Eternity of Darkness (Divisa Huntress Book 3) Page 12

  Was the gown breathtaking? Yes, but not in the way I’d expected. The fabric gave new meaning to the word sheer, and the bits it did manage to fully cover were like wearing a bikini.

  “Is this it?” I asked, fighting not to cross my arms over my belly. I was no stranger to dressing sexy, but this screamed intimate, like the kind of lingerie you wore for a lover.

  Ashor would adore it.

  But did I feel comfortable parading around the court like this?

  Fuck no.

  Not that it seemed as if I had a choice. Whether it was this dress or one of the dozens hanging on the rolling rack or scattered around the room, the end result was the same. Modesty didn’t exist in the court of sex, lust, and greed.

  My mother smiled in the mirror. “Don’t be coy, ma chérie. You have a body worth showing off. And since we are short on time…” She ran her open palm down my face, a tickle of energy dancing over me.

  I scowled at her through my reflection, seeing the dramatic eyes, the flushed cheeks, and bold lips she’d added to my face. “There is showing some skin, and then there is walking into a room nearly naked. This is the latter,” I informed.

  She laughed, a raspy, sexy sound. “Here, I have just the thing that will help.”

  Somehow the tone of her voice didn’t reassure me.

  She rummaged through a small box on the dresser, pulling out a ridiculously long gold chain that nearly fell to my knees. Draping the necklace around my neck, she began the tedious process of wrapping it around my waist so the chain hung between my breasts.

  “Exactly how does this help?” If anything, I looked sluttier.

  Kira’s lips twitched. “This isn’t Spring Valley, or even New Orleans for that matter.” She adjusted my hair, sweeping it off my shoulders so the blonde tendrils fell down my exposed back. “You have nothing to feel ashamed or self-conscious about. You chose the Prince of Darkness, and in doing so chose this court. This is your new normal.”

  “I hate when you’re sensible.”

  She gasped. “Don’t insult me.”

  My lips twitched. Taking one last glimpse at myself in the mirror, I turned to slip on my heels. “How are you doing with everything?” I asked.

  A pregnant pause lingered in the air. “This isn’t the homecoming I imagined, but having you here… it makes a difference,” she replied mildly, but she wasn’t fooling me.

  “You miss him.” Cayden’s loss was still fresh, an open wound that affected both Ashor and my mom.

  She shrugged, flipping her hair back. “What’s there to miss?”

  I would take that as a yes. Expressing feelings wasn’t a demon thing. Perhaps they weren’t capable of doing so, but she had cared for Cayden. His death meant something to her whether she admitted it or not. She just didn’t want to talk about it. Message received.

  “If you changed your mind…” Heels on, I straightened up, steeling myself for what was waiting for me at court. After another moment of silence, it became clear she wouldn’t open up. “So, what’s the occasion for tonight?”

  The door to the king’s chamber squeaked open, and both Kira and I shifted our gaze that direction. Ashor made it one foot in the doorway before halting. As always, the second he stepped into a room, his eyes immediately sought me out. Our gazes collided, and it was as if we were seeing each other for the first time. That whirling thrill hummed inside me.

  Ashor’s dark gaze drank in every inch of me. The center of his eyes sparkled like starlight, catching the crystals on my gown. The air between us sparked, energy tingling.

  “I should get ready myself,” my mother muttered, excusing herself from the room. She offered a small bow of her head to her king as she passed him.

  Ashor continued to stare at me, and I shifted on my feet, fumbling my fingers together. “Are you just going to stare all night?” I asked, breaking the silence.

  His head angled a fraction to the side. “I’m convincing myself not to lock the door and spend the night peeling that dress off inch by inch.”

  “This was your idea,” I reminded him. “You look pretty good yourself.” And he did. Dressed in an all-black satin suit, he had this satanic rocker vibe that made my heart flutter.

  The chains around his wrists and looped at his hip rattled as he strutted toward me, his eyes never leaving mine. A nefarious twist tugged the corner of his lips. “Do I?” he purred. He said the words out loud, but I felt the silkiness of his voice inside me. His darkness, I realized. It stroked along mine like a seductive caress.

