I wanna dedicate this to all of you but I can only dedicate to one person. Lol.

As promised, here is the much-anticipated chapter. I know you all are waiting for a moment with Rath. <3

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Demons are fallen angels who sided with Lucifer in the beginning of time. They were cast out of heaven and forced to live in eternal damnation until the great day of deliverance. Demons are possessive spirits who have no true form, which means they can take any to their liking. Inferus is said to be the entrance to hell - it is home to demons, monsters.

"That is impossible." I ball my hands into fists and doubtfully stare back at the hulking fallen angel. Scarlett couldn't be Inferus, she should be in hell with the Devil himself. I go through different reasons in my head and none of them make sense.

He looks down at me like I'm an ant and squints his eyes. His gaze trails over my body slowly and I suddenly feel very self-conscious. I wouldn't doubt that he is willing for me to catch on fire and I already feel like I am. He towers over me and I take a step back and I grit my teeth because he follows my movements. Damn it all, if this is going to happen, might as well talk somewhere the others won't hear.

Demons are also very, very naughty.

"Well, it seems quite possible to me, kitten." I grimace at the inappropriate endearment a blazing heat covers my entire body. Could she get out of Inferus and come back? What would Valentine say if he knew about Scarlett? I make my way to the buffet and scan my eyes over the different types of liquor available. Just as suspected, Rath follows and stands right next to me, taking up all the spare space between us.

"It must have just been a doppelganger because she died hundreds of years ago," I insist. "And don't call me that unless you want your head cut off."

Rath breathes in and from what I can hear a soft groan also escapes from the back of his throat. His eyes change color, until their look like hot coals. "In case you didn't know, dollface, I'm a demon so you can't just kill me. Inferus is also home to disembodied spirits, wandering souls whose bodies have been taken from them. Scarlett is one of those spirits."

A cold chill runs straight down my spine and I feel like my body is in a space between two opposing realms. "Is she alive or dead?"

Rath's eyes flick over my shoulder and his eyes narrow on the moving figure behind me. I can smell Valentine's musky, seductive scent surround me and I slightly panic.

"She's neither dead nor living."

"If that's the case shouldn't she be in purgatory?"

He leans down to my level for him to speak directly into my ear. "Let's just say her spirit is stuck between life and death.She can't move from Inferus until her body is put to rest."

"I don't know what you mean. I've had this body for over two-hundred years."

He takes one stride closer to me and my eyes widen at his close proximity. A subtle, sensual scent rolls off of him and as breathe in I also recognize a hint of smoke that is lingering on his leather jacket. Up close, you can easily tell that he is definitely the bad boy every mother would warn her daughter about.

"Sugar, what I mean is that you shouldn't even be alive."

Once again, I grit my teeth at the nicknames he's already given me after knowing each other for five minutes. "I already know that I shouldn't be alive, demon. It's pretty much my life motto. Why don't you go back to Inferus, I don't need another psychopath trying to kill me and I don't need her coming back."

"Fuck this. Listen, kitten," he says through his teeth and points his index finger at me. Apparently, Rath is a very short tempered demon who can't handle a little fire and he is one that doesn't care about personal space.

"There hasn't been a disembodied spirit in over three-thousand years, you are an anomaly. Whatever happened between you and Scarlett is something that could not have been done with a fucking spell under the moonlight. Either you or Scarlett did something and I'm going to find out," he continues.

I roll my eyes and shift my weight to one leg. I wonder when the universe will give up on picking on me and just give up. Is it even possible for two souls to possess one body?

"Why don't you ask Scarlett since you see her every day?"

"I would but she can't speak. That's what happens when you're a wandering spirit in my Kingdom, kitten, you lose the ability to communicate," he explains while taking another shot of vodka.

"I have a name, you know, it's not that hard to remember. What kind of name is Rathmoor, anyway? It sounds like a character from a video game," I snap, not caring about any of the things he said. All I know is that Scarlett is dead and I'm alive, very much alive. She's going to stay a wandering spirit until I the day I die.

He smirks. "You don't like it?"

"I don't."

"Not even Rath? Girls love screaming my name." He winks and my face turns red. The hairs on the back of my neck stand and I scoot away to cool my heated body down.

"I don't want to know what happens between you and girls," I take a shot of tequila.

