Page 26 of Boyfriend From Hell
My mother cackled wildly as her eyes widened in surprise. “She? Did you hear that Stan, our son has a woman coming to dine with him! And to think, all this time I was convinced that I would have to be the one to find you a suitor to rule with you in your father’s place!”
I couldn’t stand how she called FatherStan, even more so I couldn’t believe he let her do so. She caught my glower and leaned forward, propping her chin on a fist.
“Oh, relax Rai. I’m just surprised is all! Your father was already ruling Hell at your age, so forgive me for thinking this day would never come.”
I winced. “Don’t call me that. And Father only ruled so young because he had the misfortune of being arranged to haveyouas his mate, Mother. Forgive me for wanting to enjoy who I spend my eternity with.”
She rolled her eyes and waved meoff.
“Is her respect lost on us?” An angry voice boomed from all around me.
The air was thick with the scent of sulfur and smoke. Screams and howls erupted all around me as I speared through darkness. My mind swam—each sound was like a punch straight to the brain. I squinted, seeing nothing but hazy shades of red and black.
“What?” I whispered, dazed, as I struggled to rouse my brain into working.
It felt like I’d been vacuumed out of my body and slammed back in, all wrong—misaligned and jarring. “You brought that? Surely, this is a farce, Raios.”
A voice rang out, baffled and sharp.
“A mortal? What in the inferno is this? This is a joke. Please, Son—tell me you cannot be serious.”
“Direly, Mother,” a low gravelly voice I recognized to be Raios’ replied.
There was an eardrum puncturing wail, followed by the sound of glass shattering. I flinched at the noise as my vision finally came into focus—and boy, did I really wish it hadn’t.
“She can’t even bother to look at us, let alone greet us! You chosethisvain thing?” Another glass shattered.
“Seph, she’s adjusting. Mortals aren’t used to the way we travel.” These words were so softly spoken, almost timid.
I stood in a cavernous dining hall of sorts, surrounded by black stone covered in carvings of writhing bodies, their forms contorting in ways which defied human anatomy. Above me, a chandelier made of obsidian and blackened bones cast an eerie glow, illuminating the long table sitting in the center of the room piled high with food—and six sets of expectant eyes.
I winced as warm skin brushed against my chest, catching me off guard—then suddenly, it felt like Lucifer himself had unleashed hellfire on me. My chest burned, raw and searing.
Panicked, I glanced to either side, expecting to see Cam and Mal… but I stood completely alone. “There. They’re bonded. Now, can we get on with this meal?”
I tracked the voice with my eyes. A man who looked no older than forty sat at the head of the table, exhaustion hung from his eyes in the form of deep purple crescents.
A low laugh rumbled through the air.
“Fantastic.Faaaaantastic.” The woman who sat to the man’s left wretched.
I knew I must’ve looked completely lost, and the longer I stood there, the more the woman’s expression twisted with irritation. I couldn’t help it, though—Raios, now hornless, walked toward me. His blood-red eyes sparkled with joy, and that familiar, pleasant smile spread across his face.
“You’re late,” he breathed through his teeth.
I squinted at his forehead; he looked so normal now.
“I don’t need them all the time, I can choose to have them show or not,” he stated as if reading my thought. “Now, please. Join us. I knowfor a fact you have not eaten yet, and well—my parents are apparently waiting to meet you.”
Shock seemed to have fully taken over at this point. I stood there, dumbfounded by how casually he spoke, as if this were all normal.
“Please?” There was a particular begging tone to how he spoke, then the soft heat of his palm enveloped my hand.
“I don’t understand,” I began.
“Well, you were to dine with just me––as I said earlier. To be fair, I wasn't expecting my parents to show up. They’re not accustomed to seeing mortals—just so you know—so please, treat them with grace.” There was a hint of sarcasm in his voice, as if he found humor in the situation.
Grace,the word hit a chord in me.
