The Third Throne: Angel of Darkness (31 page)

“No.  Nor are they mortal heads.  They are the skulls of Rogue Angels.  I gave the deathblow to two of them.  The other was slain by Michael.  I merely took their heads, and no, they didn’t have flesh on them when I commissioned the chair.  They were burned in the pyres long before the throne was created.  I told you, I was never as deranged as Serena,” Lucifer didn’t want Anjali to think even less of him, if that were possible.

“Then I still believe she was weird before she got here.  If you can out-do the devil, then there is something very wrong with you,” Anjali shrugged.

Lucifer smiled and looked at the woman in his arms.  He couldn’t believe she was trying to make him feel better about destroying an angel.  She was truly a gift to him.  She had a way of seeing past all the guilt until she got to the truth of things.  The more Lucifer thought about Serena, the more he thought Anjali might be right.  Serena was always a little different from the other angels.  He wasn’t dismissing his guilt, but she helped him see that there may have been more than one reason for Serena’s demise.  He had just confessed some of his worst sins and still this beautiful creature was holding him.  Hades was right about one thing.  He didn’t deserve her.

“Perhaps you’re right.  Someday I will discuss it with the other angels and see if your theory is correct,” Lucifer’s gaze dropped down to Anjali’s dress and his heart sank.  “That dress belonged to her.  It had a high stiff collar on it, but it was removed along with her head,” Lucifer cringed.

Anjali froze.  She was wearing the dress of the dead deranged angel.  Shit, it was no wonder everyone immediately took notice of her and got the hell out of her way.  It was the symbol of Lucifer’s attack dog and assassin.  Even worse, she was wearing clothing that someone had been beheaded in.  She couldn’t find enough air to breathe.  Her skin crawled and she desperately wanted to tear the thing from her body and burn it.

Lucifer backed away from her knowing this was the moment when she attempted to either kill him or storm off, never to be seen again.  He knew she could never forgive him for trying to demean her.

“Why did you make me wear it?” she tried not to gag and backed away from him.

“It was a twisted reminder of the consequences of letting someone rule by my side.  I thought that if I took you as my servant then you wouldn’t end up like her.  I believed it was the power of ruling, coupled with my viciousness that drove her to madness.  I thought if you wore the dress, it would keep me from allowing you rise to power.  The dress was a physical reminder, in case I changed my mind about honoring the contract.  Also, I wanted everyone to leave you alone.  The Fallen all fear that dress.  None of them would be brave enough to touch you while wearing it. You also look amazing in it,” Lucifer didn’t know what else to say.

Anjali paced around the room.  It wasn’t the answer she had expected.

“When I blew up your tower, I came close to losing it and obliterating everything, but I stopped myself.  I realized that I didn’t want to kill Hades, even though he deserved it.  I didn’t want to hurt you.  I stopped myself from going too far.  I know I had trouble reigning in my power, but I wasn’t using it to burn Hell to the ground.  I used it because I didn’t want to die.  Even when Hades tried to seduce me in his tower and I threw him across the room, I stopped myself from maiming him.  I wasn’t so far gone that I wanted blood.  I’m supposed to destroy and I don’t want to.  I will let the dress be a reminder of what I don’t want to become, though I seriously want it dry-cleaned.  I understand Hell; I get what goes on here.  The wicked must suffer, but the punishment must fit the crime.  Serena didn’t understand that.  She took things too far,” however, she was going to get someone to beat the dress against a rock and make sure all the crazy was out of it.

Lucifer looked at her in disbelief.  It seemed there was nothing he could say that would make her run from him.  He was both relieved and scared.  He wanted to be happy, but he was still afraid to get his hopes up.  He was so pleased by her response that it took him a moment to register what she had just said.

“Hades tried to seduce you?” the world turned black as an image of Hades, dead at his feet replaced every happy thought in his head.

