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

41

Searra

I didn’t sleep well that night. No matter how tightly I clung to Ash’ren’s strength, how sweetly he soothed my insecurities from the inside out, how firmly we held one another with his knot locking us close.

A stronger woman would execute Devil. A stronger queen would recognize the threat. I was no queen. I was no princess. I certainly wasn’t strong. I was simply convenient. Weak. Soft-hearted.

“Let’s stay in bed,” I mumbled against Ash’ren’s chest as the first light of dawn pierced our safe little bubble. “Hell can rule itself for one day.”

“Mmm,” he murmured agreeably. “To Hell with all of them.”

“To Hell indeed.”

We did not move. I dared not even twitch.

There was a knock on the door. Fara’s voice called out in a hushed tone. “Your Majesties, the representative from Fyre has arrived.”

“Filly may stay in the fanciest guest suite, Fara, thank you.”

“Very well.” A brief silence. “Would you take breakfast in your rooms this morning?”

I sighed. “I’d better take it in the hall.”

“A strong front is wise.”

I grunted. Fara’s light footsteps disappeared. I finally leaned onto my elbow. Ash’ren objected by snatching my wrist. He slammed my thighs to either side of his body and rubbed his erection through my bare pussy. I moaned and fisted the fabric around his pillow.

“Once more,” I conceded.

“As many times as it takes,” he corrected, nuzzling the upper swell of my breast. “Until you see how worthy you are.”

“Worthy to you and worthy to rule aren’t the same thing.”

Ash’ren chomped a hunk of my boob, with teeth. I yelped, but he was already soothing the skin with his tongue. He pressed sweet kisses to both my nipples, leaving them cold and tingling when he continued down, between my cleavage.

“You’re worthy of all of it. It’s being gifted to you—by the universe, by the void, whatever—because it’s rightfully yours.” His trail of kisses reached my navel. He kissed the roundest parts of my belly, diverting to my hips. “The power to own it already lies inside you.”

“How do you know?” I huffed. A corner of the silk sheet snagged on his corkscrew horn. When he looked at me from between my legs, it shimmered behind him like the magic of a prophecy.

“I’ve known this forever. You’re the one just now catching up.”

Before I could protest, his sinful tongue teased my seam. After a few licks in, I lost my breath, let alone the courage to argue. Instead of clinging to my dissent, I clung to his horn while he drew me closer and closer to an orgasm.

“Now let me hear you claim it.”

“Claim what?” I grumbled, trying to force his head back to my sex.

“Say, I’m worthy,” he paused to lick, “and lovable,” another lick, “and deserving.”

“Ash!” He hummed disappointedly, sending a quake through my thighs. “I’m not a flaming ever-ice cone.”

He ignored me and went back to his slow licking, letting his long, forked tongue slip into my pussy enough to tease without doing the real damage I needed it to.

“Fine.” I huffed, but he fucked his tongue inside me with fervor, so my petty huff morphed into a breathy moan. “I’m worthy, lovable, and deserving.”

Ash’ren groaned. He added a finger to the fray, curling it inside as his mouth found my swollen pearl. “Again.”

“I’m worthy—ooh—a-and lova—ahhh—lovable, and deserving!”

He coaxed my orgasm straight into his mouth, sucking and slurping as I thrashed, the words echoing through my head.

∞∞∞

Once breakfast was served and eaten, I ordered all the nobles to clear the room except for the pentagilaire. Ash’ren had a duty to the labor rings that was best fulfilled early and would join later.

The working class made up most of Hell’s population, while the wealthy could easily sit in the great hall with elbow room. Unfortunately, these were the ones with the access and power to free my father and sway others to follow him again. The thought reminded me of my weakness, locked away in that tower.

I am worthy, lovable, and deserving .

“I’m sure you all have questions. There have been secrets kept from you all, though I’m sure you’ve had your suspicions.”

Some whispers broke out before I beckoned for silence.

“Devil has held this nation hostage for far too long. It’s time the people were given a voice.”

This time, whispers were the least of the problems. Someone slammed their fist. Others rose from their chairs.

“Where the fuck is our rightful fucking monarch?” someone shouted when silence finally fell. “What have you done with the Bone-Blessed Majesty, King Devil of Hell?”

Heat engulfed me. For a brief second, I glanced around to see who was casting their flames at their queen, until I realized it came from within. I clutched my anxious hands behind my back and cleared my throat.

“Sit down and be quiet,” I snapped. “I am queen regent, and you will have your answers once you all learn to behave with civility.”

To my surprise, the brewing mob simmered. Kind of. I took another steeling breath.

“Three-quarters of Hell are barely inhabitable labor camps with deadly conditions. The reasons for this are based on lies and greed. It’s time for a change.” The room began to revolt. I rushed to get another sentence or two out before I lost them.

“You cannot strip our authority!”

“You’re speaking of treason!”

“This is a mutiny!”

“Devil will hear none of this!”

I held up my hand, but the room did not go quiet. I shouted over the din, “Devil has no sway here. It is up to you—”

Fire. Smoke. It leaked from the petulant rich folks. I stumbled backward up the dais and ducked behind the Bone Throne.

Then silence, and the scent of ash. I peered around the throne as Ash’ren stalked in, magic blazing.

