Chapter 140. A Bargain with Chaos

Lottie POV

As Astaroth's words hung in the air, a chill swept through me, freezing my thoughts in place. 'I want your daughter.' The very idea seemed absurd, impossible even. Yet, there he sat atop the altar, the picture of innocence, as if he hadn't just demanded my firstborn. His crimson eyes burned with an unsettling intensity, his offer dangling before us like a forbidden fruit.

I glanced over at Knox and Kane, my mates, never needing the reassurance of the mate bond more than I did at this moment. Their faces mirrored my shock, their expressions a mixture of disbelief and rage- something I understood.

How could we possibly trust a demon? Even if he claimed to be on our side!

But then, amidst the whirlwind of emotions, Astaroth's next words sliced through my turmoil like a knife.

"I will be her mate!" he murmured, his voice a sinister whisper in the depths of this hell-like world, "So, you see... I ask that you promise her to me when the time c