To Love a Devil (The Princess and The Devil Book 2), page 1
To Love a Devil By Naya V.
Copyright © 2022 Naya V.
E-book ISBN: 9781005523862
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced, scanned, or distributed in any printed or electronic form without permission. Please do not participate in or encourage piracy of copyrighted materials in violation of the author’s rights.
This is a work of fiction. Names, places, characters, and incidents are the product of the author’s imagination and are fictitious. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events of establishments, is solely coincidental. The author acknowledges the trademarked status and trademark owners of various products referenced in this work of fiction, which have been used without permission. The publication and use of these trademarks is not authorized, associated with, or sponsored by the trademark owners.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
TITLE PAGE
COPYRIGHT
OTHER BOOKS BY NAYA V.
PLAYLIST
EPIGRAPH
CHAPTER ONE
CHAPTER TWO
CHAPTER THREE
CHAPTER FOUR
CHAPTER FIVE
CHAPTER SIX
CHAPTER SEVEN
CHAPTER EIGHT
CHAPTER NINE
CHAPTER TEN
CHAPTER ELEVEN
CHAPTER TWELVE
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
CHAPTER NINETEEN
CHAPTER TWENTY
CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE
CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO
CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE
CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR
CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE
EPILOGUE
COMING SOON
AUTHOR NOTE
LET’S STAY CONNECTED!
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
THE PRINCESS AND THE DEVIL SERIES
The Princess and The Devil
COMING SOON
To Love a God
LISTEN ON SPOTIFY
“How Far Does the Dark Go” – Anya Marina
“Walk Through the Fire” – Zayde Wolfe, Ruelle
“Devil In Me” – Halsey
“Die For You” – The Weeknd
“Carry You” – Ruelle, Fleurie
“If We Were Made of Water” – BANKS
“You Belong to Me” – Cat Pierce
“Falling Like the Stars” – James Arthur
“Fire In My Soul” – Wayne Murray, Andrew Britton, Ian Shepherd
“Do I Wanna Know?” – Arctic Monkeys
“Love and War” – Fleurie
“This Side of Paradise” – Hayley Kiyoko
“this is me trying” – Taylor Swift
“I Get to Love You” – Ruelle
“2 Much” – Justin Bieber
“Own It” – Drake
“Body” – Summer Walker
“Sex On Fire” – Kings of Leon
“The Devil Within” – Digital Daggers
“Talking In Your Sleep” – AG, Daniella Mason
“Where’s My Love” – SYML
“Vibez” – Zayne
“Medicine” – James Arthur
“If You Love Me (Really Love Me)” – Brenda Lee
“Forever” – Labrinth
“Biblical” – Callum Scott
“I would rather share one lifetime with you than face all the ages of this world alone.”
J.R.R. Tolkien
I stumble back at the force of the bullet. White-hot pain explodes through my body, rendering me immobile.
Seconds tick by.
Heavy, tomb-like silence follows.
Dropping my gaze down at my arm, I nearly lose the contents of my stomach when I see it. Crimson red spills from the wound. My breath leaves me in a rush as I stare down at the blood oozing from the foreign hole in my arm.
Oh, God.
The earth shifts beneath my feet, threatening to pull me under. My head grows fuzzy, light, like it is filled with globs of cotton.
When I glance up, my gaze clashes with Azriel’s. I watch in slow motion, the way his gaze drops down to my arm. His face clouds with murderous rage when he sees the blood. It renders me speechless. My alarm must be written all over my face clear as day.
It’s the last thing I see before all hell breaks loose.
A feral growl tears from my husband’s lips. Azriel rushes Alfonso, both of their bodies colliding against the ground. Alfonso’s betrayal doesn’t just run deep, it stings. I was supposed to marry his son. We were going to be family one day, and he’d tried to kill me. Tried to murder me and now my husband.
With my heart in my throat, I watch as Azriel tears him to shreds.
He turns into an animal. Monstrous roars rip from his chest, the sound of bone collides with flesh over and over again. With his fists covered in blood, I watch on in horror as Alfonso fights back. The sound of Azriel’s hands stealing each breath from Alfonso’s lungs threatens to make me sick.
I want to scream.
To beg him to stop.
But a violent wave of dizziness slams into me with the force of a freight train. I lose my balance and crumple to the floor. My arm collides with the cement beneath me and I wail out in agony. Using what strength I do have, I drag myself away from the fight, trying to stay out of the way.
I find a crate of boxes stacked a few feet high that will keep me hidden. Lugging my body out of sight, I press my back against the crate, releasing a sharp breath. Perspiration beads along my forehead and my temples throb. Another wave of nausea threatens to turn my stomach but I fight it. I try not to focus on all the blood. The red substance has always made me queasy with a mere glance.
It’s okay. I’m fine.
With an unrelenting hold, I clutch the wound, ignoring the burning pang. I need to do something to stop the bleeding. I need to find a way to get us out of here.
I glance around, my gaze hones in on the fire that is growing stronger with each passing second. To the right of my body is our only means of escape, and that’s if we get there before the fire does. Smoke billows in the air around us, clogging my airway. I let out a whimper of distress, or pain, I can’t tell anymore. A crimson trail of blood is smeared across the floor, stopping at my prone body.
