Princess of Lust (For the Love of Evil) (6 page)

Something must have shown in her face because Galina gave her a satisfied nod. “You don’t enjoy that idea one bit, do you? Well, how do you think Gregor feels? He has to see you in constant danger, danger he can’t protect you against, and has to share you with other men.”

Guilt pierced her even as she tried to defend herself. “But you said monogamy is practically unheard of in Hell. I can’t give up Raum, and I couldn’t give up Eline even if I wanted to, and I won’t. He’s bound to me as much as Gregor is.”

“This isn’t about the other men.”

“Then what is this about? I’m confused and trying to make this better, so please help me, or I will find someone who will!”

Galina took a deep breath and let it out slowly. “Forgive me, Princess. I see many things in Gregor that remind me of myself when I first became your father’s concubine. It makes me…protective of him. Gregor is all too human and has been raised to be a leader. In his world he was the ruling power, the one to be feared and obeyed. Here he is seen as your possession. Do you have any idea of what that does to him?”

Stung, Natalia sat up straighter. “I haven’t done anything to make him feel that way.”

Galina shook her head. “Yes, you have. You try to keep him out of danger, to coddle him and keep him safe like some prized pet.”

“Well, what do you want me to do? He’s only human! He would be destroyed by the weakest of devils, let alone our enemies.”

“That’s another thing you need to keep in mind, Princess. Not only did he give up the mortal world for you, he turned his back on his family. However and whatever we think about them, these were people that he still loves and he can’t see or speak with any of them for fear of harm coming to you.” Galina gave her a narrow-eyed look that made Natalia feel like she was five years old and getting lectured by her mother. “So you have a strong, powerful man who is now considered a bauble on his mistress’ leash, all alone in a world where he is seen as the enemy. A weak, vulnerable enemy.”

Natalia slumped back against the bench, turning her face to the warmth of the sun as what Galina said sank into her mind. “I never thought of it like that.”

Galina snorted. “So I noticed.” She patted Natalia’s hand. “With all that is going on, you’ve been unable to be with Gregor and strengthen your bond as much as you usually would. And I couldn’t intercede until you asked for my help. After all, you are a princess and I am but your father’s humble concubine.”

Now it was Natalia’s turn to snort. “We both know you’re far more than that.”

Galina stood and briskly rubbed her hands together. “Your father has news to tell you that cannot wait. I-I think I have an idea on how to help Gregor, but I’ll need your father’s permission first.”

Natalia stood as well, smoothing the folds of her borrowed dress. She placed her hand on Galina’s arm. “Thank you for talking with me.”

“You’re welcome. Gregor is a good man with a good heart. He deserves a chance to prove himself.”

With those enigmatic words running through her head, she scooted through the archway, glad to be inside where she wasn’t reminded of how high above the ground they were. The guards closed formation at her back and the soft
click
of their armor echoed through the long hallway as they made their way past a series of closed doors. Normally, she’d be as safe as a babe inside her father’s palace, but their enemies had proven more than once that even the strongest defenses could be breached.

When at last they reached her father’s study and were ushered in, her shoulders dropped. The tension left her body while his powerful energy embraced her. When she was around him, it seemed ridiculous to think anything bad could ever happen to her. The silver of his horns gleamed in the sunlight pouring through the ceiling-high window at the far end of the room as he looked up from the book he’d been studying. Dressed in a pair of soft brown leather pants and black tunic embellished with silver dragon scales around the collar and cuffs, he shut the book and stood with a smile, holding open his arms.

Natalia gladly went to them and hugged him as hard as she could, the feeling of safety complete as he hugged her in return. His deep voice rumbled in his chest as he released her. “Thank you again, daughter, for returning my power to me.”

He gestured toward the chair across from his battered leather couch and she took a seat, sinking back into its comfort. The chair had been crafted by one of her father’s subjects and contained a special magic that relaxed whoever sat in it. She certainly appreciated the spell as her body unwound further until she sighed in pleasure. To her amusement, she noticed a half-eaten plate of cookies and a scattering of crumbs on the edge of the couch.

