12. Cami
CHAPTER 12
CAMI
T his was a very bad idea. But what choice did I have?
Typhos Lucifer was the Hell Fae King.
Probably one of the most powerful beings in existence.
And he’d asked me to dance.
Fuck.
I’d said yes because, well, I’d been a little tongue-tied. I’d dreaded this meeting for weeks, knowing that my life might very well end upon seeing Lucifer again.
Yet I’d entered the ballroom in a whirlwind of rage, searching for a Hell Fae Prince, and not even thinking twice about the Hell Fae King.
Until he spoke up to comment on my word choice. Wrath . He’d called it a strong term . I called it an accurate one.
Though, he didn’t seem all that wrath-like right now.
Actually, he seemed almost pleased.
But that didn’t stop the crowds from parting as he guided us onto the glass dance floor.
Everyone turned to stare, curious as to who had inspired the infamous Hell Fae King to join them.
He ignored all their interest, his focus entirely on me. Which was unnerving, to say the least. And not just because of how sinfully beautiful he looked in his tux.
Because yeah, he wore it well.
But of course he did. He always fit his suits perfectly. A feat, considering his height and muscular width.
“You appear to be perplexed,” he said as he pulled me into his arms. “Struggling to decide on what to call me, Camillia?”
I swallowed, recalling the words he’d said just moments ago. The ones he’d breathed against my ear.
“The only situation where that may change is in the bedroom. But here, you can call me Typhos or Lucifer. Your choice.”
How would that change in the bedroom? I wondered.
But that was a dangerous line of thought, especially as it reminded me of my dreams.
Which I very much needed to ignore.
Particularly as he resembled sin incarnate in his fitted suit. His sapphire shirt highlighted his oceanic eyes, his dark hair was neatly arranged around his shoulders, and he wore a smile that served as both a warning and an invitation.
Clearing my throat, I went with “Lucifer” because it made the most sense to me.
He was the literal devil. And he possessed the same kind of sensuality that my mother’s books had once warned me about.
Or… or were those my father’s books ? He’d always been the one giving me things to read.
Except I distinctly remember my mother being obsessed with demonic symbolism—probably because of my father being a Hell Fae.
Did she know about my father’s deal the whole time? I wondered. The one that committed me to life as a Hell Fae Bride?
Well, sorry to disappoint you, Mom, but I’m no longer a Hell Fae Bride.
Instead, I was a perceived threat to the man currently holding me on the dance floor.
I had no doubt this dance was some kind of sordid punishment, just like the chain dress.
And the one I’m wearing now, I thought, glancing down at the offending fabric.
Melek had suggested that figments had bespelled the material.
I doubted it.
This was all a game, one where the Hell Fae King would probably end up killing me for fun in the middle of this dance floor.
“Typically one moves while dancing,” Lucifer murmured, his palm a brand against my lower back, his opposite hand holding mine.
“What?” I asked dumbly.
“You’re as still as a statue,” he said, guiding me closer to him. “I invited you to dance, not to stand awkwardly in a partial hug, Miss De la Croix.”
I frowned. “You’re the Hell Fae King. Aren’t you supposed to lead?” The quip fell from my tongue before I could think better of it, my entire body freezing as I repeated the words in my head.
To my surprise, Lucifer laughed. Laughed . And wow, what a beautiful sight that was on the man. His eyes even crinkled at the sides, his lips curling into a true smile, not one of his deviously charming expressions. But an actual grin.
“Touché, Camillia.” His fingers tensed against my back, his arms flexing as he guided our movements.
My heart stuck in my throat, my stomach churning with discomfort while I waited for his mood to shift. For him to reveal the true nature of this punishment. For his amusement to turn deadly. For my entire world to go up in flames.
But all he did was sway our bodies in a sensuous rhythm, one that reminded me of my dreams all over again.
Lucifer on top of me.
Kissing me.
Branding me with his hands.
I shivered, my body and mind fighting a battle I couldn’t quite define. I should hate this male, not crave him. He’d put me through literal Hell, bargained my life away in a deal with my father, and then tossed me aside the moment he considered me to be a threat.
I’d helped him with that portal.
He’d chosen fury over gratitude.
And he put me in that damn dress, I thought, trembling again.
Was it really that bad? another part of me questioned.
Yes! It was terrible. He’s a horrible fae. He should die for his sins.
My brow furrowed, that angry voice coming from a part of me that I didn’t quite recognize. Was I angry with him? Yes. Afraid of him? Also yes. But to want him to die…?
“You’re frowning,” Lucifer noted, his voice dropping a little. “Everyone is going to think I’m a bad leader now, hmm?”
I blinked. “Oh, I…” I had no idea what to say to that. I felt awkward. Oddly out of sorts. Conflicted on issuing retorts or… or… apologizing?
“It was a joke, Camillia.” His serious tone had me glancing up at him. I wasn’t sure when I’d even dropped my gaze, but I obviously had because I hadn’t been looking at him until now.
He studied me with his ocean-blue eyes, his expression giving nothing away.
All I could see was his chiseled cheekbones and square jaw, his impossibly handsome features making it difficult to focus on the details.
Hell Fae Rule #66: The Devil Is in the Details.
The random rule rolled through my thoughts, reminding me once more of my parents. They were the reason most of these rules existed.
Well, my dad specifically.
Yet that rule in particular was one my mom used to whisper to me.
