Page 6 of Promised to the Demon King (The Demon Brides #1)

Asmodeus watched his beautiful bride working on the small sedan with her Uncle Dane. She looked adorable in her little coveralls, which she wore with pride. The black bandana tied around her forehead gave her an edge that he enjoyed.

He'd been watching her every day. He never missed a single day.

Regardless of Roz giving him continuous updates and Thalon watching from the darkest shadows, he watched through the mirror. He couldn't leave and spend the time he desired on Earth like his two most trusted demons. Part of him was jealous, but he wouldn't take this away from Thalon. He earned this. After all, he sired her.

Six more years, he reminded himself bitterly.

Time in the demon realm was not the same as on Earth. It was much slower. Your concept of time is altered when you are immortal and trapped within one of the rings in hell. But watching human days trickle by each day seemed to drag on much slower. It gave human life an infinite perception, but that was not true. Human life was fragile and gone before you knew it.

Asmodeus never had a chance to live human life. He never got to experience what they all got. No, he was born a demon and rose through the ranks due to his skill and determination to excel. He refused to be subservient to anyone but the supreme Ruler, Lucifer.

Lucifer and Lilith were the parents of all the seven Demon Kings. The Kings were all born in depravity and told to earn their crowns from those currently holding those places. The undeserving Kings were merely fallen angels who became Demons and took the thrones of each Sin unjustly, this was how it stayed until those strong enough rose to challenge them. This was why the Kings were born: to show authentic leadership, but only if worthy to hold it.

Lilith brought balance alongside Lucifer. When she left the Garden of Eden, she saw the need for structure, but Lucifer needed it earned. Thus, hundreds of demons were born in the beginning but only the seven Kings were the ones to rise above.

Asmodeus turned to Sacha, his Oracle, and told her that he had to attend a meeting but would return later to check on Nova.

"How is the potion coming?" he paused at the doorway, turning back to Sacha.

"It has been challenging, my King. Some ingredients were not indigenous to our Ring, and I had to work my magic to trade and barter, but I got the final item. The Haggot root only blooms every few years, it is incredibly rare. I shall be starting the first stage today. It should be ready within the week."

"And it can permit me to live on earth in corporeal form for some time?" Asmodeus inquired. Sacha smiled and nodded.

"Yes, my King. It is one of the reasons the ingredients have been separated and scattered around throughout the multiple rings, but I have them. I can have it for you soon."

"Good. Thank you."

Sacha froze.

King Asmodeus rarely thanked anyone. This filled her with a sense of determination. She would get right to work on this potion.

Shortly after Asmodeus left the realm, Vivex materialized. A nefarious grin crept across her grotesque Demoness face.

Vivex entered Sacha's Chamber.

Sacha was Asmodeus' personal Oracle, and it was forbidden to interfere with the Oracle’s work, but no one would stop Vivex from entering.

"Knock-Knock." Vivex sang ominously as the door closed behind her, stepping into the chamber.

Sacha was startled but was quick to rein in the emotions. Vivex may be ranked as a minor or low-level Demoness, but the near decade she spent as King Asmodeus' concubine taught Vivex a few tricks. Reading emotions was one of them.

"Vivex!" Sacha cleared her throat and continued to gather the ingredients for the potion that Asmodeus had requested earlier. "To what do I owe this displeasure?"

"Tisk-tisk, Sacha." Vivex purred as she swayed her hips, approaching the nervous Oracle. "Is that any way to greet an old friend?"

Sacha scoffed and shook her head. "You're no friend of mine, nor this Ring. You betrayed my King, and I hold no loyalty to you. You should return to your own level, Vivex!" Sacha responded coldly. She kept her attention on the cauldron and added the measured ingredients.

Vivex contributed to the great Battle of Rings nearly three decades ago. It almost ruined their Rings balance and dethroned Asmodeus from a crown he's held for literal centuries.

Sacha was with the previous King and suffered greatly. Who would have thought that fallen angels would be crueler than the Demon Kings who rose to dethrone them.

She witnessed Asmodeus's strength as he climbed the ranks and earned his place as one of the Seven Demon Kings.

Vivex was greedy. She wanted to be crowned as Queen, but all Asmodeus could offer her was a position of official concubine with no crown. He said that, like him, a crown must be earned. So, another King offered her it, but at a cost. Not the Vivex would care. All she saw was her path to her goal. Power.

Demoness' like Vivex gave them all a bad name.

Sacha was pleased that Asmodeus had banished Vivex. He would not be pleased to sense her presence; he should notice her arrival soon, and Sacha wanted no part in the apparent drama that this Demoness carried around with her.

Nothing good came from Vivex visiting. She was up to something.

"Oh, don't be like that, Sacha. I came in peace; don't make me an enemy." Vivex's chipper, bubbly tone quickly turned threatening. Sacha may be older, but Vivex is ruthless and unpredictable.

"What do you want? I am busy and don't have time to waste on a chuck-away like you." Sacha gathered herself. She knew Asmodeus would arrive soon.

"Fine." Vivex hissed and turned to Sacha's large scrying mirror on the wall.

Sacha froze momentarily as she took notice of Vivex's change in attention.

