Page 38 of Prince of Demons (Demon’s Mark #2)
“Your father’s love? I was told demons don’t love. At least, not as humans do.” Another pointed glance over her shoulder.
Ed gave her a half-smile, his gaze darting to Kesh before returning to her.
“Hmm. Perhaps not as easily as humans, no. But when we do, we love fiercely. His Majesty, King Kain, has certainly proven as much. As has my father. Pick your mate wisely, and you will know love unlike any you could have found among your own kind.”
He was playing her like a fiddle. Kesh’s begrudging respect for his Master of Spies turned acid with annoyance as he felt the change in Georgia—how she leaned forward a little, relaxed her posture…
and fell right under the sly bastard’s spell.
Was she really this dumb? This hungry for a fairytale romance?
The little scaredy cat who’d cowered on the dais in front of him, entirely aware of how treacherous his kind was…
A few pretty words and empty promises and she was ready to ride off into the sunset with another demon.
“You haven’t asked Ed for his preferences in whores,” Kesh said, barely managing to keep the irritation out of his voice.
“I find rape abhorrent. I don’t use women for pleasure,” Ed said softly, his eyes fixed on Georgia’s. “Nor for breeding. I’m looking for a life partner who will fill my heart the way my mother has fulfilled my father, not a pampered slave.”
“Excuse me!” Alliancef protested, the dismay on his features suggesting he was finally clocking on to the trap he and Brestafan’d wandered into. “No one is raping anyone. I treat my whores well?—”
“As do I!” Brestafan interrupted, glaring daggers at Ed. “Only a scoundrel would leave a woman unsatisfied, whether or not payment is involved.”
“Oh, and you think a woman would want to fuck you if she wasn’t chained down?” Mallorn jumped in, gleeful at the realization he’d answered correctly after all.
Kesh pinched the bridge of his nose as his throne room devolved into loud bickering among his five otherwise rational men. “For fuck’s sake! Will you be quiet? Georgia, have you made a decision of which of your suitors you would like to see at the next courting session?”
Silence spread like nuclear fallout, the five men turning back toward her as one. The hope in their eyes was frankly pitiful. Fucking Breeders, with their ability to turn powerful men into simpering idiots in the blink of an eye.
“I have,” Georgia said, straightening on his lap. “Mallorn. Sefron. And Ed. I would like the chance to get to know you better—if you’re interested.”
Another cacophony of noise broke out as the three chosen cheerfully assured her they were more than interested, while Brestafan and Alliencef protested loudly and begged her to reconsider.
“Enough.” Kesh silenced the lot of them with another glare.
“The girl’s made her choice. Thank you for your time.
Alliancef, Brestafan, I will consider you again the next time a Breeder arrives in my territory.
For now, return to your duties. The rest of you, I will send word of the next time and date for you to court Georgia.
Until then, we have a war that needs attention. You’re dismissed.”
Quiet muttering spread among them—even the chosen three, who clearly were hoping to spend more time with the Breeder—but they all bowed stiffly for him and finally left, shooting Georgia longing glances as they went.
When the double doors finally closed behind them, Kesh leaned back on his throne, eyes closing with annoyance at the whole fucking production. “Say what you will about our old customs, but the auctions were infinitely more dignified than this mess.”
“I’m sure you’d have just loved to sell me off like a sex toy and get on with your precious war,” Georgia bit, moving to scoot off his lap. The sharpness in her tone made it plenty clear she was still angry with him.
He curled his hand around her hip on instinct, keeping her seated on his thigh even as hot anger flamed through his irritation.
She thought that little of him? That he’d enjoy seeing her terrified and subjugated underneath whichever brute had the finances and strength to win her?
After what he’d told her about his mother?
He could still feel the ghost of her embrace from when she’d held him while he cried, making slimy tendrils of betrayal crawl up his spine.
“Listen here, you little brat?—”
“Brat?!”
Georgia’s outraged hiss was cut off when the doors to the throne room banged open again.
She tensed at the sight of the man who strode across the threshold and walked toward the dais without being invited, her body instinctively pressing back against Kesh for protection.
As if she could sense the danger he represented even with her blinding mark in place.
Kesh wrapped his arm around her midriff and pulled her to his chest before addressing the newcomer.
“Father,” he said, practiced calm in his voice. “I wasn’t expecting you. What brings you here?” Without so much as a fucking text as a heads up.
“Her.” Kirigan speared the girl on Kesh’s lap with his unsettling eyes, and an urgent sense of alarm rushed up from his gut. Kesh only just managed to twist his body around to shield Georgia, before his father’s powerful magic slammed into them both.