by J. L. Weil
Ashor stirred beside me, shifting his arm from out under me, and I protested. The repetitive pounding of horses galloping came to an abrupt halt, jarring me awake. My eyelids parted, unable to shake the sudden urge that we weren’t alone.
“You better have a good reason for disturbing me,” Ashor’s raspy voice, thick from sleep, grumbled.
I was wide awake now and staring at four ghostly figures surrounding our bed, faces ranging from rugged to baby smooth, all wearing the same stony expressions.
The Wild Hunt was in our bedroom.
I jerked the sheet up higher around my body, trying not to think about the fact that I was naked underneath the covers. These demons reported to Ashor. They were loyal to him above all else, despite the hierarchy and laws of the underworld. I learned they would do anything for their leader, including help a mortal escape from the Kingdom of Darkness, a feat I would never forget.
I knew very little about the demons who served under Ashor, Soren excluded. Only the little bits that Ashor had mentioned. Apollo, Erlik, Draven, and Beck each gave me a nod before focusing their gazes on Ashor.
“What is it?” he demanded, sitting up and running a hand through his dark hair.
“The queen is on her way here,” Draven said. He was more mature-looking than the others, or perhaps it was just the full beard that made him look that way. “We came to warn you.”
“She knows your mate is with you,” Erlik added gravely.
“And she isn’t happy about it, considering you're here to prove your loyalty to her,” Apollo said. “She is coming to claim what you promised to deliver.”
“How much time do we have?” Ashor asked, running a hand through his hair.
“Her armada has already set sail. She will storm the court at nightfall,” Beck informed.
“We know how she feels about daylight,” Ashor sniped. The room went quiet as the Hunt waited for Ashor to give them orders. “Do nothing for now. Stay out of her way. If I need you, I will call.”
In turn, they each nodded before their forms faded into the darkness, dematerializing. This wasn’t the first time I’d seen the Hunt astral projecting, yet it wasn’t any less eerie. “That was unexpected,” I said, still sitting on the bed with the sheet draped around me.
He swung his legs over the side of the bed, giving me a clear shot of his toned ass. “Verena does not make decisions without considerable thought. She put pressure on us today because she knows my mother is on the move. Whatever happens next, we need to be prepared.”
My mind knew it was supposed to be focusing on more important things, but my body was like, holy shit, take a bite out of those butt cheeks. I shook my head. “What are we going to do?”
“We deliver the queen,” Ashor said with graveness.
I swiftly forgot about his nakedness as his statement registered. “Ashor! You can’t be serious.”
“I am.”
“Just like that, we give her over? Do you have any idea the repercussions the underworld will suffer?” I snapped.
His eyes flashed. “Oh, I am very aware, luv. This is my world.”
I moved to the edge of the bed alongside him, taking the sheet with me. “Then how can you sit here and be so calm about starting a war?”
The prince stared at me for a long moment, tiny stars glittering in his eyes. “It doesn’t matter if I fulfill my oath or not. War is coming. What is important is that we are on the winning side.”
I countered with a flat look. “And which side is that?”
“My side,” he said with a disarming smirk.
23
The outline of warships appeared on the horizon just as night was beginning to descend. I sat at the window, staring out over the River Styx, doom sinking deep in my gut. I’d never seen such an impressive fleet in my life, and the sight was intimidating. How could Verena hold up against the numbers Kali was bringing to her doorstep? The ships went on and on, spanning the entire width of the river for as far as my demon eyes could see. “Just how many ships does your mother have at her disposal?”
Ashor came up behind me and leaned down, brushing his scratchy cheek against mine as he glanced out the window. “Thousands. They are crafted from her darkness.”
“Won’t that drain her powers?” I asked.
He wore his unreadable mask, the one that told me trouble was coming. “Yes, but she has plenty to spare, especially if she has been conserving them.”
That worried me, and I could tell from our bond that it worried him as well. “Can you stop them?”
