Total pages in book: 123
Estimated words: 119694 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 598(@200wpm)___ 479(@250wpm)___ 399(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 119694 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 598(@200wpm)___ 479(@250wpm)___ 399(@300wpm)
A hand closes around my arm.
The grip is iron-strong and unyielding. My heart rockets into my throat—oh God, I’m caught!
“You don’t belong here, little one.”
The voice is male—deep and cold. I look up and my blood turns to ice.
He’s massive—easily seven feet tall, armored in black leather reinforced with steel and the hilt of a wicked-looking weapon at his hip. His skin is a deep crimson shade and his eyes are burning like embers. Everything about him screams “authority and danger.” Somehow I know he’s not just some random guard.
He stares down at me, his gaze sweeping over my hood and my trembling form. He reaches down and pulls my cloak open, despite my gasp of protest. His eyes narrow and recognition flares in their burning depths.
“You’re no ordinary stray,” he rumbles, his lips curling into something like triumph. His hand tightens on my arm. “You’re a Curvy Queen.”
My breath stutters.
“I don’t…I’m not…” I can’t get the words out.
“My Lord will be very pleased,” he cuts me off, dragging me closer. His grin shows sharp teeth, white against his crimson skin. “He’ll be more than happy to have one of your kind as his pet. Or possibly, his dinner.”
27
Jules
The guard’s hand clamps down like a manacle, his claws digging into my arm. No matter how I twist and stumble, he drags me forward as if I’m a doll made of paper instead of a full-grown woman with a brain screaming get out, get out, get out!
“Please!” I gasp. “I didn’t mean to trespass—I was just trying to find my way out—back to the Bleeding Court!”
My captor ignores me and continues our steady forward motion. The stalls of the Carnal Bazaar fall away behind us, fading into shadow. Ahead, the world opens up, and my stomach drops.
A palace rises before us.
It isn’t delicate or graceful or anything remotely fairy tale. It’s obscene… decadent…and terrifying. Spires claw at the sky, molten gold spilling like veins through black stone, glowing hot as if the entire structure is half on-fire. Torches roar along its battlements, their flames crimson and hungry, licking the air like tongues. The gates gape wide, sculpted into the shapes of entwined bodies—horns…tails…fangs…breasts—all locked in endless acts of lust and torment.
I can’t stop staring because my eyes keep finding new atrocities.
Oh my God. Welcome to the world’s most horrifying sex castle, whispers a little voice in my head.
Before I can even take it all in, the guard yanks me inside where it’s actually somehow worse.
He drags me down a long hallway with golden walls and a highly polished, black marble floor. On the golden walls are pictures of erotic art depicting acts I’ve only ever read about in the darkest of Dark Romance books. I feel like my eyes are bugging out of my head as I glance at each one only to see a more explicit one right next to it.
At last, we reach a set of huge golden doors. The guard who’s dragging me along nods at the two standing on either side—also demons, though not as tall as him—and they swing the golden doors wide.
“Now, little Queen, you’ll meet my Don, Kael Varaxis—your new Master,” he rumbles to me and drags me inside.
The throne room spreads open like a fresh wound—obsidian floors inlaid with swirling flames of gold and scarlet spread beneath my feet. Pillars rise like black ribs, wrapped in fiery chains. Torches line the walls, their light throwing writhing shadows across the stone. From the ceiling dangle iron chandeliers, dripping with both jewels and razor-sharp hooks, as if beauty and violence are inseparable here.
And there, on a dais of gold and black iron, sits the Demon Don—Kael Varaxis.
He is massive. More muscle even than Lucian, his presence oppressive—almost suffocating. His skin is deep crimson, molten heat rippling under the surface like banked coals. Horns sweep back from his skull, their polished obsidian gleam catching the light. His eyes are pits of living lava, glowing with heat and hunger. The golden throne cradles him like a lover, flames licking its sides in eternal worship.
When he sees me, the huge demon leans forward on his throne.
“And what have you brought me today?” He asks the guard, his deep voice rumbling through the room.
“My Lord—I found her wandering through the bazaar,” the guard says, dragging me forward. “It is a Curvy Queen.”
He rips away my hood and cloak, revealing me completely. The slinky black dress clings to me, emphasizing every curve. I hate that I’m not wearing any underwear under it, but I didn’t see any bras or panties in the closet when I went looking for something to wear. My arms fly up to cover myself, but Kael’s eyes rake over me hungrily and I have the sinking feeling he can see everything, no matter how I try to hide my body.