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Chapter 16

CHAPTER 16

L eviathan’s impatience swelled with every passing moment. Demoness after demoness slithered forward, their serpent-like bodies coiling around themselves as they presented their worthless descriptions of the necklace tucked safely away in his pocket. Each one seemed to drag on, their voices grating like nails on a chalkboard as they detailed the intricacies of the object. Leviathan could feel his frustration building, like a boiling cauldron ready to spill over with each passing second.

Not a single description came even remotely close to the diamond-covered pendant in his grasp.

Sixteen demon women had failed to tell him the necklace’s primary color in the last five minutes. There weren’t even enough colors in the world to continue to fail at naming the glimmering silver.

“Is this all the Realm of Envy has to offer?” he thundered, his voice echoing off the cavernous ceiling. His sharp, chiseled features contorted in a sneer as the latest contender, a wanton succubus, bowed her head and scurried away, her tail between her legs.

Leviathan let his eyes scan the throng of assembled demonesses, each one dripping with unchecked lust, gluttony, slothful complacency, and many with the very envy he desired.

He’d been correct in one thing.

His offer had pulled envy from the entire land, bringing demons from every sinful realm to pretend it could be them. Truly, Levi relished the moment he caught a whiff.

Not one of them had any idea what it was like to crave something so intensely that it consumed every waking moment, gnawing at their very being.

“Worthless imbeciles,” he spat under his breath, the words laced with venom. His hand tightened around the armrest of his ebony throne, the only outward sign of his simmering frustration. He needed that collar back where it belonged and it did not seem that anyone was the one he sought.

Leviathan’s thoughts drifted back to the one demoness who had sparked a flame of desire in his heart so intense he’d spent the last few nights sating himself in his hand while pretending it was her. Her blonde hair cascading down over her silvery-scaled shoulders, like a waterfall of sunlight in the shadows as it did when fucked her.

He could still see the fear in her green eyes when she’d run from him.

Yet, beneath that fear, he swore he’d glimpsed something else - defiance.

“When I find you,” he purred to no one at all. “You will be mine. I will have you bowing at my feet, your lips pressed to my boots, and I’ll crush any who stand in my way.” He leaned forward. “Send up the next!”

The newest demoness stepped forward, her body trembling with greed and desire. Her skin was a sickly green, and Leviathan already knew the woman he’d fucked had not worn powder over her skin. She was silver as the forbidden moon.

As she reached out with quivering fingertips, she moaned as if he’d touched her. She traced the smooth surface of the object, her eyes fluttering in ecstasy as she remembered the unimaginable pleasure it had brought her before. “You have never experienced anything like this,” she whispered, running her tongue over her cherry-red lips, “Once you touch it, you’ll be hooked for eternity.”

Leviathan scoffed. “I did not ask for a description of how it might make you feel,” he dismissed her with a wave of his hand and she stumbled back into the crowd of eager onlookers.

Another one stepped forward, a rare Nightshade Demon with inky black smoke trailing behind her like shadows. She was a sensual being, dripping with promises of ways she would accept his offer of to be queen. Her voice was as sensual as her body.

“It is delicate, a silver chain that stands out against my skin.” Her eyes glinted with malice as she thought about what she could do with such power.

Again, he knew his demoness was not this shade, but it was not entirely possible this Nightstand could shift her color. It was rare, and would have been incredibly beautiful. If she could do that, it would captivate the entire realm.

“Go on,” Leviathan dared to lean forward, seeing if there was any scent he could get from the demoness before him, but all that came to his nose was burning ash.

“A circle on the chain.”

Leviathan’s focus snapped as his heart slammed in his chest. This demoness was far closer than another and the puzzle pieces made sense.

“A single emerald?—”

The incorrect stone slammed him from his joy, a snarl spreading over his lips.

“A single emerald,” Leviathan repeated, barely containing his fury.

He saw her gaze shift, and that split second was all he needed to know she knew she’d been caught in her lie. Leviathan took a step closer to the dark woman, looming over her slowly sinking form with an intimidating presence that made even the most seasoned of demons tremble in fear. She was not what he sought.

With a snarl, Leviathan reached out and threw the worthless demonesses from him in disgust, watching her tumble away.