  He really was becoming the King of Envy. I couldn’t just see it but sensed it as well, that wild mixture of darkness and sex—a dangerous combination. I put my hand out to stop him from coming any closer. “We should probably go before you get any other ideas. I didn’t wiggle my ass into this dress just for you to take it off minutes later.”

  Lifting his hand, he slipped a finger under the gold chain at my neck, tracing it down between my breasts. “Where is the fun in that?”

  A very unladylike snort breezed through my nose, masking the moan that had almost escaped. “There better be alcohol involved. I could really use a drink.”

  He offered me his arm with a lift of his brow. “What the lady wants, the lady receives. Shall we?”

  I looped my hand through his arm. “You still haven’t told me what this is about.”

  Guiding me into the hallway, he replied, “A celebration.”

  I scrunched my nose. “Is now the right time to throw a party?”

  The boots of four shadows clattered behind us—the Wild Hunt.

  “In Hell, there is never a wrong time. War or not, some traditions are expected to be upheld,” Ashor explained.

  He led us down the staircase to a set of double doors that looked to be ten feet tall. I smoothed out invisible wrinkles, taking a deep breath, unsure of what waited for us on the other side.

  Brushing his lips along the arch of my cheek, he whispered, “You look stunning. You have no reason to be nervous.”

  I shot him a look that only humored him.

  Then with a flick of Ashor’s wrist, the heavy doors swung open. My eyes swept over the assembled crowd, the ivory pillars, the two thrones perched on the dais. Just how many thrones does this castle have? Unlike the official throne room, this space was on a grander scale, clearly for hosting events and parties.

  I gulped.

  “Are you ready to be naughty, luv?” he murmured near my ear, his hand on the small of my back as he urged me into the room.

  My feet moved of their own accord, one in front of the other. The crowd murmured as Ashor escorted me through the room, demons parting a path to the dais. If it weren’t for the gargoyle guards and the sporadic faerie demons, I could have nearly convinced myself this was a mortal party. The succubi and incubi all wore their human forms, a request I suspected Ashor commanded for my sake. I didn’t know how I felt about it, seeing the faces of what could have been my friends or neighbors, but knowing underneath that glamor, a true demon lived. It would have been better for my mind to see the truth, to keep the worlds separated instead of blurred.

  Ashor helped me up the few steps leading to the thrones—his and hers. Apollo, Draven, Erlik, and Beck took positions at the front of the dais, their skin glowing under the lights.

  My palms began to sweat as I stood facing the crowd below.

  “My loyal subjects,” Ashor greeted with a fatal calm that was almost mocking. “Bow to your queen.” The command from their king exploded through the room.

  The musings and whispers stopped, silence befalling the crowd, a mixture of fear and disdain on their faces. I stiffened, my eyes narrowing to the side of my mate.

  This was a coronation.

  My coronation.

  Asshole.

  The entire court dropped to their knees in front of me like a wave rising and falling to the ground. My stomach flipped, a root of uncertainty planting itself inside me. Ashor had blindsided me, put me in a position where I had
no choice to comply or risk undermining his fragile king status. It was bullshit, but I didn’t say a word. I just stood among the crowd of demons, the Crown of Darkness glittering on top of my head as I silently fumed within.

  “This would be a good time to practice shielding your thoughts, luv.”

  I lifted my chin, keeping my gaze straight ahead. “Why bother? You’ll just do it for me.”

  “You will protect her as you would your kingdom.” It wasn’t a request but an order. Ashor still held my hand, and he gave it a squeeze.

  I said nothing. Not to my mate. Not to the demons at my feet. Just strolled to the throne and sat down, my back straight and shoulders rigid. Ashor dropped down into the throne beside me, his posture lazy and relaxed.

  The Wild Hunt remained steadfast at the foot of the dais, the other guards stationed at the exits. No one left, not until the king allowed it.

