Page 10 of The Devil's Trials

No,throughme. It’s rather unsettling.

“You killed your queen,” he finally says. “Your mother.”

I swallow, my eyes narrowing slightly. “I did.”

Dominic cocks his head to the side. “Why?”

My mind goes blank. Any response I could’ve crafted vanishes, replaced by a heavy, barbed pit in my stomach. I knew as soon as it happened that killing Lucia would have consequences. It would come with questions, and Dominic just asked the most obvious.

I could lie, tell them I was sick of waiting for the throne and decided to take it by force, but my confidence in successfully selling that is abysmal. The real reason won’t go over well with my present company. I can’t stand before them and explain that I was terrified to lose the human woman I’d fallen in love with and acted on instinct to save her life.

So, I don’t say anything.

The royal guard can’t know about Camille. Who she is, that she even exists. If any demon discovers her, they’ll believe they found something to use against me.

Things would be a lot easier if I could simply stop caring about her. But even as I stand here having decided to leave her in my past, there’s a stone-cold certainty that some part of me still somehowdoescare. My connection to Camille is so deeply ingrained in me that the thought of losing it—

I nearly stumble back a step as realization hits me like a vicious blow and my pulse careens into dangerous territory.

No.

No, no, no.

I felt that connection shift in my chest. I felt itbreak. It shattered along with my soul when I killed Lucia and lost my humanity.

But that feeling was more than heartbreak.

More than fear for what came next.

I didn’t know it then, but now, there isn’t a doubt in my mind…

Camille was my soulmate.

It’s a ridiculous notion, and yet, it’s the only thing I know to the marrow of my bones to be true. I haven’t a clue how I’m certain, but I’ve never been more certain of anything. If I’m honest with myself, I think I knew the moment before Lucia was going to end Camille’s life. There was too much happening from then until now that I didn’t fully consider it. I couldn’t.

Soulmate. Soulmate. Soulmate.

“Xander,” Blake says in a near-whisper, his tone deep with worry.

I shake my head and swallow the bile in my throat, standing straighter. I have to keep it together. They can’t see me stumble.

Malachi sighs, scratching the dark stubble along his jaw. “It doesn’t matter why he did it, Dominic. What’s done is done.”

Dominic holds up a hand as if to disagree. “Had it been any other demon than the queen’s son and heir, they would be facing punishment for treason.”

“The trials will be punishment enough,” Lorraine chimes in with a subtle twist of her lips. The delight shining in her piercing blue eyes tells me the idea of my torment is of great amusement to her.

“Perhaps we should discuss the trials,” Blake offers.

“Hmm,” Rupert hums, seemingly in agreement. “The ascension trials were created to ensure the strength of the one meant to sit on the throne.” His eyes meet mine. “You will be tested physically and mentally. You must complete the trials before the next solstice or you will be deemed unfit to rule and banished to your birthplace, where you’ll exist as a lowly guard patrolling the pits of hell.”

I hold the demon’s dark gaze, and while I’ve never felt quite so out of my element, I force a level tone and say, “I understand.”

“Have you selected your council?” Lorraine asks.

My eyes flit toward the female demon. “Not yet.”

She scrutinizes me with an unwarranted level of disdain. “You have one week to put it together. The trials will commence shortly thereafter, when and where we decide. There will be no warning, so I suggest you prepare yourself now.”

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