Page 45 of Promised to the Demon King (The Demon Brides #1)

Asmodeus was the first to awaken from their long, passionate night of lovemaking and exploration. As the King of Lust, he anticipated that he would have to take things slower with Nova, but he was deeply mistaken. She kept his rhythm the entire time.

After the ritual and their family left, Nova was renewed with a sense of insatiable Lust and desire. When she dropped her dress without hesitation or provocation, he remembered that he had physically gulped at the sight of his Queen before him.

His virginal Queen wasn't the shy, gentle creature she presented herself as.

Her eyes glowed bright, and her teasing tongue licked her full lips with anticipation.

He knew he was a goner when she dropped to her knees and applied all the lessons he had taught her. This woman was undoubtedly his equal. Had she been practicing? She took him nearly entirely with ease, and the way she swirled her tongue, the feeling when he slipped down the back of her throat, he nearly lost his composure right there.

Fuck! He thought as he looked down at her sleeping form, all curled up within his warmth. Their limbs intertwined with one another, skin touching skin. There was no distance between them; not even air itself could pass through.

This was what he'd always wanted. He'd dreamt of this moment since the deal was struck.

If he was honest with himself, he'd been dreaming of a Queen solely his own for a lot longer than that. He'd been with countless Demonesses throughout his reign as King of Lust, but it was purely carnal desires, a means to satisfy his needs. Being Lust, he strengthened his Ring through passion and consumed Lust. It was always empty, however. He had never imagined sex would make him feel this complete. This-- warm!

Nova gave him that.

From that moment, he'd spent his entire life making sure she was always happy and knew how loved she was.

Her sleepy moan draws his attention.

Her fingertips grate up his barreled chest, and he can feel himself firming already.

This woman would milk him dry; he was certain of it. The smile on his face confirmed that he was more than alright with that happening. He was at her every whim and demand, just as long as he was her one and only forever.

"Someone's awake—" she moaned, her eyes still sealed shut, but the naughty smirk that graced her face told him another story. "And it looks like he brought a rather large friend," she practically purred as her hand moved lower, dragging her nails across his skin as she did.

The goosebumps coat his warming body as a sensual chill runs through him.

"Again?" he groaned once she clasped her delicate hand around him.

"I'm never going to stop craving this or you!" she counters, raising her head from his chest and devouring his eager lips.

Hours passed, and with one final thrust and deep exhale, Asmodeus rolled over to his back, but he pulled the equally spent Nova alongside him as he did. He never wants to be apart from his Queen ever again.

There was a loud knock on their bedroom chamber door. A darkness shadowed over Asmodeus' expression while Nova scurried to cover her naked body.

"There is a robe specifically for you in your personal closet." Asmodeus softens his tone, considering her vulnerability. Taking her hand, he guides her to a large door door. Inside was a large walk-in closet full of clothes, precisely Nova's taste and size.

Asmodeus reaches in, retrieving her robe.

He kisses her forehead, ties her waist and smiles down at her.

"Perfect!" His lips briefly grazed hers when there was another loud bang on the door, interrupting them and twisting Asmodeus' expression to anger.

This was their claiming period. No Kings were to be interrupted for twenty-four hours while claiming their Queen. His two mist-trusted Lords, Thalon and Philan, were to field all matters within the Ring during this claiming period.

"This better be important!" Asmodeus roared as he stomped to the chamber door.

On the other side of the door stood a bowed Philan, Asmodeus's second-ranked Lord within the Ring.

"Sir, forgive the intrusion."

"What is it, Philan? I am not to be disturbed until tomorrow at the earliest! This is my private time to claim my delectable Queen!" Asmodeus's face began to twist. His Demon aura was pulsating, causing Philan to bend a knee.

"My apologies, my King." he bows his head.

With a scoff, Asmodeus steps back to Nova's side, allowing Philan to rise and step into the chamber to explain his interruption.

Philan turns to Nova, bowing in respect. "It is a pleasure to stand before you, my Queen. Please forgive the intrusion during your claiming time."

Nova smiled warmly and leaned her head onto Asmodeus's bare chest, stealing his warmth and comfort.

"My King, there is a problem with the delivery of the Queen's pet," Philan said confidently, but with a slight fearful undertone.

The rage that came through Asmodeus's aura was paralyzing. Nova watched as Philan crumbled to both knees, clenching his head. His large stature trembled in pain.

"Assi," Nova whispered, placing a calming hand on his forearm.

The overbearing, punishing aura began to lessen under Nova's gentle touch. This allowed Philan to breathe easier.

"What Pet, Assi? Are we getting a puppy?" She asked, confused. Could you have pets in Hell? she wondered.

The innocence in her question distracted Asmodeus from his anger and made him smile.

"Not quite, my love. It's a special surprise for you." He turned back to Philan. "Explain how this happened?"

Philan explained that after Carol had been shot by Timothy after her release from the holding cell, her divorce court judge had sentenced her for her outbursts, and her soul was put through the process of where to be allocated; Hell.

While en route to Hell, Carol was promised to Asmodeus not only through the deal she struck years ago but also by the Supreme King Lucifer himself; someone intercepted the transfer.

Stealing the soul for their own.

Carol was to be transferred into a private torture room in preparation to be received as a claiming gift for the new Queen, Nova. This allowed her to fulfill her strongest desire, revenge. She would be able to punish Carol for all of time until she was ultimately turned to ash by Judgment.

"Who?" Asmodeus shook with anger. Philan took a cautionary step back.

"I was Greed, my King."

"Of course it was. That pathetic bastard is always taking what is not his."

Knock Knock

"Come in!" Asmodeus grumbled, lost in deep thought.

Nova still didn't fully understand what was happening. Carol was dead? When did this happen? Was she shot by Timothy? She had too many questions filling her head.

More arose when she saw Roz and Thalon entering their chamber.

"My King," Lord Thalon bowed as he looked around the room in confusion. "I thought—"

"You thought wrong, it seems. It would appear my selfish brother had found a way to ruin the claiming period."

"Greed!" Thalon growled threateningly. It wasn't a question. If there was one brother to interfere with another Ring, it was Greed. True to his Rings sin, he wanted it all and didn't care who he stepped on to take it.

Roz and Nova locked eyes. "Are you alright, little star?" she asked quietly. Nova nodded, but it lacked conviction, and Roz sighed.

"It would seem as though that lowlife stole my Queens claiming gift. We were to receive Carol, and now—"

"He didn't!" Thalon growled in disbelief.

"He did," Philan confirmed that during Asmodeus' brewing, silent rage stirred.

"How could he? Was this soul not promised, my King?" Thalon inquired. The room nodded while Asmodeus paced; his growing rage affected the room.

"He stole our Queen's pet?" Roz gasped.