Page 52 of Cruel Queen

“Get your hands off me, demon!” she shouts, but Lucifer only laughs, and that laugh is satanic in nature.

“I am not a demon! I am the fucking king of demons, so watch your words before I slice your tongue from your mouth.”

I gape at Lucifer, not knowing exactly what to say.

“Remove your hand,” Max says, now standing in front of us.

“Tell him,” Lucifer commands, squeezing down harder on her neck. “Or I will end you right here, right now, and take you to Hell with me to play.”

“I shifted into you,” Levy admits to Max on a pathetic cry. “I didn’t wantherto come, so I toldherwhen I was you that you didn’t wantherto come.”

My mouth hangs open at her words.

“She is the reason you left?” Max asks, looking at me.

“No, I thoughtyouwere,” I tell him.

“I would never leave you willingly. It’s been weeks. I never thought I would see you again.”

“This is cute and all, but I must really be going,” Lucifer says simply and turns to me. “When you need me, remember tobe.” He looks to Levy, who’s still in his grip. “And you, my dear, are coming with me.” He snaps her neck, and I watch as her lifeless body falls to the ground. Grim appears, and his surprised expression stuns me.

“Hello, old friend,” Lucifer says, but Grim is looking at me.

“Oh, I see.” Lucifer grabs hold of me again, and we are gone.

ChapterFifteen

We reappear in the sitting room of Lucifer’s domain. Valefar is seated in the chair where Lucifer sat earlier and glances up at our entrance.

“Fancy seeing you two again. Bonding, I hope?”

I push away from Lucifer. “You killed her,” I say in shock.

“I did. She betrayed you. You have to be a cruel queen to rule this world.”

“Why does everyone keep saying that? I donotneed to becruel.”

“But you do,” Valefar interjects. “No one nice can hold a throne.”

Lucifer walks over to his son.

“Grim.” He says the name, and Valefar looks at me. “So, the rumors are true. He has fallen for an earth woman.” Lucifer spins around. “Never thought I would see the day…”

“He hasn’t. We aren’t a thing,” I tell him.

“That Angel has been saving you, correct?” Lucifer asks.

“Correct.”

“He knows what you are, but never shared it with you.” I nod through a rough swallow, wanting to leave right this second. “Interesting. I wonder if he was afraid of what you might do if you knew. Too late for that now, I suppose.”

“I’m leaving.” I close my eyes, intending to think of Max, but Grim pops into my head instead, and somehow, I end up in the in-between, and I find him staring out at the ocean. He knows I’m here and turns around slowly. When his silver eyes lock on mine, I’m not sure what to do.

I shouldn’t be here.

I should be with Max.

Yet, I came here.

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