44

There's a collective groan at the table. My happy mood sinks like a block of cement into my gut. Lucifer's deadly scowl has returned, along with Samael's angry glare and Beelzebub's exasperated sigh.

"Lilith," Samael warns.

She shrugs. "I'm just making a point."

"Lilith. For shit's sake, just stop." Beelzebub mirrors Lucifer's previous action of rubbing his temples. "We're trying to have a peaceful dinner with our new queen and you just can't shut your damn mouth."

Lilith raises her head and stares at me coldly. "She's not fit to be our queen."

.

I can sense the hurricane has landed, but I intend to jump ship before it hits me. Before my husband can erupt on her bitchy demonic ass, I shove my chair back and stand up from the table.

"Amelia-" Belphagor starts.

I shake my head and stare directly at Lilith. "No, I'm done here. I've been chosen as your queen and you refuse to accept that. That's fine. You have free will as much as I do and I'm willing to respect your choice. But I will not sit here for the entire meal listening to you whine and complain about me getting picked to be queen over you. You're a demon. You should be able to control yourself better."

Lilith stares at me, thunderstruck. Lucifer's lips hold a small smile meant to show his pride for me. Asmodeus and the rest of the fallen angels can barely hold back their laughter.

I don't stop. "You're centuries older than I am, and yet you sit here throwing a fit like a child. I honestly expected more from a demon as infamous and powerful as you, Lilith. Unfortunately, your reputation far from precedes you. If all you can do is insult my humanity and my ignorance about a place I've only lived in for three days, then perhaps I shouldn't grace you with my presence."

Having said my piece, I turn on the balls of my feet and step away from the table. I spin and begin to make my way towards the short hallway we came in from. Behind me, I can hear the scrape of a chair on marble as Lucifer steps aside to chase me down. I can also hear the sudden eruptions of laughter coming from dozens of fallen angels and high-ranking demons. I've managed to show some spine and put Lilith in her place in front of Lucifer's best and brightest.

Not bad for my third day on the job.

Within seconds of my exit, Lucifer has caught up to me. His icy hand grips mine as he gently pulls me to a halt. He steps in front of me, a brilliant smile on his face and absolute elation in his eyes.

I smile and cock my head. "Proud of me?"

"You have no fucking idea." He leans in and kisses me. "Stay," he murmurs against my lips.

I sigh and shake my head. "No. I'm not going to sit there and listen to her chastise me all night."

He pulls back and stares at me apologetically. "I can toss her in the fire pits if you want."

I smile at his attempt to console me and shake my head. "What I really want is a nice long bath and a nap."

.

Lucifer sighs. "You're sure?"

I nod. "I'm exhausted."

He gives a soft smile. "I'll have Samael escort you back."

I shake my head. "No, I want to go alone."

"Amelia..." he starts.

"Lucifer please. I need a little time to clear all the murderous thoughts out of my head." I rise up on my toes and kiss him. "I'll be fine."

He sighs again. "I suppose you can handle yourself."

"Suppose?" I stare at him. "I just verbally kicked Lilith's ass."

That brings his smile back. He steps forward and loops his arms around me, his enormous wings sweeping around to encase me in feathery softness. He leans in and kisses me again, his hands sliding down to cup my ass. I smile against his lips and circle my arms around his neck.

"You be safe, damn it," his whispers against my mouth.

"I'll do my best." I pull away and start to make my way towards the hallway. "You come to bed, damn it."

"Couldn't think of a reason I'd decline." His smile is breathtaking.

I giggle softly and kiss him one last time before I turn and start down the hall again. "Send Samael after me with that plate, will you?" I call over my shoulder.

He winks at me. "Will do."

I smile and enter the hallway, looking back to watch him as he makes his way back to the table. His wings are folded tightly against his back, twitching in anticipation for something. I catch sight of Lilith's horrified face and understand that someone's about to have their ass handed to them. A small smile cracks onto my lips. Serves her right. That woman has a bigger attitude than mom when I beat her at Monopoly.

I make my way down the short hallway, lost in thought of how nice that warm bath will feel. My breasts are still a bit sensitive from the piercings, and being rubbed by the fabric of my dress hasn't helped them heal much. The hot water might do them some good.

I step gingerly onto the slab of rock that brought me down here, not wanting to be caught off guard and have it shoot up when I'm not prepared. Instead, it seems to wait for me to gain my balance on the uneven surface before gliding smoothly upward. This trip is faster, and I reach the top in a matter of seconds. When I step onto the ledge of rock, the circle descends back into the abyss, resetting itself to collect another high-ranking official wanting to leave the hall.

I turn and make my way down the labyrinth of hallways Lucifer and I walked through. Somehow, I've managed to memorize the majority of turns we took, and I'm able to make my through a good portion of the twisting maze. For the few turns I haven't branded into my head, I take my best guess, hoping that all roads will lead to the main corridor eventually.

My gut instinct, once again, has saved my ass. After ten minutes of twisting and turning through the dimly lit mass of corridors, I'm spit out into the cold emptiness of the main hall. It's deathly quiet here, but right now I like it that way. I have a chance to clear my head and figure out how I'm going to deal with my new role as queen. I turn and start making my way down the hall towards my room, my body kicking into autopilot as my mind figures out how to handle my current issues.

First things first: Mom. She's been elected as my servant, which means she'll serve under me for the next three hundred years until her debt to Lucifer is cleared. She'll be taking my every request and demand, answering me without question and doing anything I ask without hesitation.

I shiver slightly, uncomfortable with the thought. Yes, she screwed me over and forced me into a married with the baddest of bad guys, bit she's my . Having her be servant just doesn't sit right with me. I know there's no way I can reverse her punishment or lessen it -- she might get placed with someone less inclined to treat her with respect or sympathy -- but .

.

I sigh to myself. I can't stop Lucifer from taking his reward from their deal, but I can treat my mother with a little kindness and allow her to keep some of her dignity. The better I treat her, the more likely she'll come to respect me as her queen...and maybe even think of me as her daughter rather than a pawn.

.

I literally groan out of exhaustion. That woman is going to drive me nuts, Ijust know it. She's got her crosshairs trained on my head, she just doesn'thave the guts to pull the trigger. I know now that she and Leyna both share adeep hatred for me and my position. Both of them feel slighted for being passedover by a human for queen.

The good news: She probably won't come after me for it and try to slice my headoff. Lilith, thankfully, knows better than to challenge Lucifer at anything.She's worked under him for way too long to even taking meout.

The better news: In a matter of five minutes I've managed to stand my groundagainst her proved to the mass of fallen angels and demonsthat I have a spine and I'm willing to use it. That grants me a few ounces ofstreet cred and puts me on top of the Verbal Ass Kicking list. Bonus pointsthere.

I make my way quietly down the enormous hallway, slightly comforted by thescreams of the damned souls below me. At least I'm not wandering back to myroom in complete silence. I continue on, making my way mindlessly down themassive hall towards my room and my long-awaited bath.

There's a noise behind me, like the soft whisper of wings on tile. Immediately,my heart skips. Lucifer has decided to leave the dinning hall and follow me,possibly to have another go at that wonderful session in the bathtub. I'mbarely able to hold back my smile, and I spin around to welcome my dark husbandinto my arms.