Page 15 of Hell-Bound (Pacts of the Infernal #1)

Xarek does not know the hell I will rain down upon him.

Ren felt lightheaded again.

“This is why he wants to compel me? To get some sort of advantage—information about you?”

Azur rolled his neck, releasing the tension there.

“That is what the documents seem to imply.”

Her mind spun.

“What do we do?”

He stopped, tilted his head.

“Ren, we don’t do anything. This isn’t your fight—”

“It most certainly is my fight! This Devil prick wants to control me! I won’t let anyone control me. Not him, not anyone. I’m done with people telling me what I should do and who I should be.”

Though the words surprised her, she realized they were true. She didn’t want to be Renata anymore. She wanted to be Ren. To get to decide who she wanted to be, that’s what mattered. What had to matter if she was going to keep living.

Azur eyed her skeptically.

“I told you I wouldn’t let anything befall you. Now you want me to let you run headlong into a war between some of the most powerful creatures alive?”

“Can’t you…do both?”

she asked, a crease appearing between her eyes.

“Not as well as I would like,”

he huffed, exasperated. He lifted his hands to massage his temples.

“I want you to stay here, at my safe house for a day or two while I figure out what we can do. I am sure Xarek will not strike out in the open, especially not now that we know their plan, but it would be more convenient if you were close.”

Her first impulse was to reject the offer, she was too involved with him and she still had the tome to think about.

“I have guest rooms for the others. You can occupy one for the time being. Jester will make sure you know your way around.”

“Jester is here?”

Strangely, the idea of the little red Devil being close comforted her.

“Yes, he lives in private quarters. I’m sure he’s told you that he has been with me for some time.”

Her stomach lurched.

She didn’t like thinking of Azur as someone who possessed Jester’s soul. The story of Ahdan came back to her and she felt sick.

“Are you ever going to let him go?”

she asked, quietly.

He looked down at his nails.

“No,”

he said with finality.

“Come with me.”

He walked past her towards the back door. This time, when he opened them, he did not use his magic as he crossed the threshold usually used to teleport them into the tavern.

She hesitated before following, wanting to protest and keep talking about Jester. But she got the impression that Jester didn’t need—or want, anyone to stand up for him.

And then there was the small voice buzzing in her head.

Leo said wait in the tavern! You can’t just skip a meeting with The Almighty!

Ren desperately wanted to shush Renata again. But she knew that her voice was right. Then again, staying in Azur’s safe house might be the exact thing that Nainaur would want. For a sacred relic, the house of the king of Devils was the perfect place to investigate.

She scrambled to follow him down a brightly lit hallway adorned with paintings of Devils in different settings. Some were standing, wings unfurled in combative stances, fighting creatures unknown to her, while others were engaged in intimate encounters, fangs bared, lust in their eyes. She tried not to picture Azur as one of these and hoped he couldn’t feel her wandering thoughts.

They stopped at the end of the long hallway, and he gestured to the door.

“All yours, my dear.”

She pushed past to look inside.

This might have been the most surprising incident that had happened all day. This was not the modest room she had been in previously. Inside was a massive four-poster decorated with elegant pillows and a plush comforter. A fire was flickering in the hearth, and two chairs sat before it. Chairs that, unfortunately, reminded Ren too much of the one she had seen Azur reclined on her first night.

“You are technically a guest in my home for now, and I am nothing if not accommodating to my guests. Us Devils are very hospitable creatures as a rule.”

She snorted.

“Tell that to Xarek.”

The smallest smirk appeared on Azur’s face.

“Just don’t break anything. I’d hate for you to accrue any debt while you’re here. Paying off Devils can be quite challenging, I hear.”

She gave him a poisonous look.

He ignored it.

“Now, if you don’t mind. I have a lot of work to do. Plans to murder lords of The Hells don’t devise themselves! Make yourself at home.”

With a nod, he walked leisurely back down the hallway, and Ren cursed herself for darting her eyes toward his backside.

