Page 5 of Inheritance
I narrowed my eyes, “Isn’t anyone concerned about why the hell I want to escape?”
The man chuckled, “I mean, finding out you are the mate of the devil can’t be easy, so it will take time getting used to. That said, Lucifer has been looking for his mate for centuries, so it doesn’t surprise me—or anyone else—that he is taking every measure possible to keep you here.”
“It doesn’t change the fact that I don’twantto be here,” I growled. “I mean, doesn’t my opinion count in any of this?”
His lips curved into a smile, “Sure they do. You can do anything you want here. Everything is open to our future queen, and you can even completely ignore His Lordship. He hasn’t forced himself on you, has he? Forced you to do anything besides having meals with him?”
I didn’t answer, but I let out some muttered grumbling under my breath because I really had no way of countering his words—it didn’t change the fact that I didn’t want to be here, though.
He continued, “If I had to guess, this imprisonment of yours is his way of making sure you two have time away from the outside world to establish your bond.”
“I have other mate bonds,” I hissed, watching his eyes widen in surprise. “I don’t want to have a bond with this asshole—“
I inhaled sharply as a large frame appeared behind me, rough hands wrapping around the back of my neck and tilting my jaw up as I narrowed my eyes at the bastard in question.
“Now, that isn’t very nice, Little Temptress.” His mood had seemed to completely flip again, and it made me wonder just what type of man I was dealing with. The answer was clear—he wasn’t a man, he was a powerful immortal being.
“You’re right, I am a total bitch,” I agreed easily, nodding my head. “You should let me leave.”
Luce flashed a smile at that, finding my comment amusing, before looking up at the nameless soldier. “What, exactly, are you doing away from your station, Commander Eryx?”
Eryx bowed his head politely, “I meant no disrespect. I was changing posts, and she looked like she was going to try to fly out of here. So I warned her about the barriers.”
Luce’s lips curved up before he looked down at me with more amusement than before, causing me to scowl.What an ass.“Very well, you can leave.”
And he did.Some friend that bastard was.
“You will not be friends with other men.”
Luce scared the hell out of me when his words echoed against my ear, his teeth nipping the shell of it before he disappeared completely. Leaving me alone and more confused than ever. I frowned, wondering why the hell he had shown up just to be a bastard.
Was that him being possessive?
Had he been upset that I was talking to Eryx? Someone who posed no threat of attracting my attention in his direction, let alone of rivaling a mate—not that I was embracing or admitting to that concept.
Ah, fuckity fuck.I really needed to get out of here. I just had to figure out how.
CHAPTER THREE
Ama
I'd really had every intention of figuring out an escape plan earlier after the odd encounter with Eryx and Luce. But exhaustion had won out, and I had succumbed to the blissful state of unconsciousness that sleep provided.
As I woke from my nap and stretched, enjoying the soft silk of the sheets against my skin, I sighed heavily. I needed to figure out a new strategy for handling Luce at lunch. Clearly, provoking him wasn't a method that was going to work, and I couldn't risk having him kill my mates if I pushed him too far. The man was a loose cannon, and I wasn't willing to risk finding out if he'd make good on that promise.
Staring at the stone ceiling, I ran through other options.
Should I try acting like I was truly giving in to what he wanted? Lure him into a false sense of security?
Perhaps that was what I should have done from the beginning. I had been so furious about being taken that I couldn't have played that charade last night, though.
Going forward, I could act like the perfect little mate. I needed to feed on his energy and restore my own reserves, first and foremost. Being weak was not something I could afford right now, and I needed to get my magic back from him.
Two birds, one stone.
I'd feed on him while luring him into my trap and convince him to give my powers back.
Could I even feed without my magic?I'd have to cross that bridge when I got there.