Shaking my head, I cleared the unwanted memories away and focused on the Hell Fae King. “I didn’t realize you had a sense of humor.” Again, the quip tumbled out of me unbidden.
And again… the Hell Fae King chuckled. “There’s a lot you don’t know about me, little temptress.”
I shivered again, the endearment rolling over me in a subtle caress, one I really didn’t want to experience. But those dreams were messing with my head.
As were Melek’s sensual words. Thank the fae that I’d been able to block him.
Of course, the damage was already done, the images of him tying me up for Lucifer a fantasy that haunted my dreams.
“What would you like to know?” Lucifer went on, drawing me back to our dance—one that was really more of a subtle sway of hips than anything else.
A sway that changed as the music evolved around us into something a little faster in pace.
My nipples beaded as our chests met, Lucifer’s proximity short-circuiting some part of my brain. But a chill from my necklace grounded me, awakening me to my current situation.
Because the sensation was one I’d experienced before—from Melek’s magic.
So he did bespell my outfit, I decided. Because of course he did .
“Camillia?” Lucifer prompted.
“Why are we doing this?” I asked him. “Why are we dancing?” It had to have something to do with the enchanted gown; I just couldn’t see the purpose.
“Because it’s a ball,” he murmured, his mouth curving into an alluring smile. “One typically dances at a ball, yes?”
“I wouldn’t know,” I replied flatly. “This is my first one.”
“Ah.” He nodded. “I suppose you did miss the Hell Fae Bride event.”
My jaw clenched. Because yeah, I had missed that gathering… as punishment for wearing an enchanted necklace .
Recalling that event had my veins running hot, just for the charm to cool against my skin once more.
I wanted to rip it off. Burn it. Destroy every piece of magic.
Alas, I had no idea how to do that. Because it was like that chained dress all over again.
Although… with the chained dress, I’d… I’d absorbed the magic.
Maybe I could do that again?
No, better yet, maybe I should do that again…
I focused on the energy around me, my soul seeking a connection, anything that I could latch onto in an effort to break the spell. I should have thought of this before entering the ball, but better late than never. Ah, there ? —
Lucifer whirled me into a dip, one that distracted me from the strand I’d nearly caught. When he righted me, I grabbed his shoulder with my free hand, my heart skipping a beat.
His blue eyes were so intense. Like whirlpools of madness and chaos and power .
“I’ve been hard on you,” he said, his gaze holding mine. “Perhaps unfairly. Perhaps not. That remains to be seen, but I can acknowledge that I’ve not made things easy for you, Camillia.”
I huffed a humorless laugh. “I think that’s a bit of an understatement, Your Majesty.”
“Lucifer,” he corrected. Another dip and twirl, one that ended with my back to his chest and his lips at my ear. “No more formalities, Camillia.”
“Why?” I asked on a pant as he whirled me again. “You’ve more than insinuated that you have no interest in getting to know me.” At least, not in real life.
In my dreams, well, that was a very different story.
I ignored that and added, “You’ve also said that I’m too familiar with your prince. Why the sudden change of heart?”
He whirled me again, catching me deftly by the hips and holding me flush against him. “Because my heart belongs to that prince, and he’s made his feelings for you quite clear.”
The seriousness of his tone matched the gleam in his gaze, causing me to swallow. “He’s playing with me.” I’d been a shiny toy from the beginning that Melek had plucked out of the Hell Fae Bride pool. His reasoning remained to be seen. But his intentions weren’t long-term. “I’m a temporary fixation.”
Lucifer stopped moving, the full force of the ocean swirling in his irises. “There’s nothing temporary about what he’s doing. He’s tied his soul to yours for eternity, and while it may feel like a game—because my prince is playful in nature—it’s forever for him.”
He twirled me before I could respond, dipping me so far down that my hair skimmed the floor before he pulled me back up in a deft move that left me breathless and speechless against him.
Or maybe the vehemence in his words had done that.
But he wasn’t done speaking.
“Melek has made his desires clear with every gift, every thought, every trick . You mean so much more to him than you realize, than I even realized. But I see it now. And I’m… attempting to respect it.” He reached up to brush my hair away from my face, our twirling having tangled my long strands.
I held his gaze, my heart seeming to stop beating.
We were so close, our lips only a few breaths away from one another.
If this were one of my dreams, he would kiss me. Then tie me up in Melek’s ribbons and torture me with his mouth and hands.
I swallowed, unsure if I hated or loved that idea. If I hated or craved him.
“He didn’t enchant your dress, Camillia,” he said softly. “Had you not blocked him out, you would have heard the hurt that notion caused him when you accused him of it.”
I stared at the Hell Fae King, some of my earlier frustration returning at the mention of my gown. “He’s enchanted things before.”
“Yes, to protect you,” he replied. “I punished you as a way of punishing him; he knew the Hell Fae Bride rules and chose to cheat. I couldn’t let that go unanswered.”
The song changed again, the tempo slowing once more.
Lucifer followed it, holding me in his arms and guiding us to the new rhythm.
For all his faults—which I supposed he didn’t have many other than being a bit of a control freak with a punishment fetish—he could dance.
“More so,” he went on, “I was jealous of his affection. Melek’s soul is faithful to mine. He sometimes fucks others, but that’s only physical. With you, it’s spiritual. And it shocked the life out of me.”