Chapter 41

If Zaybris still had the ability to soil himself in fear, he was certain he would have done so at that moment.

After his transformation to vampire, Zaybris had happily relinquished his habit of comparing himself to other men. There was no need to lament that he wasn't wealthier, stronger, or as cunning as he wished to be—not when his superiority had been divinely ordained. However, as he stared up at Asmodeus, all his mortal insecurities came flooding back.

This wasn't exactly the gruesome devil he had always pictured. Despite his cloven hooves and blood-colored skin, the king of the Underworld was quite… handsome. He had a strong jaw, prominent cheekbones, and teeth so white they gleamed through the darkness of the room. He wore dark leather trousers and a cape secured by two skulls curved around each shoulder. His chest was bare—obviously an arrogant effort to show off his chiseled physique.

"Who dares to disturb my son's room?" the demon king boomed.

"It's who we've always suspected took Samael," Lilith said.

"Zaybris," Asmodeus growled. "Where is my son?"

"Aurelia," Lilith said. Though her expression was fierce, her voice wavered.

Asmodeus bared his teeth. "You mean to tell me that after the decades we spent sending out demon trackers, hiring enchantresses, consulting seers, and bargaining with nobility to find Samael, he was in Aurelia? All this time?"

Zaybris shifted his weight and shrugged.

Asmodeus released a terrifying howl. "And now, vampire, here you are. In my realm at last. Ready to receive my wrath." He began to charge toward him until Lilith pulled back his massive arm.

"Wait," she said. "He's not dead. He controls a traveler's stone."

This seemed to make the demon king even angrier, causing his body to shake. For a fearful moment, Zaybris braced himself to be staked or beheaded until he remembered demons weren't allowed to kill. Only punish. The thought should have brought him comfort, yet when Asmodeus stepped forward, Zaybris held his hands up defensively. The fiend did not strike him down, though. He only took Lilith's hand into his great clawed one.

"Take us to Aurelia," Asmodeus said to Zaybris.

"No," Zaybris said, struggling to push back his fear to remain in control of the situation. "Soon, I will take Lilith back to her native lands, but I'm far too weak now. I need human blood to refresh myself." He gestured toward Selene, who was cowering like a frightened rabbit.

Asmodeus's eyes flickered to Selene then back to Zaybris. "Take us. To see our son. Now!"

Zaybris straightened his spine. "Your son is dead."

"Liar." Asmodeus's red eyes narrowed. "You think I wouldn't know if my own son had entered the Underworld?"

Drat.Zaybris hadn't considered that. So the little monster was still alive, for now. No matter. If the demon still lived by the time he and Lilith returned to Aurelia, Zaybris could gain favor by gifting her with a reunion.

"You will take us to him right now," Asmodeus said, grabbing Zaybris's arm roughly.

"I told you I can't! Watch if you don't believe me," Zaybris said. He tapped the stone, whispering Aurelia, but nothing happened.

"Try again!" Asmodeus roared.

"Dimensional travel takes a great deal of personal energy! And I'm not one of your imps you can order about," Zaybris said.

"Have my sisters been taking care of Sam?" Lilith asked unexpectedly. "What did they say when you told them I left?"

When Zaybris looked at Lilith's face, his fear and anger softened. Her flowing hair was still the color of autumn sunsets, while her eyes remained obsidian pools that he yearned to drown in. He knew she was upset with him, but surely she retained some fondness for their time together. Her mood would pass with time. Once he proved himself worthy, all the heartache he had endured would be worth it.

The demon growled. "My queen asked you a question."

Zaybris wet his lips. "The Aurelian sisters were understanding… "

"Understanding?" Lilith said.

"He's lying," came Selene's voice from behind him. "He never told them anything."

The audacity! He hadn't harmed one hair on the human's head, and yet she betrayed him. Did loyalty count for nothing in the modern age?

"How dare you!" he cried.

"He didn't tell them?" Lilith repeated.

Selene shook her head then said quickly, "No one knows what happened to you. In Aurelia, you're called the lost queen. They've been searching for you for years—"

"I'll be taking some of that blood now!" Zaybris said before baring his fangs. He tried to launch himself across the bed to grab Selene but was pulled back. Something strong clamped around his throat, causing his teeth to clatter painfully. Then he was lifted in the air, his back pressed to the stone wall by the demon king. Although Zaybris had held many victims in this same position, he was sure none of them felt as vulnerable than he did at that moment.

