Princess of Lust (For the Love of Evil) (11 page)

He looked at her strangely and shook his head, a ghost of a smile hovering over his firm lips. “That is one way of looking at it.”

Before she could answer, Eline’s voice came from deeper in her suite. “Princess, it is time to go.”

Giving Gregor one last glance, she sighed. “What I wouldn’t give to stay here with you and make love all night instead of attending this stupid and dangerous ball.”

He barely brushed his lips over hers and smiled. “Maybe we’ll get lucky and someone will try to kill you so we get to leave early.”

***

As Natalia stood on the formal dais of the Court of Lust, she tried to maintain a slow and controlled breath. To help her further maintain her composure, she incorporated Galina’s trick of appearing to look out at the room, but kept her gaze focused on the black stone walls at the back of the massive crowd. The people became blurs of color as she shifted in her small throne. Most of the guests were dressed in their finest formal court wear, complete with more jewels than she’d ever imagined even existed. None of her “official” suitors were here yet, so her inability to smell any potential blood mates other than Raum didn’t soothe her much.

Dressed in a black-and-silver dragon skin tunic, Raum stood close by Kirin on the main floor, talking with an older male demon and his female concubine. They had positioned themselves so Raum could keep a constant eye on her while he smiled and said a word or two in between the ramblings of the older demon. Eline and Owena were at the back of the crowd, making sure no one slipped past the guards at the servants’ entrance to try to gain unauthorized access to Natalia.

It was hard not to stare at all the different devils and demons she’d only read about during her studies of Hell. In the front row, two death-bringers talked with each other while darting an occasional glance at the daises where Natalia sat, waiting for her father’s entrance. She tried not to gape at them, but she found it fascinating how one moment the pair would appear as two skeletons talking to each other, and the next, two handsome men. The harder she tried to focus on them the more the two images blurred together, until her eyes hurt and she had to look away before she gave herself a headache.

A trickle of unease came through her link with her Gregor and she turned to him, fighting the urge to reassure her concubine with her touch. His leash had been attached to the top of her throne and he knelt on a large pillow next to her, glaring at the crowd with an insolence that didn’t go unnoticed. He would remain chained here while she danced, but when it came time to mingle, he would escort her or wander among the crowd, being her eyes and ears. As a former Russian Bratstvo boss, Gregor had been trained his entire life in the art of reading people.

She took a deep breath and hoped the emeralds didn’t show the fine tremor that ran through her body and caused the jewels on her dress to sparkle with flashes of emerald light. Her shields were as tight as she’d ever had them, but even they couldn’t blank out all the power and emotion filling the room. Someone as practiced as her father might be able to lower his shields enough to sample different moods and minds here and there, but other than her connection with Gregor, she didn’t dare lower hers even the tiniest amount. Even now she could feel psychic touches, little probes trying to test her strength.

The melodic and deep voice of the head herald rang out over the room as he announced the arrival of her father, High Prince Asmodeus, Keeper of the Deadly Sin Lust. She stood and took two steps forward. Her heart seemed to leap into her throat. Swallowing became difficult as she contemplated the idea of finding another potential blood mate among the assembled princes. In the best-case scenario it would be someone who didn’t want to kill her. The worst-case-scenario list grew longer by the second.

With a deep rumble, the gigantic double doors leading to her father’s private entrance opened to reveal Asmodeus, dressed from head to toe in silver dragon skin. With his metallic curved ram’s horns and gray-toned skin, he appeared to be almost made of a misty light. His power spread over the crowd and bolstered her shields.

As one, the assembled court bowed to him, and she followed suit, dipping into as much of a graceful curtsy as she could manage. No matter how many hours she spent training in court protocol she could never manage the smooth, almost liquid refinement the other ladies had while performing a curtsy. The best she could hope for was not falling on her face.

With her head still bowed to the floor, she felt her father’s presence before she saw him. His energy washed over her in a soothing wave and awoke her still-dozing demonic side. The reflective black marble shimmered like a star moved across it as the high prince stopped before her and raised her head with his hand beneath her chin.

His voice rang with pride as he said, “Greetings, my daughter, Natalia.”

