Total pages in book: 116
Estimated words: 111353 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 557(@200wpm)___ 445(@250wpm)___ 371(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 111353 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 557(@200wpm)___ 445(@250wpm)___ 371(@300wpm)
“Gods,” Eris muttered. “Well, you’re fuck sure not lying about being a mortal—talking like that.”
“Of course she’s not lying.” Raven squeezed Charlotte’s shoulder. “She’s not because she knows exactly what would happen to her if she is. So, let’s focus on finding those hallows. My girls are talking to the Others’ Spawn as we speak,” Raven confessed. “They’re impressing on him just how wealthy we can make him if he shares what he knows with us and only us.”
“What was that about anyway?” Ursula snapped. “Why’d you fucking say the clues for anyone to hear? Why’d you lie about letting the Others in on it?”
“I didn’t lie about anything. Because I put everything I said in the mess hall in DeadDrop and posted it while Kama was feeling me up,” she dropped. “Everyone who didn’t know will now.”
“What!” Ursula shrieked. “Why’d the fuck did you do that!”
Charlotte laughed. Again, I heard its fakeness like a ringing gong. Her laugh—her real laugh—was nothing like that harsh, mocking sound. “Why do you think? I did it because we all know that even as we chat and laugh right now, you five are devising a way to steal my power, kill me, and keep it all for yourselves.
“But, lucky for me, there are more than a few species down here who want out of hell more than anyone’s ever wanted anything. They’re now highly invested in making sure that happens without power-hungry demons messing it up, so they’re now watching my back like the map to Atlantis is on it.” Charlotte tapped her ears. “The vampires especially will be listening real close, making sure no one’s plotting anything naughty.”
If I thought the look Kama and Ursula shared was displeased, it was nothing compared to the hateful scowls that were passed behind her back as the group headed into the Great Invasion lecture hall.
Even though she didn’t see their glares, Charlotte must’ve sensed them because she veered off and claimed a seat between two feline demons.
Raven and Sauda simply grabbed the demons by the collar, hauled them up, and tossed them away. That done, they plopped down next to her—taking out their textbooks and notebooks like nothing happened.
I went to the five of them asking for help to save Charlotte, but how could I know with one conversation, Raven would sink her hooks this deep into her? Deep enough to birth a new sixsome and a new sin.
They were sitting near the front, so I took a seat in the back. I had one eye on the hand Raven had hanging off Charlotte’s shoulder.
I scoffed. Raven probably told her the maze story, and spun some bullshit implying she was sad about being forced to kill her adopted sisters.
No doubt she left out the rest of the story. That Lord Zuriel actually adopted twenty-five young demon girls in the hopes of weeding out the most ruthless, and Raven murdered thirteen of them—unprompted and unprovoked—long before they were dropped in that maze.
I snapped my notebook out of the air, flipping open to the first page. Getting Charlotte away from the princesses would only happen if I won her back, and that flea-ridden mutt told me how.
Groveling 101
Step One: Gifts That She’ll Love & Shows You Care
I went up to Kazuya, Bruno, and Pravat after class let out. They snapped to attention like the sloth sluts they were.
“What’s up, boss? Did you change your mind?” Kazuya asked. “Now that the mortal bitch hates you, can we have her?”
“We’ve been dying to fuck her up since that wart-faced impostor rolled in here,” Bruno added. “Even better that she doesn’t want it. I love it when a filthy whore screams.”
Smiling, I clasped their shoulders. “’Fraid I’m not quite ready to give up on her yet. That’s why I’m here,” I heard myself say. “I need you three to help me get my future queen back.”
“Oh, cool.” Pravat shrugged. “So, same as last time? Putting on a show?”
I gestured for them to follow me. “I’ll show you what I have in mind.”
CHARLOTTE
“It’s not fair that your room is nicer than mine.” Ursula flopped on the bed, bold as she pleased. “Switch with me. Now.”
I rubbed my temples, eyeing the new additions to the room through my fingers. For reasons I didn’t have to guess, the princesses have been attached to me all day. I thought—hoped—they’d let up after dinner, but instead all five of them followed me right back to Ronin’s room and made themselves comfortable.
“It’s not my room,” I said. “And no.”
A knock sounded at the door. I went to answer it and found a large package with green wrapping paper and a purple bow waiting for me. Whoever delivered it was gone.
Bending down, I spotted the tag attached and flipped it over.
“From Ronin,” I read. “I choose you.”
“What’s that?” Ursula appeared over my shoulder, scaring the crap out of me. “Is it mine?”