Epilogue
“ W hat do we do with it?” Clover, Jasmine, Fern, and I stood around Clover’s table, the place where it all began.
Asmodeus had taken me topside, something he really did hate, to celebrate my thirtieth birthday with my best friends. We’d sent the demons off so we could get some girl time in.
In the center of the table was the spell book and the wooden crochet hooks. The cursed objects. As admitted they were, indeed, cursed. They seemed innocent enough, but I didn’t know what to do with them.
“Do we pull a Jumanji and bury them somewhere?” Clover suggested.
“We could burn them.”
“Send them to a thrift store? Maybe someone else will have our luck.” Fern, ever the optimist.
“Nix that idea. The book is bound to As and I’m sure as Hell not going to let him forge another true love demon deal. He’s mine.”
“Look at Violet getting all violent.” Clover teased .
“Fully prepared to do violence for my demon.” I shook my head and wrapped the book and hooks in the black altar cloth we’d used during our ceremony. “Besides, your demons were picked because they’re kind of terrible demons. You wouldn’t want to meet most of them in a brightly lit room, let alone a dark alley.”
I’d spent some time exploring the palace and had run into more than a few demons interested in Asmodeus’ human lover. Most of them had been fine but there was a reason I had a bodyguard whenever I left the private rooms and it wasn’t only because As was, rightly, afraid I’d get lost.
“I’ll take them with me. They can’t do any damage down there.”
“I still can’t believe you live in actual Hell.” Fern said, gripping my upper arm. “Can’t you live up here with As?”
I shook my head, sad all over again at the loss of my previous life. It was something I struggled with regularly. But as I looked up and watched As talk to the other demons in the backyard of Clover’s cottage, I knew it was worth the sacrifice.
He was worth it.
“He needs to be there and I need to be with him.” I grabbed her hand and gave it a squeeze. “We have internet service and we can come visit. You’re not getting rid of me that easily.”
She looked ready to argue some more, but the back door opened and the demons flooded in. They were all in their human forms, which were physical perfection, but I missed As’ other form. He came straight for me and hauled me up against his side.
“I gave you enough time.” He stated, he tangled his hand in my hair. “I’m done being out there while you’re in here.”
“We’re done.” I leaned my head back and stretched up, waiting for As to bend down so I could kiss him. “You just missed the orgy and the blood sacrifice.”
“Haven’t you learned your lesson about blood oaths?” He yanked on my hair, bending down to kiss me again. And again.
“Yep.” I bit his bottom lip and smirked. “They work out pretty fucking well, don’t you think?”
Voices chattered around us, but I focused completely on the demon holding me flush against his body.
“I guess you’re right. But no more. Not all demons are as nice as me.” I laughed and wrapped my arms around his waist. I’d seen As in action and he wasn’t what I would call a nice demon. But he was my demon, and that was all that mattered to me.
“Beast.”
“My love.”
“Monster.”
“My heart.”
“Oh my gods, stop it before I puke!” Clover yelled out, pulling me back and away from my demon. “Let’s go get dinner before y’all undress each other in my kitchen and give us all a show.”
Everyone paired off and filed out of the room. I picked up the altar cloth with the book and the hooks and put it into my bag. I definitely wasn’t risking them falling into the wrong hands.
Not everyone could be as lucky as me.
“Coming, love?” Asmodeus held his hand out for me. I entwined our fingers and squeezed.
“Anywhere you go.”