Page 80 of Lord of Bones

“It’s impossible to understand the Lord of Bones,” he finally said, placing the bottle back on the table. “And it’s a waste of your time to try.”

He was probably right. After all, he’d known the Lord far longer than I had.

“And what about you?” I asked, changing the subject. I didn’t miss the way Belial’s mouth slipped into a smirk behind his mask. “Is it a waste of time to try and figure you out?”

“Definitely,” he said, his fiery gaze catching mine and making my thighs clench. “But I’ll enjoy watching you try.”

Chapter30

BELIAL

My little humanseemed to glow, wrapped in a spill of white fabric as the firelight danced over her pale skin. Her midnight hair had dried, hanging in loose waves over her shoulders, but my favorite part was the metal around her throat. The pendant in the front shone, the teardrop eyes sparkling with a sinister twinkle.

Little did she know that the pendant would never come off. It allowed me to track her every move. Hear her every heart beat.

Soon, she’d wear my crown too.

My little pet, my slave queen.

She was beautiful, perfect in every way… save her desire to leave my castle. To leave this realm.To leave me.

It wouldn’t happen—I’d make sure of that—but knowing she didn’t want to stay stirred up old feelings. Feelings that were better off dead.

Rayven had a way of unearthing things she shouldn’t have. It was her curse, and my blessing.

This time was different. I knew it, even if no one else could see it. My little human wasn’t Catherine. Even if she didn’t want to stay here in Limbo, there was a part of her, however small, that wanted me. The uptick in her heartbeat, and that sweet scent between her thighs whenever she saw me gave her away.

Yes, my little human wanted me.

She never flinched away from my touch, instead welcoming it. The Lord of Bones might have terrified her, but when she looked at me over the rim of her silver goblet, her dark eyes full of genuine curiosity, she wasn’t afraid. It was unexpected and thrilling.

I would soon own and dominate every part of her. Her mind, soul, and body. What I’d never imagined possible, was the prospect of owning her heart. Her love. That she might willingly give it to me…

No.It was a fool's hope.

Tomorrow she’d discover that Belial and the Lord of Bones were one and the same. And that I’d been manipulating her to drive her into my arms.

That she’d never had a chance of escape to begin with.

Now I loathed myself more than ever for deceiving her. What I hated most was that there was no going back. Irefused.That’s what she did to me. My obsession for her was like poison, a drug that I’d never be able to wean myself from.

And I didn’t care.

I’d do anything to have her.

No matter how much she resented me in the end.

So tonight, I’d love her all the harder and would show her all the ways I could worship her before she shut me out completely.

I tore my gaze away, desperate for a distraction.

Maybe there was a chance to worm my way into her heart.

The soul Cecil was fetching me could be the key.

“Are you full?” I asked, clearing my throat and chasing away my thoughts.

“Yes.” She set her plate aside. “Thank you.”