Page 8 of The Monster's Desire

I’ve never seen one in person, but I’ve read about them. Nightmares feed off the fear and guilt of those around them. Nan gave me a book when I was studying supernaturals in high school, and it said that nightmare demons are feared even among their own kind.

“Well, isn’t this quite the intriguing find,” the demon says in a dark, raspy tone that makes goose bumps break out all over my skin. He seems like the kind of monster to play with his food before making the kill.

My fingers dig into the uneven wooden arms of the chair that I’m tied to. Yeah, things went from questionable, to bad, to really freaking terrible in the blink of an eye.

“High Lord Malice,” Kash says in a sniveling tone that makes me wish I could vomit on his shoes on command.

“Seriously? Ohmigod, I’m embarrassed for you at this point,” I mutter as my head rolls around. Did he drug me while I was out? That must be why it’s practically impossible to keep my head up straight.

“You look like shit, little witch.” The demon floats closer. A dark, clawed hand appears, and he turns my face from side to side. “Kash, my friend. I’ve got to say, I think you fucked upbig timehere, buddy.”

“We’re not friends,” Kash says in a much stronger tone. “I summoned you. You’re under my control.”

“I can assure you, no man rules over me,” Malice says with a hint of humor. Looking at me, he says, “No female, except one and, sorry, little witch, that’s not you either.” He boops my nose, glancing back to the portal. “They’ll be along shortly. I don’t know what detained them.”

“No problem,” I mutter as he releases my face. Kash drugged me. I’m almost certain of it. “You’re lucky I’m not sucking every drop of your blood out your eye sockets, you slimy piece of shit.” I glare at Kash, so he knows I’m talking to him.

“Of course, you’re feisty,” the demon says, laughing heartily.

The portal flickers as if it might close, but two huge demons come hurtling through at the last possible moment.

“Ahh, you made it,” Malice says, chuckling darkly. “Let the party begin.”

ChapterFour

Knight

My eyes fly to Wraith as he siphons through the air. In Hell, he wouldn’t be able to teleport short distances, like he can in the human realm, but even back home, he has the ability to phase through solid material, such as block or flesh. He’s going to say it; that cliché motherfucker can’t help himself. The way he’s studying Nadia makes it clear it’s coming.

Malice is still mostly in nightmare form. He floats to one of the decaying walls and leans against it before crossing his arms, like he’s just itching for the show we’re about to put on. His white teeth are the only thing fully visible in the darkness of his shadows as he smirks wickedly. If he wasn’t one of my oldest friends, that look would terrify me.

Wraith completely ignores the complaining warlock and proceeds to Nadia. She’s tied to an old wooden chair with strips of dirty cloth. It makes it very difficult not to slaughter the warlock without warning.

“Who did this to you?” Wraith asks, squatting down in front of Nadia’s chair. And there we go. I knew it was coming. He’s wearing his robe, and he has the hood up. I bet he looks just as terrifying to her as Malice does. “The dirty fuck of a warlock?”

“I didn’t do it to myself,” Nadia snaps and frowns. “I’m pretty sure he drugged me, because nothing is making sense right now.”

I chuckle. “I’ll bet not.”

She’s unaware that she’s met the two of us on many occasions.

Wraith and I have as much of an addiction to the little witch as Malice has to the sad-eyed fae. Aline is beautiful, as most fae are, but she’s a bit too cold for my tastes.

I much prefer the chaotic witch with more secrets than a cluster preparing to overthrow their Lord in Hell. She’s messy and imperfect, but I love the way her entire body shakes as she laughs. The way her eyes glimmer when she’s about to make a sarcastic joke. There’s also the fact she doesn’t take herself too seriously. Fine, I’m truly fucking besotted, and I can’t bring myself to care.

I suppose we’ll see if that changes once she realizes we’re here to make a deal. Months of planning have finally paid off. The wretched warlock took more coaxing than either of us imagined.

He finally did as he was told,partially.

Under no circumstances was he to injure or frighten our tether, but here we are. He will suffer rather than being absorbed and allowed to live out his days in Hell. Oh well, he made his proverbial bed and now he gets to lie in it.

“I was under the impression it was quite the romantic gesture to ask that question.” Wraith gives me a look of pure confusion.

It’s difficult to make out his face in the low light with the hood, but I can sense his confusion by the way he tilts his head like a bewildered puppy. The poor fucker is completely socially inept. It comes with the territory as a reaper. They’re feared, even among our own kind. We’re in a warehouse with two people, and she’s already stated she didn’t do it to herself. It’s not rocket science.

“It’s totally romantic if you don’t consume my soul to give that dick immortality,” Nadia says with a hopeful lilt to her voice. “It’s the sexiest thing I’ve ever heard.” She nods and groans as her head rolls back. “That was a bad idea. So bad, in fact, it bordered on downright awful.”

I spin around, aiming for the warlock. “Did you drug her?”

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