The scent of Asmodeus's breath was metallic and sharp. "Threaten her again, and I pull out every tooth from your skull."

"You never told them," Lilith said softly. For a moment, Zaybris regretted the pain the admission seemed to cause her. Yet now wasn't the time to show any sentimentality. He had to show her what a strong and true ruler he could be.

"I don't have to explain myself to inferiors," he retorted, struggling in the demon's grip. "Lilith, don't you see? It's fate that has brought me back to you. With this human's blood, I planned to revitalize the vampire race to show you what a true and just king I could be. Let me rescue you from this dark abyss. Come with me! Let us return to Aurelia to rule together."

Lilith rubbed her temples then turned to the king. "Oh, Asmo, I can't even bear to look at him."

"Go then, beloved, I'll take care of this," the demon replied. He peered closely at Zaybris. "Ah, vampire, what a quandary you pose. I can't keep you here against your will, but if I could, I would first tear off all of your fingernails…"

Asmodeus began to describe all the fearsome ways he wanted to torture him, but to Zaybris, the demon's voice fell away. He watched Lilith trace her fingers across the footboard of the child-size bed. Then she repeatedly extended and retracted her wings in a gesture he recognized from their time together as agitation. Her expression was lost.

Zaybris thought back to all the times the Goblyn queen had asked for his advice. The moments they had shared alone in her study—discussing plans for housing, blood donations, and sunlight protection. She had been joyous then, excited about the opportunity to give his people a home and serve as their benevolent queen. Yet there was no spark in her eyes now—only deep sorrow. In an instant, all his efforts felt hollow. The truth of his situation fell upon him like an ax.

She doesn't care about my plan.

Heartache made a lump rise in his throat against the pressure of Asmodeus's hand. All that he was doing was pointless. Why should he carry on the effort of trying to revitalize his people if it made no difference to her? She wasn't going back to Aurelia. Lilith had turned her back on the realm to live in the Underworld. Now she was queen of an entire dimension, not just a small territory. Could he hold all of that glorious ambition against her?

No. Not when her drive was one of the things he loved most about her. And if he truly wanted to be with her, he needed to make a sacrifice. A grand romantic gesture.

There is only one destiny for me now.

Squaring his shoulders as best he could while dangling in the air, Zaybris said, "I will endure any punishment that awaits me, great king."

Asmodeus looked surprised. "Is that so?"

"Yes. I am choosing to stay here in the Underworld."

The demon chuckled. "Are you, now?"

Zaybris tugged at Asmodeus's muscled forearm. "Let me down, will you? I swear I won't cause any trouble."

"Words are binding in my realm," Asmodeus said.

"I understand. Please!"

The king glanced at Lilith, who inclined her head. Abruptly, Zaybris was dropped to the floor. The impact made his chest wound throb, but he wouldn't let the pain keep him from what he needed to say.

"Lilith, my darling, my queen, I would rather live an eternity in this wretched place than be parted from you again." Zaybris reached up to close his fingers around the traveler's stone and pulled it off its chain. Lurching across the room, he came toward Selene and shoved the stone into her hands. "Take it! I don't need it anymore. Go on, take it!"

The stone dropped into Selene's palm. She looked at him and he nodded vigorously, closing her fingers around it. "A traveler's stone can be taken by death or gifted in charity. I relinquish my claim and gift it to you. Use it as you wish. Let it lead you to your fated mate just as it led me to mine."

Puffing out his chest, he turned to Lilith and dropped to one knee. "My queen, I pledge myself to you. To serve you in whatever capacity you desire, here in the Underworld."

He felt euphoric as the vow left his lips. This was the reason the stone had taken him here. This was how he was meant to spend the rest of his days. Everything made sense now. Zaybris waited expectantly for Lilith to react, hoping she might embrace him or gift him with a smile. But instead, her eyes turned cold.

"Take him away," she said to Asmodeus. Then after shooting an envious look at the stone clutched in Selene's hand, she added, "And make preparations for us to travel soon."