Page 110 of Hunted By Fear

How had I missed this before?

I enter the dining room to find it covered in blood, Asta in shackles hanging from the ceiling, a puddle of blood at his feet, his skin torn to shreds, and Lucifer half shifted.

Shit.

Neither so much as glances my way as Lucifer sets Asta on fire with a flick of his wrist.

It’s not hellfire, since that doesn’t hurt us, but blazing blue flames that only he can wield. A way for him to torture demons should they step out of line.

To his credit, Asta endures it with only a few strangled groans and minimal thrashing.

Another flick of his wrist puts the flames out, and Asta hangs there by his wrists, his skin charred and bloody.

It might not be comfortable, but Asta’s strong, second only to Lucifer. This isn’t really that bad for him.

So why isn’t he healing?

I look around but don’t find anything that might be interfering. My eyes move over him again and come to rest on his cuffs.

Luce is pissed, and while I agree, maybe even think this punishment is too lenient, I don’t have time to stand around and let him get this out of his system.

Aeri could wake up at any moment, and while she chose Talian, I still want to be there for her.

“Go away, Bast, I’m busy,” Lucifer growls as I make my way toward him.

“Well, get unbusy because I need to know what he said to her.” I stab a finger in Asta’s direction and can’t keep the sneer from my face when he looks up at me. His skin is slowly coming back; the cuffs are slowing his regeneration, but not stopping it. Slow regeneration is more painful, but I’m sure that’s the point.

Good.

I hope his hair takes days to come back; he can walk around bald. He deserves it.

“He rejected their bond, if that wasn’t obvious from the immense pain she’s currently in and the way he doesn’t fight his punishment. Come on, Bast, you’re smarter than this.”

The way he says it gets under my skin, no doubt the way he intended. Despite knowing I’m playing into his little game, I reach out, taking hold of his emotions, and force him to his knees.

I’ve never used my powers against him before, never had a reason to, but this…

Aeri.

Yeah, she’s reason enough without her being in pain and so fucking sad.

What a double-edged sword this is, though, because the reason to push me just so happens to be the reason I’m pretty sure it works.

I’m able to overwhelm Lucifer with fear and sadness, neither emotion he felt very much of before he had a mate.

With Asta unable to move and Lucifer on his knees, I take the opportunity to speak.

“What did you do?” I turn to Asta, and he looks at me but doesn’t respond. Funny how even burnt to a crisp, he managesto be so stoic. Any other time, I might appreciate it, but not right now.

Right now, I need answers.

“What did you say about the rest of us?” That seems to pique his interest, and I’m pretty sure that if he had eyebrows, they would be pinched in confusion.

He thinks for a moment, and I have to remind myself that this is what I asked for. I want a real answer, and this is how I get it.

“Nothing,” he says after what feels like an eternity of waiting, and I can’t stop the scream that rips from somewhere deep inside. The sound bounces off the walls, the sound of a beast, and I relish it.

I’m going to rip him apart. Whatever he did or said has Aeri questioning me, questioning her bond with Lucifer.