Page 54 of Queen of the Wicked
“Why did you ask Izara to add a corn field to the glamour?”she asked.
Erebos was still panting when he replied, “Because I want you to feel comfortable here.”
“And that’s the only reason?”
He held her stare, breathing a sigh of either relief or disappointment when her power freed his wrists from the bind. “It’s the only reason you’ll accept, so for now it is the only one I’ll give you.” Then, after a heartbeat, “Did you like it?”
“I loved it.” She hummed, calling on her power again to ensure she hadn’t suddenly lost the ability. The smoke responded immediately, drifting along her skin before rolling onto the stone floor. “It reminded me of home.”
“Then I have accomplished what I set out to do.” He glanced around the cell before jerking his chin for the door. “Would you like me to escort you to your room, or did you have other plans in store for today?” A smile graced his lips before he added, “Aside from knocking my general on his ass again, that is.”
Alessia’s face beamed with pride. “He told you?”
He shook his head. “No. We passed each other on my way here, and he did not look well. I assume that was your doing.”
“He should have known better than to doubt my abilities,” she quipped. “To be fair, Ididtry to warn him. He didn’t listen.”
Erebos held the door open for her, attempting and failing to hide a smile that wasn’t so rare anymore. “Duly noted. If we are to spar in the future, I will not take it easy on you.”
“I would hope not. If you do, you will find yourself more than in the bind I just put youin, Lord of Hell.”
His arm brushed against hers as they walked down the stone corridor that led to the elevator. That feeling of contentment flowed between them, a natural easiness that shouldn’t exist with a man she hardly knew. Still, she leaned into the connection because it felt right, maintaining a closer proximity to Erebos when they shuffled into the elevator.
Erebos noticed, but he didn’t pull away. Instead, he relaxed against the wall, allowing her shoulder to rest against his bicep when he said, “I look forward to all the ways you will punish me in the future, Little Mortal,especiallyif the binds are involved.”
The doors opened, and without another word, he left her open-mouthed and speechless in the elevator.
Chapter 24
Erebos
At the beginning of every month, Erebos held open court for the demons in Hell who chose to reside there after they’d been freed. They stayed in the villages outside of the castle, some opting to live a few miles south for more land, but most trekked across the desert plains to make requests to the lord. Whether more cattle were needed on their farm or their water supply was running low, Erebos did what he could to help the citizens who wished to live peacefully beneath the glamour Izara provided.
Townspeople gathered in the ballroom, where his throne was moved from level one and placed upon the dais. These meetings were not meant to be intimidating, nor did Erebos want to come across that way. Their souls had already repented for their sins, so there wasn’t a need to add more fear onto them than necessary.
It was a line Erebos tried to balance, one between a just and stern ruler. Bastian had ordered these meetingsto come to a close, wanting Hell to be as miserable and decrepit as he was, but Erebos would never bow to the current king. Justice and compassion were both adjectives the current king lacked; he took pleasure in watching those who threatened him suffer, but citizens who were freed in Hell and paid their dues to Erebos were capable of a second chance. They were redeemable.
And Bastian, vile as they come, refused to support anyone who reminded him of his brother. It was a constant reminder that the realms ran smoothly under his leadership, and despite how hard Bastian thought he worked, they were unraveling under his rule. Then again, maybe that was what he intended to happen all along.
Regardless, Erebos did whatever possible to become theoppositeof Bastian.
One by one, the lord sat on the throne while different requests filtered in. Eryx remained at his side, offering insight and stepping in when needed to escort the townspeople on their way. Food and supply shortages, housing regulations, and marriage licenses were discussed for hours, and by the end of the day, he was exhausted.
With heavy feet, Erebos climbed the spiral staircase leading to his study until he felt a tug of unease down the bond he shared with Alessia—the mating bond.
Tiredness forgotten, his senses were on full alert as he followed that tug to her side of the castle.
He had tried to distract himself from thoughts of her today, but it was nearly impossible. The corn field was in clear view from his bedroom balcony, and hewatched her the entire morning bathe in the red sun, skimming her hands along the stalks until he was forced to hold court.
She was damningly beautiful, frustratingly witty, and utterly alluring in every possible way. The more time he spent with her, the more intriguing she became, and witnessing Alessia master her powers yesterday, with smoke encircling her like a halo of darkness, had the bond throwing a full-blownfit.
It was impossible for her not to feel the pull towards him, too, but perhaps they both felt the need to focus on the more pertinent situation: getting his powers back so they could be free of this forsaken blood pact rather than cave to lust. But Erebos knew that even if they did somehow discover a way for him to regain his powers, they’d still be left with the mating bond, and he didn’t want to think about what would happen then.
If she’d even want to accept it.
His black shoes clacked against the marble floors, quickening his pace when he heard scuffling further down the corridor. That string between their souls became shorter, signaling he was almost there.
When he rounded the corner, he went deathly still for all of a second before springing into action.
