“Look, I’ll give you my blessing, but you have to get Moni’s blessing before doing it, even though I’m pretty sure she’s down for it,” I tell him, sticking out my hand for a gentleman’s agreement, but Dad surprises me by standing up and pulling me in for a hug.
“Thank you. It should deter most people from fucking with you.”
“And those that don’t?” Those are the ones I’m worried about; they wouldn’t care about ranks or titles.
They will be determined to take what they want by any means necessary, like Angel and Emer.
“Those are the onesyoufuck with and then dispose of when you’re tired of them.” A cruel smile appears on his face.
Damn, I have so much to learn.
“Come, I already know what gift I want to give you for the Gauntlet."
CHAPTER 17
Beautiful People; Ugly Souls
Rez
Jules, as it turns out, is terrified of Hellhounds, even cute, adorable, fluffy ones with long tails that make themselves trip. He didn’t even allow me time to sit and say hi before he bounced and asked me to keep my fiery hound from Satan’s palace away from him.
Pfft, if he only knew how much Satan didn’t want my pet.
“It’s okay, Reaper.” I grab his head and kiss his snout. “You are the cutest, most intellectual Hellhound ever.” He gives me a long, slobbering kiss, when suddenly he stills for a split second. Before I can question his action, his jowls peel back, showing his incisors slowly growing as a growl rolls out of him. His flames along his mane flare brighter, but don’t burn my skin. Standing, I spring around, but stop myself from reaching for my glaives. I don’t want to give away my hiding spots if I don’t need to. Besides, there shouldn’t be anyone I need to defend against here, despite the missing student—oh wait, she’s not missing, she was dinner.
As I regard my guest, I take back my last thoughts. I’m surrounded by people who want my head on a platter. This Harpy is at the top of that list.
“Nerezza,” Emer purrs with a ‘gotcha’ look. “This is my father, King Elverson,” she says with pride.
As I swing my eyes to him, my sight slightly blurs, and the edges of my vision turn gray. Movements slow as I watch King Elverson reach out his hand for me to shake it. This is nothing like my normalvisionsor whatever Knox calls them. The picture is sharp, but at the same time I feel like I have cotton encasing my senses, dulling the colors and sounds, along with my touch. This one, the picture is glitchy, like Grandma's old TV, where I have to use antique rabbit ears to try to get a station to show up.
I see myself reaching out and taking his hand, only to get pinched by a small needle hidden in his shirt sleeve. As I sway, he calls for guards to restrain me as I lunge for him. Elverson takes out his hidden sword, stabbing Reaper through the chest as he tries to protect me. I scream as Reaper gets up and tries again, but this time, the fucking asshole beheads Reaper, and Emer laughs as I’m dragged away.
Blinking, the picture and color clear up, and I find King Elverson’s hand fully extended in front of me. Uninterested in the pending outcome I’ve just forewarned of, I pivot and take a different path. Instead of taking his hand, I make a point of taking in the King’s attire—dark silver pants and boots, a silver tunic, and a black cape with blood-red inner lining.Very old-fashioned.When I reach his eyes, I take a massive step back while keeping eye contact.
“What the fuck? How dare—” Emer shrieks, but her father’s hand shoots up to stop her mid-tantrum, and I bite my tongue to keep from smiling.
“You must have missed etiquette classes when you were younger. Let me refresh your memory, it's polite to shake handswhen greeting someone. Or in cases of royalty,” he indicates himself by slightly sweeping his arms to himself, “you bow,” he scolds me.
I know exactly how to act around my peers or those older than me. I might have been raised as a human, but my family taught me manners. The problem is, this asshole doesn’t deserve to be treated with any. Levi and the others might feel as though they have to because of their parents, but I have no qualms with treating this guy exactly how I feel, along with his venomous daughter.
“That would be correct,” I say while slowly smiling. “If I were showing respect or welcoming you.” I bat my eyelashes, not taking my gaze off the bigger threat in front of me, even though I can hear Emer gasping in shock.
“You know, not many have dared to defy me,” King Elverson tells me. He shifts, taking a wider stance as he looks down at me.
Accessing for what? I have no clue, but Reaper yips and Elverson’s eyes flash with disdain towards my fiery guard.
“He’s an abomination and should be put down,” he simply states and reaches inside his cape.
The glint of his sword is all I see before stepping in front of Reaper and taking up a defensive stance in front of my baby.
“I wouldn’t try, if I were you,” I say calmly.
He gives me a dismissive smile as he scrutinizes me. I’m sure I look puny to him, all frills, as my hands are covered in my sheer fabric, my hair done up, and I’m in fancy boots. But what he doesn’t know is my glaives are already out and hidden in that fabric, and I’m ready to pounce once he moves.
He takes one step, and I counterstep as I watch to see where his weight will shift.
“Nerezza! There you are!” Reaper barks wildly and jumps, breaking the tension as my father runs up to us. King Elverson quickly sheaths his sword as I deactivate my glaives. “Oh. Hello,King Elverson, Princess Emer,” my father greets them, but I notice he doesn’t touch them either.
