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

by Janie Marie

  “They are monstrous,” Beelzebub agreed. “I heard she destroyed the Wolf King. It is a shame he could not assume Lancelot’s position. I am sure that would have pleased his father. Perhaps one of his sons?”

  Lucifer chuckled, placing a kiss on top of Jane’s head. “She did get a tiny bit out of control with him. And I am considering choosing one—I may let Jane meet them and allow her to decide.”

  “Well, she has had experience with the wolves, so that is a wise decision,” said Beelzebub.

  The group chuckled as they caught sight of Lancelot where he was chained alongside his mutations.

  “Lycaon was foolish to seek her out,” Lucifer added. “Of course, he did not know who she was to me, but he should have known not to touch her when I showed interest.”

  “True,” Astaroth said. “We all wondered about your infatuation. I see that it was more now, and I cannot blame your disappearance to pursue her.”

  Jane pressed herself closer to Lucifer, making him aware of her nervousness toward the giant princes of Hell.

  Lucifer just smiled and gave her a comforting squeeze before responding to the hulking prince. “There was nothing that could keep me from her.”

  “Apparently,” Sonneillon said, “not even Death.”

  They laughed softly. Jane was quiet and unsmiling until she noticed Asmodeus.

  A bright smile lit up her face as she turned to Lucifer. “May I go say hello?”

  He kissed her cheek before gently pushing her away. She didn’t waste a moment to walk over to the King of Demons as though she was reuniting with an old friend. It amused Lucifer she was so comfortable with the darkest and strongest of them.

  “Ah, my king,” Asmodeus said, rising to his feet before lowering his head and smiling at Jane. “My queen.” He held his hand out for her, waiting for her to reach him. She didn’t even seem to be aware of the bound werewolves and vampires all chained below her.

  “Hello, Asmodeus,” Jane said, placing her hand in his. Asmodeus smiled and kissed her fingers before standing tall to meet the eyes of the other rulers of Hell.

  “Has the great king lowered himself to prison guard for Lucifer?” Belial asked, scowling as he glanced at the prisoners.

  Jane turned to glare at one of his most hated rivals, and Asmodeus placed a calm hand on her shoulder as Thanatos came to her side. The queen and her guards.

  “You know I enjoy any chance to use my chains and slowly torture the wicked.” Asmodeus grinned over at Belial’s scoff while Beelzebub and Sonneillon laughed.

  “I did not take you for a bodyguard either.” Berith spoke up next to Belial.

  Asmodeus shrugged, lightly flapping his wings. “Our queen deserves the best.”

  The others laughed at his joke that he was the best of them, while Lucifer smiled and walked to the spot where Lancelot lay unconscious. “She does,” Lucifer said, smiling at Asmodeus. “That is why she has me.”

  Many of their group laughed loudly with Lucifer except for those who clearly followed Belial and Berith. Beelzebub was second to his hated rivals, but even he chuckled.

  “She beat the shit out of him,” Beelzebub said, pointing to Lancelot’s stomach. “And she made him her bitch as well.”

  Astaroth and Sonneillon moved up to view him too, laughing before glancing back at Jane.

  “Yes, my little queen was ruthless with him. It was definitely a fight I will not forget,” said Lucifer, winking at her when she caught his eye. “See?” He nodded toward her when she couldn’t take her eyes off Lancelot. “She will not be satisfied until he is fed to his dogs. I had to stop her from killing him, but she had to then remind me that I wanted him alive when he was foolish enough to attack her after I ended their match.”

  “The queen does have a way with our king,” Asmodeus said. “Although, I would have enjoyed seeing our High King rip this filth’s jaws from his skull.”

  “You can harm him?” Astaroth asked, giving Lucifer an impressed look.

  “My queen gave me many gifts. Not just her lovely face,” Lucifer said, extending his hand out to Jane. She quickly approached him, walking between Astaroth and Sonneillon. They bowed to her, and she kept her head up, just as he had told her to.

  “Would you like me to wake him for you, Jane?” Lucifer asked once her hand was in his. “Or do you wish to let him sleep through the slaughter of his children?”

