Chapter 13

My father'sreception room overflowed with females—demons, souls, and beings belonging to realms outside Earth and Hell. I pushed my way through them, looking for my father, who lounged amidst his harem.

Although he'd lived centuries, my father didn't look any older than a man in his mid-forties. By choice. He could choose whatever appearance he wanted, but he preferred that of a man who'd lived, a man with character.

I didn't care what he looked like. I only wanted the comfort my daddy could offer.

As soon as he spotted me, he clapped his hands and shooed his lovebirds away. As a demon of lust—some humans once upon a time had even worshipped him as a god—he was never without female company, and, sometimes, even males accompanied him. But I always came first.

I threw myself on my father, burrowing my face into his chest, and noisy sobs escaped me, such a rarity.

"Who do I need to kill?" he asked in a voice dripping with frost.

Daddy dearest always knew what to say to make me feel better. "Me, for being such an idiot."

"What is it, Sally-bird? What's happened?"

Um, was my father the only one in Hell not watching HBC and its ongoing saga, also known as my life, the unfolding disaster? "It's awful, Daddy."

"Is this about that Drake boy? Do I need to have him hung up by his toenails and have his entrails ripped out?"

"Yes." Then quickly before he sent out the order, "No. He said me loved me, Daddy."

"The bastard," said my father in a choked voice.

I peered up at him to see him stifling a grin. "You jerk. You knew why I was here."

Daddy laughed. "Of course I did, you idiot. You're my little girl. I know about everything that happens to you. So Drake admitted, under a spell of truth no less, he loves you. What's the problem?"

"I don't want love," I grumbled.

"Excuse me?"

I shouted. "I said I don't want love."

"Why ever not?" I couldn't believe the note of incredulity in his voice.

"Love is for pussies. It makes a person weak and do stupid things."

My father dumped me off his lap and stood up. "Listen here, young lady, I don't know where you got those foolish notions, but you need to readjust your thinking. Love, contrary to your belief, makes you stronger."

"I notice you don't deny it makes us do dumb shit though."

"No, I won't deny it. Love will make you do things you never would have dreamed of, but you want to know a secret?"

"What?"

"Those stupid things will make you insanely happy."

His answer made no sense. How could acting like an idiot make me happy? Then I thought of Drake and the laughter we'd shared the previous night and, to my disgust, I actually understood what my father was telling me. I really hated it when he was right. But it didn't mean I forgave Drake. The prick had lied to me. Maybe I would skin him and make boots out of his dragon hide.

As if thinking of him conjured him, he strode into the room. My father looked at Drake with his stony face then to me with my stubborn look. He sighed. "Good luck, son, you're going to need it."

Then my father left me with him. My eyes couldn't help drinking him in, from the partially unbuttoned shirt that strained over his bulging muscles, to his snug jeans, where evidence of his arousal distended them. I left his eyes for last because, once I gazed into them, I found myself caught as if in an emotional vortex.

"What are you doing here?" I tried to control the trembling of my voice.

"I've come to collect my mate."

"I'm nobody's mate. Go find yourself somebody else." Brave words considering just the thought of him with another woman made me want to growl.

"You are mine. I thought to give you time so that you would come to me of your own volition, but I see now it would have never happened. I don't know why you refuse to admit you love me."

"Maybe because I don't love you."

"Liar."

"I don't care what you think. Now go away."

"Not without you."

The steely glint in his eye gave me a moment's warning, and I whirled to flee. But he had no intention of letting me go, and while I'd never admit it aloud, I didn't want to escape.

But just because he'd caught me and proceeded to carry me back to his lair didn't mean I'd give in easily. Stubbornness was one of my most endearing qualities.