He chuckles and I feel the burn of the alcohol in my throat. "Would you prefer to know what would happen between me and you then?"

"Sorry, sugar, I'm taken. I don't date demons anyway. I really just want to know your real name," I press. I highly doubt that he would give me the first initial, let alone his entire name. Once you know a demons real name you get some sort of power over them - they become weak, since it would be the only thing that would make them feel mortal.

His hard expression manages to amplify the five o'clock shadow on the hard edges of his jaw. As he is about to speak, I feel another presence enter the small bubble of space and I abruptly pull myself away from Rath's large body.

The Prince of the Merfolk and his incredibly tan, muscled biceps enter my vision and I groan inwardly. I'm just waiting for Valentine to come sweeping in to tell these two off. My eyes scan the entire room and I watch as Valentine strides over to Rowena, who seems to be glowing. I feel a pang of jealousy in my stomach as he gives a small bow and kisses her hand gently.

If it weren't for the intriguing news and details from Rath, I would have left a long time ago. This information could change everything about what I know about Scarlett. This all just urges me to find a way to open her damn journal.

"Yes, Rath, pray tell." Kai smiles and shows off his white teeth. His aura is blinding, like staring into the sun. Although very handsome, his boyish surfer appearance has no effect on me. I can tell that Kai is much too excited to be on land. Mermaids are very complicated creatures, they protect mankind, yet they also lure innocent humans into the deep to snack on their hearts. "You demons are always too sensitive about that."

"Last time I checked, you weren't part of this conversation, shrimp," Rath mocks, trying to shoo him away.

"That's Prince Kai to you, demon." The tall merman situates himself so that he is looking at Rath right in the eye.

"It's Demon King to you, mermaid," he barks in a deep, gravelly voice. If possible, his eyes turn darker and a shadow falls on his face making him look like a skeleton. The temperature rises and once again, beads of sweat dot my forehead and palms. My jaw drops to the floor. He must be lying - the Demon King never leaves Inferus. "And Rathmoor is the name I was given when I fell, five thousand years ago. I go by Rath and nothing else."

"Merman," Kai corrects.

Rath scoffs and gives a devilish grin. "All I see is a fish with a borrowed pair of legs. Mostly likely from the last person you killed. Do me a favor and swim back to daddy before I take your soul and trap it in a fish tank."

For someone as old as he is, he's is very immature. If he is supposedly the Demon King that would mean that I am standing before the second angel to ever fall from heaven. He is Satan's biggest and most trusted ally. Inferus has never changed rulers since the beginning of time and I doubt it ever will. Demons are the very first immortal beings to inhabit the earth.

"Demon King?" I tilt my head, trying to challenge the demon again. "Prove it."

Rath gives me a dangerous look and I cross my arms over chest. A voice, which belongs to a person who is long overdue, breaks the awkward silence and greets us. It isn't exactly cheerful greeting, it's more of the grunt than anything.

"There you are," Valentine whispers in my ear causing my entire body to shiver in delight.

Kai leaves with a huff and walks off to drink a big glass of water. Vampires and mermaids are not the best of friends - their relationship is like cat and mouse. There was a time when the ties between the creatures were strong and unbreakable, but nothing lasts forever. With three mermaids killed, it only worsens the lines between the two kingdoms.

Valentine wraps his arm around my waist and pulls me close to him. Rath stares at the two of us with a bewildered expression. I notice that his gaze is lingering longer on mine than Valentine's and it's beginning to worry me. It's evident that he knows a lot more about Scarlett's situation than he lets on. If he's as powerful as he states, he should know all the inner workings of Inferus and even hell - he answers to Satan himself.

"Rath," Valentine acknowledges with a nod.

"Valentine," Rath says with a tense filled voice.

"What's going on here?" Valentine inquiries with nothing but apathy dripping in his voice. I'm surprised he even thought to ask that.

"Nothing," I reply too quickly as Rath was about to respond.

Valentine gives me a look that can match Rath's, one that is hard and serious. His brow arches above his eye as he stares me down then looks at Rath. Right then, I wanted to rip the demon's huge smirk off of his face and kick him back to hell.

I give the Demon King a subtle look of pleading but he only returns it with a wink. It's definitely not a good time to bring up Scarlett and to discuss his plans about my soul.

