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Fair point.
“What are we supposed to do until then?”
“Take your friend to a show,” the woman behind the desk said, her gaze locked on Hunter like she might cross the barrier and mount him there.
Hunter snorted. “I don’t think that’s really her speed.”
“Well, the ballroom is open. It’s early, so there isn’t much activity, but maybe that’s more her style.”
The way she saidstyleirked me, as if I couldn’t hang with them. I was tempted to tell her I’d escaped a man who wanted to use me as plant fertilizer, that I’d scared off those beasts that guarded the fields.
A sharp pain to my side had me turning to find that Hunter had pinched me to keep me quiet.
Probably for the best. No need to be advertising that I’d been a target, or they might decide to figure out why.
“Sounds good. I’ll just head in there,” Hunter said.
“Mella is serving,” the woman called as Hunter ushered me away. “And I’ll be off in a few hours if you want both of us to help you christen your room.”
I turned, ready to give that woman a piece of my mind—her sharp teeth and claws be damned—but Hunter pulled at me to keep me moving.
“I like your jealousy, shadow-girl, but maybe keep it in your pants?”
“Why? Because I’ll get my ass kicked by her?”
“Hardly. I wouldn’t let her lay a finger on you.” The declaration was oddly sweet. Sure, I didn’t want to be a damsel in distress, but the protective nature charmed me.
At least, until he added, “Because then I’d have to fight a shit load of people.”
“You like fighting,” I reminded him.
“I do, but see, I want to strip you down and enjoy every last inch of your sexy little body, and I’d really prefer not to have to waste energy on anyone else before then.”
His words seared me, made my breath short. I’d had sex with Kase and Troy not that long before, and yet I felt entirely up for his plan.
Then again, I usually felt up for whatever Hunter suggested. He was easy and safe in a strange way. He didn’t have that many hang-ups, didn’t want me to be anything I wasn’t. It was refreshing and relaxing and easy.
Theballroom was large and spacious, with a stage at the back, tables set in the middle and booths at the sides. The red flames flickered over chandeliers, casting the entire room in an orange glow. A few of the tables and booths were occupied, but most of the room was empty.
“I never figured there’d be ballrooms in hell.” I sat in the booth Hunter pushed me toward.
“Trust me,allmen knew there’d be ball dancing in hell,” Troy answered, his face pinched into tight lines. No doubt he was thinking back to some traumatic time he’d been forced into the activity by a woman.
“Hell is as boring a place as any. Worse, really, because there aren’t ever anybigchanges. In the living world, things move, they grow, the change. People have dying to look forward to. Here? It’s always status quo. Hell, especially the bottom level of it here, is like a prison, so it follows the rules and sticks with what works. Because of that, we make our own fun.”
“What were the shows she was talking about?”
“Oh, are you going to a show?” a new voice, sultry and smoky, asked.
I twisted to find another woman there, small black wings from her back, hooved feet and furred legs up to her thighs and hardly any fabric to cover up the rest of her. She had blonde hair and one hell of a smile for Hunter.
“Lucifer is holding more of them lately. He had an elder demon a week ago! Have you ever seen one of them?” She leaned in, setting a hand on the table and bending so her breasts became more of a centerpiece to the table.
“Yeah, I’ve seen one,” Hunter said with a soft laugh. “Last time he brought one of those, I backed the hell out of the competition.”
I sat straighter. “Backed out? Wait, youparticipatedin these things?”
Hunter turned his gaze to me. “Sure, shadow-girl. There isn’t a lot to do here, and whoever hosts the competition sets the prize. Lucifer usually just offers a favor, but a favor from him is worth it.” He chuckled. “Well, it is when the opponent isn’t an elder demon, at least. The second I heard he’d gathered up one of those, I withdrew.”