  “Rise.” His voice boomed over the hall. “Enjoy the night, celebrate the turning of a new era. The Court of Envy will be respected and feared like they never have before.”

  The crowd roared, cheered, grunted, and chanted. But most of all, they obeyed. Instantly. A glass of wine was put into his hand and another in mine. At least he had kept his word about there being alcohol.

  I downed the first glass and signaled for another before the demon could leave.

  A part of me understood Ashor hadn’t declared me queen to trap me, that he had done so to keep me guarded, but I wished he had talked about it with me first. If I’d been able to pierce his mental defenses, then I wouldn’t be here overwhelmed, dumbfounded, and pissed off.

  It would also have been a violation of privacy, one Ashor himself had no problem invading. I wasn’t sure that I didn’t have any objections over doing the same. Was it wrong to want a relationship built on trust?

  “I’m guessing you don’t want to dance.” His words caressed my mind.

  I lifted the glass of wine to my lips as I watched the crowd. “You guess right.”

  “You’re angry.” Music played through the room, drinks and food were brought in, and demons swayed and danced with the beat, yet despite it all, Ashor wanted to have this conversation right now.

  Fine. So be it. He wasn’t the only one who could sit upon their throne looking aloof. “Hell yes, I’m angry.” The words blasted through our bond like backdraft fire. “You should have told me first instead of springing that on me in front of the entire court. You should have asked me.” My other hand tightened on the throne’s tangled arm.

  “Perhaps,” he mused. “If I had, what would have been your answer?”

  I snorted. “I guess you’ll never know considering I hadn’t been given a choice. You don’t have a right to make life-altering decisions about my life on your own. I wasn’t prepared. And I never said I’d be your queen of anything. Not darkness. Not envy.”

  Ashor sipped at his wine. “Should we leave?”

  Frowning, I stared at the chandelier fashioned of tree branches and thorns—a weapon hidden in plain sight. I imagined it served a purpose other than providing light. “It’s already done.”

  He blinked, showing the first sign of emotion. “You don’t want me.”

  I huffed, the tendrils of my rage cooling. How could he possibly think that? It wasn’t a ploy either. I swung my attention to him, the scowl on my lips softening, as did my tone. “You know that’s not what I’m saying. I will always want you.”

  “But you don’t want the crown,” he said, trying to understand me and the confusion revolving within me.

  I studied my mate. On the outside, he looked as if he didn’t have a care in the world, but I knew him. I saw the slight tick in his neck, the escalation of his heart rate, and the tiny speck of uncertainty in his eyes.

  “I don’t know,” I admitted. “I haven’t had time to consider what my life would be like if I did.”

  “I’m sorry, luv. You can’t have one without the other.”

  My stomach dropped at his tone. It wasn’t the statement that worried me but the traces of sadness. “That’s not fair.”

  Eternal darkness radiated in Ashor’s eyes, an unforgiving hardness in his features that no prince of Hell could survive without. “Nothing about our lives will ever be fair. We were born from two worlds that should never be mixed.”

  The nightmares started again that night. Was it a coincidence that they crept in after Ashor and I fought? Who’s to say? But I didn’t believe in coincidences. Everything happened for a purpose, and perhaps my subconscious was sending me a warning.

  What exactly?

  That Ashor and I were doomed?

  That we would never have a happy ending?

  That our lives would only be filled with blood, death, and God knew what else?

  * * *

  Chains cut into my wrists, the metal biting into my skin. My lips were so blue, my body so cold, numb, and tired, I swore I suffered from frostbite—everywhere. I dropped my head back against the wall, trying to focus my vision through the fog of exhaustion and pain. But once they cleared enough to see where I was, I wished for oblivion again.

  I was back in the Queen of Darkness’s dungeon.

  Without hope.

  Without a plan.

  Without Ashor.

  Wrists chained to the wall, my feet dangling just short of the ground. I barely had any strength left in me as my head lolled to the side, but I had to find a way to break these bonds. The thing was, they weren’t crafted of just any metal. Infused with magic, they were meant to stop demons from escaping. Yet still I tried, summoning the last ounce of my energy to call forth the flickering power within me. It seemed to stutter, fading in and out as if it too was about to collapse.

