Page 112 of Hell Bound

“I could give you a dull knife, order you to carve out her heart with slow, exacting strokes…” He mimed cutting a steak, his smile widening again. “Ahhh… orflaying. That would bring back memories for both of us, although I’m sure yours are much less fond.”

I gritted my teeth, my muscles aching from how tightly clenched they were.

“Roast her over a fire, hold her head underwater… there are so many things we could do.” He leaned in, only inches from my nose, hatred burning in his eyes. “In fact, I think I would enjoy itmorethan doing it myself. Watching the two of you locked in endless torment… it would warm my heart.”

All I could do was stare back. Admitting that I would kill myself first—or allow the chains to strangle me—would only ignite his need for torture. Giving Lilith to Odragir for the night wouldn’t be enough for him.

I realized now how badly we’d mis-stepped. After twenty years without her, I’d let my heart overtake my head. I’d lowered my guard.

We’d played with fire, and now it had burned us again.

Until I had a way to break these chains, to get Lilith as far from the Infernal Court as possible, I needed to let her go.

“Then order me, Your Majesty.” I kept my tone bland, my hands relaxed. The claws had retracted.

Asmodeus paused, giving me a glance laden with suspicion. Then he laughed. “Oh? Is that all it took to quench your flames? A few threats, and you crumble?”

He drew back so fast I almost didn’t see it. The next moment, his fist cracked across my face.

White light exploded across my vision. I felt the slow drip of blood pour over my lips.

“Liar,” he hissed. “You are not broken yet, Lucifer,Dogof the Fallen. But believe me, I will hasten it along. After all, my Tainted allies are arriving soon… and she comes with her leash. She cannotwaitto see you again.”

My stomach twisted sickeningly.

Sameera. The one demoness whose throat I’d like to rip out.

“You are nothing. You are no one. And I will enjoy every moment of watching you fall apart, slowly but surely.” Asmodeus reached out, dredging a finger through the blood on my face. He held it up to the light, examining the crimson stain, rubbing his fingers together. “Now leave the palace for the night. Patrol my lands and ensure Princess Sameera has safe passage through. I do not want to see your face here for an entire day.” A sneer twisted his lips. “Although I wonder if you will be able to hear Lilith’s screams from the wastelands.”

I remained in place, torn between the urge to attack him again, even if it would be effort wasted, or to go to Lilith and rip Odragir’s throat out before he laid a finger on her.

“Go.”

At his snapped command, the chains slithered tighter, snaking between my ribs and squeezing until I was breathless.

I could not help Lilith if I was dead. Her mortal life had turned her into a survivor now: a resourceful spitfire who would find a way to help herself.

I had to believe that, or I would lose my mind.

So I forced myself to turn on my heel, snapping my fingers when I entered the ballroom and saw Jovran and Deasley at the table.

“With me.”

Neither of them said a word as they followed me through the palace and out through the front gates. Deasley shivered a little, but even he shifted without a word of complaint as his clothes fell to the ground as rags.

Tonight, we patrol, I barked at them.Clear the way for the Tainted delegation.

Deasley’s mental voice was tentative.What about the queen?

She will have to use her own wits to save herself tonight,I thought grimly.

Jovran said nothing, but I sensed his open relief.

My mind, however, was a maelstrom of fear and rage. What if shecouldn’tuse her wits?

What if he broke her, and she slipped back into the empty shell she used to be, meek and pliant, uncaring as piece after piece of her was chipped away?

I tried to drive the thoughts away, but they kept returning, picking away at my brain.

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