Page 54 of Bride of Death

“Perhaps,” I agree. “But the scent of that particular rose is the same as a fire lily, telling me you chose it with a purpose.”

Maliki reappears, carrying the scent of butter with him.

Rather than comment, he simply takes a seat on a creaky old wooden chair at the small dining table just off the kitchen and begins munching on his treat.

“Is that popcorn?” I ask him.

“It is indeed,” he drawls before taking a mouthful. “Please continue and act like I’m not here.”

Loud crunching follows, making that an impossible task. “Fuck off, Maliki.”

“Excuse me,” Persephone interjects before the male in question can respond. “This ismyhome. You do not come in here uninvited and then tell my guest to leave.”

Maliki grins and gives me a cocky look.

My gaze narrows. “I was invited when you called for me at the Den.” I didn’t hear her, of course. But Maliki told me about it—the knowledge of which I am more than happy to use now.

Some of his smugness leaves his expression, no doubt aware of what I’m doing.

“Just as I wasinvitedwhen you publicly denounced my claim.”More than once, I nearly add, that damn registry floating through my mind. Hersingle statuswas the catalyst that forced my hand.

I was enjoying watching her until she lied to the kingdom by declaring herself asunmated.

“Further, you are mine,” I remind her. “Therefore, I amalwaysinvited into your personal quarters.”

Maliki is no longer smiling. Instead, he appears nervous.

I have no idea why. It’s not like I intend to hurt Persephone. She’s mine to cherish and adore. And also to punish, yes. But my brand of punishment isn’t cruel. If anything, it can be quite pleasurable.

“I am not yours,” Persephone fires at me with so much venom I nearly take a step back. I’ve never seen her like this. She’s always so meek and soft, her anger practically nonexistent.

But she’s mad now.

I daresay she may even be furious.

Yet I have no idea why. Nothing I’ve said is incorrect. She is the one who is mistaken by claiming not to be mine.

“Do you have any idea how it feels to know you’ve rejected my claim in front of hundreds of fae?” I ask her, my voice soft despite the pain and fury the words awaken within me. “I stayed faithful despite your betrayal, yet you have the audacity to treat your Alpha this way?”

“I don’t even know you!” she snaps. “Outside of the dreams, anyway. Which don’t count since they’re not real. I don’t even know what they mean or what they are, just that… thatyoutook advantage of me when I first arrived by allowing me to think you were a figment.”

Dreams, I think, eyes narrowing.

She mentioned that during our first meeting, suggesting shedreamsof me. As she should. I’ve dreamt of her nonstop since the moment we met. And that never stopped, despite the two thousand years we’ve been apart.

I’m also not fond of her accusation that I took advantage of her. “I didn’t even touch you.” Apart from a soft kiss to her forehead after she fell asleep.Does she know I did that?

“And whatbetrayal?” she goes on, acting as though I haven’t spoken. “I would have toknowyou tobetrayyou, and if anyone has betrayed anyone,youbetrayedmeby announcing our supposed engagement to the entire kingdom without my permission or acceptance.”

The munching of popcorn intensifies, distracting me for a moment and making me want to smite Maliki. Helpful, he might be, but he’s being intentionally obnoxious right now. His gold eyes practically glitter with amusement when I look at him.

Most fae know not to push me.

Alas, Maliki is not most fae.

“Do you know what happened in the Den last night?” my mate continues. “The fae nearly drank themselves into an early grave because they translated my request to order drinks as a demand. And they kept calling meYour Majesty. One even called me his queen.” She folds her arms, causing my gaze to drift down to her chest.

It’s an automatic response.