Patience, songbird. Calla has chastised me for neglecting my duties for too long. Once this dinner is over, I am all yours.
She warmed at the implication in his seductive tone, his crimson gaze holding hers. Then he snapped his fingers and shadows swarmed their table, vanishing as quickly.
The feast now laid was nothing short of terrible decadence.
Platers of glazed meats still steaming, blood pooling beneath them, spiced with strange herbs. At the center of the table, a spiked platter displayed a roasted sea creature with two heads, its eyes replaced with pearls, its mouth still grinning. Smoke curled from its open belly, where glowing coals kept the flesh hot.
Demons tore off the limbs with sickening cracks to eat with black bread crusted with ash, slathered in creams of silvery ichor. Veins of ruby syrup laced through strange pastries that bled when broken open.
Abanquet for those who had long since forgotten mercy.
Alora looked away to the goblets of wines, some fizzing with violet foam, others glowing faintly with green fire. In bone-plated bowls offered fruit that didn’t exist in the mortal world: glistening orbs in luminous gold. They shimmered, oozed, with a tempting sweet scent that made her mouth water. Succubi dressed in translucent fabric danced with seductive rolls of their hips as they as laid out bowls of gleaming golden apples at every table.
Alora reached for one, but Rune caught her wrist.
Demon food is poisonous to mortals.
He slid a single plate of simple beef stew in front of her. Fresh bread. Butter. Water. Pears from the surface.
He took the golden apple, and she watched as his fangs sank into the plump flesh. It was dark red inside, juices spilling down his chin like blood. Her mouth watered and she had the strange urge to lick the juice off his skin.
Did you enjoy the gifts?Rune asked with a sly smile.
She nodded, canting her head innocently.Well, the chest of daggers is your Exchange of Flames gift to me. But as the Queen, I have yet to receive a gift from the Dominion of the Pride faction.
He chuckled, tucking a loose lock of her hair behind her air.Ah,I was hasty when I pledged to give you anything you desire, wasn’t I? Tell me then. What tribute would please my Queen?
Grant Caelum his freedom,Alora said right away, then added.Please.
Rune’s expression shifted and she held her breath.He came here with the intention to rescue what he believes is his fair maiden.His glowing eyes held hers.But I have no intention of surrendering you to him, wife.
She blushed at the possessiveness in his tone.
Very well.He relented, playing with a lock of her hair.He may go. But his life is all he will take.
She exhaled, relieved.I am grateful for your clemency.
As she ate her food, she studied the dining hall and the way floating embers flickered along the walls like restless ghosts. Demons of every rank feasted at the table.
The only ones not eating were the Harbinger’s. His quiet generals watched the room as carefully as she did, perhaps listening to what her mortal ears couldn’t hear, anticipating and gauging. Not merely for her protection, but for Rune’s.
“Calla, darling,” Morvenna purred, idly waving her empty chalice. “Pour me more wine.”
The Harbinger jerked to her feet as if her body reacted before she did. Her jaw tightened, biting back a snarl. The decanter rattled when she seized it, crimson sloshing against the glass as she poured. Morvenna watched closely, a sharp smile curling her lips.
The wine crested the rim and spilled, running down the side of the chalice and across the table, spilling on Calla’s shoes.
Morvenna giggled. “That’s enough.”
Calla quickly set the decanter down with a faint tremor, the stiffness easing from her limbs as if something had released its hold.
Alora looked to Rune, half-expecting him to intervene.
His expression darkened.Regretfully,I cannot when it comes to a Dominion commanding their subject.
“You are so tense,” Morvenna hummed, laughter soft as she tugged a handful of Calla’s lavender tresses. “Tell me, do you have a mate to tend to you? Surely, you must.”
Calla’s gaze fixed on the floor. “No, my lady.”
