Demon Reign, page 21
part #4 of Demons of Morningstar Series
“You want to have a sleepover?” She gave me a cheeky smile. “I’m sure Veena can provide the snacks now that she’s friendly with the kitchen staff again.”
“You mean like a midnight feast?”
“I mean exactly that.”
This is what we did. We huddled and clustered before an event. It was like recharging. I couldn’t explain it, but it felt right.
“Okay. I’m in.”
“I’ll organize everything. My room, eleven p.m. Bring blankets and pillows.”
We climbed the steps to the floor that housed our quarters to find Odette coming toward us. Her emerald dress swept the floor behind her as she glided across marble. The woman had regal down pat.
“Nyx. I was looking for you. Sin asked me to collect a sample of your blood.”
So he’d remembered after all. “I was planning to see you about that.”
She gave me a terse smile that didn’t reach her eyes. “Good. We can take the sample here. I don’t need much.” She pulled a vial and needle from her pocket. “Please roll up your sleeve.”
What was with the snippy attitude? “You want to draw blood here, in the corridor?”
“It’s as good a place as any,” she said coolly.
Heck no. I wasn’t having this. “I’ll see you later, Mallini.”
Mallini arched a brow and sidled away but mouthed, Slap the bitch, from over Odette’s shoulder.
I waited until she’d rounded the corner. “What is your problem with me, Odette?”
Her eyes flinched. “Aside from the fact my son lost a wing because of you?”
Guilt formed a lump in my throat, but I swallowed it. Guilt wouldn’t bring his wing back. It wouldn’t heal him. True, my decision to go after the thief had led us to the alley, and I’d regret that for as long as I lived. But I wouldn’t allow her to use this awful incident orchestrated by the faebloods to drive a wedge between me and Zep.
“Your son saved my life, and I’ll be eternally grateful to him. If he wants to rage at me and blame me, then I will gladly listen, but you have no right.”
“I’m his mother.”
“And I’m your Satan.”
She blinked in surprise.
I gave her a moment to process before continuing. “You don’t have to like me, Odette, but you will respect me and my position here. Are we clear?”
Her throat bobbed, and her eyes hardened. “Crystal.”
I gave her a mirthless smile. “In turn, I’ll respect you and your position, both as Superbia’s head conji and as Zepar’s mother.”
Her ice chip eyes bore into me. “Do you have feelings for my son?”
“Yes.”
She dropped her gaze for a long beat, and when she looked up, a little of the hostility was gone. “We can take the blood here or in my chambers.”
Now that she was giving me a choice… “Here is fine. I’d like to see Zepar afterwards.”
“He won’t wake till tomorrow. The pain tincture along with the sleeping draught will keep him under.”
My heart sank. “Will he heal?”
She considered my question for a moment. “His body will, but only time will tell how he’ll cope psychologically without his wing.”
That’s what I was worried about. Flight was a part of who he was, and now that it had been taken from him, how would he cope?
One thing was for certain. He wouldn’t be left to deal with it alone.
I held out my arm. “Take as much as you need, and if you don’t mind, I’d like to help with the blocker, any way I can.”
She nodded. “In that case, it might be easier to do this in my laboratory.”
Maybe Odette and I would be able to find a middle ground after all.
Forty-Four
SEV
Being back in the Court of Shadows evokes a cocktail of emotions. The air smells like home, but my heart sits heavy in my chest, aching to be in its new home with Nyx.
Our blood oath connection is broken, but there’s a stronger connection between us now. One I never imagined I’d form with anyone. Loving her has changed me.
The imp screams as a brand is pressed into his skin, and the acrid scent of burning flesh fills the throne room.
The demon lords and ladies standing against the walls of the chamber don’t dare take their eyes off the scene. This is a show of Umbrane’s power. His swift justice on the imp who dared steal from the duke’s kitchens. A loaf of bread to feed his family living in the dark, dank marshes of the Shadow Court. An area that the nobility prefers to forget exists.
