Page 47 of Promised to the Demon King (The Demon Brides #1)

"Sunny," Nova called out. She was searching for her rambunctious toddler. Since the day Sunny could walk-ish, she'd been determined to explore and gain her independence. Even at the stress of her parents when she couldn't be found. The Ring's guards and Lords knew she could not be harmed if they stumbled upon the adorable runaway and returned to the King and Queen.

Not that that was much of a concern; the Ring was enamoured by Sunny and her mischievous adventures.

Sneaking up to the drawn curtain, Nova was convinced she knew where her five-year-old renegade daughter was hiding. Nova grabbed the seamed edge of the thick curtain, yanking it back in one swift motion.

"Ah-ha!" Nova yelled with a short-lived, victorious tone.

A giggle and the pitter-patter of tiny barefoot feet behind her told her she was tricked-- again.

Before she could chase after the adorably devious escape artist, Nova spotted the dark shadow of her beastly husband filling the doorway into the room.

Asmodeus stood there, arms folded across his large, bare chest. The smug expression on his handsome face was the same as that of the toddler who now hid, tightly wrapped around his thick leather-clad leg.

Sunny was her father's daughter through and through. If it wasn't for her wild, messy crimson hair and porcelain skin, you'd never know that Sunny was Nova's daughter, too.

Sunny completely developed her father's sense of authority and leadership. She carried with her a strong aura of dominance, and she tended to need to learn things on her own. From there, she would take her lessons, fails, and triumphs and teach them to others. At such a young age, she showed great potential.

Sunny did have Nova's compassion for others, however. She was protective of those around her but tended to solve disputes calmly, just like her mother.

Sunny was Asmodeus's tiny, mimicking shadow. Everything she did was to prove herself to the King.

"Someday, I'll be a powerful King, just like Daddy!" Sunny always said whenever she relayed what she got up to for the day before bed.

"Wrong, Princess. Someday, you will be an equally powerful queen to a male who treats you better than Daddy treats your mommy. Or daddy will feed his soul to Judgment for breaking his Princess's heart!" Asmodeus always retorted with a puffed chest.

Nova was most fearful of that. Asmodeus loved no one more than his Queen and his Princess. The idea of someone trying to date Sunny would not be easy for him. He was fiercely protective. The Ring never hesitated to return Sunny from her travels out of fear of his vengeance.

Nova took in the duo's stance in the doorway before her. Their smirks were identical, and her eyes flashed white with mischief, just like her fathers'.

"Hello, my handsome Devil!" Nova teased, giving Asmodeus a suggestive wink. She loved that he was nearly always bare-chested. He never failed to spark her inner sex demoness to life at the mere sight of his brawn. It made sense why Hall had enforced population control. She would have as many of her King's children as she possibly could if she had her way. She couldn't keep her hands off of him.

A primal rumble vibrated from Asmo. He knew where his little vixen's thoughts were. He wasn't far behind himself.

"My beautiful Queen," he purred, stepping from the doorway and observing their daughter. He pulled Nova into his arms, breathing her in deeply. "I've missed you, my love."

"I've missed you too, my King," she managed to squeak out before he claimed her lips with his hungry devotion. Mmm—how was your meeting? Is everything sorted out?" she whispered after he released her from his branding kiss.

"Daddy! I want up!" Sunny latched onto Nova's and Asmo's legs, looking sad that she did not have her parents' attention.

"My apologies, my adorable Princess." Lifting her, Sunny snuggled in between her parents' loving and warm embrace, smiling brightly, like her name—Sunshine, Sunny for short. This was her happy place.

Sunny idolized her father, a great King, but she was best friends with her mother. They played all day long. Nova was the one who would read Sunny stories of adventure and fantasy and allowed her to safely explore to her heart's content. Her mother was full of fun and learning, while her father was rules and lessons of Hell. She loved them both equally but for different reasons.

Sunny placed a tiny hand on her mother's cheek and the other on her father's, smiling.

"Kiss?" her tiny voice said happily.

This was her way of getting a kiss on both cheeks at the same time. She filled the room with giggles as both her parents leaned forward, each kissing softly on her cheek.

"Alright, my little bandit. It's time for a bath and then a nap. We have a big night, don't we?"

Bouncing excitedly, Sunny smiles. "Daddy reads, okay, mommy?"

"I think that's fair. Let's allow Mommy time to have fun with her pet while Daddy tells his Princess a nap time story." Asmo gave Nova a questioning look.

"That sounds perfect. It's been a while. I'd hate for my puppy to feel neglected." Nova smirked and took Sunny to the ready and awaiting bath.

After Sunny is bathed, dried and dressed in her adorable Pj’s, Asmo takes over.

"Have fun, my love. Remember to not stay out too long. I'll prepare everything for dinner. Thalon, Roz and little Arlo will be over in a few hours."

Nova smiles. She adored her little brother, Arlo.

