Chapter 13

CHAPTER 13

A bellowing chime rang out, drawing Ashe’s gaze to the obsidian clock tower in the center of the realm—one that all could see no matter where they were in envy’s home.

Twelve chimes vibrated through Ashe where she lay on the cool balcony floor as the clock struck midnight. The witching hour when demons would be their most dangerous.

She knew she must get up, but the delicious soreness in her body kept her down on the ground. Even without the kiss, Ashe found it hard to worry about what would come next.

It was apparent the prince found great enjoyment in her demon facade, the kiss would come in time. Even though he did not speak, she could not unsee the darkening in his eyes from a moment ago.

“Your name,” Leviathan pushed himself up to his knees and leaned in close, his eyes locked onto hers with an intensity that could not be ignored. It was as if he believed the answer to his question held the key to the universe. His breath was hot on her skin, carrying a hint of peppermint and something else she couldn’t quite place. She could feel the weight of his anticipation as if he were waiting for a name that would change everything.

She leaned her head to respond to him, not even certain what name she would give when a silver gleam from just beyond the balcony’s entrance caught her eye.

Still blurry from pleasure, Ashe rubbed her eyes, trying to understand what she saw. When she opened them again, every detail was crystal clear.

Lily was there, just beyond the threshold.

Ashe’s heart stopped, her breath caught in her throat and she almost wished the floor of the balcony would open up and drop her down to her death. Guilt and fear gripped her like a vise as she locked eyes with Lily. Lily had come to free her, to take her back to the mortal realm, perhaps? But Ashe couldn’t go. She wanted to stay with Leviathan, no matter the cost.

She’d failed to do the one thing she came for, getting lost in the envious throbbing of the realm as it infiltrated her veins like a drug.

The angel, who was more like a fairy godmother, stepped forward. The silver of Lily’s wings shimmered silently as she moved towards them. The soft swish of fabric against stone echoed in Ashe’s ears like thunder, each step heavy with purpose. Her heart pounded in her chest as if trying to break free from its cage—racing wildly within her ribcage. The scent of jasmine filled the air as Lily stepped closer, mixing with the more earthy scent of the garden below.

Ashe whipped her head away as if to will the angel to disappear.

“Your name,” Leviathan repeated, his fingers finding their way under her chin to force her to look at him. “I will know the name of the female who got so completely under my skin and drove me wild with passion.”

Even without seeing the angel, Ashe knew she continued closer. She could hear Lily’s gentle footsteps drawing closer, feel the warmth emanating off of her as if she were a beacon of hope in this dark world filled with sinister creatures. A flash of silver glinted off her robes as she neared them, the glow almost ethereal against the black stone walls and columns surrounding them.

What would Lily think of her now? How could she ever explain what she had become? Would the angel see it as a means to an end after Ashe also murdered Belial?

Her heart pounded in her chest as if trying to break free from its cage - racing wildly within her ribcage, and still the prince held her in his grasp.

A soft whimper escaped her lips as he held onto her so tightly, his grip like iron bands around her throat. She couldn’t breathe because she didn’t want this vulnerability exposed to anyone else. Ashe felt him tremble beneath her touch, his muscles tense beneath his leathery skin as he leaned down close enough that their foreheads almost touched. “Answer me,” he demanded through clenched teeth, his hot breath fanning across her cheek.

Ashe shut her eyes tightly for a moment before opening them again, looking straight ahead into nothingness—anywhere but at him or Lily who approached them unknowingly. Tears pricked at the corners of her eyes, and she swallowed hard against a lump in her throat.

There was only one thing she could do.

Ashe tugged her face away from Leviathan’s grasp, and grabbed the torn dress, holding it against herself as if it covered any part of her in any real way.

Her legs still shook from her release, but she forced herself up and ran.

The echoing clang of silverware dropped onto fine China mixed with the soft melody of a string quartet played in the background, but Ashe barely registered it as she sprinted through the ballroom. Whispers and gasps from demons and humans alike followed in her wake, the commotion causing a cacophony of sound that she drowned out. The scent of roasted meats and sweet desserts filled her nostrils, but she paid no mind to it as her focus remained solely on escape. Her quick footsteps echoed across the polished marble floors, a sharp contrast to the soft rustle of silk and taffeta from the ball gowns and suits of the attendees. Hands reached out for her, attempting to grab onto her torn dress, but she skillfully dodged them, her heart pounding in her chest, drowning out all other sounds.

