“Aries!” Penelopia steps away from my father, rushing toward me with her layers upon layers of fine fabric clinging to her curves. She crushes her body to mine with a thud, and I just stand there with my hands held at my sides.
Again, let me reiterate, what the fuck.
She pulls back from me just to hold me at arm’s length.
“It’s been so long. I love your horns. They set off your wings.” Her own teal wings ruffle behind her shoulders, and a flash of mental brutality flickers in my mind with the thought of rustling a potato sack over her still-chattering mouth and her perfect little wings. “Uncle Gravier was just telling me how you needed an ally at court, now that you’re back. You need someone to make the people love you again. I’ve been his assistant for a while now. We should stick together.” She ends that little prepared speech with a warm smile that doesn’t meet her deep green eyes.
Krave does a far better job at hiding his true feelings.
She’s a novice compared to my incubus.
“Everyone respects Pen. She’s our go-to girl around the castle. She’ll be good for you,” a deep voice says, snapping me out of my murderous fantasies.
My attention flicks to my father, standing back in the corner of the room. His gray hair is smoothed down in long waves across his broad shoulders. He looks every bit a powerful fae king. As well as a severely disappointed father.
“Pen, why don’t you leave us while you plan Aries’ welcome back party this weekend,” the king says in his commanding tone that leaves no room for argument.
A welcome back party. Right. He wants me accepted here. But not with these horns. So, I doubt the party will really be happening.
Penelopia rubs my arm once more before my cousin prances from the room like a sickness waiting to settle in my lungs.
She seems harmless, though. She’s no longer the little annoying pest I remember as a young girl.
Maybe sheisdifferent now.
The king’s gaze watches the door close slowly. Then he pins that attention on me.
“I asked you to glamour those things.” He points vaguely to the lovely collage of glittery flowers donning the top of my head.
“What things, Daddy?” My arms fold, my head still held obnoxiously high.
Look me in the eyes, and tell me again how monstrous demons are. Tell me how those horned creatures will always be beneath us. The scum of the earth.
Tell me, daddy dearest.
“There are three demons held in the cellar of our castle. Do you care about those men, Aries?” He tilts his head at me in a challenging look I’ve seen so many times in my youth.
I have to be careful here.
For everyone’s sake.
“I’ll glamour the horns on one condition,” I say suddenly, piquing his interest far more than the previous topic.
It works.
“Go on.” His big arms fold over his crisp button-down shirt, making his black wings spread out behind him. He’ll never change. Not his clothes. Not his mindset. None of it.
Be careful. Be careful. Be careful.
I cannot show interest in Ryke. I can’t ask about his wounds. I can’t ask about Damien’s status or if Zaviar’s been bound to anyone yet.
I must be careful.
“I want a demon of my own. Someone to do my errands for me. Krave’s been a good guard as well as a kind friend over the past few years. Bestow Krave’s bindings from you to me, and I’ll glamour my horns.” My chin tilts even more, and at this point, I’m almost looking at the high arching ceiling.
I make a point of holding his curious gaze.
He’s skeptical.