After Greed attempted to rob Thalon and Roz of their last chance to have their own child, Lucifer stayed true to his parting words and arranged a meeting with God. Together, they discussed the benefits of the Demon Kings having brides; the balance it created would benefit both Hell and Heaven. It was decided that since Thalon was given his chance to make a hybrid Queen at a King's request, it would not count as Thalon’s final child sire. They were granted permission to have one child together. Nothing more. Since Thalon and Roz acknowledge Nova as theirs, she is counted as the second offspring permitted. A few years later, little Arlo was born. He would turn two in another week and was his father's son. Already showing great strength and signs of the Cerberus genes.

Upon meeting, Sunny instantly became protective over Arlo. They were inseparable, and both sets of parents were certain that once Arlo could walk more confidently, he would join Sunny on her runaway adventures. They were instant best friends.

Smiling, Nova entered her private pet chamber, which was strictly off-limits to everyone except her—unless permitted.

"Good day, Pet! Have you missed me?" Nova sang her words.

The clanking sound of her pet shuffling to the furthest end of the room. The restraints and shackles only allowed so much movement.

Nova loved it when her pet scurried in fear. It filled her with a surge of power, and her inner Demoness fed hungrily on the scent of fear in the air.

"Are you hungry, Pet?" she asked in a mocked, concerned tone. She tossed a bag of blood and chunks of spoiled meat. The fearful pet tentatively reached out, retrieving the meat bag and eating hungrily.

Nova sat in the only piece of furniture, Nova's observation chair and watched with satisfaction. "Oh, my dear pet. You must have been so scared and lonely. I won't leave you for so long next time." Nova's voice was calm and thoughtful.

"You know how it is being a mother. Your child consumes all your time. You're so happy to watch them grow; you forget to take care of your needs." Nova paused. "or perhaps you don't understand. After all, you were a horrible excuse for a mother. Selfish, conniving, traitorous. Your life has no greater value than that now tattered and discarded bag that once held your desired meal in it."

The pet watched Nova cautiously with hollowed, dull eyes. Her hair once volumized and full of life, was now sparse and thin, coarse and dead. She was a fraction of the woman she once prided herself to be-- physically, at least. Her beauty was the most import thing to her, and she’d lost it miserably.

The pet was nothing more than an example of true depravity. Torn and scarred leather tough skin, stretched over bones poorly healed from playtime over the years.

"Tell me, pet. Are you lonely?" Nova's eyes began to glow in their brilliant green. Her Demoness was speaking, and the pet curled in the corner didn't dare answer. Not even a whimper.

Nova chuckled darkly. "No matter. My amazing love has given me yet another surprise. Do you want to see my new pet? You won't be alone again, but don't worry; you'll always be my favourite to play with."

With a snap of her clawed fingers, a large kennel appeared in the middle of the playroom. Nova's latest pet, curled up, naked and afraid, was in this new kennel.

Timothy had no idea what was happening. All he remembered was that he was in his prison cell; it was lit out, and then, in the middle of the night, he heard his door open. A dark shadow stepped inside. Before Timothy could defend himself, a handmade shiv was sticking through his jugular. He bled out right there on his issued cot, unable to call out for the guards.

Now, he was naked and trapped in a large dog kennel. He'd seen some terrifying monstrous beasts; they taunted him as they stood guard until he was suddenly in his current room. He thought the monstrous woman before him resembled his stepdaughter, Nova. She went missing a few years back. It was speculated that his ex-wife, Carol, had something to do with it, but after he shot her the day she was released from jail, it was never proven.

In the corner of the room was a sickly, malnourished, shivering beast. It partially resembled a human, but not really.

This was all portrayed as a scene from what the bible had always depicted of Hell and Demons.

"Hello, pet," Nova smirked. This was her favourite part; breaking in a new pet.

She'd been waiting for Timothy's descent for a while now, and Asmo kept his promise—he always did.

"Timothy, I am sure you have missed Carol deeply. Let me show you how she spends her days now. We're going to have so much fun together."

Nova watched Timothy's eyes widen as he took in her altered Demoness state. He realized that the woman before him was, indeed, Nova. She was a Demoness. Then Nova watched his eyes slowly drift back to Carol, filling with fear. He realized the pitiful, shattered creature huddled in the corner was his ex-wife.

"Now, who wants to play a game?" Nova snapped her hands together with excitement. She chuckled as she rose from her chair and walked to the wall of training tools for her pets.

The sounds of her pets' screams and cries echoed out into the long corridor, bringing a smile to Asmodeus’s' face.

"Seems like mommy has started training her pet, Princess." Asmodeus stared down lovingly at his sleepy toddler.

His life was perfect; he was happier than he could have predicted, and it all started with a greedy request.

His smile grew as he kissed his sleeping Princess's forehead and left to start preparing for the feast with his now blended and growing family.

The End… or is it!