The Winter Maiden: The Twisted

Society Presents Book 2 Cristina

Lollabrigida
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 The Winter Maiden
THE TWISTED SOCIETY

CRISTINA LOLLABRIGIDA
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual
persons, living or dead, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.
Copyright © 2023 by Cristina Lollabrigida

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or used in any manner without written permission of the copyright owner except for the use of quotations in a
book review.

Published by Lollafiction
Steph White – Editor (Kat’s Literary Services)
Cover design by Getcovers
Proofreading Sarah EA Hart — Little Darlings
For those freaky bitches who want to become a slut for Lucifer, he’s searching for the Winter Maiden!
 Contents
Blurb
Trigger/Content warning
Prologue
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
The Twisted Society Presents
The Winter Maiden Playlist
Acknowledgments
About the Author
Also by Cristina Lollabrigida
 Blurb

The Winter Maiden has been chosen...

Sadie Winters was born into submission, made to remain in the shadows, unseen and unheard. Her compassionate nature
led to a chance encounter with one of her masters, changing her life forever.
Cain, the eldest son of a Society member, locks Sadie away and claims her as his. She wishes for death until she meets his
brother, Lucien.
A forbidden love affair erupts between captive and master, leaving Sadie caught between brothers. When she discovers the
truth about The Society, it becomes a race for survival in a game where there are no winners.
The Winter Maiden is a dark erotic thriller intended for readers 18+ Includes triggers
 Trigger/Content warning

Tiggers may include:

Strong language, graphic sexual content (including bondage, primal, cum play, cock warming, blood play, and more), non-
consensual sexual content, forced piercings, torture, offensive religious imagery, blood/gore, on page infant mortality, and
more.
 Prologue

T
he snow crunched below the maiden’s bare feet, which had long become numb. Her chattering teeth couldn’t be heard
over the blustering winter wind. Her nightclothes had been roughly torn from her body, so she braved the elements naked.
Goosebumps covered her blue-hued skin, and her nipples were pointed painfully beneath her crossed arms.
Each inhale was torture as her frozen lungs struggled to work. Each exhale produced a little cloud of steam before her but
failed to provide warmth. Her dark frozen lashes were heavy as she blinked.
Wolves howled in the distance. Whether it be beast or the elements that took her, Sadie was ready to greet death like an old
friend.
Death is better than being forced into his bed again, she thought.
“You can run, but you can’t hide, little mouse.”
Sadie jumped with a shriek. She turned, but her pursuer was nowhere to be seen. She shook her head and scurried on her
way. His disembodied voice was again a whisper in her ear.
“When I catch you, I will break your legs so you can’t run again. I’m going to tie you to my bed. I’ll feed you my cock for
every meal and let you warm it for me all night long.”
Sadie’s knees shook, unbeknownst to her if it was from cold or twisted desire. All she knew was she couldn’t stop moving
forward. She needed to scale down the mountain. She needed to warn the village of those who lived in the castle.
Sadie had discovered the truth about their Lords and was punished mercilessly for it. Her poor mother and her twin sister,
Constance, were counting on her to provide for them, which landed her in this predicament to begin with.
As the eldest, Constance should've been the one sent to the castle as an eligible maiden for the offering ball. The offering
allowed the young Lord to find a suitable woman to bear his heir. That night, the chosen maiden was bathed in luxury and
received many honors before ending the night in his bed.
The women remained guests until proven to be with child or bled. If she bled, she returned home disgraced with no
compensation and was shunned for her lack of purity. These women either remained as spinsters or became women of the night
to pleasure men but never married.
A new ball was planned for the following moon.
Yes, it should've been Constance, but Sadie was chosen to be the Winter Maiden instead…
 Chapter One

T
hough only 13 pushes separated Sadie from her elder sister, Constance, the children were never treated equally. The
oldest Winters child was born with a veil. This gift brought her reverence and her parents’ adoration. Sadie earned only
their disappointment.
While Constance learned to read and embroider, Sadie enjoyed playing in the mud. The eldest had her measurements taken
every six months for a new dress, and each new outfit deserved a matching pin for her silky, blonde hair. The youngest wore
simple shifts, as her body was fuller and therefore unable to fit her sister’s last season gowns. With her hair constantly a mess,
she never once received any adornments.
Sadie’s days of playing in the dirt were behind her, and she could read and write. But she didn't recite poetry to applause
or play the flute. Constance was the sister destined to bring glory to the family through a smart match, while Sadie was born to
serve.
She was expected to be obedient and clean up after her elder sister. While Constance sipped tea from a porcelain cup,
Sadie swept the hearth.
When their father, Herald, passed away from the raging fever that ravaged the village, her mother and sister found
themselves unable to cope. She was no stranger to hard work and was the only one capable of taking care of her family, as they
had no other prospects.
Their only chance for salvation was the offering. If Constance bore the Lord’s heir, the entire family would be handsomely
compensated. But Constance was unable to bear a child as she didn’t bleed regularly. Unfortunately, Sadie’s status as second-
born left her ineligible to be offered.

One day, Sadie was walking along the town square with her friend, Hilde.
“You know, my cousin works in the castle. They're hiring maids to serve at the next ball. Rumor has it the offering is for the
Prince, not the Lord.”
“His Highness has never participated before.”
“‘Tis a shame neither of us are eligible ladies.” Hilde sighed. “What I wouldn't give to go to a ball once in my life.”
Sadie snorted. She didn't have time to waste on thoughts of grandeur. Dreams were for ladies, like her sister.
“You’re too young to be this cynical. You act like you're already a spinster.”
“Mother is attempting to arrange a marriage for Constance to Mr. Dyer. I'm working to set aside her dowry. After she's
wed, Mother and I will move into their manor. I will work for them.”
Hilde sighed and ran her hand through her long blonde hair. “I was thinking of selling it.”
“Don’t! Your hair is so beautiful. It's as if the sun touched a wheat field.”
Hilde blushed at the compliment. “I found a man willing to pay me a shilling.”
“A whole shilling?”
The blonde nodded.
“It’s only hair; it will grow back. A shilling is more than a day’s wages. You should accompany me and sell yours, too. I’m
sure they’ll offer you the same, if not more, because your hair is longer than mine.”
Sadie’s dark hair was tied with a ribbon. She thought of the broken tooth comb sitting on the tiny table next to her bed. A
shilling was quite tempting, but the money wouldn’t be hers. It would be stolen from her threadbare bag the moment she entered
her home.
“Beatrice earns a shilling and two pence a day. She said those willing to cut their tongue out to work in the royal chambers
earn even more,” Hilde said before wagging her tongue and making a gesture with her finger.
“That’s a disgusting rumor.”
“Beatrice said she tried to speak with one of the maids, and she had no tongue. In order to work in the royal chambers, they
must be willing to have their tongues cut out so they can't gossip or betray secrets.”
“If that’s true, they must be hiding a pretty grave secret.”
Hilde looked around to ensure there weren't any prying ears. “Beatrice says⁠—”
Before she could finish, a black stallion thundered down the lane, kicking a cloud of dust around it. Hilde was frozen to the
spot and stared wide-eyed at the beast about to run her over.
“Look out,” Sadie shrieked and pushed Hilde out of the way.
The stallion raised on its hind legs and kicked the air. It squealed, and Sadie lifted her arms as though it would help shield
her from being trampled by the massive beast. She inhaled, knowing it was to be her last breath.
Two sharp whistles instantly tamed the stampeding beast, though it seemed almost reluctant to back away from the maiden.
A rope encircled the corded neck of the horse, and it squealed once more as a whip lashed its hindquarters.
“Down, beast.”
“Don’t hurt him!” Sadie yelled, coming out of her stupor. “He’s just a horse.”
She quickly moved toward the man wielding the whip and caught the snap against her cheek. The shock of the sting didn’t
set in until wetness rolled down her cheek. She winced as she touched the wounded skin, and her fingers came away crimson.
The man holding the whip looked at Sadie with eyes so dark they appeared black—soulless. “What do you think you’re
doing, bitch? How dare you interfere with how I discipline my stallion!”
He emanated power from the dark waves that fell across his forehead to the tip of his black leather boots, which were the
perfect accompaniment to his riding outfit.
A portly man with thin hair came huffing up to them. “I hitched him to a post as I was takin’ a piss, m’lord. Bastard slipped
the reins and took off.”
The rider ignored the man’s words. His sole attention was on Sadie.
“How dare you interfere with your betters. Bitches like you need to be shown their place.” He turned to the stout man.
“Strip her. She will receive a public flogging.”
She’d endured verbal beratement and occasional beatings with a switch at her mother’s hand, therefore the lord’s order to
strip Sadie failed to debase her. The stout man grabbed her roughly with sweaty palms and tore the simple shift she wore. She
knew they expected her to cower and beg for mercy. Instead, she stood tall and raised her gaze in defiance.
Hilde stood aside, witnessing the exchange with tears in her eyes. Her hand covered her mouth to stifle her sobs as the man
removed a knife from his belt and cut the straps of Sadie’s chemise.
The maiden’s breasts were exposed to the cool air. She stood half-naked in the middle of the packed dirt lane. They could
remove her clothes but couldn’t strip away her dignity.
The Lord dismounted and tossed the reins to the steward. His gaze violated Sadie, and she raised her hands to cover
herself.
“Not so brave now.” He tutted and reached for her hands. “This is a lesson in humiliation. I can tell from your blush your
purity is still intact. When I'm finished here, you will be laid upon my horse and brought to my chambers.” He pinched her
nipple and rolled it between his fingers, causing her to squeal. “I will strip you of your virtue.”
He grabbed her chin and forced her head to turn, licking the blood off her cheek. The act caused her stomach to roll in
revulsion. The man pulled away and grinned wickedly.
“What the hell is going on here?” Another mounted rider joined the group.
All eyes settled on Sadie. She looked to Hilde, who trembled in horror and hadn't spoken a word.
The man’s eyes widened. “My apologies, my liege. Lord, have mercy on my soul,” he lamented. “Grant this poor sinner
your forgiveness.”
The groom referred to him as liege, leaving Sadie standing half-naked before a member of the nobility. Her bare breasts
swayed as she quickly dipped into a curtsy to show her respect.
With her eyes trained on the ground, she heard the soft footfalls before the wealthy man’s leather-clad feet came into view.
“Arise, sweet maiden. Will you give me the pleasure of your name?”
“Sadie Winters, my liege.”
“Simply fitting for a beautiful tulip.”
His velvety words were like a caress, offering her warmth. Still, she shivered as he spoke.
 Chapter Two

