You have got to be shitting me,I thought, my eyes narrowing up at the godly male who had made himself at home in my room just yesterday.
His striking multicolored irises met mine, his dimples flashing as his grin deepened.
Yeah, I just bet you find this entertaining, I wanted to say to him.
Indeed I do, he seemed to reply, the asshole winking.
My teeth clenched, my ire mounting. He’d been playing a game with me. Which, of course he was—he was a damn Hell Fae!
Lucifer’s commanding voice yanked my attention away from the deceitfulprinceand directly to him—the reason for my presence here.
My ire was no less potent by the time the parade of females finished, which was fucking impressive, considering there were literally six hundred more of them after me in line.
If anything, I was even angrier.
Not necessarily at Melek, but at myself.
Because I damn well knew better. Yet I’d willingly allowed him to pull me into his twisted game.
Shit.
“Welcome,” Lucifer greeted, his deep voice carrying throughout the massive space on an enchanted breeze. “Tell me, what did you think of the candidate preview parade?”
Candidate preview parade? Are you for fucking real right now?
Roars of approval bounded through the stands, the male fae stomping their feet in a parade of their own—one that reminded me of a stampede of elephants.
Animals, I seethed.You’re all fucking animals.
Actually, no. That was an insult to all animal kind. These men weremonsters. And they were all salivating for a taste of the female flesh on display below.
Shit.
I really regretted wearing this dress. Not that there’d been much of a choice.
Lucifer chuckled, and again the warm sound swished around me like a heated caress, his magic hypnotically charming. It matched his expression as well, his full lips curling into an enticing grin that rivaled the come-hither quality of his midnight-blue eyes. I shouldn’t be able to discern that trait from this far back—he stood over a hundred yards away from me—and yet something about his stare radiated across time and space, allowing me a glimpse into the man himself.
I shook my head, trying to clear the daze from my thoughts. Because that wasn’t possible. And yet I felt as though he were looking right at me from only a few feet away, his sharp cheekbones and neatly trimmed beard so close I could almosttastehim.
What the hell is this voodoo?I marveled, swooning despite my obvious hate for this male.
Or maybe it wasn’t so much him I hated, but rather, my parents.
Yes. They were the reason for this mess, the culprits who’d signed the agreement.
I didn’t hate him at all. I barely even knew him. He was just the god among these fae who’d finalized the arrangement.
Your parents promised me your soul, I heard him whispering.In exchange for their freedom. I merely work in terms of deals, not fate. Don’t blame me for your parents’ sins. That’s on them alone.
Yes,I agreed, swallowing thickly.Yes, it’s… hold on…
I blinked and shook my head again.Stop it.I could feel his intoxicating presence inside me, morphing my thoughts, forcing me tohearhim, just like I sensed him right before me, talking and drowning me in sensations that weren’t my own.
No,I snapped, twisting away from his overwhelming presence.No!
But he held on to me with an ease I could feel more than see, and it tugged me deeper into a dangerous vortex of manipulation and false words.
I heard him welcoming all the brides, praising us for joining his trials—like we were here willingly—and outlining the coming festivities.