The imp sobs, huge wracking cries of agony. His pain is sharp and poignant, but my hunger barely stirs. Pain no longer gives me the same thrill it once did. It no longer arouses me like it used to. Only one person can do that now.
Nyx is my aphrodisiac. Being with her, her scent, the silken soft feel of her skin against my fingertips and the vanilla taste of her in my mouth are the only things that make me hard.
“I’m glad to see you’ve not lost your taste for pain,” Umbrane says.
I’m breathing fast and shallow, and when I follow Umbrane’s gaze to my crotch, I find myself engorged.
He thinks I’m aroused by the imp’s plight. This pleases him.
Fuck it, let him think what he wants. Let him believe I’m still his pet.
The imp begs for his life as the maras, a young male I’ve never met, approaches him with cold, detached eyes.
Umbrane sits back in his seat, a smug smile on his face. “Sev, this is Vix, your replacement in my court, and I have to say, he’s coming along beautifully.”
My chest tightens. So this is his new pet. His new project.
“Vix inflicts pain because I order him to,” Umbrane continues. “He doesn’t derive any joy from it. He simply follows my orders. My praise is the only thing that he craves.”
Vix grabs the imp by the horns, forces his head back, and presses his dagger to the creature’s throat before looking at Umbrane. He waits for instruction like the good puppet he is.
Umbrane takes a moment to sip from his goblet, sigh, and tap his fingers on his armrest. All the while the imp whimpers and pleads, but Vix stands like stone with the creature held firmly in his grip.
The knot in my chest tightens. This maras is barely a man. His features are still soft, his body slender and wiry, but his eyes…his eyes are dead.
Umbrane lifts a finger and gives the nod.
Vix slits the imp’s throat, not in a quick slashing motion, but by slowly dragging the blade across his neck.
The sound the imp makes claws at the inside of my skull, and a frisson passes through me—the echoes and remnants of the male I once was.
Vix drops the imp and waits for further instructions like an automaton.
Umbrane’s eyes are alight with fervor. I know that look. I’ve seen it before. “You and you.” He points to two servers carrying trays of pastries. I catch the fear in their eyes before they cover it with a bow and hurry from the room. “Vix…”
Vix nods and follows. Umbrane takes a moment to finish his drink. “You won’t be coming with me, Sev. Not this time. You’ll have to earn your pleasure. Work for it. Prove to me that you’re worthy of the pain I can provide for your consumption. Until then, you’ll go hungry.” He snorts. “The princes made me vow that no harm would come to you. That you wouldn’t be confined, but little do they know that you thrive on pain. It’s nectar to you. As to confinement, the terms they’ve set will do that just fine.”
He stands and adjusts his cuffs. “Enjoy your return home, Sev. I’ll enjoy watching you starve.”
He climbs off the platform and crosses to the door Vix exited through. I know where he’s going. What he’ll have Vix do to the demons while he watches. Always watches, never participates. He thinks excluding me is a punishment, and if I’m going to succeed in finding the contract that binds my people to him, I’ll have to play the part. Show stubborn resistance with flashes of craven need. He’ll expect me to break and eventually beg for his favor. Beg for him to allow me to feed on pain.
I’ll find the contract before it comes to that, and right now is the perfect time to begin my search.
Umbrane will be busy for hours.
And so will I.
Forty-Five
NYX
Dhuma carried two mattresses into Mallini’s room and dropped them by the bed. Keelan brought in two more. They almost collided but sidestepped one another as if they’d choreographed the move.
“They’re so big, but they move like dancers,” Veena said.
“It’s the art of being a fighter,” Mallini said. “You have to be light on your feet.”
A pile of blankets and pillows entered the room with Gus’s legs sticking out the bottom. He dumped the haul and then stood with his hands on his hips, eyes bright with satisfaction.
Keelan returned in his pj’s—an undershirt and baggy pants—barefoot, hair loose around his shoulders.
Veena hurried over to the dresser and grabbed a brush. “Can I braid it? Please?” She gave him the big, pleading eyes.