Lucifer looked like he was going to rupture a blood vessel in his eye.  She hadn’t meant to tell him about Hades’ treachery.  It just slipped out.  If she didn’t think fast, Hades would be dead and Lucifer would have to find two replacements to fill the thrones.

“He didn’t get far, I swear.  I stopped him and I vow that I will break his legs if he ever tries to touch me again,” she knew Lucifer was turned on when she spoke about being violent or cruel.  She hoped it would be enough to make him pause.  “I will beat him with his own throne.  I’ll get scorpions from the Realm of Poison and shove them down his pants.  I’ll throw him in the Realm of Drowning Seas and hold his head under,” she rambled off as many horrible things she could think of.

Lucifer stopped fuming and imagined her fighting Hades.  He chuckled at the thought of watching her break his legs.  She was trying to distract him and it was working.

“Please, don’t kill him.  Punish him however you want, but leave him breathing.  I will address his lies to me.  There were a number of false statements that he made and I want to deal with him my way, if you’ll let me,” she smiled and put her hands on his face, forcing him to look at her.

“I still think the throne and dress suit you and not because you are crazy, but because you are able to stop me from committing murder,” Lucifer gave her a wickedly sexy smile.  “Very well, I will let you deal with Hades, for now.  Know that if he tries his touch you again, I will end him,” Lucifer traced her lips with his fingertip as she nodded solemnly.

“I understand.  Thank you for wanting to protect me,” she kissed his forehead and heard him gasp.  She liked surprising him with kindness.  She knew it had been a long time since anyone had been nice to him.

His gaze changed from adoring to hungry as he turned and pulled her toward the throne.  She cringed when she got a better view of it.

“I’m not going to watch you sit in that thing, if that’s what you’re thinking,” she pulled back on his arm and grimaced.

“No.  I will have it removed.  I want to show you something else,” he released one of her hands and guided her through the hall to an ornate door to the left of the gruesome throne.

“I suggest you burn it,” she gagged as they walked past.

Lucifer chuckled and blocked her view of the throne, while using it as an excuse to brush up against her.

They entered through the door and stepped on the landing.  To their right was a short curved staircase, which led to another door.  The staircase to their left curved down and out of their view.

Anjali realized that the staircase led to the actual tower.  The Hall of Mirrors was really a large enclosed walkway.

“The servant’s chambers are lower in the tower and can be reached from that staircase.  Aganon, Dorian, and Vincent shall reside there,” Lucifer pointed to the steps leading down.

They climbed up the stairs to the right and stopped at the door.  He pushed it open and a fireplace sprang to life.  Wall sconces flickered and lit the room.  They entered a large circular room, the spire of the tower.  From the looks of it, it was a bedroom.  Well, it mostly had a very large bed.

Anjali was grateful that this one wasn’t made from bones; instead, it was made from black wrought iron that turned up into a canopy.  Black sheer curtains hung down to the floor, drawn back to show the large bed.  There were thick metal loops all around the bed frame.  She immediately knew that Serena was into bondage.  She so didn’t want to know about that.

“This will be our room until the renovations are done.  You may do with it as you please,” Lucifer pulled her against his body and stared down at her.

“Thank you,” she pushed herself up on her toes and kissed him quickly on the lips.

He growled and grabbed her tightly, lifting her off the floor.  He walked them over to the bed and sat down with her in his lap, straddling him.  He leaned back and took in the sight of her sitting on him.  When the darkness mired him in anger and fury, he wanted to remember how she looked at him with a mix of innocence and lust.  He needed something to cling to when he was no longer able to see past his own hatred.

Anjali looked down at Lucifer, who was mentally undressing her.  She placed her hands on his shoulders and ground her backside into his lap and his growing erection.

Lucifer closed his eyes and relished her boldness, but he stopped himself when he remembered her running from his bed.

“There is something I must know.  Why did you leave me after we had sex?  You looked upset and I don’t know why.  Is it because I took your virginity?” he asked.  The question had burned in his mind since she had left his room.  He no longer believed she was using him, but still couldn’t understand her animosity.