N
othing was as freeing as the fresh open air, and moving in time with the powerful mount between his thighs as though
they were one. They were training a new stallion—one with a rebellious spirit.
Lucien split from the party for time to ride alone and wrap his mind around the upcoming offering. He could lose his
throne if he didn’t claim a mate.
When he rode down the lane returning to the castle, he saw a young maiden standing before his brother, Cain, who held a
whip in hand.
Though Cain was older, Lucien was the crowned prince due to parentage alone. As such, he intervened.
“What the hell is going on here?” he growled.
“This insolent wench thought she had the right to tell me how to train my horse. I’m disciplining her.”
Cain raised the hand holding the whip, and Lucien raised his to intercept.
“Drop the whip, Cain,” he ordered.
Cain’s eyes darkened dangerously, and he spat on the ground. “If Father hadn’t sent you, this would’ve been my offering.
I’m claiming what’s owed.”
Lucien removed his dark cape and wrapped it around the maiden’s shoulders. She winced as he gently cupped her wounded
cheek. He wiped the blood with his thumb and sucked the tangy blood from his finger.
“Go home, Sadie.” She lifted her hands to unlace the tie, but he stopped her. “Keep it.”
“Thank you, my liege.” Sadie attempted to bow, but Lucien squeezed her upper arms to hold her steady.
He placed two fingers under her chin and forced her to look up at him. Her eyes widened and her pulse raced, but she
remained still, enraptured by him. Lucien’s beauty was a lure, an illusion. She failed to realize he was the most dangerous
predator of them all.
“Don’t thank me. You don’t know me.” I want to know you…
Lucien glanced into the hazel eyes of the maiden, scrutinizing her soul. He felt her pain and confusion as he pushed past the
superficial thoughts clouding her mind. His goal was to wade within her hidden depths. Savoring the essence of her being
allowed him to delve deeper than he normally could the first time he looked into a person’s eyes.
A person’s eyes were truly the windows into their souls. He also had the ability to manipulate someone’s mind. He could
destroy their memories or plant false ones. If a person was suggestive enough, he could bend their will.
All he found within Sadie was purity. The innocence of her heart, body, and mind made him sick. He was drawn in like a
perverse moth. Her blood opened the door for him to plant a seed of discord. He wanted to obliterate the blue soul so fucking
much.
Those who possessed blue souls were peacemakers—pure in heart, loyal, dependable, and spiritual. They were the most
dangerous to those like him as they sought to bring divine will and infinite peace into the world.
She opened her mouth again, which drew his intense stare. A potent desire to taste her succulent lips washed over him.
Outwardly, he remained stoic, inside he was burning with the need to claim her.
He made his decision in that split second. Sadie was no consolation prize for his brother. She was to become his Winter
Maiden.
“We’ll meet again, tulip,” he promised.
With that, he severed their connection and mounted his horse. Lucien resisted the urge to turn around, knowing she would
watch until he was out of sight.
Preparations for the offering ball were well underway by the time Lucien arrived at the castle that evening.
“Your Majesty,” they murmured as they bowed before him.
“Have you seen my brother?”
“He has a maiden in his chambers, my lord.”
Lucien bristled.
The maidservant, Beatrice, understood his intentions and blanched. “He said that anyone who interrupted him would be
whipped and guillotined.”
Lucien turned toward her. “There is a maiden in town. She is ineligible for the offering, but I want her here anyway. Find
Miss Winters. Tell her I sent you and will finance everything. Leave right now. Remain with Sadie until the evening of the ball.
You shall serve as the maiden’s escort.”
“Bless you, my liege!” she exclaimed.
Darkness flashed in his eyes. “Make sure medical service is provided for the wound left by Cain. If there is so much as a
blemish, I will have someone’s life.”
The maid gulped. “Of course, Your Highness.”
She scurried away quickly as humans typically did before him, like insects in the light. His human form cloaked his true
identity. But they felt the menacing aura around him, sensing he was an apex predator, and they were his prey.
But today, the maiden in the square had stood tall before his brother. She’d looked him in the eye without trembling.
She was the one.
***
Three days later, Beatrice returned to the castle. She trembled as she spoke to him, not meeting his eye.
“Th… Th… The maiden.”
He grew impatient as she could barely get the words out. He stepped closer to her.
“Look at me,” he commanded.
She raised her eyes cautiously. He entered her mind roughly, causing excruciating pain. But Beatrice was frozen, unable to
articulate any sensation. Lucien was intrusive and apologetic until he found the memories he wanted.
Beatrice approached a cottage and knocked on the wooden door. She pulled back and wrung her hands, worrying about
failing her master.
A tall, elegant blonde in a stunning blue dress that matched her eyes answered the door. The porcelain skin on her face
was unmarred leaving her unlike the maiden Lucien described.
Beatrice curtsied. “I’m searching for a maiden. Are you Sadie Winters?”
This was her home; she’d made sure of it.
“No, I’m Constance. Sadie is my sister. Are you here about the job at the castle?”
“Yes.” The lie easily rolled off her tongue. “They wanted her to begin immediately. I’m here to escort her.”
Constance’s eyes narrowed as she crossed her arms.
“Don’t servants talk to each other? She was already picked up by some man. It would’ve been nice to have some
warning. What am I supposed to do without help? Shouldn’t I be compensated?”
Beatrice’s jaw dropped. She had dealt with demanding guests before, but to hear someone speak of their kin in such a
manner shocked her.
Beatrice blinked stupidly for a minute after Lucien broke eye contact He didn’t need to see anything else to know what had
happened.
Cain.
A storm cloud appeared over the castle as he made his way to the West wing. Thunder clapped with every footstep as he
walked down the cold corridors until he arrived at the wooden door to Cain’s chamber.
He knocked on the door. There was no greeting, but a muffled cry sounded from within.
Normally, Lucien wouldn’t interfere with his brother’s dalliances. Cain was damned from the moment he murdered his twin
brother in a fit of jealousy. His anger was warranted as their father had named Lucien as his heir. Not that Lucien asked for it.
This time, he’d gone too far. When he’d looked into Sadie’s soul, he had left a small piece of himself behind. He had
planned to do things the right way, but now he had no choice but to aggressively claim her.
Cain was about to be infuriated by his interruption as Lucien knocked again. The door was locked from the inside, but a
simple wave of his finger proved that was of little concern.
The sight had him wanting to burn the world to ashes.
 Chapter Three

S
adie couldn’t get the image of the handsome man’s eyes out of her head. Those deep pools of gray sucked her in like a
whirlwind. His caramel skin and dark hair were a contrast to most of the fair-skinned people in their province. Add to that
a strong jaw and muscular build, the man was an Adonis.
He had wrapped her in his cloak and stroked her cheek like she was something precious. She’d never experienced
tenderness like that from anyone.
She clung to that image, imagining his warmth enveloping her as the whip whistled in the air before cracking against her
back again. She clenched her jaw so tightly it felt like her teeth would explode.
“Scream for me,” the man at her back hissed.
Another lash fell across her back. She’d lost count of how many strikes had landed. Warm blood pooled around her knees.
If her hands weren’t bound and pulled against the wall, she would’ve collapsed a long time ago.
“Scream, wench,” he commanded.
Tears flowed down her cheeks as she verged on hysteria. There was no way out. If she screamed, it would feed his twisted
satisfaction, but it wouldn’t end her torment.
What had she done to deserve this? Her body shuddered with sobs.
“I said scream, little mouse,” he growled.
The whip connected with her back, one blow followed by another and another.
Sadie finally broke. She threw her head back in anguish and screamed. Once she started, she couldn’t stop. Every ounce of
pain was expelled until she was hoarse.
“Beautiful.” He chuckled.
When he touched the minced remains that used to be the skin on her back, the pain was so intense that Sadie’s vision
became white. She passed out a moment later.

When Sadie blinked awake, she was disoriented. A cold steel collar was clamped around her neck. A heavy chain connected
the collar to the shackles encircling her wrists.
“I was wondering when I’d see you again.” Cain grinned wickedly.
He drew her attention to the small table to his left. A lit candelabra illuminated several steel nails.
“We’re going to have fun today.”
Cain picked up the first nail and scratched the tip down her chest. He pinched her nipple and twisted it until she squealed.
He leaned closer and sucked her hardened bud into his mouth and flicked it with his tongue.
“Why?” she croaked.
There was no answer. Instead, he pinched her again and drove the nail through her hardened bud. She screamed as the
metal tore through her flesh. He stopped and grabbed her other breast to repeat the process.
She looked down at her mutilated chest. The skin around the metal piercings burned and reddened as blood rushed to those
areas.
Cain clutched Sadie’s chin in a bruising grip and licked her cheek leaving a wet trail behind before forcing her to look up
at him. He lowered his other hand between her legs and laughed as she clenched her thighs.
“Did you think that would keep me out? You’re lucky your womb isn’t ripe yet, otherwise, I’d shove my fat cock inside of
you and relish in splitting you open. I will claim you and make you mine.”
His dark eyes met hers with a sickening grin. His words were a promise that left her trembling with fear.
 As though reading her thoughts, he said, “You should be thankful to be here with me. I come from royal lineage. Your sister
planned to sell your maidenhood to anyone willing to pay a shilling. If only she knew you were worth more than that. I made
her an offer she couldn’t refuse, and now you belong to me.”
Her head spun as he continued caressing between her thighs. Constance had done this to her. Though it failed to shock her
the way Cain intended, it opened a well of sorrow in her heart.
“I don’t belong to anyone.”
His dark eyes flashed dangerously. The hand that held her chin moved to her throat and squeezed. He took another nail and
thrust it into the nub hidden beneath her curls.
She squealed and her body twitched uncontrollably at the violation. He slipped a thick finger into her throbbing core.
Sadie willed her body not to react to the stimulation. She'd come to learn that pain and pleasure were two sides of the same
coin as her core slickened.
“That’s right, wench. Your pain brings me pleasure. Your cries are the sweetest sound to my ears. Tell me again, because
your pussy begs to differ. I will bring you to heel.” Cain withdrew his finger and sucked it into his mouth. “Your nectar is
sweet, little mouse.”
He made a fist and flashed a ring on his finger. It was a ruby stamped with the Leviathan cross. He moved his hand over the
flame of a candle and turned his wrist so the tongue of fire licked the symbol.
She remained transfixed, wondering how it wasn’t burning him. But after several agonizing minutes, he turned toward her
with an evil grin. She’d been thankful for the reprieve and had failed to anticipate his intentions.
“Where would you like my mark, beauty?”
The markings on the ring glowed menacingly. He shamelessly and roughly squeezed her sore breasts, which were covered
in bruising bite marks, making her whimper. She yelped as he tugged on the nail that pierced her nipple.
“No, please.”
He leaned into her neck and nuzzled the cold steel. His hot breath was a sharp contrast on her delicate skin. He yanked the
chain and cupped her ass, pulling her flush against him and forcing her legs apart.
He stepped between them and Sadie felt the firmness of his erection through his leather pants against her most intimate part.
He ground his hips against hers as he bit her skin, leaving a trail of teeth marks marks across her chest.
Her abused clit throbbed painfully as the smooth material brushed against it. Her brain became foggy as Cain kissed her.
He thrust his tongue in her mouth, showing her just who was in charge. It was wet and slippery, nothing like she had
romanticized her first kiss would be.
The breath was stolen from her lungs as she struggled against her bonds. Sadie had nowhere to go. She couldn't escape. An
involuntary moan slipped from her throat as he sucked her bottom lip into his mouth. Cain chuckled darkly before he bit her lip,
hard. She jerked her head, which only caused more pain. He didn’t let go until she could taste blood.
“I’m going to mark your beautiful ass like a cattle’s hide.”
Cain’s words caused her to shiver. He brushed her long, dark hair behind her ear. The gesture seemed so intimate until he
grabbed her by the scruff.
“Beg me for it,” he commanded.
“I’d rather die,” she said, spitting blood in his face.
The words were out of her mouth before the thought fully formed in her mind. While she could survive the beatings and
mutilations, she would do whatever it took to escape being claimed by such a⁠—
“Devil.” He finished her thought. “You’re only part right.”
 Chapter Four

