"I'm waiting for an answer," Kirill warns.
I smack my palm against Valentina's ass.
She jumps with a gasp.
I grin at her. "No issues. Can't wait to be tied to this little Minx for eternity."
"See. All good," Fiona chirps, then pulls on Kirill's arm. "Let's go home."
He studies us for another moment, and then his lips curve. "Then I guess congratulations are in order." He kisses the top of Fiona's head. "Let's go home."
She flicks her fingers in a wave, smirking. "Bye-bye, lovebirds. Can't wait to have a double date with our soon-to-be-married besties."
I scowl.
Kirill chuckles and steers her onto the plane.
Once the doors shut, I turn toward my bride-to-be and question, "What the hell did you just get us into?"
15
Valentina
Brax's sharp scowl could scrape across bone. He breathes through his nose, his shoulders tight, dark eyes pinned on me.
My pulse misfires from my reckless declaration, but when there's an opportunity in the Underworld, you take it. And it's not just a normal Omni seat. It's one on the Royal Council. All the years of waiting to take my rightful spot will be worth it. I'll skip right to my final destination without any more tests.
I'm marrying Brax.
He crosses his arms, demanding through gritted teeth, "I'm waiting."
I can't blame him for being angry. I locked us into something irreversible. But I also won't apologize. He's going to get all the benefits of being on the Royal Council.
I step closer, rise on my tiptoes, and whisper in his ear, "We'll talk about this in private." I take a step back.
He grabs me by the ass, tugs me back into him, and slides his hand through my hair. He holds me to his body, knocking the wind out of my lungs, and murmurs, "We sure will, Minx."
A shiver runs down my spine. I draw a steady breath and force myself to stay calm. "We need to return to the arena."
He seems to want to argue, holds me for another moment, then finally releases me. He forges ahead through the corridor and then opens the door.
Heat and the foul odor swell. It's still burning, the bonfire crackles viciously beneath the blackened, suspended forms of Jytte and Ulrich. Smoke drifts upward in thick, ghostly spirals, distributing ash. Many members of the Underworld cough or hold their mouths. Some adjust their masks, while others stand tall, not moving an inch.
Brax guides a hand to my lower back as we push through the crowd. His palm stays anchored, steady and warm, a silent tether in the chaos.
Sean and Zara stand at the center stage, full of authority and framed by smoke and flames.
Zara's voice carries across the membership. "Anyone involved in the attempt on the king and queen will face consequences equal to the ones hanging above you."
Gasps erupt from the crowd.
Sean lifts his chin, roaring, "No one is permitted to leave. Not until the bones incinerate to ash. Interrogations begin immediately."
Zara points to the Omni and warns, "Your cooperation isn't optional. Each one of you will answer to your role in this charade."
Some of them shift on their feet. Others stay planted. A few members choke or mutter under their breath.
Sean's arm slips around Zara's waist. He orders, "Valentina. Brax. With us." He doesn't wait for a reply. He leads Zara offstage, passes us, and moves toward the tunnel.