Leviathan’s heart pounded as he waited for the next potential candidate to step forward. The room remained silent except for the sound of heavy breathing and the occasional nervous shift of a foot on the floor. He watched as someone stepped towards him. Another subject eager to please. The demoness before him was dressed in rich gold and silver adornments, her skin a deep shade of silver like melted steel, and she was coiled with dark energy.

“It would be like this one,” the female said, holding a chain up high. The pendant dangling from it caught the light and cast eerie shadows on the wall.

He leaned in closer, his sharp eyes scanning every inch of the intricate design until he saw it—a small diamond circle inlaid into the metal beneath the jewel. A glimmer of hope ignited within him as he reached out to touch it, feeling the magic lacing through every fiber of his being. But she would have to prove herself the way all the others had.

But then he noticed something was off—the color wasn’t right.

When her first words said the necklace was gold, he barely restrained his need to throw her from the dias.

A wave of rage washed over him as each new candidate came forward with nothing but disappointment. Each failed attempt at providing what he so desperately craved only intensifying his desire for success. Demons fell like flies around him, broken pieces scattered across the floor like discarded playthings while their masters cowered away or snickered maliciously from their corners.

He snarled in frustration, feeling his control slipping. His fury boiled over as he looked at the pitiful excuse of a creature before him, who he could barely see through his fury.

His patience had worn thin, and he let his primal instincts take over as he bared his sharp teeth and let out a bone-chilling snarl.

“Out!” His command boomed through the otherwise silent space.

The demoness before him cowered in fear, her trembling hands dropping the emerald she had presented.

Ignis appeared at his side suddenly, the faint scent of charred flesh marking his passage through the room.

“My Prince,” Ignis murmured, leaning close to whisper in his ear. “A human is outside insisting the necklace is hers.” His voice was cool and collected despite the surrounding chaos, his eyes impassive as he described the impossible.

He couldn’t help his smirk. Of course, humans would believe they could lay claim to a demon’s throne. Demons owed their control over humans to their incredible stupidity.

“Unfortunately, a human cannot enter nor bear this collar. Send her away, but for her obvious envy, let her live so that I may enjoy her power one day.”

Ignis was gone as silently as he appeared.

“I will tell you this now,” Leviathan spoke to the hoard in his chamber. “The next to fail will meet their end by my hand. Think before you try to trick power from me.”

The air filled with the deafening sound of squawking demons, their chaotic wings beating wildly as they scrambled and tripped over each other in a frantic race to flee the throne room. The stench of sulfur permeated the space, thick and suffocating. Every surface seemed to tremble under the weight of their panic and desperation. It was a scene straight out of a nightmare, one that would be etched in the memory for years to come of all the demons who would one day pay for their treachery.

Their deception ignited a burning fire within him.

Leviathan was done.

“Get. Out.” Each word was loud, but spoken calmly. Clearly.

As Leviathan’s intense gaze swept over the remaining demons, his formidable presence seemed to fill the air. His body coiled with restrained power, a warning to any who dared to challenge him in this state. The demons, cowering and trembling, scattered like a swarm of insects fleeing from a burst of water. They knew better than to ignore the Lord of Evy in his wrathful form.

Sinking back onto his throne, Leviathan tried to calm his rising rage, lest he look like another prince and not himself.

His breath came in harsh gasps as he tried to calm himself down. The scent of burning ash lingered in the air, reminding him of what he had almost found. A low growl rumbled in his chest as he stared at the now-empty space where the line of liars had been displayed moments before.

With a sharp flick of his wrist, Leviathan sent every item tumbling across the room in a furious display of power. Dishes cracked, wine bottles shattered on the floor, and even the walls trembled under the force of his wrath. But still, there was no sign of the woman he sought. Only broken dreams and shattered hope.

He stood abruptly, wings snapping open with an audible crack that echoed through the room as he paced restlessly back and forth.

Leviathan was alone now, surrounded by the empty space where he’d dared to believe something waited for him. He’d assumed his offer would have brought the demoness back to him, but it seemed even now she believed herself better than him.

“Sir,” Ignis walked from in front of him, returning with a frown on his lips. “This human insists the necklace is hers. She would not leave and has insisted she will sit there on the steps.”

