“Well, only one place left to go,” Calix said heavily, lacing our fingers once more.
He brought me through the doorway and down another winding staircase, which led out to one more cavernous room.
Only, this one was a bit different.
At the other side of the room, stood a swirling, massive portal, leading to Tartarus itself.
Gods help us.
Chapter Forty-one
Cyrus
“Until further notice,you’re to be confined to your rooms, without visitors,” I told Daneiris, meeting her blue eyes as they widened in shock.
“Cyrus, you can’t—” She stood up, arguing with me immediately.
“I am the KING!” I bellowed at her, making her flinch backward in fear.
“Cyrus, she hasn’t done anything—” Zerlina argued, air whipping around her as her emotions overcame her.
I laughed dryly, shaking my head slowly as I turned to her. “Not even married yet, and already you choose others over me. Perhaps you are not the queen Celesterra deserves after all.”
Zerlina reared back as if I’d slapped her but, thankfully, fell quiet, making me smirk in triumph. How quickly she abandoned helping her new friend to save her crown.
The other ladies in the room looked around uncomfortably, not knowing what to do. I rolled my eyes at the feeble creatures.
“Get out,” I commanded them. They stood quickly, dropping into curtsies before practically running out the door.
“You two are to have no contact from this point on,” I told them, looking between Daneiris and Zerlina. They both gritted their teeth but nodded.
“I’ll assign someone to assist you if you need anything, but I don’t want to see you out of this room until I say so,” I told Daneiris. She opened her mouth, proving she wasn’t very smart.
“What about Casimir?” she asked, her red brows furrowing.
“Who?” I shook my head in confusion.
“My human!” she snapped back, but took a deep breath and reined herself in. “My human. You’ve seen him for years at every damn meal we’ve had, Cyrus.”
“He obviously cannot be trusted if you can’t. Perhaps I should send him to the camps instead. A fitting punishment if you so clearly care for him.” I smirked victoriously as her eyes widened, and she shook her head frantically.
“No, please, Cyrus!” she begged, quite sincerely, to my disgust. “I will do whatever you want; please don’t send himthere.”
I thought about it for a moment. While I wanted to punish Daneiris and was truly disturbed by her attachment to this human, having thought she felt similarly, at least regarding humans, I realized I could likely use him better here anyway.
“Fine.” I sighed heavily. “I will grant you this boon.”
“Thank you, brother,” she replied, bowing her head as she let out a long, relieved breath. “Thank you.”
“Don’t thank me yet,” I smirked, gleefully. “He will remain here, and his treatment will be based on your behavior. Should you be good, he will be fine. Should you not be…”
I trailed off, raising my eyebrows at her. She ground her teeth, staring at me with impotent fury in her eyes. But she nodded once in agreement.
“Good. Now, come along, Zerlina.” I grabbed her by the elbow, pulling her out of my sister’s rooms. I eyed the guards by the doors, deciding to have them disposed of. They clearly couldn’t be trusted either. I would have to clean house completely at some point. Just as soon as everything was ready.
“My King!” One of my men came skidding around the corner.
“Yes?” I asked impatiently, annoyed by the interruption.