  Ribbons of darkness swirled around me, weaving in and out between my legs, arms, waist, and head, searching for a way to free me. I called out Ashor’s name in my mind, desperate to reach him through our bond, but nothing. The connection to his soul, to his body… I couldn’t feel either.

  And that frightened me more than being imprisoned, tortured, or even killed. A sob trembled on my lips, the grip on my power slipping.

  This was it. I had nothing left.

  Someone moaned, and I was pretty sure it wasn’t me. Using the slightest movement, I turned my head to the side, seeing I wasn’t alone.

  A curtain of auburn hair fell over the person’s face, shielding their identity. They hung on the wall like me. Another grunt of agony echoed through the cell, and I shifted my gaze in front of me. Yet another body shackled to the stone walls. And another. There were four others beside me. Horror. Fear. Terror. A million more emotions cascaded through me, knocking me unconscious. It felt like only seconds that the darkness took me, but I didn’t really know. Perhaps it was hours or days.

  My strength was no better, weaker even.

  I didn’t want to believe they were here. No. Not them. Not my family. Delusion or not. Dream or not. Chase. Angel. Travis. And Emma. My cellmates.

  How did they get here? Why?

  My lips moved, attempting to form words—their names. Chase. Angel. Travis. Emma. But all that came out was a pathetic whimper. They weren’t moving, but they were still breathing, and I clung to that hope.

  But like all threads of light born in the underworld, it didn’t last long before being completely stomped out.

  From under the metal door sealed and bound with magic, something moved—a shadow. I sensed it before I saw the mist. It crawled through the crack, curling into the room like a slithering snake looking for its next victim.

  Within here, it had five to choose from.

  “Pick me,” I chanted in my head. “Pick me. I’m the one you want.”

  The mist of darkness hissed in response. “Do I? What’s so special about you?”

  “I never claimed I was special. I’m just making it simple for you. They don’t need to die if I’m willing.”

  The mist rose, sniffing out its prey. “And what makes you think I won’t kill you all?”
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  “Don’t,” I pleaded.

  “I have a better idea. How about you watch?”

  And like the viper the darkness shaped itself to be, it struck, coiling around my brother’s neck. Travis’s eyes popped open. Pure gold at the center, not a drop of aqua. And then that bright demon light that radiated from his soul extinguished. He was gone.

  Tears that froze as they hit my cheeks streamed from my eyes, but the pleas didn’t stop. They continued to silently stream in my head, begging, bargaining, praying, all to no avail. One by one the darkness ravaged my family until it was just Angel and me remaining.

  “I saved the best for last. The Queen of Inferno or the Queen of Envy. Such luscious options.”

  Fangs sprang inside the serpent's mouth. It didn’t matter that the creature was nothing but smoke and magic. The threat was very real. I bucked and strained against the power holding me against my will as the darkness lunged for my best friend. Those poisonous canines sank into Angel’s neck, tearing into her flesh like a rabid beast, the metallic scent of blood thickening the stale air until her crimson eyes fell flat.

  A baby wailed. The sound of the life that grew within her womb. The darkness’s tongue licked the air in hungered delight. I closed my eyes until those cries went silent. I had nothing now. No family. No hope. Nothing to live for.

  A scream ripped from my throat, and that blood-curdling cry jolted me out of the dream.

  Only one other time in my life had I heard the wail of death erupt from my lips.

  * * *

  I woke up trembling, every internal part of me near frozen, unable to move. Panting, my heart thumping hard in my chest, I glanced down, something sticky and warm on my fingers. It was such contrast from the icy cold that stung the rest of my body, dragging my attention.

  The room might have been blanketed in night, but my demon eyes and senses knew what it was. Blood stained my fingers.

  Not mine.

  Scrambling out of bed, I stumbled into the bathroom and vomited into the toilet.