A thorough inspection of the room was even more spectacular than her view from the hall. Each surface was encrusted with vurmite and glittering in the purple light from the two large windows. There was a terrace overlooking an ashy valley and a vanity holding several books—unsurprisingly, none were Vutar’ka Zhartun.

Suddenly, there was a slight change in temperature.

“I know that’s you, Jester,”

she said, turning and crossing her arms.

Jester was paused in a sneaking position, evidently trying to grab and scare her.

“It’s been quite a day,”

she said with a huff.

“can we drop with the tomfoolery for a bit?”

Jester looked offended.

“Absolutely not! I live for this Ren! You wouldn’t rob a soulless Devil of his one joy, would you?”

He pouted.

She grumbled under her breath while examining the baubles on the vanity.

“You’re only here to annoy me then? Or did you miss me?”

It was her turn to sound coy.

“Ick, no! I’m just here because Lord Azur Stuffy Pants wants to invite you to dinner.”

He waggled an eyebrow at her.

“What have you done to earn such an honor, my dear Ren?”

Another grumble.

“The last guest Azur invited to dinner was a little pink Devil. Perhaps you’ve met her? Zelaia?”

Ren choked on her own spit.

“What?!”

Jester wrinkled her nose.

“Ew. If you plan to get anywhere with Azur, don’t make that noise.”

“Oh. No. Surely, he doesn’t expect me to do anything?”

Jester shrugged.

“Who knows? He’s the lord of lust and lechery. What did you expect?”

She suddenly felt very hot, air again hard to capture but for a wholly new reason.

“I didn’t think about it.”

But if she were being honest, she had thought about it.

A lot.

“I’m only here to tell you that he has stocked the wardrobe full of appropriate clothes and anything else you might need. He does like his gluttonous dinners to be fabulously lavish,”

he drawled.

“You’re not coming?”

she rasped.

He narrowed his eyes.

“Azur wouldn’t deign to eat with a soulless Lesser Devil. And besides, thanks to someooooone we know, I apparently have to do some reconnaissance.”

“Sorry about that,”

she said, feeling slightly guilty.

He shrugged.

“Part of the job when you can turn invisible. I’m used to it, Elfy.”

“Is that not something common with Lesser Devils?”

He shook his head.

“Nope, thanks to Azur, I’m speeciiiial.”

Another eyebrow waggle.

“Have fun tonight, little Elfy! Don’t let Azur have all the fun! I hear his cock is huge, but I bet he’s selfish in the bedroom—”

Ren lunged at him, but he poofed away, giggles echoing until they finally disappeared down the hallway.

“Menace,”

she grumbled.

Opening the wardrobe, she found it to be full of a variety of dresses in different colors. Her breath caught as she delicately removed the first of them.

The dress was made of the softest velvet black—low cut and patterned with sheer mesh that draped across long elegant sleeves embellished with patterns like tree branches. It was almost completely backless but crisscrossed near the rear and cascaded into a short train. It was breathtaking. She wanted to put it on and never take it off.

She almost vibrated with excitement as she draped it across the vanity. Only then did a shining necklace catch her eyes. It wasn’t adorned. It was a simple silvery chain with a dangling empty bracket like something had been removed. With a start, she withdrew the vurmite from her pocket and placed it in the brackets. It was a perfect fit. She would be the most beautiful Half-Elf in the realm with this, she was certain.

I can’t wait to see you, came his low, gravelly voice.

She swatted away the gathering smoke to dismiss him and went straight for the washroom. The tub was already filled, and soft red petals floated on the surface.

Ren clenched her teeth, wanting to disapprove but also incredibly excited for this little indulgence.

After washing every surface of her body and adding a little of the scented oils to some more intimate areas.

Not for him, obviously.

She slid on her perfect slinky dress and adorned her neck with her gem. Ren discovered she wasn’t much for hair styling, so she let her silver hair fall in flowy waves on her shoulders.

Rotating primly in the mirror, Ren heard a knock on her door. When she opened it, she had to stop herself from falling over. Azur was dressed in all black but wasn’t business attire that night. His ensemble was elegant and refined. His hair wasn’t slicked back, hiding his curls. Instead, he had allowed them to wind freely around his sleek horns, a couple falling down his forehead. His lips were slightly parted as he looked her up and down.

