Page 63 of Hell Bound

Great Hell, it was like being a pubescent demon again.

“I’ll get the pie,” I muttered, having completely forgotten I’d come in here for a shower, but to my surprise Lilith stood up, clutching the blanket tighter around her shoulders.

“Um… I could come with you,” she offered, looking at the ceiling, the walls, the floor; anywhere but at me and the front of my pants. “I haven’t been to the kitchens yet, and if I ever want to sneak food for myself, I’d like to know where to go.”

I shouldn’t let her wander the halls with me. I was expected to guard her, but it would only make life harder for her if she was seen with only one male escort, one who was known to be on his knees for her in all conceivable ways…

Pypentha lowered her magazine far enough for me to see her raised eyebrow, and Deasley let out a low wolf-whistle.

The corner of Lilith’s lips twitched, but she cast her gaze up at me from under her lashes and I broke.

“I’ll show you the way,” I told her, my heart beating a little faster at the idea that she wanted to be alone with me. “The hall near the storage rooms is usually empty. Easier to get through without being seen.”

I was so distracted by Lilith that I only heard the footsteps seconds before the door slammed open, narrowly missing her.

Odragir’s acidic green eyes scanned the room, already looking for a fight. A cruel smile spread across his face when his gaze found Lilith. She backed up several paces, eyeing him warily and clutching the blanket tighter than ever.

The tension stretched like a band. Pypentha lowered the magazine, and even Deasley’s laughter had faded, his smile fading to a wary frown.

My wolves were on the edges of their chairs, Pypentha now in a crouch, their muscles bunched under their skin as they readied themselves.

Odragir stepped in, shutting the door quietly.

“Oh, what do we have here?” he whispered, his lips curling back to expose his fangs. “The little whore queen, breaking all the rules her lord and husband laid down.”

Lilith’s chin shot up, and she glared down her nose at him even though he was two feet taller than her.

“It sounds to me like you’re just mad that I won’t ever beyourwhore.”

Odragir’s sneer deepened. He hadn’t expected her to defend herself. Honestly, I hadn’t either, but I should have.

“I wouldn’t touch you with Lucifer’s cock. I don’t consort with filth.”

“That must make it really hard to look in the mirror then, huh? It would explain what’s going on with all this up here though.” She waved a hand toward Odragir’s disheveled hair, and Deasley snickered.

“Worthless bitch, I can’t wait to see you get what you deserve. I might even help you dig your grave this ti—”

A red haze covered my vision.

Deasley was at my side in an instant, and with the fury flowing through me, it took us seconds to manhandle the bastard into the next room, where the thick stone walls would prevent anyone outside from overhearing the fight.

Odragir twisted out of Deasley’s grasp, slashing his claws through the incubus’s shirt. He laughed, lifting a finger in a “come-on.”

To his credit, Deasley didn’t back down. He growled, driving his elbow into Odragir’s gut—but even that barely drove the larger wolf back.

Before Odragir could move, my hand shot out, slamming into his throat and shoving him backwards until he was pinned against the wall.

“You seem to forget your lessons rather quickly,” I told him. My claws extended, punching through his flesh. “The queen and Deasley are under my protection.”

And the next time the wordwhoreleft his lips directed at Lilith, I was going to rip his tongue out by the root.

Odragir’s green eyes were glowing with the eerie green native to the Spectral Court. He let out a rasping laugh that became a cough when I squeezed harder.

“Your protection isn’t worth a shit, Morningstar. Keep digging your own grave, I’m looking forward to taking your place.”

My fangs pushed forward, the wolf inside me longing to rip into him. “This pack will never be yours.”

“Oh?” Odragir gripped my wrist, trying to dislodge my hand. It went nowhere. “You’re on thin ice with the king. One day he’ll get tired of watching you try to steal his queen, and when that day comes… well, let’s just say I’ll be celebrating hard that night.”

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