Page 42 of Promised to the Demon King (The Demon Brides #1)

Nova stretched in her cozy bed. There was a big smile on her face. Today was the day, finally.

'Happy Birthday, little star!' Roz cooed as she lay next to Nova in the big plush bed. The smile grew even more superb at Roz's voice.

"Good Morning, Roz." Nova turned to face her friend. "Does it mean that tonight I will--" Nova's eyes lit up with the excitement that finally it was time to be with her dream man—the man who not only occupied her nights with teasing and endless wants and desires but also filled her waking thoughts. At the same time, she went through the motions of her everyday moments.

'That's right. We get to go home tonight. I am so happy to be returning home, I've missed it deeply, but I am even more excited to show you around. You are going to love it.' Roz was practically vibrating, unable to contain her excitement at the idea that they all return to Hell that night.

"Are you sure I'll fit in, Roz?" Nova suddenly feels self-conscious.

'Of course, you will; you're the Queen to one of the greatest Kings ever. Your father is the head Lord and right hand to your future King. Why wouldn't you belong there?' Roz grounded herself and pushed down her enthusiasm to help Nova through her uncertainty.

"I'm scared, is all. What if my father doesn't like me? What if the other people there don't like me? Assi is the King of Lust… what if it was all a lie, and he has mistresses and women all over the place?" Nova's mind was going a mile a minute. The more real things become, the more scared she becomes.

'Stop! Roz scowled her instant, sitting up from the bed and turning to face Nova straight on.

'One; Thalon have completely enamoured by you since he watched your birth! He never thought he'd want any children after losing his previous ones during his mortal life, but you changed that for him.

You helped him heal, Nova.

I will always be grateful because you also helped me heal.

You have no idea what your value to our Ring is, but you will see it soon.

Two, King Asmodeus had mistresses in the past.

As the King of Lust, he has a high drive for his own Sin.

However, his ex-consort betrayed him and nearly had him dethroned.

He decided he was done with demonesses and their continuous pursuit of power.

He was done with random women altogether.

He commissioned Thalon, his most trusted Demon, to sire him a bride.

Someone who would be his one and only, and since that day, no demonesses or witches have been permitted within the throne room without Thalon or King Asmodeus's third in command, Philan.

Since you were born, he has spent time preparing your throne and place by his side.

He has spent his free time watching you grow, noting what you like and doesn't like to ensure that your transition is seamless.

Don't ever doubt Asmodeus' devotion to you, his Queen.

Regardless of the reputation of what the Hell is, the Kings only take one Queen.

They perform a binding ceremony and consummate the union that night.

Once bound, there will never be another.

The two souls are forever intertwined.

There are no mistresses to a claimed King."

"Are you sure?" Nova's eyes filled with threatening tears. She wanted to put all of herself into Asmodeus and his promises, but there was still that taught belief not to trust a Demon. She saw humans always cheat and stray; how could a Demon who was a King not take on extra lovers?

'I promise you, no one will ever cherish you more than how Asmodeus has and will continue to. You need to drop the guard and take the leap. Otherwise, you will never fully experience the absolute devotion and love offered to you. Trust our King, and trust me, my little star. I have never misled you in our time together.' Roz rolled her eyes and scoffed in annoyance. 'Other than the imaginary friend thing, I never stated I was one. I just--'

"It's fine, Roz. I understand why you didn't, and you're right. I trust you completely. I do. And," Nova sighs and then smiles brightly. "I do trust Assi. It's just the fear of the unknown, but once we are there and I see him again, all my doubts will disappear. I'm just nervous." Nova laughed awkwardly and rubbed the back of her neck.

'Too cute! Demons don't blush, did you know that. Not in Hell, anyway.' Roz teased the crimson cheeks on Nova's face.

"Roooz!" Nova moaned, throwing her face into the pillow between them, earning a burst of laughter from her friend.

'See! Cute. Now get up, stinky. Time to shower and tie up everything left to be done before tonight.' Roz shooed Nova into the attached bathroom and saw the boys chatting in the kitchen.

"Is she alright?" Allister. asked, panicked. He could feel her energy; her hybrid side no longer bothered shielding its aura.

'She is just nervous. She is worried that her 'King Charming' is secretly hiding mistresses since he is the ruler of Lust, but don't worry. She is just nervous, not mistrusting. She is fine. What are the updates on our-- loose ends?' Roz asked, hoping to get some good news.

"Carol was released from her holding, and Timothy should be paying her a little visit very soon," Thomas answered, his eyes sparkling at his female's sight. He couldn't wait to shed himself of this vessel and properly claim his demoness back home. He should have done it decades ago, but being stubborn and afraid that the past would repeat itself, he kept himself locked away from warm emotions. Nova broke that lock, and now all he wanted was to claim Roz and be a good and strong father for Nova and his future child with the woman who had his heart this whole time.

"Roz, stay close to Nova today. Timothy is a mess, and we don't need him setting his insanity on Nova, either. Keep reassuring her that I am all in with her. I want no one else. We will be tying everything up at the office today, making sure that Timothy is out and Phillip is in. I see a future for Phillip-- once he meets his demise. He has a spark that'll be useful to our Ring if he survives the pits after his death. Being head of the company will refine those characteristics that are valuable to me." He spoke quickly as he left the mug in the sink, and he and Thomas walked to the door. "We shall not return here for dinner. Take her to her close friends and allow her one last meal within a human gathering before we send her to bed. Ensure she has her cleansing bath beforehand; I do not wish to delay the ritual any longer than necessary. I plan to claim my Queen quickly this evening; I need everything to run smoothly."

