“I—I stand by my actions, Zelrus. Given the time again, I wouldn’t do anything different.”
Faye sensed Raxx’s majick fizzle to life beside her and turned to look at the shadow demon. Before she had time to contemplate it, the demon king span on his heel and launched a nearby candlestick across the room in Lephas’s direction. The commander flinched and threw his arm out to protect Lori.
Raxx’s hand shot forward, freezing the candlestick mid-air. It hung, suspended for a moment before clattering to the ground. The wick extinguished and liquid wax pooled around it on the wooden floor.
“Raxx,” Zelrus snarled.
“Don’t do anything you will later regret, my king.” Raxx’s voice was eerily calm, unaffected by the chaos unfurling around him. Faye trembled from head to toe.
Zelrus kicked the chair tucked into his desk viciously and pinched the bridge of his nose. After a moment of composing himself, he straightened himself out and walked over to the fireplace to stare into its embers.
“You’ve disappointed me, Lephas. More than anyone. I thought I could rely on you to think with your head, rather than your cock, but apparently I was wrong.” The king turned to look at Raxx. “What about you? Have you been pissing around, making me look a fool as well?”
Raxx paused before answering. “No.”
“Then perhaps I should have made you my commander instead.” Zelrus snorted in disgust. “Maybe I will yet.”
A long moment of silence enveloped them again, whilst king Zelrus continued to watch the fire.
“The faeries are to be imprisoned until I decide what to do with them – separate cells, guarded at all times.” The king turned to face Lephas, shooting him daggers. “And if you’ve got a problem with that, then I suggest you fucking join them.” His voice was low and venomous.
Faye sucked in a breath as her stomach clenched with worry.
“Sir, if you’d just listen I—” Lephas began.
“Get out of my sight or Hestaesia help me, Raxx won’t be able to protect you from what I will do,” Zelrus spat. “Guards!”
Two more demon soldiers appeared from the doorway.
“Take the faeries to the cells. Separate them.” Zelrus looked at Lephas expectantly.
“I can’t,” Lephas grated. “Don’t do this, Zelrus.”
The king paused for a moment. “And take that fucking turncoat with you. Get out. All of you.” The demon turned his back once more.
The guards, though hesitant, approached them. Faye held back a whimper as a demon soldier took her elbow firmly and led her away. She and Lori were separated, their clasped hands pried apart. Faye stared at Lori’s hollow expression, knowing her own portrayed a similar picture.
She glanced over her shoulder at Raxx. The shadow demon stood still, staring ahead. Faye silently pleaded with him to look at her, to tell her everything was going to be alright like he had before, but the demon remained turned away.
As they were marched from the room, Faye heard Zelrus speak once more.
“Raxx, for fucks sake, tell me what’s been going on…”
Chapter Thirteen
Zelrus slumped back in the old, beaten chair and rubbed his temple. Raxx extended a warped glass tumbler to him. The king threw it back and, without a word, gestured at Raxx for a top up. The shadow demon gladly obliged.
Zelrus took the second serving and swirled it in his hand, deep in thought. Raxx sat heavily in the chair opposite, folding his wings away.
“How did this happen?” Zelrus asked, his voice weary.
“Are you going to listen to me if I tell you, or will you throw a candle stick at my head as well?”
Zelrus shot him a warning glare and took a sip from the glass. Evidently the king was not in the mood for friendly ribbing just yet. Raxx cleared his throat.
“I realise it will pain you to hear this, but the princesses seem to be genuine,” he said.
Zelrus growled under his breath with frustration.
