Chained to the Devil’s Daughter (Mating the Elements #1)

39

Ash’ren

T he day following our mishap on the throne was a blur of rushed plans and last-minute training. Though my trainees were not to fight unless engaged, they must be confident enough in their abilities to defend their loved ones if our ghost-rings ruse failed. In the evening, I visited Geysis and accepted her mana-stripping dagger, the twin of the one that had taken my horn. I did not sleep well that night.

Today was day three. As expected, a runner from the tower warned of Devil’s impending arrival.

The throne room was full of Devil’s ass-kissers. With an deadly calm akin to a gryffion before it goes in for the kill, I observed each noble that scrambled to make an appearance for Devil’s return.

Approaching a backward-facing chair with one long leap, I tipped it down. It clanged on the table, drawing everyone’s attention as I pushed off the ornate chair’s back and stepped onto the table.

“Out.”

No one moved. Fire tipped my claws, filled out my wing, and whipped from my tail, which I thumped hard against the table.

“Out!”

Nobles and servants sprinted for the exits.

I leaped to the floor and approached the dais, pausing at the burnished spot on the ground reserved for those petitioning the king, worn from all the knees that had kissed its surface.

I had begged Devil once.

It was his turn now.

Flexing my fists, I climbed the dais to lounge in Devil’s Bone Throne. This would be the first and last time I ever claimed what rightfully belonged to my Firefly.

For the first time in weeks, the ever-present numbers returned, loud as ever. Seventy-nine chairs at the four tables. Forty-six windows. Twelve side doors for servants. Twenty chandeliers of steel and bone. It was so familiar, waiting in this way. Waiting for destiny to reveal itself.

The difference was, I had a mind full of new memories that kept me centered. Waking snuggled against my Firefly, helping plait her hair in the morning instead of one last glimpse before slipping out the window. The way her ears tipped red when she had to speak publicly, though her voice was confident and steady. The same redness in her cheeks when I teased her, with words or my tongue. I even possessed memories with the people my actions had harmed, people I didn’t deserve the time of day from but who accepted me anyway. Like Kien, whose father was the closest thing I’d had to a friend during my banishment.

Through my rage, a calm inner flame didn’t waver in the wind but flickered along in a dance of acceptance. A well of power that I’d never known simmered within me. It was with this I would achieve what my Firefly asked of me, to stay my hand against my rightful death debt.

Chaos outside signaled the time had finally arrived. Devil’s loud, booming voice. Peals of anguish. Nobles and attendants claiming innocence, attempting to shout loud enough in warning that Devil might forgive their bystanding. They all had one thing in common, one phrase, one name that rushed from their lips on repeat.

The door clanged open. Devil entered, so aflame with blinding white fire that his body was hardly discernible beneath the flames.

“ You are this flame-fucking Ash Render I keep hearing about?” He cackled, the white-hot flames flaring high enough to rattle the bone chandeliers. “What the fuck are you doing in my seat, little prick?”

My lips ticked upward. “Now, don’t be so petty. It’s just a chair.”

Devil bristled. I stretched impassively and kicked one foot over the armrest.

"What you think you know of chairs proves your puny mind, you milk-dribbling sac stain.”

“Rather a puny mind than a puny dick,” I quipped.

I dared not lift my gaze from the little black flame I’d conjured in my palm. Didn’t flinch when Devil was suddenly in my face. I simply tilted back, brought my palm to my mouth, and blew.

The tiny black flame whipped its willowy fingers forth. Our black and white flames combined for a split moment, whipping and popping and snapping angrily. Then, the dumbfounded look on Devil’s face was alone, no flames in sight, as my void-gifted magic consumed his entirely.

It was a funny trick, the way I could feel the void, hungry for the magic of my enemies. Devil stumbled one step back, then another.

Chuckling, I sat forward, elbows on my knees. “Well, look at that. I wasn’t sure it would work, what with your great, magnificent power and all.”

“You’re making a huge mistake, making an enemy of me, child!”

I stood and clasped my hands behind my back. “I’m not surprised you’re thinking about mistakes right now.” I stroked the mana-eating dagger at my hip. “Can you think of any other mistakes, Devil?”

“Your mother’s when she didn’t fucking swallow you.”

I couldn’t help but laugh. I clapped once and took another step down the dais, my ego raging triumphantly when Devil stepped backward.

“Don’t pout. It’s not gone forever.” My cheeks burned, my grin baring teeth like a werefire-wolf stalking their full moon’s prey. “I’ve awaited this day too long to let it slip by so quickly. Let’s savor it, old pal.”

