Inferno of Darkness (Divisa Huntress #2) - J.L. Weil Page 0,61

my name without the word luv attached to it, he meant business. I wasn’t the least bit intimidated. “You don’t scare me.”

His lips curled with a touch of cruelty, as if he was reminding me just who he was. “After everything you’ve seen, you should be. I don’t know what that says about you.”

I grinned smugly. “That I’m brilliant.”

“You are many things and will no doubt continue to surprise me in the most infuriating ways. Now tell me who was foolish enough to smuggle you inside?” he asked, switching topics.

I cringed, wanting to avoid this subject. “Why does it matter? I’m here.”

“You couldn’t have pulled this off on your own. You had someone on the inside,” he pressed on, assuming that I had sought out a demon for help, which I had.

I ran an invisible zipper across my lips. “I’m sworn to secrecy. And stay out of my head. My mind is off-limits.”

He leaned in, his breath cool against my skin, and purred, “What about your body?”

I swallowed.

Shit.

When he said things like that, in that voice of dark silk, my toes curled and my core heated to molten lava.

Damn him.

I clamped my lips together, biting back a moan.

He didn’t kiss me as I wanted, but continued down the path of theorizing how I came to the underworld. “I can only think of one person stupid enough to jeopardize his soul and gamble against the queen’s wrath.”

My lips remained sealed, but in my head, I was rambling. Someone who has an eternity of guilt, remorse, pain, and horror to repent.

Ashor swore, raking a hand through his hair. “Do you know what you’ve done? What you and Cayden have both done?”

A scowl formed on my mouth. “I told you to stay out of my head.” I didn’t deny that his friend was the demon who helped orchestrate my entrance to Hell. “Besides, I came back for you. You’re welcome,” I snapped, feeling trickles of irritation in my blood.

He laced his fingers with mine and stared down at our joined hands. “I never said I wasn’t grateful you are here, only that there will be consequences. You’ve walked right into the middle of a brewing war, luv.”

I had known the probability of Kali’s retaliation was high, but it was a risk I’d been willing to take. He wasn’t telling me anything I hadn’t already weighed and considered. “I’ve learned everything in Hell comes with strings attached.”

A breath later, I found myself flat on the bed with Ashor hovering over me, eyes bright—his demon eyes. “You’ve put a target on your back.”

Lightning zipped through my veins, equal parts anger and desire. I longed to see that other side of him, those impressive wings. The eyes alone weren’t enough. Could I push him over the edge? Did I want to? I narrowed my gaze, staring straight into his glowing eyes. “I’ve had a target on my back my entire life.”

His focus shifted to my lips, and the gold in his eyes burned fiercer. “Something else we have in common. How is it I find you so attractive when you’re spitting mad? You are more beautiful than I remember, even with the visions.”

I gave him a snarky little smirk. “Flattery and sweet words won’t work on me.”

His lips twitched as if calling me a liar. “Now that you have me, what is it you plan to do with me?”

I shook my head. “Not what you’re thinking.” At least not right this second. My attraction to the demon prince had only intensified during our absence, and seeing him now, the months of wanting slammed into me. “But I am starting to think this wasn’t such a great idea.” Me. The Prince of Darkness. Alone.

What could possibly happen?

Too much.

And the thought suddenly both excited and terrified me.

His fingers brushed against my thigh. “It’s too late to turn back. And now that I’ve seen you, I don’t know that I have the strength to leave you a second time.”

I placed a hand over his back, feeling the corded muscles bunch under his shirt. Electric energy sparked between us, and it would only take a single touch to ignite a fire potent enough to burn the world. At least, that was how I felt on the inside, a cold fire of darkness flickered in my veins. “I wouldn’t leave,” I said with set determination. “Not without you.”

Specks of violet flickered into the center of his demon eyes. “We must be careful. Like all royals, Verena has spies everywhere. She doesn’t