devil 02 - tween a devil and his hard place Read Free

me and, although his gorgeous face showed no emotion at all, I could tell by the way he held himself that he wasn’t wild about my question, or me for asking it. “You will learn our ways in time, Astra. Try, in the meantime, to hide your ignorance more carefully. A beautiful face and an empty mind create a vessel that can be filled with only one activity.” He smiled and the smile didn’t take me to a happy place. “I doubt you would welcome the activity I refer to.” He turned to my Dialle. “There is one further complication.”
    My Dialle, still frowning over his father’s insult to me, didn’t seem to hear the king. He was looking at me with concern, most likely afraid that I would open my big mouth and get myself into trouble. I smiled. Although I was known to throw caution to the wind and jump butt first into a conflagration when my temper got the best of me, I wasn’t a complete drooling idiot. I initiated a field trip into his mental drawers and told him, I’ll get even later, when he’s not expecting it and can’t retaliate .
    He smiled at me and raised one of my hands, kissing it and leaving a warm, tingly spot where his lips had been. I would expect nothing less from you .
    I shivered from the kiss and my body melted into his without first asking permission from my brain.
    We both jumped as the king roared, “ Attend me !”
    His voice boomed through the cavernous room, rattling windows and vibrating walls. I could almost hear the commotion and conversation outside the heavy, gold doors stop as the soldiers and hopeful queens-to-be jolted to shocked silence.
    My Dialle pushed me ever so subtly behind him as the temperature in the room rose to about one hundred and thirty degrees and the divan behind us burst into flame. He gave a small bow and said, “I beg your forgiveness for my inattentiveness, my king. I am distracted continually by my lust for this creature.”
    Oh great, blame me! I thought at him fiercely.
    I don’t think he’ll set you afire just because I lust after you, Astra.
    You DON’T THINK!
    Just trust me. And DO NOT open your sweet lips to speak.
    Gradually the king regained his composure and the temperature in the room dropped back to almost normal. With a wave of his hand the burning couch was extinguished and I noticed it was completely unharmed. Completely frunkin’ cool! I wanted to learn how to do that.
    The king sat back down behind his onyx desk and we gave him our full attention.
    “It appears the witches have some role in the demon’s revolt. I suspect the Supreme High Witch wants a place at the table when we gather for the dark world caucus next month. She has been showing signs of trying to develop her own court and my scouts have informed me that she has expressed an intention to demand equal standing with the kings.”
    This caught my Dialle’s attention. “That’s preposterous!”
    The king nodded. “Of course. And while I admire ambition,” he looked at me and smiled as if he and I shared a secret, “especially in one as lovely as the Supreme High Witch, I expect each member of the dark world caucus to know his place.” He stood and came around the enormous desk, approaching us.
    One moment he was walking toward us and the next I was laying on the previously fiery divan with him on top of me, certain parts of his devilish anatomy digging into my body. I struggled to see my Dialle but he appeared to have been “extinguished” from the room like the earlier flames.
    The king stared down into my eyes as I struggled ineffectively against his body’s invasion of mine. “Get off me!”
    He laughed and lowered incredibly sexy red lips toward mine. In desperation I tried to shove him away but my arms felt like heavy rubber and I could barely lift them let alone push him away. “I’m warning you, I bite!”
    “Promises, promises lovely Tweener.” His lips lowered to within an inch of mine.
    “I have lots of diseases.” I was having trouble breathing in