Realizing that this stunning male was staring at her, Ren could feel her chest flush and she hoped she didn’t look splotchy pink.

He held out his hand.

“Lady Ren, would you please join me for dinner in my sitting room?”

Sitting Room?

That seemed quite a bit more intimate than she was expecting. In her mind, she’d imagined a grand ballroom with an entire table between them.

Ren struggled to hide her anxiety as she placed her hand in his.

“Yes, sure.”

This was the first time they had touched since their kiss, and the sensation sent her head spinning as she thought back to where his hands had been.

He led her down the hall to two double doors that he opened for her, allowing her to walk first.

“Are you always so gentlemanly to your victims?”

she asked, sweeping past him.

“Only the ones I need,”

he said matter-of-factly.

“I see, you just need me, is that it?”

She huffed.

“As I’ve mentioned, my need is quite insatiable.”

Unmentionable areas in her body clenched at this statement.

He walked across the room and beckoned her to a small table in front of a roaring fire. The table was set, and food was plated with several types of meats and cheese, with an elegant bottle of red wine poised to be poured.

Azur pulled out her chair for her and, despite herself, sat primly, feeling increasingly like royalty.

“Please, help yourself. I know rations aren’t the most filling,”

Azur said, smiling politely.

She looked down and, unable to control her growing hunger, did indeed tuck in, hoping Renata remembered table manners. It turned out she knew some formalities, and could get by, even remembering to place the napkin on her lap.

Azur reached across the table and poured her a generous glass of wine.

Ren’s mouth watered as she extended her hand and took the delicate glass. Lifting it to her lips, she noticed that Azur was frozen, not blinking.

She tasted the first sip—

It was incredible. The flavor was deep and full, like fresh red fruit, ripe on a summer evening. She smiled to herself, knowing this unique flavor would be a memory she could come back to. She took another generous sip and couldn’t help the slight moan of culinary pleasure that escaped her.

“My my. I didn’t think I’d be hearing that sound so soon,”

Azur quipped from across the table.

Ren almost spit out her wine.

“Excuse me, sir. I don’t remember much about table manners, but I know this isn’t a polite conversation!”

He laughed fully.

“I’m sorry, Ren. I didn’t mean to offend.”

He took a small sip from his own glass, licking a small drip from his supple mouth. Ren had to stop herself from shivering.

“I have no bad intentions, I can assure you. I don’t make it a habit of mixing business and pleasure.”

“Oh,”

was her only response as the forbidden emotion of disappointment crept in.

“I just don’t see you that way, Ren,”

he stated, swirling his wine in its glass.

“I understand your silly little game with this kiss. You’re not the first to be curious, and I hate to disappoint you, for you obviously crave something more, but I really don’t have the time for such frivolous matters. You do understand, darling?”

Ren’s mouth was fully agape.

“Excuse me?”

she burst out.

“that’s quite the ego you have on you, Lord Pelegros, but while I was curious last night, I decided after such a disappointing performance on your part that if I wanted to have a mediocre kiss and conversation, I’d take it up with Jester.”

His mouth tilted flirtatiously.

“Is that so?”

“It is so!”

She stood up and tossed her napkin on the table.

“If you knew anything about me, then you would know the thing I hate most is when people tell me how I feel. Only I get to decide that!”

She spun on her heel and stormed out the door, stomping towards her rooms. He didn’t follow.

Of all the preposterous…of all the egotistical things he could have said! Lord of Pride indeed!

She kicked her dress off and threw herself on the bed, wearing her borrowed silken underclothes, and screamed into her pillow.

She knew that the kiss had likely meant very little to him, but the confirmation was deflating. Despite what she might tell herself, it had been important to her. It was her first kiss, and it was undeniably plane-shattering.

He hadn’t needed to kiss me, so like—whatever that was! It could have been a little peck! He was clearly teasing her. That lustful beast was trying to gain the upper hand in some sort of contest of wills.

Then, an idea.

A deliciously awful idea.

