The demon king sprawled on this throne.
The matches rolled on, and the mood was subdued and edged in terror. The demon king was in a killing mood, and every contestant now feared that he would fightthemtoo.
Suffice to say that no one else asked for a kiss from the future queen.
My focus drifted from the fighting. My plan had centered on Carmine’s ignorance of my knowledge that Tempest was alive. Now the only lie saving me was that my return happenedbeforeI’d known she was in the dungeon.
Or so he thought.
But what would he do to Tempest? He’d never told me about her. If his reason for keeping her alive had only been my ignorance, then I was about to bust my twin out of jail and make a run for the demon gates with her and Adeuto.
If he planned to keep her down there, then there was no way he wouldn’t use that against me. To tie me to him… Or would Carmine release her as a “gift” to win my good opinion?Doubtful.I had no clue how to navigate the barrier to the dungeons, though, so if he brought her up here, then escaping would be easier.
In fact, a quick portal and my plans could accelerate by ten days.
My chest rose and fell, and I gripped the armrests. Carmine rarely did as I expected. He didn’t serve himself or me. He served the people. To an extent.
As Gratia had said, Carmine always acted in the best interest of therealm.
What was in the best interest of the realm? A mated king with untold power.
He’d use Tempest to force my agreement to continue the mating ritual. There were very good reasons why I couldn’t do that—and lust was just one of them. So I had to convince him to agree to something else for Tempest’s release or safety.
“Syera.”
But what else was possibly more important to the realm? My scales itched, and I released a wisp of smoke.
“Syera.”
I jerked and looked up at the demon I hated more than anyone alive or dead. “What?”
His eyes narrowed. “I am leaving.”
“Okay.” I needed to put more thought into what I’d bargain. I’d leave later.
But giving me time had never been Carmine’s style. He leaned down, glittering focus fixed on me. “And you are coming.”
Damn it.
My thoughts were so heavily occupied that I rose, impassive expression in place. I’d planned to rest my forearm on his and let him guide me from the room like he and everyone else expected, yet a sudden wave of revulsion flooded up through me. I felt sick at the thought of touching him.
So I bent down and scooped up Tygrio’s head.
Then I kissed his lips.
Thank you for telling me the truth.Even if I’d known. Even if this complicated things. And even if Tygrio had said the words to serve himself. I was grateful that someone in this fucking fortress had told me the truth.
Gasps and whispers erupted. The demons closest to me evacuated their seats, skittering away from Carmine’s potential wrath. Oddly, I felt no revulsion at all for kissing a severed head where I felt so very much for simply touching my mate-intended.
I set Tygrio’s head down, keenly aware of the sudden shaking and growling rising from Carmine. I extended my forearm. “I’m ready now.”
In an eruption of sulfur and a blur of shocked royals, I found myself in Carmine’s destroyed room.
He’d just lost his temper.Big time.My favorite brand of victory.
Fresh debris hurtled, and more dust clouded as Carmine took his fury to the walls. Not the ones I’d painted either. I laughed.Mother be,I couldn’t believe my idiocy, but laughter spilled from my lips. More and more of it.
“Enough,” roared Carmine.
