“I will see them first,” I interjected, stepping around him. “I want to ensure they are not compromised before they are allowed anywhere near my wife’s mates.”
Sao’s footsteps sounded behind me, though he said nothing more about my decision. That was also a good thing about the demon; he didn’t question me. At least, not where prying ears might listen in on our conversations. Sao was a great assistant, and his insight into the other worlds served me greatly.
But I had a feeling I would be hearing about this later.
We descended into the entrance of the palace, and I couldn’t help but think aboutheragain. Her descent for our wedding, in the dress I’d chosen for her. I hadn’t, at the time, considered it for a wedding. I’d chosen it for the ease in which it would go on her body. It was a magic designed by those in Pride, one of their more interesting inventions.
My Queen had no idea how glorious she’d looked when she’d entered the throne room in that gown, with the crown atop her head. She’d looked like a Goddess from the Old World, a figure one could only dream of. The demons who saw her had seen more than just the woman she thought herself as.
They’d seen a Queen. One worthy of being followed.
They’d witnessed a union no other Queen could claim. A powerful union at that.
An alliance that would now change the course of the war.
Because for her sake, I would not go back to being the king who hid behind his throne and title anymore.
Promise to Nyx be damned.
The bridge between the throne room and palace entrance opened up over the city and an inner courtyard, the latter of which had tents set up for those helping the refugees. Theheads of the Houses were particularly helpful in that area, taking that off our plates as we planned the rescue and war.
Two Wrath demons guarded the entrance to the throne room. They bowed their heads without a word, opening the doors for Sao and me.
I didn’t look at them, instead taking in the witches and mages gathered within. The two Original Bloodlines stood separately; the Windermeres and Blackwoods were even older than I was, but it was interesting seeing them together again. Once, they used to head the great Witch Council, back before mages were created.
Ancestral magic was their affinity, as it was with all Original Bloodlines, but there were few left with the magic. It passed from mother to daughter, though it was clear the young women of their bloodlines did not carry it.
There was the mind witch. Even from here, I could tell she was powerful. It came from her bloodline, ancient and well preserved, but it was strange seeing the only daughter of Windermere without access to her Ancestral power.
They turned to me at my entrance, silent. Most tried to hide their expressions of shock; from Windermere, there was the matriarch, a witch at least over a century old. She stood proudly at the head of her family, wearing a black gown fit for meeting a king. At her side, her young mind witch heir. She wore all black too, though not formal like the matriarch.
The matriarch stepped forward, leaving the young witch behind. “King Rhadamanthus,” she breathed, bowing her head. “We did not expect to meet with you.”
I came to a stop in front of her as the matriarch of Blackwood appeared. She was younger, and from what I knew, worked for Phoenix. She had long, honey-brown hair that was pulled into a bun at the nape of her neck. Though she didn’t wear gear, she still appeared ready to fight.
Like the Windermere matriarch, she bowed her head as she approached. “You called upon our daughters. We can assure you, they are not working with the bastard king?—”
I held up a hand, stopping the Blackwood witch. “I doubt they are, though we will need to put that to the test.” I glanced over at the two young witches: one a friend of my wife, the other a tool in this war. “The mind witch. She is needed for memory retrieval and to create blocks to withstand the false king.”
The Windermere matriarch raised her head at that. “My granddaughter is not nearly as powerful as him. She is not capable of that.”
“I highly doubt that,” I replied, waving a hand at the elderly woman. “She’s been working for the Queen longer than she ever realised.”
Those words had all of them stiffening. “Blythe?” the older witch questioned, turning to her granddaughter. “Is that true?”
The young one stepped forward, though nothing in her expression gave away her thoughts. “I’ve been aiding the Luna Prince, yes.”
“And he was the mate of the Queen,” I added, glancing back at the old witch. “Thus, she’s been helping the Queen. Quite well, from what I have heard?—”
“What do you meanwas?” the young witch interjected, moving to stand by her grandmother. For the first time, emotion appeared in her eyes. “Where is Orion?”
I pressed my lips together. “He is in a place between life and death. Killed by his father but somehow kept alive despite the bonds between our Queen and her mates being cut off. He is in a sleep stasis, though we do not know if he will survive without his mate. You could, perhaps, try entering his mind, though that might prove unsafe.”
Sadness flickered in her dark eyes, but she shook her head. “What about the memory retrieval?”
“That, you will do once you are checked for any sign of the false king’s influence,” I replied, taking a step back. “Sao will show you to your rooms. The Queen’s mates will see you in the morning.”
With one final look at the young mind witch, I let the shadows consume me.
