Page 41 of Metatron

“Everyone knows Hell princes lie.”

I expected the slap but could do nothing to block it. My lip split, and I tasted salty copper. Lovely. This would probably make Isadora even crazier.

She sniffed and growled. “Oh, you are teasing Isadora. I must have a bite.”

“Astaroth said to not kill me,” I huffed quickly.

“Daddy said keep you alive, but he didn’t say if you had to keep all your bits.” She smiled wide, showing off the jagged dentition. “What should I eat? Face so you can’t scream? A foot so you can watch?” She smacked her lips, and my stomach lurched.

I closed my eyes as she leaned close to murmur, “Call me ugly? Maybe I’ll bite off your yummy nose.” She pressed a moist kiss on the tip of it, and I almost pissed my pants.

Just as I feared I’d be maimed, a sharp male voice snapped, “Step away from the Templar, Isadora.”

“But, Daddy…” The monster pouted, and my eyes shot open to see a man whose picture I’d memorized.

His name slipped from my lips. “Astaroth.” The demon prince himself.

“Always nice to be famous,” he said with a smarmy smirk. “And you are the Templar in charge who’s been causing trouble. Do you know your particular sect has ruined the most imp nests of them all? On track to beat your father.”

“What do you want?”

“Other than recognition and a triumphant return to Hell?” His smile widened. “I want to bring a present worthy of Hell’s King. I hear Lord Satan is hard to please, but what better gift than the beloved mate of an angel?”

“I’m not his mate.” Girlfriend maybe, but we’d never really spoken of our relationship and expectations for the future when we had sex.

“Does your lover know you lie? Maybe that’s why he likes you. Or could it be he sticks around because you’re a pivotal piece in this rebellion? I wonder what will happen when the Templars realize they’ve lost you.”

Despite the chill in my veins, I kept my tone steady. “If I’m gone, others will step in to take my place.”

“They’ll try, but let’s be honest, there aren’t many like you in the Templar ranks. How many will turn coward without a strong leader to guide them? Want to wager that some will bargain with hell instead of fighting?”

I hated that his insidious suggestions wormed their way into my head. “There are more of us than there are of you.”

“Which won’t matter if they’re all fighting amongst themselves. Humanity is so easy to mislead,” Astaroth offered with a sly smile.

“And so are you. Look at you, eager to return to a place where you will be one of many princes. Giving up all Earth has to offer, and for what?”

“For ultimate power of course.”

“You really think you can waltz back to Hell and be someone important?” I managed a derisive snort.

“I have a plan. And you’re only part of it.”

“I won’t help you.”

“Good. I hear Lord Satan likes his bedmates feisty.”

Of all the things I expected to happen in my life, getting given to Satan to use as a whore never made the list. Then again, neither did falling for an angel or saving the world.

“I’ll kill you before I let you take me.” It wasn’t just my mouth working now. My fingers could flex. If I could grab a knife, I could stab Astaroth in the heart, right here, right now.

“You’ll try. Won’t she, my precious?” My dumb butt had lost track of the Corpse Bride, and that proved my undoing, as fingers grasped my hair and wound cruelly.

I tried to contact Zilla, but my attempts felt muffled as if my calls were blocked. Most likely by the demon in front of me. I’d have to fight.

Shoving with all my might against the compulsion allowed me to suddenly gasp as her control severed. I moved quickly, pulling a knife from the sheath at my hip, and slashed, scoring a line across Isadora’s thigh. Her shriek almost pierced my eardrums; worse, she didn’t let go of my hair. A screech escaped me as she tugged hard, the pain sharp where she tried to scalp me. Isadora didn’t just yank. She punched me in the lower back, hard enough I gasped and bent over. Before I could recover, she slammed into me, taking me to the rough surface of the roof, her arm pressing against my neck, her fetid breath washing over me as she panted in my face.

“Don’t kill her,” Astaroth warned.

---