Princess of Lust (For the Love of Evil) by Ann Mayburn Page A

would have looked away except there was nothing sexual about the way her father looked at his concubine. If anything, he looked as if he were ready to bolt. Galina licked her lips and said in a rush, “I wish to train Gregor as a warlock.”
    Her father gripped the concubine’s wrists. “Absolutely not!”
    She continued as if he’d never interrupted her, pointedly ignoring Natalia’s openmouthed stare. “Listen to me. He is slowly going mad with a lack of anything to do, other than be a pet, and he’ll drive Natalia insane as well. Gregor loves her with every drop of his soul. He would never use his powers against her.”
    “I’m not worried about that,” Asmodeus snapped. “I’m worried about him using them against me. I’ve seen the potential in him as well, my concubine, and I’m well aware of how powerful he could become. Do you want someone like that, with his ties, in the heart of our world? He was raised and bred to destroy us.”
    Galina shrugged, not an easy thing to do with her wrists still held shackled in his hands. “It wouldn’t be the first time your greatest enemy became your ally. Besides, right now Gregor is in constant danger with no way to defend himself. How many assassination attempts have there been on him? Ten? Twenty?”
    Natalia leaped from her chair stalked across the room, her anger a wave of heat before her. “No one me about that!”
    Asmodeus appeared chagrined. “I didn’t want to upset you. You’ve had so many changes thrust upon you—”
    Something in her eyes must have clued him into how furious she was. “He is my concubine, my heart, mine to protect and love. How dare you keep this from me?”
    Galina spoke up quickly. “You see, she loves him as much as you love me. And much like her father, Natalia will do anything to protect those she loves. Give your daughter a fighting chance by enabling Gregor to protect both her and himself.”
    Fighting to remain calm, Natalia closed her eyes. “Who has been trying to kill him?”
    Asmodeus’s voice came out harsh and tight. “Who hasn’t? Those who sought to hurt you have found an easier target in your concubine.”
    She opened her eyes and locked gazes with her father. “Train him. Please.”
    Galina stood and turned Natalia to face her, breaking her staring contest with Asmodeus. “You need to know that my coven uses sex for many of our spells. In order to learn our craft, he will have carnal relations with my witches and wizards.”
    Natalia’s demonic nature bristled at the thought of sharing him and she immediately felt like a hypocrite. “It is his decision who he touches. I will not force him into anything.”
    “Then you cripple him as well and training him will be a waste of time,” Asmodeus said from the couch. He’d regained his normal unflappable composure and watched her carefully.
    Galina made a sound deep in her throat, close to a growl. “All we need is one person in my coven that he’d be willing to touch and be touched by. That will be enough to teach him the basics.”
    Natalia sighed and rubbed the back of her neck. “Let me make the offer to him.”

 
     
    Chapter Five
     
     
    Natalia hesitated at the double doors leading to her suite of rooms. On either side, her personal guards studiously ignored her, and she tried not to stare at them. She didn’t think she’d ever get used to the way royalty seemed to be able to not notice those serving them, as if they were nothing more than furniture. For a moment, she was tempted to ask them to remove their helmets and tell her about themselves, but she knew that was just another way of stalling her eventual confrontation with Gregor.
    Besides, he knew she was here. She could feel him through their bond, his agitation and excitement mixing with anger and a tiny hint of fear. That fear had her opening the doors without any hesitation. Because of their connection, she was driven to soothe Gregor, to fix whatever had made him sad and afraid.