L
ucien knew the woman in his brother’s chambers was Sadie before he even opened the door. His heart beat furiously in
anticipation. That was how much the maiden affected him, blinded him, and enraged him. He felt almost human.
Her body hung limply from chains on the wall. Her dark hair was matted like a beggar from the slums. Blood ran in
rivulets down her chest. That alone was enough to throw him into a rampage, but Cain’s unworthy hands on her would incite
his wrath.
The beast within him roared to be released as his skin grew painfully tight. His muscles rippled and the veins bulged as he
clenched his fists. If the demon escaped, the only way to sate it was with a blood sacrifice. He couldn’t kill his brother, and the
only innocent was Sadie. Lucien wouldn’t risk hurting her.
With a wave of his hand, Cain flew across the room. His body banged against the wall, causing a plume of dust. He easily
shook off the blow and approached Lucien.
“How fucking dare you! You have no right to interrupt me.”
“I do when you abducted the woman meant to be mine. What the hell did you do to her?”
“You don’t get to come in here and skip the line. You’re the younger brother. This offering should’ve been mine!”
Lucien pounced and punched Cain in the jaw, splitting his lip. His brother spat blood and laughed.
“You’re too late.” He pointed to Sadie. “Her sister offered her to me. She bears my mark. Her desire for me will grow until
she gives herself willingly.”
“I am the heir, not you. I planted a seed in her soul that circumvents any brand you placed. Touch her again, and I’ll send
you straight to hell.”
“All this for a pathetic creature.” His lip curled in a snarl.
She wasn't pathetic. Sadie was an angel, the purest soul he’d ever seen. It was his fault she was here. It was no surprise
Cain was drawn to her as well.
Lucien removed a dagger from his belt and slit his palm. He cupped his hand and allowed the blood to pool, then held his
hand to Sadie’s pale lips.
She moaned weakly as he cupped her cheek. Her eyelids fluttered as she tried to focus on him.
“You?” she croaked.
“Drink,” he commanded.
Her cracked lips brushed his bleeding palm as she sipped the warm, viscous liquid. Parts of him awakened as he willingly
gave her this piece of himself.
“That’s good, tulip. Take my life force. Heal yourself.”
Sadie looked at him with cloudy eyes, not understanding what she was getting into with him. Now that Cain had marked
her, there was no other protection than to make her his Winter Maiden.
“Let her go,” he commanded his brother.
Cain cursed him but unshackled her and removed the collar.
“This isn’t over,” Cain hissed. “I will have her.”
Lucien wanted to lash out at his brother again. But a soft sob from Sadie had him lower his fist. He scooped her up and
carried her from Cain’s chamber.
She snuggled against his chest as he carried her bridal style to his chamber and laid her upon his feather bed.
“Sleep,” he said.
He removed the metal from her abused bud and massaged her breasts. He bit his lip and let blood amass in his mouth
before taking in her abused nipple. His cock twitched as a soft moan escaped her.
The rest of the nails followed. He pressed the tip of his jeweled dagger to his finger. He split her pussy lips and used the
blood as lubrication to probe her. Her core tightened around him. He sagged with relief after discovering her maidenhood was
intact.
His gaze intensified as he watched her cunt pull him deeper. Sadie made soft cooing sounds as her body hungrily accepted
him.
Eager though she seemed, she couldn't take all of him. If he wanted her to be receptive to his seed, he needed to practice
patience. The moon was nearing the end of its cycle; he wouldn’t need to wait long.
Sadie became slick as he continued to move his finger in and out. He groaned as her feminine aroma made him heady.
Lucien planted a fantasy in her mind as he touched her temple with the fingertips of his other hand.
Lucien withdrew, and his fingers fumbled at the laces of his breeches in his eagerness to climb on the bed. He kneeled
over her and stroked her cheek. Even in slumber, Sadie remained responsive to him. She sighed softly.
He took his pulsing cock in hand and traced her pouty lips, leaving the salty pre-seed behind before pushing into her
mouth. His eyes rolled at the warm sensation. There was no doubt that every bit of her was made for his pleasure.
What he wouldn’t give to have her look up at him. But mastering her sleeping form made him burn. He rubbed her cheek
with his thumb before pinching her nose. When she attempted to breathe through her mouth he thrust into her throat. Her
gurgles vibrated him.
“My sweet tulip.” He gripped the base of his cock and stroked himself in time with his thrusts. “Take my cock.”
Normally Lucien wasn't gentle when it came to fucking, and intimacy was a foreign feeling. But he yearned for Sadie.
Her mouth was heaven, and there was no doubt her virginal pussy would feel even better. He withdrew and continued
moving his hand until he was ready to come. White ropes of warmth splashed onto her chest, and he used his fat head to rub
his seed between her breasts. It glistened on her skin in the glow of the firelight.
Sadie’s hips rose slightly in search of friction. Lucien offered her what she needed. He withdrew his finger and used his
blood and her wetness to circle her engorged clit. He played with her nub while she mewed.
Sadie shuddered and bucked as his cock twitched inside his pants. He couldn’t wait to watch her break apart beneath him
while he was sheathed inside her. Denying release now for pleasure later would make the experience worth waiting for.
Fury renewed the moment he rolled her over and saw the blistered mark Cain had left on her ass. He checked her body to
ensure no other markings marred her soft skin. Once he removed the chunk of flesh, he would see to her relaxation as she
healed.
Desire for Sadie fanned his internal fire. It turned a dull flicker to a roaring flame. Lucien’s skin threatened to combust.
“I’m sorry,” he whispered before touching the mark on Sadie.
She writhed and twisted in excruciating pain. Inhuman sounds spilled from her mouth as she fought against the sleep spell
in favor of self-preservation.
Once the mark was burnt away, he took his dagger and excised the tainted flesh. Lucien once again sliced his palm and
caressed Sadie’s ass.
Offering his blood more than once wasn’t necessary. She had ingested enough to heal over time, but he needed to expedite
her restoration so her body would accept his seed.
He let her sleep and called for the healer and Beatrice.
When the handmaiden arrived, he pulled her aside with instructions.
“I want you by Sadie’s side every moment between now and the offering ball in a few moon’s time. You will sleep in my
room with her as she’ll feel weak until she heals. I’ll ensure you remain safe here. If you require anything, summon me
immediately.”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
 Chapter Five

S
adie woke up in the most comfortable bed she’d ever laid her head upon. At home, she’d slept on a straw mattress which
was a far cry from the silk and feathers. She stretched and covered her yawn with her hand.
“I had no idea servants were treated so well here,” Sadie said.
Beatrice laughed it off. “You’re lucky to be a royal maidservant, Sadie. My chambers aren’t as nice as this one.”
“Oh. I didn’t realize that.” She made an apologetic face. “I’m not going to have my tongue cut out, am I?”
Beatrice laughed. “That’s just a rumor. My cousin has a vivid imagination.”
“Speaking of, has Hilde arrived yet? We were supposed to come together, but they asked me to arrive earlier. I didn’t have
the chance to see her before I left the village.”
Beatrice smiled softly. She was the only one of the two women who knew the truth. Sadie was unknowingly living the story
Lucien imprinted upon her.
“I received word from Hilde yesterday. She will be here soon. We need all the help we can get to prepare for the ball.
You’re so fortunate to have received an invitation to attend.”
“I don’t know how I got so fortuitous”
“The dressmaker has arrived. She’d like to take your measurements today.”
A dizzy spell hit Sadie as she hastily rose from the bed. Beatrice quickly took her by the elbow as she staggered.
“Careful, miss. There’s no need to rush. You should spend the morning in bed. Enjoy a life of leisure until you are well
again.”
“I’m sorry. It’s just strange it came on so suddenly.”
“Don’t apologize. Why don’t I prop the pillows, and you can get a bit more rest? I’ll ring for breakfast to be sent.”
“Don’t you need to return to work, Beatrice?” Sadie asked. “I feel guilty for monopolizing your time. I don’t want to cause
trouble for you.”
“Don’t worry, miss. I’ll be your handmaiden today since you’re under the weather. The master released me from my duties
for the day.”
Though Sadie wanted to argue further, another wave of dizziness hit her. She leaned into Beatrice, who helped her climb
back into the large bed. The maid pulled the satin sheets over her legs.
“Would you like me to warm some coals for you?”
“Just a blanket will suffice. Thank you.”
Beatrice walked to the window and rolled the heavy curtain to the side. Sunlight spilled into the dark chamber, illuminating
the space. Sadie was in awe of the room. Aside from the large poster bed, there was a stone fireplace. A dyed wool rug took
up most of the floor space. A wooden desk was pushed up against one of the walls, and an armoire stood against the opposite
wall. A chandelier had fresh candles that would be lit in the afternoon and burn through the evening.
A kitchen servant delivered a breakfast tray laden with juice and a jug of water. There was also a generous serving of
bread, meat, and cheese. Sadie wasn’t hungry and sipped water thoughtfully.
“You need to eat,” Beatrice huffed.
Sadie was used to preparing the meals and having a small serving of oats if she ate at all. The hungry look in Beatrice’s
eyes was enough to tell her she was also used to small amounts of food.
“How about we share?” she offered. “I didn’t see breakfast brought up for you.”
The blonde smiled widely and sat next to her. Sadie took the hunk of bread and tore it in half. She handed the larger piece
to Beatrice.
“Help yourself,” Sadie insisted.
They dug into the meal with gusto. The women chatted as they ate, and before Sadie realized it, the tray was empty. She
couldn’t recall her last meal but felt a lot better after eating.
Their morning reprieve was soon interrupted by a knock on the door. Beatrice jumped off the bed to answer.
A swarthy woman entered and curtsied before introducing herself. “I am Avis. It will be an honor to sew you a dress for the
ball, mistress.”
For the remainder of the afternoon, Sadie posed for the dressmaker. She carried bolts of different fabrics in an array of
varying colors and patterns.
In the end, Avis chose a purple brocade fabric and trimmed it with gold. The square neckline left room for Sadie’s ample
breasts to breathe while accentuating her smaller waist and wide hips.
“The evening of the ball, I will come and help you into the finished gown. I’ll sew you into it. You will be the most
beautiful woman there,” Avis promised.
“I’ll style your hair and apply paint to your face with ceruse,” Beatrice offered.
“Not that ghastly stuff.” Sadie grimaced.
Sadie had experience applying paint to Constance’s face. It was heavy, and she was pale enough. The idea of painting her
face to look like her sister was unappealing.
“How about some lip stain, then?”
“That would be perfect,” Avis said. “You’re a natural beauty, Sadie, but you will look like a deity at the ball.”
Sadie lived in a fantasy bubble gossiping with Beatrice and Avis as the day slipped away.

