Page 58 of Hellish Witch

I swallowed thickly, dull hand dropping back to my side. “Sorry.”

He shook his horns. “It’s not what you think. Let’s get inside. You need to rest, not to drain yourself further.”

I let him lead me to the inn, feeling the crushing weight of disappointment with every open wound I mapped across Killian’s toned back. Even his wings had little tears in them, reddening the white feathers.

I’d done that.

I’d killed most of those orcs too. Not that I harboured much guilt over them, given they’d abused a magical creature and caged living beings to sell.

Killian pushed inside the enormous double doors of the inn. Chatter spilled out to greet us.

Groups of demons clustered around worn tables, laden with clay platters of steaming food and countless drinks. A few fruity-looking cocktails in sophisticated martini glasses dotted amongst the tankards of frothy ale and honeyed mead, the mismatch in tune with the patrons inside.

Hell was a stunning mix of new and old. Of traditional demon customs, interspersed with modern human technology and culture.

An orc, like the ones I’d just slaughtered, even wore a Nirvana band tee from the human realm, bringing a smile to my lips even as exhaustion dragged me down.

A few other hybrids lingered inside, their mismatches of features and downtrodden auras an obvious tell.

I hoped they were on their way to our kingdom, where freedom and safety waited for them under Rex’s rule.

Unless they dated me, apparently.

A hush descended over the tavern as the patrons caught sight of who darkened their doorway. Killian ignored the tension, striding right up to the worn bar along the far side. Most demons scowled at us, but given the gore coating us both, and Killian’s impressive brawn, nobody said a thing.

Killian leaned his muscled forearms on the wooden countertop and addressed the blood demon behind it with one of his signature grins, loaded with dark charm. “Your best room please, Darya.”

That he knew her name set my fangs on edge.

She beamed, showing off her shiny onyx fangs, longer and sharper than mine. The demon coyly batted her spiky horned lashes and placed the glass jug she was cleaning behind the counter. “Anything for you, Kill.”

I couldn’t help the squirm of something ugly that ran through me as I joined Killian.

Did he find her attractive? Was he planning to feed on her while we were here? Had he slept with her already?

I gave her a brief once-over, trying to be subtle. Long sable hair ran to her thighs in an impractical but luscious waterfall of stunning locks. Bright eyes glowed gold, slashed through with vertical pupils and framed by spiny weaponry. Long horns spiralled into a curl around each of her tapered ears, capped with hammered gold to emphasise their points. Dusky pink skin gaveher a warm blush of colour, mixing beautifully with her golden accents.

I didn’t want to be a jealous bitch, but I was half-tempted to see which way my magic wanted to swing with her, and she’d onlysmiledat him.

I forced a brittle stretch to my lips.

Stab your claws through her eyes for daring to look at what’s yours. Throw them at the other females in warning!

“Two rooms, actually,” I bit out, keeping my manic grin fixed in place to cling to denial. Idefinitelywasn’t hearing bloodthirsty voices in my head.

She returned a small dip of her pointed chin.

Killian cut her a hard look. “One.”

Chapter 20

Iscowled at the side of Killian’s stupidly pretty face. “What do you think you’re doing? I’m not sharing a bed with you.”

Not that the idea didn’t bring to life too many fantasies to count.

He ignored me, taking the offered key from the pouty demon behind the bar in exchange for a handful of gold coins. You paid half upfront and half on leaving in a place like this.

Part of the inn’s vague claim to “safety” was that they only got full payment if you made it out alive.

---