Page 21 of Taken to the Demon Court (Stolen Demon Brides #3)

EVE

I felt lighter after going to the human sanctuary with Oros.

I never believed there would be anything like it in the fucked-up universe I’d been brought to. It gave me hope, even after the horrific display I’d witnessed.

Angelica was amazing. I listened to her story as she gave me a tour, taking it all in. She was in a situation not too dissimilar to mine, though she hadn’t been as lucky as to get picked up by someone like the twins.

Her first master had obsessed over her, but he had hurt her too, multiple times before she had been able to put her plan into place. To seduce his own son so that when the man died, she would not be sold.

She’s just so badass.

Though I hadn’t expected her to hand me a gift —or so she called it. A medallion that I carefully placed inside my dress. A last resort, she told me before explaining what it did.

I hadn’t known her for long, but I trusted her. I hoped I wouldn’t need it with Eros and Oros, but I kept it just in case.

Maybe I can stay . Maybe I can actually change things.

And help the twins with their plans .

But more than that, I wanted to just be with them. Of course their happiness was important to me, but more than anything, I just wanted to be by their side.

It didn’t matter that they were demons. They were good.

Oros had left me alone in my own bed, thinking I needed it after the day’s events. I really didn’t. I sighed and sunk into my bed, thinking about them.

Their worry had been obvious. Even if they hadn’t warned me beforehand, I would have guessed it by the absolutely destroyed look on their faces when they were around me after the incident .

It had been awful. Something I would remember for the rest of my life… but it had also lit a fire in me I didn’t have before.

Back in my previous life, I didn’t have a purpose. I did what I could to scrape by. I didn’t have any friends. I didn’t have lovers. There was no greater meaning to my life other than how I was going to pay my bills that month and not get shot by an angry client.

But here, with the twins, I had it all.

And I need to tell them that. I need to reassure them that I won’t be leaving them.

I bounced out of bed, my heart pounding. I am really going to do this. I couldn’t keep the smile from my face.

I turned toward the mirror, fixing my dress and hair. Stop procrastinating. I didn’t know if Eros and Oros were in their room, but the idea of them waiting for me had me feeling even more nervous.

Just burst in there and tell them.

I took a deep breath, steeling myself.

Then the door opened.

They found me first.

I turned around with a smile, ready to confess it all .

But it wasn’t them. It was the king’s men. Not one, but three of them rushing into my room so fast they were blurs.

Their hands grabbed me, claws digging into my skin.

I tried to scream, but a hand covered my mouth.

No. No. No.

I kicked. Squirmed. Thrashed. This is just like the auction. They are going to take me. They are going to ? —

“Let her go!”

Eros and Oros pushed into my room with matching expressions of shock and anger.

They were fighting just as hard as I was, but the demons greatly outnumbered us.

They were pulled back, away from me. They barked orders, tried to command the demon guards that worked for their family, but it was no use. They weren’t listening.

Tears pricked my eyes. I hated seeing them like this.

Please don’t do this. I was so close. They were so close. Please don’t do this to them. They don’t deserve any more pain!

I hadn’t realized I was saying the words out loud until the twins paused, anguish twisting their faces.

It was the last thing I saw before darkness exploded across my vision.

I didn’t know how long I was out for. My body felt heavy, my mind slow and languid as I came to.

First was the pain. Sharp, along with a ringing that rattled my skull.

They hadn’t been playing. They didn’t care if the human was damaged in the process, unlike at the auction.

Maybe that was a good sign.

The second thing I noticed was the room. Gone were my luxury palace quarters.

There was a small light to my right. A candle that flickered every few seconds, casting shadows that let me know just how small of a space I was in.

About the size of the closet in my old bedroom at the palace.

The third was that I wasn’t alone.

I turned to see the king waiting for me. He was sitting on a stool, his legs crossed and his chin on his hand.

He looked so out of place in the small room. He had his court clothes on, a fur-lined cape, mountains of jewels stacked on his fingers and neck. I almost thought it to be a dream.

He was watching me with a smile.

I should have known he’d try to get rid of me sooner or later. I shouldn’t have been so snappy with him back in the palace. This is my fault.

“Getting rid of me, are you?” I asked and pushed myself up into a sitting position.

I regretted it immediately as my vision swam and bile rose in the back of my throat. They wanted to make it hurt, but I wouldn’t give them the satisfaction.

“I do enjoy your directness; my daughters could learn a thing or two from you.”

I raised a brow at him.

“The same daughters you stopped from entering my room. Where am I?”

He let out a small huff of a laugh.

“Think of it as a lesson for the three of you,” he said as he stood. “You’ll be here for the remainder of your puny human life. Eros and Oros will remember this every time they think about sowing discontent ever again.”

Just as he turned to leave, I lunged forward, grabbing his royal cape with my dirtied human hands.

“Where am I?” I growled.

He looked at me with a smirk.

“You’re in a whorehouse, my darling.”