Page 14 of The Devil of London

“I told her the same. She doesn’t need male companionship when she has me,” Nasir rasped as he slapped my sore, aching ass cheek hard enough to cause a cry from my lungs. “She makes the loveliest sounds when she is vulnerable. But you already knew that, right,Shadow?” Another quick slap had my skin burning hotter. “Should we trust Aderyn with our secret? Do you think our lovely girl would still consider you a fucking savior once she found out that it was you who fucked her dick-deprived pussy every time you came close to madness? Or how you could not stop fucking her raw until her pussy bled on your cock? I may be her monster, but you are too. She just doesn’t know it.” My ears pricked at Nasir’s use of the ancient dialect they used when they were talking about something they did not want me to know about. I’d never been able to figure out what language it was, other than older than the books depicted.

“I did not ask to be cursed any more than you did. She fucked us both, didn’t she? She is the love of my life, and the worst part is, that she is your true mate. Anyone else, and I’d have fought to keep her. But it was you. The only person I’d gladly slit my throat to protect.”

Nasir exhaled a shuddered puff of air. “Fuck you, Merikh. I hate you for being able to fuck her when, for me to do so, would mean the death of the woman we’ve both loved since the dawn of humanity,” he whispered so softly, that I wasn’t sure he’d even spoken. I’d have killed to know what the hell they were saying, but no amount of magic had ever given me the ability to discern what dialect they spoke in.

“And yet she loves you. You are everything to her. Me? I am just a dark shadow in her world that protects her. Even after everything you’ve done, she’d still choose you over me. I loved her, Nasir. I still love her. Yes, I can fuck her, but she doesn’t know it’s me or that, once upon a time, she and I were madly in love with one another. So, what the fuck does it matter? You want her to know who she is, tell her. Don’t ruin what you and I both know has to happen. I have to have her to maintain sanity, and you can’t let her go.”

“I know,” Khaos muttered. “You can go.”

Merikh chanced a look at me before exhaling slowly. As he headed for the door, Khaos stopped him. “Damaris had a few new ladies start this week, so send them up to Aricin’s suite. Let’s make sure he’s satisfied.”

“You do know they’ll probably quit once he’s fucked them, right?” Merikh asked with his eyes on my face, which had tears currently rolling down it.

“No doubt, but I prefer him to remain faithful. With the influx of our enemies and the La Cosa Nostra assuming they are untouchable thanks to my engagement, I’d rather make sure Aricin’s with us than against us. It’s bad enough that I have to put up with the little whining whore they sacrificed to the devil. Seriously, I cannot stand the narcissistic simple-minded cunt. She’s more worried about the color of her fucking nails and what dress to wear for dinner than who could plan to murder us while we eat. My wife could set the world on fire while sucking my cock if she wanted to. The egocentric bitch they’ve offered me would know nothing about family or loyalty. It is insulting, really.”

“Do you think it wise to bring your fiancée here, where your current wife resides? Or do you hope they don’t cross paths, Nasir?” Merikh asked carefully. “I do get that one does not know she’s your wife, but sooner or later, she will. She’s remembered everything that’s happened since she became immortal. Aderyn will remember that you tried to marry another, even if it is for this alliance to be sealed.” My ears strained to understand what they were saying, but it was fruitless to even try.

Heat singed my cheeks as they continued the conversation while my ass was still on display, but I did not dare move or try to cover myself.

“I hope they will. We will sign the agreement in blood, but my little hellcat is glorious in her jealousy. She pretends she doesn’t mind, but she doesn’t know that I know her soul as well as I know my own. I have no intention of marrying Vanessa. I would rather cut my dick off than use it on the bitch.”

Merikh laughed cruelly. “Good luck with that, asshole. Enjoy your night.”

“Lock the panel on your way out.”

“You got it, brother.”

The moment the door closed, Nasir’s hand landed on my ass again, harder than he had ever spanked me before. I cried out in pain, and not even his fingers trailing over my flesh soothed me.

“That’s for staring at Aricin while I was the one defending you, slut.” Khaos hauled me up from the desk and yanked my hand down until it was pressed against his large, wide cock. His other hand gripped my jaw as he yanked my face close enough that our noses touched. “Is this what you need? Don’t think I didn’t notice the way you looked at Aricin tonight. Just remember, he is a murderous prick just like me, but I could end him without breaking a fucking sweat if I wanted to do so. If you ever disrespect me like that again when I am defending you, I’ll tie you up and use you as my personal fuck toy until the end of days.”

“You’d have to actually fuck me for that threat to work, asshole.” As I watched, his emotions closed down as the monster came out to play.

Chapter Six

IfIhadbeensmarter, I would not have baited the beast. I never claimed to have common sense, though. My fingers twitched with the need to curl around his magnificent cock, but thoughts of his messages ran through my mind. This sadistic bastard was getting married. His charm, wit, and gentlemanly ways had utterly blinded me again. It had been a cold awakening when I had realized my mistake.

“Go into the bathroom and clean yourself up, Aderyn. There’s blood in your hair and on your lovely face.” Releasing his hold on me, he strolled toward a closet behind the desk. “Now. I do not have all night to waste on you.”

I walked toward the only other doorway in the room, yanking my skirt down. The door led into a spacious bathroom filled with cabinets. Once inside, I covered my mouth with my hands, bent at the waist, and battled the need to scream in frustration. Of everything I had expected tonight, being spanked in front of the Shadow, or to discover Nasir planned to wed another had not been on the list. My chin quivered as my hands slid to my stomach, hugging myself tightly. I stayed like that for a long moment before I forced the air slowly from my lungs and straightened.

I opened the door beneath the sink and glared at the photo of a happy couple. Vanessa was what every man wanted. Her hair was blonde with the occasional dark highlight, and her body was long and lusciously curved. Azure eyes, framed by fake eyelashes, sparkled with laughter as he whispered in her ear as they snapped the photo. Pushing it back into the cupboard, I ignored the stack of washcloths and grabbed a roll of toilet paper, then flicked on the faucet.

Mascara had run down my cheeks. I had smeared my lip gloss, and my hair was a mess. After removing the hairpins and tie, I shook my hair free from the updo. It wasn’t great, but it was better than it had been. I ran the toilet paper under the water, then removed my makeup altogether. The door opened as I was cleaning away the last of the blood, and Khaos stood in the doorway, swallowing up the space. Ignoring him, I moved to clean the tacky mascara from my lashes.

“You look good with mascara smeared all over your gorgeous face, brat.”

“Don’t call me that,” I snapped icily. Khaos squinted at me as his head tipped, a hard smile thinning his lips.

“I’ll call you whatever the fuck I want to, Miss Caine.”

“I’m sure you will.” Arguing with him was the last thing I wanted to do right now. Really, I just wanted to run home, throw on my pajamas, then devour the entire pint of mint chocolate chip ice cream in my freezer. There was a marathon ofBewitched,thatI had almost canceled on Cameron to watch, playing tonight. At the moment, I wished I had stayed home.

I had barely noted his movement before he’d gripped my hair and forced me into the other room by it. A scream burst from my lips as he shoved me onto the couch and then followed me down.

“You forget yourself,” he snarled as his fingers curled around my throat, choking off my air supply.

I gripped his wrists, struggling to remove them as my body begged for oxygen. The harder I fought against his hold, the faster I lost my grip on consciousness. I couldn’t even manage to slip a scream through his hold on my throat, and then his mouth lowered, brushing against my lips. Lights exploded in my vision as my hands dropped, heavy and useless.

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