CHAPTER ELEVEN

"That's fitting." I sneered despite the uncomfortable situation.

"It really is, isn't it?" Asmodeus pondered out loud. He then abruptly grabbed my left arm, which was protecting my chest, "Don't be shy, princess, let me view all of you."

I knew I couldn't try to twist my wrist from his grasp. I would just end up giving him what he wants when my arm moves out of place. I also can't kick him down there. The water resistance won't exactly be on my side. Fuck.

My throat felt dry and my heart rate remained elevated. Then he pulled away.

"Your body temperature is falling rapidly. You're becoming hypothermic." There was a mix of both concern and disappointment in his voice. He turned around and began toward the shore.

Come to think of it, I did feel cold, maybe even more so that earlier. It appeared that the sun was beginning to go down as well. However, I still waited in the water while Asmodeus had gotten dressed. He called out that he was done. I looked over and gave a hand signal for him to turn around, which thankfully he did.

I waded out of the water and towards the shore. I began shivering violently. I stood by my clothes, wishing that my body would dry off faster. It eventually did and I slipped into my clothes.

"God, how long does it take to get dressed?" Asmodeus complained in an exasperated tone.

I finished tying my belt and turned around. "All done." I said as I picked my cloak up from the ground and put it on. Asmodeus turned around and looked me up and down.

"Definitely looking better from earlier." He winked. As it got darker, he set up some wood for a small fire.

"But how will you start it?" I was curious since we didn't really have anything to use.

"Just like this." Asmodeus held his hand up, palm facing the wood, and it caught fire.

I was shocked and curious, "How?" Was all I managed to say.

He shrugged, "It's a demon thing. You could probably do it, too."

I looked at him quizzically. "Why would I be able to?"

"Because there's something special about you. I think you have some kind of special ability but you don't know it yet." He explained. I scoffed, but then realized he was being serious. I stayed silence for a while, going over everything that happened today.

"You said you were next in line to take over for your father right? Isn't it usually the oldest that is? You mentioned that each of your siblings was older than you." I piped up eventually, a bit curious about this little whole in Asmodeus's story.

"There is some truth to me being next in line. Yes, the eldest usually is next, but if a younger sibling finds a mate before him then he becomes next in line."

"You have a mate then?" I pressed, now intrigued about his personal life.

"Well... not exactly. Not yet." He stared at the fire, almost embarrassed to have admitted this.

"So there's no truth to you being next in line." I laughed a little bit, "Do you at least have your eyes set on someone?"

He looked up at me, "I don't know. Why? Are you jealous?" He smirked and winked at me. There he is, the usual jackass I get to deal with sometimes. Well, now all the time it seems.

It went silent again and the only noise was the crackling fire and some of the night creatures waking as it began to get dark.

"You said your siblings are after me. Why? And wouldn't you be after me for the same reason?" I needed answers.

Asmodeus sighed. "It's as Ares said, demons of all ranks are after you for a taste of your blood. It is rumoured that it could give them greater power and strength. As for me, I don't know. Maybe I'll use you to taunt my siblings, or maybe I'll decide that I do want to become more powerful."

"Thanks for your hospitality?" I said in an angry and questionable tone. Was he serious? He made me run away with him and he didn't even have a plan?

"You said your Sin was lust. What is everyone else?" I was curious what Sins his other siblings had.

"Ares is wrath, Adephagia is gluttony, Hubris is pride, Midas is greed, Livius is envy, and Almos is sloth." He explained in a flat tone, as if this topic bored him, "You should rest, princess." He said this in a softer, almost caring tone.

I nodded as I yawned. I put my cloak hood over my hands and laid down from where I was sitting on the ground.

"What are you doing? The ground is cold and too dirty for you to sleep on." Asmodeus sounded judgemental. He was right about the ground being cold, and quite uncomfortable too.

"Where else am I supposed to sleep?" I mumbled, not opening my eyes.

"In my lap, of course." I could practically hear the smirk on his face.

"I'll pass." I mumbled again, wishing he'd just let me sleep. I then heard him stand up and his footsteps come towards me. "What are-" I was cut off by him picking me up, princess-style, from the ground and walking back to where he was sitting before. He held my body against his. He was so warm, and I was too exhausted to protest. It wasn't long before I was asleep.

I woke up to the sun shining through the trees and groaned. I wanted to sleep more. It also seemed like I was laying on the ground, but the ground doesn't have a heartbeat or... breathe? I then remembered that I had fallen asleep in Asmodeus's lap. He must've laid down and fallen asleep, too.

I tried to shield my eyes more with my cloak hood to try to get some more sleep. It seemed ineffective so I gave up, but then something completely blocked the sun from my face. I opened my eyes to the figure of a woman looking over me. I couldn't look at her face, the sunlight was too bright. I felt terrified, until she spoke.

"Oh how cute! I'm a little jealous though! I wish I could keep you all to myself." It was Adephagia. She sounded as if she was pouting, maybe even almost throwing a tantrum.

I then felt Asmodeus begin to stir underneath me, likely waking up from his sister's whining. His grip tightened on me but he didn't move. "What do you want?" He asked. His voice was sleepy and husky, and was honestly a bit attractive.

"I think you know why silly! I picked my mate!" Adephagia giggled. What? Is she implying incest?

Asmodeus voiced my concerns while he sat up with me still in his arms, "What is wrong with you? Why would I be your mate?"

"Why would I want you? I'm talking about Nyx! I want her to be my mate!"

Asmodeus and I both sat there in utter confusion. I looked at him, which caused him to look at me. Neither of us spoke, we just shared our looks of confusion. I stood up from Asmodeus's lap and nervously laughed, "What do you mean you want me to be your mate?"

She took a few steps closer and her tone of voice became a bit deeper. Her demeanour changed. I blinked a few times, it seemed like her eyes went from a bright gold colour to completely red. "I mean exactly what I said. I want you to be my mate, to be with me for the rest of our lives, to make love, for you to stand beside me at the throne of hell. Everything."

I felt uncomfortable. I had no idea how to respond or what to do. Asmodeus stood beside me, but goosebumps arose on my skin and some dark aura seemed to emanate from him. Bad situation. Very bad situation.

"Nyx is not going with you." He snarled, "You're absurd!"

"I am absurd for choosing a mate that I find attractive and that I could have all to myself?" Adephagia asked, although it sounded more like a taunt.

Maybe I should say something. "I.. um... I think it's really sweet and all that you think this but I... uhh... don't swing that way."

She looked at me and seemed to think about what I said. Then, in the blink of an eye, she was in front of me, our bodies almost touching. "You'll change your mind," She whispered, "But I will give you some time to consider." She then disappeared.

I didn't realize I had been holding me breath as I let it out. I looked at Asmodeus and he still seemed quite upset. "She's insane!" He shouted and punched his fist into the nearest tree, leaving a large dent in the trunk.

He then turned to me. "You. We need to find out why you carry something special in you, and what it is." I nodded in response.

"Good, now maybe you'll want to fix your robe. It appears to be coming undone and you seem to want to avoid showing me your chest."

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