Page 27 of Taken to the Demon Court (Stolen Demon Brides #3)

EROS

O ne would think becoming ruler would make things interesting. But after three months of it, I was growing progressively more bored.

Oros was hanging in there relatively well, but I couldn’t find anything to entertain myself with.

There was food. Humans. Even demons. But I didn’t want anything to do with them. I didn’t dare even think to touch anyone else.

All I wanted was Eve.

I missed her. More than I had ever missed anyone. Oros felt the same; I could feel it even though we never talked about it. Maybe that was why she hid it much better. She buried herself in her work. Became the ruler our father could never be.

In a way, we had both learned to live without her, even if it hurt. Even if every day I thought of her. And even if every night I yearned for her to be in my bed.

I regretted our decision. Even though I knew it meant keeping her safe, I would rather have been selfish and kept her all to ourselves .

Oros was able to suck it up. Swallow the bitterness. But I couldn’t.

It’s ruining me.

So, when I found myself sitting on my throne, welcoming Angelica and her team into the palace to be awarded for their work on uncovering all the human trafficking houses, it was hard to focus.

Her being there just reminded me of Eve. Reminded me of the time we broke her out of the whorehouse. Reminded me how I failed her.

Fuck, I miss her.

Since taking over, Oros and I had put in a lot of work to save the humans who had been used and abused, but Angelica had done all the heavy lifting.

We made it illegal for demons to traffic humans, effectively putting Madam out of business, and put out anti-human consumption campaigns. Unfortunately, since humans had been demons’ main source of food for longer than we existed, it wouldn’t be feasible for us to outlaw it altogether.

But we could start changing things slowly. We could save the humans who had been brought here against their will. Give them jobs. Take them home if they wanted to go. Create more campaigns. Change the sentiment around them.

It would take some time, but it would be worth it.

Eve would be happy. And proud.

“Thank you for your work,” Oros said as Angelica stood by the steps leading up to our thrones. “Each of you will be granted citizenship, and the leader, Angelica, will be given her own realm to continue to run her organization.”

The court members were lining up on either side of the room.

Most of them looked pleased. We had removed all of Father’s followers by having them judged for their crimes and for having been accomplices in what he’d done.

They’d be sentenced to death, while others had fled before we could get our claws on them.

The dangerous ones were outright killed without a trial.

We wanted to change his ruling, of course, but we weren’t stupid. We would leave no chance for him to get free from the basement or for his people to try and take over.

We were demons after all. Some things just couldn’t be changed.

“Thank you, Queen Oros,” Angelica said with a polite smile and bowed. “But I’m not the one who ran these operations. I merely provided the people and supplies. It wouldn’t be right for me to take all the credit.”

Angelica wasn’t the one who did it? That was surprising since she never gave over control of her operations to anyone. She didn’t trust a single soul in the realm, human or not.

“Then who should we thank?”

A hooded figure stepped forward and, with two hands, removed her cloak. My breath caught in my throat.

Eve stood there with a smile on her face.

Never in my wildest dreams would I have imagined Eve making it back to the Demon Realm on her own. But there she was, clear as day. My heart pounded in my chest. It took all my strength to stay seated.

Oros looked at me, and I could see the happiness on her face as she fought to control herself too.

All I wanted to do was run to her and take her into my arms. Apologize for how stupid I had been to take her back to the Human Realm and just leave her there.

We were idiots.

She hadn’t changed much. Her hair had grown longer. The cuts and bruises she had left with were gone. Instead of a dress, she was wearing one of the all-black uniforms Angelica’s people wore .

“Eve?” Oros asked, her breathing failing her. “You did all this?”

Eve’s smile grew, and she gave her a shrug.

“After making my way back to the Demon Realm three months ago, I decided I wanted to help. It took a long time, but with the help of the humans we rescued, we were able to piece together where the rest of the houses were. It was a team effort.”

Three months ago? But that meant…

“Led by Eve,” Angelica said, shooting her a glance. “She may want to undersell herself, but I won’t. She single-handedly strategized, gathered intelligence, and executed the rescue missions. If anyone deserves a realm, it’s her.”