Sadie dreamed that she was floating again. Her world was divided into two halves of the same whole.
To one side, the brightness was blinding. A choir of heavenly bodies raised their eyes and sang in worship. She longed to
join them, but a frog obstructed her throat, and she could only croak. Their song abruptly ended, and they turned on her in
judgment.
All Sadie could do was scream in agony as they stripped her of her tainted parts. The angels were merciless in their
condemnation.
The other side was a black hole, threatening to consume her. Sadie tried to run away, but roots grew from the ground and
encircled her legs, trapping her. The hole grew wider. Maniacal laughter deafened her as she failed to escape.
Nowhere was welcoming. There was no safety or security for Sadie. She just had to choose the lesser of two evils.
Tears wet Sadie’s pillow upon waking up. Beatrice met her with a worried look.
“Are you all right, miss?”
“Please, call me Sadie.”
Beatrice hesitated for a moment. “Of course, Sadie.” Her name slipped awkwardly off the handmaiden’s tongue.
“Are you ready for the offering ball?”
 Chapter Six

T
he day passed in a whirlwind of activity. The women ate together before Avis arrived with the completed gown. It was
stunning, nicer than anything Constance had ever worn. A brilliant smile lit up Sadie’s face knowing that for once, she
would outshine her sister.
As promised, the woman helped twist her long dark hair and painted Sadie’s lips.
“The last piece you need is a mask,” Avis declared.
She held out a small box wrapped with a ribbon. Sadie untied the ribbon, and inside the box was an intricate lace mask.
Avis secured it with pins.
“Why the mask?” Sadie asked in confusion.
“It’s called a masquerade. It’s all the rage in Venice. The Society adopted it as their tradition for the offering. It adds an air
of mystery, and the anonymity allows an honest chance for any maiden to be chosen,” Avis clarified.
“I’m not an eligible maiden. I thought I was just attending as a guest.”
The women traded conspiratorial glances.
“The prince requested we prepare you for the ball. He wanted you to join the maidens,” Beatrice said. “It’s why he sent us
to help prepare you.”
“But I don’t know how to dance or anything. I’m not of noble descent. My sister was the one groomed for society. Not me.”
“You’ll be fine.”
A bell tolled in the distance, interrupting their conversation.
“It’s time for the ball. Allow me to escort you, Sadie.”
Beatrice led Sadie down a series of corridors. Her slipper-clad feet fell lightly on the stone floor. When they arrived at the
entrance to the ballroom, nerves finally hit her. She attempted to swallow and clear her dried throat.
“Don’t be nervous, Sadie. Walk in with your head held high. You belong here. Unfortunately, I can’t walk in with you. No
maiden is allowed to be accompanied. If you’re chosen, I’ll see you later.”
Sadie took a deep breath. She rolled her shoulders back and adopted an air of false bravado. Many heads turned in her
direction, making her self-conscious. Her entire life, she had always been the one behind Constance. No one paid attention to
her. Though she was behind a mask, she still felt vulnerable.
She approached the receiving line with the other maidens. The prince bowed to each woman and exchanged brief words
with them before moving on to the next woman. He was also masked, even though his identity was known to the audience. His
face remained impassive, and his gaze uninterested.
When Sadie stood before him, his stiff posture relaxed slightly. She curtsied, and he responded with a bow. He leaned in to
kiss her on the cheek.
“You look ravishing, tulip. Avis outdid herself with your dress.”
Something about him was familiar, though she couldn’t quite put her finger on it. She wondered if they'd crossed paths
before but quickly brushed it off, as it was impossible. How was she supposed to respond to his compliment?
“You're the most handsome man I've ever seen,” she said with a blush, looking at his horn-rimmed mask, not quite meeting
his eyes.
The band struck up a chord for the opening dance. The prince held out his hand.
“It's time to open the ball. Will you honor me with this dance?”
“I'd love nothing more.”
His hand radiated warmth as she placed her tiny hand in his strong one. They made their way to the middle of the floor, and
he gathered her in his arms.
“I’m afraid I don’t know the steps,” she admitted.
 “Just follow my lead,” he said.
He held her steady and twirled her on the dance floor. He whispered the steps to her as he spun her around until she felt
comfortable enough to move on her own.
“You move with unparalleled grace. I’d never have known this was your first ball.”
He pulled her close. His scent was intriguing like he had just stood around a fire. She leaned closer to him, and he
enveloped her waist in an embrace. Sadie attempted to free herself from his grasp, but he only held her tighter.
“This is inappropriate, Your Highness.”
“Please, call me Lucien.”
“Lucien.” His name struck a chord within her.
“I choose you, Sadie Winters,” he said, gazing into her eyes.
Lucien’s stormy gaze drew her in and stole her breath. She was touched by his sincerity and gasped as a memory flooded
back to her.
She brushed her cheek with her fingertips. “It was you on the lane.”
“Yes,” he admitted.
“How could I forget that?” Her nose crinkled as she mulled it over.
Lucien didn’t give her long to ponder. His lips brushed her ear as he spoke, only for her to hear.
“I’m sorry.”
What did he have to be sorry for?

After their dance, Lucien was obligated to dance with the other candidates. She stood off to the side with the wallflowers,
waiting for an escort to request a dance. After several songs, a blonde woman in scarlet approached her.
“Hello, Sadie.” Her voice dripped with disdain. “How did you garner an invitation?”
“Lucien invited me,” she said with a smile. “I mean, His Highness.”
Constance snorted. “You lying whore.”
Sadie looked up at her sister. Constance spoke down to her their entire lives, but no longer.
“It’s the truth. He chose me as the Winter Maiden. He will make the announcement as soon as he’s finished dancing with the
other maidens. It would dishonor them otherwise.” She twisted slightly. “He had a seamstress design my gown and everything.”
Constance snarled and slapped Sadie. She grasped her mask and yanked it free. In doing so, Sadie’s scalp burned as the
pins holding it in place tore her hair out. Gasps were heard from those around them who witnessed the exchange.
“You aren’t eligible to be the maiden!”
Constance raised her voice to be overheard. A stern guard approached them. She instantly pointed her sister out.
“This whore is a fraud. She isn’t the firstborn. I am. She stole that gown and snuck into the castle.”
Sadie looked up into the soulless eyes of the man who approached with the guard. Panic inexplicably clawed at her throat
as familiarity set in. Cain. She searched desperately for Lucien.
“Leave her to me,” he said to Constance.
He grabbed Sadie by the arm and dragged her toward the entrance of the ballroom. Before the guards could intercept, Cain
waved his hand. They stepped aside to let them pass.
A panicked Sadie shouted, “Lucien!”
Forgetting her dignity, Sadie twisted and fought Cain. She was no match for his herculean grip. Her toes barely brushed the
stone floor as they passed the threshold.
Cain growled as he seemed to hit an invisible barrier. Lucien appeared in Sadie’s sight and held his hand out to her. She
sobbed as she took it and leaned into him.
He encircled her protectively. “You’re safe now. I won’t let him touch you again.”
Sadie was confused by what transpired next. Lucien spun her around and brought her to the middle of the room. The crowd
formed a semi-circle before them as he raised his hands for their attention. Sadie flushed as eyes fell on her rumpled dress.
“The Winter Maiden has been chosen,” he said confidently. “Sadie Winters has the honor of bearing my heir.”
The crowd cheered around them, although several eyes narrowed in jealousy. Their intentions needn’t be spoken aloud.

Sadie was escorted from the ballroom, flanked by a gaggle of women. They showered her with adoration.
“You’re so lucky to have been chosen.”
“We’re so happy that you’re here.”
 “You will bear new life for our Lord.”
They brought her to a room with a large pool in the ground modeled after a Roman bath. Aromatic steam filled the room.
Avis arrived to cut Sadie out of her dress.
“That seems like such a shame.” Sadie frowned, glancing at the gown in her arms.
The woman smiled at her and patted the fabric. “Don’t worry. I only cut along the seams I stitched originally. The gown can
be repurposed. Although if tonight is successful, you won’t need it again.”
Avis helped her out of her undergarments and Sadie covered herself in embarrassment.
“Don’t be shy, mistress. Please step into the bath.”
Sadie stepped into the warm water. She didn't know how to swim, but the water was shallow enough for her to remain
standing.
Two bath attendants climbed in along with her. They used special sponges and scrubs to remove dull skin, giving her an
impressive glow. They used a poultice in her hair, and Sadie moaned as they massaged her scalp before taking a comb and
brushing her locks.
Once Sadie was finished bathing, they toweled her off and had her lay on the settee. They massaged her body with scented
oil, and someone took a sharp blade to trim the curls that covered her mound.
One of the women drizzled oil between Sadie’s thighs and massaged it into her hair and over her lips. She made a V with
her index and middle finger and rubbed around her clit.
“What are you—” she squeaked.
“Shh.”
“Master’s orders were to prepare you.”
A set of hands massaged her shoulders and another her breasts. Warmth and electricity flowed through Sadie’s body at the
sensual sensations.
“That’s right, just relax. We’re here to take care of you.”
And they did take care of her. The voluptuous redheaded woman moved between Sadie’s thighs and licked her slick center.
“It's important for a maiden to be prepared the first time to receive the man’s seed,” a middle-aged woman whispered in
her ear. “They don't know how to satisfy the female body as well as a woman knows herself. But poor maidens are too modest
to seek their own pleasure.”
As she spoke, the woman between Sadie’s thighs slipped a delicate finger between her folds and probed her core.
“Fingers help stretch your opening to make room for a thicker penis. Some women enjoy objects. We would use a special
device to simulate the act of lovemaking for you, but it's dangerous while your maidenhood is still intact. If you don't bleed for
the master, he won't believe it's your first time.”
A second finger joined the first. An oiled fingertip rubbed around her anus. Sadie groaned as the woman wiggled past the
ring.
“Some men enjoy taking a woman from behind even though it's illegal.”
The tongue and fingers worked in tandem building a powerful wave higher and higher. Before long, Sadie bucked her hips,
seeking friction as her moans echoed off the walls. However, when it threatened to crash, she attempted to wiggle away. Hands
held her steady and the fingers inside curled. Sadie cried out as her center contracted.
“Good girl.”
“You’re ready.”
They rested a floral crown upon her head and wrapped a cloak around her shoulders. They led her back to the chamber
where she had been staying.
“Rest while you can. His Highness will be in at the stroke of midnight. You will remain together for twenty-four hours.”
“After which time you’ll remain a royal guest. In a few weeks, if you bleed, you will return to the village. If you are with
child, you will remain here until the baby is born.”
 Chapter Seven

