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“Anything.”

She hands me a pair of scissors and holds her long, black hair out for me to cut. “You want me to cut it?” I ask, frowning.

She nods. “For my people, the length of one’s hair is a sign of loyalty to the crown. If my king is no longer on the throne, then I want it cut.”

She shifts slightly, as if uncomfortable in this vulnerable moment. I do as she asks and cut until she tells me to stop. When I’m finished, her hair is short, barely more than a finger’s length all the way around.

Though it’s short, it suits her.

CHAPTER FOUR

FLUMPH

Oronrel

Once again, I finds myself back in this shithole Unseelie palace for the millionth time since we brokes Aima and Kolvar outta the dungeon the first time. I sick an’ tired o’ bein’ ass-deep in Unseelie soldiers while runnin’ for my life all the time. An’ this time... somethin’ don’t smell right... We hidin’ like always, usin’ Noni’s creeper powers to walks through the corridors till we gets where Pyre was tellin’ us to go.

But what I sees in the throne room done burnt out my poor little eyes. I slaps a hand over Noni’s eyes as the Mother Heifer rides Variant on Theren’s old throne. That can’t be too comfortable, with her ass slammin’ down on him’s lap like that. For fuck’s sake! Can’t they find a bed or somethin’?

When theys done makin’ ugly faces at each other, I move my hand from over my eyes, but we still listenin’ to what they’s sayin’. I ain’t never gonna be able to unsees Morrigan’s ass flappin’ around like that. It seared itself into my brain an’ it can’t get out. Good thing she puttin’ on a robe, or else I’d be blind for the rest of my fucked-up life.

“Theren is set to be executed, then?” Morrigan ask, all snobby-like. “It’s a pity he won’t be there to see his sacrifices bear fruit in our mission. I had hoped to stand beside the both of you when we tear open the Veil.”

“I’m sure he’ll be sorry to know he disappointed you,” Variant answer all sarcastic like.

Morrigan don’t seem to notice. “I know it won’t be long now. I already sensed Silvanus.”

That grab Variant’s attention. “Silvanus?” he repeats.

“He must be out of hiding, but he’s moving quickly. I can’t get a trace on him.”

“My men are already scouring every inch of the realms,” Variant say. “We’ll find him.” Then he sigh real hard like. “As for the Unseelie, I may be ruling Oronrel, but the Unseelie Court still has power.”

“So?”

“So, whoever is leading the Unseelie needs to be found and brought to our side, lest we wish to court danger.”

“Yes,” the Mother Heifer say while she nod. “Take full control over Oronrel and the court while the search for Silvanus continues. I will find a new artificer and search for a bloodline compatible with our ritual. Let’s hope those vermin who attacked theThresthave suffered too much to be any threat to us at the moment. We have more important things in which to tend.”

“And what of Eilish?” Variant demands.

“What about her?”

“You said you saw her with wings, but not those of an angel, yet she also possesses her angelic wings.”

“So?”

“Is it possible for a creature to possess both types? Furthermore, no succubus I’ve ever heard of had wings, except the—”

“Incubae?” Morrigan laughs. “Indeed. Our little angel is also the last daughter of theKing of the Succubae. That means she possesses traits and abilities that are not only different to any other creature but also more powerful…”

“Fascinating...”

Morrigan don’t seems to like the expression on Variant’s face. She got them eyes full o’ jealousy when she turn ‘round an’ sneer at him.

Noni pull me over to the side an’ whisper real low, all secret-like. “We got to save Theren from the naughty king, Mr. Flumph. Master will be upset if we let him die.”

“FUCKS THAT!! Ain’t no way in hell I’m riskin’ my ass for that fuckhead. He can rot or gets hanged up by him’s throat for all I care—”