“Perfect timing, my love,” I said under my breath.

By the time I felt safe enough to step around my throne, half the pentagilaire were tied to their seats with whip-like strands of black fire. I wiped my hands on my skirts and approached the head of the table. Surveying those not tied up, it was a pleasant surprise to see a few strangely proud faces looking back at me.

Some were familiar as the small handful of nobles who’d supported me in secret, either through reallocating funds or allowing Filaris to ship supplies to their homes to avoid suspicious mail activity elsewhere in the rings. Those nobles, I had vetted with Filaris, who had an uncanny knack for the worthiness of rich people.

“I aspire to bring our people together. To make Hell a strong, thriving community that betters the land around it. We have the largest number of bones of the Forgotten One in Fyre, and we horde it to ourselves. Oh! We’ve recently discovered another material with the potential to—well, I’m getting ahead of myself.”

“What is it?” a six-horned demon with black ribbons covering their torso hissed. “Where did you find it?”

My brows shot up. I rounded the demon’s chair and patted them on the head like a misbehaving puppy. “Oh, I’m sure you’d like to know, huh?”

“Your little arrangement with Devil’s death hound will not last, child—oh!”

The noble’s voice cut off with a shout as one of Ash’ren’s men tipped the chair back. They carted the rich asshole straight out the door.

“My father allowed you all to do whatever the fuck you wanted, so long as you didn’t question him. That status quo ends now.” I didn’t raise my voice. I found I didn’t have to.

Spotting an empty chair, I sat between two wide-eyed demons. I leaned forward onto my elbows. “Don’t expect me to coddle your wealth. Do expect me to consider your views. Don’t expect me to burst you into flames for speaking out of turn. Do expect your business and financial decisions to be monitored. Oh, also, do expect my new pentagilaire to have members from every walk of society. My goal is equality in Hell! Who the Hell is with me?! Equality in Hell!”

My monologue ended in excitement but was met with stunned silence. I’d worked myself into a frenzy and had no clue when I’d stood, nor when I’d picked up a spoon and started twirling it in the direction of the stunned faces before me.

“Oops,” I whispered as I realized I’d flung whatever had been on the spoon all over the noble to my right. I cringed and dabbed at the squishy substance, which looked like banana pudding.

“I’ve thrown a lot at you, I know,” I started, cringing at the person I’d literally thrown pudding at. “I have one more surprise.”

I nodded at the guard posted at one of the many innocuous doors used by servants. It opened, and for a long moment, nothing happened. I sent the nobles a reassuring smile that stretched too wide and rang fake in my muscles.

Then, they began to filter in.

New members, all from the outer rings.

I noticed Tayman’s feet were bare of wrappings, his recently calloused skin looking comfortable in the fashionable footwear from Fyre. The former brothel worker walked with the same pride as when I’d first met him in the healing tents, ranting about the lack of respect in the skin districts of Ring Six.

They were all magnificent and so, so brave. Worthy, deserving, and lovable, every single one of them.

“Please, take a seat anywhere!” To the rest of the table, I exclaimed, “Meet our pentagilaire’s newest nobles. Nielara, Lordess of Welfare. Jadan, Lord of Industry. And Tayman, our new Lord of Six and Propriety.”

“Where is Lord Chakram?” a breathy voice interrupted. I looked to see Pyrona, the estranged daughter of Fervis, Lord of Five. Former Lord of Five, that was, for Pyrona currently sat in his seat.

“Not here,” I replied firmly. I wanted to say don’t worry, he’ll never hurt you again , but I kept that part of our conversation quiet and hoped my eyes could relay that message well enough. They seemed to, for Pyrona settled into the seat with more poise, her ashen high ponytail as straight as her posture.

“Where is Chakram?” asked Infernia, lordess of the merchant ring. I had always admired Infernia, and the way she helped the less fortunate with her savvy business choices. She appeared more bored and curious than anything, but as the only woman on Devil’s Pentagilaire, she undoubtedly knew of Chakram’s gross tendencies.

“Chakram has ever-so-sweetly stepped down,” I announced with all the cheer I truly felt on the matter.

Infernia snorted. “How very kind of him.”

“Right?!” I clapped my hands. “Now, to business. What a gorgeous table we have here! I hereby call this meeting of the pentagilaire to…erm…”

“To court,” Infernia supplied.

“Right.” I stayed in the seat at the table, casting one glance at the Bone Throne and deciding Hell no . “Let’s get courting!”

“Not without me, you don’t.” The voice of a strategist. The voice of my favorite ex-suitor.

“Filly!” Unceremoniously, I rose from my chair and flung my arms around the wise older woman. Filaris stiffened before patting my back. “It’s so good to see you again.”

“And you, Your Bone-Blessed Majesty,” Filaris spoke with a teasing lilt and laughed when I gave her a curled-lip sneer. “Sorry, dear, I couldn’t resist.”

“So I’m not the only promise-breaker, eh?” I jabbed her rib with my elbow. It felt like ages had passed since Filaris vowed never to refer to me by the title. The promise I had broken was a much bigger deal. “What? Now you aren’t allowed to be mad. That’s how this works.”

Filaris quirked a brow before smiling a genuine smile. “Well, it’s good to see you’ve got your shine back.” she gestured to the table. “Now, could we get to business?”