Page 31 of The Demon's Due
But Ashmedai’s face remained carved from shadow, golden eyes cold.
“Stheno, I am already mated. Your wiles will not work on me.” His voice reverberated low, absolute. Then he turned, looking at Síofra with unnerving clarity. “I am claimed.”
The words, simple as they were, made heat rush to her cheeks.
Stheno hissed, serpents writhing. “Foolish king. You think her enough for you?”
Ashmedai’s grin was razor-sharp. “More than enough.”
And with a cry that was equal parts fury and surrender, the Gorgon shed a lock of her serpent hair. It writhed and shimmered before falling to the floor at his feet. Ashmedai quickly used a cloth to wrap it carefully. Then he muttered something in a language that they couldn't understand and as they watched, the bars of the prison slowly began to rust.
Stenos’s chains rattled, her voice fading into the shadows of the oubliette. “Take it. But my freedom will come soon. And when it does, you will regret choosing her.”
As they walked out with the first artefact carefully wrapped in his bag, Morgan pulled Síofra closer and said in Ashmedai’s voice, “I have no interest in other females. I see only you.”
Chapter 14
They had chartered a private plane bound for Paris. The cabin was quiet. Síofra had curled herself into one of the leather seats, trying to convince her stomach that this was luxury, not a flying disaster.
Morgan stretched out across from her, trying to soothe her jangling nerves. “If we’re going to dig around the catacombs all night, at least we’ll land rested.”
Somehow ,she knew his wolf did not like flying either.
Just before they crossed the Channel, Morgan’s wolf sat up inside him. Something was wrong. The engines hummed, steady but strained, and the cabin smelled faintly of oil.
He unbuckled and stalked forward, finding the cockpit door ajar. Inside, the pilot was strapping on a parachute.
“What the hell are you doing?” Morgan barked.
The pilot jumped, fumbling with the harness. “Sorry, mate-job’s a job. They paid me to get you in the air, not down again.”
Síofra’s blood ran cold as she came up behind him, “Morgan?”
Before Morgan could act, smoke surged out of his skin. Ashmedai burst free, towering, wings unfurling, eyes gleaming molten gold. His grin split wide.
The pilot screamed, but it was cut short. Ashmedai’s jaws unhinged, and in a single, sickening movement, he devoured the man whole.
Síofra slapped a hand over her mouth, choking down bile. Morgan staggered, staring at the empty cockpit. “Ash-what the fuck? Who’s supposed to fly the plane now?”
Ashmedai’s expression flickered. Almost sheepish. “Oops.”
Síofra found her voice, trembling but sharp. “Cannibal.”
The demon spun on her with a huff. “I amnothuman. Therefore,nota cannibal.”
Morgan scrubbed his face with both hands. “You think this is funny? I might survive a crash, but she-” He gestured at Síofra, who was pale and furious. “She’ll die.”
Ashmedai’s grin sharpened. “Easily solved.”
Before Morgan could stop him, smoke swallowed his body again. Horns flared, claws tearing through the fuselage. Ashmedai swept Síofra into his arms, wings sprouting wide as night wind howled through the cabin.
“Don’t you dare-” she shrieked as he ripped the cabin door clean off.
He leapt, launching them into the cold, rushing dark. Síofra’s scream split the night as the plane disintegrated behind them.
Ashmedai’s laughter roared with the wind. “Do you know, once, I had a nymph who insisted on coupling while I flew. Delightful, if a little… distracting.”
“Don’t youdarethink about it!” Síofra yelled, clinging to him as Paris glimmered faintly in the distance.