Devil regained composure. A flicker of magic flitted between the bones of his elaborate crown, returning more quickly than it had for anyone I’d practiced with.

One step down, one to go. I closed the distance between us.

“Poor little stray.” Devil sneered down his nose at me, evil lurking in those dark, flameless pupils. “Still looking for a home.”

Another hilarious joke. Laughing, I stepped close and spoke directly into Devil’s ear. “Oh, my home was right where I left it. In your daughter’s bed.”

Devil roared. I dodged the weak flame that swung for my gut, my laughter echoing through the empty dining hall.

I held out my hand, conjuring a whip of black flames, no hilten necessary. Devil’s magic raced back to him, popping like kernels until he was shrouded once more.

“We are so much more alike than you think,” Devil cooed. “Perhaps another mistake was not recognizing your potential sooner.”

I snapped my whip, but Devil parried with double-wielded swords.

“You would have been a formidable heir. Had I known the power you’d possess, I would’ve left that fool girl right where I’d found her.”

“Do not speak of her,” I ground out. “And do not think everyone wants your rings-cursed throne.”

Throwing my whip to catch Devil’s ankle, I yanked him to the ground. Devil sent a flurry of fireballs and shot to his feet.

“You both have too soft of hearts to bear the work I do for this realm.”

“Hah!” Laughter tore from my throat, sore as though I’d been eating coals all morning. “What work is that, exactly? Abducting humans to work in your labor mines?”

Devil’s shoulder lifted. “There’s more to it than you’d think.”

I spat on the floor, the heat in my bloodstream causing my saliva to sizzle on impact.

“What flame-fucking game are you playing here, child?” Devil shouted. His power was growing with time. It was time to stop toying with my prey. “Where is that fool daughter of mine?”

“Good question.”

I sent my flame whip to the ceiling. Latching onto a chandelier, I swung from it like a vine, dropping down behind Devil’s back. My whip then coiled around Devil, smashing his hands against his sides and circling his neck.

“Don’t worry,” I finished. I opened my mouth and conjured a flame atop my lower lip, then blew. “Don’t worry. She’s safe. She’s very excited to see you.”

Devil’s flames doused. His furious shouts were muffled by a void-black gag.

I bid my flames to wrap around the monstrous tyrant more and more, like the victim of a killer python. Bloodshot, flameless eyes full of fury and fear bulged from puffy red cheeks. It was a comical sight, to see a demon so mighty strung up this way. I doubled over in the kind of laughter that would make sane people cower.

“She’s going to love this.” But not yet. I grabbed Devil by one sable horn, drew the serrated knife from my belt, and began to saw. “You make a beautiful engagement gift.”

At his muffled rumbles, I was tempted to remove the gag. Nah. I rather preferred Devil helpless and voiceless like this, just as he’d forced Searra to feel for her whole life.

“You poor, pathetic thing,” I taunted in the same better-than-thou tone Devil liked to use. “I guess big, bad kings beg for their lives just like their subordinates, in the end.”

That pissed him off. I had to grab his other horn to hold him down.

“Stop wiggling, little puppy,” I said with a giddy chuckle. My knife broke through the other side and I tossed the severed horn into the air, catching it pointy side down. I promptly slammed it into Devil’s abdomen, cackling wildly at the way it sent him into convulsions.

“Don’t thrash, it makes you look weak,” I echoed his own words, straight into the evil fucker’s ear. As the shouts of pain died down to moans, I wrenched one wing free from the fire rope and squeezed the membrane with force.

“Mmm! Mnnm!”

I cupped my ear. “Sorry, I couldn’t hear you. Some weak ass bitch won’t stop crying.”

With a playful kick to the horn stuck in his side, I kicked the chairs out of the way and hopped onto the table in one eager leap.

Cutting through a demon’s wing was no easy task. I hadn’t known when it happened to me, whether it was truly tough to pierce or if Devil had been fucking with me.

“Well, you weren’t kidding. This is quite the task. What say we stop here and call it good?” I asked with a shrug, jiggling the mangled mess of Devil’s wing. Devil’s head lolled back, his eyes like smoke. “Nah. Might as well finish what I’ve started.”

The serrated knife slowly broke through, until all that remained was a stump with bloody branches. I took hold of Devil’s remaining horn and headed for the door, dragging him along like a hunting prize.

“Play time’s over. Time to see the queen.”