The Fallen Queen: (Gods & Monsters Book 2) (The Gods & Monsters Trilogy)

by Janie Marie

Death made an anguished noise and turned away.

  David’s heart was pounding as Arthur looked back at him. “She said she would come back to you, brother,” Arthur continued. “She said she won’t stop fighting. She’s stronger than she appeared.”

  David met Death’s stare as Hades and Arthur said the same words.

  “She was meant to fall.”

  As darkness faded around them, Lucifer breathed in Jane’s sweet scent. He held her tightly, watching as she gasped and frantically looked around the dimly lit cave he had teleported them to. She was a bloody, sobbing mess, but now she was his. His queen.

  “Calm yourself,” he said, chuckling when a pair of fierce hazel and black eyes looked up at him.

  She hissed, baring her fangs. It amused him until the hazel color dulled, filling with darkness.

  Lucifer wasn’t in the mood to deal with her just yet. “Come back, Jane.” When only black eyes regarded him, he growled. “Release her.”

  “Why?” She reached to touch his face. “You’ve kept me suppressed while you’ve played with her. I want to stay out now.”

  He knocked her bloody hand away and grabbed her face, hard. “I will not tell you again.”

  She raised her hand, and he glared at her when he felt her power rise. Nothing happened, of course, and she stared at him, her mouth wide as she began to shake from fear.

  “Did you forget who I am?” He tightened his grip on her jaw. “Leave.”

  Frightened hazel eyes were instantly staring back at him. Jane, the true Jane, whined as she tried to pull out of his hold. He realized he was still glaring and squeezing her face, so he loosened his grip. “Shh . . . I was talking to her. She’s gone.”

  She sobbed, taking panicked breaths as she kept searching the cave. “David? Death?”

  “Jane, stop crying. I refuse to listen to you crying for them. They are nowhere near us, and your bond with Death is blocked. They will not be able to find you unless I make it so.”

  She took several deep breaths, holding them to stop herself from bawling like a baby as she had been doing for far too long. The only problem was the low temperature. Within seconds she began shivering uncontrollably and whimpering because she was actually making an effort to stay quiet.

  “Good girl,” he said, studying her attire. She was in the same unwashed clothes, and now she was covered in blood and dust. “You’re filthy.”

  She held her hands out in front of her, crying again. “What have I done?”

  Lucifer shook his head, annoyed with her hysterics. “You are lucky I took your fragile form into consideration when I had this cave prepared for you.”

  Her teeth began chattering and then she started screaming. “DAVID! DEATH!”

  Any kindness he considered giving her vanished. He quickly placed her on her feet and grabbed her by the throat. “Stop screaming. I already told you they will not hear you.”

  She pulled at his wrist. “Please let me go. I didn’t mean to do this.”

  “You’re mine. We made a deal, and I honor the deals I make. So will you.”

  “You said you’d keep them safe! That you’d keep her under control so I had time.”

  “Is David dead?” He watched her still. “Are your children dead?”

  She teared up. “No, but you let me kill her.”

  “That was never in our agreement, was it? You never asked me to stop you from killing your enemies. And YOU killed her, Jane. You. Yes, your demon was there, and just as I did, she enjoyed watching you lose yourself to hate as you slaughtered that vampire woman. I told you to listen to me, but you wanted to let the knight help you.”

  “Because I wanted to stay with him,” she whispered, stopping her tugging as she seemed to be thinking everything through.

  “Yes, you wanted to stay. You thought because I was suppressing her every time she came forward that you could rely on him. The only reason you were not destroying David and everyone else was because I kept her under control for you. Your mate could not control her—he was never able to.”

  “But you knew I wanted her dead. You knew I would kill her myself if I had the chance.”

  He chuckled, releasing her neck as he reached for the hem of her shirt. “I did.”

  She tried to push him away. “Stop! You said you’d give me time before you slept with me.”

