“If Tali gets her hands on you and starts to breed?—”
Cutting him off, I snort. “She already did… but thanks to that resilience of mine, I’m not with her anymore.‘Resilience isn’t always a goodtrait’.” My mocking tone has his large nose twitching, the tic in his squared jaw pulling out the veins in his neck.
“How about I shove my cocks into your mouth to keep you quiet.”
I donotwant that.
Wait, did he say cocks?! As in plural? There is no pussy fluttering at that thought.
Silence falls between us, but soon he releases a chuckle. “Too bad, you’d look just as good as Proserpina choking on them.”
Rolling my eyes, I grunt. “I’d rather choke on shit.” I look away from him but his large hand grabs my jaw and jerks me back in his direction.
“Tali getting her hands on you could be catastrophic, my little hybrid brat.”
I won’t remark, even if I detest being claimed byanyonebut by my monster. Me being snarky is just drawing out this conversation, and I want to get home.
Home.
“Going out and committing mass murder, while beautifully done I must admit, is dangerous and reckless. I do not give a fuck if youthinkyou were safe. Understand?”
I’m not here to justify any action I take. Technically, he should yell at Kairhyse—it wasn’tmyidea. That being said, I wanted to do it. I’m sure if I told Kai it was too dangerous, he would have turned us right around. I trust him, and it was rightfully placed. He gave me everything I needed, and we made it home safe.
“Fine,” is all I say through his grip against my cheeks.
“The moment you begin reproducing, Xeraphine, that world will begin to descend into a dark era.” He releases me with a shove, and I stumble slightly.
“Why do you even care?” I bring my hand up and rub at my sore jaw. “Aren’t you supposed to bring chaos?” Alaric had alluded to Belial having something bigger planned, but that was it.
I want to know more. No—Ideserveto know more.
He doesn’t seem irritated when he says, “Thatdarkness isn’t a future the Divine nor myself will like.”
The urge to say,“Boo-hoo”is so fucking strong that I have to clear my throat or risk it accidently spilling out.
“I’ll be more cautious.” I concede like the obedient child he wants me to be. “Are we done here?”
He chuckles. “No. You didn’t think your little outburst would go unpunished, did you? As though you’d get off with a slap on the wrist. What a funny, delusional Succubus you are.” His laugh is unfriendly andit echoes around the room.
“I can’t be punished for something I didn’t know was wrong. Other than… morally killing people, but what’s that to you?”
When his tongue wets his bottom lip, I already know what is coming and bile rises straight into my mouth. Even if I had anticipated this outcome, it doesn’t make the thought of it any easier to digest.
“The answer is no,” I say firmly.
“Willing, unwilling, consent, rape. It makes no difference to me.” He grins widely, his sharp canines press into the nearly black flesh of his lower lip. “Proserpina has been in such a shit mood recently, probably because of you, but who knows.”
My eyes dart to the door. “I don’t give a fuck about your domestic problems. The answer is no. I’ve been claimed by my Mark.” I honestly have no idea if that holds any weight, but I’m throwing it out just in case.
“Do you know why you attract so much attention? It isn’t your pheromones. I mean, yes,fuck,do you smell delightful. But you are bound to be a fuck-toy, Xeraphine, and men can sense that. As was your mother, and hers before her. They all understood their place.” He takes a step in my direction and I take a deep breath, holding it right in the center of my chest. “Do as your told, take your punishment, and then I’ll send you back home.”
“I swear I won’t put myself into a position where Tali could get me,” I say quickly, my eyes dart once from the door to him, and then at it again.
Run. I need to run.
“That’s a good girl,” he seethes and the anger he hastrulyterrifies me. It will hurt, whatever he has planned. It’s why I can’t stay, I can’twillinglysuffer for something that isn’t my fucking fault!
Digging my heel into the ground, I thrust myself past him, feeling the brush of his hand against my back as he misses grabbing me. My steps are purposeful, but it doesn’t matter. Just as I reach for the door handle, his grip on my neck yanks me away from it.
