Page 182 of Princess of Bael

Ashmedai might make deals that benefited him more than his counterparts, but he always did find ways to fulfill his side. This was no different. Just another move on the board to ensure all loose ends were neatly tied up.

You’re hoping she’ll kill him,I realized when he didn’t reply to my musings.To ensure he can’t tell anyone that it was you who told him to open that portal.

I didn’t tell him to open the portal. I told him to do what was necessary to gain the trust of the opposition and to report back to me on all the players involved.

So you’re punishing him for opening the portal, then?I guessed.

I don’t care about the portal, little warrior. It served its purpose by pushing Kayla’s ascension. It might not be how I would have done it, but it worked.His attention shifted to the hallway we’d originally entered from, his expression giving nothing away as Morax came into the throne room.I’ve fulfilled my obligations to all parties involved. That’s our only purpose for being here.

I didn’t believe him.

Ashmedai worked in layers, his strategy always placing him several steps ahead of his opponents. The only being I’d met so far that seemed to rival him was the one seated on the throne.

Fortunately, Ankou appeared quite content to remain in the Chrysus region of Hell. It wasn’t considered a realm because the area lacked an Archdemon to oversee it. However, Ankou certainly maintained the area as his domain, and no one dared enter it without his express permission.

Ankou held his palm out for Kristina as she pushed up off the ground to stand. It was a sinuous movement that suggested this happened often between them.

Definitely Hades and Persephone vibes.

Ashmedai’s wing brushed my arm, the stroke a warning more than a caress. He needed me to be quiet so he could focus on the interactions in the room.

I almost reminded him that this connection between our minds washisfault, but I wanted to concentrate as well.

Morax’s black feathers framed his massive form as he bowed respectfully toward Ankou. “Thank you, King Ankou, for allowing me entry. And thank you for saving my kin.”

King,notPrince. That was the formal address that many of the Archdemons bestowed upon Ankou. Not because he was a true king, but because of his immense control over the afterlife.

I supposed he could be seen as king of that realm of existence.

“Your kin?” Kristina asked, her head tilting in a way that resembled childlike innocence. “I seem to recall you saying I was no child of yours before you sucked the power from my dying form.” She took a step forward, her white gown whispering around her ankles. “I thought you were there to help me. Tosaveme. We shared blood, after all. But no. You disowned me. Defiled me.Killedme.”

“To save you,” he replied, gesturing at the room. “Prince Ashmedai told me what needed to be done, and I did it. Tosaveyou.”

“Why?” she asked. “Why would you bother at all?”

A note of curiosity piqued in Ashmedai’s mind. He’d wondered about this as well. And now I did, too.

“Because I created you,” Morax replied. “You’re mine. My daughter. My blood. My legacy. I asked Ashmedai to take you into his protection, to help you find a new balance. He offered me this deal instead.”

Pride, I realized.He saved her because she’s his only legacy. Similar to Kayla for Bael.

Indeed.Ashmedai didn’t seem all that entertained by the information. Perhaps he’d hoped to learn something interesting, and he was disappointed to discover the true reason.

He wanted you to mate her like Bael mated Johanna and Alastor mated Lucía,I deduced after a beat.That’s why he went to you.

Yes,Ashmedai confirmed.I declined. And we both know why I declined.

I swallowed.Yes.He’d wanted me. Not one of the members of the Divinity.Was there no one else he could ask?

No one with enough power to help,Ashmedai confirmed.So I made him a different sort of offer.

“So you killed me,” Kristina said, her grip tightening against the blade. “To save me.”

“Yes. I knew there were those who would seek to benefit from the shifting in the balance, which made you a target. It was the only way I knew how to protect you.”

“By killing me,” she reiterated. “And trading my soul to King Ankou.”

The king in question didn’t react, his dark focus entirely on Kristina.