Page 19 of Hell Bound

Lilith had always hated this room.

It was now set with a table that spanned nearly the length of the room for the visiting dignitaries of other Hell courts, and the open space was already filled with reveling demons.

I watched from the corner of my eye as a demoness with sparkling lace veils hanging from her horns made a toast to some noble demon with deep blue skin and several blinking eyes in his forehead.

They ignored us completely, but Asmodeus liked to have his dogs around. He never knew when he might want someone hunted down and dragged back for the evening’s entertainment.

The pack was given a rough wooden table in the corner, a long rectangle around which my pack already lounged. We weren’t served on golden platters, but out of plain wood bowls.

That worked just fine for most of us. Jovran was arm-wrestling Killian, his eyes sparking hellfire with frustration. Killian wasn’t even trying, lost in the fog of his mind as he looked around with a vacant half smile. Pypentha was pelting Jovran with questions about the Ossean Court, ignoring his warning growls.

The rest of the pack was at the far end of the table—those unwelcome to sit with us. Vibek and Arand, both of whom were loyal to Odragir.

And speak of the Spectral wolf himself.

Odragir was sitting in the spot reserved for the leader of the wolves—myspot—lounging at the head of the table, with his filthy feet propped up next to my mug, nearly touching it.

“Get the fuck out of my seat,” I growled.

At the sound of my voice, all the wolves looked up.

The effect was instantaneous. Jovran slammed Killian’s arm down while he was distracted, letting out a triumphant ‘Hah!’ before they both straightened up in their seats.

Mugs went down, ears perked up—literally, in a few instances—and the pack looked at me expectantly.

All except Odragir, who chose to drape his arm over the back of my chair, still watching the revelers with feigned interest.

I stepped behind him and pressed my thumb into a pressure point in his neck.

Odragir’s entire body went stiff, his back tightening, gripping the chair with white-knuckled hands. He sucked in a harsh breath and I dug in a little harder, holding it for a few seconds longer than necessary before releasing him.

He almost slid out of the chair like a limp noodle and Deasley let out a laugh. “Scuttle back to the kids’ table,DukeOdragir. Daddy’s home.”

Odragir climbed to his feet as the wolves laughed at him. He was red-faced, a vein pulsing in his forehead. Using his former title always enraged him, which Deasley never missed an opportunity to exploit.

I watched with fascination as it throbbed, wondering if it would explode and rid me of him for good.

“You think the head of the table means you’re respected?” he snarled. His teeth lengthened as he spoke, distorting his words. The telltale flash of hellfire in his green eyes meant he was seconds away from shifting. “Allow me to demonstrate just how much I ‘respect’ you, Morningstar.”

If he did that during the celebration dinner, the whole pack would pay in blood. Jovran’s eyes flicked from me to Odragir, his expression wary.

“Sit. Down.” The words grated through clenched teeth. “And keep your fucking feet off the table.” I dropped into the vacated seat, pushing the mug away deliberately.

Odragir’s face was nearly purple, his hands opening and closing in fists, but Jovran slammed his own fist on the table.

His eyes were nearly hidden by the mop of blond hair hanging in his face, but the threat in them was clear as he glared at the insubordinate wolf.

I watched as Odragir took a deep breath, trying to control the shudders wracking his body. He was torn between obeying and shifting.

“Sit, or the pack takes their pound of flesh out ofyou,” I said quietly.

And I would let them, if Odragir was stupid enough to cost us all a punishment. Even his own loyal wolves would participate in the beating if commanded.

Jovran grinned widely, clearly pleased with this idea.

Odragir’s head finally dropped under the weight of my command, and he stalked off, sitting on Vibek’s other side. The latter wolf’s bulk made a wall between me and him.

Good. It had been minutes, and I was already tired of looking at him.

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