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