home I’d ever known. Or so I’d thought.
My time at the mansion had shown me a kind of peace I never imagined was possible. I’d found love. Although the Nephilim brothers had still been wary of me, they had slowly begun to accept me as Bellamy’s mate. I had broken my own rules and let my guard down. I had let myself be happy.
And now it was gone. All of it.
Not wanting to waste time by walking, I envisioned the doors outside the throne room and teleported there.
“Phoenix,” one of the guards said in surprise. He was young and had a wide-eyed innocence. If he wasn’t careful, the world would chew him up and devour the pieces.
“I’ve come to see the king. Is he in there?”
“Y-Yes, sir.” He went to open the door, but the guard opposite him flung out an arm to stop him.
“Wait,” the bigger male snarled. “This traitor is no friend of the king. Not anymore. I heard he’s been sleeping with the enemy.”
“All the more reason to open the door,” I said, more composed than I felt. On the inside, I was a wreck. “So the king may punish me as he sees fit.”
After pondering for a moment, the bigger demon nodded and opened the door. I stepped into the throne room, making note of the guards inside. Two at the side entrance and three along the wall beside the main set of doors I’d just passed through.
Duke, the demon who’d replaced me, straddled Asa’s lap, grinding against him. Asa’s long fingers curled around Duke’s lean waist.
I cleared my throat.
“You have a lot of nerve showing your face here,” Duke said as he looked at me.
“Off.” Asa slapped at his hip. “We have a guest.”
Duke slid off the king’s lap and took position to the side of the throne, a scowl on his face.
“Have you come to grovel?” Asa asked, cheek resting on his hand as he smirked down at me. “Beg for my forgiveness like the spineless creatin you are?”
“No.” I stood at the foot of the dais that led up to him. Any sign of a threat from me and the guards would spring into action. I’d have swords jammed into my body, Caesar style.
“Then why have you come? Hopefully not to waste my time. I have preparations to make after all.”
Preparations for war. Now that he had Lucifer’s sword, he believed himself invincible. Light Bringer leaned against the edge of the throne, and although sheathed, I still felt the power emanating from the blade.
“Phoenix?” Asa tapped his fingers on the arm of his throne. “You’re testing my patience. If that heartbroken expression on your face didn’t amuse me so much, you’d already be dead. My amusement only goes so far, however, so let me ask again. Why are you here?”
“To negotiate.”
“Negotiate what? You have nothing I want.”
“My life.” I dropped to one knee in front of him and bowed my head. “In exchange for his.”
“His?”
“Bellamy’s. Do what you want with me. Kill me. Torture me. Whatever. But when the time comes, spare his life. Please.”
Asa had Light Bringer. The future he’d foreseen would come to pass. The Nephilim would fall by his hand. All of them would die.
“Interesting.” Asa stood and walked down the three steps to reach me. He forced my face up, his fingertips digging into my jaw. “It seems you’ve grown a backbone in the time you’ve been away. The Phoenix I know would never offer up his own life to save another.” He slid his fingers through my hair before gripping my horn. “Why are you in this form? It’s repulsive.”
I recalled the way Bellamy used to smile at my horns. How he had gently caressed them while we’d made love.
“Oh, little pup.” Asa tsked. “Those sad eyes won’t work on me. But I admit it pleases me, you being this way.” He brushed the bangs from my brow. “You offer up your life, but you fail to see that your life has been mine this entire time. I could easily kill you with the snap of my fingers.”
“So why haven’t you?” I kept my gaze lowered. I didn’t want to look at him.
