Page 23 of Trust the Fall

River’s eyes narrow but he doesn’t press, moving on to the next pair. “And them?”

“Abdiel found those two lurking around the manor. I’ve brought them in so that you can all witness their questioning. Meet Curtis Bishop and Sarah Foster.”

The vampire brothers share a look of confusion at the mention of the other two’s names.

“Who is she?” Sarah Foster has the nerve to ask, tilting her head in my direction.

She’s not quaking in fear at the demons in front of her. If anything, she appears detached from the entire situation.

“That, my dear Sarah, is the woman who has brought Satan to his knees.”

Her head snaps back to mine, eyes now wide.

“Quite a letdown, isn’t it?” Lilith sneers from the doorway.

“Indeed,” Nolda continues.

I don’t pay them any attention. I’ve already had my fun with Lilith. Now, I’m over her existence.

The demon Abdiel rises from his perch, slinking my way. Cold creeps into my bones, deeper than anything I felt when first waking in this hellscape, getting stronger the closer he gets.

“She is the fallen angel Satan has sworn to give up everything for?”

The deep timbre rattles my senses as it washes over me. This demon is the worst of the worst. He’s evil incarnate.

How did Luke manage to keep these creatures at bay?

“He feeds me souls of the corrupted,” he wheezes, bearing down over me.

“You’re reading my mind?” I seethe. “You’re lucky I don’t have Solis with me. You’d be a goner.”

He laughs. “You can try, little angel.”

“I’d be careful if I were you,” River warns. “She’s very touchy about the whole mind intrusion thing you all do around here.”

Nolda flicks his wrist at River as if to shoo him away.

“Nolda, you didn’t ask my queen to come all of this way just to parade half-naked women and Hell’s lackeys in front of her. So why am I here?” River barks, not at all bothered by the evil in this room.

If anything, he seems a little too comfortable for my liking.

My cheeks heat as all eyes in the room glide over me due to his mention of my lack of dress. I try my best to turn my body to shield as much as possible from the prying eyes of the grotesque demons, but it’s no use. The women behind me yank on the chains binding my hands and legs, pulling me taut. My ample breasts strain against the thin material, and at any moment, I fear a nipple slip may occur.

“Patience, River. We will dine. Then I will lay it all out.”

“This has been a mistake,” the severe-looking blond man chides. “You allowed us entry. I simply wish to use the portal to the Fae kingdom and then I’ll be gone. A vampire war is brewing, and we’re attempting to stop it.”

Nolda slams his hands down onto the chair. A cracking sound emanates through the room, drawing all eyes to him.

“There are multiple wars brewing, Lawrence. Wars that we”—Nolda motions toward the other high demons—“welcome.”

“I’ll never allow it,” Julian bites through his teeth.

“Vampire royalty won’t stop Earth from falling, Crown.” Nolda spits the last word as an obvious insult.

Vampire royalty. This is the king of vampires?

I’ve heard of him, but this is the first time I’ve seen him. We’ve been in the same state since I’ve fallen, but we’ve never crossed paths. There was never a reason. In a strange way, we were allies.