Page 96 of The Devil's Trials

Fuck, fuck, fuck.

I can’t—

Jude clears her throat, and my eyes snap to her to find her expression mirroring Blake’s.

I adjust my grip, digging my fingers into the demon’s jaw as I exhale a harsh breath. I swallow past the dryness in my throat and give myself over to the monster that beckons deep in my chest. The pit in my gut numbs, the heavy guilt on my shoulders about punishing one of my own dissipating as I block out each emotion until nothing remains.

The distrust and rage on the demon’s face slips into something closer to panic,fear. I can’t say what he sees in my pitch-black eyes that makes his face pale, but my lips curve into a grin as energy sparks through my veins. I’ve never fed on a demon before. Perhaps this is a perk of my new position. But that’s not what this is about.

Tension fills the room, though no one dares utter a word. Pulses race, and faces are filled with varying degrees of anticipation.

“I could kill you,” I purr. “End your miserable existence right here. But that would be far too mild a punishment for putting my people—yourown—at risk. Instead, I’m sending you home.”

The relief that passes over his face is short-lived when my lips curl into a smirk that has him trembling.

“W-wait,” he blurts, his pulse racing.

I hold his chin in an ironclad grip that makes him hiss in pain. “No, no. The time for pleas of mercy is long past. There will be none of that. You will return to hell and endure the next five hundred years confined to a cell without a single soul to feed on.” The terror in his eyes feeds the monster in me. “There’s no need to worry. You won’t be all alone with your wretched thoughts. My friends will ensure your trip to the underworld is consumed by your worst fears on a delightful loop for your viewing pleasure.”

“What?” he squeaks pathetically, and I chuckle at the shift in his demeanor as I release him, stepping back. For someone content to curseme out with insults only a few minutes ago, he looks as if he’s about to pass out or shit himself.

“Let this be an important lesson,” I say in a deep, level voice, addressing the entire room now. “You will face severe punishment should you defy me or put my people in jeopardy.” I nod at Francesca and Jude, my voice gravelly with disgust when I order them to, “Get him out of here.”

The demon is dragged through the crowd, kicking and shouting more profanities as the other demons watch with differing expressions of shock and trepidation.

Once he’s gone, Blake steps forward and stands beside me, swiping the microphone off the DJ stand. “Now that business is taken care of, let’s get back to the party!” He returns the mic and gestures for the DJ to turn the music back on. Bass fills the room a moment later, and I head for the exit with Blake on my heels.

He catches up to me in the parking lot and claps me on the back. “Care to explain what the fuck that was?”

I bristle, shrugging his hand off as part of me relishes in the energy zipping through my veins. It craves the sensations brought on by my display of power. It’s an odd contrast to the ache in my chest, pounding in time with the music we left behind. “I punished him.”

“You should have killed him, Xander.”

I whirl around, my hackles up at the need to defend myself. “There are fates much harsher than death. He got exactly what he deserved.”

His expression hardens as he shakes his head. “You better hope the royal guard agrees. They expected an execution. If they decide what you did wasn’t enough, they’ll deem this trial a failure.”

I ignore the tightening in my chest, hissing out a sharp exhale. “Considering the royal guard hasn’t been explicit with their instructions for these damn trials, I don’t see how they can call this a failure.”

Blake steps in front of me, gripping my shoulders. “You knew you were supposed to kill him. I saw it in your eyes. So why didn’t you?”

I grit my teeth, narrowing my eyes at him. “I don’t see how it matters. It’s done.”

He digs his fingers in, lowering his voice to murmur, “Your humanity is showing, mate.”

“Watch it,” I growl at him.

“You need to hear this, though I get the feeling I’m not saying anything you don’t already know.”

“Blake.” His name is a warning. I know what he’s about to say, and once it’s out there, I won’t be able to ignore it any longer.

He sighs, shaking his head. “She’s always been your weakness.”

I knock his hands off me and grab the lapels of his jacket. “Enough.”

Blake’s eyes darken, matching the blackness I’m certain fills mine by the way I feel my control slipping. “It’s my job to keep you alive,” he says. “To get you through these trials and onto the fucking throne. You don’t get to lose your shit on me for doing exactly that.”

Letting go of him, I step back, clenching and unclenching my fists while my heart thumps in my chest. Before I can speak, Rupert leads the other council members from the building to where Blake and I are standing. His eyes shift between us, calculating, and I hold my breath.

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