Think, Asteria.
Think!
The sound of footsteps pierces my fog of alarm. The heavy footfalls grow closer and closer. The tears I’ve been desperately holding on to drip down my cheeks as I try to crawl away from the looming danger. Somehow crawl to safety. If it’s Alfonso, he won’t think twice about pulling the trigger again.
The dark form materializes, and a ragged gasp slips free when I realize it’s Az. He drops to his knees in front of me, his once meticulous and pristine suit is now torn and ragged, drenched with blood and God only knows what else. His body vibrates with adrenaline, and his bloody hands are everywhere, patting me down, checking to ensure I’m okay, searching for more wounds.
“Cara mia,” he breathes, pressing a rough kiss to my forehead. With a firm hand, he applies pressure to my arm, and I let free a sob.
“Christ, is this what it feels like to be shot?” I wheeze out comically, trying to do anything but focus on the burn. He glowers down at me, clearly not in a lighthearted mood.
“Why didn’t you run when I told you to, dammit?” Eyes the color of moss search mine, demanding an answer.
My bottom lip quivers, all traces of humor now gone. “Because I couldn’t leave you.”
Eyes soften. His grip around me tightens, incredibly so. It’s as though he’s afraid I’ll slip through his fingers like fine grains of sand.
“Fuck,” he curses under his breath.
Lifting me into his arms, he carries me toward the exit of the warehouse. The flames threaten to lick at our flesh but he shields us from the heat and the embers. I let my head loll on his shoulder, my dizziness and fatigue rapidly becoming worse. The adrenaline coursing through my veins is dissipating. It leaves my body slowly, like the air deflating from a balloon. I breathe in his calming and familiar scent, trying to ignore the shooting pain in my arm and focus on him instead.
“You’re gonna be okay, cara mia. I won’t let anything happen to you.”
Something painful gets trapped in my chest. I don’t know what it is, but it’s there, breathing, wreaking havoc.
“I’m still upset with you,” I croak, thinking about Fabiano and all the mess that was unwillingly caused after his death. I slam my eyes shut against the truth of Alfonso’s words earlier. Azriel murdered Fabiano. It doesn’t matter that we weren’t in love. It doesn’t matter that it brought me back to Az, what matters is that he didn’t deserve it. I’m still haunted by witnessing the bullet mangling through his skull. I shudder just thinking about what may have happened if Azriel’s aim was off.
Azriel’s jaw clenches. “I told you that you were mine, princess. I meant that.”
A rogue grin touches the corners of my lips.
God, I really must be insane.
The smile falls when I spot something out of the corner of my eye. Crawling along the floor is a bloodied Alfonso, who has his gun aimed at Azriel’s back. My heart drops into my stomach. My lips part on a scream to warn my husband, but it’s too late.
Two shots fire off, echoing deaf
My scream bounces off the walls as we tumble to the ground. Fire-like pain wrenches through my arm on impact but I gnash my teeth through the burn, trying to get to Azriel. His body took the brunt of the fall and is already surrounded by a growing puddle of blood. Alfonso struggles for air on the floor, attempting to drag his body closer to finish the job. My hands shake as I search for the wounds, blindly applying pressure on Azriel’s body.
He grunts in discomfort as he reaches for his pistol, firing off a single bullet into Alfonso’s skull. His body goes prone on the cement, all traces of life have seemingly vanished.
With a groan, Azriel rolls onto his side, reaching out to the wounds on his back.
“Tell me what to do.” I try stopping the torrents of blood he’s leaking.
His face scrunches with discomfort, and with every second that passes, his tan skin pales in color.
“Don’t you dare die on me, Azriel Costa. Dammit. I just got you back.” I grasp his face in my hands, forcing him to look at me.
His calloused hand cradles my cheek with a troubling gentleness. I need him to be rough. I need him to be strong. I need him to haul us up and get us out of here.
The roughened pad of his thumb swipes at my tears, collecting the moisture.
“I’ve gone through too much to get you back to die now, principessa. Don’t worry.”
A forced laugh escapes. “So you finally admit that you’ve been in love with me this whole time?”
“I’ve loved you from the very moment I laid eyes on you, Asteria Persephone. It’s always been you.”
Emotions burrow into my throat and I rest my forehead against his. I don’t want to think about how I’m going to get him out of here without him bleeding to death. I don’t want to dwell on the what-ifs right now.
Azriel squeezes my hand reassuringly, then lets out a growl of pain as he pushes upright.
“What are you doing?” I jerk back, filled with dread.
“We’re getting out of here.”
“You’re bleeding out, Azriel. Stop moving!” I try to keep him pinned down with my hands but it’s futile.
“We are not staying here, Asteria. Let’s go. I’ve survived a lot worse than two gunshot wounds.”
He rights himself, a slight curl to his shoulders to ease the discomfort, and he takes my hand in his. My stomach clenches when I realize he’s leading us toward Alfonso’s dead body. Azriel releases my hand and with a grunt, he bends down, rifling through Alfonso’s pockets until he pulls out a small dark object that I realize is a phone.
