Page 101 of The Demon Court

“I’m going to fuck you now,” he breathed into her. “It’s not the place I wanted, but if I’m not inside you in the next few seconds, I will stop breathing.”

“Yes,” she groaned, her hand reaching between them to stroke him. “Please, Lust, I—“

The carriage rolled to a harsh stop. Lust had to catch himself against the back wall, braced over her as he was. And though he felt a bit like he’d been caught with his cock in hand, not quite but close enough, he realized he couldn’t fuck her in the courtyard of the Tower while her entire family listened.

“Fuck,” he hissed before slamming himself into his own side of the carriage.

She stared at him with wide eyes, pink cheeks, and an “I just came” expression that almost made him launch back onto her side. Minerva be damned, he needed her now.

Common sense reminded him that she’d never forgive him for it, even if she enjoyed the sex while it was happening.

Running a hand over his face, he grumbled, “We’re home, darling.”

“This isn’t home,” she replied. It sounded as though she’d even surprised herself.

Lust gave her a wry grin. “You’re right. It isn’t. And yet, we’re still here. Go greet your family, little moon. Let me get a hold of myself before I join you.”

ChapterThirty-Four

They denied him access to the Tower. Selene had known they wouldn’t let him in, of course. Since when had any of her siblings allowed a man to be in their home without repercussions?

What she hadn’t expected was to miss him. She’d thought she would walk into her old home, the same young woman she’d been before. Selene truly believed nothing had changed.

She would see her mother and her sisters, and they would all rejoice that she’d survived thus far. She thought they would smile at her and tell her they were pleased to have her back. They’d eat good food, the kind she’d missed since leaving. She wouldn’t be the person dressed in odd clothing with odd ideals.

Of course, Minerva would pull her aside to hear her story about what had been happening in her absence. Her mother would want to know every detail and Selene would spare nothing.

Except... She wondered what Lust would say about the portraits on the walls. She wondered if he’d like the food, or if he would laugh at how simple it all tasted. He’d want more spice. More colors on the paintings. More everything.

And now, strangely enough, so did she.

Minerva pulled her aside quickly, before she could even sink back into the comfort of familiarity.

“You are to stay here for a few weeks,” she hissed. “I don’t care what that demon thinks. You will remain with us while you acclimate back to your own home.”

“I have no wish to force him to linger. If you want me to control him, Mother—”

“I think you have forgotten your task.” Minerva drew herself up to that great height, looking down at Selene with so much disappointment it made her chest ache. “You have been in that castle for too long. Don’t think I have forgotten the temptations that lie there. Remaining here will remind you why you are doing this. Do you not agree?”

She didn’t.

She wanted to go back to the castle where there were colors and laughter. Where people didn’t look at her with calculating expressions, nor did they want her to betray another person without remorse.

Everything was so jumbled in her head. She was supposed to manipulate Lust, and if she failed in doing that, then she was supposed to gather as much information about him as possible. Which she had done.

Minerva stopped her in front of the great white door that led into the dining hall. “You will tell me everything you have learned.”

She opened her mouth to do just that, but... couldn’t.

There were secrets in that castle that were now hers. Entrances and exits that only servants knew about. The truth was that Lust wasn’t a demon at all. He was a spirit. There were other spirits as well, and she’d met them. Some in physical form like his brother and some like Affection who existed outside of their realm. She also thought that Lust might be changing, and that terrified her more than anything else that she’d learned.

Because now she had a gut feeling that spirits could change. And she didn’t know what that meant.

All of that, and more, pressed against her tongue and she felt her throat working around them. But nothing came out. Not a single secret, because she didn’t know what her admission would do to those people she had come to care about.

Minerva tsked. “Do you see why you need to come home? You need to stay here, little girl. With us. And if you are incapable of remembering your own people, then who are you? Just a sad child left out in the storm. Remember that’s who you are without us, Selene.”

At Minerva’s harsh gesture, the doors to the dining hall opened more and Ursula stepped out. She kept her eyes on the floor as she said, “I’ll take you to your room, Selene,” she whispered.

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