Page 117 of Hell Bound

A hint of the happy light I was used to crept back into his eyes, and he climbed on the couch.

Naked.

“Just gonna go ahead and put this here…” I draped the blanket over him, tucking it beneath his big thighs to keep it in place. I grabbed another quilt that wasn’t nearly as soft, but it would do.

Plopping down on the couch, I turned on an animated movie I hadn’t watched since I was a child.

I settled back into the plush cushions only to find myself being hauled to the side. Killian pulled me close and patted my knee.

After the night I’dalmosthad, the sweet gesture made my throat tighten up. I wrapped both my arms around his bicep, hugging tight as I rested my head against his shoulder.

We both dozed off before the movie was over, and for what felt like the umpteenth time in the past few days, I yelped when someone startled the shit out of me.

“Why didn’t you guys tell me we were having a movie night?” Pyp stood between us and the TV, fists cocked on her hips as she stared in accusation. “You know I love movies!”

“Sorry, it was impromptu. Kill seemed upset, and I thought this would cheer us both up.”

Her eyes went wide. “Wait, what the hell are you doing here? Aren’t you supposed to be with Odragir?”

I explained the deal I made, and her smile grew with every new added detail. She dropped onto the couch beside me, curling her feet beneath her.

I checked to make sure Killian was okay, but he’d fallen back asleep the minute he realized Pyp wasn’t a threat.

“How did you manage to get them to agree? Odragir’s stubborn and Tavila hates you.”

“I think–” I was hesitant to voice it, because if I was wrong, it would be crushing. “I think I might be getting some of my power back. I might have seduced them into it.”

“Damn, the commander’s gonna be damn proud of you.”

My throat tightened. “Where is he? Where’s everyone else?”

“Asmodeus sent them out on patrol. I have a feeling he thought if Lucifer was still within these walls, he’d storm up to your room and kill Odragir.”

A fair assessment. I was truthfully amazed that he’d managed to stay in his seat when Asmodeus informed Odragir of his “prize.”

“Why didn’t you go?”

“Someone had to stay back, and since Kill didn’t come to dinner, I offered to remain so I could check in on him.”

I glanced at Killian’s sleeping form. “Do you know why he’s so upset?”

“He gets like this sometimes, especially when Asmodeus’s Lick My Boots Ball comes up every year.”

I snorted a laugh at that. “That can’t be what it’s really called.”

“No, but it’s the outcome, so it might as well be. He brings people from all over Hell to show off his wealth and his might. They either bend a knee in fealty, or they meet with an accident before the week-long celebration is through.”

“Why do they even come if there’s a chance they won’t survive?”

“Because he’s a sneaky fuck. Between all his wolves and the Crone, there’s not much anyone can do to protect themselves if he’s after them. They all know it. The only ones who defy him are the Osseans, and that’s because their entire kingdom is underground and that’s the Crone’s home. We can’t get there, and she’d die before attacking her own people for him.”

My head swam with all of this information, the sheer lengths Asmodeus went to in order to gain and keep power.

For what? He was a miserable bastard, spending all his time plotting to stay ten steps ahead of everyone and never getting to enjoy the fruits of his schemes.

“How did you end up here with him? No one joins willingly, so how did he trick you?”

“He didn’t, actually. I was a ‘gift’ from another princess of the Tainted Court.”

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