“I panicked.  I’d never been with anyone before.  I wasn’t sure if I was…if I had…if it was good for you.  I wasn’t sure what I was supposed to do when we were done.  You kept calling me your mistress.  I didn’t know if you expected me to leave.  Mistresses don’t snuggle and neither do servants.  Honestly, I was a little shocked when I saw the blood.  It made it real.  When you made love to me, I was happy, but after that, I was afraid that you might have used me.  You were looking at me with a strange expression,” Anjali averted her eyes, embarrassed by her insecurities.

Lucifer immediately took her into his arms and held her close.  He brushed his lips against her earlobe.  “You silly girl, I was more than satisfied by you.  You have no reason to question your abilities in bed.  You are amazing to me.  You are beautiful, compassionate, forgiving, and passionate.  I wouldn’t give you up for the world.  Honestly, I’m the one who was uncertain of what to do.  While I’ve had other women before, I never concerned myself with pleasing them, only myself,” Lucifer replied sheepishly.

“That explains our first encounter,” she looked around, flustered.

Lucifer grimaced.  “I’m sorry about our first time.  I was overwhelmed and I know I wasn’t gentle.  I looked at you strangely after we made love was because I realized that I had stopped thinking of you as my mistress.  In my mind, I had called you Anjali.  I realized that I stopped thinking of you as my mistress when you started helping me punish the prisoners in the Realm of Nightmares.  You became my equal in that moment.  It just took me a little longer to realize it,” Lucifer took in the scent of her and growled low in his throat.

“I’m glad you consider me your equal,” she leaned in and kissed his nose.

“What would you have done if I hadn’t run from you that first time your room?” Lucifer’s eyes were busy roaming her body as he played with her long silky hair.

“Oh, I had a few ideas.  I had plenty of time to think about it while I was in the realms,” she hated bring it up, but she needed to discuss it with him.

Lucifer paused and looked into her eyes.  “I swear I had no knowledge of Hades’ deceit.  I am going to have stern words and fists with the Fallen.  They need to be reminded of whom they must listen to and fear,” Lucifer’s intensity was growing again, so she kissed him.  She was satisfied that he was outraged by her treatment.

Anjali looked at the bed that clearly doubled for a torture device and lost some of her nerve.  “You’re not into kinky stuff, right?  I don’t think I could handle bondage or riding crops,” she tentatively leaned back, debating if she should move away from him.

“I have enough torture during the day.  It does not sate my sexual lust, only my blood lust.  You satisfy me in ways that I am still trying to comprehend.  I am not interested in tying you up, unless you are willing.  I don’t want you to be afraid of me when we are making love.  Making love,” he chuckled at the thought.  He accepted that he wanted to make love to her, not fuck her like the others.

She sighed in relief.  “Maybe we can be inventive, someday, but I want to get used to being with you first.”

“Promise me that you will stay with me.  You are not my prisoner, but I don’t want you to leave me,” Lucifer put his forehead against hers and gazed into her eyes.

Anjali was stunned.  Lucifer was willing to let her go, if that was what she wanted, even though he swore he wouldn’t give her up.  He was giving her a choice.  She thought about what had made her join him.  It was the loneliness and desperation in his voice that had called to her.  Even if she wasn’t in control of the blade while standing in the bathroom, she had willingly accepted his offer to join him.  She had given up her life to be with him.  She couldn’t leave him to suffer alone.

She saw the sadness in his eyes and felt his body tense up.  “Lucifer, I came to you, not because you threatened me, or lied to me about how great Hell would be.  I came because you needed me.  After hearing what happened to Maraquette and Serena, I know it won’t be easy, but I’m not like them.  I understand the purpose of Hell and why you have to punish the wicked.  I think that I can help you,” she kissed him and felt his body relax.

Lucifer kissed every part of her as pure joy filled his heart.  She had finally agreed to stay.  He tried to suppress his excitement for fear of acting like a loon.  She was staying.  The only thing that could make him happier would be to return home to Heaven.