She smiled at him, warmed from the inside out by his love for her. “Greetings, my father and liege.”

He held her hand with the communication ring on it, carefully curving his talons around her fingers to make sure he didn’t accidentally harm her. As soon as his skin made contact with the metal band of the ring, she could feel an echo of his immense and ancient power radiating through her bones. Sometimes it became easy to forget the high prince had been around since the beginning of time, but not right now. At this moment, he radiated an authority and assurance that put everyone there to shame.

Turning as one, they faced the crowd and she fought to keep her shoulders from hunching beneath the weight of their stares. As her father went through his long speech, greeting and welcoming, she carefully unfurled a tiny bit of her power, letting it ghost like a whisper over the mass of people. Her jaw tightened as she tasted fear, uncertainty, and traces of anger mixed in with the love and strength. There was no doubting this ball was about more than introducing her to potential suitors. She could see it in every stiff line of shoulder and tight jaw.

With a slight squeeze on her hand, Asmodeus recalled her attention to his words and she held her breath as a large circle was cleared before them in the center of the vast room. Anticipation sped her heartbeat even as she wondered what she would do if any of them did turn out to be potential blood mates. There wasn’t a doubt in her heart she wanted to be mated with Raum, but there was always the possibility she would have to take a second mate in order to strengthen her father’s position in Hell.

The tension of the crowd grew as well, and she didn’t think it was because she was being formally introduced to the men. Well, in part it was, but it wasn’t a secret most of the ruling demon class was here today to see if open war would be declared, if one side would find insult with the other and finally push Hell into battle. That might explain why there were fewer women here than usual and the many ornamental swords she saw looked, by the wear along the hilts, like they were more than decoration.

The doors leading to the main foyer opened and one by one, the marshal of the court announced the men as they entered the chamber. “Prince Sert, son of the High Prince Mammon, Keeper of the Deadly Sin Greed.”

A demon with hints of mint-green coloring to his pale skin and long, sky-blue hair strode through the doors, wearing a silver dragon skin tunic embellished with diamonds. He had a chiseled jaw and was a handsome man to look at, but the coldness in his eyes as he met her gaze made her stomach clench. He stopped before the throne and executed a precise bow, to which she curtsied in return. Her demonic side did not like him at all.

“Prince Bans, son of the High Prince Beelzebub, Keeper of the Deadly Sin Gluttony.”

With his long, brown hair held back in a gold clip that brought out the bronze hints in his skin, Bans openly sneered at Sert as he took his place next to him. When he turned to look at her, he gave her a small smile. Beelzebub was one of her father’s allies so she made sure to give him an extra deep curtsy.

“Prince Raum, son of the High Prince Lucifer, Keeper of the Deadly Sin Pride.”

She gaped at Raum as he strode out from the crowd, a small smile curving his lips. Of course she had known Raum was Lucifer’s son, but she had no idea he was also his heir. He’d told her his brother would be here to represent their father. He lifted an eyebrow as he bowed to her and she curtsied in return, only stumbling a little from the blast of lust that came from him. Sert gave him a dirty look but Bans merely rolled his eyes.

“Prince Yergont, son of the High Prince Pythius and Keeper of the Deadly Sin Envy.”

Dressed in gleaming vermilion-and-silver dragon skin, Yergont strode into the hall with his gaze locked on Asmodeus, giving Natalia barely more than a glance. His cardinal-red hair flowed over his shoulders, blending into the red of the tunic until it appeared as if he was cloaked in blood. The hint of amber shimmer to his skin highlighted his perfect features, and she could easily see how that perfection could inspire envy. For her, his beauty was too perfect. It made him seem fake as he stood next to Raum. Without sparing her a glance, he gave a stiff bow and she almost didn’t curtsy in return, but Asmodeus pressed on her hand, and she gave her suitor a grudging bent knee.

Her father’s mental voice resounded through her head.
Do nothing to cause any reason for them to declare offense
.

She bared her teeth in her best attempt at a charming smile. Obviously it didn’t work well because Sert recoiled and Raum coughed in his fist to hide a laugh. Yergont still ignored her but Bans gave her a considering look. Her grip on her father’s hand tightened as the next prince was announced.