Leviathan did not bother to contain a snarl. He did not have the patience for this right now. This woman was not merely filled with envy, she was clearly prideful and in the wrong realm.

Leviathan gave the demon lord Ignis a look filled with irritation and annoyance, one that would make lesser demons cower. His wings flared wide, casting large shadows on the floor as he turned away in a huff.

“Fine,” he snarled, standing so that he might end this sooner rather than later.

With a fierce thrust of his wings, Leviathan burst into the air, shattering the glass ceiling of his grand throne room. The shards rained down around him like sparkling crystals, amplifying the menacing aura that radiated from his demonic form. He couldn’t let this foolish human underestimate him—he had to remind this human woman of his true nature. As he soared higher, the wind whipped through his ebony feathers, carrying the scent of smoke and brimstone with it. His powerful wings beat against the currents, propelling him towards his unsuspecting prey.

Before him, the City of Envy spread out like an intricate puzzle of despair and corruption, with its twisted spires and smoky skyscrapers reaching toward a blood-red sky. Below him, demons scurried like roaches under a powerful light, their foul smell assaulting his senses—a mix of rot and burning flesh that made him feel alive.

He descended upon the steps like the wrath of hell itself, his dark wings casting a shadow that engulfed both him and the human on the top step. The wind howled in his wake, whistling past his ears as he landed with a thud that sent vibrations through the ground beneath their feet.

His trajectory almost halted when he saw the long mane of red hair and knew the stupid human who stood before him without her looking.

“Ashe,” he snarled her name, longing to see fear in those piercing ice blue orbs of hers. How could she be here?

Instead, she stood tall and unyielding, staring back at him without flinching. He couldn’t help but be impressed by her bravery—or perhaps it was foolishness.

His heart quickened at the mere sight of the human, but he forced himself to ignore it. This wasn’t about her, and yet she managed to captivate him with her boldness for coming here. The way her icy eyes sparkled in the dim light and how her hair fell in soft waves around her face were impossible to ignore. But he couldn’t let himself get distracted in this crucial moment. The sound of his own racing pulse echoed in his ears, a reminder of the stakes at hand.

Ashe did not belong here. Ashe would never belong to him.

Her beauty had only grown since the day they had first met. Her striking features and captivating gaze were like a spell, drawing him in with every glance. The thought that she could have any claim to the demon necklace was absurd, impossible even. How could someone so ethereal and pure be connected to something so dark and menacing? It seemed inconceivable.

His thoughts raced with a mix of intrigue and suspicion.

“State your business, mortal,” Leviathan demanded, his voice dripping with authority, “And be quick about it, lest you wish to suffer the consequences.”

“I’ve come for the necklace that you’ve boasted you have.”

“As have so many others. Let me tell you,” He walked a tight circle around her, shielding her from the view of others while ensuring his power washed over her. “I just made a vow to destroy the next demon who failed to get it correct.”

“I am a human, and I will not fail.”

He could end this game now, tell her that she could not possibly own the necklace, but she began to speak, obviously not concerned with his threat.

“It is silver, as sparkly as a star if your kind ever saw one. The chain is delicate, a single braid of metal that was clearly too dainty for a place like this realm.”

Intrigued, Leviathan slowed his pace toward her, his wings unfurling behind him like a dark storm. None of this was possible, and yet, she’d known far more than the others. Even her description was more detailed.

“This is not possible,” he snarled and turned to walk away, determined not to murder the poor girl who’d captivated his attention for her stupidity.

Leviathan glanced back, his eyes meeting Ashe’s without any intent to let her off easy. The girl stood there, so unperturbed by his threat, and yet she didn’t seem confident either. Her defiance only made him more curious. He circled around her again, the scent of her hair and skin enveloping him like thick fog in a dimly lit forest. His demonic senses heightened at the prospect of having found something rare and wonderful.

“A circular pendant, encrusted with small diamonds and it slides freely over the chain,” she finished confidently.

Leviathan stopped mid-step, his heart pounding as he turned back to face her.

She was right.

He stalked towards her, towering over her petite form as he studied her face intensely. Her eyes held no deceit or guile. Instead, they were wide and bright with excitement at having found something so rare and precious—something that could change the course of their existence forever if real. “How?” he ground out through gritted teeth, demanding an explanation.