'Of course, my King. I will have our Queen prepared and to bed early for you.' Roz bowed her head slightly. Hope filled her. She couldn't wait for the evening.

Meanwhile, Timothy sat in the living room of his large mansion. He wondered how something filled with so many expensive and extravagant things could feel empty.

He would have to sell the house soon enough. With his reduced salary, he couldn't afford his accustomed lifestyle.

Sure, he was better off than most, but he had spent his entire life spoiled, and he couldn't think of a single time in his forty-seven years of life when he needed to ever worry about what was in his bank account. Perhaps that was why Carol and her nefarious acts went unnoticed for as long as they had. She knew he only focused on the company and ignored where his own money was spent. It was a form of silencing Carol and her annoying, insistent pestering in his life, money.

When did her greed come to this level, however? She not only ruined her life but his as well. She killed a good man over her greedy pursuits.

Timothy wasn't blind to Carol's faults, but somewhere along the line, they multiplied in intensity, and he never saw it until it was too late.

He still couldn't believe that she would go to the lengths she had, but her behaviour at the funeral, her performance at the wake, and then her explosion at the Will reading all added to her expecting the cash payout. Instead, it went to Nova.

"Perhaps this was why she was sloppy this time when she stole the money? She didn't get the money she had expected and got desperate." Timothy mumbled as he lifted the remaining whiskey in his glass to his mouth.

Looking through all the evidence and seeing how long she had been stealing from him and the company, she was always careful and clever. This last time, she deviated from her usual pattern and got caught.

Timothy shook his head, looking around the room from his slumped chair. All the chaos she caused was for those materialistic possessions.

She even tried to challenge an iron-clad prenup, just another layer of her desperation. She tried to jump ship before it ultimately sunk to the bottom of the status hierarchy sea.

Her mistake was not verifying the evidence given to her; she got cocky and, in the end, was left with absolutely nothing but forty-eight hours in a holding cell to add to her embarrassment amongst her peers.

But even that was too good for her.

Timothy's expression hardened. Darkness seeped into his very soul, and the voice in his head was telling him to end the pain—to end it all.

Timothy stood up, threw his empty glass at the wall to his left and straightened himself out. That bitch took everything from him, and now he knew what he had to do.

He had to end it all.

Unaware of the storm brewing on the other side of the city, Nova smiled as she rushed into Dane's awaiting arms, quickly followed by his wife, Megan. It felt like a lifetime since she'd seen them. Just behind Dane and Megan stood Father Donovan and Crane, her father's attorney.

She had met with Crane a week ago, updating him on her suspicions of her mother's part in the murder of her father and that she suspected she may be next. They could do nothing legally without proof, and Nova was no longer staying with them, but she wanted it noted should anything happen.

Roz was the one who suggested that she reach out to Crane and ensure that what she needed handled would be done to her request, should anything happen. More accurately, when she left and went to Hell to be with Asmodeus.

She wasn't sure what would happen to her life on Earth after she left, but Roz assured her that everything would be handled the way it needed to be—whatever that meant.

Crane assured her that if anything were to happen to her, everything would go to Father Donovan and Dane. She made a special request that her house be turned into a housing program for the reformed teens that Dane took in. Many didn't have stable or supportive home environments, and if Donovan put a counsellor in place to oversee the house, then this would provide a structured household for the teens to thrive. However, the house would remain as Dane's titled property.

Nova and her father discussed this program to better help the youth develop healthy habits, but they never got the chance. This was the start of that.

Although she couldn't legally change anything, Crane noted all her requests and assured her they would be passed on should the unfortunate happen.

After greeting her four favourite people, they led her out to the backyard, where the community who had watched her grow from toddler to young adult waited. Shouts of 'surprise!' and 'Happy Birthday!' filled the space.

The yard was filled with tables of food and presents. Banners and streamers lined the trees alongside the string of patio lights.

This was precisely how she had always pictured her eighteenth birthday celebration; the only thing missing was-- her father.

A moment of sadness passed through Nova, and her family spotted it quickly.

"We'll have none of that. Come on, let's get you fed." Megan took Nova's hand and led her to the buffet tables with a smile.

The hours flew by, and the evening was filled with funny and embarrassing stories about Nova's growing up or her and Dane's antics around the shop.

By the time it was time for Nova to leave, her heart was filled with all the love and warmth from those closest to her.

But it was time for her to start her new chapter, and that was next to the man who picked up her broken pieces and, little by little, put the lonely girl back together again. Her Assi was waiting for her, and knowing that filled her with even more excitement. She took one last look around the yard. It was filled with so many happy memories and smiles. She would miss them all but knew they would be okay.

'It is time to prepare, little star.' Roz smiled once they returned to the penthouse. 'The herbs for your ceremonial cleansing bath are ready. Come. Let's get you ready for the ritual. Your King awaits your presence, my Queen.' Roz cooed with a mischievous sparkle in her red eyes.

Nova was nervous. She asked all the questions she could think of about the ritual process, about what happens afterwards, but more than that, she asked about sex.

She'd never had it, never really thought about it-- until Assi.

He awakes not only her hybrid side but a hunger to devour him sexually.

They'd done so much already during her nightly visits. He allowed her to explore his body, familiarizing herself with him and to do as she pleased, but not was the time to fully and truly be his. Completely.

'You'll be great, my little Queen. Trust in herself and trust in Asmodeus.' Roz assured her with a smile and left her to complete her cleansing bath in silence mediation.