“I have my reasons. That’s all you need to know.” Asa stepped into a pair of red skinny jeans and forewent a shirt for now. He laced up boots that hit him mid-calf before turning to me. His gait was slow as he approached, and a predatory gleam shone in his crimson eyes. “Did you like having his dick in you?”
My pulse raced faster. “No.”
“You dare lie to your king?” He grabbed me by the back of my hair. Hard. With his other hand, he pressed a dagger to my throat. “You really are pretty, Phoenix. But you’re replaceable. I think you forget that.”
“I forget nothing, my king. I know my place.”
“Tell me, then. Where is your place?”
“At your feet.”
“Correct.” Asa sliced me with the blade and smiled as I winced. He dropped his face to my neck and licked at the blood.
My stomach churned. In the past when he’d fed from me, I hadn’t minded it too much. I hated it now. I only wanted Bellamy to touch me. To bite me.
“His scent is all over you,” Asa said with a snarl. A sudden calm then came over him. It was perhaps more unsettling than his anger. He released his grip on my hair and stepped away from me, setting the dagger on the table. Blood dripped from the blade. “Go wash yourself of his filth. I can’t stand to be around you.”
I bowed my head and turned toward the door.
“Oh, and Phoenix? Let this be the last time I ever smell him on you. Am I clear?”
“Yes, my king.”
I teleported to my room and lost my balance, having to lean against the wall for support. The cut on my neck hurt, but I felt disoriented too. Probably used too much of my mana traveling between realms on very little rest. Maybe I’d feel better after a hot bath.
After stripping down and filling the tub, I sank down into the water.
Bellamy’s scent lingered on my skin, his unique musk combined with bourbon and a subtle hint of citrus. I still felt him on the inside, where he’d pounded me hard and fast before filling my ass with his orgasm-triggering cum. I trembled at the memory.
He had been the best sex of my life. Not surprising since he was the personification of Lust. Devastating and beautiful. Seductive in every way.
Built for sin.
Once I was washed and dressed, I materialized in the kitchen and poured a mug of coffee. It was one thing from the mortal realm I found myself craving in the mornings. A lot of our food was inspired by humans. And, well, some demonsatehumans too. I didn’t. Never acquired the taste.
“You’ve been summoned to the council’s chamber,” Duke said as I turned to leave the kitchen. He smelled like Asa. One of the males who’d taken my place to please the king over the past few days while I’d been preoccupied with a certain Nephilim.
A Nephilim I already missed. What was wrong with me?
“A meeting this early?” I fought an eye roll.
“Yes. And you shouldn’t keep the king waiting. You’ve disappointed him enough lately. But no worries, I’ve pleased him enough for the both of us.”
The coffee boiled in my mug, spilling over the top. A literal depiction of the anger boiling up inside my chest. I couldn’t care less if he banged Asa—more power to him—but I refused to be spoken to in such a way. “Have you forgotten your place, minion?”
The younger male cowered, gaze dropping to the floor. I outranked him in both position and power. He was lucky I didn’t rip his throat out. “Apologies, sir.”
I nodded to the spilled coffee. “Clean that up.”
“Yes, sir.” He reached for a cloth.
“With your tongue.”
His eyes bugged out before he dropped to his knees and got on all fours.
Yeah, maybe that was a bit extreme. But despite what some demons thought, Ihadearned my position. I wasn’t just a pretty fuckboy. Long before Asa had come into power, Belphegor and I had ruled the underworld together, each of us commanding forces of demons. Maybe not as kings, but we’d kept things organized. I wouldn’t tolerate disrespect.
I was the last one to arrive in the council’s chamber.