AllFreeNovel
Share Us
RUSALKA
Iunderstand now. This human will require careful handling. I hadn’t really thought Azazel was overstating things, but it was difficult to fully credit his concern before meeting Belladonna.
She’s magnificent, even while fighting herself. How fiercely would Belladonna shine if not for the shame clinging to her, weighing her down like a widow’s shroud? I have a feeling it would be fierce indeed. And I have every intention of finding out.
The magic of the bargainer demon’s castle provides a quick exit back to my territory. It’s one of those strange quirks that are all but impossible to ward against, one that caused my territory no end of grief when we were at war so long ago. It may be difficult to march an army through a single door, but an assassin? My predecessors’ records are immaculate; as a result, Azazel never postures to remind me of what he’s capable of. He knows I will never forget.
Even so, it’s a relief to step through the door and back into the pleasant warmth I’m so used to without many days’ journey. I keep Belladonna’s hand clasped in mine as I turn to shut the door and throw the bar across it.
She watches with wide eyes. “Is that really enough to stop magic?”
“No.” I shrug. “But it makes everyone feel better, and sometimes that’s the most important thing.” I can see her lack of understanding in the small line that appears between her brows. “I’ll show you to your rooms, and then I’ll hunt down some food to settle your nerves.”
I note the way she almost flinches but muscles through her instinctive response. This one is a fighter. I approve.
“Settle my nerves,” she echoes. She smiles, the expression bright and sunny—and a complete lie. “That sounds... nice.”
I keep moving, tugging her along with me. My Insomnior Court will show up before too long, looking for an update and to assure themselves that I’m fine after the meeting with Azazel. Normally I would seek them out immediately to discuss this turn of events, but I suspect Belladonna is reaching the end of her ability to process new things.
I lead her to the consort’s rooms. They’ve stood empty since I took my title. I haven’t had time to indulge in a proper consort; ruling this territory takes up too much time and energy. All my romantic encounters are restricted to sex only, and I avoid partners who look at me with stars in their eyes. Better that everyone involved has the same expectations. I’ve only misjudged a few times, and the pain it’s caused has ensured I am particularly careful now.
It worries my court. They’ve been pressuring me for years now to settle down with a consort. I don’t think my taking a human as one is what they meant, but they won’t be able to argue the end result.
“Stay here for a moment. I’ll be right back.” I take the time to ensure she sits before she falls down, and then I whisk out of the room.
Inna appears before I take two steps, shadows clinging to their features, nearly obscuring their deep-crimson eyes. Like most incubi, they’re built slighter than I am, their head barely coming up to my shoulder. Their skin is moon pale and their hair nearly the same crimson as their eyes. Our forms are similar enough—humanoid but with cloven hooves and a tufted tail—but incubi magic leans toward shadows while succubi favor fire.
“That was a quick meeting.”
“You have no idea.” I keep moving, allowing them to fall into step next to me. “Two hours, and then I need the rest of the Insomnior Court together in the usual spot. You can ask your questions then.”
Surprise makes their shadows flare. “Something happened.”
“Yes.” The kitchens are on the floor below the rooms. The leader’s seat is significantly smaller here than in the other territories. We have no need for castles, either above or below the waves, no need to style ourselves as monarchs. This manor house has rooms enough for half a dozen people and is situated right on the main square of our largest town. We succubi and incubi are social creatures and significantly more informal than those in the other territories. Everyone else wants to be a little king, to wield what power they have over those within their control. Not so, here.
It’s been a point of contention in the past. The other territories patronize us for the way we do things, for how communal we are, for our informal power structures. They see us as weak, which usually means that when conflict comes, it comes to us first. It’s been a long time since we’ve fought with weapons, but trade is just another kind of war. I’ve worked for decades, have sacrificed time and energy and kindness, to ensure that my people want for nothing.
With the prize Azazel just offered us all, we could have a prolonged peace... or another war on the horizon. Either way, I have to prepare.
Inna clears their throat. “The house feels... different.”
Because Belladonna is here. It won’t take long for the entire town to know we have a human in our midst and come sniffing around. I don’t hold their curiosity against them, but I need to get her settled in properly before we brave that experience. “I’ll explain when everyone is gathered. Go.”
For a moment, it seems like they might argue, but finally they nod. “Consider it done.”
We’re in that sweet spot after lunch but before dinner preparation, so I’m able to slip into the kitchen without encountering Jitka. She’s a brilliant chef and capable of great edible masterpieces but so fiercely territorial that even I hesitate to cross her. Unfortunately, what Jitka considers “crossing” her includes a number of otherwise minor offenses—like stealing apples from the bowl obviously meant for something later.
But my human needs to eat, so I resign myself to dodging a wooden spoon later when Jitka realizes my trespass.
I hurry back upstairs to find Belladonna exactly where I left her. She hasn’t even roused herself to snoop. Worrisome. I cross to perch next to her on the edge of the bed and press an apple into her hand. “I’m sure you have questions. I can answer them now, or wait until you’re more settled.”
“Why do you need a baby?”
I blink. Well then, I suppose we’ll start there. “The magic of each territory is directly linked to the person who leads it. In other territories, that leadership is passed down along bloodlines, but we do things differently here. The person with the strongest magic and the backing of the people leads. They can also be removed at any time if they abuse their power.” This precaution ensures we don’t end up with some power-hungry monarch like some of the other territories have seen in the past. “Through a quirk of biology, humans are great amplifiers of magic when they breed with paranormal people. Any child you have with one of our own will be easily twice as powerful as I am, and the whole of the territory will benefit as a result.”
She stares into my eyes, and I taste her despair on my tongue. It’s a strange response to my words. Belladonna nods before I can press her on it. “I see. So it’s a small sacrifice to help a lot of people.”
“A child is not a sacrifice.” I don’t mean for my voice to go sharp, but I don’t trust the direction of her thoughts. “If someone chooses to have a child, then that child is a gift and a blessing.”