“I f you deign to touch her again, I will kill you,” Lucien promised.
While staring into her eyes, he witnessed a first-hand account of her bargain with Cain. There were events in play he
would ensure never happened. Constance had sold her soul to become an eligible maiden by giving her sister to his
brother.
“She’s my maidservant,” Constance hissed.
“She’s your blood. You are a snake.” Lucien squeezed her neck.
“I deserve compensation for you taking her. This was my way to ensure it.”
Lucien dropped his hand in shock at her audacity. He’d never met a human with as much pure darkness in their soul before.
Though Constance was damned, he wouldn’t hesitate to send her to hell instantly.
Lucien snapped his fingers, and one of the servants appeared immediately as though summoned from mid-air.
“Get this bitch fifty shillings.”
The servant left wordlessly.
Constance snorted. “Only fifty? She’s worth one hundred at least.”
“How about your weight in gold?” he offered.
“Her weight in gold. She’s heavy like a sow.”
Lucien gritted his teeth in order not to strike Constance. The skin on his knuckles turned white as he clenched his fists. She
was the reason Sadie had gone through immense pain and suffering already.
She had endured 18 years being someone else’s shadow. He couldn't give her the light she deserved. But he’d be damned if
he sent her back to a home where she was deemed less than an angel.
Her weight in gold was a small price to pay.
“Sadie’s weight in gold, then. You deserve it,” he ground out.
It took multiple servants to take the money from his vault. They placed the coins in a chest and carried it to a hired carriage.
He would ensure with each coin spent, Constance paid in blood. She would lose her youth and beauty and eventually die
penniless and alone. He poisoned her womb so she would never give birth to any offspring.

Lucien entered his chamber for the first time in days. The scent of floral and citrus hit his nose immediately. The fresh logs that
had been tossed on the fire prior to his arrival cast an amber hue around the dim room.
Sadie slumbered peacefully on the silk sheets. He made his way to her bedside and drank in her nakedness. Her dark hair
was splayed on the soft pillow like a halo. He was thankful his blood had healed her wounds and left no blemish behind.
The oil on her ample breasts shimmered in the firelight. Her belly was soft, and her hips were wide for bearing children
—his child. The curls at the apex of her thighs had been trimmed, and the way she slept offered him a peek of the sweet
pinkness that awaited him. The sight of her made his groin twitch in anticipation.
He had no mortal age, but if he had to put a number on it, he would say he was a man around 30. Though in reality, his feet
had touched the earth for millennia. In that time, he’d bedded thousands of women—a faceless, nameless stream, but Sadie
would be the maiden he remembered for eternity.
Lucien stroked her cheek, and she unconsciously nestled into him.
“Sadie,” he coaxed. “Sadie…”
She slowly blinked her eyes open.
“You’re a vision in my bed,” he purred. “How are you, Sadie?”
 “I’m… I'm fine, Your Highness,” she stammered.
“Very well,” he responded curtly. “Call me Lucien.”
“Lucien,” she repeated.
He loved the breathy way his name rolled off her tongue. Lucien was his mortal name. It was the identity he had chosen for
himself.
He held out his hand and gallantly bowed to the maiden. “Dance with me.”
She placed her delicate hand in his, and he pulled her to her feet. Her naked breasts brushed against his clothed torso.
“All eyes were full of envy as we danced tonight. But I wanted to experience one dance away from them.”
He weaved his seductive spell as they swayed without music.
He kissed one of Sadie’s calloused palms and then the other. “It’s a shame these hands of yours have known hard labor. But
that ends tonight.”
She shrugged. “Why be embarrassed? I'm not ashamed of who I am, sir.”
She looked into his eyes, searching his soul just as he searched hers.
“Who are you?”
“I am Lucien.”
“That didn't answer my question.”
He chuckled. Of course, this maiden, the one made for him, would see through his disguise. He’d shared his blood with her
—his essence was rooted in her soul.
“Lucien is the name I chose on this plane. Lucifer is my given name.”
“How many names do you have, Lucifer?” she hissed and attempted to pull away. “You’re a liar.”
He tightened his grip, unwilling to let go, and dragged her closer to the fireplace. The gold flecks in her eyes shimmered in
the firelight. If only he could make her understand.
“Lucifer means bearer of light. Lucien means light. It isn't a deception but a translation.”
“I see,” she said, not meeting his eye.
His little tulip saw nothing. If she had known he was the son of Satan and had chosen her to spawn his demonic children,
their acquaintance would've ended that day on the lane. He couldn’t hide the truth for long. But tonight, he wanted to lay with
the maiden and experience earthly pleasures.
Lucien lowered his head to taste her lips. She pressed her soft curves against his hardened body as he ran a hand through
her dark hair. The fact that she was completely naked and offered up as a sacrificial lamb while he was fully clothed wasn’t
lost to either of them.
“You’re beautiful,” he said as he pulled away.
He caressed her gently and guided her back to the bed. She flushed as he helped her climb in. Lucien took note of the subtle
way she moved, the way her chest rose and fell with every breath and the way her heart raced every time he touched her.
A frown marred his face as Sadie closed her eyes and opened her legs. She trembled as the mattress dipped under his
weight. Her eyelids fluttered as he caressed her cheek.
“Look at me, little tulip,” he whispered.
She licked her dry lips. “Why?”
“Why?” he echoed in dismay.
“As soon as we're finished here, you’ll head back to your palace. I'll remain here for at least a fortnight. Wouldn’t it be
better to treat this transactionally?”
“Transactionally?”
He wasn't used to wooing women. But he shared his darkest secrets. Her rebuff was a punch in the gut, and the
metaphorical organ in his chest ached.
“That’s all this is, right? You will strip me of my maidenhood and leave me with child. My belly will swell when my
womb quickens. There’s a chance I won’t survive labor. All this just to offer you my firstborn, and you pay my mother and
sister.”
His eyes blazed as she spoke.
“Who said such things to you?”
“Both Constance and Cain said as much. Plus the villagers talk. I wasn’t eligible to be the Winter Maiden. So tell me,
Lucien, or should I call you Lucifer? Since I’m in your bed, that must mean you paid her price. Am I worth more than a
shilling?”
He grabbed her chin forcibly. He was again in awe of her perception. Should he tell her the price he paid? Or would it only
hurt her? He didn’t want to cause her more pain, besides, the gold was already cursed.
His words tickled her lips as he spoke gruffly. “You are more than just some faceless woman to bear me a son. You are an
angel. Any person who makes you feel less than shall be whipped!”
“No!” she cried and placed her hand on his chest. “Please don’t hurt anyone. I'm not worth it.”
 Lucien’s handsome face contorted in rage, and his eyes darkened like a winter storm. Sadie braced herself for his ire.
“Don't you ever disrespect yourself like that again! I chose you tonight, not just to breed you. I’m enthralled by the purity
that lies in your soul. There’s something special about you.
“Growing up was hell, literally. The only nourishment I received was laced with hatred. Soon, I thirsted for torment, and
my goal was to sow discord. This offering was supposed to be Cain’s, but my father decided it was my turn.
“When you see something delicate like a tulip, it mesmerizes the poor soul. It deserves to be cherished because it's the one
spot of purity in your cold world. Losing it would be a travesty. But if you hold onto the stem too tightly, it will break. If you
touch the petals any harder than a gentle caress, they will fall.
“Tell me I’m not a monster, and I'll show you just how wrong you are. But you are everything to the monster.”
She took his hand and placed it on her chest and placed her own on his.
“Inside here beats a heart. The fact that you could say such things proves there’s goodness within you. You saved me.” Her
eyes glistened as she blinked. “The harder you try to push me away, the more you prove your words are false. I know you’re a
good man.”
He threw his head back and laughed, causing her to frown deeply. He kissed her forehead.
“Don’t you dare laugh at me.” She pouted.
“You speak with the naivety of youth.” His lips twitched in amusement, hiding the longing he felt.
Her face twisted, and she pushed him away. But her tiny fists were ineffectual, as his chest might as well have been
chiseled marble. He enjoyed witnessing the fire in her belly.
“Mock me all you will. I may be young in the eyes of an immortal. I might not be experienced when it comes to love and
pleasuring a man. But I am no fool! I have known bitter disappointment and felt the sting of loss. Hard work is my bedfellow,
and life hasn't been kind. I don't need a lecture from you,” she scoffed.
He knew nothing of love either, but he was ensnared by her. Sadie’s conviction and vivaciousness were her strengths. He
was the one unworthy of her adoration, yet he hungered for it.
“You’re mine,” he growled.
This time, it was she who laughed. “You haven't earned my heart just yet.”
His heart beat differently in his chest, and a foreign feeling rolled around his stomach. “Tell me how to make you mine.”
“Offer me something no one else can.”
Her words fell easily without pretext. She didn’t demand wealth like her sister or retribution like his brother.
He imagined her with gossamer wings shimmering in an ethereal holy light. He was about to take her virtue.
What did a demon have to offer an angel?
Sadie gasped as he climbed over her. His weight pushed her into the mattress.
“You are a succubus disguised as an angel.”
She lifted her head to steal a kiss from his lips, upending his entire existence.
Twenty-four hours with this woman wouldn't be enough for him. He needed his seed to reach its goal. Lucien wanted to
make her belly swell with his spawn. Immortality would be her reward, and he would claim her as his bride.
 Chapter Eight

