He recalled his threat to throw her to the legions. After this attack, he thought it more appropriate to threaten the legions with her.
Find something else to occupy you. He could go pay the Vrekener queen her land bounty, but he was in no hurry. The process of building land, hell manipulation, was grueling.
He could go on another doomed search for the fabled hellfire. That way lies madness. . . .
Wind gusted into the tower, and airborne sparks fluttered around them like snowflakes of ember. When his prisoner had finished coughing, her eyes watered. “You belong here. I—do—not. Release me now!”
This creature seemed to have a demonic temper when provoked enough. So unlike his mate in the past. For all that he’d once adored her, Princess Karinna had been the mistress of sneering indifference.
His gaze lit upon the untouched food tray in the courtyard. “Why should I provide you food if you’re not going to eat it?”
“I can’t stomach things that are still moving.”
“You will learn to.” Those dishes were delicacies from the Stygian Marsh, enjoyed by only the wealthiest demons of Pandemonia. “Or should my servants change their menus to tempt a fey prisoner?” The idea was ludicrous. “Once you get hungry enough, you’ll eat. If you enter into a battle of wills with me, you will lose.”
“If you have a grove or an orchard, I could pick my own food.”
“There are no groves or orchards! Have you forgotten the location of your new home? This isn’t some sort of fairy woodland. This is hell.”
“Then let me work in the kitchen. I could find something to eat there.”
Angling to get out of the tower? “You actually think to escape me. You were sly with your trap, but I’m far too strong for you to defeat.” Damn it, he should be furious at her insolence and gall! Not secretly hoping she will strike again.
“Demon, there is one thing I can absolutely guarantee: I will escape you. Save yourself the embarrassment and free me.”
Considering her outrage and her desire to get away from him, she might not be N?x’s pawn. If this fey was complicit, shouldn’t she be seducing him to win his good favor—instead of stabbing him with a poisoned spindle?
Unless N?x had sent her here to kill him.
Sian was struck by how little he knew about his mate’s current existence. He hadn’t cared who her family was or where she’d been born, because she was still Kari and his history with her was all that mattered.
But this new version was throwing him. He decided to send spies, his three best generals, to the Magic Kingdom to find out more about her.
She pinched her temples, swaying on her feet. She’d neither slept nor eaten since she’d gotten here. She was sick from the fire vines and injured.
Gods, what would this little firebrand be like at full strength?
He could enchant her with a healing spell, using some of his life force to improve hers, but she didn’t deserve that consideration after attacking him. Instead, he grew vine all over the castle’s roof—which she definitely deserved.
He refused to allow pity—or his instincts—to curtail his vengeance. Her pain wasn’t a fraction of the misery she’d brought down upon him. Upon all of the demons in hell. Her labors weren’t enough punishment. She’d had no pity for me.
He bared his fangs at her. “I look forward to our next meeting, female.”
“Whatever, demon.” She rubbed her eyes, plucking something from one.
She’d been wearing a colored contact lens. Her eyes were mismatched again.
FOURTEEN
For the past four days, Sian had run through the wilds of hell in the pouring rain. His emotions remained chaotic.
My mate finds me “repulsive.” He roared with frustration, increasing his pace.
He’d gone from being one of the most irresistible males in the universe to one his female could scarcely stand to look upon.
He didn’t even want her for his queen, but he wanted to be wanted. By her.
Months ago, he’d lamented to Rune that his new visage would keep females from flocking to him—which had meant fewer substitutes to blunt his need for Kari. Even if only for a brief time.
Has my need ever been blunted? He’d told himself he was using other females to purge himself of his obsession. Then why is it even stronger?
Hardly trusting himself around his prisoner after their last encounter, Sian had remained away, refusing even to watch her through the mirror.
Fate must have been jesting to pair a lovely fey with a bitter monster. Maybe N?x’s plan was to madden Sian until he became a less effective warrior.
When the brush grew thicker, he drew his battle-ax from its holster. All but an extension of him, the weapon had a solid-black blade, the metal forged in hellfire. His sire, King Devel, had given it to him when Sian had been a pup, with a word of advice: Only hit hard if you aim true, son.
The fey prided themselves on their Titanian steel, but this razor-sharp hell metal was indestructible.
Sian hacked his way through the dense brush. Strange, even with his current turmoil, the landscape wasn’t as restless as it’d been before his female had arrived.
The rains were easing the drought and tamping down the airborne ash. Even the Styx was subsiding to normal levels of lava.
At times, he took pleasure in seeing the lands react to his moods, one of the few aspects he liked about being king. Otherwise, the crown of Pandemonia was just a weighty responsibility that fell to him—but held no benefit.
A king’s power? As a primordial, he’d already been infinitely powerful.
Having legions to command? With nothing more than this ax, Sian had felled armies all on his own. Plus his M?ri?r alliance could wreak more havoc than millions of trained warriors.
No, he hadn’t yet found any real benefits to this throne—only one horrific liability: the hell-change.