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“What are you talking about?”

Her black gaze hardened. “What do you think, drudge?” Her smile turned feral. “We’re going home, you and I.” His heart smacked against his ribs. “It’s where we belong. It’s time I took my rightful place on the throne.”

“How?”

She smiled triumphantly. “My powers have grown, and it won’t be long until they’re even stronger than they were before, stronger than even Diemos. I’m already almost back to the way I was before we were forced to leave our home.” Excitement made her breathing quicken. “I was able to reach out to Amen and a few other weak-minded demons. Don’t you see? I can turn them against Diemos. There isn’t a thing he can do to stop me.”

“You said you weren’t controlling them.”

“I’m not. They do my bidding willingly. They do as they’re told because it pleases me and nothing more.”

More like she made them promises she wouldn’t be able to keep.

If she wasn’t controlling them, who was? The demon that climbed the compound wall, the ones that attacked them at the cemetery, they hadn’t fought willingly. Their eyes had been glazed, no one home, nothing but mindless puppets. Not like the assholes that attacked Mia. They’d been fully alert and had only one target in mind.

He tightened his grip on her throat. “Why are you going after demi-demons?”

At this point she was humoring him. She could easily overpower him if she chose to. “Is that what has you so angry, pet? Is it because I sent them after that female? Don’t tell me you were stupid enough to develop feelings for her?”

“No,” he said quickly, too quickly.

She moved fast. Her long fingers wrapped around his wrist, gripping tight. “You are mine, Zenon. Nothing will ever change that. I knew who that female was before you even laid eyes on her. I could feel it the moment you sensed her for the first time, and I know she’s the reason you stayed away, why you’re here now.”

She reached up with her other hand and pressed it against his chest. He knew what was coming and was helpless to stop it. A jolt so strong he felt it in the marrow of his bones blasted him back, knocking him on his ass. His back bowed and he convulsed repeatedly on the floor, like he’d sunk his teeth into a thousand volts and couldn’t let go.

It didn’t stop, grew more intense, and at this point he was just thankful he didn’t shit himself, though he wasn’t ruling out puking all over the rug.

When the convulsions subsided, she knelt down beside him, her face a twisted mask. Rage and something else, something that was raw and ugly distorted her perfect features. She leaned in and pressed her lips against his ear. “You can’t have her.”

Zenon shoved back, pushed himself up, and staggered to his feet. “If you hurt her, I will find a way to kill you.”

She sucked in a breath. “I know you don’t believe this, Zenon, but I have feelings for you. I care for you a great deal.”

Once he’d craved that from her. Had longed for any scrap of affection she might give him. He’d gotten nothing but pain for his misguided feelings. She’d relished the way he’d worshipped her, and used it against him when he would have done anything for her.

He wasn’t young and naive, hadn’t been for a long time. She couldn’t manipulate his feelings anymore.

He curled his lip in disgust. “I have feelings for you, too. The first that come to mind are hate and repulsion.”

She flinched then reached for him, and when he stepped back her eyes flashed. All sign of emotion wiped clean from her porcelain smooth skin. “Fortunately, your feelings don’t come into this. My mark is on you, which means you belong to me. You will go back with me when the time comes and you will do it without making a fuss. If you resist in this, I will kill her, and she will suffer first.”

Every nerve ending in his body sparked, shooting inward, nailing him behind the ribs, shredding his pounding heart. He would never allow her to hurt Mia. Which meant his time on Earth was over. He was going back. And not even Silas could stop it.

For the time being, Helena couldn’t touch her, not while she was at the compound. Now he knew where the threat lay, she wouldn’t be leaving. He was shackled to this monster, but he refused to let this sick, twisted bitch anywhere near Mia. He had no choice, no options.

The only way to ensure Mia’s safety permanently was for Helena to go back to Hell, and the only way she’d go was if he said he’d go with her.

His blood turned to ice and he was close to throwing up at the evil bitch’s feet. The idea of going back to that living hell nearly broke him right there. But he’d do it, if that would save Mia.

He’d suffer a million lifetimes of pain and humiliation to make sure Mia was never touched by this kind of evil, to know that she was happy and safe and free. He could handle anything as long as he knew that.

“I need your vow,” she said.

A boulder sat in the pit of his stomach. “I’ll go.” His voice was raw and broken, which was exactly how he felt inside.

She smiled, all cat-that-got-the-cream, and stepped closer. Her smile morphed into a sneer as she reached up and fisted the hair at the base of his skull. “Good boy. Now get on your fucking knees.”

Zenon went down without protest. He felt oddly detached as she slid the straps of her dress from her shoulders, letting it pool at her feet. He was a slave. He was born a slave and he would die a slave. That was all he had ever been, all he would ever be.

She sat back on a chair and spread her thighs. He didn’t wait to be told and walked on his knees toward her. He felt nothing, was dead inside. He didn’t resist as she forced his head down, didn’t flinch as she tugged and pulled on his hair. No, he did the only thing he was good for, the only thing he would ever be good for.

He serviced his mistress.