He grunted his assent before dropping to the mattress pushed up against the bed. Veena climbed up behind him, ready to style his mane.
Dhuma returned carrying a tray laden with food. Zinichi followed, pushing a cart with even more treats to choose from.
“Don’t stay up too late, will you?” Zinichi said. “You have an early start and a very busy day.”
Butterflies fluttered in my belly. Tomorrow was the big day, after all.
“We’ll leave you to it,” Zinichi said.
“You can stay if you want,” Mallini blurted out. She addressed them both, but her attention was on Dhuma.
Zinichi smiled. “Thank you, child, but unlike you young things, I need my sleep.”
“Dhuma?” I smiled at him. “Want to join us?”
“Thank you, but no. I too need my sleep. But I will be close by if you should need me.”
But not for long. Once tomorrow was done, Dhuma would be off to the abyss to act as my regent there.
After tomorrow, everything would change.
But not this.
The door closed behind them, and Gus let out a snort that sounded suspiciously like a laugh. I followed his gaze to Keelan, now sporting two cute braids that arched out of his head from behind his horns.
Veena’s eyes were twinkling with mirth.
Mallini grinned at Keelan. “Looking good. Very intimidating.”
Keelan frowned and reached up to touch his hair. “What? Veena? What have you done?”
“You don’t like it?” She sounded disappointed, but Keelan had his back to her so couldn’t see the smile on her face. “I thought you’d like it.” She injected the threat of a sob into her voice.
“It’s fine,” he said quickly. “I love it.”
“You do?” Her tone lifted with hope.
“Yes, yes. Now how about we eat?”
“You’re going to keep your hair like that?” Mallini asked. “Seriously?”
Keelan gave her a warning look. “I love it.”
Gus burst out laughing, and Mallini followed suit.
I shook my head with a smile. “She’s messing with you, Keelan.”
Veena put her arms around his neck and kissed his cheek. “Because I love you.”
Keelan groaned. “Thank goodness. Now take them out quickly.”
She pulled out the ties and ran her fingers through his hair. “There, all better.” She hopped off the bed and crossed to the cart of food, returning with a plate of swirly pastry, capped with cream. “I made these specially for us.”
The pastry was flaky and buttery, and the cream was thick and sweet. I detected a hint of cinnamon too. Delicious.
“Oh, my,” Gus said. “Veena, this is wonderful.”
“So good,” Mallini said.
Keelan grunted in approval and popped another one in his mouth.
Veena beamed from ear to ear. “It’s a recipe I created. And I’d like to create more.” She looked at me. “I’m not good at the political things like Tristeene, and I’m not a fighter like Mallini and Keelan, or all knowledgeable like Gus. I’m not a leader like you, either, but I understand food. It makes me happy to create. So I was wondering if I could have charge of the kitchens here at Morningstar once you’re crowned. The menu is so bland, and morale isn’t great because of it. I know I can make it better.”
“That’s fine by me.” I snagged another pastry and passed it to Chase, who wolfed it down. “Gus can have the library, and you can have the kitchens.”
“We should have a special meeting room,” Mallini said. “One that has a training room attached.”
“Better working hours for Minorax,” Keelan said. His lip curled. “The Minorax in the Court of Flame are well treated, but outside of the court, we’re treated like grunts.”
“Access to education is scarce for imp younglings in most courts,” Gus said. “I’d like to address that.”
And once Tristeene was cured, she’d make an excellent emissary. This…Us…We were the perfect Satan. I might be the figurehead, but Satan was all of us.
For the first time since I’d been told I’d been chosen, I believed that this could work. Because together, we could fix, achieve, do anything.
Chase nudged me with his nose and chuffed, and I tuned back into the conversation.
“Imps are faster because we have lighter bones,” Gus said.
“But zuni are lighter all around,” Veena pointed out. “And we can run fast from when we used to be hunted.”
“Zuni were hunted?” I stared at Veena in horror.