Asmodeus’s study had become one of her favorite places in the palace. It seemed like their own private world, where her father treated her as she’d always wished the mortal man she had grown up believing was her father had treated her. Books lined the walls from floor to ceiling, interspersed with display cases containing rare objects of power. Here and there were sexual devices, but she avoided looking at them. Knowing her father had probably used them on Galina made her feel uncomfortable.

In public, Galina always knelt at Asmodeus’s feet, but here in the privacy of his chambers the concubine curled up next to her master and he slowly stroked her hair. A shadow passed over the window as an enormous shape raced past, and Natalia wondered if it was one of the gargoyles guarding the castle chasing another bird. She’d spent one rare, lazy afternoon with Gregor watching the gargoyles frolic and play around the castle turrets, both of them fascinated by the display.

Asmodeus cleared his throat and she brought her gaze back to him with a flush.

“During my meeting with the ambassadors, it was requested we have a royal ball in your honor, and I agreed.”

“What?” She sat up from the chair, trying to shake off its effects so she could think clearly. “I thought you were meeting with them to try to avert an all-out war.”

Anger darkened his gaze and streaks of navy blue and crimson raced through the green of his irises. “That was the intention, but it was next to impossible to get Belal’s ambassador to even acknowledge we are on the brink of war. He dodged me at every turn—the slimy toad—with his allies backing him up every step of the way. They claim I’m showing them a grave insult by not allowing the unattached male demons from the courts of the other high princes the chance to see if you are a possible blood mate.”

Natalia’s heart lurched in her throat. “No, Father, Raum is my—”

“Raum is nothing more than my general until I give you both leave to bond!”

She shrank back in her chair, her father’s anger washing over her until her bones ached. Still, she fought to speak past the pain. “I love him.”

Abruptly his anger pulled back and Galina ran a soothing hand down his leg. “I know that.” He placed his hand over Galina’s and gave her a small smile. “Don’t worry, my concubine. I won’t force her into a political marriage.” He turned his attention back to Natalia, and she tried to hold his gaze without shivering. “I’m also aware this has to be a trap of some kind. Either they are aware of Natalia and Raum being a potential match and view it as being a threat, or they have some other goal.”

“But if their goal is to keep Raum and me apart, why don’t you let us bond?”

“Because doing so would give Belal the excuse he needs to claim insult and declare war. There are strict codes and protocols about royal blood mates.” Something she couldn’t name flashed through his gaze. “Besides, I think this will work to our advantage.”

“How so?” Galina asked, tucking her feet beneath her on the couch. “I’m assuming we would have the ball here. I, for one, don’t want every high-born demon from Belal’s court in our home.”

“I already thought of that and restricted it to one prince, high prince, or ruler of each house.”

Galina’s brow furrowed. “But there are only three unmated high princes, you and….”

“Exactly.”

Galina’s eyes went wide and she looked at Asmodeus with admiration and a hint of desire that made Natalia look away. “Well, that is rather clever of you.”

“Can someone please tell me what is going on?”

“It is my hope that Satan will attend the ball.”

Natalia gasped. “King Satan?”

“Yes. I will word the invitation so that he cannot ignore it.”

Galina curled her fingers through his dark hair. “I’m sure his arrival will greatly upset Belal.”

Natalia stood and began to pace around the room. “If I find any potential blood mates there, will I be forced to bond with them?”

“No. I gave you my word that you would be allowed to choose your own mate, and I meant it. But I also meant it when I said you needed time to think it over. I realize you love Raum and Raum loves you, but it is too soon. After the ball, we will discuss a timetable that we all can agree upon for your bonding.”

Frustrated, she spun on her heel to face him and tried to keep her voice level. “I could accept the wait if it was just about myself and Raum, but the longer I wait, the more Gregor grows to hate Raum.”

“Be that as it may—”

“No!” she yelled. The demonic side of her nature surged awake. It did not like the idea of her men being kept from her, even by her father. “You don’t understand. Gregor almost killed Raum today. He was a breath away from pushing Raum into a bubble of Chaos.”

A chill filled the air until the windows began to frost over. Natalia shivered and her breath came out in little puffs of mist. Asmodeus’s power filled the room until her skin burned from the cold. “I understand many things, far more than you do. Ignorance I can forgive. Arrogance I cannot.”