  “I wouldn’t fuck you in the state you’re in,” he said, quickly lifting her blood-soaked shirt off. He threw it on the ground and ripped her pants, ignoring her when she began to cry again. She tried to hit him several times, but she couldn’t. “Stop trying to hit me. It will not work unless I allow it.”

  “This isn’t fair!” She wailed, hiding herself the best she could manage.

  “Matters surrounding you are rarely fair, my queen.”

  She put one arm over her breasts while the other went between her legs. Yet, she still tried to grab her shirt with her toes.

  He held his hand out, incinerating her clothes in a flash of light before she could reach them.

  Her eyes welled up in tears as a piece of black fabric floated past her face. “Why?”

  Lucifer lifted her as she stood there dumbfounded. “Are you that dense? It was filthy.”

  “But it meant something to me.” She stared at her hands as if it would reappear. “Death, please come back.”

  “I have our location blocked; he won’t find you this time,” Lucifer said, retrieving a basin and washcloth. “Stop calling for him or I will seal your lips shut with that same light.” After filling the basin with water, he took it to her. “Wash yourself. I have fresh clothing for you, but I want you clean. If you had come with me long ago, I would have had that bitch teach you how to remove the blood and grime from your body. Since you insist on learning the hard way, you will bathe like this. Perhaps, if you behave, the next camp I select will have proper facilities.”

  She stood there, shaking uncontrollably from the cold as her gaze dropped to the cloth in her hand and the bowl of water.

  He took a deep breath before yanking the cloth away from her and dunking it in the water. “Are you suddenly an invalid?” He pulled the arm she covered her breasts with and started scrubbing the blood off. “She will teach you tomorrow. This is the only time I will do this. Do you understand?”

  She covered her breasts with her other arm and nodded.

  “I have seen your body many times. There is no reason to hide.” He turned her arm, noticing the cold was still affecting her. She was shivering even more and her skin was turning pink and blue in some places. He sighed and held his hand over the water, warming it. “You are fortunate I have chosen you as my queen. I would not make these efforts to see you comfortable otherwise.”

  She sniffled, and he looked up to find her crying again.

  “I will burn your eyes out if you do not stop crying,” he said calmly, but he knew she took his threat seriously.

  Jane quickly wiped her eyes before covering her breasts again. “I’m sorry.”

  He resumed scrubbing her, running his finger over her scars. “If you like, she can remove these.”

  “They don’t bother me.” She sniffed, her body shaking, but she was holding her tears back.

  “But the scars from your pregnancy do?” He looked her in the eye when she tensed.

  Her lip trembled before she finally answered him. “Yes. But maybe I want to look like a monster now. Only a monster would do what I did.”

  “I would not have a queen who looks like a monster,” he said, letting go of her arm to grab the other. “I only brought it up because I thought you were unhappy with them. You seem to compare yourself to others who have no blemishes on their skin.” He ran a finger over a faded scar on her stomach, watching her tense before looking at her face. “These are not disgusting. I would say so if they repulsed me. I know why they are there, just as I know the others marking your lovely skin—leave them if you wish. However, if you desire so, I will have her remove them.”

  For a whil
e, she stayed quiet, shivering, but he was warming her with his touch without her realizing it.

  “Why do you want me?” she asked quietly.

  “Many reasons,” he said, dumping the bloody water and replacing it with fresh water. “I need your demon to destroy my enemies. That is all you need to know.”

  “I thought you would keep her from hurting my family, though. And David.”

  He wiped her face. “I’m sure others will destroy them.”

  Her lip trembled. “You’re going to have someone else do it?”

  Lucifer sighed and looked her in the eye. “I will not send anyone after your family or the knights, but they still have enemies on their own. You did not ask me to keep them safe from all harm. Only from your demon.”

  She was pissed, hurt, but she stayed quiet.

  “Move your arms,” he said once he reached the top of her breasts.

  “I can do it.” She held out her hand.

  “You had your chance,” he said, gesturing for her to uncover herself. “Move your arms before I rip them off.”

