Page 19 of Sweet Violence
A hand grabbed my shirt and tried to lift it. I curled my free hand into a fist and slammed it down hard enough to break bones, sending the fiery fucker reeling back with a reedy cry.
"Let her keep her clothes if she fights so fiercely," a rough voice said, and everyone jumped as if they'd been shocked.
I kept an eye on the fiery fuckers around me even as I peered past them at a tall, voluptuous woman wreathed in rich orange fire standing just inside the cavern. The fire was thin enough around her face for me to see dark copper skin and a look of unexpected admiration.
"You speak English," I noticed, surprised to hear my own language instead of the chattering everyone else used.
"I speak eighteen languages," she replied, taking several steps closer, the crowd of nervous fire fuckers parting with low murmurs. "Yours is not my favourite."
"Ugh, tell me about it. Why are read and read spelled the same?"
Her mouth parted in a smile, showing white teeth. "Beautiful, fierce, and of strong opinion." She nodded, locks of fire-hair flowing around her strong shoulders. "You'll make an excellent daughter."
I blinked.
"I'll make an excellentwhat?" I laughed, adjusting my grip on the black glass dagger. "’Cause it sounded like you saiddaughter."
"I did. You will marry my son. Do not worry," she added reassuringly, "he has a giant penis."
A laugh burst up my throat, and tears stung my eyes. I choked it back down and nodded. "That's, uh, good to know."
The leader cleared her throat and said something in her native language, and a shadow fell over the arched cave entrance, only broad shoulders and a trim waist visible until the guy—presumably her son—came closer.
Welp, there it was. The aforementioned giant schlong. I tried not to look, but it wasright there,swinging around as he walked, the mushroom head swollen and weeping. Poor guy. I hoped he found a nice girl, but it sure as shit wasn't going to be me.
He replied to his mum in a serious tone, then threw his shoulders back and marched over to me. I was prepared to stab him and sprint for the door, but when he lumbered closer, he dropped to his knees and his head lowered in a position of servitude.
Ah, shit.
I sighed when he gazed up at me, the yellow fire cloaking his face parted for me to see the devotion and awe in his copper eyes.
"I'm flattered," I said, tryingnotto see the massive erection between his spread knees, "but I can't be your nudist queen. Sorry, buddy."
He stiffened, and I braced for a fight, but he just kept looking at me in reverence, silently pleading.
"I already have a mate," I added, ignoring his big, adoring eyes and the guilt gnawing through my stomach.5"I have a whole horde of mates, actually. So, you know, it wouldn't work between us."
"That is unacceptable," the leader growled, following up with an angry chatter that turned the atmosphere in the cavern from curiosity to animosity.
Oh, fun times.
"There is a prophecy among our people. In it, a human touched by Hell arrives in our lands, and blesses us with untold power through a union to the leader's son."
"I mean," I said, eyeing up the path to the door that was currently blocked by three bulky fire fuckers, "there’s a whole slew of humans touched by Hell. Go find anyone your prince has fucked; something tells me the list is endless."6
The leader shook her head, sparks spitting from the ends of her hair.
But a contemplative look crossed her son's warm face, and he parted his lips, a deep, sensual voice pouring out. "I'm happy to share. I'm fond of cock, too," he happily informed me in English.
Well, I wasn't fond of sharing, so he could stay the hell away frommycocks.
"You seem sweet," I said, sidestepping him, "but I'm not looking for anything long-term right now.7
"I'm not your prophecy girl," I told the leader. "I'm the devil's mate. But if I find any humans wandering through Hell, I'll be sure to send them your way."
"You're not leaving," she growled, her voice deep and raspy. "My son belongs to you."
Guess that explained why everyone kept shooting Sashimi Girl dirty looks. I was intended for their leader's son. Or rather he was intended forme. Did women hold all the cards here? I couldn't say I noticed who was in charge during all the orgies.
