Page 69 of All Your Deadly Truths (The Filthy Duet #2)

Xeraphine

T he grip on my throat tightens and I release a breath, spit flying across Belial’s arm.

“You really are her incarnate.” He drags me closer to him, our faces mere inches apart. “Just as defiant, hard-headed…” A low, feral growl rolls from his throat. “You have her better traits at least. Which means you are tamable.”

“I—” I rasp. My lungs are beginning to fight for oxygen, my hands grabbing his wrist while my feet kick at his solid mass. One of my nails chips as I attempt to dig them into his crimson-toned skin.

He drags his tongue across his top teeth, loosening his grip on my neck just enough for me to suck in a desperate breath. I swallow it quickly as if it might be my last.

“I’m listening.” He prompts me to speak.

My lip twitches at the edge. “It…” I clear my throat. “It would seem… Proserpina has your balls tied in a knot. A bitch to his handler.”

I do love pissing people off.

His eyes, like an eclipsing sun, widen, and I hear Tyson click his tongue in disappointment behind me.

“Why do you say that?”

Just as his grip tightens again, my hands fly up, fingers lacing between his. His strength is fucking unreal—one of my digits snaps almost instantly.

“S-Shit—” My feet kick forward, pressing against his stomach, and I begin an attempt to yank myself free.

“Because…” I grit through my teeth. “You…” My words strain against the pressure I’m putting forth.

Through a scream to release any tension in my body, I finish, “Can’t do shit without her permission! ”

To be honest, my fight feels like an ant trying to lift a boot on its own. I’m not delusional, but he’s insane if he thinks I’ll just let him disrespect me because of his oversized ego.

“Xeraphine,” Tyson says. “You need to learn?—”

“Fuck off and leave! Why are you still here?! Go burn.” The moment the words leave my mouth, I’m released. The bite against my lower back as I fall and hit the desk, makes me groan. I’m incapable of landing on my feet, and find myself hitting the ground with a thump.

My head pops up, and as Belial towers over me, I hiss through my teeth, “Was that necessary?! Couldn’t just set me down?” His nostrils flare, and I know I should shut the fuck up, but who am I to fight my insanity. “Huh?”

He lifts his gaze, and I can only assume he is looking at Tyson, and gestures with his head. Good, send the other bitch away.

Fucking asshole…

Yes, his betrayal hurts—and what stings the most is that I understand why he did it.

I can’t say I wouldn’t have done the same if it had been Sydni…

or Kairhyse. But I’ve been hurt too many times to forgive anymore.

That word is no longer in my vocabulary, even if it kills me to hear the door open and close.

Knowing that the last words I’ll ever say to him are to ‘go burn’.

I let the hurt wash over me for a few seconds before casting it aside and slowly rising to my feet.

Belial doesn’t step away from me, and as I come to stand, I crane my head all the way to keep him in view.

I’m not surprised he is good looking, I mean, if you’re into dark red skin and two sets of horns.

One of which is reminiscent of a goat, the other is a thicker version of mine, which sit right on his forehead and curve up and inward.

The other set is a few inches higher on his head, under an abundant layer of dark black hair.

He's gigantic, and I don’t mean just his broad size. Even two of me standing side by side still doesn’t equal his width. His height is equally intimidating, probably closer to eight feet than he is seven.

When he invades my space, I’m instantly more uncomfortable than I already was. “Can you back the fuck up? What is this?”

“Resilience isn’t always a good trait, Xeraphine.” He sighs and steps away, his heavy footsteps echoing around the desk. I take a moment to close my eyes, releasing a silent breath, soundlessly begging my heart to calm.

I’m nervous, but I can’t show it. My body screams at me to submit, to avoid the pain. The knots in my stomach tighten, and the heat in my chest won’t fade. No matter how much my mind tries to reassure me that we’ve survived worse, it doesn’t help.

I turn to find him perched right in the middle of the room, his arms crossed over his chest. “Come.”

“Why did you summon me here?” The sooner we finish this conversation, the better.

I don’t want to be here any longer than necessary.

“I’m also not yours to command. From everything I’ve learned, only Proserpina can do that.

” I have no idea if that is factual, but from everything that Alaric has said, it feels that is the case.

The smile he gives me is unfriendly. “You came when beckoned, seems very submissive of you.”

I refuse to play this back and forth. My need to keep Kairhyse safe outweighed me defying the order to come to the Beyond.

“Why, Belial?” I don’t move, but I’ve turned at least to fully face him.

“I said… come.”

I’m a stubborn bitch so I stay planted.

“Do I need to threaten you?” His tone booms with irritation.

Crossing my arms and standing tall like he is, I nod. Behind this table, separated from him, I feel a little stronger. Not that he couldn’t appear behind me like he did the first time, but the distance gives me a false sense of security I desperately need.

I’m delusional, and at least I can admit it.

“I’ll send Pyrehounds after Sydni if you do not comply.”

The clench in my jaw is instant, and accompanies my vision shaking. My chin dips but I keep my gaze locked on him through my lashes.

There are plenty of them… They can keep her safe…

Fuck! Do I risk that?

I swallow and watch as he raises his hand, and points down right in front of him. “Here. Now.”

Wetting my lips, I think back to a time where I thought having people in my life was a good idea. How on so many occasions I looked at Sydni’s innocence and said, “Yeah, let’s keep her around because nothing bad could happen.”

I’ve never considered her safety a higher priority than my own selfish need to have her in my life, and that right there makes me an awful person. She never deserved the life I forced her into.

I move with purpose around the table and take the six large strides to stand in front of him. Now, only a foot or so separates us.

“We could’ve talk across the room,” I mumble.

“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 good trait’ .” 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 do not want 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 by anyone but 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 you think you were safe. Understand?”

I’m not here to justify any action I take.

Technically, he should yell at Kairhyse—it wasn’t my idea.

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—I deserve to know more.

He doesn’t seem irritated when he says, “ That darkness 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 and it 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.