His Little Devil (Alistar Academy #2)

Chapter 6

CHAPTER SIX

SILVER

“ W hat is the point of magic, if you can’t just conjure all the shit for the wedding?” I grumble to Luke and he laughs, then kisses my forehead and leaves me with Merida. We have been planning for two days now, and I’m over this shit.

“Mistress, we are almost done. We just need to know what flowers you want, then some cake testing, and that’s it. Your servant, Layna, and I can handle the rest. I know this is overwhelming, but Luke also told me that you liked to bake, so I was thinking once we know what flavor cakes you want, we could make them.”

Oh, that’s got my attention. I give her a smile and she winces. I don’t think she’s used to people, let alone royalty, treating her with respect. I saw the way Thimon yelled at her yesterday, and I almost sliced his throat.

I may not be the same as before, but even I know that Merida is completely harmless. She didn’t deserve to be treated like that.

I complained to Luke, but all he did was call me adorable and kiss me until I forgot what I was complaining about.

“So, what flavor are you thinking?” she asks me again and I sigh.

“What does Luke like?”

“Oh, Master won’t care. He just wants to make your every wish and dream come true,” she says with a blush and I smile. It’s true, he’s been doting on me, spoiling me since I told him yes.

“Lemon crumble, and something with dark chocolate,” I finally decide and she nods, jotting it down on her piece of paper.

“Okay, now flowers, and then we can start baking.”

Closing my eyes, I try to picture my mom’s favorite flowers, but I’m not seeing them. I know they were a light purple color and smelled like heaven. My chest aches, and I gently massage it.

“I’m not sure about the flowers, just don’t do roses. I think I’m going to take a nap before we start baking,” I say, then stand up and leave the room.

Kane is waiting for me in the hall to escort me back to the bedroom and he gives me a wink.

“You don’t have to stalk me. You’re welcome to sit with me and help us plan the coronation,” I say, and he shudders, then runs his fingers through his wavy dark hair.

“No, love, I don’t do planning, or chores, so that sounds awful, and I’m not stalking… much,” he says with a laugh, and I roll my eyes.

“Where’s Luke?” I ask him, and he groans.

“Doing what I despise,” he grumbles, and I laugh. “He’s in a meeting with your old coven, finalizing some of the Council's orders. Being the Devil is busy work, so no, thank you. I'd much rather hang out with you.”

“Well, I’m afraid that I’m rather boring. I was planning to take a nap, but you’re welcome to come watch some TV or a movie with me until I fall asleep,” I offer, and he stops.

“Don’t ever change, Silver. I know that you had to make a sacrifice and your soul is now shadowed with darkness, but don’t let it consume you. It’s a miserable existence.”

My mouth opens and closes twice before I finally find my voice. “What do you mean by shadowed? Isn’t my soul gone? Luke told me that I would accept evil into my heart and soul.”

Shaking his head, he continues walking. “Come, love, and I will give you a history lesson as you introduce me to trash TV.”

KANE

What is he fucking telling her? How could he lie about something this crucial? Yes, she gave up a part of her soul as was prophesied, but as long as she doesn’t let evil completely consume her, she will retain a little of her humanity.

When we enter Luke’s bedchambers, I don’t hesitate to hop right on top of the bed and make myself comfortable.

Silver pauses, then joins me after removing her shoes. She's in a ridiculous lingerie set, made of silk and feathers.

Still looks beautiful, but Luke is insane keeping her dressed like some hooker Barbie all the time.

Sighing she rubs her feet with her hand.

“I hate these heels. I'm starting to get used to being half naked, but the shoes can go,” she complains, then settles into her spot next to me.

Spotting the leather-bound journal on the nightstand, I can't help but ask her.

“So, how far did you get into Elena’s second journal?” I ask once she turns the TV on and is skipping through things to watch. Her head snaps to face me, and she looks confused.

“How do you know about my great-great grandmother?” I give her a smile, then laugh.

“I have been alive a long time, love. I knew Elena, same as Luke. I attended Alistar Academy back then as well. Plus, your fiance has had access to her journals for years. He only gave them to Alara when you came to school.”

