Regardless, I followed suit and brought the mug to my lips. He watched my swallow, his icy-blue irises shrewd and intent on my mouth.
“Yes, I imagine you could handle it on your own.” Lord Zebulon’s voice rumbled against my back, leaving me confused about what he meant. Then I realized the words were for Evangeline in response to her claim about exonerating me without help.
While I loved my best friend, I didn’t want to turn down more assistance. It was my life on the line, not hers.
“That said,” Lord Zebulon continued, “the timeline may prove burdensome. Especially if my demons fail to cooperate—a problem that won’t happen if I’m the one doing the interrogating.”
A flash of silky blonde hair taunted my vision, suggesting Eve had leaned forward. Then she whipped one of her silver knives from her boot and twirled it. “I have my methods.”
A strange rumble passed through my body that sounded oddly like a chuckle.
Not a chance in hell.
But when the Demonic Lord spoke again, there was an obvious hint of amusement in his tone. “Yes, you do. Is that your way of saying you don’t want my assistance? Because I’ll happily stand down, but then Guinevere won’t have an ally on her side at the trial.”
My blood ran cold at the implication.
Facing Ashmedai alone.
Oh, demons, no…I’d be forced to argue on my behalf from a position of supplication, and I doubted he would be able to hear me well with my face pressed to the ground.
At least with Lord Zebulon, he could face the archdemon and speak eloquently on my behalf.
But was it really fair of me to want him there? He was a Demonic Lord with ample duties and responsibilities that far exceeded the needs of one lone succubus.
I mean, what was I to him really? A burden, most likely. He’d already visited Ashmedai to argue on my behalf and to grant me a reprieve. If not for Lord Zebulon, I could have been destined for Hell today instead of twelve days from now.
But still, the idea of him walking away stung.
No. That wasn’t fair.
The Demonic Lord owed me nothing. Period. He’d already done more than enough for me. And it wasn’t his fault I craved more.
Lord Zebulon’s thumb brushed over my hip bone. Just a single, slow caress, one I felt between my legs more than I did my hip.Fuck. My thighs clenched, need pooling in my core from that single stroke alone.
Okay. Definitely need to feed,I decided.
Zane’s pupils dilated as he sensed my lust. Just one sex demon reacting to another, like I was a pheromone factory rather than a woman worthy of his affection. But as he’d repeatedly told me, demons like us didn’t do such human things likelove.
Silence stretched through the room. Was Eve trying to decide how to respond? Or was she waiting for me to say something?
I broke my gaze away from Zane and leaned so that I could see my best friend’s face.
She sat on the arm of the couch like she hadn’t a care in the world, twirling her knife as she studied us. Her gaze shifted from Lord Zebulon to me, her eyebrow lifting slightly, like she wanted me to say something.
“I…” I swallowed. “Lord Zebulon has done a lot already. I’ll understand if he needs to focus on other tasks.” I winced, the words not the ones I really wanted to say, and the way his grip tightened on my hip, they weren’t the right ones either. “But I would appreciate his help,” I added, my voice small.
I hated how young and insignificant I felt around him. Like a damsel in need of saving. Maybe that was true in this situation, but I wasn’tweak.
I lived with Gleason, for crying out loud.
And before that, Eve.
Both of them were warriors. I’d learned a lot from them over the decades, and could definitely defend myself. But not against an unknown enemy, which was where I stood now.
Fear prickled up my spine, and even the warmth of Lord Zebulon’s body couldn’t dispel the chill. My coffee was going cold in my hand, but I couldn’t seem to drink it.
Xai cleared his throat, his presence a darkness in the room that commanded attention. “It would be more prudent for us all to work together. As a team, we’ll resolve this in a matter of days, if not sooner.”
