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)
I jerked back, the corner of my lips dropping down. First mating rights? Fears and lies? “Wha... What are you—?”
“But if no is your answer, I will respect it.” He shocked me brushing a light, teasing finger across my trembling lips. “This will be the last time we speak, Charlie. It’s inevitable that you’ll be killed before our next conversation.”
My eyes popped—chill rippling down my spine. Ronin put me in my grave so soundly, I felt the Grim Reaper’s hand around my throat.
“When you’re gone,” he said, “I’ll look after your sister. Having Lucifer’s daughter pledge loyalty to House Belphe will be quite the upset.”
Anger lit in my chest. “Don’t you dare mess with—!”
“Mess with?” he broke in, frowning. “Oh no, that’s not a threat. It’s reassurance, Charlie. That I’ll take care of her and make sure Lucifer can’t use her for his own means after you’re gone.” Ronin glanced at her, before lingering on me. “I take care of everyone who’s loyal to me.”
“I—”
He turned away, leaving as suddenly as he came.
“This will be the last time we speak, Charlie. It’s inevitable that you’ll be killed before our next conversation.”
“Wait,” I blurted. “If... If I’m being misled about what the sub bond is, then you tell me. How does it work?”
Ronin took his hand off the knob. “It is a bond that can force you to obey me, but it’s not a permanent one. It must be entered into willingly, and it can be broken.”
I scoffed. “Yeah, the willingly entering and exiting isn’t the problem, Belphe. It’s all the forced obedience in between! Why can’t you just help me without the expectation of something in return?”
It was Ronin’s turn to scoff. “Is that what they do in your land of the living? No wonder the mortal realm’s going to the hellhounds.”
“You—!”
“Do you even realize what you’re asking of me?” Ronin was so calm and matter-of-fact. “Help you whenever you need it. Whenever you ask. This is your first trip to hell, mortal, but it’s not mine. At all hours of the day or night something or someone will be watching you, will be stalking you, and will be lying in wait for its chance to strike.
“The sub bond binds you to me. It makes you a part of me,” he said. “So much so that no matter where in all the realms I am, I’ll be alerted if you’re in danger. Without it, the only way I can keep my promise to you is to become your shadow. I’d have to follow you around everywhere you go and be at your constant beck and call.” His eyes narrowed to slits. “Now who’s looking for a slave.”
I reeled back like he slapped me, eyes blowing wide. And in the shock... shame slipped in. “I...” I swallowed hard. “You’re right,” I whispered. “You’re absolutely right, Ronin, and I apologize. I am the one sitting over here asking you to become my personal bodyguard even though I can’t pay or offer you anything in return for the risk. That was really shitty and entitled of me, and I’m sorry.”
His eyes narrowed to slits. “What is this? What are you doing right now?”
“It’s called taking responsibility for my actions, acknowledging that I was wrong, and apologizing.”
“Well, it’s disgusting,” he snapped. “Cut it out.”
My hand flew to my mouth, smothering a giggle before it came out. I knew plenty of guys who were allergic to accountability, but never had a guy reacted to my sorry like I barfed it up on the carpet.
Ronin flew forward and grasped my hand, pulling it away from my mouth.
“What is it?” I cried, startled. “Do I have something on my face?”
He stared intently at my mouth, frowning—then he dropped my hand. “No, you do not.”
For the life of me, I couldn’t understand why he sounded angry.
“So your answer is no?” he asked, backing away.
I nodded. “It’s no. We’re both asking too much of each other, so, let’s stop. You don’t have to protect me, and I won’t bond with you.” The words fell from my lips unbidden. “But maybe we could, you know, be friendly with each other from here on out?”
Ronin scoffed, turning on his heels and leaving in a cloud of mint and cloves. “You and your made-up words.”
He slammed the door shut on my sigh. “I’ll take that as a no.”
“YES!” I SCREAMED INTO the phone, blood swallowing my vision. “Yes! My answer is yes!”
His long, sharp teeth shredded my underwear.
“Stop it! Get off!”
Dora’s screams battered my eardrums.
“Ronin, help me! Oh, gods, please, help me!”
Something hard and wet pressed against my entrance.
“HELP!”
An Hour Before
I KEPT A TIGHT GRIP on Dora’s wrist, keeping her close to me. That day, Stop Being Pussies was being held in the dungeon library. Before shoving us inside and locking the doors behind him, he told us that he captured and released a shade in the library, and it was up to us to find and kill the creature.