  Not saying anything, she slowly lowered her arms and turned her head to the side.

  He slid the washcloth between her breasts before gently cleansing each one. “You realize I have not done this for another before. Be grateful I am soft with you, but don’t get used to it. I will not be this gentle or patient with you for long. I expect you to behave after you rest. No more crying or begging to go home. I have done as you asked by keeping your demon from killing them, and I will honor it. So I expect you to honor your side of the deal.”

  She wiped a tear from her cheek, her lips still a faint shade of blue as they trembled. “You already have me.”

  He caught one of her tears as it slid down her cheek. “I have brought you with me because you lost yourself. If I had not taken you when I did, she would have crushed you and destroyed that entire castle. I was not calling her forward, Jane. You gave up because you did something terrible, and I gained a considerable amount of control over your demon, thus gaining control over you. Both of you will bend to my will. However, I would like you to obey me all on your own.”

  “I’m not an animal you can order around,” she said, her eyes lighting with a flash of gold.

  He watched the golden color swirl before fading again. “I did not say you were an animal. You are my queen. And a queen obeys her king.” He squeezed her ass. “And I want my queen accepting of my touch.”

  Again, she looked lost and broken as she stared up at him. “I need time.” She clutched her chest, her eyes watering as she sucked in a breath. “Please. If it’s part of our deal, fine, I’ll let you fuck me, but I’m just asking you to wait. I’m in love with David, and I’m broken without Death. I just”—she pressed her palm against her heart—“need time. Oh, God . . .”

  He watched as she dug her fingernails into her skin, gasping as she frantically searched the room again. “The most powerful immortal ever created on Earth, and she has panic attacks.”

  “Please,” she said, tears welling in her eyes as she whined. “Ow.”

  Lucifer sighed, lifting her into his arms before carrying her to the other side of the bed. He tugged the thick covers back and laid her down. She curled into a ball, still clutching the center of her chest as her panic attack took hold of her.

  “What am I going to do with you?” He pressed his palm on her back, directly opposite where she was grabbing, and warmed his hand. “Breathe. It will pass.”

  She began breathing instead of holding her breath and locking her body up. He’d seen her have these many times because of his ability to access her past, and he knew where the pain affected her most. Her heart. It already beat at a faster pace than normal, and when she suffered these attacks, it became so fast there was no way for her to function. She simply waited for her heart to stop, fearing her death but also wanting it so badly.

  “You realize I cannot allow you to suffer these in front of my army,” he said, watching her body slowly relax as her breathing and heart rate steadied. “I will call her forward should you have these attacks in public.”

  “I don’t care,” she whispered, breathing weakly. “You two are perfect for each other. I’m sure she’d love to discuss destroying the world with you.”

  He chuckled, smoothing her sweaty hair from her face. The cold was already causing it to grow stiff. “Turn onto your back.”

  “Please just let me sleep,” she said, trying to move away from him, but she’d worn herself out, so she gave up quickly.

  “Do as you’re told.” He opened the chest next to the bed and selected a sweater. She was still on her side when he turned back around, so he yanked her shoulder and lowered his face within inches of hers.

  “I’m sorry,” she whispered, biting her lip. “I’m just tired.”

  He held up the sweater. “I should let you freeze.”

  “No, I’m sorry. May I have it?”

  He stayed quiet as he reined in his anger. Her constant crying was understandable, but it still tried his patience.

  She reached for the sweater. “Please.”

  A part of him wanted to throw her ass onto the floor until she begged and thanked him properly, but he stopped himself once he saw her lips turning blue. “Be still.”

  She nodded.

  “Is that being still?” he asked, moving to lift her up some.

  The faintest of smiles touched the corner of her mouth, but she said nothing, and it was gone as he lifted her enough to pull the sweater over her head.

  “Do not prove more trouble than you are worth,” he said, sliding her arms through the sleeves; she was far too weak to move without shaking now. He glanced at her face, shaking his head. “If I had your demon, I would be enjoying all the pleasure this body has to offer. Instead, I have chosen to let you stay.”