"A little birdie told me that you've been gathering rather curious ingredients recently. What potion are you working on?" Vivex spoke slowly. Panic flared in Sacha's heart. Vivex couldn't learn the truth. Not yet, anyway.

"That's none of your business. You're nothing but a traitor of this Ring. Now leave." Sacha steeled herself.

"Hmm- this same birdie told me that Asmodeus is suddenly spending every day here with you. Why is that?" Vivex dragged her long claws along the mirror surface, creating a screech on impact. "You wouldn't be chasing a King out of your league, would you? It would be best if you learned your place, Oracle. It is forbidden for witches to claim the Queens throne and title. Or is because you enjoy my sloppy leftovers?" Vivex's message was clear, but she was way off the mark. Sacha had a lover, but she was no male demon.

"I am not having an affair with my King if that's what you're implying. Now leave!"

"Hmm-- then the secondary rumour must be the truth."

"I don't have time for your games, Vivex. Leave! Last warning." Sacha was at the end of her patience. She could cast a curse on Vivex that would cause her extreme pain for some time. It would buy her time for Asmodeus to handle her himself.

Vivex snapped her head and locked Sacha in place with her violent glare.

"Tell me, Sacha. Has Asmodeus created himself a new bride? A pathetic human girl? Does he seriously think a human will serve as Queen in hell?"

Sacha froze her actions. Panic threatened to break loose. It has yet to be learned about the future Queen Nova. Only when she had access to her demon genes, but that would only start to awaken once she turned eighteen. Even then, there was a chance that it would take her to twenty-one to be a fully matured Demoness hybrid.

Only when she turned eighteen would she stand a chance to defend herself against the darkness of villains within the Rings.

Right now, Nova was too vulnerable and very much still human. Roz was her official guardian, but there were only so many attacks that Roz could handle while on Earth. If word were to spread, there would be a risk of the other Rings taking this opportunity to try and weaken King Asmodeus.

She could not allow Vivex to harm her King again. Sacha had also taken time to watch the future Queen. She was already exhibiting traits that would create balance within Asmodeus and the Ring. Much like Lucifer and Lilith, they were stronger together. Asmodeus and Nova had that very potential. As Oracle, she could sense it.

"I don't know—" Sacha started, but before she could finish her sentence, Vivex had her pinned to the stone wall. Her sharp black claws viciously biting into her flesh.

"Don't lie to me, Oracle. You aren't the only one who can predict futures; yours will be short-lived if you don't start talking. Now, tell me the truth!"

"Let her go!" King Asmodeus' voice boomed into the room as he entered. Behind him were his ranked demons, Thalon and Philian. They were there to restrain her.

Vivex assessed the stance of the three intruding Demons. With a smirk, she released her hold on Sacha and allowed the Oracle to fall to the floor with a thud.

"Asmo, I've missed you!" Vivex purred seductively.

"Leave now. You've been banished. If you do not leave now, I will have you removed and sentenced to Judgment."

At the mention of the Judgment, Vivex's face paled briefly before she smiled sweetly at her once devoted lover. She took a flirtatious step towards the enraged Demon King. She loved pushing his buttons. She loved him full of violence and rage. She hummed with excitement, and everyone in the room could sense her arousal towards his commanding state.

"I've heard you have something curious on the human plain, Asmo. Want to play a game with me?" Vivex smirked.

"I'm done with you and your games, Vivex. Leave at once." Asmodeus took a menacing step towards her, his face etched in rage. His beastly figure was taking form into his supreme image. She loved it. She loved Asmodeus' truest beastly form, which buzzed with supreme power and command.

"Oh, come on, Asmo. The game is a simple one. Let's see who can get to the girl first." There was a flash in Vivex's eyes as she smirked at Asmodeus and his lackeys by his side. "Tick Toc, I wonder who can get to her first. Good luck with the potion, Sacha."

Asmodeus lunged towards Vivex, only for her to blink and disappear.

"H-How'd she learn to blink, My King?" Philan asked in surprise. Blinking was a skill only highly ranked Demons could achieve. He was concerned. Vivex wasn't one to make idle threats.

"I don't know, but we must get ahead of her now. I don't trust that Demoness. Open the vision on the mirror, I need to see Nova again. Continue to work on that potion; we must hurry." Asmodeus instructed.

Sacha opened the window for Asmodeus and Thalon while Philan returned to his post.

"My King, we have a problem." Sacha's voice broke Asmodeus' gaze upon the sleeping Nova. When he turned and looked at his Oracle, he saw the concern on her face.

"What is it?"

"The Haggot root. It's gone." Sacha looked around, panicked.

"What? I don't understand."

"The Haggot root is the most important ingredient. It was the ingredient I struggled most to find. I can't finish this potion without it, my King."

"That bitch!" Thalon roared in anger.

Asmodeus stared at the Oracle's table, where the other ingredients lay in wait. Vivex had prevented him from taking form on Earth's plain. He needed to inform Roz to step up her presence and guard. Vivex was up to something, and although he didn't know just how much about Nova Vivex knew, he wouldn't put it past her to figure it out sooner rather than later. Stealing the ingredient buys her more time and slows him down.

He would not allow that Demoness to interfere with his plans. He would have his Queen, and it would be Nova.