I laugh bitterly, my rage officially boiling over. “Oh, I’m very fucking sorry that I set your lover on fire.” I step forward, "Now come on, we need to go.”
She takes another step back, sending a whole new wave of fury through me. “Daisy,” I growl her name as a warning.
“My lover? Oh my god.” She’s suddenly storming toward me, her voice rising with every word. “You believe him, don’t you? You think I came on to him.”
She’s nearly a foot and a half shorter than me, but she shoves a finger into my chest like she could knock me off my feet. Her eyes blaze in a way I’ve never seen.
“How dare you, Korithax?” she screams, voice cracking. “How fucking dare you!”
A growl tears from my throat, and the little restraint I had snaps. I grab her by the throat and throw her down onto the bed. She gasps as I pin her arms above her head with one hand. I place my other hand against her hip tightly, holding her still. My chest heaves as I stare down at her, baring my teeth.
“I don’t give a fuck if you came onto him,” I growl into her face. “But I won’t tolerate being disrespected. I’m tired of these fools not holding our relationship in esteem because we’re not yet wed. We will marry. Tomorrow. In Solara. Understood?”
She stares up at me, and her fury is like fire in her veins, matching my own. This isn’t a side I’ve seen of her, and I can’t tell if I like it or hate it.
“No,” she spits. “Absolutely not. If you seriously think I’d throw myself at someone else, then congrats—I’m not going to be your wife.” She glares up at me, seething. “And don’t act like this is about honour or betrayal or whatever dramatic nonsense you’ve cooked up in that demon brain of yours. You were pissed because he touched me. I saw it. The way you zeroed in on his hands like you were ready to murder him. Just admit it.”
I release her hands and grip her face, my thumb pressing hard against her jaw, my nose brushing hers as my control teeters on the edge of destruction. The way she’s speaking to me, looking at me. I can’t tell if I want to fuck her or kill her. Nobody has ever spoken to me with such fury, such disrespect. Yet this small mortal woman thinks she can defy me and not suffer any consequences.
“You will marry me, Daisy. You signed a fucking contract. And as for him touching you—I don’t care. Anybody can touch you in any way they fucking like once we are married.”
The flicker of pain in her expression is a punch to my chest, but I force my face into ice. Cold and ruthless. I push away from her, standing at the foot of the bed. She props herself up on her elbows, the neckline of her dress threatening to spill out her breasts. My eyes flick away, not letting her body distract me, tempting as it was.
“So what kiss last night—that was?—”
“It was nothing,” I interrupt. “It was me showing you what a real kiss felt like, like you asked. You are nothing, just a means to an end, Daisy.”
She says nothing. Just a single, slow nod with a harsh swallow. Her entire demeanour changes as a cold calm settles over her. She stands, smoothing the fabric of her dress, and pulls her braids over her shoulder.
“Great,” she says, voice flat and emotionless. “Let’s just get this over with then, yeah? That way, you can go back to pretending I don’t exist while we live out our happily never after in Zeriavoss. Pretty sure your realm’s big enough for us to avoid each other forever.”
I grab her wrist, and without another word, teleport us to Solara.
We land,the brightness instantly burning my eyes after almost twenty hours in that fucking realm of perpetual bullshit. So much has happened in so little time, I feel like I’m cracking under the weight of it all. Daisy’s attack, the betrayal, Kaelith’s hands on her. I’m about ready to be done with this entire mission to turn her immortal if each realm keeps presenting a new way to piss me off.
Not to mention, I now had a fucking wedding to plan because it was clear nobody was going to respect whatever the Hell this was between Daisy and me. Not until I had her securely placed in wedlock. And now, I’ve got to smile and bow and play the proper prince in front of a goddess who radiates joy and sunlight.
I don’t bother telling Daisy anything about the realm this time. I just begin walking the moment I know she’s not about to pass out or fall over. The healers had given her something to help with realm travel, but they said she would still feel some effects from it. Thankfully, this time we land basically at the palace. Aran sent letters to the rest of the realms on our journey to let them know in advance of our arrival, allowing us to be approved to teleport in much closer than the outer borders. The only realm that wouldn’t be possible was Noxthrallia. But I knew from the start, Noxthrallia was going to be a challenge.
We stand outside tall, golden gates that stretch high above us, their delicate carvings reflecting the golden light that shimmers in the air. The warmth here is incredible, sinking into my skin like a balm, though it does absolutely nothing to melt away the icy storm brewing inside of me.
I remain silent as the gates begin to creak open, pulled by invisible magic. The path ahead is lined with white sandstone,the road blinding in the golden light. Towers of gleaming citrine and polished marble rise in the distance, spires tall in the sky, crowned with golden fire. The smell of sun-warmed flowers and sweet citrus fills the air, and the gentle hum of magic dances in the breeze. The entire royal grounds are open to the sky, sprawling courtyards layered in gold-veined stone. Birds with jewel-bright feathers flit between flowering citrus trees, chirping a song so melodic they sound like harps. If any realm reminded me of Daisy, it was this one.
I begin walking again, not checking if Daisy is following. I know she is. I can sense her aura whenever it’s near me, a warm, delicate feeling that follows her wherever she goes. She’s been quiet since I threw those words at her like fucking weapons. I hear her footsteps fall into rhythm behind mine as I continue strolling up the long path. The sun here never truly sets. It goes through sunrise, golden hour, and sunset, never dusk or darkness. Solara, the realm of light and beauty, that provides sun, dawn, and sunset to Earth. The place where Aran got the orb I’d gifted her at Christmas.
And in less than twenty-four hours, I was going to marry a woman here who now probably hated me. Perfect.
We’re escortedthrough wide halls of glimmering sandstone and silk canopies, to where the throne ‘room’ should be. But of course, it’s not a room at all. The throne is nestled in an open glade of light. Circular, column-lined, and filled with soft grass and blooming flowers. Petals drift down from the sky, swirling on the warm breeze. And in the centre, sits a carved throne of peach coloured sunstone, surrounded by benches, water features, and canopies of glowing linen that sway above our heads. Sitting on the throne is Sariya, Goddess of the sun, vibrant as ever.
“Ah, my dear Korithax,” she beams, rising to her feet. She glides towards me, and the world seems to brighten with every step. “It has been centuries, my child. How are you?”
She throws her arms around me before I can respond, pressing soft kisses to each cheek. Her scent is golden: warm grass, citrus, and summer air.
“Very well, thank you, Sariya. And you?” I murmur, politely.
“Well, as always, Prince of Hell.” She grins, her smile is light itself.
Her eyes fall on Daisy. “And who is this absolute ray of sunshine?” She asks, delight curling into her voice.
