Page 77 of Hell Bound

The reddish hue outside the window deepened, and I realized I’d been lying there for hours. Thankfully, my sobs had died out and my breathing was even again.

But it had taken every last bit of my energy.

Uncaring that I seriously needed to clean up after being tossed all over the graveyard, I curled up on top of my comforter and clutched my pillow to my chest. I couldn’t hold who I wanted, so the pillow was the best I could do.

A few more silent tears snuck down my cheeks, so I closed my eyes to prevent any more.

I didn’t want to cry. I wanted to fight back. I wanted to destroy the son of a bitch who’d made it his mission in life to shatter me beyond repair.

I dozed off thinking of ways to make that happen.

The soft glowof candlelight made Asmodeus look more like a god than a demon. He loomed over me on the bed, and I prepared myself for what was about to happen.

It was my wedding night.

I’d been awaiting it all my life, the night my true succubus power would be awakened by the demon bound to love and protect me for all my days.

And Asmodeus would be a fierce protector.

Everyone in the Ardent Court had made it their business to tell me what a warrior he was, how he conquered lands and guarded them viciously.

Fear had gripped me the day we met, but I realized then that everything he showed the rest of Hell was a mask.

He was whatever he needed to be to protect what was his.

And now that included me.

His eyes burned into mine as he knelt up and grabbed my silk gown, tearing away the garment with ease. Instinctively, I covered my breasts as my cheeks burned.

It would be okay, though. He would show me the same sweet patience he had since the day he told me I was his betrothed. With his kindness and reassurance, he would make this night the best of my life so far.

I just had to trust him.

“Do not hide yourself from me.” The harsh command startled me, but not as much as his rough grip as he grabbed both of my hands and yanked them up over my head. He pinned both my wrists up as he looked his fill.

My struggles to free my arms went ignored.

“Asmodeus, wait, I… I’m nervous, I’ve—”

“Stop talking. If I want to hear anything you have to say, I’ll let you know. But I wouldn’t hold your breath, mywife.”

No, no, this was all wrong! Why was he acting like this?

Where was the sweet, gentle demon who’d courted me on his visits to Ardent? Who’d spent time listening to all my dreams when I’d come to see his home?

His hand shoved between my thighs, which had clenched together when he ripped my gown off.

“No! Stop, I don’t want you—”

“The days of your wants mattering are done.” With that same hand, he forced my legs apart, my fight to keep them shut completely ineffective. “Hear me, Lilith. The more you fight, the harder this life will be. I don’t need you happy, only alive.”

Tears broke, sliding down into my hair from the corner of my eyes. Hate unlike anything I’d ever known pooled in my gut.

I wouldn’t let him do this to me. If I couldn’t find a way out of the Infernal Court, I would escape the only other way I could.

“Try.” His goading sneer as he fisted himself and settled between my thighs. “After tonight, death won’t save you.”

I clenched my eyes tight as pain tore through my body.

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