defiance as his tattoo glowed with power. I had no doubt that if they made one false move, he would show them what a Kami was capable of.
The entourage led us through the halls until we came to a massive throne room, complete with a smug-looking male who didn’t need a crown to demonstrate his claim. Two large horns protruded from his head, but those weren’t what captured my attention. The fanning bat wings behind him swayed and spread out over the throne’s armrests as he considered us.
The audience of Demonspawn parted, revealing the rest of my Virtues chained by their wrists. Orion broke his shackles the moment he saw me and sent the Demonspawn around him roaring with panic.
Hendrik chuckled while Dante watched with those ever-pensive eyes of his. Jess screeched from her position next to the male on the throne. “I told you guys to play it cool!”
Orion ignored them all while he scooped me up, ripping me from Kaito and Logan in the process. “Little star. How are you feeling? Are you okay?” He held me aloft while his other hand ran over me as if checking for injury, although he spent too much time checking my breasts. He smiled as he squeezed.
“She’s more than okay,” Hendrik commented as he glared at Kaito. “And I’d say the counselor has some explaining to do. I know dark magic when I feel it and that was some pretty dark shit.”
I squirmed in Orion’s crushing grasp as I tried to kick him. “Put me down, you oversized hornsickle!”
Orion chuckled, but obeyed. I spotted the demon on his throne watching us all with an amused expression. He bowed his head in respect. “Princess. It’s a pleasure to make your acquaintance.”
Huh. A polite demon, go figure.
“I assume you’re Luc?” I asked, shaking free of Orion’s groping hands to approach the throne. The rest of my Virtues watched in silence, but I sensed their tension.
Will you all calm down? I said, sending out the thought into their minds. I can take care of myself.
I didn’t need to remind them that until recently, I’d had no one to protect me from them.
Their emotions quieted as Luc rose from his throne. I didn’t like the smile on his face that said he knew exactly what was going on. “I can’t hear you, but your powers stem from Hell itself, so please be aware that I can sense when you’re having a telepathic conversation with your…” he glanced at my males, “guardians?”
“Virtues,” I corrected. “I may be a princess, but I’m no damsel in distress.” I released my claws, showing them off for his benefit. “I don’t need guardians.”
He chuckled. “I can see that.”
“We totally didn’t mean to intrude,” Jess interrupted, rudely shoving between me and Luc. She grabbed onto his massive forearm and giggled in that flirty way of hers when she was putting on the charm.
She was good at it, too, which I had always written off due to her experience as a succubus, but now that I knew she wasn’t a succubus at all, I had to admit, I was a little jealous of her ease around males.
Jess tugged Luc aside, making sure she had his full attention. To my surprise, he allowed it and his massive, gorgeous wings fluttered before folding to his back. “You’re not intruding,” he said with a wicked grin. “You know how I love new prisoners.”
Dante banged his chains against the floor. “This is a fucking courtesy, you asshole. Lily needs something from you and we’re respecting your turf, but we’re not going to be staying. You can count on that.”
Luc pouted as he glanced at me. “Is that true, Princess? If you want to vouch for these…” he twirled his wrist, “mongrels, then I’ll permit their release.” He glanced at Orion. “Even if they tend to disrespect this realm’s hierarchy.”
Logan snapped his teeth. “She’s the fucking Princess of Hell. How’s that for hierarchy?”
Luc smirked as if he knew something we didn’t, then he raised both hands in surrender. “Who am I to argue with a nude shifter?”
I waved Logan to stand down. I wasn’t sure if I preferred my guys being assholes to me, or assholes to somebody else. Either way, they needed to chill. “Sorry about them,” I said, giving the handsome Demonspawn my best apologetic smile. “What they’re trying to say is that I’ve come here for my mother’s help. I’m the Champion of the Third Echo of Calamity and it’s going to be coming