“High Prince Belal, Keeper of the Deadly Sin Sloth.”

Gasps and even a few shouts rang out through the room as Belal strode in. To her surprise, he was quite handsome with his refined jaw and sharp cheekbones. His long, golden hair was pulled back into an elaborate braid, and his skin shimmered with hints of turquoise. Dressed in silver and teal blue dragon skin, he didn’t bother to hide his smirk as he strolled through the court. Power rolled off him in almost visible waves and a soft hiss escaped her before she managed to regain control of her demonic essence. That dark part of her soul wanted nothing more than to launch herself at him and tear him to pieces.

Belal stopped before the throne and gave her a brief bow, hardly more than a tilt of his head. Keeping her father’s words in mind, she forced herself to curtsy, her anger making her movements stiff and awkward. Gregor’s hatred and a touch of fear made it even harder for her to control the shadowy side of her soul, and she was a breath away from attacking Belal before her father’s power burned through her and gave her the strength to stay by his side. Belal pursed his lips and nodded to himself before turning with the rest of the crowd to see the final potential blood mate.

Since Asmodeus was still connected to her to help control her demon, she could feel his anticipation, his desperate hope, even though his face and body language betrayed none of his emotions.

That hope was destroyed and bitter despair filled its place as the herald intoned, “Prince Drayth, son of the High King Satan, Keeper of the Deadly Sin Wrath.”

She bit back a gasp of her own as a handsome, but very human-looking male strode into the room. He wore his black hair long in the manner of demons, and his skin was pale, but it held none of the otherworldly shimmer a true demon possessed. His steel-blue eyes were tilted like in the penny dreadfuls she’d read about the Orient, but like his skin, they had none of the multicolored sheen of a demon.

Asmodeus must have sensed her confusion because he sent her a mental whisper.
Drayth is the eldest son of Satan. His human mother was one of Satan’s concubines. He never made the transition to full demon and is looked down upon because of that
.

She blinked in shock at her father. He tightened his grip, and she turned back to the princes, trying to school her features back into that blank court face everyone else seemed to do so well. Something in her expression must have shown through because Drayth gave her a small, ironic smile before bowing. All around them whispered conversation hummed and hissed like a windstorm through the trees.

Using her father’s hand to hold her steady, she gave Drayth a curtsy in return and warmed at the tiny hint of lust that came from him. Other than Raum, he was the first prince to let his desire for her show. Asmodeus remained impassive next to her but hurt and anger seethed through their connect. She made a small mewl of pain and he quickly closed off his side of the link, leaving her alone in her mind but for Gregor’s concern and worry.

Thankfully, the only one among the princes that smelled good to her was Raum. All the rest merely smelled like men. Still, she had to go through the motions of a formal exchange of scents, though the thought of touching Belal and his allies twisted her nerves into a hard knot. Gregor tried to send reassurance and love through their bond, and it helped a little. Asmodeus released her hand and took a seat upon his throne. At his nod, she descended the steps and began at the head of the line with Prince Sert.

She stopped before the demon, noting the stiff muscles of his face as he avoided looking into her eyes. Instead, his gaze roamed her figure and a tiny hint of desire came from him, energizing her. That jolt of power made her pause and examine him, noting the way his body responded to her even as he tried to remain impassive. She realized while she would never be his equal in terms of physical, and probably magical, strength she did have one thing at which he could not match her. The power of seduction.

Taking in a deep breath, she almost smiled as his gaze darted to her breasts then away, then back again as if he could not help but stare. Her demonic essence stirred, not seeking to destroy now, but to seduce. He wanted her and that gave her power over him.

Holding her wrist out, she stepped close enough so her skirts brushed his legs. Sert jerked back, but held his place and finally looked into her eyes. Streaks of gold and silver ran through the brown of his irises as he slowly grasped her wrist and brought it to his mouth. As he did that she leaned up, inhaling a deep breath over the smooth skin of his neck, enjoying the way he shivered when she exhaled. Her energy caressed his shields, and they wavered beneath her psychic touch, but she stepped away before she breached them.