Total pages in book: 53
Estimated words: 51358 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 257(@200wpm)___ 205(@250wpm)___ 171(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 51358 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 257(@200wpm)___ 205(@250wpm)___ 171(@300wpm)
“Saint.” I grip his shoulder. “Don’t—”
“I know what to do.” Annika is by my side suddenly, her phone pressed against her ear. Her assurance gives Saint pause, clarity crossing his eyes. “Daphne,” Annika says into the phone. “I need a favor.”
“This is a bad idea,” I say as we approach the Seven Deadly Sins club in demon territory. I’ve expressed the sentiment a dozen times since Annika called Daphne, but it hasn’t stopped any of us from coming here.
Saint, Annika, Daphne, and myself stop just outside the demon king’s favorite establishment. Three vampires and one college-aged human, approaching a bouncer at a demon exhibitionist club. Fuck, this is going to go south. I just know it.
“You didn’t have any better ideas,” Annika argues, and it’s hard for me to take my eyes off her. She, like Daphne, coordinated on outfits for the evening, opting for attire that would help them look like they belonged in a demon sex club. Fish nets, silk shorts, mesh tops. She looks edible. Absolutely edible.
Daphne, on the other hand, looks like trouble.
Saint and I both offered her our coats to cover her up, assholes that we are, but really no human should be waltzing into a demon club looking like she does. Especially a human that the demon king is obviously obsessed with.
Trouble.
All of this was trouble.
My nerves scrape along a sharp edge as the bouncer asks our names.
“We’re here to see Xavier,” Saint says.
The bouncer gives him a once-over, the thick, muscled creature looking half-beast with emerald-green horns jutting from his forehead. “Not a chance,” he says, eying the group behind us.
“Daphne Moorehouse,” Daphne offers, her voice too sweet for her own good. “Can you check your list for me?”
“They’re all with you, Ms. Moorehouse?” the bouncer asks, bowing slightly as if he’d been instructed to treat the human like royalty. Fuck, what did the demon king instruct to his staff on his behalf in regards to her? I know he’s been hyper-fixated on her since before we’d even awoken, according to how Annika tells it, but it has to be fleeting, right? A novel interest? Nothing more?
I can’t convince myself of it being anything good for Daphne, that’s for certain. But we desperately need access to these lands, so we’re taking her support.
“Yes,” she says. “These are my friends.”
“Right this way,” he says, motioning toward the large black double doors, which open as we approach them. “The king will find you.”
“That sounds ominous as fuck,” I grumble, but follow the girls inside. Saint and I stick to their backs, ensuring we’re covering them and have the best angle on anyone that approaches. Not that anyone is approaching, the thick crowds are too busy engaging in any number of lewd—albeit fun-looking—activities.
Some are dancing to hedonistic music, grinding each other into oblivion. Others are drowning themselves in liquor or other colorful libations. Some are dancing atop small stages scattered throughout the tiered space. Some are dragging multiple partners into various rooms lining the walls, disappearing to partake in who knows what sins and indulgences this place offers.
“What the hell are you doing here?” Xavier’s voice booms in front of us, the demon king manifesting in a millisecond. A snap of his fingers, and shadows bleed all around us, encircling us so nothing can be seen through them. Shit, even the loud music quiets in his presence.
Daphne snorts at the shadows. “You think I haven’t seen things like this before?”
It’s cute how she’s trying to play tough, but even I can tell she’s bluffing.
Xavier arches a brow, his eyes only on her. “You shouldn’t be here.”
Ouch. I expect Daphne to flinch at the dismissal or at least glare up at the demon king for his blunt response, but the human smirks.
“If you didn’t want me here, then why did your guy at the door let me in the second he heard my name?”
Xavier’s lips part, shock flitting over his face for all of a millisecond before he composes himself. He takes a deep inhale, letting it out slowly like he’s searching for some ancient patience only he can possess.
Daphne raises her eyebrows at him.
I hold my fucking breath as they stare each other down.
Xavier’s lips twitch to a half smile as he draws his hands behind his back. “I only gave them your name should you…have need of anything. Trouble with the tuition and the like.”
She nods, like that makes perfect sense.
It really doesn’t. Not from where I’m standing.
“I do need something,” she says. “I need a favor.”
“No.” Xavier shakes his head. Daphne’s shoulders drop. “They need a favor.” He turns to glare at Saint.
A low growl rumbles from my chest. We don’t have time for this territorial bullshit.
Another breath and the demon king’s features shift from annoyed to cool, calm, and collected. Bored even.
“They need information,” Daphne says. “So I need information.”