Page 29 of As Above, So Below

“What? Marry?” I breathe, dragging my eyes from the throne to my brother’s. “What do you mean, Vae?”

“Kassil has made a proposal, one Netharis has accepted,” Vaelyn answers quietly, not wanting to be overheard giving me this warning. “You’ll be married to Kassil in a few days’ time.”

My lifeless heart splinters.

“Come,” he says, offering me his arm. “They’re waiting.”

I step backward. “No.”

“Ves, please. Don’t do this,” Vaelyn pleads, the desperation in his voice clear. “Not now.”

Netharis stands from his seat, and with the tiniest gesture of his left hand, my feet begin moving of their own accord.

Compulsion.

Reduced to a puppet on a string.

Against my will, I take Vaelyn’s arm and we enter the throne room together. The bastard leapt right to the use of compulsion, meaning his patience is already paper thin. Vaelyn bartering on my behalf likely hasn’t helped matters.

The heir of the hells shouldn’t show empathy toward anyone. This is not the first time Vaelyn has stood in my defense and earned himself Netharis’ ire.

Pairs of blood-red and black eyes watch me with heightened scrutiny, set in stoic faces as I approach. An assembly of demons wearing human or fae glamours, appearing entirely mortal, save for their red or black wings peering over their shoulders. There’s one pair of eyes I avoid, the only pair I know are gleaming with amusement.

I canfeelhis stare on my skin, and I hate it.

I don’t want to entertain either side of this fiasco.

They can all burn in hellfire for all I care.

Raising my chin, I straighten my shoulders before willing all the strength I can muster into my legs. I may not be able to fight the compulsion magic, but I can make it not worth the effort for Netharis to sustain.

“You look well, moonflower,” Kassil’s voice floats through the throne room, and my eyes dart in his direction.

A bright mockery dances behind his eyes as our gazes meet. He gives me a playful smirk and the sharp pain in my palms returns. Upon first glance, he’s handsome enough. He could pass for fae if not for the imposing black horns protruding above his brow. His attractiveness is all a part of the demonic deception, a lure to draw in prey.

I’ve always been prey to Kassil.

Tearing my eyes away from the black ones I used to adore, Ifind Netharis still watching me as he swirls a viscous, red liquid in his wine glass. He flashes a chilling smile as the doors swing shut behind Vaelyn and me. Closed, I’m left sealed in a room with nearly a dozen demons I could safely say I hate.

“Please, Kassil, you ruined your chance,” Miiphirys, the Lord of Lust, chortles as he drags his eyes from Kassil to me. “Vestaris has been fair game for the last few decades.” His dark eyes roam over my body freely.

“She hides from the court because ofyou, Miiphirys,” Xarzenos, the Lord of Gluttony, laughs, flashing a mouth filled with sharpened and metallic teeth.

“You confuse me for Kassil,” Miiphirys counters, arching a brow. “I’m not the one who wouldn’t let her have—”

“Enough,” Netharis’ voice rattles the room and the Layer Lords fall silent. He turns his attention to me. “Sit,” he commands.

A high-backed chair appears in the center of the room a few feet away. Vaelyn escorts me, leading me to the seat clearly intended for me. He releases my arm as we reach it before continuing forward. He doesn’t have a seat. His place is on Netharis’ right, just behind the throne.

Once upon a time, I stood on Netharis’ left.

It’s been centuries since I’ve stood there.

“I’ll stand for this conversation, thank you, my liege,” I say, my tone icy with indignation.

Netharis’ nostrils flare, a spark of anger flashing through his eyes. Yet the placid expression upon his face remains unaffected. Netharis has always been better at masking his emotions. To anyone else his small tells would have been missed.

Laughing, Netharis seats himself. “If any of you can break Vestaris, I will make the effort worth your time.” He glances about his lords and they chuckle, a deep, wicked sound that knots my stomach. “I hold high hopes for none of you.”