Page 74 of Queen of the Wicked
You wouldn’t do that. Not when you’re trying to make a good impression on my mother.
I am the Lord of Hell, Alessia. You will find that I don’t feel the need to impress anyone, especially when your mind is running rampant with dirty thoughts. You underestimate how high your pleasure falls on my list of priorities, especially in that dress.His gaze dipped to the way the bodice hugged her chest, and since she was already in his mind, she could see the images of her bare breasts filter through his thoughts. It was downright sinful, and temptation had never been so unfair.
When they reached the picnic and Alessia saw a vase of corathins neatly in the basket, she gave up all hope of keeping things between them strictly cordial. The truth was, she was falling for the Lord of Hell, and she was tired of fighting it.
Am I allowed to touch you in front of others in this realm, or is that considered an act of temptation?she asked.I don’t want to go against the rules.
I make the rules in this realm, Alessia. You never have to ask to touch me.
With his approval in mind, Alessia sat beside Erebos on the checkered blanket. While her mother told him stories from her childhood, the lord was fascinated the entire time, seemingly hanging onto each word Elyanaspoke as if drinking in every detail of Alessia he could that made her who she was.
So, Alessia didn’t overthink it when she interlaced their fingers, didn’t overthink it when Erebos inhaled sharply from the contact, didn’t overthink it when he rubbed his thumb across her hand the longer they sat, their chemistry so natural it felt too good to be true.
Revealing stories of her past and speaking about her mom for the first time in weeks without crying, there wasn’t the pressure of the harbinger weighing her down, and the weight of being the Lord of Hell didn’t seem to exist for him either. Those burning questions still needed to be asked, and an alliance still needed to be formed, but today, beneath the glow of the red sun, they werehappy.
And that, she decided, was all that mattered.
Chapter 30
Alessia
The castle was in full swing as the staff prepared for the upcoming ball.
Venturing through the halls, Alessia passed numerous servants whisking away flowers, banners, and tablecloths towards the ballroom she had yet to see. Alessia spent most of her time in her room, curled up with the Book of Death as she moved through the thick tome at an agonizingly slow pace.
She had hoped to spend more time with her mother after their picnic yesterday, but Erebos had requested that she spend a few days with Eryx at the training grounds, a few miles south, to offer insight on their forces. Alessia understood the threat the realm faced, so she didn’t dare challenge the lord on his suggestion. He had the former general with likely centuries of experience at his disposal. If she were Erebos, she would have made the same decision. Preparing the forces should be the top priority.
When her eyes burned from reading, she decided totake a break by exploring the preparations for the ball, but what she didn’t expect was to be hit with a sweet, decadent smell that had her mouth watering.
Following its path, she wound through multiple halls, rolling her eyes at the sudden brush of wind against her back. “I don’t need to be monitored, Ambroz.” The skeletal servant followed her no matterwhereshe went. He was always two steps behind, hardly allowing her the room to breathe unless she was safely holed up in her room.
“I am instructed to do so, My Lady.”
Spinning on her heel, the ivory dress swished behind her. “Why do you keep calling me that?” she asked.
“Because I am instructed to do so.”
“And you justhaveto followeverythingErebos orders of you?”
He cocked his neck to the side, the cervical vertebrae elongating at an odd angle. “He is the ruler of this realm, and he employs me. It is my duty to follow his demands.”
“I’m going todiscussthis with the ruler of this realm,” she muttered, resuming her pace towards the cinnamon, heavenly aroma. “There is no reason you should waste your time following me through the halls when I’m sure you have more important things to do.”
As the fragrance grew stronger, Alessia’s stomach rumbled, and she felt nearly starved when she reached the kitchens.
It was a different universe that resembled a tornado. Multiple demons bustled around with flour-dusted cheeks and foreheads slicked with sweat. The countertops were covered in baking pans, mixing bowls, andsplashes of chocolate, but one woman in particular stood at the center of the chaos, shouting orders left and right.
With full hips and a round, chubby face, she held a pastry bag in one hand, smothering what looked to be cinnamon buns with a delicious, mouth-watering icing. “Take the cookies out!” she shouted. “Let them cool before you frost them.”
Alessia didn’t think she was supposed to be in here, but she couldn’t resist the display of sweet treats, ushered in purely by her own greed to get her hands on one.
The woman flicked her brown eyes to hers before swiping a hand across her forehead, leaving a streak of flour against her dark skin. “Can I help you?” she asked, slightly annoyed at the intrusion.
Ambroz floated into the kitchens, ready to diffuse the situation. “Good evening, Jamila. This is Alessia Eastwood.”
At the mention of her name, the piping bag she held clattered to the counter before she dropped into a curtsy. The sight was alarming, given that the people in this realm only did so to royalty. “Forgive me, My Lady. His Majesty has informed us of your arrival, but we have not yet had the privilege of meeting you. Have the meals been to your liking?”
“Jamila is the head chef here at the castle,” Ambroz explained to a highly confused Alessia. Although she was only a guest, Jamila acted as if she said one wrong thing to her, she’d be banished to the Unknown.
