Page 32 of Bellamy

“You’re so bossy today.” I ate a spoonful. It was good. Tasted like beef, but thiswasthe underworld. It very well could’ve been monster meat or the last person who’d pissed off His Royal Dickhead. As I ate, I felt his gaze on me. “Do you have a food fetish? Does watching me stuff my face get your motor racing?”

Phoenix sighed.

I fought a smile and continued eating. Irritating him was fun. Pretty much my only entertainment in this hellhole. My thoughts sobered as I replayed the last day over in my mind.

Belphegor had really screwed with my head. He’d made me see my brothers die horrible deaths. Their mates too. It had felt so real. I’d seen them die over and over until reality and the nightmare blurred. Until I couldn’t tell what was real anymore.

The spoon tumbled from my hand. “Fuck.”

Lust was the weakest he’d ever been. Jacking off wouldn’t help either. Part of what gave Lust his strength was feeding off other people’s pleasure, not just my own. My body and mind were battered on top of that, thanks to Belphegor and Purah. I was holding on by a very thin thread, one on the brink of snapping. And once it did?

Game over.

Every corner of my mind would be opened to Belphegor. He’d be able to find the barrier’s new coordinates and retrieve Lucifer’s sword. He’d uncover every deep, dark secret I’d kept hidden. He would learn that Phoenix was my mate.

Would the demon be killed because of it?

“Useless Nephilim.” Phoenix came over and grabbed the spoon. “I have to bathe you and carry you around. Must I feed you too?” He didn’t wait for a response before scooping up some of the meat stew and gently pressing it to my lips.

I opened my mouth and let him feed me. I was too hungry to be sassy about it. Even though I’d never admit it aloud, because fuck that, I kind of liked when he took care of me. Even if it was nothing more than a manipulation on his part.

“I spoke to your brothers.”

The stew went down the wrong pipe, and I coughed. “What? When?”

“Last night.” Phoenix wiped the corner of my mouth, as if out of reflex. His cheeks darkened a shade as he dropped his gaze to the half-empty bowl. “You were right. They aren’t coming for you.”

Although I’d known the truth, hearing it still stung. Light Bringer was too important though. My life meant nothing in comparison.

“I’m sorry,” he said, then placed the bowl on the bedside table. His horns had a slight curve near the ends where they came to a sharp point. That close, I also noticed his long eyelashes. The soft pout of his bottom lip.

My heart clenched, and I tore my gaze from him. “No need to be sorry. It’s best this way.”

“You dying is for the best?” Phoenix stood up. “You really are an idiot.”

“Lay off the insults a little, would ya? I’m fragile right now.”

It got me thinking though… was that why he was in a pissy mood? Because he was angry with my brothers?

“What’s the plan now?” I asked when too long of a silence passed between us. “Let you be good cop for a while before Belphegor throws me back into that cell?”

“Something like that.”

“So you admit this is a scheme. You taking care of me. Washing me. Feeding me. It’s all just so you can fuck with my head even more.”

“This wasn’t supposed to happen, Bellamy.” Whiskey eyes met mine as he squeezed his hands into fists. “Why did you have to get yourself captured?”

“It’s not like I wanted to. Shit happens. I let my guard down and paid the price for it.”

“No.” Phoenix shook his head. “I’m the one who will be paying that price. Goddamn you. For a seasoned warrior, you’re incredibly foolish. No. Worse than foolish. You’re an imbecile.”

“You really know how to charm a guy. You should write a poem.” I frowned as his words registered. “What price willyoube paying? Having to clean up my blood once they off me? It does sound messy, I admit. Sorry ’bout that.”

“Stop with the jokes!” Phoenix’s eyes flashed red, and the bowl flew off the table, smashing into the wall.

“It’s not a joke,” I said. “It’s what will happen. You and I both know it. The only way this ends is with me dead.”

“That’s not—”