"You're one lucky vampire, Valentine," Rath drawls only making my body feel hotter than it already was. "No one gets a second chance like this, especially with the same girl."

My eyebrows come together over my eyes as Valentine's jaw tightens, letting me see his defined cheekbones and muscles on his neck. He doesn't reply to Rath's comment and that shocks me even more. It's not like Valentine to allow himself to be stepped on like this.

"Well, I'm off," Rath says while pulling out a pair of sunglasses from his jacket pocket. He places them over his eyes and I eye my own reflection on the lenses. "Tell Datura, that if she wants a throne, we have the perfect place for her at the bottom of the pit. And as for your coronation," he points to me. Even though his glasses are blacked out, I can see the fire blaze in his irises. "Send me an invite, I'll bring the party."

Without another word the Demon King confidently walks out of the council room. What does he mean by my coronation? What the hell does he know about me being Queen? Is there something I'm missing here? Amaryllis did see me as Queen, but that would only happen if I choose to do it.

Something tells me Rath is going to be around for a while. I can't help but doubt all the things he said. Demons are beguiling creatures with no sense of truth and honesty. I wonder what sins he committed as an angel to be cast out of heaven. Could it just be because he wanted to join Lucifer and army?
I give Valentine a quizzical look but he returns it with darkened eyes and rough features. He takes my hand and squeezes it in his, making me gasp as tingles erupt.

"Come," he says in a voice so deep it hits me to the core.

Hastily, Valentine leads me out of the room and back to the garage where our car is parked. My body is electrified everywhere he touches and it's getting hard to me to walk. He pushes me against the car with a hard thud and presses his hips against me. Valentine's hands fall on my waist as his eyes devour every inch of my body. Heat, so fast and sharp, blazes through my entire body.

"What did you really talk about with Rathmoor?" His voice is husky and deep enough to cause tingles in my ear.

"Is that jealousy I detect?" I tease while running my fingers down his covered chest.

"Jealousy seems to be a mutual feeling between you and me," he whispers in my ear. "Come now, kitten, tell me."

I feel my heart drop an insane height as his words penetrate my chest. I gnash my teeth together and dodge his mouth as it makes its way to my neck. I laugh the emotions away and look him straight in the eyes. "I tried to get his name," I say truthfully.

"You know perfectly well that he won't give you his name. He's a demon for hell's sake." He shakes his head in disbelief and he grinds his hips further into mine, making my moan and stop thinking altogether. "You expect me to believe that that's all you talked about?"

"Well, Kai came in and we talked about his hot legs," I snicker, lighting his internal fire even more. Valentine ignores my crude comment. "Val, we were just talking. Do you not trust me?"

"I trust you. It's him I don't trust." He frowns and his irises start to cloud over with black indicating his anger and jealousy. "Rath is the most dangerous, most vile demon in the underworld. I don't want him near you and I don't want you speaking with him unless I am around. Understand?"

I nod vigorously agreeing mainly because of the tone of his voice. It was hard edged, commanding voice of dominating male.

"Do you understand?" His voice was even stricter that time. I thought about opposing to see what his reaction would be but we've hurt each other enough.

"Yes," I breathe out, anxiously.

Valentine takes a fistful of my hair in his hand and gently tugs, forcing me to look up at him. His blue eyes have cleared and are burning with passion. My heart drums wildly against my chest making my blood rushes quickly throughout my entire body. He closes the gap between us and presses his lips hungrily against mine. I moan in satisfaction as he tongue darts between my lips and meets with mine. Stars appear in my vision as he aggressively takes the kiss to another level. The kiss is fervent and full of need. I became fully aware of the heat pooling in my core.

I feel something hard poke against my stomach and my body shudders in reaction. Valentine pushes himself forward and again, the same sensation but this time it vibrates and my eyes open wide. I break the kiss and push him away in embarrassment, almost giggling out loud. To think I almost did naughty things in a garage under the most sacred place in the underworld.

"Val, your phone," I whisper in amusement. I try to compose myself and rid myself of wild, unnecessary thoughts as I step away from him.

"Damn it," he says, reluctantly pulling away and fishing out his mobile device. He answers the phone with a quick greeting and I tune my senses to listen in on the conversation.

"Valentine," a voice, who is clearly Vladimir's, says frantically through the speaker. "It's Cassandra, she's awake."

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Love you all!