“H ave you done this before?” Sadie asked as her body trembled beneath Lucien’s warmth.
“My sweet tulip, while you are as pure as freshly fallen snow, I have indulged in pleasures of the flesh. I have an
appetite that would make you quiver, but this is my first offering.” And my last.
His confessions left her reeling. He was a silver-tongued devil whose sole purpose was to seduce her and pluck her
virginity. She wasn’t a Christian, but she knew they believed the Devil was once a beautiful angel named Lucifer who defied
God and fell from grace.
“Does my origin matter that much to you?” he asked, searching her eyes. “My father is Satan; it’s an honorific. The Bible is
a crock of horseshit. There is no omnipresent God. I am not a fallen angel.”
“But you’re beautiful.” She sighed.
“It’s an illusion, tulip. Nothing more. I do have a secondary form that would horrify you.”
She frowned, afraid to voice her thoughts. But again, he seemed to somehow read her mind.
“We choose innocent maidens and men to carry and sire our children. But I’m different, and so are you. Only the purest of
souls can give birth to my heir. That’s why I chose you. There is nothing to fear. My child will not be an anti-Christ; it will not
trigger an apocalypse. Again, those are just ideals of men.”
“When—” she began, but his kiss cut off her words.
“That’s enough talking.”
Sadie moaned as Lucien’s wide palm wrapped around her soft, firm breast. His fingers set her skin ablaze, causing her
arousal to flare.
He sucked a hardened pebble into his mouth and gently rolled it between his teeth. His other hand caressed her mound
hidden by dark curls between her thighs.
“What are you doing?” she squeaked as he ran a finger along her seam.
“You’ll accept my seed more readily if you're prepared.”
Lucien massaged her body just as the women in the bath had. He paid attention to her love of Venus—as she was taught. But
his hands weren’t gentle on this pleasure center like the women. He had a goal and was only interested in achieving it.
Their lips met hungrily. Sadie’s hips bucked the air as she craved more, needed more.
Lucien lowered himself between her legs. His hands grasped her thighs and held them firmly against the mattress. He
dropped his head, and his hot breath tickled her skin. Sadie cried out at the sensation of his wet, warm tongue replacing his
fingers.
“I…”
“Quiet, tulip. Just lay your head down and enjoy yourself. This pleasure is just for you.”
Pleasure. Was there anything sweeter? His tongue swirled against Sadie’s clitoris, causing her to flush. His hands tightened
as he probed her entrance with his tongue.
“In my existence, I haven't savored anything as delectable as you.”
It was no mere wave building inside her but a powerful storm brewing. The pulsing coil tightened inside Sadie like a snake
ready to pounce.
She was always going to lose her maidenhood, and love wasn’t expected to be part of that equation. She told her stupid
heart not to fall for Lucien.
As her core flooded, she became inexplicably his. She was doomed.
Lucien leaned over her and stroked her face. “Open your eyes, Sadie.”
He climbed off the bed and stood before her. He pulled off his under-tunic, exposing his muscular chest. Sadie’s eyes were
drawn by the line of hair that led down his muscular abdomen and disappeared below the laces of his breeches.
 He grabbed her hand and pulled her to the edge of the mattress.
“Touch me,” he encouraged.
She touched his hardened planes, admiring how they flexed and relaxed under her gentle touch.
“Untie me.”
Her hands shook as she unlaced him. Sadie had never seen a shirtless man before, let alone a naked one. His skin felt
fevered beneath her touch. She finally believed this was as new to him as it was to her.
Lucien’s dark curls were exposed before his penis. Her eyes widened as she took in the sight of him. He was easily the
length of her forearm and as wide as her wrist. There was no way such a thing would fit inside of her.
He pushed himself closer to her.
“Touch me,” he commanded. “I want you to feel my bell. It’s burning hot for you. Can’t you see how my seed weeps to join
with you?”
She hesitated, and he swiped it with his thumb. He rubbed her lower lip, spreading himself before probing her mouth. His
salty pre-seed coated her tongue.
“Fuck, tulip. How does it taste? I’d love to feed you, but first, I must spill myself in your womb.”
Lucien captured her lips in a kiss that revealed his passion. Sadie felt the fire burning within him that matched her own. She
was in awe of the way he held back his strength to protect her.
Their hands explored each other’s bodies as Lucien pushed her back onto the bed once more. He vaulted over her and
pressed himself between her legs.
He gripped her chin and made smoldering eye contact. Sadie was unable to look anywhere but at him—not that she wanted
to. She blinked several times as a wave of emotion eclipsed her senses. Lucien brushed his fingers between her folds and
tested her readiness.
He aligned himself and slowly prodded. Sadie bit her lip as he began to move. He rubbed her button, which redirected the
sensations.
“This is it,” he whispered before kissing her again.
He caressed her tongue with his to stifle her cry as he surged forward. He broke past the barrier of her maidenhood and
stilled.
“Lucien,” she cried.
“The discomfort will pass shortly and then you’ll feel exquisite pleasure.” His eyes dropped to the point of their
connection as he withdrew.
He lowered his hand and touched her clit. “You’re maiden blood smells so sweet.”
With his hand still moving, he thrust back inside her.
“You’re so big,” she whined.
“And you’re taking me so well,” he said as he began moving.
Sadie’s body melted into the mattress as she surrendered to him. She surrendered to the madness that overcame her in the
arms of the devil.
“Good tulip.”
He peppered kisses along her collarbone and chest as he kept her pinned beneath him. She was only able to whimper and
writhe in response. The storm grew in intensity as her heart thundered in her chest. The sheen of sweat that blanketed her lover
shimmered in the firelight.
An impulse to touch Lucien overwhelmed her. She wrapped her arms around his neck and pulled him closer.
“Wrap your legs around me, Sadie,” he instructed.
She trusted him in the intimate moment and allowed him to master her pleasure. The new angle allowed him to push deeper,
and she couldn't hold back any longer. Such depths were a mystery to her, but Lucien seemed to know their secrets.
“I could listen to you make those sexy sounds forever.”
His words ignited her desire. Sadie moved against him in a way that felt right—natural.
“Yes, that’s it, tulip. Come apart for me. I’m almost there.”
Her core tightened and she was able to feel every vein and twitch of Lucien’s penis. His sweat-strewn chest brushed
against Sadie’s sensitive nipples causing her to lose her mind.
“Oh!” she cried. “Please!”
She didn’t know what she was begging for, but when Lucien grunted and shuddered over her, the heat flooding her insides
drove her into a frenzy. She clawed at his back and screamed as he bit her shoulder. He slammed into her a few more times and
lowered his head onto her chest.
He remained inside of her as they settled into the mattress, trying to slow their breathing. Lucien gently kissed her left
breast, and the dam within Sadie’s heart broke, releasing the torrent of emotions she managed to keep at bay.
Tears rolled down her cheeks as sobs racked her body.
“Are you hurt?” Lucien asked as a flash of concern crossed his face.
 She shook her head, feeling silly. Surely, every maiden felt this way after being deflowered?
Instead of answering, he kissed her once more. He hardened quickly and began moving again. The muscles on Lucien’s
strong back rippled and his ass flexed as his hips moved back and forth. His speed and intensity varied.
Sadie floated away and looked down upon herself. Incomprehensible murmurs spilled from her lips. What future awaited
her if Lucien’s promises turned false?
 Chapter Nine

T
he lovers took a break to nibble on some bread and cheese and take a nap. When they woke up, Sadie lifted her head from
Lucien’s chest. He kissed the tip of her nose and brushed her hair behind her ear.
“Will you tell me about your home?” Sadie asked.
Lucien shook his head morosely. “It's unlike anything you can imagine.”
She wrapped an arm around his waist and stroked his chest with the other hand. “Please.”
He sighed and stroked her hair. That one syllable off her tongue was all it would take to have him bending over backward
to make her happy.
“Most people think hell is insanely hot. As though it's the core of the earth. Lakes of molten lava and fiery pits. Others think
it's freezing cold. No fire, no light—a vast void of nothingness.”
“And what is it?” she whispered.
“It’s unlike anything you could imagine, little angel,” he repeated before rolling her beneath him.
She waited for him to continue, but he wouldn’t. She was too innocent and sweet to be torn from the stem. He caressed her
cheek.
“I don't want to discuss hell when I've found heaven between your thighs.”
He lowered his hand and grazed her clit, eliciting a moan from her.
“Look at me,” he said.
It wasn't a command but a request. Her eyes blazed as she gazed up at him. He was the dark prince, but she was the enigma
that snared him with her magnetic allure.
He grabbed her hair and forced her head back. Lucien sucked on her pulse point, reigniting their pleasure.
He guided himself inside her and moved sharply.
“Lucien,” she moaned.
“That’s it, tulip. Say my name.”
“Lucifer,” she whined.
Dark, twisted pleasure swirled within him. He wanted to give Sadie part of himself and bit his finger. She gasped as a bead
of blood rolled down his skin.
“Open your mouth.”
She wordlessly obeyed, and he stuck his finger in her mouth. He moved his finger in time with his hips.
“My blood will sustain you. It will bring us closer.” He paused. “I’ve never shared my blood with anyone before you.”
“Really?” she gasped.
“For my kind, the exchange of blood is personal. It gives away a part of our essence. It establishes a link between those
who share their blood. It’s the most intimate thing we can experience.”
“Will you taste mine?”
Had she forgotten he already had? He licked his lips, and his cock twitched as he recalled the tangy taste of her. But that
had been taken, not given freely.
Instead, he answered, “Your purity calls to the darkest souls. My darkness seeks to consume your light while you yearn to
heal me. Together, we'll become gray. Are you ready to accept that, Sadie? And be sure of your answer. If I lose you, I will
burn this world and send the next person who touches you to hell.”
“What if I'm willing to accept and love you?”
His eyes darkened as he smiled wearily. “I can't let you damn yourself for me. That isn't love.”
“If it's my choice, it is for love.”
He chuckled morosely. “Darkness is supposed to be seductive to lure others in. You’ve fallen into my trap.”
 Sadie pushed away and slapped him. “Damn you to hell, Lucifer.”
He grasped her chin and bucked his hips hard. “Hell is my home. I'd much rather stay here with my sweet tulip.”
He captured her hiss and parted her lips with his desperation as he exploded within her once more. She was a fucking
dream.
“Marry me, Sadie Winters.”
His words surprised him almost as much as they surprised her. Marriage wasn’t a necessity for their situation. He was
asking out of his own desire, not obligation.
Tears pricked her eyes. “I can't,” she whispered.
He paused, not expecting her answer. The rejection threatened to twist him into something unrecognizable. His skin grew
tight. Didn’t she realize she was his?
Breathe…
“Why?” he asked through gritted teeth.
“I have no dowry. I wasn't born to be allowed choices or extravagances. My opinions weren't necessary or wanted.”
Lucien chuckled before leaning back and pulling Sadie on top of him. She rested her hands on his chest, and he grasped her
hips. He encouraged her to rock in his lap.
“I don’t require a dowry. I know of the hardships you’ve experienced. Just tell me you’ll be mine. Tell me, at some point,
you’ll willingly offer me a drop of your blood to bind us together.”
Lucien brushed her hair behind her ear and watched her pendulous breasts sway over him in a hypnotic rhythm. The image
of her swollen belly and breasts engorged with milk spurred him on. He wrapped his arms around her and lifted his head to
capture her succulent nipple. He suckled and swirled his tongue while raising his hips to meet hers.
She didn’t hesitate to answer as she rocked her hips. “I will,” she promised as she fell apart.