Gus rolled his eyes. “That was so long ago it’s older than ancient history.”
“Zuni were the rabbits of the demon world,” Keelan said.
Gus beamed at him. “That’s right.”
Veena glared at Gus in annoyance. “We are not rabbits.”
“Not anymore, you’re not, but there was a time when…”
I settled back to enjoy a history lesson courtesy of Gus.
This. Right here. With them. Might just be my favorite place.
Forty-Six
Odette answered my knock on the door to Zepar’s quarters with a roll of bandages in her hand. She blinked at me in surprise.
I didn’t blame her. It was early, like the sun is waking up early.
“Odette, I was hoping to see Zepar before my coronation.”
Emotions skipped across her face, too fast for me to catch and decipher. “Of course. I’m sure he’ll like that.” She stepped aside to let me in. “I forgot the salve. I’ll be back in a few moments. His room is the last door on the left.”
She stepped out and shut the door.
The sitting room was bathed in gray predawn rays. One of the sofas was set up as a bed. There was an open book face down on the side table. Beside it sat a small tray carrying pots of salve. Odette had slept here to watch over her son. She might be a bitch to me, but she knew what it meant to be a mother.
Zepar was a lucky guy.
Zepar’s door was ajar, but no sound came from beyond. Had he fallen asleep? Maybe I shouldn’t disturb him.
“Nyx? Is that you?” he called out.
“Yes.” I pushed the door open a fraction. “Can I come in?”
“Of course.”
The bedroom was relatively small compared to some I’d seen here, or maybe it was the huge bed taking up the space that made it seem that way. The heavy drapes were open, and the morning light gave Zepar’s skin a slightly gray tinge.
He was on his front, bandaged back on display, head to one side so he could face me. “Mother said you’d come.”
“She did?”
“She likes you.”
“Oh? I didn’t get that impression.”
“She’s not an easy woman to read,” he said.
“Is that how you knew I was outside your door?” I snagged the dresser chair as I approached the bed. “Or did you hear my voice?” I set the chair down facing him and parked my ass.
“Neither. I could smell you. That sweet vanilla scent.” He closed his eyes, a smile playing on his lips. “I dream of it sometimes, you know. Being surrounded by it.” There was a wistful quality to his tone. “Last night, when I was riding a unicorn, I saw you by the lake.”
Um… “A unicorn?”
He chuckled soft and sexy. “It had a golden horn.”
My gaze flicked to the bottle of green stuff by his bed. Pain meds? Was he dosed up right now?
“I desperately wanted a cinnamon roll,” he said. “The unicorn said he’d get me something much better, and he took me to you. And your scent…Much better than a cinnamon roll.”
Oh boy. “Thank you.”
“You and I…we’re the same, you know,” he said. “Left to find our own path by the people who should have been there to guide us. Different…unique.” His gaze was like warm honey. “I’m so in love with you, Nyx.”
My heart did a backflip, and my pulse fluttered. He was high on pain meds, and if he hadn’t said it already, I’d have been inclined to believe he didn’t mean it. But he did…he truly did.
I wanted to say it back, but not now. Not when he wasn’t clearheaded. “Zepar, you should get some rest. We can talk later.”
“You’ll come back later?”
I dropped out of the chair and onto my knees by his bed so that we were eye to eye. “Yes. I promise. I’ll come back later.” I reached out and traced my index finger down his cheek.
He closed his eyes and swallowed hard as if my touch evoked too much emotion, and my fluttery heart swelled.
“I won’t be able to come to the ball. Will you come see me before?” He opened his eyes, and his gaze was clear and unhazy. “I want to see you in your dress. The one chosen for your grand entrance.”
I wanted him to see me in it too. “You know I hate dresses, right?”
“But they love you, Nyx. Every inch of you.” His voice was like hot chocolate on a winter’s night. Warm and satisfyingly good.
My cheeks warmed, and my gaze dropped to his luscious mouth. He was injured, incapacitated, and in pain, and I was thinking about jumping his bones.
