“I can stand,” I said in a duh tone. My knees trembled, and I clenched my ass to stay upright.
Malum frowned and opened his mouth (most likely to say something stupid), but Orion put a hand on his chest, and Scorpius stepped between us.
“Let’s get you home, killer,” Scorpius said with a smirk.
Since I’d woken up—after accidentally on purpose slaughtering hundreds of people—he kept calling me “killer” in a proud tone.
It was 10 percent sweet and 90 percent terrifying.
I wasn’t sure if I should spiral or beam at his praise, which once again said a lot about my morals.
Self-discovery was disturbing.
Malum mumbled something under his breath and lifted the bag off John’s shoulders. “We ready to go?” he asked the twins.
Luka nodded. “Everyone’s stuff is packed. It wasn’t much.”
“I could have carried that,” John argued, and Malum looked down at him like he was stupid.
Scorpius laughed. “Okay, human.”
John crossed his arms over his chest. “We’ve already been over this. I’m the Prince of Darkness from the Olympus realm—I’m only half-human.”
Malum smirked. “Okay, prince, let a king handle the luggage.”
“Are you guys serious right now?” I asked. Orion and Luka rubbed at their temples like they were staving off headaches.
“What?” Malum asked innocently.
John frowned at me. “You know I’m strong enough to carry our bags, right?” He flexed. “Tell him I’m strong enough.”
“I refuse to answer that.” I yawned and swayed on my feet.
Scorpius lunged and caught me. Long fingers gripped me harshly like he was terrified of letting me go. “Let’s get her home,” he said.
I tried to push him off me. “I should say goodbye to Sadie and Jinx.”
He didn’t budge.
Malum looked at me with exasperation. “You already spent three hours with them this morning. If I remember correctly, there was hugging, wailing, and crying.” He shook his head. “You can visit each other whenever you want. You both have RJE devices.”
I frowned. “Well, maybe I want to say goodbye a second time. Did you think of that?”
Scarlet flames danced across his shaved head.
“That’s our queue,” Vegar said. “See you never, assholes!”
I waved as the demons activated an RJE device and disappeared. I was going to miss their energy. They were special.
“We’re taking you home, where it’s safe,” Scorpius said fiercely. “Thank the sun god it’s summer there. I can’t wait to be in the warmth far away from the High Court’s bullshit and their news media circus.”
Scorpius wrapped his arms around me tighter. He seemed to have forgotten that he was supposed to be holding me upright. Instead, he was half strangling, half hugging me.
I patted his back.
Apparently everyone needed hugs, even sadomasochists.
“Where is home?” I asked.
Everyone kept talking about it like we had one. Last I’d checked, I was from the fae realm, where the general populace wanted to battle me to the death for my throne.
There were a lot of factors at play.
None of them were good.
“It’s a place where we can protect you,” Orion whispered as he traced his fingers down the side of my face.
“A place where we can protect the world from you,” John said cheekily.
I kicked him, but missed because Scorpius was still wrapped around me like a pretzel.
“How would you stop me? You can’t even carry the luggage,” I said.
John gasped like I’d betrayed him. “Big talk coming from the woman who claims she hates killing, but just murdered a bunch of people in an avalanche of ice.”
It was my turn to gasp. “How dare you—it was clearly an accident.”
The men gave me incredulous looks.
“It was one of those accidental, on purpose situations,” I explained awkwardly.
“Whatever you say, killer,” Scorpius whispered against the side of my neck.
I groaned.
It was hard to argue your innocence when you had the Latin word for “we slaughtered” magically tattooed across your shoulders. The good news was the new tattoo was hard to read because Mother had carved “WHORE” into my back.
A win was a win.
“You’re going to love it.” Malum smiled.
I frowned because anything that made him happy was automatically a red flag.
Before I could ask more questions, an RJE device swirled, and the men all reached for it.
CRACK.
We changed realms.
Chapter 61
Aran
THE ESTATE
Snuggery (noun): a snug cozy place.
I was kneeling on white pebbles.
Birds chirped, and water gurgled in babbling brooks.
Was I hallucinating?
A comfortable breeze blew through my hair. Golden sunshine covered everything in a dreamy haze. Fluffy white clouds drifted lazily through the sky and strange birds flew overhead.
Horse was still missing.
A crushing sense of loss speared me. My heart twisted. With shaky fingers, I pulled out my pipe and exhaled. He’ll come back. He’s a phoenix, I reminded myself.
I focused on the picturesque landscape.
It calmed me.
Rolling verdant hills were intersected by glittering peaceful lakes. Meandering streams snaked between them. Tall flowering trees dotted the hills and offered patches of shade.
We were standing on a pebble path that led to the front gates of a stunning white brick estate.
A miniature pony trotted across the field, and a goat followed close behind.
I spun around—pushing Scorpius off me because he was still clinging—and took it all in.
Swans bowed their heads together in the ponds, and strange-colored ducks quacked as they waddled in a line.
I thought I was a rainy-day-type girl.
I wasn’t.
This was what I craved.
The fae realm was pretty, but it was crowded with people, buildings, and a general sense of doom. Mother had carefully cultivated the last bit through years of terror.
This place was different; it was quiet.
Bucolic.
Another miniature pony trotted by with a pink bow in its mane. I covered my mouth and fought the urge to cry and chase after it because it was so cute.
“Is this Olympus?” I turned to the twins in awe.
Malum choked. “As if.” He pushed me toward the golden front gate of the estate. “Welcome to the Ancient Illustrious House of Malum. This is all yours, my Revered.”
I stumbled and would have fallen if he hadn’t caught my arm.
“You’re joking,” I said.
Turned out they didn’t live in a hut.
Who would have guessed it?
Scorpius smirked and sauntered past. “We don’t joke, killer.” Orion gave me a gentle kiss on the forehead.
“This is the devil realm? Isn’t it supposed to be a land of fire?”
Malum pointed up at the golden sun. “It is.”
I blinked. “Aren’t you supposed to share half a planet with the angel realm? Isn’t their side cold? Also—do you see the miniature ponies?”
I’d thought Malum had been spinning a fairytale when he’d described what peace felt like to him.
Now I understood.
He’d been telling the truth.
Malum rolled his eyes. “The sun melted the glaciers that cover most of the other side of the planet, and it plunged the angels into a perpetual ice age.”