Slay My Soul
Chapter 35 Asmodeus

The sound of laughter and celebration trickles down to reach my ears. As soon as Belestine saw Eve flying at him, he pulled her through the portal and shut it down. Once back at the castle he demanded that I retreat to my cell and pull back my men.

I pace angrily. My mate is up there with that psychopath, who is doing god knows what to her. Suddenly, all noise from above ceases. Out of the silence comes the low tone of the King speaking, though I can't make out what he is saying. Then there is a clear, strong reply.

"Go fuck yourself!"

A woman. My woman. Eve. There are growls and thumps followed by a warrior's roar echoing through the castle. Then the sounds become dull and muted. I feel my agitation grow. The shifting of air in front of me makes me refocus and I blink my secondary eyelids over.

"What's going on up there?" I demand, taking in Reece's worried face.

"They are knocking her out with a cocktail of drugs, iron manacles as well as silver and graphene chains to restrain her. I imagine she will be brought down here soon. She is too much of a threat to them outside of a cell. She has declined the King's offer to join their side and be his heir." Reece leans in. Lord knows why, it's not like anyone other than Belestine and myself can hear him. "The King will try and break her. You need to keep your emotions under wraps. No matter what they do - don't let them know what she is to you. When the time is right, offer your services to break her. Claim you will fuck her to within an inch of her life. Say you just want to fast-track it all, so you can complete your contract, especially since her circle is gathering their army to march on the castle as we speak. They will think it's very proactive of you." I stare at Reece.

"You want me to remain impassive when they torture her and then offer to rape my mate?" I ask horrified.

"I have to watch this shit as well asshole!" Reece hisses. "If I have to suffer in silence, you can do it too. Fail and we lose everything!" I know he speaks the truth and this is my only option, but I don't like it at all.

I hear heavy steps and a dragging sound. Two of the guards emerge from the bottom of the steps dragging a bloodied woman between them. Her feet are dragging on the floor, her head rolling lifelessly on her shoulders. They carry her by her arms bound in iron with silver chains, and I spot a graphene chain that jingles as it's dragged between her ankles. If what Reece told me is true, then that's her Fae, Wolf, Lycan, and Dragon side subdued. They open the cell opposite mine and secure her to the wall with more iron chains. With three Fae mates, I can understand why they are focusing on the Fae side.

"Did you bring me a toy?" I leer, playing my role and letting my eyes rove her bruised body. One of the guards scoffs at me as the other locks her cell door. They walk off without answering me. There are catcalls and hollers of glee from some of the prisoners. Even bruised and unconscious, she is beautiful. I block them out and study her. She is tiny in comparison to me. If I do get to bond with her, I'm worried I may break her. It's hard to believe this tiny slip of a girl has got the vampire kingdom shaking in their boots and requiring my Legion to bring her to heel. I have yet to see her fight. My contract demands my full attention on my men - directing them.

I wait for hours for her to wake and the guards come and go, checking on her. Belestine surprises me by going into her cell and stroking her cheek. He gently undoes her hair and unwinds her bundled braid, and as it comes loose, he smooths it down her back. He touches her as though he is a lover, familiar with her, gentle, and taking care of her. It takes everything I have to act disinterested, as I sit pretending to doze. But I'm watching him touch what is mine through slitted lids. I fight to stop a possessive growl from escaping my mouth. I tense as he leans forward and kisses her forehead, whispering something under his breath. It sounds like 'soon.' I have no idea what he's up to, what he wants with Eve, or why he is acting this way towards her.

The tightness leaves my chest when he leaves her cell. He turns to me.

"She is magnificent, isn't she?" He comments. I shrug.

"She would be magnificent if got to wreck her orifices, it's been a long time since I had a woman," I leer. He scowls at me.

"That will never happen, she is mine," he growls at me. "You can look, but you will never unleash yourself on her. At least you will have sweet dreams using her for inspiration. That's as close as you will ever get. She is not for a monster like you." He storms off. I may look like a monster on the outside to these people, but that fucker is an abomination on the inside. He's more monster than I will ever be. Even as I mull over these facts, self-doubt creeps in. Will she even accept me if I can get to her?

Eventually, she stirs, small groans emitting from her mouth. She blinks and looks disorientated as she tries to focus on her surroundings. Her chains rattle and she tenses. It's like someone has hit her with a cattle prod. She leaps up on shaky legs and pulls at her chains in an absolute panic.

"She's having a flashback," Reece whispers. "They have caught her once before, tortured her for months in a cell. Raped and beaten her, drove her mad." I can't stop the low growl that trickles out of my mouth. She freezes, turning cautiously to look at me. I see the moment she realizes who I am. A small degree of relaxation in her muscles. She stares into my eyes, taking in my large form, the earthy red of my skin, and my large horns. Her eyes dip suddenly to my crotch and she blushes. I raise an eyebrow. That's interesting. Is she shy? Embarrassed about what we need to do? Or does she know about what Demons carry in their pants? Her eyes jump back to my face and she chews her lip nervously. "She doesn't know that you're aware of what she is to you. She's trying to figure out how to broach the subject," Reece explains.

"Hello Eve," my voice purrs. "I have been waiting to meet you a very, very long time. I am Asmodeus and you are my fated mate," Eve's mouth drops open.

"How do you know? Shit! Does the rest of the castle know too?" She asks nervously. I shake my head and laugh.

"No little mate. I had the help of a much-needed friend. Someone very close to you." She looks at me confused. "Demons can see the spirits that remain in this world. Your Reece has been my eyes and ears, escaping and bringing me news from your pack and feeding me intel from around the castle. He exhausts himself every day to serve you and love you still, even in death. He told me you were coming." Her lips tremble and she draws in a shaky breath. Reece zips to her, trying to touch and soothe her as he frets over her sadness, but unable to do anything effective. "Stop it!" I hiss at him. Eve glares at me. "No, I meant your idiot mate. He's trying to comfort you even though the dumbass knows damn well he's unable to touch you."

"I appreciate his efforts," she snaps at me and I back peddle quickly. Note to self. Eve is feisty, and Reece is a sore subject.

"Well I'm here, your here, but we're in different cells and stuck, any great plans?"

"It's not a great plan, but the only one available. I'm going to pretend to be interested in you only as a sex-starved male. I will act indifferent to whatever they do to you. When you don't break for them, I will offer to break you for them. Hopefully, they agree out of frustration. I can't be free of the circle until my contract is complete. I'll need them to bring you to me." She nods slowly and swallows hard.

"She's worrying about what they will do to break her," Reece whispers.

"No matter what they do, I am here. When this is over Eve, I will send my Legion out to the ends of the earth to slaughter any of your surviving enemies. We will crush them and I will build you a throne from their bones," I vow. "Remember that. When they try to break your mind, body, and soul. I am here with you." A genuine smile curves her lips.

"That has to be one of the most romantic things anyone has said to me. Oh, can the throne be black?" She asks wistfully.

"Any color you want," I promise.