Lucifer's Cage (After Dark Book 6) by Sarah Bailey (short story to read .txt) 📗

objections to his punishment. Seeing her so vulnerable and open made him want to hurt her even more. It was sick and twisted, but her cries of pleasure and pain fed him in a way no one else had.

He’d treated other women in this way, but he’d never been driven to soothe them afterwards. To punish and adore, worship every inch of their body. He wanted to spend the rest of eternity doing so to her. Candace would live longer than a regular human. She was half fae and they lived centuries.

He shook himself. Now was not the time to be thinking about these things. There were so many pressing matters awaiting him. If she was refusing to come back with him, he wouldn’t force her, yet.

Under no circumstances was she marrying that fae prince. He’d make her see she couldn’t.

Her foot was sticking out from under the covers. The mark he’d left on her stark against her skin.

No one will be able to take her from me now.

Slipping out of bed, he ran a hand through her blonde hair, stroking it away from her face. He pressed a kiss to her forehead.

“I’ll be back for you.”

The next minute he was outside and airborne, soaring over London until he landed in the place he’d left Hell by. Stepping into the portal, he arrived back in the throne room within minutes. Mall was pacing, her expression wary. She inclined her head when he strolled in.

“My Lord,” she said.

She looked behind him, as if expecting someone else. Her face fell when she realised he was alone.

“Where is Candace? I thought you went to retrieve her.”

He sat on his throne, drumming his fingers on the arm.

“She’s at home on Earth.”

Mall strode over to him. Her eyes were wide with fear.

“Lucifer, you should’ve brought her back. She’s not safe.”

She never called him by his name. His eyes snapped to hers, a frown appearing across his brow.

“Explain.”

“Dantalion and Beleth have gone to Earth to find her. I fear they mean to torture her or worse. I thought she was safe because she was with you, but now…”

Blood pounded in his ears at her words.

“Why did you not prevent them from leaving?”

“I only heard after they were gone. I apologise, my Lord.”

She bowed her head, shame in her eyes. He rose from his throne. Rage. All he could feel was rage.

If they’ve laid a hand on her, I will tear them in half.

He could not blame Mall for their actions, but she was meant to keep an eye on things for him. He’d left her in charge.

“Stay here and make sure no other fuck ups happen in my absence. Can you do that?”

Her head was still bowed. He didn’t have time to deal with her.

“Yes, of course, my Lord.”

“Good. Now, excuse me, I have two demons to slaughter.”

And with that, he strode from the room.

Chapter Nineteen

The ground shook as he landed in the street outside Candace’s flat. His wings flared out of his back, looking every part the dark, fallen angel that he was.

The two demons in their human forms had a hold of a girl between them, her blonde hair covering her face. Beleth and Dantalion stopped dead when they saw him.

“Fuck,” muttered Beleth.

The girl looked up. Her lip was split, a dark bruise forming around her left eye, which was swollen shut. Violent rage simmered inside him, threatening to burst out at any moment. They’d hurt her.

Her mouth fell open, but no sound came out. There were dark bruises around her throat. She was only wearing the t-shirt he’d put on her before he left, but it was torn in places, exposing her skin to the air.

How could they have done this in the time I was gone? I’m going to kill them. They’ve gone too far this time.

“I am going to give you five seconds to release her and kneel at my feet,” he said with barely contained fury in his voice.

It took one second for Dantalion to drop Candace’s arm and rush towards him, pressing his knees to the ground, head bowed. She swayed on her feet, falling into Beleth’s side. The demon stood there, staring at Lucifer with a challenge in his eyes.

“I’m sorry, my Lord. It was him. He made me come. I didn’t touch her,” Dantalion said, his words frantic.

Lucifer ignored him. He didn’t care what the demon had to say for himself. It was obvious Beleth had instigated this.

My little witch has suffered too much.

His eyes fell to her bare legs where there were scratches and welts.

“Stay there, Dantalion, do not move an inch,” he said.

He stepped around the demon, taking several steps towards Beleth and Candace.

“Don’t come any closer,” Beleth said, wrapping his hand around Candace’s neck. “I will kill her if you do.”

“Tell me, what do you hope to gain from this?”

There had been chaos in Hell since the portals reopened, but this was something else. There was no reason for his dukes to be restless any longer. They were free, but perhaps this freedom had come at a price. He needed to teach them a lesson. Put them back in their place.

“You are no real leader, Lucifer. No one fears Hell any more. You are weak. Gone soft. She is proof of it. You say she’s your toy, but I don’t believe that for a second. Why would you allow her to leave and go back to her life otherwise? So, I’m taking her.”

Did Beleth truly believe he’d gone soft? The demon was about to get a wake-up call. Beleth had hurt the woman he loved. It broke something inside him seeing