Page 34

If she recalled correctly, there was more than one underwater fae court. She wondered which he was from.

“The sorcerer sent a company of ogres and gargoyles,” Kazimir said to the newcomer from where he sat in the chair. Although he lounged back, he didn’t look comfortable. Every line of his features was as taut as a bowstring.

The water fae made a noncommittal sound. As he did, the corners of his mouth seemed intent on reaching the floor.

Kazimir gestured to the newcomer. “This is Waylen. He’s a… friend of Hadeon’s.”

Waylen didn’t bother to incline his head toward them. He simply glanced at Arabella, Jessamine, and then Breckett. His long brown hair was in many plaits and tied back in a knot, emphasizing his angular features that seemed as hard as his countenance.

“Not a friend of yours?” Waylen said, his voice holding a hint of a playful challenge as he poured himself a glass of some fae alcohol and tossed it back.

Kazimir gave Waylen a flat look. “You know what I meant.”

Suddenly, the doors to the sitting room burst open.

Everyone turned toward the doors, hands on weapons, stances low.

“See?” Hadeon said, sounding more winded than she’d ever heard him. It was so unlike his usual unbothered demeanor. His black hair was damp with sweat, but he appeared unharmed. “You worried for nothing.”

There was a sound like a harrumph from Kazimir, but he didn’t voice an objection.

Hadeon strode over to the sofas at the center of the room and dropped into one, kicking off his boots. One of his wings draped off the edge. The entire image felttoocomfortable.

In the oversized chair beside him, Kazimir leaned back as though finally able to relax.

“How did you get here so fast?” she asked. “The gateway is miles from the castle.”

“There are gateways in the air,” Hadeon replied. “Most don’t know of them, and demons can’t travel through them.” He nodded to the water fae at the drink cart. “I see you’ve met Waylen.” Then he gestured to the winged male beside him. “As well as Kazimir, my right hand in the Twilight Court.”

That explained why Hadeon didn’t seem concerned about an army so close to a gateway that led to the Twilight Court.

If demons couldn’t travel by gateway, how had Elias and Breckett used it? She wondered if it was because, while they’d been turned into demons, they were once men. Perhaps the part that was once human still lived within them.

But if Elias and Breckett could travel by gateway, that meant the erox in Magnus’ army could also travel by gateway. Itwouldn’t be the full army, but it could be enough to threaten the fae…

“Why did you bring humans here?” Waylen said, his voice was as sharp as his narrowed gaze. It was then that she realized his eyes were unlike humans’ or the eyes of the Twilight Court fae. His pupils were slightly narrowed, though not quite feline.

“Because we’re excellent company,” Jessamine bit back before Arabella could form a reply.

Arabella tried—and failed—to suppress a smile.

Waylen turned to Jessamine, truly looking at her for the first time. “And you are?”

“Your problem,” Jessamine said, entirely unaffected by the power radiating from the three fae.

Although her friend was short in stature, the dried blood coating Jessamine’s face and leathers made her a fierce picture. There was no fear in the lines of her hardened features, only a smoldering flame that—it seemed—she was about to unleash.

For the first time, Arabella wondered why no one had taken their weapons.

Hadeon raised a hand, which had Waylen closing his mouth. “Why don’t we all take a seat and… discuss future relations.”

Waylen didn’t sit but acquiesced by standing beside Kazimir’s chair, leaning against it, and crossing a leg.

Arabella settled into the least-expensive-looking sofa, and Jessamine came to stand behind her.

With a sigh, Breckett tossed back whatever he’d been drinking before he joined them and sat in a chair nearest the door.

Hadeon introduced her, Jessamine, and Breckett and then provided a brief overview of what happened at the castle.