“The entire fleet on my own?” He shrugged and stood up. “If I had a mind to.”
“Ashor,” I groaned, turning away from the window to look up at him. “You could put an end to this before it begins.”
Anger rumbled down our bond. Not at me, but at our situation. “No, luv. It would not end with me destroying my mother’s armada. She will come again and again. Each time with more forces at her side.”
I comprehended the depths of Kali’s commitment and greed, the lengths she would go to get what she desired. “Will the Hunt be among them?”
He shook his head. “They will not fight until I give them the order.”
“And Soren?” I asked, repulsion tumbling in my stomach.
His gaze flicked back to the window, eyeing the approaching armada. “My brother will be leading the fleet.”
Fucking fantastic. So much for hoping I’d never see his assbucket of a brother again.
On the upside, perhaps I would get the chance to kick his ass again. That in itself was something to look forward to in this underworld mess.
But first, I had to pass my test. I really wanted to tell Verena to shove her loyalty test up her tight ass, but no matter how appealing the gesture was, it wouldn’t help protect my family. Hell, at this point, I was trying to protect the whole goddamn world. “How long do I have until she comes to get me?” I asked.
Ashor sighed, shadows decorating the side of his face. “Not long. The armada will be on her shores within the hour.”
I’d never been in the middle of an underworld battle, and by the looks of what waited for Verena on her shores, I was more than willing to sit this fight out. “What will happen when she docks? Will her army attack?”
His violet eyes shimmered. Ashor and I had both seen our fair share of bloodshed. “It won’t be just the ships of demons Verena will have to contend with. The skies will remain black, and a storm will rage through the kingdom until my mother has the Crown of Envy.”
“You believe if your mother goes up against Verena, she will win,” I said softly, reading his shared emotions from our bond.
Ashor had an unruffled calm, where I was freaking out the fuck out. “She is stronger. Not just in power. My mother has one of the most lethal armies within the underworld. Her soldiers are trained and disciplined. They are born and bred in darkness, and before the day is over, this kingdom will be bathed in absolute night. And when she kills the Queen of Envy, the sun will never shine here again.”
I repressed a shudder.
He sat down beside me, looking me straight in the eyes, and the expression I saw there sucked out any lingering hope within me. “I need you to understand. There is no way Verena gets out of this alive. My oath is binding.” He took my hand, interlacing our fingers. “My agenda has always been clear. I’ve never pretended to be a savior or a saint. I am neither. I scheme. I bend the rules to my whim. I lie. I cheat.”
“Okay. I get it,” I interrupted. “You’re not a nice guy, but I’m not an angel.” What I was about to do, kill someone I had once cared for, was proof. “I know you’re planning something. Just promise me your mother won’t win.”
“I promise that I will do everything in my power to ensure your safety.”
My brows drew together. “That's not what I asked.” I shook my head, realizing it was the best I was going to get out of him. “I’m going to shower before the fun begins,” I said, needing a few quiet moments to myse
lf to gather my strength and harden my heart.
He let me go, and I was grateful.
Verena summoned us while the last rays of sunshine clung to the sky, but it wouldn’t be long until night took the reins completely. The demon smirked at me. He was one of Verena’s personal guards—Jamez. Well, Jamez was a little handsy in his duties and obviously had a death wish. He grabbed a handful of my ass as I walked by him.
Wrong move, dickhead.
I whirled on him, kicking the demon in his balls. It was a gut reaction that rarely ever failed. “How’s it feel, asshole? Touch me without my permission, and I will hurt you.”
He was in human form and grunted in response, clutching his manhood. “You bitc—”
Without saying a word, Ashor grabbed the demon by the back of his neck, forcing him to look him in the face. Then Ashor plunged his fist into the demon’s chest and ripped out his black heart in one clean thrust. The bastard had one second of shock, gaping at his own heart in the prince’s hand, before Ashor crushed his heart to dust and the demon along with it, his soul petrified by Ashor’s darkness.