“I believe that you can help me too.  Now, enough talking.  I need you more than you can imagine.  I need to be close after nearly losing you,” Lucifer kissed her desperately and dug his hands into her hips, pulling her tightly against him. 

He ran his hands down her sides and back.  He wanted to memorize every curve of her body.  He pushed his hands under her dress, took possession of her smooth ass, and pulled it tightly against his lap.

She threw her head back as she slid over the thick ridge in his pants.

He pushed his hands up her outer thighs and pulled her dress up over her hips.  He took full advantage of her lack of panties.  He dipped his thumb into her wet core and spread the moisture through her folds.  He needed her mindless.  He rubbed her while he stroked her tongue with his.  She was thrusting her hips against his lap creating an enjoyable friction against his strained pants.

She broke the kiss, panting for air.  She threw her head back, relishing his hands on her and the way they skillfully moved.  She thought she would be embarrassed to have someone watch her lose herself to pleasure, but it excited her to know that Lucifer’s eyes were devouring her every movement.  She closed her eyes and relaxed against his touch.  Her body was warm as she twitched and tensed.

He focused on different spots to see what she enjoyed, though she seemed to respond to everything he did.  She was grasping his shirt and moaning.  He rubbed higher and higher until he found what he was looking for.  He circled her nub and teased her.  He could feel her body stiffen.  She licked her lips and swayed to the motion.

Electricity spread through her thighs and her breath constricted, causing her to gasp.  “Dear Lord, you’re good at this,” she blurted out.  She stopped trying to hold back and gave herself to him as he moved faster and faster, building the pressure inside of her.

Lucifer chuckled.  It was good to know that he did indeed have some talent and that it wasn’t just bravado.  He had never seen anyone as sexy while in the throes of pleasure, not that he had ever noticed before.  They could have cried for all he cared.  Now, as he watched her breathless and shivering, he understood what had been missing with the other women; respect.

She trembled and shook, then screamed out finally finding her release.  Pleasure spiraled through her and she pulled at his shirt, tearing the back of it.  She tried to remember where she was as she calmed herself.

Looking up, she found Lucifer’s eyes staring at her with an intensity that matched his anger, yet he wasn’t mad, he was excited.  He really did need her.

He thought he would break loose from his pants from the enticing sounds she was making.  He liked watching her in ecstasy.  He wanted to make her happy, and keep her fulfilled.

He quickly pushed her back so that he could free himself from his tight restraints.  He pulled her close and pushed his throbbing cock into her before she could leave him.  He wasn’t gentle with her, but he was careful not to injure her.  He wanted to show her how much he needed her.

Anjali moaned and bit his shoulder as he thrust his hips forward.  She was surprised by his sudden invasion, but welcomed the fullness.  His hands on her hips were strong and determined as he held her in place.  The impact was intense as he slammed into her, filling her completely.  She enjoyed the loss of control and held on to his shoulders to keep grounded.  The sensation was intense and borderline painful, but soothed her ache.  She needed this, needed to feel close to him, connected to him.

She wanted to show him that she could handle both sides of his nature.  Living in Hell and being with him wouldn’t be simple, she knew that, but as long as she could be close to him and experience happiness with him in moments like this, she could stay with him.

Lucifer was merciless in his thrusts, quickly driving her wild.  Before she could catch her breath, an orgasm rippled through her, followed by another one.  She never knew that two people could share such an intimate act while feeling like they were going to fall apart from the sheer strength of it.

Lucifer’s body snapped as her core rhythmically clenched him.  He drove into her warmth, craving release.  He ripped the top of her dress so that he could watch her breasts bounce uncontrollably for him.  He was entranced by them.  He grabbed her lower back with one arm to control the motion.  He squeezed her breasts with his free hand and pinched her nipples.  He was rewarded with another orgasm that threatened to throw him over the edge.  He moved his hand over her soft flesh and pushed himself more forcefully inside of her.  He was burning for her.