Page 40 of Promised to the Demon King (The Demon Brides #1)

Nova opened her eyes, and her heart accelerated with excitement. She was with her Assi again. She was only a week away from her birthday, and he was fulfilling his promise—that she would never be alone again.

"Good Evening, my beautiful Queen." A deep male voice called out from the darkest corner of the room. Something wasn't right, and Nova knew it was not Asmodeus's voice.

She stared at the darkened corner; she refused to let her guard down. Taking a cautious step back, Nova squinted.

Her eyes began to brighten green. She felt the same warmth growing within her as before.

"I am not your Queen. Where is Asmodeus?" she demanded, her tone was one of which she'd never heard from herself before. Was this her hybrid side speaking? Asmodeus and Roz had been somewhat vague on what to expect, but she was coming to terms with the reality that she was part Demon, and this switch in her personality and tone would make sense.

She was becoming a demon, well, a demoness Queen. But she was an Asmodeus Queen! Not this unknown male.

"Tisk-Tisk," he hissed playfully. "Don't be so hasty, beautiful. I assure you I am better than my pitiful brother, Asmo!" His voice was laced with arrogance and a level of cockiness that itched her soul with annoyance.

His statement enraged something deep within Nova. She could feel her body burning up. Of the few people she was loyal to, Asmodeus was top of the list.

"If you speak poorly of him again, I will not be responsible for what I do next!" Her voice was chilling. If he were a lesser demon, he might have felt it in his bones, but alas, he was only more certain that she was the one for him. This level of loyalty was unheard of by the demonesses who pursued him and his brothers.

He groaned in enjoyment at her fire as he stepped into the light. "I would love to see what someone as charmingly adorable as you would do to avenge him against my truths."

The male standing before her was strikingly handsome in a beastly way. In her opinion, he was nowhere near the beauty of her Assi, but this man was stunning nonetheless.

He had the same incredible body physique as Asmodeus, broad and strong. His features were much darker, however. Where Asmodeus had a creamy white and blue eye colour, these males were black as coal. Where Asmodeus wore his hair in a long, thickened braid, this brother did not. He wore his at what she guessed was shoulder length and in a tight bun, bound by a leather strap holding it in place. His horns were black and thick, and intimidating waves worked up their base. Where Asmodeus’s horns curled on the sides, the brother before washer flat at the base and swept back with a swoop upward.

His claws were long and sharp, as black as his eyes. They told a story of danger and raw, savage power. His fangs were thick like a beast.

Superficially, this man before her was clearly more comfortable being the beastly sight that he was. He almost seemed to relish in it. His aura pulsated dangerously.

"I am Mammon. I am the King of Greed." he introduced himself in a way that annoyed her. He was too smug, given that he had kidnapped her.

Did he, though? She internally wondered. How did she end up here and not with Asmodeus? She felt no attraction to this brother like she instantly did towards her Assi, so this was not her choice of a new dream man. No, she only wanted Asmodeus. Nothing would change that.

"Where is Asmodeus?" she demanded again.

She watched Greed's smirk play across his face as he approached the large table displaying a prepared feast for her arrival.

"Come, you must be famished. We can talk further as we eat." He pulled out the chair on the right to his chair, which was at the head of the table. The chair was strictly reserved for a king's Queen.

"I am not hungry. I want Asmodeus!" she stood, planted in the same spot she arrived.

"Then you should co-operate. Now, come and sit. We have much to discuss, my Queen."

"Again, I am NOT your Queen!" she snarled. A rumble shook her from deep within, bringing another smile to the beast's face.

"Your demoness is awake now. She is ready for her claim. She craves a King. Do you realize how easily I got to claim her right now? No one would intervene. You would be mine and solely mine!" His voice was confident and domineering. Now, if you do not wish me to claim you as mine right here and now, sit down and enjoy a meal with me. We can discuss things as we dine together."

Nova was stuck. She didn't know what to do. She was afraid to get close to him, but she also felt that he could catch her regardless of where she went in the room. Perhaps if she complied, she could find a way out and back to Asmodeus.

"Fine. But I will not sit next to you. I do not trust you." She kept her voice strong despite the panic erupting within.

"Very well. Now, come and sit."

Nova did. She tried to sit on the exact opposite end of him, but he snapped his fingers, and suddenly, the table was much smaller, seating only two people. The food was now appearing on a serving table to the side.

"What shall I collect for you? A Queen should never serve herself." he offered her his most charming smile, and if she had never met Asmodeus, he might have intrigued her. But she wasn't, and she was falling in love with her Asmodeus. He was the only man she would ever crave.

"I am not your Queen!" she stood firm.

"I didn't say you were just now, did I? I was collecting your food. Why are you so defensive, little bird?"

"Little bird?" Nova tilted her head, confused.

"You remind me of a little bird, always trying to fly out of your beautiful cage. Why flee, little bird? I will take care of you always."

She was sure these words would be romantic and flattering in his mind, but they reminded her of something from a Stockholm example. She would not allow him to cage her.

"I was never meant to be caged, especially by you. Asmodeus is the only King I will bind myself to." She spoke with conviction; Greed both admired and hated her words of devotion.

