by Thomas Green
He grunted, trying to clear his throat. “What are you… doing?”
She threw him a pleasant smile. “I’m trying to cook a meal. Since I have to eat raw, I’ve never done it, but I think it will be fine.”
He glared at her. “You should be with Miranda.”
“She’s sleeping after she spent the entire day scolding me.” Luna shook her head, her eyes glazed. “I’m the first person to see you like this, aren’t I?”
“Perhaps.”
“Not even a blush.” She chuckled. “So, how do you tell meat is cooked?”
“If it’s black, it’s burnt.”
She withdrew the spear and examined the meat. “The dinner’s ready.” She rose and entered the cave, sat behind him and dragged him up so he would lean onto her body.
Lucas was too weak to resist.
With a satisfied smile, Luna tore off a piece of the meat with her hand and aimed at his mouth. After a moment of glaring, Lucas accepted and chewed the meat. It was burnt and tasteless as she used no spice. He chewed and swallowed, dismissing the hundreds of mean remarks that crawled into his mind.
She offered him another piece. “You’ve probably guessed it already, but I want something.”
No surprises there. He arched an eyebrow, chewing.
“I want you to let Kayleanne live.”
He swallowed. “Why?”
“Because looking at you and her, I feel like I’m looking at James and myself. The living legend and his talentless apprentice. And I can’t bear the thought of watching her die.”
Lucas sighed. “Don’t think I can do that.”
“Why not?”
“Because I cannot free my wife from her prison for as long as any demon prince is alive.”
She smiled, unfazed. “And? Find some other way to free her.”
“There’s none.”
“Then you haven’t looked hard enough.” She kept his glare, not wincing while she fed him another piece of meat. “Or you can find a new wife.”
“I don’t want anyone else.”
“Don’t you?” Her face twisted into a wicked grin. “Because I’ve been having the feeling you’ve got a mighty crush on Kayleanne.”
Lucas kept his face emotionless. “Horseshit.”
“I don’t think so. Yes, you would never start a relationship with her because she’s your apprentice, but that doesn’t change how you feel about her.” She reached for a jug of wine to pour it into his mouth. “Because let’s face it, you don’t care the tiniest bit about Zoey. To save her was a convenient excuse not to have to go kill Kayleanne. Same as when you made the truce with her and traded her the orb for me. That’s three times you chose the path where she had the smallest chance of dying.”
Lucas raised his chin. “Perhaps.”
“In fact, I think the entire reason why you’ve been so kind to me is that you see her in me.”
Lucas sighed. “I will think about it.”
THE END
Join my mailing list and get a copy of the mailing-list-exclusive novelette — Crimson Cobra — for free: https://dl.bookfunnel.com/g5ve3rbyii
If you liked Daughter of Hell, please post a review at Amazon (https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07H7XVXW6), and let your friends know about the series.
The next book in the series – Goddess of Lies - can be found here: I will update this when it’s live, sorry
To my most beloved wife and my most favorite brother.
To my least beloved wife and my least favorite brother,
both of whom happen to be the same person.
