Page 153 of Hell Bound

And everyone pretending to be completely oblivious to the torture that was taking place in the same room.

Until they weren’t.

“Good evening, niece. I’m sorry we have to see one another again under these distressing circumstances.” Duke Sorath’s expression was the picture of compassion and empathy, but the eyes didn’t fit.

No, those were cold and filled with malicious glee.

“I’m sorry we have to see one another again. Full stop.”

That wiped the fake concern off his face, revealing the dark, angry man beneath. He made no attempt to hide his sneer, now that he’d let the facade fall away.

“You know, it’s a shame. Your mother was nothing like you. She knew how to hold her tongue around a demon and remembered her place.”

“My mother was a queen in her own right. The leader of all succubi. There’s not a chance in Hell that she allowed anyone to disrespect her, male, female, or animal. Since you fall into the last category, I’m certain you never uttered a strong word to my mother.”

“Is that what you believe?” A cruel smirk twisted his lips. “I doubt you even remember the day she died. You were there, you know, just beyond the door, but you never knew what was happening in the throne room.”

My bare spine chilled against the stone behind me.

“You’ve been led to believe it was your father who took your mother’s life, but that’s not the truth. She got to the throne room, and that’s where I awaited her. He distracted her as I came up behind her and slit her throat like the rabid bitch she was.”

Fury replaced every molecule of embarrassment in my body, and I shook from the tension of clenching my muscles so tight.

“For such a ‘strong’ leader, she was remarkably stupid. To believe that the ruler of the Illicit Court would ever bow to her, or even deign to form an equal alliance. She was beneath me, as are you. Which is exactly a demoness’s place.”

I leaned forward as much as my chained hands would allow and lowered my voice conspiratorially.

“Hey, Unc? All I hear from there is that you’re a fucking coward who had to sneak up behind a queen to catch her unaware. Is that because you have no actual strength beyond being able to command others? Is it because she would have snapped you in fucking half?”

The slap rang out across the room, silencing the revelry.

My cheek burned, but my smile was a mile wide.

“That’s what I thought.”

“You whore, I will—”

“My lord? The king wishes you to come join him at his table on the dais.”

“Not now,” he grated, fist clenching around the wine goblet he held.

“I’m sorry, sir, the king has commanded your presence immediately.”

Sorath glowered, but he knew better than to defy Asmodeus in his own home. It was a lesson that I clearly hadn’t learned myself.

“See ya later, Uncle,” I chimed in my sweetest tone.

Glad he was gone, I exhaled deeply, trying to calm my nerves a bit before I was accosted by someone else.

I should have calmed faster.

“Queen Lilith, what a pleasure to finally make your acquaintance. I’m sorry you and your uncle seem to be on the outs.” A beautiful man walked around from my side to the front, where I could see him clearly.

And by beautiful, I mean soft, perfect, and delicate. There were only gently rounded edges on his face, not a sharp angle to be found. His golden hair was perfectly coiffed, and the kohl rimming his eyes made the emerald green pop intensely.

“Who are you?” I was skeptical as fuck of anyone who would use this opportunity to come talk to me.

“Forgive me, I’m Viriney, a noble of the Illicit Court.” My questioning expression turned into an all-out frown.

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