Page 105 of Paramour of Sin

I responded by tightening my mental grip.

Firmer and firmer.

I wanted to rip off her damn head this way, then send it first class to Hell.

Alas, my power refused me. Beheading by strangulation just didn’t work that way. But it did break her neck and knock her out.

Then I used the blade to finish the job.

I waited, counting.

If this was a mirage, it would die with the body, right?

Her head rolled away and came to rest facedown in the dirt a few feet away. I released the restof her from my powers, which knocked her kneeling body sideways.

Magic didn’t shimmer.

Her body and head didn’t change.

But still, I waited.

Only to straighten as an approaching aura touched my senses.

Ashmedai appeared on the opposite side of Amarella’s body, a smirk on his face. He’d donned a pair of board shorts and sandals, similar to what Guinevere had told him to wear during their first visit. However, he’d forgotten a shirt again.

I angled my head downward, but didn’t fully bow, my focus still on Amarella. “My prince.”

Ashmedai acknowledged my lack of a true bow with a nod, then he leaned down and picked up Amarella’s head. He twirled it around until her sightless eyes were facing me. “That was quite the display, Zebulon.” He eyed me, then looked at the Nephilim in the car. “I’m going to need to borrow him.”

“I want to make sure she’s really Amarella first,” I said, narrowing my gaze at the head.A head I was supposed to hand deliver to hell,I thought to myself.But clearly you had other plans.Which he’d proven by saying he wanted the Nephilim.

“It’s her,” he said. “I felt her soul pass.”

I blinked. “Then you knew she was alive before?”

He considered that for a moment. “Not entirely because I hadn’t been focused on her like I was this time around. It’s difficult to explain.”

And that was code for saying,Don’t bother asking, I won’t elaborate.

So I acquiesced with another half bow. If he was certain that Amarella had truly died this time, then I’d choose to believe him.

Besides, I’d done what I’d set out to do, and all I wanted to do now was return to Guinevere and Zane, curl up in bed with them, and stay there. Possibly forever.

Ashmedai rotated Amarella’s skull, gazing down at her face with a frown. “This isn’t done. I suspect our power struggles are going to escalate. Finish your audit, both of demons and Nephilim, then report back to me on Guinevere’s trial date.” Stunned, I opened my mouth to argue, but Ashmedai simply fisted Amarella’s hair in one hand and held the other up before I could speak. “I know she’s innocent, Zebulon. I’ve known from the beginning. But I still want that audit.”

Fire licked through my veins at his words and I had to take a few deep breaths to keep from letting my mounting ire show.

Because I finally understood.

He’d played averydangerous game with Guinevere’s life, because he knew all along she was innocent, yet he’d held her fate overmyhead as a bargaining chip. Just as he’d very likely known Amarella was still alive—perhaps not right away, but definitely after the issues in my territory began. He would have sensed her presence. He was too powerful not to.

Which meant he’d played me from the beginning, perhaps as another form of torment in response to Kalida’s crimes.

I clenched my jaw, irritated at the way he’d used us all. “You could have just asked for the audit.”

“Yes, perhaps,” Ashmedai agreed. “But this was much more eventful. Besides, you needed the closure to move on.” He fell silent for a moment and studied me with an expression I couldn’t read, then in a low voice, he added, “Love looks good on you, Zebulon. Don’t let them go.”His eyes roamed over me thoughtfully. “Also, might I suggest putting on some clothes the next time you venture out into the street? According to your little succubus, we’re too beautiful to be naked in this realm. Fragile human minds and all that.”

He flashed me a grin and disappeared on a wave of power, taking Amarella’s remains and the terrified Nephilim with him.