“As you should be.” I nodded as he lifted his head. “Now, we have much to do. I want you to begin with Falias. Vissy won’t argue with me, and he has plenty of slaves. I don’t want to deprive any Fae of their workers, but we must get adequate sacrifices from each city.”
“Of course, my Prince.” Kesshuu nodded, writing down plans as he went. “Should we also target the smaller towns? Maybe bring in humans from each to a larger city hub?”
I considered the idea. I needed as many humans as possible, but not enough that we’d be depriving ourselves of slaves to help us, or sate us. With that thought, I clarified, “Yes, but make sure you are leaving families mostly intact, so we have more slaves incoming. And leave any particularly good-looking humans alone. Or better yet, bring them here.”
The noble smirked back at me. “Good idea, your Highness. We wouldn’t want to lose out.”
“No, we most certainly wouldn’t.” I smirked back before thinking of the little human I was losing out on currently. The thought of her, now Fae, only served to sour my good mood.
Asteria would be back where she belonged soon enough. I would leash her to my side if I had to. In fact, that thought was enticing enough to bring a smile back to my face. Asteria could be collared and tied to the base of my throne. Kneeling before me as I ruled all of Celesterra.
My dreams of the future had only increased. The more blood magic I used, the more I saw glimpses in my dreams. Of me, ruling the entire continent. A new order. One where the gods had no bearing on who ruled or used magic.
They were the ones at fault. I only had to resort to blood magic because they had taken our magic. My lightning had even begun to wane, only coming back with the boost from the blood magic.
I nearly snarled at the thought. The gods and theirbalance. What a fucking joke.
I would bring a new type of balance to this world.
And those who opposed me? They would join the humans in chains.
Frustrated, I made my way back to the palace, only to find Zerlina awaiting me in my chamber. I groaned, rolling my eyes before turning to face her.
“What do you want now?” I raised a brow, watching her sipping her wine slowly as she relaxed back into one of my black velvet chairs. She was beautiful, I couldn’t deny that—but she wasn’t Asteria. And that only drove my rage on the nights she came to my bed. Until only the ring of bruises in the shape of my fingerprints around her neck brought me any satisfaction.
“Is it true?” she asked evenly. Her eyes met mine, and the tornado whipping through them belied her calm tone.
“Is what true?” I countered, bored already with this conversation. I had more important things to do than constantly reassure the insecure princess of her place. As long as I could dangle a crown in front of her, she’d at least play along, but I wished she’d be quieter about it.
Her lips pursed in annoyance. “Is Asteria truly Fae?”
Her question brought me pause. “Where did you hear that?”
Frustration rose immediately, almost violently.
“Oh, the gossip is all over the palace, Cyrus. About how your little pet was truly Fae all along. How you couldn’t keep hold of her, and Calix came to steal her awayagain.” Zerlina smirked, clearly enjoying herself.
Every single piece of gossip I’d hoped to prevent had, of course, made its way around the entire palace. My hands crackled with lightning.
Before I knew it, I’d launched myself at Zerlina. She squealed as the chair toppled backward, and my hands found her throat as I kneeled over her, snarling. “You will keep your mouth shut. And if you hear anyone speaking of such things, you will do well to report them to me. If I hear Asteria’s name out of anyone else’s mouths, they will soon find themselves without a head to speak. Do I make myself clear?”
“Aww.” She pouted dramatically. “Are we feeling a bit insecure,my Prince?”she purred, running her leg up mine even as I tightened my hands around her throat. “Don’t worry, I’m sure those outside the palace still have no idea you couldn’t even keep a single human in li?—”
Her words choked off in the most satisfying way. Finally sparking the arousal her purposely tantalizing actions couldn’t.
“You’d do well to remember your place here is only by my will, Zerlina. You’ll want to watch that pesky mouth of yours. By the time I’m done, there will only be one king.Andone queen.” Her eyes went wide in surprise, having kept most of my plans to myself until now.
“If you want that queen to be you, I’d advise you to get in line, yourself. Do you understand, my betrothed?” I purred back at her, happy to see the fight melt out of her as she nodded submissively. The appropriate amount of fear now in her eyes.
“Good,” I growled as I pushed her dress up, releasing myself from my trousers before entering her in a swift thrust. I covered her mouth as she whined, not wanting to listen to her when I could imagine darker hair and brighter sky-blue eyes when I closed mine.
* * *
“What doyou mean they haven’t answered?” I leaned forward, facing Garridan, one of my Fae spies. He’d been loyal for years, and his lack of desire for more than he had was surprisingly helpful. Unlike Kesshuu, whose want for advancement could be manipulated, Garridan instead just loved the game. Spying was his forte, and he made no apologies for it. Working for me gave him the thrill and fulfillment he needed.
It was a mutually beneficial arrangement.
Still, his comfort with me after years of working together grated lately. He was currently leaning back casually in his chair, blond hair tumbling back. His green eyes sparkled with intrigue, and I found myself wanting to punch the answers out of him.