An idea completely devilish.

Ren settled her head gently in her pillow. She slid her hand down her chest to her stomach and leisurely drew slow circles around her navel. The sensation sent small, pleasant electric shocks down her body. She stopped for a moment before she let her fingers wander. When she reached the lining of her silken undergarment, she paused and let out a nervous breath. This would be another first. She continued her journey down, delicately touching the tender, soft skin between her legs. This feeling, this exploration, was altogether new, and it filled her with excitement and anticipation.

She began delicately testing the sensations of herself. The textures of different layers and lips, each responding and soon slick with desire. She found that certain rhythms made her blood rush and her legs clench. After a few practiced strokes, she whimpered in lustful satisfaction.

My myyyyy. Did you summon me, darling?

His voice.

She smirked to herself as she dipped her fingers lower and spread herself wide, feeling her own desire. The warmth that had pooled and ached for friction.

She could feel his voice hovering close as the phantom smoke swirled around her. She could almost feel his breath on her neck.

Ren.

Renata.

I know what you’re doing.

She ignored him. It was her turn to stroke his sin. To see why he was the Lord of Envy as well as the Lord of Lust.

She circled around herself, teasing, stoking her fire as well as his.

If you do this. There is no going back for you.

His voice was stern with warning, but he couldn’t hide the slight groan hidden beneath.

“I know,”

she whispered before gradually sliding one finger gently into her wetness and gasping at the new feeling. She heard a husky sound close to her ears, breath blowing gently on her neck.

You wicked little thing.

A chuckle was followed by a strained sound, as if he was trying and failing to control himself.

Ren closed her eyes, pleased with herself, as she moved her second finger to her small opening, pulsing from anticipation. She permitted a zealous moan, and it slid easily inside. She began to shift her hips forward and back—testing.

Do you like that, Ren? Who are you thinking about?

She gasped, feeling his presence in the room. The mist pulsed as she ground against her fingers ever so steadily. Dragging them in and out and beginning to writhe as she felt the rough exterior of her palm graze her sensitivity.

Why are you doing this to me?

His voice was strangled.

He could have severed the connection—he didn’t. He wouldn’t. Of that, she was confident. He could sit there before her, in his domain, and act stoic, the perfect face of reserved calm, but right now, she was in control, and she would crack that perfect facade.

She could feel the pressure of ecstasy rising as the friction of her hand grazed against her. Ren began to pant, her body taking over—knowing exactly what to do. She began to grind and buck, completely at the mercy of her desire.

Ren could feel Azur’s heavy breathing as if he was lying next to her, his breaths shallow and moans now unconcealed. She knew that he was also seeking his own pleasure by watching her. Perhaps he was in that same chair, across from hers, before the flames of the fireplace, which cast shadows down his perfect face. With her eyes closed, she could imagine him stroking himself there, fixing his eyes on her, and growling with villainous longing.

My darling…you might be as evil as I am.

He groaned.

She was so close, cresting the waves of her ecstasy—she cried out, letting herself briefly delight in her sinful yearning. But the control was gone, and this moment was only about release. Writhing with pleasure, she clasped her free hand around her throat and squeezed, imagining Azur’s strong hands grasping there threateningly.

Such a good girl. Show me exactly what you love to do to yourself.

She felt herself falling, falling over the peak of bliss. Her cries of release caused her whole body to quiver and her core to flutter with aftershocks of pleasure. And with these shockwaves, she felt his release, heard echoes of his voice as the stroke of black flame licked her body, roving as he gave in to his own ecstasy.

She bit her lips, whimpering, her body spent and content, reveling in the sound of Azur’s hard breaths. Even now, she could hear a low grumble emanating from his throat.

Her chest heaved as she gulped in air, head dizzy from the euphoria.

His voice finally spoke, sounding breathless.

Ren, you are exquisite. Come to me, darling. I will show you true pleasure. As only a god of lust can.

She breathed out, still tingling with want.

Poor Azur, I hate to disappoint you, for you obviously crave something more, but I really don’t have the time for such frivolous matters.

She responded—then cut their connection.