Page 54 of Bedeviled

I am now, I admit.

I inwardly wince at the gooey sentiment.

The demon watches us as Memnon kneels beside me, brushing my hair aside and leaning in to press a kiss to my neck.

He hesitates, and I only realize why a moment later when, instead of his lips, his fingers touch the side of my bloody neck, where my blood is cooling. An orb of pale blue light floats several feet above the sorcerer, illuminating my injuries.

Memnon doesn’t say anything, but his power begins to burgeon out of him, plumes of it rolling over the ground.

The demon goes still, his eyes pinned to my soul mate in a way that makes the creature seem like he’s prey eyeing a predator.

I’m certain Memnon is moments away from doing something atrocious to this creature, particularly once the sorcerer stands.

Wait.

Memnon stills. Yes, Empress?

“I want answers from him first,” I say, my gaze pinned to the demon.

The beast struggles fruitlessly to pry himself from the earth’s embrace. Distantly, I’m aware of the Hungering Ones waiting, watching.

Memnon reaches out and strokes my cheek. “Then you shall have them.” His thumb passes over my lower lip, tilting my face toward his. Unsurprisingly, his eyes are glowing. “But once you’re through with him, he’s mine,” he all but growls.

A shiver passes through me, one that might be due to blood loss but also because this reminds me of who we were—king and queen, both warriors and rulers.

When I turn back to the demon, a smile tugs at the edges of my lips. “Deal.”

Refocusing on the demon, I lift a hand. “Only the truth shall pass your lips,” I incant, aiming my magic at the creature.

The demon’s lips peel back to reveal its sharp canines as my power slips down its throat.

“What is your name?” I ask.

The demon laughs again, shaking his head back and forth. “You think I am bound by your power, wit—Maelverynox.”

His eyes widen, and for an instant he looks comically startled. The moment he recovers, he snarls.

I might be bloody and tired, but still I feel a rush of triumph.

“Maelverynox,” I echo.

The demon tries to lunge up for me, his eyes burning with fury. The earth, however, holds him fast, and his teeth snap nothing but air.

“That’s not very nice,” I taunt.

He hisses at me.

Goddess, I’m sure it’s epically foolish to piss off a demon, but hell, he was planning on eating me anyway.

“Who has bound you?”

The demon snarls, a string of Demonish words leaving his lips.

“Who?” I demand, forcing more magic into my question.

I can see his throat working as the answer tries to pry itself free.

He growls, the sound low in his throat. Then, finally⁠—