“Ah, dear Garvan, have you not heard the expression ‘absence makes the heart grow fonder’?”
Garvan frowns, clearly not impressed with my sayings. Pity. I like them enough for the both of us.
“I’m not sure that applies when the other person hardly knows you.” Garvan steps closer, though he keeps a good distance between him and the glass dome of roses. “She’s here to fix that.”
“So, you change your tune now?” I raise a brow. When I first brought up the idea of taking a human wife, Garvan was vehemently against it. He said it would make me look like an inept king. Demons were already questioning my role as king because of the curse, and this would cause coups. Fear is a disease and, once caught, breeds insubordination.
But then the reality of our situation came to light. A human mate is needed to win this war. The three kings who found their mates before me are proof of that. I’m a proud demon, but not so proud to deny outside help if it means life or death. Even Garvan could no longer deny I should take a human mate. He was pivotal in helping me speak with Ender.
“This is our only chance.” Garvan’s cheeks flush at the reminder of his opposition. “You must get the girl to help us.”
“Very astute advice,” I mock, rolling my eyes. Does he think I’m so dense, I don’t know the whole reason she ishere? “And how do you propose I do that? What demon should I ask to help me with romancing the human?”
“It’s not impossible. Your parents?—”
“Are dead,” I growl. “They have no relevance in this.”
Garvan nods, carefully choosing his next words. “I simply mean it’s not impossible to learn to love another.”
In fact, it is very unlikely and extremely rare for love matches. Demons aren’t—or rather, shouldn’t—be capable of love. Obsession and infatuation, definitely. But love? If fear is a disease, then love is a plague. At least fear brings action. Love only results in death. No, I think I’d rather not fall in love with an emotional human.
However, I can’t simply ignore her. Isabelle’s presence demands attention, and that much I can do. We don’t have to love each other, but we could be a team. A strong one if we play our cards correctly. The power a human has in Mescos, according to all ancient texts I’ve ever come across, is unlimited. As long as they are able to unlock it.
For a demon, Garvan has a bleeding heart. It has always pissed me off, but perhaps today it will be to my benefit. “What do you suggest I do?”
Garvan gets a look on his face that immediately has me regretting my words. Despite there being no available seats, Garvan happily perches himself atop the bedside table, scooting the book sitting on top to my bed. “My lord, I hope you have all night. I have many suggestions.”
I will listen to my courtier. Let him speak.
And then I will do the opposite of his suggestions.
With a satisfied smile, I sink backinto my chair and settle in for the rest of the night to listen to Garven drone on and on about the process of courting.
Chapter 11
Isabelle
Ididn’t sleep well last night. Every time I close my eyes, I see the horrid creature. The Nephilim reaches for me and mocks my fear. Even in my dream, I felt the unbridled hatred the creature possesses. Not just for me, but seemingly for the world around it. Its long, bony fingers reached out to grip my shirt and then…
I wake up drenched in my own sweat. These dreams are out of control. Twice I’ve had vivid dreams since coming here. Before, I could never remember what I ate the night before, let alone my dreams. They were never this vivid. These feel so real.
“Fuck this place.” I push myself into a seated position on the bed. Fire crackles from the hearth, splashing the room in a faint glow. The fire has continuously burned since I arrived, making me believe it’s some type of magic that keeps it alive. It no longer makes the room feel stifling with its heat. Perhaps I got used to it because it’sactually a comfort now, falling asleep to the pops and crackles of the fire.
After I move the furry blankets aside, my feet swing off the bed, landing on the warm stone. Last night’s dinner sits mostly untouched on the table beside the bed. It was brought up to me shortly after I was escorted back to my room by the quiet but intimidating demon.
Fine, if you insist on being a prisoner in the castle, then that’s what you shall be.
Oziel’s words from last night play on repeat in my mind, a cruel reminder that the demon king is not my ally. But I’m not quite sure he’s my captor either. I came here willingly and have argued with Oziel every chance I’ve been given. Instead of getting angry, the demon smirks, finding it nothing more than a game. It’s…intriguing.
I’m about to test the prisoner thing because I’m in desperate need of a shower. I wasn’t able to check last time, but I hope it’s fully stocked with everything I need. I hesitate at the door, seeing the lock still firmly in place. Clearly it does nothing to keep out demons, but it makes me feel better. I turn the bolt, hearing the clicking mechanism of the lock, and turn the handle.
No one greets me on the other side. I half expected random demons to surround my room, forcing me to stay within the confines of these four walls. But there isn’t a soul out, and the only light comes from a single candelabra perched on a small table. My first step out of the room feels forbidden, but when I’m not immediately ambushed, I gain the confidence to leave, shutting the doorbehind me.
I trail my fingers along the wall as I navigate the dim hallway, using it to steady myself. I can’t see shit. The air is thick with silence, broken only by the soft scuff of my footsteps. It’s unsettling to feel alone in this giant-ass castle. When I reach the first door, I grasp the handle and twist. Locked, of course.
“Damn,” I murmur under my breath, moving on to the next one. I try again. Locked.
Frustration coils in my chest as I press forward, but then I come upon a door unlike the others. Instead of dark wood, its surface is rough, cool beneath my fingertips, all made from stone. There’s no knob, no visible way to open it, yet something urges me to push.