I’d expected Ashor to deliver him a tongue lashing, but this…
I blinked, sliding him a sidelong glance. “That was unexpected.”
He gave me a smile that didn’t reach his glittering cold eyes. “No one touches what’s mine.”
“Technically, my ass is still mine.”
“Yes, well, what’s mine is yours and what’s yours is mine.”
Great. So this was like a marriage without the rings. “Verena isn’t going to be happy,” I said, stepping over the pile of black dust.
Ashor smoothed away any demon debris from the front of his shirt as he followed beside me. “She better get used to it. Life is full of disappointments.”
Someone was in a mood, but I couldn’t blame him. This was who he had to be—the Prince of Darkness. Hard. Unyielding, Heartless. Unpredictable.
This wasn’t who my mate was in the true sense, but a part he played exceptional well.
Now it was my turn to put on my game face.
I’d grown fairly accustomed to the layout of Verena’s main floor, having been to the throne room on numerous occasions, but the last time was burned into my memory with such force that even though the gleaming white floors had been scrubbed clean and fresh flowers perfumed the air, I could still see and smell Cayden’s blood. An event that would forever haunt me. Along with all the other nightmares I’d acquired from the underworld. They were stacking up.
My heart roared in my ears, drowning out the usual moans of pleasure that seeped through the rooms.
Before we walked into the throne room, Ashor leaned down and whispered into my ear, “No matter what happens, I need you to trust me.” Then he gave me a dry smile that was supposed to console me.
A queasy tightness pushed in my chest. “I do,” I replied without hesitation. I wanted him to feel the truth in my words. He was the only demon in the underworld I did trust. But I had come here for a purpose, and if the only way I could free Ashor was to pass Verena’s sadistic test, then I’d find the courage to kill Colin. I told myself it wasn’t him, that Colin was gone, but the truth was, his soul—his spirit was still Colin’s. And that was what made my task so difficult.
I paused outside the throne room doors, laying a hand on Ashor’s arm. He turned to look down at me, brows raised in question. Lifting up on my toes, I pressed a soft kiss to his lips, drawing strength from his touch and the affection that came through our bond.
His expression warmed as he scanned my face. “When we get through this night, I’m taking you someplace secluded. Somewhere we can’t be disturbed,” he said, his voice lowering.
“I’m going to hold you to that.” It was nice to talk about the future, to have something to look forward to, because I desperately wanted to believe him.
He kissed me again, ignoring the grumblings of the guards, not caring what they thought. Then together, we walked through the doors into the throne room.
Ashor’s demeanor shifted from day to night. He was no longer my loving mate, but the Prince of Darkness. His violet eyes became chips of ice, shadows clinging to his every movement.
I assumed Verena would be scrambling together her own army, putting defense procedures in place instead of lounging on her throne looking like a pampered queen without a care in the world.
What the hell was wrong with these queens?
I didn’t know what I expected to see, but it wasn’t a nearly empty room. No army. No preparations. No chaos.
Just a queen lounging on her throne of thorns and vines, sipping from a glass while one of her pet snakes twined around her ankle. Verena didn’t act or appear like someone about to be invaded by another kingdom and on the brink of war. Through the open windows, the sloshing of water as it hit the shores and the sound of synchronized rowing filtered into the great room. She was too calm, as if this was another day of twisted fun. Who had time for a test in the hour before war? Her behavior struck me as off.
But I didn’t give it a second thought. How could I, when my gaze landed upon Verena’s main attraction.
Colin was locked inside a cage, a metal collar fashioned around his neck. A chain tied him to the bars of his cell. His head was lowered, eyes shielded by his overgrown shaggy hair. He didn’t move or flinch at our arrival, but remained huddled in the corner. The sight squeezed my windpipes. He looked so frail and vulnerable, nothing like the demon I met the other day.
The queen took notice of where my attention was fixed. “I thought we’d take a different approach. Perhaps it will make the task easier, seeing him as the animal that he is.”
