the night sky above us. The lights within the hall were low so they wouldn't compete with the glow of Lucien's fake firmament. Only candles, scattered on the table and in sconces on the walls, illuminated the space from within.
My lovers were already there when Lucien and I strode in like royalty. They sat to either side of the head of the table where the thrones waited. Demons filled the rest of the chairs, their leathery wings magicked away for the moment. Among them, my men looked handsome and tragically honorable—noble heroes taken captive by monsters. And the god of those monsters had dressed up my heroes and brought them to dinner just to fuck with them.
I gave my lovers a nervous look as Lucien helped me onto my throne. They nodded to me, prepared to handle anything Lucien did to them.
Lucien waved an indolent hand and food appeared on our plates while even more platters manifested down the table. Wine filled the glasses as if poured by unseen pitchers and the air went thick with the scent of hot bread, butter, roasted meat, and spices. But I wasn't hungry for food. I stared at my lovers as if the sight of them was sustenance enough, and they stared back just as ravenously.
“Eat!” Lucien growled at everyone.
The Demons dove in eagerly while my men and I complied a bit slower. The sound of clicking chains added to that of silverware on china.
“Open your mouth,” the Devil said to me.
I obeyed automatically and he placed a piece of meat on my tongue.
“Now, be a good girl and suck my finger clean.”
I mutinously held his gaze as I did it. Lucien made a growling sound of pleasure before disregarding me completely to transfer his attention to my men. He stared at them pensively as he ate, and I knew he was considering how to best torment them. My men had held their tongues so far, and I gave them pleading looks, hoping they'd continue to do so.
“So, tell me, King Verin,” Lucien finally spoke and everyone, even the Demons, flinched and focused on him. “When did you start seducing my wife? Was it before or after I pulled Gargo out of her grandfather?”
“He did not seduce me,” I answered for Verin.
“Shh.” Lucien laid a finger on my lips. “I want to hear it from him.”
“I was in the room when the Witch Leaders performed a spell to save Elaria from her growing magic,” Verin answered in a clipped tone. “The spell they were trying to cast was failing. She was dying. I offered myself to the RS to save her. At first, it didn't work.”
“And then?” Lucien prompted.
Lucien didn't look surprised by what Verin said, and I knew why. He'd already seen what had happened when he'd snooped through my memories. He was playing with Verin, that's all, seeing if Verin would lie to him.
“And then a spell was cast upon us to make us fall in love so the RS could take my energy,” Verin went on. “While under the influence of the spell, we truly fell in love.” His stare locked with mine. “That is how my life changed forever. And I don't regret it, not in the least.”
I looked away before Lucien could see the love burning in my eyes, before he could be angered or hurt by it.
“You knew that you could have counted on me to help you,” Lucien said to me. No, wait, that was Lucifer's voice.
“Luke,” I whispered, closing my eyes briefly in regret, “I couldn't. There was too much pain between us. I'm sorry.”
“Pain that had been forced on us,” he growled. “I never hurt you! Not me, Elaria!”
“You're hurting her now, Lucifer,” Torin growled.
Lucifer looked down to where he held my hand. His devil talons had appeared and were slicing into my skin. He jerked his hand back in horror and the wounds healed. But his stare remained on the blood for a few long heartbeats. When he looked up at me, his eyes were red.
“Don't,” I whispered.
“I can't help myself,” Lucien whispered back. “I crave it. Especially yours.” He lifted my hand and licked away my blood, groaning in delight.
Banning twitched, his face gone tight. Lucien noticed his reaction and slid his stare Banning's way, grinning at my Blooder Prince while he kept licking me. When Lucien didn't get another reaction, he dropped my hand and grimaced in disappointment.
“Dinner is over,” Lucien declared. With a wave of his hand, the table disappeared.