Regardless, I’m intrigued by the notion of sharing Serapina with my best friend. And there are very few things that interest me these days, making this a remarkable feat.
I also never thought I would want to share my mate with anyone.
But Maliki isn’t just anyone. He’s mine.
Not in a sexual way. Though, I do enjoy watching him fuck. So I suppose it is somewhat sexual. Just not in a traditional way.
“Are you even listening to me?” the Hell Fae King asks, his irritated tone interrupting my musings.
“Not really,” I admit. “It’s been a very tiring day.”
“Oh? Has it been tiring for you?” he deadpans. “Because last I checked, this is your kingdom to protect. And you left your fae to face dozens of Alphas.Alone.”
I sigh. “The fae weren’t in any danger. All those Alphas desire is my mate, and she’s no longer here.”
“Yes, Morpheus brought me up to speed. That doesn’t answer for your actions, though.”
I stare at him. “If Camillia had an army of feral, Godlike beings after her, what would your priority be?”
He doesn’t immediately respond. But he doesn’t need to. Because we both know he would ensure his mate’s safety before everyone and anything else.
“Camillia would help me handle the problem,” he says after a beat. “She’s my queen for a reason.”
“Yes, well, my Omega is currently trapped in a human form,” I tell him. “So until she blossoms into a Goddess, she needs to be protected.”
He studies me for a moment. “Can you share your plans for her safety? So I know if I need to prepare for another attack on my gates?”
“She’s nowhere near your realm right now” is all I tell him.
What I don’t add is that if I have to bring her back here, it won’t be to my palace. It’ll be to a very different area of this kingdom, one no one can reach apart from me.
A space I built just for Persephone.
Which should fill me with excitement. Once upon a time, it did.
But now…
I nearly wince.
Everything has changed. My intentions. My plans. Mydesires.
Fuck. I rub a hand over my face and turn toward thebalcony framing my den.One problem at a time,I decide, focusing on the energy coming off my kingdom.
It’s lively, which causes my lips to curl down. Because it’s lacking my usual deathly glow.
In fact, it appears brighter than usual.
My steps hasten as I move through the open doors and walk to the edge of the terrace to peer into the valley below.
Blue flames meet my gaze, the sight of them expected. I can see the glow of lanterns in the courtyard, as well as from the Netherworld Village.
But the Creek of the Dead appears to bemoving. Which is impossible. It’s a ditch of skulls of bones. No liquid. No life.No movement.
My gaze narrows as I follow the trail up the cliff leading into the Netherworld Mountain. Walking with purpose around the edge of my balcony, I head toward the opposite side of my wing—in the direction of the rooms I gifted to Serapina.
Her exterior connects to mine since the whole palace is designed to suit my tastes, and my preference is to have my mate close by.
But my jaw tightens as I near her part of my wing. It’s not far. Maybe a hundred yards or so away. And yet it feels as though I’ve entered a new realm.
