Page 49 of Hell Bound

Staring blankly ahead, I moved through the crowd until I reached the head table where my asshole husband sat. His smile was blinding in its brightness, and I hated how beautiful it made him.

How had he become this… thisvillain? Was he born psychotically sadistic, or had something happened to make him this way?

And did it truly matter?

No matter the cause, he was responsible for his choices, and he would pay for them. Imagining creative ways to make that happen eased my fury enough for me to be seated at his side and not grab for the first knife I laid eyes on.

The bastard had been talking, giving another one of his gloating speeches, I was sure, but the blood rushing in my ears had blocked it out.

Now that I was seated beside him, however, there was nothing that could block out his cruel words.

“This is just how I like you, Lilith. Pretty, silent, and obedient. Maybe we’ll make this a permanent part of your attire.”

A shrill giggle came from behind him, and I cringed.

Tavila. She stepped between us, blocking me from Asmodeus’s view. I had the absurd urge to thank the bitch.

“I agree, my King. She should always wear it so she remembers her place.”

“As you should remember yours, succubus.” But there was no anger in his voice as he slipped an arm around her waist and yanked her onto his lap. “Mmm, it’s right here, whenever I want you.”

The urge to shove the spiked wedge through the back of my head was insanely strong.

“Are you hungry, my beauty? I had a special meal prepared this evening.” The plate in front of him was laden with roasted meat, the tendrils of steam rising from it beckoning me.

I looked at my own plate, heaped with the same, along with side dishes I didn’t recognize. They must be delicacies of Hell.

The smells were decadent, and my mouth watered around the spike. I was starving.

When I’d tried to eat earlier in the day, there always seemed to be some reason I was supposed to stay in my room, or present myself to Asmodeus for a quick berating.

His eyes locked onto me as he cut a small piece and held it to Tavila’s mouth. She took it between her lips with an eye roll of bliss and a hum of pleasure.

It had been intentional. He’d wanted to make sure that I was famished by dinner, and now I couldn’t eat a single bite without ripping my cheeks open.

“How is it?” He swiped at the corner of Tavila’s mouth, even though there was nothing there. They were so fucking obnoxious. “It’s the Queen’s favorite, you know.”

“Perfection, my King.” She licked her lips, dipping forward to kiss him. Darting a smirk of satisfaction my way, she took another bite.

She was going to learn one day that I didn’t give a shit what they did together. There wasn’t a chance in hell she’d ever get the reaction she wanted.

My stomach growled and both of them smiled broadly.

Rather than risk vomiting when it had nowhere to go, I turned my attention to the rest of the room. No one stared out right, but I caught plenty of furtive peeks coming my way. I wished I could hear the whispered conversations.

How many of them were sympathetic?

And how many believed I got exactly what I deserved?

One of the servants came to whisk away my untouched plate, and I could’ve sworn I saw a glimpse of pity when they placed another full plate in front of me.

This one smelled even better than the last. It looked like pasta, but the noodles were a vibrant green with a thick black sauce.

My stomach garbled its distress loud enough to draw a smile from Asmodeus.

The rest of the meal passed at a crawl, and I did my best to dissociate.

It was next to impossible when dessert was served. Cartoon wisps of steam assailed my nose with the rich scent of chocolate.

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