  “His children?” Her hand shook, but her expression did not waver.

  “Yes, my queen,” he said, tightening his hand on hers. She won’t last.

  “I think he would like to see them before they die,” she said, staring at him as if to sway him.

  He knew she was thinking of it as an act of kindness, but it would be the opposite for Lancelot. “Yes, seeing them will make a more lasting impression,” he said, watching the light dim in her eyes.

  Thanatos moved to her side and held out his arm for her to take. Jane took Thanatos’ arm before Lucifer turned to Lancelot.

  “You are going to slay them now?” Beelzebub asked.

  “No, my queen will get to have a little more fun with his pets. I may join her, but I do love it when she loses control,” Lucifer said, turning to see Jane’s eyes begging him to leave her out of it. He could almost feel her heart breaking from where he stood. He pushed away the urge to look at her and slapped Lancelot’s face. “Wake up!”

  Lancelot’s cheek split as he jolted awake, snarling.

  “Did you enjoy your nap?” Lucifer asked.

  Lancelot didn’t respond and quickly looked around to see his children and followers tied up around him, then he saw the gathering of Hell’s lieutenants, and finally Jane. “What is this?”

  Lucifer grabbed him by the hair. “Do you not remember my warning?”

  “I remember, my king. I apologize for losing control. She simply makes me lose my mind.”

  The crowd laughed.

  “Yes, she does cause one to lose sight of their goals,” he said, glancing at Jane briefly. “It takes a king to maintain course, otherwise she might have me do something foolish. Perhaps spare you of punishment.”

  Lancelot looked at Jane. “I am certain she would not extend me that kindness, especially seeing that she made good on her word by marking me her bitch for all to see.”

  The others laughed as Lucifer created a sound barrier so no one would hear them. “I’ll tell you a secret . . . The demon you saw during your battle with the knights is not the queen you are staring at now.”

  “I realized there was more to the woman when I first laid eyes on her, Master. I knew there was something inside her.”

  “Yes, my queen is quite strong, and she has kept that demon trapped inside her for the most part. She grew weak, though, after her fight with you. She saw and heard what her demon said to you—she felt guilt for the lives she destroyed because she let her out, and she began to fall. Only, you failed to make her fall completely.”

  Lancelot’s eyes widened as he looked at Jane.

  “Do you see it now? Your queen is terrified for you. You fought this girl yesterday, and she beat you for reasons you cannot fathom. But you see, she is not the wicked creature whom you met before.”

  “What have you done, Master?” Lancelot asked, not looking away from Jane’s worried eyes.

  “I unleashed a monster,” he said, peeking back at Jane. “Now, I need her to take control of that beautiful girl.”

  “Master?” Lancelot looked at Jane. “But you said this one is your queen.”

  Lucifer locked eyes with Jane as he spoke, “She is. However, she would very likely set your family free. Perhaps, if the princes had not come, I might have allowed some mercy, but you see, her heart is too beautiful and forgiving. And you know how that will look to the others, don’t you? After all, when I sought out her tormentors, you thought the same, didn’t you?”

  “Yes, Master. It appears as weakness.”

  He nodded. “So you understand her demon must come to show the others how
wicked she truly is?”

  Lancelot glanced at his family. “I do. And I do not deserve it, but I beg you to show mercy on my family, my king.”

  “Do you still seek vengeance on Arthur and David?” Lucifer asked instead of replying to the plea.

  Lancelot’s gaze traveled back to Jane. “Yes, Master. Always.”

  “Then you will help me now. When her demon comes, you will follow any order she gives to show your loyalty to me. Do this, and I will give you another chance to face the knights. Do you understand? Otherwise, I will destroy you after I kill Guinevere.”

  It took a few seconds for Lancelot to respond. “Yes, my king.”

  “Good,” he said, removing the sound barrier. “To answer your question, this is the extermination of your little pets. Our guests have come to see your queen in action since they missed out on her impressive match with you.”