Bullshit.
She wanted to unnerve me, rattle my composition.
It worked.
I was rushing across the room, only to be stopped short by Ashor’s stern voice. “Lexi.”
My pulse throbbed frantically in my veins as my breath stuttered. I whirled toward the queen. “What did you do to him?”
Her laugh flitted from the other end of the room, a grossly superior smile on her lips. “I gave him back his humanity.”
My stomach was a rolling mess, and I fought against the rising nausea. “Why would you do that?” I bit out.
She fluffed out the fabric of her dress. “I can do a great many things, huntress. And there is more to come before the night is over.”
After spending all day building myself up, convincing myself this was the right thing to do, the bitch went and flipped the tables on me. My loathing for the Queen of Envy was rivaling my hatred for the Queen of Darkness.
I couldn’t comprehend why she continued to torment me. Her test of loyalty was really just designed to break me—screw with my head. It was already messy in there. I knew I couldn’t let her win, but it wasn’t as simple as just knowing.
“Colin?” My voice turned distant and hollow, but Colin didn’t budge. Was he already dead? Why didn’t he look at me? Succubus demons were masters at changing shapes, manipulating situations. “How do I know this is real?” I hurled at the queen. I had no way of knowing if this body was really Colin’s at all. After having time to reflect, I was certain nothing in Verena’s court was real. It was all one illusion after the other.
Her strawberry-gold hair glittered in the sun. “Does it matter? Illusion or reality, the test remains the same. Take his soul. Give me your alliance, and my court will fight against the Queen of Darkness.”
“She is about to storm your shores,” I exclaimed, pointing a hand to the open window. “How do you plan to beat her? You speak of an army, yet I see none.”
“Look closer, huntress,” she prompted. “With your demon eyes, not your human ones.”
I didn’t want to take my eyes off the untrustworthy queen, but I did as she instructed, drawing my gaze to the window.
“Your mate can see,” she declared.
Ashor’s back stiffened at my side. “See what?” I asked, confused, but I should have known better, and I cur
sed the queen for making me feel like a fool.
Verena laughed, and the sound grated on my composure, heat burning at my cheeks. “Still haven’t accepted who you truly are. You will never fully see until you do.”
“Her army is in the trees, surrounding the river from all sides, waiting for the command from their queen to attack my mother’s fleet,” Ashor informed me.
I blinked, searching harder through the thicket of trees, thorns, and vines. But no matter how hard I focused, I saw nothing. Not a speck or a glimmer of Verena’s army. It pissed me off that I was at a disadvantage, more so that the queen knew why. Fuck her and her goddamn illusions. The pressure to release my demon in the moment weighed heavily on me. Why was it so hard for me to let go?
At least Verena wasn’t as foolish of a queen as I initially thought. She was preparing for war, but would it be enough to defeat the Queen of Darkness without Ashor by her side? I did know that if Verena didn’t ally with the prince, Ashor would pay a hefty price for betraying his mother again.
“Well,” Verena drawled. “What are you waiting for? As you can see, I don’t have all day. Oh wait, you can’t see, can you?” She snickered.
I wanted to throat punch her, among other things.
Ashor positioned himself between the queen and me. “You don’t have to do this, luv. I am always on your side.”
A coy curl painted her lips. “War is inevitable, regardless whose side you chose to fight on.”
I wasn’t sure why I was stalling. Walking into the throne room, I’d had every intention of walking straight up to Colin and ramming a dagger into his chest, but now… “And then what happens? You take the Queen of Darkness’s crown?” I speculated.
“That is the drill. I think I would look magnificent in black, don’t you agree?”
I didn’t give a flying fuck how good she looked in any the damn rainbow. “How is that any different than what Kali desires?” I challenged, flabbergasted.
The ancient demon lifted her chin. “Simple. I would make a better queen. You’ve seen my court. We are much more civilized.”