Her teeth chattered as she forced the words past her numb lips. “Forgive me, Father.”

The room thawed so abruptly the ice on the windows melted into a puddle at the bottom of the frame. Galina cleared her throat and traced her fingertips over the curve of one of Asmodeus’s horns. “My liege, I had an idea of how to help ease Natalia’s burden with her men.”

Asmodeus gave his concubine a hard look but the lines around his mouth deepened as he fought a smile. “Do you know the only time you address me as ‘my liege’ is when you want something you think I won’t give you?”

Galina chuckled and continued to trace the spirals of his ram’s horns. “Really, my liege? Well, in this case I think you’re wrong. I have something to ask you that will greatly strengthen Natalia’s power base, and by default, yours as well.”

Now Asmodeus almost looked weary and he glanced at Natalia. “Do you know what she is talking about?”

“No, but I’m interested to hear what she has to say.”

Galina practically sat on Asmodeus’s lap now, and Natalia would have looked away except there was nothing sexual about the way her father looked at his concubine. If anything, he looked as if he were ready to bolt. Galina licked her lips and said in a rush, “I wish to train Gregor as a warlock.”

Her father gripped the concubine’s wrists. “Absolutely not!”

She continued as if he’d never interrupted her, pointedly ignoring Natalia’s openmouthed stare. “Listen to me. He is slowly going mad with a lack of anything to do, other than be a pet, and he’ll drive Natalia insane as well. Gregor loves her with every drop of his soul. He would never use his powers against her.”

“I’m not worried about that,” Asmodeus snapped. “I’m worried about him using them against me. I’ve seen the potential in him as well, my concubine, and I’m well aware of how powerful he could become. Do you want someone like that, with his ties, in the heart of our world? He was raised and bred to destroy us.”

Galina shrugged, not an easy thing to do with her wrists still held shackled in his hands. “It wouldn’t be the first time your greatest enemy became your ally. Besides, right now Gregor is in constant danger with no way to defend himself. How many assassination attempts have there been on him? Ten? Twenty?”

Natalia leaped from her chair stalked across the room, her anger a wave of heat before her. “No one me about that!”

Asmodeus appeared chagrined. “I didn’t want to upset you. You’ve had so many changes thrust upon you—”

Something in her eyes must have clued him into how furious she was. “He is my concubine, my heart, mine to protect and love. How dare you keep this from me?”

Galina spoke up quickly. “You see, she loves him as much as you love me. And much like her father, Natalia will do anything to protect those she loves. Give your daughter a fighting chance by enabling Gregor to protect both her and himself.”

Fighting to remain calm, Natalia closed her eyes. “Who has been trying to kill him?”

Asmodeus’s voice came out harsh and tight. “Who hasn’t? Those who sought to hurt you have found an easier target in your concubine.”

She opened her eyes and locked gazes with her father. “Train him. Please.”

Galina stood and turned Natalia to face her, breaking her staring contest with Asmodeus. “You need to know that my coven uses sex for many of our spells. In order to learn our craft, he will have carnal relations with my witches and wizards.”

Natalia’s demonic nature bristled at the thought of sharing him and she immediately felt like a hypocrite. “It is his decision who he touches. I will not force him into anything.”

“Then you cripple him as well and training him will be a waste of time,” Asmodeus said from the couch. He’d regained his normal unflappable composure and watched her carefully.

Galina made a sound deep in her throat, close to a growl. “All we need is one person in my coven that he’d be willing to touch and be touched by. That will be enough to teach him the basics.”

Natalia sighed and rubbed the back of her neck. “Let me make the offer to him.”

Chapter Five

Natalia hesitated at the double doors leading to her suite of rooms. On either side, her personal guards studiously ignored her, and she tried not to stare at them. She didn’t think she’d ever get used to the way royalty seemed to be able to not notice those serving them, as if they were nothing more than furniture. For a moment, she was tempted to ask them to remove their helmets and tell her about themselves, but she knew that was just another way of stalling her eventual confrontation with Gregor.