  Lancelot lowered his head in defeat. “I apologize they do not please you. I was only attempting to create a more useful weapon against the knights since they have such an advantage over all others.”

  “Yes, they do,” Lucifer said. “However, you lack the right to create such a weapon, and it happens that those very knights are the reason for your powerful queen’s creation. I am beginning to wonder if the disgusting beasts’ birth had anything to do with the rotting corpses that roam the earth.”

  Lancelot stiffened but did not meet his eye.

  “I believe my queen desires the heads of your children,” Lucifer said, watching Lancelot quickly look up as he continued, “I think we will also claim your most cherished followers so we can ensure you have no distractions from now on.”

  “I beg you, Lucifer.” Lancelot glanced at his family, particularly, a small boy and girl. “I will take any punishment and destroy my creations, but I ask you to spare those you have chosen.”

  “Say your goodbyes.” Lucifer let him go before walking to Jane.

  “My king,” she said, a slight tremble to her voice.

  He took her hand from Thanatos’ and led her away from the crowd before grabbing her face and kissing her softly. “You must go now.”

  The cries and screams of Lancelot’s followers and mates all began to echo when Lancelot struggled to crawl to them.

  She breathed faster as she watched the sad sight. “You promised. I don’t want him to suffer this way, especially his family.”

  “I told you I would call her. I am calling her now because I know you will not like doing this.”

  She held his wrists. “They did nothing wrong. They are children and humans in chains . . . This is wrong.”

  He caressed her soft cheek. “I told you not to fight with me on this, Jane. She will do this for you.”

  “Please don’t do this, Luc.” She touched his lips. “I want the mutations destroyed, but these children are innocent.”

  “They are his family and the whores he breeds with. I do not want them alive. This will break his spirit. It is the only punishment that can harm him.”

  “Don’t make me do this.” She started to shake from her efforts to keep from crying. “It will ruin me. Even if it’s her, it’s still my hand. She’s still a part of me . . . Please spare them. Let her destroy the mutations and put on another show, but don’t kill them. They’re just babies and his women.”

  “It is done, Jane,” he said without hesitating. “I will see you later.”

  Her eyes widened, and she shook her head frantically, grabbing a hold of his neck. “Kiss me.”

  Since she had not broken before, he had intended for it to happen later, but he had no choice now. So, knowing what this meant for them, he lowered his lips to hers.

  She kissed him desperately. It was their kiss, and she was willing to give him anything at this point.

  His refusal would add more devastation to her heart. “Thank you for the kiss, my queen,” he said, watching the flames dancing in her eyes as she clung to him. “But I need to send you away now.”

  “I’ll let you have me if you spare them. Right now. I won’t make you wait anymore, and I will mean it when I give myself to you. Then you’ll get full control over her like you wanted. I know there is good in you, Luc. Please don’t make me do this.”

  “You will mean it?” he asked, staring at those flames as they brightened.

  “Yes. I swear.” She had so much hope. She meant every word.

  She was his.

  Lucifer sighed, lowering his lips to hers for her sweetest kiss yet. She cried against his mouth as she slid her hands around his neck. He pulled her to him, savoring every drop of her kiss before whispering, “I am sorry, Jane.”

  “No, Luc.” She tried to hang on as he pulled her hands from his neck.

  He kissed her hands and took one last look into her eyes. “Forgive me, my queen.”

  Her eyes teared up. “Luc, please.”

  “Come, demon.” He watched Jane’s eyes as that gold flame lit into an inferno only to be drowned in darkness.

  “My king,” the demon purred, that wicked smile stretched wide over her lips as she pulled him to her.

  Lucifer kept the kiss short, loosening his hold and standing straight. “I have a job for you.”

  She glanced around, cackling at the sight of Lancelot whispering to one of his young sons and daughters as they cried. “So, she didn’t kill him—and you didn’t kill him . . . What could that possibly mean?”

  He ignored her question. “I want you to put on a show. Destroy his creations and his family.”

  Slowly those dark eyes came back to meet his. “And what of your queen? I doubt she approves of this. Are you so soft you cannot force her to do it on her own?”