Leviathan did not let her answer. He already knew how. The human had found the demoness and killed her after demanding to know about the pendant in an attempt to take what was not hers.

For a moment, a split second, Leviathan swore his heart shattered knowing the demon who drove him to such passion was no longer alive to ensure his happiness.

How could Ashe have done that? It didn’t matter. She would not be allowed to commit such a crime.

Leviathan leaned down, almost inhaling her scent, his dark wings brushing against her body. She didn’t flinch or shy away, which only fueled his curiosity. He longed to taste her skin, but he held himself back. “Tell me,” He breathed out, his voice low and threatening.

His tail flicked out from behind him, slithering across the cold stone floor as if it had a life of its own. Slowly, he bent down, invading her personal space, his lips inches from her ear as he whispered hoarsely, “You should know what happens when you steal from me.”

Ashe shivered under his threat but did not flinch or retreat. Her scent intoxicated him from this close. It was intoxicating yet somehow familiar. She was strong and resilient like no other human he’d encountered before. She met his gaze steadily, not afraid to challenge him even while surrounded by beasts like these. She swallowed hard as he continued to loom over her, their bodies almost touching now.

“I don’t know,” she said plainly.

With a swift movement, Leviathan’s hand shot out and grabbed a fistful of her hair, pulling her head back so that their eyes met. His black wings flapped slightly, rustling as they brushed against her soft skin. “You have no idea what you’ve done,” he growled slowly, his voice only loud enough for Ashe to hear.

Something stopped him, something burning within him, forcing him to hold back.

A small part of him paused, analyzing the situation like a predator studying its prey and the way it made him feel.

Her eyes were like chips of ice, never wavering from his intense gaze—even as she gasped under his grip on her hair. Her shiver sent waves of heat through his body that he couldn’t explain. She was beautiful. Too beautiful for this place, yet here she was, standing before him with such defiance that it made his heart race. He could taste her fear mingled with desire in the air around them both, intoxicating him further. He brought his face closer still so that their breaths mingled together.

Desire sent blood to his cock.

This human had a powerful hold over him, and if she had killed two demons, he needed to end her sensual power over him.

“What makes you so special?” he demanded again, narrowing his eyes at her.

“It’s my necklace.” She said again, as if he wasn’t pressed against her as intimately as any lover would.

With a flick of his free hand, Leviathan moved in a puff of smoke.

From the grounds into the dungeon just outside the castle, Leviathan moved so swiftly in his release of his grip that Ashe slammed into the wall, her head someone avoiding the blow, but her shoulder bending backward, displaced.

An unfamiliar pang pinged somewhere deep inside of Leviathan, but he ignored it, transporting just outside the already locked cell.

The prince stared at Ashe, eyes burning with curiosity and fierceness. Her red hair fell around her shoulders like a cloak of passion, drawing him in as if it were alive. He could feel himself reacting to her presence and hated that he couldn’t control it. His heart thundered in his chest, pounding with the need to possess her, to mark her as his own.

The same exact response his body had to the demoness at the ball.

Leviathan stepped closer, his hand reaching out through the bars in an attempt to trace a line along her jawline before cupping her cheek gently. Her skin felt soft against his rough fingers—far too soft for someone who should be standing before him like this. She pulled back, snapping him from fantasy to reality as to what he’d touched.

A growl rumbled in his chest as he needed answers now more than ever before.

The Prince of Envy would not find his downfall in a human.

The mission was different now.

Leviathan roamed with a feral intensity through the dank and musty dungeon, his massive body trembling with a mixture of rage and longing for the forbidden. The scent of human blood lingered in the air, igniting a primal desire within him that he fought to suppress. But as he thought of the demoness he spent the last week hunting, his anger boiled over once again, knowing that she was likely dead and gone. His claws dug into the stone wall as he roared in frustration and lunged. The sound echoing off the walls and reverberated down the corridors.

Leviathan did not understand the rush of sensations through him. He should be reduced to some measure of sadness knowing the silver demoness was not an option, but he couldn’t stop seeing Ashe in the place of the demon from the ball as he walked.

Something wasn’t adding up, and he was not going to sit around and wait for answers.

The Prince of Envy was going to take any female that was brave enough to come next, because he knew he could not spare the silvery demon or Ashe another thought.

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