Page 142 of Hell Bound

Breath touched my skin, slipping downwards. She ran her claws over the flat plane of stomach just above my cock, then ducked her head.

I felt teeth graze, just catching the skin with a brief flash of pain. Her tongue darted out, laving the area in preparation for her bite.

The door opened, and a rush of cool air swept in. I gratefully filled my lungs as Sameera raised her head.

“Dear cousin,” she purred. “Do come in. I require a handmaiden for my bath.”

My jaw clenched as Pypentha walked in, her head held high.

Sameera had brought plenty of her own handmaidens. They lurked about her quarters day and night, each with hair as white as frost.

But the princess would ignore all of them in favor of the one she craved servitude from. Even now, her handmaidens remained silent, hidden throughout her quarters as Pypentha looked down her nose at her cousin.

Sameera raised a perfectly arched eyebrow. “Ready it, cousin.” She spoke through gritted teeth.

From the corner of my eye I saw Pypentha’s fists clenched at her sides, trembling as she fought the command.

Without looking at her, still watching the ceiling, I shook my head ever so slightly.

There were battles worth wasting that energy on, and Sameera wasn’t one of them, no matter how badly she wounded Pypentha’s pride.

Pypentha exhaled a steadying breath, her eyes bright with hatred as she disappeared into the bathroom.

Sameera rose to her feet in one languid, graceful motion, a cat-like smile of satisfaction on her face. The sound of running water punctuated her next command.

“Come, Lucifer. You will tend to me, as well.”

I strained against the commands just long enough that Sameera slapped me with the free end of the leash, leaving a stinging welt across my face.

Her bathroom was almost as luxurious as the queen’s, with a large marble bathtub sunken into the center of the room. A screen blocked the sight of a roaring fire behind it, and several bowls and trays lined the sides of the bath.

Pypentha knelt next to it, deliberately uncorking a bottle and sniffing it with a grimace. She was about to tip the oil into the bath when Sameera whirled around and grabbed her wrist, stopping her.

“Stupid bitch. Did I request oil in my bath?”

Pypentha glared up at her, nostrils flaring.

I shook my head again, knowing Sameera would not see it.

Pypentha re-corked the oil bottle, sullenly dropping it into the basket. “No, Princess Sameera.”

“Unclothe me.” Sameera held out her arms, and Pypentha rose to undress her, her movements stiff and claws barely sheathed.

Her hands were shaking as I took up my station opposite her.

Sameera stepped into the bath, lowering herself until she was fully covered, her white hair floating behind her like a cloud. She snapped her fingers, and we knelt.

While Pypentha was here, I would be obedient—hoping the second-youngest of my pack would take the hint and live to fight another day.

“You two fools still think you can defy the Infernal King, don’t you?” she asked, delicately picking through one of the baskets.

It held sharp implements for trimming nails, hair… and she finally pulled out a straight razor with delicate movements, holding it up.

The muted firelight caught the blade’s edge, sliding down the razor like liquid light.

“But things are about to change,” she breathed. “Great changes that will knit the lands of Hell once more… Lucifer, my pet, come into the water.”

I resisted. The chains did not falter.

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