Biting her lip, she’s quiet for a moment. Deep in thought. Sighing, she nods.

“That makes sense, and to answer your question… no, I haven’t had time to read it. I think I left it at Luke’s house back on Earth.” I purse my lips at that, then groan.

“He’s going to rip me a new asshole for this,” I mumble, then roll to the side of the bed where Luke’s nightstand table is. Opening the drawer, I pull out the bundle of journals and hand Silver the one she needs.

“Luke keeps them this close to him? Did he—I mean, did…” she trails off again, and I can only guess what she’s asking.

Her skin pales, and she looks like she may be sick. “Elena and Luke never fucked. Back then it was unheard of, and I think the most scandalous thing that they ever did was hold hands, or possibly kiss,” I reassure her.

“Thank God. That would have just been too weird,” she mutters, then opens the journal, scanning it.

“Do you want me to leave so you can read?” I ask and she shakes her head.

“I really was serious about needing a nap. Let’s watch this.” She clicks on some American movie about a coven of male warlocks and I snort.

“Have you practiced your magic yet?” I ask after a few minutes. I know Luke and Merida are keeping her busy with wedding plans, but surely she should start lessons soon.

“No, and if I’m being honest, I don’t want to. The last time I did, a lot of people were knocked unconscious.”

“What do you mean?”

“The night I was kidnapped, the first time, I woke up in the middle of some chanting circle. I felt like I was on fire, and then I was so angry, and I think I exploded… magically, obviously. Everyone in the circle was thrown, and at first, I thought that I had killed them.”

She shrugs and closes her eyes. “I know that my soul is tainted, but I still don’t want to murder someone.”

I don’t know what to say. I’m in fact speechless. I have never heard of someone having that much power, especially considering all the people that are in her coven. Climbing off the bed, I hold out my hand to her.

“Where are we going?” she asks before accepting. I shoot her a wink and tug her toward the door.

“I think it’s time I introduce you to my favorite place in Hell. Don’t worry, you can nap after.”

When I open the door, Thimon is there, and he looks like someone shoved a lemon up his ass. His lips are pursed and everything. I slap him on the back not so gently and continue on my way to the gardens.

“I’ve never been this way,” Silver mutters, and I smile.

“Well then, Madam, let me be your tour guide. I know that Luke can get busy at times.”

I give her palm a quick squeeze, and ignore the taste of lust I get from her. I lead her down a few halls and past the pool. Her eyes widen at that, and I make a mental note to tell Luke.

When we step outside she gasps. “How is this even possible?” I lead her down the stone steps into my paradise.

Fire and brimstone surrounds us, but in the middle, behind the castle, is a small greenhouse full of flowers and plants that can survive in fire and unnaturally hot temperatures.

“Hell can be scary, don't get me wrong, but there is also beauty beneath all the ash.”

“Like a phoenix,” she comments, and I nod. Bending down, I pick one of the large orange-red flowers and hand it to her.

She smiles and smells it. “This is beautiful. Maybe we should have these for the ceremony. What’s it called?”

Looking up at me, I have to take a breath. With the firescape behind us, her pale skin shines and her silver eyes gleam.

She’s truly beautiful.

“It’s a Fire Lily. If you venture closer to the volcano, you can find blue and purple ones.” Her eyes brighten and she nods.

“Thank you for showing me this place, Kane. I hope one day to return to Earth, but knowing that there is some place around here that isn’t all death and destruction gives me comfort.”

She turns to go back inside, and I can’t blame her. Sometimes the smog in the air can make it hard to breathe.

“Before you go back to your nap, can I take you to one more place?” I ask as soon as I’m back inside, and I've shut the doors.

“Sure. It’s not like I’m on a timed schedule or anything. Honestly, I’ve been fucking bored.”

“Yeah, I understand that. Hopefully, once you're wedded and coronated, Luke will return to the Academy, and you can go with him. I know he only took a leave of absence.”

“Ugh, I hope so. I never thought I would miss mean bitches and assignments.”

She has such a sour expression on her face that I can’t fight my laughter. Glaring at me, she places her hands on her hips.