"Oh, come now, little bird. What can he give you that I can not? Anything he can do, I can do better. Do you want to taste a sample, little bird?" The implication was evident. He was attempting to seduce her, but she was having none of it.

"Mister Greedy-pants, I will have no such sampling with or of you. I am one hundred percent devoted to Asmodeus. Regardless of your abilities, I am not interested. Now, send me to Asmodeus, where I belong, and I will not make an enemy of you." Again, her tone became cold and unattached. She did not recognize herself but agreed with the fire in her own words. She was more than alright with her demoness speaking for the both of them.

Greed was not one to be rejected. He could feel the heat surging, his anger coursing through him, and the darkness taking over.

"You dare speak to me with such disrespect? Do you have any idea what the enemy you make with me?" he challenged back, pushing off his chair and sending it across the room as he did.

"Her intent was not to disrespect you but to stay loyal to her betrothed. Now tell me, my son, why have you intercepted the projection of young Queen Nova from her route to Asmodeus?" An authoritative female voice broke their glaring showdown. Neither was willing to concede until the woman spoke from the now-open doorway.

"Mother!" Greed was the first to break away and snap his head to the intruding voice. There she stood, clearly unimpressed with her son's behaviour.

Lilith. The Supreme Demon Queen. Mother to the seven Demon Kings of Hell. The most powerful female in all of Hell.

Her hair was long and black, and she wore it loose just past her perk behind. Her body was perfectly curvy, and her stance was powerful yet relaxed. Only a fool would cross her, however. She had the eyes of a serpent—the first in all of Earth's history. She was not to be underestimated.

"You must be Nova, the future Queen to my son, Asmodeus, the rightful King of Lust. It is a pleasure to finally meet you, my dear." Lilith's voice was gentle and kind. She spoke like a true mother who received a pleasing daughter-in-law.

Nova was stunned, silent. She knew of the lessons of the great serpent in the Garden of Eden. She also knew what Asmodeus had shared with her, Lilith being the mistreated and cast aside first female of Earth. She was beautiful and deadly. Her aura pulled you in. It was infectious, much like the bite of a serpent. Nova couldn't look away, trapped in her awe.

Lilith smiled gently at the young girl before her.

"You, my dear, as a beautiful young Queen. I am pleased that he has found his one and only Queen. I see great things in your future together." Lilith raised her hand and placed her open palm against Nova's heart. "Your hybrid is awaken. You shall claim your seat in another week. We shall have a large feast once you are announced and bound to your King. You will love the other Queens; they are all uniquely compatible with each King's fate. You will see what I mean soon. Now, you do not belong here, and I believe a certain King is losing his senses and trying to find you. Time to return to your rightful King, my dear Nova. We shall see each other again very soon." There was a flash in Lilith's eyes; she saw something unshared, but Nova didn't get a sense of malicious intent. If she didn't know the stories of how terrifying Lilith could be, she would assume she was your typical kind mother-in-law.

"Mother, you can not just--" Greed stared but was silenced by Lilith's darkened glare.

"I can't?" she challenged. The energy around her changed instantly. It was no longer warm and welcoming. Nova took a cautious step back, unsure of what to do.

"She is mine. Once I claim her--"

"You can not claim what is not yours, Mammon!" Lilith schooled her son like a child stealing a toy in the park. "If you want a hybrid Queen, make your own as Asmodeus had! You do not intercept again. Is that clear?" Nova watched as he lowered his head at his mother's lecturing words. She fought the bubbling laugh at the irony of a terrifying Demon King sulking at his mother's reprimanding lecture. There was a pause, and Nova took a moment to remind them that she was still there.

"You said you'd send me back to Assi?" Nova's face lit up at her words. Lilith smiled warmly and nodded.

"Farewell for now, Nova," Lilith whispered and snapped her long, slender fingers. As she left, she saw a flicker of rejection and sadness in Greed's eyes. Nova felt for him. She understood how lonely life could be, but she was never meant to be his. She might have become one if he had approached her as a friend, but he tried to steal her away from Asmodeus. That bothered her.

"Nova?" Asmodeus looked up from his throne. His body was slumped, defeated. "Is that really you?" He leapt from his throne and ran to her, pulling her into his body tightly.

"Assi? I'm really here?" Nova pulled back and took in his features. She raised her hand and gently wiped away his renegade tears. "I missed you!" Wrapping her arms around his waist, she pulled him in.

"Where were you? I couldn't find you!" His voice was no more than a whisper, thickened with emotions.

"I got stuck on a different Ring. I met one of your brothers and your mother. But now of that matters as long as I am here with you now."

"I was so scared, Nova. Please don't ever scare me like that again."

She never thought she would fall in love so quickly, but that person would be a Demon King in Hell. Here she was, deeply fallen and wiping away her Demon Kings' tears while they held each other. This was what she wanted. She just needed to tie up the one single loose end she had on Earth, and then she never planned to leave Asmodeus's side again.

"I love you, Assi." She felt his arms tighten at her words.

"I love you more, my Queen," he whispered as he carried her back to their bed chambers, where they would fall asleep in each other's arms until she returned to Earth in the morning.