Page 33

Chapter 16

Eren

I’ve never been hesitant to walk amongst my court, no matter that the lot of them are boisterous, bellowing degenerates, a credit to all of demonkind. The realm’s nobles have always taken pride in their unruly, belligerent attitudes, their posturing and their bluster. I can be as bad as the rest of them, when I want to be, but having a human bride beside me with her vastly different customs and no expectation of what’s waiting for her gives me more than a little pause.

Giving her my arm, I lead Allie out of our chamber and into the hall beyond. The entire inside of this mountain has been carved into a court, the winding halls and spiraling stairs all situated around an open inner core to allow for easy flight up and down. A layout I immediately become well-aware is completely unsuitable for my bride.

As we pause at the railing overlooking the steep drop to the formal court spaces inside the mountain, Allie inhales sharply.

“That’s… a lot of stairs.”

And indeed, the entire place is accessible by foot, if one wants to spend their whole day climbing up and down.

“We can create a portal system for you, to make it easier to navigate around here,” I tell her, inspiration striking.

“Really? What kind of portals?”

“Nothing so powerful as the Veil, but demons do have a knack for transporting themselves from one place to another.”

“Crossroads,” she murmurs. “Your people used to use them, right? To reap?”

I nod. “We depend on ley lines in the human realm, which are always strongest where power and people flow. Here, though, we have a little more freedom. We can create something that will connect to the places you’ll need to get to most, and adjust from there.”

She nods, pleased with that solution. “So, what about today? Are we going all the way down?”

I follow her gaze over the edge and into the abyss below. “Yes, our formal court is beneath the mountain.”

“Alright,” she says gamely, and holds out her arms. “I’m definitely not walking.”

“Yes, your majesty,” I tell her, reaching forward and swinging her into my arms like a bride.

Allie makes a pleased little noise as she settles into my hold, and for about the hundredth time this morning I lament the fact that I was born a prince. What I wouldn’t give to be someone who was free to spend time with my mate, free to keep her locked up somewhere away from the world and lose myself in her for days, months, years.

Instead, I kick off from the ledge and grin at her delighted, slightly fearful squeal as we head down into the middle of the mountain. I can’t stop my own answering chuckle or the sheer delight that courses through me at having her near.

Our flight ends all too soon as I land us outside the entrance to the throne room.

Two massive doors of polished ebony are set directly into the stone, with shining obsidian handles. All across the doors, the legends of our realm are carved in stark relief. Battles fought, souls reaped, bargains struck, and in the heart of the left door a depiction of the first witch bride marrying her demon.

“A demon king,” Allie murmurs, running her hand over the wood as she examines the carving. “An ancestor of yours?”

I nod, and she smiles.

“So, does that make you a little bit human?”

“Perhaps,” I allow. “But today I’m feeling every inch a demon.”

I brush her hair back over her shoulders, exposing the wound on her neck for all to see. Nodding to a steward who stands at the side of the room, he steps forward and presents a black velvet case.

“As requested, your majesty,” he says before retreating to his post.

Allie arches a brow as she watches me take the case and open it. Inside, a platinum circlet inlaid with black diamonds. I raise it and settle it on Allie’s mahogany curls.

She looks born to wear it, though her eyes are big as saucers as she reaches up to run a finger along the smooth metal.

“My consort,” I say, “walk with me into your new court?”

Chapter 17