Her feet pounded against the ground as she ran through the dark corridors of the castle, her heart racing and her mind spinning. She couldn’t believe what had just happened, even as her body still burned from his touch.

She’d come for a kiss and allowed herself to be seduced.

Tears streamed down Ashe’s face, each droplet reflecting a glimmer of moonlight as she ran through the castle corridors. The image of Lily’s gentle form approaching them was etched into her mind, haunting her with its innocence and purity. She couldn’t bear the thought of the angel seeing her like this—consumed by darkness and lust.

Ashe’s heart raced as she sprinted down the hallways, desperately trying to escape the overwhelming guilt and shame that threatened to suffocate her. But even as she ran, a nagging feeling tugged at her, telling her she was not alone. Every time she turned a corner or passed a doorway, a flicker of movement caught her eye. A shadowy figure that seemed to be following her. But when she looked closer, there was nothing there but empty halls.

The fear and paranoia only fueled Ashe’s determination to outrun whatever unseen presence was chasing her. She didn’t want to face anyone right now.

Not Leviathan, not Lily, not even herself.

With trembling legs and heaving breaths, Ashe finally burst out of the castle doors and into the gardens below. The cool night air hit her skin, making goosebumps rise on her arms as she continued to run for what felt like an eternity.

Ashe pushed through bushes and climbed over ivy-covered walls just to lose herself among the rows of vibrantly blooming flowers—their colors shifting like fireworks under a starlit sky—she raced through the maze-like garden paths, searching for any sign of an exit or at least some place hidden where she could catch her breath.

Wings flapped overhead. A quick glance revealed they were not Lily’s comforting silver ones, but large leathery black ones that could belong to only one man.

A sharp talon dug into her shoulder, spinning her around.

Leviathan’s bare feet hit the ground with a loud thud, sending cracks spider webbing through the balcony. His skin glistened in the light of the moon, and a wild look burned in his eyes as he stormed towards them, a mask of pure rage twisted onto his face.

“What are you doing? Where do you think you’re going?” he demanded through gritted teeth, his voice as loud as rolling thunder that echoed throughout the garden’s vast space.

She tried to pull away from him but found herself weakened by fear and exhaustion; all she managed was a whimper as his grip tightened painfully on her arm. “L-let me go!” She stuttered out between ragged breaths. “I have. . . I have to go.”

Fear of being exposed blossomed in her chest. She’d not expected the demon prince to care that she had fled.

He snorted derisively but didn’t release his hold on her just yet. “We need to talk,” he growled out. The smell of sulfur and brimstone filled the air around them as his body heat radiated onto hers through their proximity. It was like being enveloped in a fiery cocoon of danger and excitement.

Her heart raced as she tried to break free again, but he held her fast.

“You can’t just run off like this! I command you for your name.”

A rustle above them drew her eyes up. Lily had followed as well, the angel’s silver wings burning bright with the moonlight behind the angel.

Lily sent her hand down, silver sparks shooting from her fingertips into Leviathan’s wings. With a hiss, he let Ashe go, turning his focus on the angel.

“Run,” Lily whispered before blinking out of sight.

Ashe wasted no time following the command, knowing that the demon prince would not kiss her but would likely kill her. Her angel wasn’t angry with her, and she would have to be okay with that as reason enough to trust Lily.

Ashe ran wildly, her bare feet slapping against the hard ground. Her breath came in ragged gasps as she tried to put distance between herself and the demon prince. Trees flew by like paper in a gust of wind, their leaves rustling softly, and the ground shook beneath her with each step she took. The night sky stretched out above her, twinkling with stars that seemed to move closer together as if following her desperate flight.

Her heart pounded in her chest like a drum beating to a frantic rhythm she couldn’t control. Tears streamed down her cheeks from fear and exhilaration, making it hard for her to see where she was going, but adrenaline kept pushing her onward. She could hear the sound of his heavy footsteps getting closer and closer until they faded into the darkness behind her. She kept running, feeling his heat dissipating from her skin but still shivering from the cold touch that lingered like a ghost on her skin.

