Red Blooded (Jessica McClain 4)

“Nothing,” the demoness replied in a flat tone. “Seize them all and bring them forward,” she barked to her guards as she met my gaze. “If anyone resists you shall see why they call me the Unforgiving here in Hell.”

Demons streamed in around us in the cramped space. I nodded at Ray to comply. We were going to fight, there was no question, but we would fight to our advantage.

Two demons took me by the arms, jostling me forward. “Lili, you certainly went to great lengths to make me believe that the only thing you wanted was a ticket back to my plane,” I said wryly. “I think you might deserve an Oscar for that performance.”

“Oh, I am going back to your plane,” she gloated. “Once I am the most powerful supernatural the world has ever seen, I will have the freedom to punish those who have wronged me. I have waited for this for almost a thousand years. It will be the sweetest revenge. But I’ve never lied. I told you I could go back to your plane on my own, and once I’m the Queen of the Underworld, and ruler of all supernaturals, it will be my right to go as I choose.”

We filed out of the small space into the back of the arena. I couldn’t see the crowd yet because the benches were still in the way.

As we rounded the corner, I pulled up short, causing the demon guards to stumble beside me.

The coliseum was packed.

Three times as many demons were in attendance as last time. This time they varied in size and shape as well. Lili had called the entire Underworld in to see her spectacular rise to unmatched supernatural power. The unglamoured ones stuck out the most, appearing decidedly reptilian, with luminous skin, scaly but smooth, short hair, and beady eyes.

The crowd quieted as it took me in for the first time.

The demon guards firmly escorted me to the front, where I’d stood before during my short trial. The demonesses’ chairs had been cleared away and there was a lone chalk circle etched into the stone floor. To the right of the circle sat a table covered with paraphernalia—lots and lots of sharp-looking blades and some crude buckets, likely to gather my blood. “You’ve been a busy girl, Lili,” I said as the demons shoved me over the chalk line and centered me inside the circle.

“I’ve had a millennium to plan this. When you’ve had that long, there’s really nothing left to orchestrate. Tie her up,” she commanded with a swish of her hand as she turned to address the large audience. “Behold! I have captured the female wolf! Justice will reign and a new demon order will begin!”

The crowd went wild. Cheers, growls, snarls, cackles, and thundering applause came from every inch of the coliseum.

“So where’s the Prince of Hell?” I asked over the din, knowing Lili could hear me no problem. “Surely you want your former lover to witness your crowning moment.” For the first time in my entire life I hoped the Prince of Hell would make an appearance and try to stop all this. But I knew she’d taken care of him. He hadn’t been busy with his Princess at all, like Lili had told us; he’d probably been captured and restrained.

Rourke? Nothing. Tyler, can you hear me?

Yes, Tyler replied. The demons are taking us back to some kind of holding cell. Your mate is coming around and he’s about to go apeshit crazy. And I, for one, can’t wait.

Change of plans. You have to find the Prince of Hell and get him here.

What?

The Prince of Hell is the only one who can stop this and I know Lili’s stashed him someplace. You need to find him. I can’t believe I’m saying this, but we need him.

Got it. We’ll get free, but I’m not sure how long it will take.

Lili turned to me as the audience excitement died down, her face flashing some emotion I couldn’t name. Exhilaration? Regret? “The Prince of Hell will not be the ruler of Hell for much longer,” she hissed low under her breath. “He will bow to me when this is over. Or he will die.”

She stalked to the table that held all the pointy implements, while the demon guards wrestled to chain me. I put up a struggle to give everyone a good show. That’s what Lili demanded, and if I was going to gain the upper hand, I needed to act like I was playing along with the program. The demon guards finally clasped me in chains, and once they were secure, a loud rumbling erupted under my feet.

The guards leaped out of the circle as it began to lower into the ground, separating cleanly from the rest of the floor. After a few feet it came to a grinding halt.

Lili paced to the lip and grinned down at me, then turned dramatically, her hands flying up in the air as she addressed her minions once again. “I give you the female Lycan! The vessel of my power! You will all stand witness to the undoing of Hell, and when I’m finished, a new reign shall begin. We will call it the Era of Splendor, a time when every demon will be free!” There was massive cheering. “No more glamour! No more separation! We will unite as the One True Underworld and all other worlds will cower under our will!”

The applause was so loud, I almost missed the sound of my mate waking.

Almost.

23

Jessica, where are you? Rourke roared in my mind. I could hear scuffling and knew he was already locked in a fight with his captors. I’m coming for you.

Rourke! Wait a second. There’s a new plan. You have to find the Prince of Hell before you come here. Lili has him stowed somewhere and I think he may be the only one who can stop this. More grunting and scuffling. There’s no way the Prince would willingly give up his crown, and if nothing else, it will buy us some needed time.

Got it. More fighting. I’ll be there as soon as I can.

The applause quieted and the demoness sauntered back and forth across the floor, parading herself in front of the demons, clearly enjoying her time at center stage. She spoke in Demonish first, and then English. “The Underworld will never know such power! When I am ruler, we will control all supernatural races and humans will cower before us!”

The crowd went wild again, and the six other demonesses, including the Princess, strolled into the arena, streaming in to stand next to Lili as one united front. They all wore the same high-collared identical black dresses as before.

This was turning in to a true feminist movement. Too bad Lili’s rise to power was supposed to cost me my life or I might’ve enjoyed it. From what I’d witnessed, Hell could use a vast improvement in leadership.

Rourke’s voice shot into my consciousness again. We’ll find the Prince, but it’s going to take me… a minute, he panted. These demons are trying to use those fucking guns on us again. They are spelled… but now—I could hear a crunching sound—they’re all gone.