Demon Toil, Witch Trouble (Dread Dynasty Book 1) by Alexa Gregory

Author:Alexa Gregory [Gregory, Alexa]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781999192419
Published: 2020-02-21T16:00:00+00:00

21

Satine

From the moment my mother walks into the room, things go from bad to worse.

The great Dread warlock and witch begin to argue and bicker on the varying benefits of having a demon in the family. They completely forget that we’re there. Arcane shoots me a nervous, apologetic glance, and I roll my eyes. He places a hand on the small of my back, fortifying me. My heart beats out a rhythm of gratitude that Arcane is there with me.

It gives me strength, and for one wild second, I feel like myself again.

“So we’re getting married.” I shout it as loud as possible, injecting as much excitement as I can into my unsteady voice.

For once, both of my parents are rendered speechless. My mother is about two seconds away from pure hysterics while my father adjusts his cravat. No doubt he is trying to figure out how this can play in his favor.

“M-married?” Mother stumbles on the word. “To a…a low-class demon? Who…teaches? Lucifer help us. The Elwin Sparks boy would have been better if—”

Whatever she was going to say is lost because Arcane steps forward and clears his throat. I know her words would have been less than kind. We all know what she was about to say. At least Arcane saved me from actually hearing it.

“We’ll be traveling to Hell tomorrow,” my fake fiancé explains, “because demons can’t marry Topside. It’s all very exciting. Now, if you’ll excuse us, I would like to take my betrothed home so we can celebrate.”

“Now wait just one moment.” My usually eloquent and composed father looks stunned.

“We have to go,” I insist, taking Arcane’s hand in mine. “I’ll come by when I come back from Hell to tell you all about my journey.”

They don’t understand what I really mean, of course. Because, hopefully, I’ll come back from Hell with my powers.

Or come back from Hell, full stop.

“That was…” Arcane mutters as we make our way down the long hallway, past the iron maiden, witch’s bridle, and other torture implements my father likes to decorate the manor with.

“I know. It was bad.”

It’s not like they’re the kind of parents I will miss. It would be nice if they were, but I guess I wouldn’t be who I am if they had been caring and present. Any kind of heartfelt goodbyes would be faked, so there’s no use even trying.

We merely came to tell them in case Raysiel or another demon checked up on our relationship. It was a means to an end, but it doesn’t make their reaction any less painful.

“Psst.” The sound comes from down the hall.

Zéryphine is waving at us madly, her head peeking out of the kitchen.

“This way,” she whispers.

Arcane and I make our way over to her quickly before Mother storms out of the study. It’s seconds away from happening, judging by the quick escalation of the shouts echoing through the manor. My engagement isn’t the topic of conversation anymore. Rather, my father’s latest affair.

“Sorry,” Zee says as she closes the kitchen door behind us.

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