Page 46 of Claiming Demons

ANAIS

“Makeway for your most glorious host, His Excellency, the High and Most Royal God-King, Horus!” The voice boomed across the hall and everyone hushed for a moment.

I looked and saw Ramsey first, towering over most of the others nearby. The man next to him was opulently attired in far too much gold and gilt. His crown was a towering thing of red and white with a large golden snake emerging from the front, and his eyes scanned the crowd, haughty and superior.

“The only thing Horus is king of, is assholes,” Hera said with a sniff. “He’s nearly as bad as Zeus.”

I laughed… just a little too loud… and it echoed across the silent hall, making all eyes turn to me, including Horus’.

“Who is this most enchanting woman?” Horus demanded, hurrying toward me as Harmonia, Aphrodite, and Hera formed a barrier in front of me.

Horus glanced at the three women as he drew near.

“If you three wish to join me in bed with this new woman, I would be happy to oblige you,” he said with a cocky sneer. “But otherwise, let me through, so I might get to know my future bride!”

His gaze was all lusty possession. Zeus’ eye-fucking had been blatantly sexual… but Horus’ eyes were putting me in chains, claiming me, then defiling me, and I shivered with disgust.

“Stay away from her,” Ramsey said, a crushing hand on Horus’ shoulder, pulling him back. Ramsey then spun around to face the man putting himself between us.

Horus stepped to the side so he could see me again.

“Is this your new woman?” Horus asked with desirous awe. “I knew I’d have to have her. The tales haven’t done her justice. Give her to me Ramsey or face my wrath.”

He spoke as if I was something to be passed from man to man. What a dick. Hera was right, he was king of assholes for sure.

Ramsey didn’t move. Instead, he gripped Horus’ chin and forced his face up to look at Ramsey again.

“No. Fucking. Way.” Ramsey’s tone was scary. I’d never heard this level of outrage. “And I don’t fear your wrath, cousin. You, however, should fear mine!”

I felt it then, Ramsey’s strife being unleashed and pouring over everyone in the area.

Horus stepped back, tearing his face out of Ramsey’s grip. “I am The God King and I shall have what I desire! I claim it by Divine Right!”

Gods, this idiot was nothing more than a petulant child!

Ramsey’s voice was deathly low, rumbling. “So be it. I challenge you to a Divine Duel!”

Everyone around us gasped.

I sighed out a long, “Fuck.” I didn’t even know what a Divine Duel was, only that everyone around me seemed to think it was a big deal.

“Ramsey, don’t do this, I—”can protect myself.But I never got a chance to say it.

Ramsey spun around to face me. “You’d give yourself to him?” he demanded, his face contorted in rage-filled disgust.

Horus gave a victorious laugh.

“No,” I said loud enough for everyone to hear. “But Icandefend myself.”

Ramsey blinked. “Right, yes, sorry, Ana.” He came and knelt before me. “But please allow me to be your champion in this. I’ve been waiting for a chance to beat the snobby superiority out of my cousin for thousands of years.”

I couldn’t blame him.

I raised a hand, the gesture telling Ramsey to wait just a moment for my decision. Then I summoned my war and law, my shimmering armor forming around me, sword in hand as I strode over to Horus.

“You are a perverse and whiny child of a god. You’d never be man enough for me, and if you ever get closer to me than we are now, I will cut you down, I swear it.” My voice carried and echoed through the hall.

Everyone heard my oath, my vow, and power reverberated through me as it had when I’d confronted Ramsey’s father.

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