  Lucifer looked into her eyes. There was no gold, but he knew Jane was there. She would hear him. “Destroy her.”

  “Did she not satisfy you this morning?” she asked, trailing her fingers down his chest. “She has a little ache between her legs . . . What exactly did you do together?”

  “None of your business,” he said, gripping her by the back of her neck. “Do as you are told.”

  “You know, I felt you going soft in my mouth before you called her. I’m not sure you can satisfy me.” She giggled, sliding her gaze to Lancelot. “I bet I know who could.”

  He growled, squeezing her neck as gold flames suddenly ignited in her eyes, pushing away the darkness until it merely circled her irises. His grip loosened in an instant.

  “Luc, please,” Jane said, pressing her hand against his chest.

  “Jane, you are not supposed to be here. Stop fighting her.”

  She searched his eyes. “I will never stop fighting her. You’ve gone back on your word, so I will too.”

  He caressed her face and kissed her once again. “Come, demon.”

  “Luc,” she said, sobbing, but it turned into laughter.

  “Oh, my king has gone soft.” The black-eyed monster grinned as she patted his cheek. “Do not worry, I will remind you who you are, King of Hell, and you and I will destroy the world together. I know just how to break her so she does not distract you again.”

  He watched the gold flame fighting for control as he spoke. “Do it.” Lucifer returned to where the others waited, knowing she would follow.

  Thanatos took one look at her and turned away while Asmodeus nodded, but he looked away as well.

  “Well, this is a surprise,” Belial said, not glaring at Jane as he had done earlier. “She may have some agreeable qualities after all.”

  Lucifer watched as Jane’s demon smiled at Belial and the other princes gathered around.

  “Hm,” was all Beelzebub said.

  “You have your instructions, Jane.” Lucifer gestured to her soon-to-be victims. “Have fun.”

  Instead of jumping right in for the slaughter, she touched his chest, pressing herself up against him as that wicked grin stretched across Jane’s beautiful face. “I will do my worst, my king. May I have a kiss before I do your bidding?”

  “Of course,” he said an
d pulled her to him for a rough kiss. The demon smiled, returning the vicious kiss, biting his lip while he struggled not to throw her away from him. She even tasted slightly different from Jane.

  She laughed before pulling away and bowing. “Do I still get to play with the dog as I like? I have ached for a taste of him. I did promise him he would be mine.”

  Lucifer stared into her eyes, knowing she was trying to ruin not just Jane, but also him because he chose Jane over her. “If that is your wish, you may do as you like with him. Just leave him breathing in the end.”

  The darkest laugh he had ever heard spilled from her lips. “Such a generous king. I will go play now.”

  Thanatos sighed as he came to stand beside him. Lucifer could feel the others watching him, obviously noticing she was different from the smiling girl who had greeted Asmodeus.

  “She has quite the drastic mood changes,” Beelzebub said, watching Jane slide her fingers through Lancelot’s hair.

  “Yes, this side of her is much more appealing,” Belial said as Berith and their followers nodded, their gazes fixated on Jane.

  “I disagree,” Astaroth said, shivering as he chuckled. “This one gives me the willies.”

  Sonneillon nodded. “Yes, there is something about her that—”

  “Queen Jane has many sides to her,” Asmodeus said, not allowing Sonneillon to say anything further. “However, all parts are loyal to our king. He is very lucky to have such a powerful gift.”

  Lucifer didn’t acknowledge any of their comments. He was too focused on Jane as she took a female closest to Lancelot. The woman screamed, trying to hang on to Lancelot, and he to her.

  “So all these beautiful women are not enough to sate your lust, dog?” Jane asked Lancelot, running her fingers over the woman’s breasts. “Do you still want to fuck me?”

  Lancelot stayed quiet, his eyes shifting between Jane, the sobbing female in her clutches, and then Lucifer.

  “Why are you looking at your king? He said I can do with you as I please, and I want to know if you still want to fuck me when you have this beauty right here.” She yanked the woman’s head back, acting as if she would rip it off.