“Mallorn? I met you in Maine?”
Mallorn smiled, the smugness that he had the advantage of prior interactions with her radiating off him. “Yes, sweet girl. I protected you in Maine. I am pleased you remember me, though I know I must look very different to you now that you’ve been marked.”
“It’s hard to forget the monster who threatened to kill an innocent child in front of me,” she said, eyes narrowed as she stared Mallorn down.
Mallorn’s face dropped. “I-I wouldn’t have,” he stammered. “Please, sweet one, I had to say what I did to make sure you were safe. I hated that I scared you, but in that moment, your safety was paramount. Please, give me another chance to prove my worthiness, I implore you.”
There was a small thread of malicious glee winding through Kesh’s chest as his Second’s smugness vanished in the blink of an eye, only to be replaced with blind panic. It was swiftly becoming evident that, despite their agreement, Georgia wasn’t planning on being nice today. Kesh's traitorous instincts boiled under the surface, determined that she was his, despite the impossibility in that, and thrilled to see her put a would-be rival in his place.
Besides, a little spine looked good on her.
Ignoring how he really shouldn’t encourage behavior that might hinder a swift mate selection, he curled his hand possessively around her hip, squeezing gently.
Georgia didn’t pay him any mind. Her blue eyes were still spearing into Mallorn.
“Right. Another chance. Tell me then, have you ever been to Hell?”
Mallorn blinked at the odd topic change. “Er… can you be more specific, sweetness?”
“The brothel. Have you been? Have you… used its services?”
“I… have not. But I assure you, I know how to please a human woman—” Mallorn’s slightly frantic attempt at wooing Georgia died when she silenced him with a casual wave of her hand befitting of a queen of old.
“Thanks. You can step back. Next.”
“Sweetness—” Mallorn protested, entirely stunned by the rude dismissal, but Georgia had already shifted her attention to the next demon eagerly approaching.
“And who are you then?”
“My lady, I am Alliancef. Commander of the Third Regiment. At your service.”
“What, no declaration of undying loyalty and a million babies?”
Stars, he enjoyed her ruthless side. Kesh squeezed her hip tighter, anchoring himself in the feel of her as Alliancef opened and closed his mouth a couple of times, struggling to find an appropriate response. “You’re being a bitch,” he murmured in her ear, unable to keep the amusement out of his voice. “Do you get off on making fierce warriors cry?”
Georgia ignored him.
“My sweet lady Georgia, I will give you as many children as you desire,” Alliancef finally managed. “And I will be a loyal mate, putting you before my own life. I swear it, on my honor.”
“And Hell? Are you a customer?” Georgia asked, her voice turning deceptively sweet.
Alliancef, the great oaf, smiled confidently. “I have frequently visited that fine establishment over the years, honing my skills in the art of pleasure. Trust that I am well-versed in satisfying a woman. And, of course, once mated, I would restrict my desires to your sweet flesh.”
“Thank you for your time,” Georgia said, still smiling sweetly before turning her attention to the next kneeling warrior.
Alliancef, though clearly having hoped for more of her time, shot Mallorn a smug look as he stepped back in line.
Kesh silently questioned how the otherwise strategic commander could be this thick.
Brestafan, one of the most notable warriors under him, also eagerly confirmed his frequent exploitations in Hell, and was treated to that same, deceptively sweet smile. Kesh was starting to think all his men would eliminate themselves from the gene pool due to stupidity, but Sefron—the guard who’d been on duty the night Georgia was dragged to his throne, shaking and traumatized from her brief captivity in the brothel, smoothly denied stepping foot in there outside ‘official business’. An absolute lie, of course.
He shot Bestafan and Alliancef a side-glance as he stepped back, allowing the final suitor to approach.
“Hello, Georgia. It’s a pleasure to meet you. I’m Ed,” the dark-haired demon said, his voice a deep whiskey rasp.
Georgia arched an eyebrow. “Ed? That’s not very… demony.”
Ed offered her a half-smile. “My father allowed my human mother to name me. He theorized it would help her bond with me more easily. She called me Edward, after her brother.”