“Then she shall have one.” I got up and sent her a smile. “You both shall.”

Eve’s smile faltered.

“Actually, I have another request,” Eve said.

Oros stood up too, coming to a halt beside me. We were both thinking the same thing.

Ask us to stay with us.

“Anything,” Oros replied, trying desperately to keep her expression blank. I could practically feel her vibrating with barely restrained need beside me.

“A royal favor,” she said, and she winked. It was almost imperceptible, but we knew. Oros was fighting a grin now.

“Speak,” I ordered, and her eyes flashed.

“A seat on your council. I feel like there is a lot of work that still needs to be done. Angelica gave me the experience I needed, but I could make better use of my skills within the court rather than on the outside.” We both nodded at that.

“And maybe a place in the palace or nearby. I need to attend to my duties with Angelica, so somewhere where I can go back and forth would be preferable. ”

She was giving us an out. A way to publicly keep her in the palace without making it seem fishy.

“Granted,” Oros and I both said. Eve’s smile could light up the room.

“Thank you for your service to the realm. We look forward to continuing our partnership.” Angelica bowed, although she didn’t need to. “You are all dismissed,” I said, my voice echoing. “Eve, stay back so we may show you to your new home.”

Angelica sent Eve a teasing look but took the rest of her people out without so much as a look back. Eve watched them leave.

When all the people had left, Eve turned to face us.

“One more thing, my queens .”

Fuck. The way she said our title had my pussy clenching.

Oros and I stood still as she stalked up the stairs. My breath caught in my throat as she came to stand in front of us.

Neither of us dared speak.

“Nothing to say?” she asked.

“Anything,” Oros said again. “I meant it. We’re sorry. Tell us what you want, Eve. We will deliver.”

Eve gave her a little smirk before pushing past us and to the thrones. She sat on Oros’s, her long legs crossing in front of her.

“Show me how sorry you are,” she commanded. “Eros can start.”

I was down on my knees in front of her before her next breath.

“Someone’s excited,” she murmured.

I took her foot in my hand and leaned down to run my lips across the top of her shoe.

“I’ve dreamed about this,” I admitted and began leaving open-mouthed kisses up her calf. “I’m sorry, Eve. A lifetime worshipping you couldn’t even come close to showing you how sorry I am. I’m not asking that you forgive me, just that you spend the rest of your life with us. ”

I kissed up to her knee before her hand was in my hair, gently pulling me back so I could look into her eyes.

“Don’t you think it’s a little selfish of you? I spend the rest of my life with you, and in return I get what?”

My heart dropped.

Oros was at my side in a flash, kneeling beside me and taking her free hand in hers. She placed a kiss on it.

“It was my idea, Eve,” she said in a low tone. “If you want to punish anyone, punish me. I’ll do anything. Banish myself. Become your slave. You name it.”

Her voice choked toward the end. Eve took her hand away only to run it through Oros’s hair. “Your hair is longer. So are your horns,” she remarked.

Her movements were so gentle it hurt.

I wanted her to yell at us. Take her anger out on us. Anything other than that soft smile on her face.

“I forgave you the moment it happened,” she said softly. “I understood.”

“Then why were you gone for so long?” I asked. “Why didn’t you come back right away?”

“I wanted to do something for me,” she replied. “I wanted to do something meaningful. And on my own. I didn’t want your power or influence, and I hoped to have accomplished something when I saw you again.”

“And that you did,” Oros praised. “We are proud of you.”

Eve’s eyes started to tear up.

“Before he took me, I was going to tell you that I was staying. That I couldn’t bear being apart from you. That I—” She swallowed thickly. “That I feel something for both of you. Being separated from you only reinforced how much I need you both. I missed you so?—”

Oros and I lunged forward and wrapped our arms around her.

She’s home .

“He’s gone,” I said. “It will never happen again, and we will never be letting you go ever again.”

“We promise,” Oros said. “The three of us, forever.”

“Forever,” she said with a sob. “Now, tell me again how proud you are of me.”

“Would you rather hear how much of a good girl you are instead?” Oros answered.

“I would love to hear that forever too.”

We were both fine with that.