The problem was that he wasn’t sure he’d be allowed to.
When Anya had mentioned him taking her place on the throne, it hadn’t sounded like she was offering him the throne but rather like she was telling him that was what would happen. He understood why she felt that way, buthedidn’t. He didn’t want anything to do with the throne. Hell, right now, he wasn’tsure he wanted anything to do with his mother. This wasn’t her wishing Justin would stick around so they could spend more time together. It was her forcing him to do something he didn’t want to do.
But maybe he was catastrophizing. She’d mentioned him taking her place on the throne, but that was it. Of course, she hadn’t had time to do anything about it since it had happened this morning, but that didn’t mean she would. Maybe she’d just been confused and angry that he wouldn’t want that. Maybe now that she knew, she’d accept it. Justin had to believe that she would. He couldn’t consider any other possibility, not right now.
Someone screamed, making him jump. He raised his hands and looked around, even though he doubted there was much he could do against any full-blooded demon. If someone was about to attack him, though, the least he could do was try.
The hallway was empty except for him. He was sure he’d heard that scream, though, and it had sounded like someone was in pain, which didn’t make sense. He was sure there were plenty of healers at the palace, ready to help anyone who needed it.
He was ready for the next scream, but it still made him jump. It was softer this time, but it gave him enough time to understand where it was coming from. He rushed ahead, wanting to help whoever this was if they needed him. They might tell him to fuck off, but if there was anything he could do, he’d do it.
He ended up in front of a massive wooden door. When a third scream echoed, he was sure it came from behind that door. He had no idea what he’d find there, but he still pushed it open, wincing when it creaked. He paused, but still, no one came running.
Justin slipped through the door. Things were different here. There were no signs of delicate furniture or decorations. It was much more utilitarian, with smooth stones that glinted in thelight. It didn’t look bad, but it was clear this was an area that Justin probably shouldn’t be in.
He didn’t care.
He continued moving ahead. The stone in the hallway soon turned rougher, and the air felt damp, which was about when he started to understand he was somewhere under the palace.
Where the dungeons usually were.
Maybe if he’d trusted his mother, his mind wouldn’t have gone straight there, but he couldn’t help it. Considering the way she behaved, he wasn’t surprised to find out she had dungeons, even though it horrified him. He didn’t actually expect his mother to be evil, but that scream had held pain. Someone was hurt, and if Justin had to guess, it was because of Anya.
He ended up in a hallway with several doors. He paused, listening, hating that he was hoping the person would scream again. They didn’t, which meant Justin had to either go back or choose one of the doors. He might end up in the arms of one of the guards, but even though part of him desperately wanted to go back to his room and ignore all of this, he couldn’t. He needed to see. He needed to be sure of the kind of person his mother was because she wouldn’t tell him the truth. She’d been lying to him since he’d arrived, and he’d had enough of that. He wanted the truth, and he was in the right place to find it.
Chapter Six
Mynor was startled out of sleep when the door opened. Usually, he was left alone during the night. In fact, those were his only moments of respite, and he quite enjoyed them. He really hoped Anya hadn’t ordered him tortured in the middle of the night because he needed his beauty sleep, dammit.
He opened his eyes and sat up, ready to face whoever was there. He really hoped it wouldn’t be Pythom, but knowing his luck, he’d have to deal with the asshole when he was supposed to sleep.
It wasn’t Pythom. In fact, it wasn’t a guard at all. The guy didn’t even look like a demon, which told Mynor who he was instantly.
Anya’s son wasn’t tall, not compared to Mynor. Maybe it was because of his human half. He looked a bit like Anya, with his dark curls and dark eyes, but his face was softer. In fact, there was a softness to all of him that made Mynor wonder how he’d survived until now. Maybe the human realm wasn’t as dangerous as Hell.
Mynor could still see hints of Anya in her son, though. His eyes were the same shape as hers, and short horns poked fromhis hair. The tip of his fingers was black, just like Anya’s heart. Was his? Why was he here?
Mynor could think of very few reasons for the man’s presence there. None of them was good. He had to be working with Anya, and if she’d sent him, maybe it meant that Mynorwasabout to get tortured. He’d be surprised if this man could hurt him, but maybe there was more to him than Mynor could see. He’d met demons like that, who looked like they wouldn’t hurt a fly but ended up being more cruel than most of the people Mynor had ever met.
The man looked around. Mynor wouldn’t be able to read Anya’s expression, but with her son, it was too easy. The horror was clear in his expression. He took in the cells, the bloodstains on the ground, and Mynor behind his bars. His gaze moved onto the table at the center of the room, and he frowned. “Aren’t there supposed to be guards watching you?”
Mynor snorted. Maybe he really was here because his mother had ordered him to be. “They’ll be back soon,” he said. “They wanted to get something to eat. Probably some wine, too, unless they go for something stronger.”
The man nodded. “That means I don’t have much time.”
“What do you need time for, Your Highness?”
The man grimaced. “Please don’t call me that. She told me she wanted me to take her place on the throne eventually, and I can’t think of anything worse.”
Mynor blinked. He hadn’t heard that wrong, had he? This man had really just confessed to a stranger—a strangerbehind bars—that he didn’t want to take his mother’s place on the throne. Anya would have killed anyone else for much less. She probably hadn’t done anything yet because he was her son, but he needed to be careful.
Not that Mynor cared. This guy wasn’t his business. His business was to survive, and he wasn’t sure how long he’d be able to do that.
“I’m Justin,” the man said as he moved closer to the bars of Mynor’s cell. “What did you do to end up in here?”
Mynor arched a brow. “What do you think?”
Justin looked him up and down. It made Mynor’s stomach feel uneasy, but he told himself it was because of who Justin was in relation to Anya.