  “Why?” she asked, biting her lip when he glared at her.

  He slid a hand under the small of her back, lifting her so he could pull her sweater down. As he began to slide it over her breasts, he stopped and answered her. “Because you still have fire in you. I expected a near catatonic woman who would only function if I called forth her demon, yet here you are. Still standing when everyone believed you would fall.” Glancing at her breasts, he leaned down. “Don’t move.”

  “Please, don’t,” she whispered, her body shaking.

  He pressed a kiss to the top of her breast before licking her nipple. “I won’t force you to do more.” He closed his mouth around her nipple, sucking as he dragged his hand from her back to her ass. As he continued sucking and kissing, he squeezed her ass cheek and then pulled her legs apart.

  “Please, stop,” she whispered, but arched her breasts up for him. She squeezed her legs tight, trapping his hand in place before he could reach his goal.

  “Open your legs for me.” He chuckled, looking up at her flushed, worried expression. “You have not had release in quite some time.”

  “Yes, I have,” she said, trying to tighten her shaking legs.

  “It has been days in Earth time but weeks as far as your mind and body can tell. It will help you achieve greater sleep.”

  “If this is the price for sleep, I would rather not.”

  He smirked, easily spreading her legs and holding them open as he got between them. “I told you what your demon will do if I call her back. Do you want me to fuck her?”

  She didn’t answer him as her eyes brimmed with tears.

  Caressing her face, he leaned down and brushed his lips over hers. “I want you, my queen. Not her. Not yet.”

  She trembled as he let her feel what he could give her. “Please give me time,” she whispered, her tears finally falling. “Anytime but tonight.”

  “Fine, but I still want something,” he said, thrusting his hips forward and watching her mouth drop open as she released a soft moan.

  “Isn’t this enough?” She covered her face, crying. “David, I’m sorry.”

  Lucifer roughly pulled her hand
from her face, ignoring her startled cry. “I do not want to hear his name from your lips in my presence again. I will honor our deal, but if you do not respect me, I will cause him to lust after every female who seeks his company and make sure you suffer with news about how many women he takes to replace you.”

  “I’m sorry,” she said, sobbing. “Please don’t hurt him. I’ll do anything you want, just don’t hurt him.”

  “Do you realize how weak you become because of him?”

  “Wanting him safe is not a weakness,” she said, trying to slap him with her free hand.

  He stopped her and held both hands over her head. “Look at the position you put yourself in, my queen. Do you know that I can simply imagine my clothes gone and they will vanish?”

  Her breathing sped up. “You promised.”

  “Then stop being difficult. I am offering to satisfy you, and you are acting as if I am going to rape you.”

  Her body hummed with energy as fire lit her eyes. “If a girl says no, it’s rape.”

  He chuckled, putting both of her hands in one of his as he slid the other down between her legs. “Tell me no, then.” He sighed, pushing a finger inside her tight cunt.

  Surprisingly, she stayed quiet. Lucifer leaned away, watching a tear slide into her hair before her gaze emptied of all emotion. She didn’t make any noise as she turned her head to the side.

  “Hm.” He kissed her cheek and removed his hand. “That’s how you do it.” After pulling her sweater down as far as it would go, he moved off her, watching as she rolled back on her side. “Strange they could abuse your body when you shut off like this.” Licking his fingers clean, he chuckled. “They were not lying when they said you taste of berries.”

  She shivered but said nothing as she finally closed her eyes. The skin along her legs was all prickled and turning pink from the cold.

  Looking down at himself, he imagined his clothes gone and sighed at the black markings covering his body. She couldn’t see him, but she would shortly. He got into bed behind her and pulled her back to his chest. She tried to hold on to the bed, but he forced her to let go.

  “My body will warm yours,” he said, kissing behind her ear. “I can warm you more if I’m inside you—everything would be better if I were inside you—but I will allow you to choose. Either way, you are sleeping with me.”