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The king's eyes double in size and immediately wish I could take my admission back. “What happened?”
“Nothinghappened. I was fine—am fine.I was just resting.” I glance away, daring to sneak a peek at his face to ensure I saw his expression correctly the first time.
Yup, same face.
Fuck.He didn't know. I thought for sure he'd have seen that in Valeria's mind. Gods, this would've been so much easier if he didn't know about the gargoyles.
“What did you do, Asmodeus?” His voice takes on that stern, unyielding king persona and I cave.
“I used blood magic to bring back the people the elf lord killed. I'd made gargoyle bodies for them and nearly depleted my shadow trying to put their spirits into them. Those I brought back are tethered to the boundary around Grim's keep.”
Finn’s face turns a dark crimson-purple as if he's holding his breath. “That's why you helped Griffin?You wanted his blood?Gods-fucking-damnit, Asmo. That's a new low. Even for you.”
I blink at him, pretending I didn't hear that last part. “Let me put your overactive mind to rest,brother…”Finn flinches when I seethe that endearment.
Taking a step forward, my demon form presses against my skin, screaming to be let out. It takes every ounce of strength I have to keep it at bay.
“I didn't know about the ghosts untilafterGriffin came to my keep. You're welcome, by the way. It would've be a fucking shame for the witches to bleed him dry.” Shaking my head, I tsk my tongue, staring right into his big, round eyes.
Was it a low blow? Probably.
No,it was.
Finn was orphaned and doesn't know his true last name. And after the war, after years of him protecting Kai, my blood brother, while I was in the prison world, we’d dubbed him a Morningstar.
He deserved to be, but due to him being a druid, and not immortal like us, he doesn't feel like he lives up to the name. In reality, he couldn't be more wrong.
But right now, I want him to experience that same pang, the whittling hollow. The one that sinks into my bones and whispers that I'm not good enough, that they'll never love me, that they can't, because I'll always be different.
I'll always be the Prince who blew up the castle of Hell Hold. Who killed those inside of it… A monster.
Maybe, if Finn feels that, he'll stop inadvertently giving that pang to me.
When Finn doesn't respond, I cross my arms, glancing between the two of them, before giving Griffin’s father a smug once over. “Well, go on then.” I lean forward an inch. “Apologize.”
Finn lets out a huff of air, combing his dirty blond locks back. “Fine. I'm sorry. I jumped to conclusions.”
Damn right you did.
Bouncing a brow, I pause a moment before taking the whiskey from Kai. “Now, if you two asshats are done holding my hostage, I have a queen to find.”
Vanishing, my shadows swirl and light laces through them until I'm standing in front of the king and queen’s quarters.
29
Asmodeus
A part of mewonders if Valeria found the dining room… but I can’t think about that right now. She’s a smart girl. She’ll figure it out. And if not, she’ll be waiting around the meeting hall when I’m done.
What I can do, though, is get some answers. And after today, I might not be the only one ready to break things.
I’ve known Alice for years. She’s my… best friend. I know her tells. I know her faces. I don’t need to read her thoughts to pick up on the fact she was ready to have a panic attack in that meeting.
I’m proud of her for keeping it together, but I’m not even sure Kai is aware of just how hard she was trying.
As angry as I am that she kept this from me, I shove it aside, take a deep breath and knock.
“Come in,” she calls from inside, and I don’t hesitate.