Ashe stumbled through a clearing, her feet crunching on fallen twigs and leaves. The moon cast a silvery glow over the scene, illuminating the bushes that seemed to bow in reverence to its light. And there stood Lily, just a few feet away, her pale skin glowing in the moonlight.

Ashe could feel the stiffness of tension rising within her as she prepared to be teleported away once again by the angel once she reached her. She longed for her freedom but knew it would come at another time, she’d ruined this attempt.

Leviathan still gave chase, his snarls bellowing in the night. Ashe didn’t know why he ran so slowly, but she would not pause to ask. She would only run into Lily’s arms.

Ashe ran faster, her feet pounding against the ground as she closed the distance between herself and Lily. The angel held out her hand, a small smile on her lips as she waited for Ashe to reach her.

Leviathan’s long, slender fingers brushed against her arm with a feather-like touch. She could feel the weight of his gaze upon her, burning into her very being.

“I must know who you are,” he whispered, his voice low and velvety. “Why do you run from me?” The words pierced her heart like a knife, shattering the safety she had felt in his embrace. Yet there was something unsettling in the way he said it, almost as if he took pleasure in her fear and pain.

She dared to turn and saw the moonlight glinting off Leviathan’s horns and illuminated his snarling face, throwing shadows across his features before she crashed into Lily’s arms.

They vanished from sight as they were teleported away from danger—the world spinning and blurring around them. The air rushed past them as they soared through the sky at breakneck speed, Lily’s wings carrying them safely away from harm in a means of travel ash didn’t understand.

A cabin appeared below them like a tiny jewel amidst endless darkness, an apparent haven for them.

Lily landed, letting Ashe go to stand on shaky legs. She gulped in great gasps of air as if she hadn’t been holding her breath moments before.

“You didn’t teleport!”

“No, his powers wouldn’t allow for it. Come inside.”

Ashe’s hand flew to her neck out of habit to grasp the gold ring from her mother. Her breathing hitched as she felt nothing but skin along her neck. Ashe dropped the tattered gown she’d held against her body even as she ran and rushed past Lily into the cabin.

The cabin was small and cozy, with soft furs lining the walls and a crackling fire burning bright. She could hear the sound of water dripping somewhere nearby, providing a soothing tune amidst the chaos in her head. Ashe looked around anxiously, searching for any sign of a mirror, her feet slamming to a halt when she found one.

The ring was not only missing from around her neck but likely lost to Leviathan with his last attempt to hold on to her. Her enchantment was gone as well.

Ashe’s heart pounded as she stared into her ice blue eyes, not the enchanted green ones she’d grown accustomed to seeing the past days. Her skin was once again pale porcelain, the silvery hue and scales completely gone. Long red hair was in a badly mangled bun, distressed from the wild sex and run through the castle.

“I’m me,” she touched the mirror on her cheek.

“Yes, it would appear the prince stole the necklace where the enchantment lay.”

Lily walked past her and sat on a small brown sofa, displeasure in her eyes.

“I appeared to you, I helped you so that you might secure a single earned kiss and leave the realm. And what did you do?” The angel’s voice rose with each word, making it clear that she was not pleased with Ashe’s actions.

“I…I’m sorry,” she said quietly, bowing her head in shame.

“And your apology is supposed to make amends for your rash decisions?” The angel’s voice was sharp and scathing. “You feel prey to everything that this realm is.”

Tears pricked at her eyes, but she refused to let them fall. She knew she had made a mistake and now she would have to face the consequences.

“I didn’t mean any harm,” she said softly.

Despite her words, visions of Leviathan standing over her as he fucked her played in her mind, reminding her that she was not sorry, only embarrassed now that she had come to her senses.

“But harm was done, nonetheless.” The angel stood up from the sofa and walked closer to Ashe. “There are rules in this realm, rules that must be followed. Thankfully I don’t think he’s smart enough to realize you are you. Without your glamor, you’re no longer permitted at his palace, but we will think of how to set you free.

Ashe nodded, her body and heart torn between envy of the silver demon she’d been enchanted to be and the need to go home and never see Leviathan again.

Because somehow, she’d become enamored with the Prince of Envy, and Ashe wasn’t sure how to free herself from that trap, either.