“Let’s get you out of here.” Azriel leads the way, out of the warehouse.
I toss a glance behind us, unease weighs heavily on my chest at the trail of blood he’s leaving. It has worry gnawing at my gut. That sensation I felt in my chest earlier tries to claw its way out.
With my hand clasped in his, we walk—or more accurately, stagger. I don’t know how long we trek through the unfamiliar area but it’s long enough that I can hear the wheeze his lungs are emitting. I hear the quiet hiss he tries to keep hidden from me. With every step, I pray a little harder that he’ll make it out okay.
“Where are we?”
He flicks his gaze around, scanning the open lot. “Not sure. Looks like an abandoned warehouse.”
Digging through his pocket, he pulls out the phone. I can hear the faint ringing on the other end of the line, but no answer. It makes me wonder if he’s trying to get ahold of Giovanni and Romeo.
Do I even want to think of what it means if they’re not answering?
The last time I saw them was mere seconds before our SUV flipped from being rammed by Alfonso’s men.
A tremor travels down my spine.
Azriel growls under his breath, clearly agitated that no one is picking up.
He dials a few other times and every single time there is no answer. He leaves strange messages that make no sense, but I don’t question it. There’s always a reason for Azriel’s madness.
Fear swirls in my chest once more when my gaze snags on the trail of blood he’s leaving behind.
This isn’t good.
I’m not medically trained for anything like this. Or at all. When I was younger and I got hurt, my father always had Estrella or one of the other maids patch me up, even if it was just a simple little scratch.
This…this is different.
I don’t even know where to begin to help or make myself useful to him. I don’t have to dwell on it for too long.
Suddenly, there’s a screech of tires and then a familiar black SUV pulls up in front of us. One of the many Azriel keeps back home on the estate. Sergio, Giovanni, and Romeo hop out and I gasp when I get a good view of them. Giovanni and Romeo look like they’ve taken the brunt of the car accident. Scraped and severely bruised skin. Both sporting black eyes and limps to their strides.
A frown pulls taut across my face. How the hell did they get here so quickly?
Giovanni or Romeo must’ve called for backup and Sergio was there to pick them up. I’m assuming the strange message Azriel left on the voicemail was intercepted by his men.
My eyes clash with Giovanni’s and I release a sharp breath. A stab of emotion pierces my chest as I come to the startling realization that I love these men like they’re my brothers. Like we’re family. When I thought they were dead, it nearly broke my heart.
“Where the hell have you two been?” Azriel scowls.
“That piece of shit tried to throw us into the Pacific with cinders strapped to our ankles.” Romeo huffs.
“Motherfucker.”
“We got the message. I came as soon as I could,” Sergio responds.
Romeo helps me into the SUV and Giovanni helps Azriel inside. I don’t miss the silent message Rome and Gio share after getting a good look at my husband’s wounds. That worry, the fear, it digs its talons into me, piercing my flesh with no intention of letting go.
God, please, let him be okay.
Back at the estate there are a team of doctors waiting. It’s a whirlwind of activity. Without being given the chance to say no, I’m taken into the medical room, and I’m hooked up to IVs and tubes. I’m poked and prodded.
“Where is Azriel?”
The staff putter about, pretending like they didn’t hear my question. I try pushing up from the bed, but hiss when a twinge shoots up and down my arm.
“Where is my husband?” I demand again, only this time, it’s flavored with a groan. Out of the corner of my eye, I spot a man I recognize.
It’s the doctor Azriel keeps on call.
Our gazes lock and I see the second he takes pity on me. Setting his clipboard aside, he ambles up to the side of the bed. Whatever drugs they’re pumping through my veins are working fast. Fatigue weighs down my lids. It makes my tongue feel heavy and swollen, making it difficult for me to form words.
“What…is…happening?”
“Everything is going to be fine, Mrs. Costa. I’m going to get that nasty bullet out of you. In the meantime, I want you to rest.”
I open my mouth, intent on asking more questions, but the drugs have fatigue winning out in the end. One moment, I’m conscious, and the next, I’m blissfully pulled under by sleep.
When I come to hours later, I’m in the medical room by myself. Still no signs of Azriel. Blinking past the lingering heaviness weighing down my eyelids, I just about jump out of my skin when I spot the doctor pacing near the entryway. I was sure I’d wake alone.
I shift my weight to push myself against the headboard, but he hurries toward me, arms outstretched.
“No, no. No moving. Just sit and rest. All right?” Dr. Watson Blake is a silver-haired older man that reminds me in a lot of ways of Eric Dane, but post-Grey’s Anatomy. When I look at him, he doesn’t strike me as someone who would willingly work for the men in this world. Least of all, someone like Azriel. Though, I know firsthand just how persuasive my husband can be.
Worry strikes me in the heart.
Is that why he’s in here, to deliver horrid news?
My features tighten cautiously and my heart lurches into my throat. “Where is he? Is he okay?” I fire off the questions in a demanding tone. “I want to see him.”