“I’m sorry. Let’s go,” I say, then take her hand again. I don’t think I will ever tire of her touch.

I lead her into another room that I spend a lot of time in, and she snorts when she sees it’s basically a man cave.

“Grab some snacks and then we can continue that god-awful movie,” I say with a shudder, and she laughs.

“The Covenant is not an awful movie, and where am I supposed to get my knowledge in the occult from?”

I stare at her for a moment and blink, then wave my hands around the castle. “We are in Hell! Have you not been to the library? It’s overrun with family grimoires and spell books.”

“No, I’ve seriously only been to the bedroom and dining room. Thimon doesn’t let me explore.”

Rolling my eyes, I walk over to the pantry that's stuffed with sugary, high-fat snacks and hand some of them to her, then start walking back to the bedroom.

“Well, tomorrow, love, it looks like we have a date with some old, dusty books.”

“Kane this is incredible,” Silver gasps as I unlock the library doors. Wiping the blood off on my pant leg, I hold the door open for her to go first before following her inside.

Sconces cover all the walls, and it looks like Luke was in here recently. There is a stack of books next to his favorite armchair, that rests in front of the fire.

Silver steps over to one of the shelves, and I have to smile as she squeals after opening one of the tomes.

“Careful, love, this is Hell,” I remind her as she steps too close to the Book of Horrors.

“That's horrifying, Kane,” she mumbles before wiping off the saliva on her dress.

After showing up to meet me in another set of lingerie, this one a god awful hot pink, I conjured her up some real clothes.

The hug she gave me after made Luke's wrath worth it.

I don't understand him, and I'm a sex demon. If Silver was my bride, I wouldn't want all the demons and guards seeing her in a state of undress.

“Yeah, let's avoid that shelf for now. Come with me.” Offering my hand, I wait until her palm touches mine, then lead her to my favorite part of this place.

Opening a side door, I take her into the potion chamber.

If I thought her eyes were wide in the garden, they are huge now.

Shaking her head, she laughs. “I still can't believe all this magic shit is real.”

“Just wait.”

With a snap of my fingers all the lights turn out, and the room is lit with candles.

Moving toward the bench that holds a huge book of potions, I grab some ingredients for a simple spell.

Silver watches me as I grind up some eye of newt in a pestle, then pour it into a small cauldron that's already bubbling with just regular water.

“Will you grab the Blinkroot, and Daybloom for me please?” I ask her, then point to a shelf behind her.

“Please tell me they are labeled,” she mumbles under her breath, and I laugh, shaking my head.

Silver returns with what I need, and I hand her a black Raven's feather.

“So what's next?”

“Take a pinch of the Blinkroot and pop it in my handy dandy cauldron here. Then add a few drops of Daybloom and stir.”

Silver carefully adds the ingredients, going as slow as molasses.

“They won't explode,” I mutter and she jumps, splashing some Daybloom on the desk.

“Sorry, this is all so new to me,” she complains, placing the ingredients back onto the desk and grabbing the giant spoon. I take her hand helping her stir.

Moving closer to her, my chest is now against her back and I relish in how she relaxes against me.

Luke better watch out, or I may try to steal his bride from him.

Lifting the feather, I place it into the cauldron.

Swirls of colors fill the liquid and Silver gasps.

“That’s amazing.”

Stepping back from her, I move to the side, taking her hand.

“Close your eyes and repeat after me. Magicum violeta.”

“Magicum violeta,” Silver whispers with awe.

“Open your eyes,” I say, leaning in to speak into her ear, softly.”

The black feather now floats above the liquid a gorgeous shade of purple.

Silver reaches out her hand, but stops.

“It's completely safe.”

Taking it from the air, she smiles and turns to me.

“I know spells and living in Hell can be daunting, but magic is all about balance. Good and evil. It's what you choose to make it, love. Don't count yourself out on being a witch just yet. There are countless things I can teach you.”

Sighing, she boops me on the nose with the tip of the feather and laughs.

She thinks her soul is dark, but she's wrong. It's shadowed, but the light is fighting to break through.

I just hope Luke doesn't destroy the good in her completely.