Page 21 of Hell Hath No Fury (Tear Down Heaven #4)
He grabbed a scroll out of the basket and slapped it on his desk.
“It’s my job to keep Gilgamesh’s Eternal Kingdom running smoothly, not to coddle favorites,” he announced as he unrolled the scroll and began to read.
“I see no reason to allow access to one of the empire’s most sensitive areas to a spoiled child whose loyalty is so questionable that his own princess has been ordered to keep him prisoner in his rooms.”
He slammed his stamp down on the scroll he’d just read, rocking the deep-red pad back and forth before returning it to the spotless ink tray in front of him.
“Your request to visit the Hells is denied,” he said as he rerolled the stamped scroll and dropped it on the golden platter that was clearly for outgoing mail. “If you need something specific, you may submit a requisition form through the proper channels like everyone else.”
Adrian closed his fist around the finding charm with a scowl.
The way Alexander was acting was frustrating but not surprising.
He’d encountered this attitude from many of his sisters who didn’t think a boy who’d put the whole coven in danger should be allowed to become the Old Wife of the Flesh’s apprentice.
It didn’t matter that Adrian had worked hard for the right to study under his mother just like he’d worked hard for all his skills.
So long as they perceived him as having privileges they didn’t, he’d never get an inch out of any of them, so Adrian decided to try a different tactic.
“If you care about remaining Crown Prince, you should reconsider that denial.”
“You can’t threaten me,” Alexander told him with a snort. “I’ve been Gilgamesh’s right hand for three thousand years. There’s nothing a brat like you can say that will convince Father to—”
“This will,” Adrian said, fixing his face into the hard, cruel, supernaturally confident expression he’d learned from watching his mother speak as the Witch of the Present.
“You know how important my work is,” he said, walking across the plush carpet until he was standing directly in front of the prince’s desk.
“You were there when Father explained it to me. I’m on the cusp of accomplishing a feat even Gilgamesh was never able to perform, the only one he needs to complete his work.
You claim your years of loyal service keep you safe, but we both know Gilgamesh is a man who looks toward the future, not the past.”
He leaned over his brother’s desk and dropped his voice to a whisper.
“If that man finds out you blocked me from completing the last step needed to get him what he wants, do you really think all those years of service will matter for spit? This is Gilgamesh the Conqueror we’re talking about.
Crown Prince or no, if you get between him and his ambitions, he’ll cut you down as fast as he did the gods.
Look at it that way, and I’m not asking you to do me a favor.
I’m giving you the chance to save your own skin, because when Gilgamesh discovers you’re the reason the Queen of Pride’s horns aren’t in his hands, someone’s going to pay, and it’s not going to be me. ”
The Crown Prince glowered up at him from his golden chair. “You truly are a spiteful witch.”
“I learned from the best,” Adrian said with a smile that didn’t touch his new mirrored eyes.
“But this sword cuts both ways. If you allow me to enter the Hells, and I do something I shouldn’t, your hands stay clean.
You were just acting to ensure that the Eternal King’s interests were served.
I’m the one who ran wild, which means I’ll be the one who eats the punishment, not you. ”
“Father can always punish us both,” the Crown Prince reminded him before he sighed. “But very well. I still think this is all highly suspicious, but I’d rather err on the side of Father’s ambition. I’ll grant you permission to enter the Hells on the condition that you submit to supervision.”
“That’s fine with me,” Adrian said. “But it’s not like I’m ever unsupervised. My princess is always with me.”
He could hear the soft click of the Bex princess’s face moving as she burst into a smile behind him. The Crown Prince, however, rolled his eye.
“A besotted princess is not fit supervision for a prince,” Alexander informed him as he pulled a fresh sheet of stationery from one of his golden desk drawers and began scribbling on it with an ivory fountain pen.
“You will be escorted on your search by Demetrios. He’s the acting prince of the Hells now that Leander is in disgrace, and he’s already proved he has a swift hand for putting down unruly demons.
I’m sure his presence will be sufficient to keep you out of trouble. ”
He said that like he hoped Adrian was going to get into as much trouble as possible, but the witch just gave him a beatific smile.
“I would be delighted to have my brother’s help,” he lied. “When can I meet him?”
“Right now,” the Crown Prince said, rolling up the note he’d just finished writing and turning to drop it down one of the golden tubes that lined the wall below his window.
“I just sent him an order to meet you at the gate. Normally, he’d teleport straight here to pick you up, but that convenience is no longer available since Father banned all instantaneous travel on this side of the afterlife. ”
Adrian blinked. He hadn’t realized the teleport ban extended to all the princes. Maybe Gilgamesh didn’t have as much fine control over the sorcery here as he’d thought. His mind was spinning over what that could mean when he realized his brother was still scowling at him.
“Your disobedience has caused everyone a great deal of inconvenience,” the Crown Prince growled.
“Be grateful that you are in Father’s favor, because the rest of us are already tired of having a younger brother.
I suggest you do your best to stay in the king’s good graces.
Life here could become very unpleasant for you should you slip. ”
Adrian already found it unpleasant, but he forced his face to keep smiling. “I’ll keep that in mind,” he said with unfailing politeness. “How do I get to the Hells?”
Alexander glared at him for several more seconds before returning his attention to his work. “Your princess will guide you,” he said as he reached for another scroll. “Again, that’s her job.”
“To walk me around?”
“To serve Heaven,” Alexander snapped as he mashed the scroll he’d just pulled flat. “A prince shouldn’t have to be reminded of this. Now go do whatever it is you’re doing, and the next time I hear your name, it’d better be followed by a good report.”
There was nothing he could say to that that wouldn’t get him in trouble, so Adrian didn’t bother.
He just nodded to his brother and jogged for the exit, forcing the fake Bex to scramble as he burst out of the Crown Prince’s office.
She’d taken the lead again by the time they reached the end of the giant waiting room, throwing open the doors to lead her prince back down the millions of steps toward what Adrian could only hope was the path to Hell.