Lucien remained buried inside Sadie as she rested against him. She was full of his semen and it leaked around him and
dribbled down her thigh. He ran his fingertip through the white sticky fluid.
“What are you doing?”
“I’m drawing my initial on you,” he said as he lifted his finger to her chest.
He drew an L over her heart. Then he ran his fingertip through his semen again and lifted his finger to her lips.
“Stick your tongue out.” She obeyed. “Good. Now swirl your tongue around the tip.”
Sadie took his instruction well. He groaned as she sucked the tip in.
“How do we taste?” he asked as he bucked his hips.
“So good,” she whined.
“You are a dream, tulip.”
His gaze dropped to the point where their bodies remained connected. He slowly withdrew, watching as her lips remained
tight around his thick cock. It was almost as satisfying as when he had broken her barrier.
“Your cunt doesn't want me to leave. It's sated, knowing I am its master. So much of me is inside you that you are already
swollen. Your lips are juicy and plump just begging for more. If only I could relive this night over and over again.”
He rolled Sadie onto her back and pulled her to the edge of the mattress so her head was hanging off the edge. Her hair fell
like a curtain, long enough that it brushed the floor.
“Open your mouth.”
Her pouty lips eagerly parted. He held himself at the base and traced the outline of her soft lips with his velvety tip.
Sadie’s tongue darted out to taste the mixture of their pleasure on his steel rod.
Lucien fed her slowly at first so as not to overwhelm her. However, she proved willing and able and closed her lips around
him.
“Keep using your tongue,” he said as he moved in and out. After the initial shallow thrusts, he couldn’t hold back anymore.
“I need more.” He grabbed her hair and held her steady as he pushed deep until he felt the back of her throat. He withdrew
and thrust forward again, repeating until her nose hit his sac. He snapped his hips repeatedly, holding himself deep for several
seconds.
She made muffled sounds around him, increasing his pleasure. “Mmm. That feels wonderful, tulip. Unfortunately, I can’t
feed you my seed yet. Your womb needs it more.”
Sadie gurgled in response, vibrating him. When he pulled out, a string of saliva connected their bodies. Lucien stroked her
freshly fucked face. He almost exploded on her chest but managed to hold back.
“There’s a difference between fucking for duty, pleasure, and love,” he said.
“Will you… I mean… could you…” she stammered.
“Could I what?”
 “Could you fuck me for pleasure?” Her cheeks flamed.
“Oh, Sadie. Has my corruption seeped in so quickly?”
Lucien moved her to the floor and positioned her on all fours. “This position is called A Tergo. It’s how animals copulate.”
He lined himself up and grabbed her hips. He surged forward and pulled her back at the same time. Sadie cried out as they
connected.
“You’re so deep!”
“Your ass looks amazing from this angle.”
He let go of her hip and slapped her behind, causing Sadie to yelp.
“Again!” she cried.
He was happy to oblige. Lucien pulled out and wet his finger in her juices and rammed himself back in. Using his
lubricated finger, he probed her rear passage.
“It’s not only illegal to take a partner this way, it’s sinful in the eyes of the church. I want to take you here one day.”
Her cunt clenched at his words. Whether dirty thoughts or an implied future, Lucien intended to have eternity with Sadie.
His soul delighted in corrupting this angel.
“Oh, tulip. Words aren't even needed to express your desire.”
The fantasy had him snapping his hips faster. Inhuman noises sounded from Sadie’s throat as he moved like a beast driven
by pure lust. Somewhere in the last brain cell still able to process thought, he hoped this was the time that his child was
conceived.
They writhed together in animalistic hunger. He pulled her hair causing her back to arch and wrapped his other hand around
her throat and squeezed. Her voice raised along with his as they moved in a frenzy.
His vision turned white as he roared his release. They collapsed on the rug, a tangle of sweaty limbs as they tried to catch
their breaths.

Midnight rolled around, signaling their 24-hour window was over. Lucien had lost count of how many times he’d sated Sadie,
and she’d sated him. She slept soundly curled up against his side, and it was painful to pull away from her. Unfortunately, he
had to return home for business. It would be a fortnight before he returned.
His movements roused Sadie from her slumber.
He kissed her and whispered, “Goodbye. I’ll see you in a few weeks.”
“Wait,” she pleaded. “I want to do the blood bond with you before you leave.”
“Are you sure?” His eyes lit up in the firelight.
“Yes, I’m sure.”

Lucien led Sadie to the rug by the fire. He pulled her into his lap and kissed her deeply as he ran his hands through her silky
locks. His words were spoken as a whisper against her lips.
“When we exchange blood, it allows us to share the very essence of our being. We will have a bond that transcends normal
human senses. My blood offers you properties such as enhanced healing of fresh wounds, and it may sustain you if you are on
the brink of death. Your blood will sustain me. It will open every part of your mind to me.”
“You’ve given me your blood before. How is this different?”
Lucien stroked her back and took Sadie’s hand in his.
“The difference is the intent and how it's given.” He turned her hand over and ran his finger across her palm. “First we cut
our palms with my jeweled hilt dagger. It is forged with special metal from al-Hutama. After we join hands.”
He fit his large palm against her small one and entwined their fingers before kissing her knuckles. Lucien lifted Sadie’s
chin delicately so she met his eye.
“Then I plunge my dagger into your heart.”
She gasped in horror and tried to pull away. He tightened his grip, not about to let her go. She was willing. She asked for
this. The demon demanded it.
Breathe…
Sadie didn’t know who she was yet. She didn’t know the other half of his parentage. Lucien breathed deeply. If he didn’t
calm himself, he risked pushing her away. Pushing her away meant Cain or some other fucker would put his hands on her. He
would tear them apart with his bare hands.
Breathe…
 “I will drink your blood from your chest. With every beat of your heart, the poison inflicted by my blade will surge through
your veins. Then I will feed you my blood and remove the dagger. My life source will heal the wound in your heart, and when
it beats again, it will be in sync with mine.”
“Does it hurt?” she whispered.
“It's excruciating.”
Sadie closed her eyes and took a deep breath.
“I’m ready on one condition.”
“What’s that?” he asked thoughtfully
“Tell me you love me.”
The request was so simple. He could easily do it. But what she didn't know was that binding himself to her made him
vulnerable. Allowing himself to love was a weakness. He took solace in the knowledge that she was the one person who
would never take advantage of her power over him.
“I love you, Sadie Winters. I wish to bind myself to you by blood.”
 Chapter Ten

T
he dagger piercing Sadie’s heart was almost as painful as waking up alone. She ran her hand over her naked chest which
bore not even a pink mark from the wound inflicted by Lucien’s dagger. Her heart beat in an unfamiliar rhythm, yearning
for its mate.
A chasm opened between them, stretching further with every minute that passed. His loss weighed heavily upon her as
imagined spending several weeks without him.
It was as though the past 24 hours existed in a fevered dream. But the soreness in her core and the wetness seeping down
her thighs told her it wasn’t her imagination.
The maidservants arrived and took her to the bath. She groaned as they helped her lower herself into the steaming water.
They massaged her for hours and fed her by hand.
Beatrice escorted her back to her chambers—Lucien’s chambers, where she would reside in his absence. The room had the
same sulfur smell that she’d come to equate with him. She was forced to lie in bed with her hips bolstered by pillows. Every
few days, a midwife was sent to check on her. Beatrice had returned to her regular duties after they confirmed she was indeed
with child.
Sadie spent her days in solitude. She was excited to be with child. Unfortunately, Lucien sent word that his return was
delayed. The lovers were unsure how soon they could reunite.
She became a hostage of circumstance, a stranger looking inside the window of her own life.

One day, Sadie grew bold and snuck out of the chambers. She made her way down several long corridors, making sure she
noted which direction she turned in order to find her way back.
She heard the wailing of a newborn echo down the hall. Not having much experience with children, she followed the cries
of the child down the dark corridor. Her bare feet were silent against the cold stone as she kept close to the shadowed walls.
Luckily, she didn't encounter anyone.
Sadie daydreamed about walking similar corridors as these in Lucien’s castle while holding her babe at her breast.
A harsh female voice interrupted her thoughts. “These little runts are always so damn noisy, but their blood is the
sweetest.”
The woman cackled with her friend.
“Yes, bring me the whelp.”
“Please, the baby was just birthed; can’t the mother have a moment?” Beatrice was clearly distressed.
Sadie peered around the corner and watched with horror as an elderly woman with a fox face bit into the stump protruding
from the newborn's belly.
“No!” the mother screamed.
The infant shrieked for a moment before its wailing ceased, and its body went limp.
The woman was revitalized in an instant. Her gray hair turned red, and the vibrancy of youth returned to her sagging, pallid
skin. Her breasts lifted, wrinkles smoothed, and even her cadence changed.
“Delicious.” She smiled as she shoved the dead child into Beatrice’s arms.
The maidservant wept, and though weak from giving birth, the mother pushed off the bloodied sheets. The noble women
descended upon the woman in bed like devilish creatures and bit either side of her neck.
Sadie covered her mouth to stifle a gasp. She stepped backward until she was out of earshot and started running. She ran
until she smacked into one of the house guards. She clawed at his face as he attempted to restrain her. He tore the fabric of her
sleeping gown, and it slipped from her shoulders.
She wiggled out of it completely and dodged his grasp. Sadie laid a hand on her belly, promising her child would not
endure the same fate. Tears streamed down her cheeks, but she didn’t have time to mourn the loss of the mother and child.
A heavy object struck Sadie’s back as she tried to pull the heavy front door open. She was unconscious before she hit the
floor.

Déjà vu hit Sadie hard as she came to. She was not in Lucien’s chambers, but a familiar bedchamber nonetheless.
A cold steel collar was clamped around her neck. A heavy chain connected the collar to the shackles encircling her wrists.
Cain’s black eyes looked down at her. “We’re going to play a game, Sadie. For every false answer you ply me with, I will
whip you ten times.”
“Please don't do this,” Sadie sobbed. “I’m with child.”
The dark chuckle that left Cain’s lips had her shiver more than the cold metal squeezing her throat.
He raised his hand, and the black leather tongue of the whip cracked the air before lancing across her skin. Sadie screeched
as the whip landed nine continuous times.
“Did you enjoy fucking my brother?” he asked through gritted teeth.
She shook her head, but when the whip cracked again, she cried out, “Yes!”
Even though she answered honestly, her back was still shredded. He enjoyed hurting her. It was her punishment for
discovering the truth.
“You should’ve never left that chamber. I couldn’t touch you in there.” He scratched her breast and licked the blood away.
“Now, there’s no one to stop me.”
“Lucien will find me.”
Cain threw her against the wall and gripped her hip and left breast tightly. He bit the lobe of her ear and growled as he
spoke.
“You should've been mine. It was supposed to be my offering. But the Golden Son returned from the palace just in time to
fuck it up.”
He spread Sadie’s legs, and she felt his warmth as he lined himself up.
“I’m going to fuck you until you enjoy it. Moan for me, little mouse. You'll soon discover I'm the one worthy of your
attention. But you won’t even look at me while I’m buried inside you.”
“No!” Sadie screamed as he thrust himself within her.
“You’re gripping me so tight,” he said as he began to move. “Sing for me like you did for my brother.”
But she didn't sing. She wept, which seemed to please him as his grip tightened and his hips picked up their pace.
“My brother’s spawn has already taken root inside you. But I’ll be the one who tears it from your body. I promise you that.
You will belong to me for eternity.”
His thrusts punctuated every word. He grunted and growled as his hips slapped against hers.
Sadie went numb. The cold stone wall scratching her cheek was the only thing she felt. She’d give anything to forget…

Days became weeks. Weeks became months.

