Icontinued to walk until those great wooden double doors stood before me.Thelast timeIhad stood before them,I’dbeen only a youngling, watching my mother work.Shehad been lecturing me, butIhad daydreamed about the kissesHadeonandIshared the night before.Afool, even then.
Itouched the door, and it flared to life.Theglyphs were a terrible deep violet.Iscanned them, memorizing every inch.
Whatare you doing?You’renot on their side anymore.Doyou think they would really save you now, after everything that happened?Avlynnever cared for you; you didn’t even give them what they wanted.Junprefers his sister to you, andTorionly used you.You’restill that same fool you always were.
Ipulled my hand away from the door, and tears rolled down my face.Alone.Ihad always been alone, but the defensesIbuilt had eroded over the last few weeks.Andnow…
Myheart pulled, andIthought it just might give out.Thenit pulled again, harder this time.Thecreature inside me purred, and my heart tugged again to the point of pain.Itfelt like someone was gripping and pulling against it crudely, trying to rip it out of my chest.Itfelt almost like…
“Tori?”Iwhispered.Ofcourse, there was no response, andthe tugging stopped.Iwiped the tears on my face away and turned my back on the door.Ihad a dinner to get ready for.
WhenIreturnedto my room, two slaves waited with their grey hoods pulled up over their heads.Theysilently undressed me.Theyhad gotten out my favorite dress made of gossamer lavender that shimmered silver in the light.Thefabric was so thin it floated around me asIwalked, with slit sleeves that trailed nearly to the floor.Oneslave gently brushed my hair and placed a classic silver circlet adorned with moonstones across my brow.Theyturned me to the mirror, and my reflection was the very vision of a fae princess.Iwas no such thing.
Theyled me to the dining hall.Ihad expected the room to be packed with the denizens of the court as it normally would be, but the long table was completely empty except forHadeonat his usual spot.AsIentered, he rose, waiting for me to approach him.
“YourEminence.”Igave a small curtsy, looking down at his feet.
“Pallas, we discussed this.”Hishand moved towards me, andIimmediately flinched.Allhe did was gently trace my jaw and raise my chin soIwould look at his beautiful face. “Noneed to be so formal.”
Hiseyes sparkled, andIwaited for my punishment, but he planted his lips on mine—a soft, loving kiss.Ifell into it immediately before he pulled away, sweeping my chair out for me.Iquickly sat down, my dress fluttering around me. “Youtruly are a beauty beyond compare tonight, my love.”
“Thankyou,Y…Hadeon.”Irisked giving him a softsmile, and he returned it in kind before carefully taking a bite of his dinner.
Weate in silence for a while, and it made me wonder how long it had been since we had done anything like this.Hadit been decades?Icouldn’t be sure.WhatwasIsupposed to say?Once, the words between us had flowed like water, ever bubbling up from an eternal spring.Wecouldn’t have stopped them even if we wanted to.Now, there was only silence.
“Ihope you have found everything to your liking.Imade sure that all of your things were prepared for your return.”
“LordPlagiscame to my room this morning.”Iheard the soft clink ofHadeon’sfork as he set it down on his plate. “Heseemed to expect—”
Hischair slid back, andIfinally dared to raise my gaze.Hestood beside me and leaned down, gently cupping my face again. “Myenchantress.”Myheart stilled at the nickname he had once lavished on me with abandon. “Yourabsence has made me realize how very… poorly you have been treated these last decades.Iswear to you, this ends now.ShouldPlagis, no, should any other man ever dare to touch you again,Iwill make sure that he dies screaming.”Myeyes widened as he leaned in. “Youare mine,Pallas.Minealone.Letme soothe that long aching heart of yours.”
Thekiss he gave me was not soft.Helaced his fingers through the hair at the back of my neck, pulling me into him.Hisplush lips met mine, and he pressed his tongue into my mouth, claiming every surface.Iopened up to him immediately and tilted my head to give him even more access.Iwas his in every way.Ialways had been.Iwas right back there, in that garden.Thatplace where he loved and cherished me.TheplaceIdesired with all my heart.
Myinner creature clawed at me, spitting and yowling in a wayIhad never felt before.Shescratched at my heart, trying todestroy the treacherous thing, butHadeon’shand at my waist and the soft moansIemitted drowned her out.
Asquickly as it had started, he released me.Heflashed that gorgeous smile that had won him the hearts ofAdimos. “Nowtell me, what did you learn in theDragonKingdom?”
Myhead was still spinning, soIdidn’t respond right away, andIsaw the corner of his mouth twitch.
“I’msorry.Whatdo you mean?”
"WhatImean..."Hadeon'svoice was smooth, butIheard the subtle edge to it now. “...is that you've spent considerable time with theDragonKingand his little princess.You’rea smart woman and my greatest love.Surelyyou used that to your advantage?”
Ihad learned things.Somany things.I’dlearned aboutTori’smagic and how it would all disappear ifAbraxaswas killed.Theirintentions to destroy his heart.ThefactIhad taught them how.Traitor.
“Iknow the princess is the king’s mate.”Idared a small glance atHadeonand saw the fury crinkling the corners of his eyes. “That’sno secret now, my love.Butwhat does it mean?”
Itmeans that she shares his power.Itmeans she can conduct mana, enough to destroy your enchantment.Itmeans that if you killAbraxas, she’ll be too weak to fight you.Itmeans if you hurt her,Abraxaswould be destroyed.
“Idon’t know.”Myfingers tightened around the stem of my wineglass. “Iam no spy.Iwas lucky to survive my time with them.Ihave no secrets to share.”Thelie came surprisingly easy.
Hissmile faltered, replaced by a flicker of irritation. “Comenow, my enchantress, there's no need for games.Luxosinformed me you were kept in comfort at the prince’s side.Hissister is a greater fool than he was.Ihave no doubt she thought herself a savior to you.”
Isaid nothing, butHadeonread me like an open book. “Wasshekind to you?Didshe pull you to her side and tell you she valued you?Don’tbe a fool,Pallas.Shecares only for herself.Theyall do.Wouldyou betray me so?”
Voices, so many voices, swirled in my head.
You’reacting like a youngling,Pallas.
