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trying to keep her focus on the issue at hand.
    “And just what, exactly, is it that these men do for me?”
    “It’s not what they do for you, princess. It’s what you do for them. To them.”
    Having grown tired of playing games, Heidi placed the hand mirror on the ground and lifted herself to her full height. “I’m listening.”
    “As I said before, it’s simple.” He paused, letting the tension build until Heidi was ready to scream. She’d opened her mouth to do just that when he continued. “You fuck them. Then you kill them.”
    * * *
    Varin stood perfectly still in the Demon Guardian’s grip, his body held rigid as slow burning hatred simmered in his veins. He’d served Baal for centuries before his initial fall from his Lord’s grace. In all that time, he’d learned what the ruler of the Underworld was capable of. Deceit was among Baal’s favorite weapons. It left no scars -- no visible ones, anyway -- and allowed him to use as much or as little pressure as he wished to achieve the desired results. It was also the most effective method he’d discovered to turn friends, siblings and lovers against each other.
    Judging by the look of horror and fascination on Heidi’s beautiful features as she glanced first at Luke, then at Varin, Baal’s plan was working. Without a touch of physical torture, he’d managed to get Heidi exactly where he needed her: willing to believe that she was a divine princess of the Underworld and able to destroy the men she’d come here to save.
    Before his trip to the mortal realm, Varin would have considered Baal’s plan a magnificent display of his Lord’s dark villainy. Now, the only emotions that churned in his gut were contempt and fear. Not for himself, but for Luke. And for Heidi, who had no idea what she’d gotten herself into.
    Damn it, Heidi! Why did you have to be so fucking determined to rescue us?
    He darted a glance at Luke from the corner of his eye and felt the anger he’d directed at Heidi begin to dissipate. Looking at Luke, he knew exactly why Heidi had returned. She’d sworn to retrieve him from the depths of Hell if it was the last thing she ever did. This time, Varin thought, it just might be.
    “I’ll leave you to it, then,” Baal said, his voice booming against the cavern walls.
    Heidi gave no indication she heard him. The only evidence of her awareness came from the way her chest rose and fell with the force of her shallow breathing, lifting her breasts upward with each ragged sigh.
    “I want you back to your old self as soon as you can manage it.” Baal strode toward the lava-drenched exit, not bothering to spare Varin and Luke a second glance. “Enjoy yourself, but do be quick about it. Fuck them senseless first if you must. It doesn’t matter to me. Just be certain they’re dead before you leave this room. You’ll know it when their souls have expired, as they’ll rise from their bodies and travel to the depths of the Underworld to join the billions of other damned souls.”
    “So these men… they’re not dead?” She hesitated, drawing her lower lip between her teeth. “Like I am?”
    “No, princess. They’re still human. That’s what makes this so much fun.”
    Not waiting for Heidi to reply, Baal snapped his fingers. The Demon Guardians released their captives and fell back a few steps to stand guard on either side of the cascading lava door.
    Baal waved his right hand, pausing the flow of molten rock while he stood inside the curve of the threshold, then turned back to Heidi. “Oh, one last thing you should remember as you play. Your toys will lie. They’ll do everything in their power to avoid their fate. In your natural capacity as my Queen, you’d remain unmoved by their pleas and no doubt quite persuasive arguments. In your current state, however, I’m not so sure they won’t get to you. So I’m telling you now, I’ll be watching you. If you give me any reason to believe they’ve convinced you of some lunacy or