Sadie wished for death every day. But every night before she fell asleep, she prayed for the soul of her unborn child.
Every day, Cain used her body and left her broken and bleeding. Every night, she cried for Lucifer to save her.
She never saw or heard another soul. Sadie was trapped in a prison she continually attempted to escape. Every time she
did, Cain would drag her back. The cycle continued.
When Sadie’s belly began to swell, Cain decided to use a different part of her body. He forced her on all fours and spread
her cheeks with his hands.
Constance should’ve been the Winter Maiden, but Sadie was chosen instead. She fell in love with the son of Satan and now
his brother used her body for his twisted pleasure for nothing more than spite. Sadie was in hell.
 Chapter Eleven

S even Months Later…

Run…
The voice within propelled her forward to brace the cold elements. The snow crunched below the maiden’s bare feet,
which had long since become numb. Her chattering teeth couldn’t be heard over the blustering winter wind. Her nightclothes
had been roughly torn from her body, so she braved the elements naked. Goosebumps covered her blue-hued skin, and her
nipples were pointed painfully beneath her crossed arms.
Each inhale was torture as her frozen lungs struggled to work. Each exhale produced a little cloud of steam before her but
failed to provide warmth. Her dark, frozen lashes were heavy as she blinked.
Wolves howled in the distance. Whether it be beast or the elements that took her, Sadie was ready to greet death like an old
friend.
Death is better than being forced into his bed again, she thought.
“You can run, but you can’t hide, little mouse.”
Sadie jumped with a shriek. She turned, but her pursuer was nowhere to be seen. She shook her head and scurried on her
way. His disembodied voice was again a whisper in her ear.
“When I catch you, I will break your legs so you can’t run again. I’m going to tie you to my bed. I’ll feed you my cock for
every meal and let you warm it for me all night long.”
Her knees shook, unbeknownst to her if it was from cold or twisted desire. All she knew was she couldn’t stop moving
forward. She needed to scale down the mountain. She needed to warn the village of those who lived in the castle.
Sadie had discovered the truth about their Lords—The Society—who ruled above them and was punished mercilessly for
it.

A galloping horse came upon her, and its rider cracked a whip. The veracity and sting against her back caused her to stumble.
The next crack made her fall.
She couldn’t stand, so she began to crawl. Her self-protective instincts told her to keep fighting and continue moving. A
boot kicked her in the back. The same someone shoved her face into the snow. Her arms were grabbed, and coarse rope was
tied around her wrists.
Sadie screamed and kicked as she was rolled over.
“Don’t be frightened, Sadie,” Constance said. “It will be over soon.”
Sadie’s eyes dropped to the glistening knife in her sister’s hand. She took a menacing step forward and held a silver goblet
in the other.
“I won't lie and say it will be painless. But Cain mixed mulled wine with poppy juice and other ingredients. Drink it, and
let yourself be calm.”
“No! Stay away from me, you crazy bitch!”
Constance’s eyes darkened as she lunged toward Sadie, knife in hand. “If you struggle, I can't promise precise cuts. You
wouldn't want to hurt the baby, would you?”
Tears rolled down Sadie’s cheeks. There was someone she wished to protect more than herself.
“It’s too early,” she sobbed, wishing she could rub the small bump. It had only been seven moons since the offering ball.
“It has to be tonight during the solstice.” Constance thrust the cup against Sadie’s lips. “Drink.”
The bitter, spiced drink flowed from the cup into her mouth. Constance held the tip of the knife to Sadie’s abdomen until she
swallowed every last drop. A strange nutty flavor remained on her tongue.
Shortly after the consumption of the strange concoction, Sadie’s limbs tingled and became leaden.
“Wha—” Lethargy made her tongue lazy.
Constance covered Sadie’s mouth and nose with a wet rag. The slightly sweet scent tickled her nose. It made her head spin.
In her drugged stupor, Sadie was conscious enough to feel the pain, but she couldn’t move to protect herself. She screamed
until she was hoarse as the dagger sliced her from navel to pubis. The last sound she heard was an infant’s wail.

Wolves howled in the distance as Sadie blinked up at the twilight sky. She couldn't move. Her lower extremities were numb.
Her heart slowed with each beat. Thump… thump. Thump… thump. Sadie’s vision darkened at the edges as tears froze on
her cheeks.
Worse than that, her womb was empty. Her life force continued to drain from her body.
“Sadie!” Lucien dropped to his knees beside her.
“Luci—” She choked on blood in response.
“Don’t speak. Save your strength.”
“Ba—”
“I’ll find the baby. Don't worry. Whoever hurt you will burn in hell for eternity. I'll send them personally.”
 Chapter Twelve

A
pain Lucifer had never known was conceivable tore through his chest. Thinking love was obtainable for a soul like his
was a mistake. More than anything he wished he didn’t feel a goddamn thing. He hadn’t left the bowels of hell to live
among mortals to lose the soulmate he’d found.
Lucifer had warned Sadie that his love would annihilate her. They deluded themselves into thinking that a happy ending
was achievable. It was unfathomable, but more than anything he wanted to believe it was true.
“Sadie!” he bellowed.
He stood on the precipice of losing Sadie, and the agony within his heart caused him to snap. Lucifer tore the flesh from his
bones and turned his body inside out, revealing his true form.
He was suddenly twice as tall as a common man and ten times stronger. Horns sprouted and twisted from his head like
spiral curls. His eyes burned with hellfire, and his dark claws could fall man or beast with a single swipe. Glowing glyphs
etched themselves into his skin.
As the demon broke free, Lucien’s pain was personified. He wouldn't stop until he had his child back and everyone who’d
hurt them faced eternal damnation.
Beatrice, who’d led him to Sadie’s body, shrieked in horror and cowered in fear. He wrapped his hand around her throat
and lifted her several feet in the air.
“You tore my child from its womb. Where is it?” His inhuman voice rumbled as he spoke.
“I… I didn’t…” she cried.
Lucien’s eyes bore into her soul. She had been a witness to the birth and death of many innocent ones at the hands of those
within the castle walls. He twitched his hand after finding the information he sought.
Though Beatrice spoke the truth, the demon demanded blood. Someone needed to pay with their life. Lucien warned Sadie
he was a monster. He was about to prove it by murdering her only friend in the den of wolves that hunted her.
The woman’s neck snapped like a twig, and her body went limp before his next breath. With eyes as black as a moonless
night, Lucifer watched as her body crumpled on the cold, hard ground. He closed his eyes and reveled in his claim of her soul.
By the time he knelt at Sadie’s side, he was in his human form again. She clung to the last threads of consciousness. He
needed more time…
“Promise…” she whispered as her life drained away rapidly.
He kissed the tears off her cheeks before gently touching her lips. His heart slowed with hers.
“I will find our child if it's the last thing I do.”
She nodded slowly and gazed up at him with a weak smile. He bit the inside of his cheek to keep from howling and
returned her smile. She was dying with a smile on her face to ease his pain.
His soul was lost in eternal darkness, yet Sadie had accepted him. She loved him and touched him with her light. Like the
true devil he was, he had destroyed her with a single touch.
Their hearts were bound by love. Being bound by blood opened her to him. Binding her soul to him was the only way to
ensure Sadie survived. He couldn’t stand to witness her suffering.
If she died, her soul would ascend. Ascension was a risk as rebirth wasn't promised. Just as below, some souls found
eternity. He was selfish and couldn't live without her.
Lucifer had only one option. Their love would damn them both.
 The Twisted Society Presents

THE INITIATE RISES

The initiate is ready to take his place…
The Offering brought Sadie Winters into Lucien’s bleak existence. She was meant to bear his heir so he could take his place at his father’s side, but the devil fell in love
with the angel. Now, the consequences are insurmountable for The Society’s youngest son.
With his child missing and Sadie bleeding out in his arms, Lucien makes a choice that will damn them both. He embraces his role in The Society and will do whatever it
takes to fulfill his promise to Sadie.
No matter how long it takes.
 The Winter Maiden Playlist

Hallelujah - Pentatonix
All the Good Girls Go to Hell - Billie Eilish
Vlad Erotic Theme - Djinotan
Dark Demon - Djinotan
Vlad Romance Long - Djinotan
Laya Soul - Djinotan
Romance - Djinotan
The Sacrifice of Love - Djinotan
Snake Victim - Djinotan
Halo - Alexander Stewart
Either Us or Them - Steven Prince
 Acknowledgments

Thank you, smut lovers!

I hope you enjoyed Sadie and Lucien’s origin story. There is more in store for this couple.
One of my friends demanded Constance becomes infected with vaginal rabies. I’m sorry, but you will have to wait a little
longer for that.
 About the Author

Cristina Lollabrigida specializes in books that are romantic and smutty and will leave you with feels. She is best known for twists that will leave readers thirsting for more.
Originally from Chicago, Cristina is a country girl at heart who lived in rural Wisconsin for several years. She currently lives with her husband and their three children in
South Carolina. And when she's not writing, she's reading romance novels.
 Also by Cristina Lollabrigida
The Twisted Society
Scream at the Fair
WHAT WOULD YOU DO FOR $100,000?
Tallulah Daniels has been contacted by the mysterious Society. A $100,000 prize is hers if she can survive 12 hours in the abandoned fairgrounds. It should be easy for a
horror movie buff to spend her Halloween being scared by actors.
It turns out to be more than jump scares and costume makeup. She's trapped in a sensual nightmare and pushed to her limits. When quitting isn't an option, will the
seductive Lucien turn out to be friend or foe as Tallulah attempts to elude her masked hunters?

The Initiate Rises

Spring 2o24

Twisted Games of Fate

Summer 2024

Society in Ruin
Fall 2024

Dark Romances
Accidental Bride
Upholding the law was all Drake Walker ever wanted to do. Until he found himself married to the one person that could ruin him…

Marriage by Trial
Tired of being used as a pawn in everyone’s plan, Alessandra decides it’s time to take her future in her own hands, even if it means burning down the world around her.

You’re My Always
To have, to hold, and to protect… Always.

Contemporary Romances
Running After You
Cinnamon Roll Hero (sin-a-mon roll he-ro): ( n ) a hero who is too sweet for this world…but will fight to the death for the people they care about.
Princess for a Day
True love, royal intrigue, and the adventure of a lifetime await!
Lake Heart
Sometimes your true dream is the one you leave behind.
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