Page 33 of The Devil of London

“Aderyn Caine is unnatural,” Sylvia hissed. “She’s an abomination.”

“Is she?” Khaos asked even as he turned, sliding his eyes over my face. “I don’t know, ladies. She serves at my leisure, so play nice with her for now.”

“You understand all covens have shunned her.” Sylvia crossed her arm over her chest, glaring at me.

“Ostracized because of her dark, ill-begotten immortality, among other reasons.” Celeste turned up her nose, fluttering her lashes. Smirking, I flipped my hair over my shoulder because I had given zero fucks about the entire witch community snubbing me just because they thought me unnatural.

“Blacklisted because of her inability to prove her bloodline,” Hazel stated with a smile playing on her lips. “I hope you don’t expect us to work with her, my love. You know how much we depend on the covens to replenish our magic. If they were to deny us, we’d be unable to assist you.”

“No, of course not. Aderyn doesn’t need, nor want, your help. She is a coven unto herself.” Nasir chuckled as his eyes held mine. “Aderyn’s powerful indeed.”

A phone rang beside me, and from the corner of my eye, I watched Merikh withdraw a phone from his pocket.

“What is it?” he asked into the receiver. “He’s busy, Vanessa.”

“Put her on speakerphone,” Nasir stated, and jealousy ripped through me because, with everything else going on, I’d all but forgotten about her. Merikh tapped the screen and held it out to Nasir. “Hello, love. I hope your flight isn’t too tedious.”

“Oh, I have missed the sound of your voice, K-bear. I couldn’t wait to see you, so I had Papa fuel the jet for me. I will be there within the hour. I hope you don’t mind?” Khaos twisted his wrist to glance at his watch as she continued. “With my things arriving this week, I wanted to be there to arrange them as well. Plus, you still have to pick out something for me to wear to the gathering and our engagement party.”

Khaos’s eyes slid to mine, but I’d shut down all emotions. From the outside, I looked bored, but inside? Inside, I was dying.

“I’ve picked out plenty of things for you to wear for me, darling. I’ll have Merikh arrange for a car to pick you up from the airstrip. In your suite at the hotel, there’s a dress I had delivered for tonight. It’s crimson and will look perfect on you. I have a few things to deal with before I can meet you for dinner. The spa will assist you in relaxing after such a long flight.”

“You are so good to me, K-bear. What would you like me to wear beneath the dress?” Her voice was flirtatious, but I still stood as emotionless as a stone. The fact that Nasir had got me stoned wasn’t helping my inner turmoil any.

“Nothing,” he purred, which caused my fingers to curl into my palms, biting into the flesh. “I look forward to tonight, Vanessa.”

“As do I, my lover.” The moment the call ended, I felt the weight of Merikh’s and Nasir’s eyes on me.

“Shall we?” Nasir asked with his hand out for mine. I ignored it and stepped up beside him. “Issue?” Silently, I shook my head with a bored look plastered over my face. “Jealous, love?” Again, I shook my head as I waited for his orders. “Is there a reason you’re not answering me?”

“You told me not to speak,” I answered in a demure, barely whispered whir of words.

“I like how you’ve subdued the unnatural bitch,” Sylvia offered from beside me. “Are you partial to her, Khaos? I wouldn’t mind draining her for the power she houses.” Smiling cruelly, I pegged her with a look that said, ‘fucking try me’. “Don’t look at me like that. Everyone who’s ever heard of you thinks you’re not worth the magic in your veins. I’d be doing the world a service if I were to drain you.”

“Ah, well. I come from Witch-A-Bitch-Woods, and I’m not hard to find. You want to drain me, do it. We’ll see who comes out on top, baby girl.” At my flash of obsidian eyes, she stepped back before crossing the rune for protection over her chest. “Your gods aren’t here. I am, and I don’t care for worship. Keep threatening me, and I’ll drain your fucking blood for rouge to wear on my lips.” Khaos’s anger resonated in the air, and I waited for the punishment he’d enact for my talking.

“I’d be very careful, Aderyn. It isn’t the night to fucking try my patience,” he whispered for my ears alone.

“As you wish, Master,” I hissed vehemently.

“Say it again, it sounded good on your pretty lips.” Khaos reached for my hand, but I closed my fingers into a fist, preventing it. At his soft chuckle, I shoved the last of my emotions into a box and shut the lid. I wouldn’t allow him to know just how badly that phone call had me spinning out of control. “I see you’ve forgotten who I am, darling.”

“No. You’ve reminded me intimately of who you are. I won’t forget again.” At my cryptic reply, he stopped, turned to look at me, and winced at the cold, lifeless stare I offered him. “Shall we? I don’t have all night to waste on you.”

Khaos’s teeth ground together so hard that it was audible. Merikh, who waited beside me, tensed almost imperceptibly, but then Khaos walked toward the men who dangled on chains attached to pulleys.

“Gentlemen, do you know who I am?” Khaos asked, loudly enough to have the men’s bloody, swollen faces turning toward him. “Who beat them?” he asked. That was my question as well.

“We did,” Celeste stated. “We needed their blood, and it was fun to make them scream while we took it.” Disapproval wafted from Khaos.

“So, which one of you wants to live?”

“Fuck you, asshole. You can’t hold us here.”

The entire room exploded in smothering power as a thousand tiny embers lit the air and then rushed straight for the man who’d spoken. Invisible hands forced his jaw wide, and the embers shot into his throat. His scream was harrowing, and the chains he hung from jangled as his body convulsed. Black veins started in his eyes, slowly spider-webbing over his face.

Khaos seldom used his magic, but when he did, it was a sight to behold. The man’s eyes bulged, and his screaming became maddening when the skin on his face began to melt from his bones. The power in the room didn’t subside. It intensified as Khaos lifted his palm, causing black flecks to rise in a cyclone pattern. They slowly twisted and turned as it made the trek over the floor.

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