Somnus's lip curls in contempt at my description of him. It's always a joy getting under his skin. "Don't speak to her like that, whoreson."
I roll my eyes. "Don't pretend to give a chimera's scaly ass for her. I know the truth."
The truth is, Somnus loathes Natalya. Perhaps she cared for him at one point, but after learning of his long history of unfaithfulness and my existence, she threw a tantrum and permanently maimed his wings before she killed my mother.
All my life, I've witnessed them make each other miserable.It would be poetically sweet, except it's mostly obnoxious.
Somnus's nostrils flare. "Watch your tongue?—"
"Or else what? You'll kill me?"
Thanks to my curse, he won't, and he knows it. My smile widens as his face darkens in anger. But Natalya's voice is cold as she stands, her gaze penetrating.
"Or else I'll kill your keeper."
My smile fades.
Never before has there been a weakness they could take advantage of. They could twist my arm and break my bones as many times as they liked, but for all the threats and curses, their attempts to command me were as effective as trying to bottle starlight.
ButMaven…
I can't let them anywhere near her, or they may figure out she's from the Nether. Thank gods that Natalya's eyes haven't glowed since I stepped through that door. I can't have her picking the truth about my keeper straight from my head.
Pushing all thoughts of Maven aside just to be safe, I tuck my hand into my jacket pocket and fiddle with my lighter, wishing I hadreveriumon hand to take away the aching throb of my joints.
They're choosing to play hardball, so I make a final attempt—because being parted from my obsession, even to tend to the necessities of my curse, would be torturous. It's already aggravating to be away from her for the length of this meeting.
"You don't want me anywhere outside these walls," I warn. "After all, I doubt the Legacy Council sanctioned any of the changes you've made at Everbound, let alone the lockdown. They're already growing wary of your tyrannical ways. I know you love your political games, but what do you suppose they would do if I spilled on your little tantrum?"
My guess that the Legacy Council has no idea they're here proves to be correct when they all growl and snarl at me. Well, all but Engela, who remains silent as a rock behind me.
Iker blurs to my side faster than I'm prepared for, slamming me against the stone wall hard enough that I taste blood. As a pure monster shifter, he's far faster than most.
Natalya prowls around Melvolin's desk like a lioness closing in for the kill. "You dare threaten me, mongrel? When I could snap your weak little keeper's neck with barely a flick of my wrist?"
I grit my teeth as Iker shoves me against the wall again, his forked tongue flicking up to wet one of his pale yellow eyes. When I slip into Limbo to get away, Somnus is already waiting there and drags me back into the mortal realm, baring his fangs in pure hatred.
I'm strong, but I'm not a pure monster. They are and always have been frustratingly stronger than I am, especially when they're working together like this.
"Give us permission to kill his little bitch. It would teach this wretch a lesson for once," the monster who fathered me hisses.
I go still at that. Natalya's lips curl up triumphantly as she slinks to a stop just in front of me, enjoying the sight of me pinned by her quintet members.
"Not yet. Just look how pliant he is with her at our disposal! Now then,Nightmare Prince. If you do as I say, keep your mouth shut, clean up the mess, and return promptly so we can keep watch on you, I give you my word that you won't return to find your keeper's head moldering on a spike for all to see. Are we agreed?"
That visual makes my mood quickly veer towards murder, and Limbo starts to seep into this room as it reacts. Natalya just scoffs at the sight of our hair and clothes starting to waft as gravity loosens its hold.
"Agreed," I smile thinly back, even though I've fantasized about killing her more times than I can count.
Unfortunately, killing any member of the Immortal Quintet is outside of my wheelhouse. Now and then, highly trained, hired assassins even stronger than myself have tried and failed spectacularly at dethroning the monsters who reign over the Four Houses.
Which makes it even more impressive if Maven did, in fact, kill Melvolin. I'd like to kiss her for ridding the world of him. And if she didn't kill him, I'd still like to kiss her.
Natalya tuts and pouts at Iker, her favorite. "I don't believe him."
"Prevent him from speaking, just in case," Iker suggests without missing a beat. "Call it a punishment for daring to threaten you, my sweet Natalya."
I roll my eyes so hard it hurts my brain. The wordssweetandNatalyashould never be uttered in the same room. To say she's a bloodsucking, mind-leeching hyena with the emotional intelligence of a screaming, tantrum-throwing toddler would be more accurate but still an understatement.
