A server comes into the room with an ornate silver serving tray, topped with a large cover. He places it onto the center of the table, and everyone stares at it, wondering what it could be.
“I thought we were having dinner later?” Raph asks, and the server nods.
“We are. This is an early dessert,” the half-demon server answers, and everyone starts muttering to one another, confused about what's happening. “I had it especially crafted for you, my king.”
“I did not request an early dessert, but please, proceed,” Luc says.
The server lifts the cover, revealing a severed head.
Movement No. 22
Tempest
Nico and I spent the entire day mostly talking. We walked around the carnival, playing different games and riding all the rides. It was fun to actually participate and not just perform, but it was also strange and a little haunting.
I taught him about what Alphas are and about what it’s like to have one, but he doesn’t remember his. I can tell that he desperately wants to meet his Alpha though, and it breaks my heart.
I hope that one of the packs here will accept him, even if he continues to live at the carnival with Gemma and Draven and the others. Guilt starts to freeze over me like an icy tundra, rendering me incapable of movement.
I feel trapped and panicky and so cold as I remind myself why I’m here. My purpose at this carnival and in this marriage is to kill this little boy’s adoptive father.
This lupion, who has already experienced so much grief, will have to do it again because my Alpha—my father—wants an eye for an eye. I have to meet with him and convince him that what we really need is to kill The Executioner, the one truly responsible.
I may never get to see these people again, but I can at least save Draven from a shallow grave. Even if it’s just for Nico’s sake.
“Aunt Tempest,” Nico says, interrupting me from my spiral.
“Yes?” I say as we continue down the path to his tent.
“Mom reads Po and me a story at bedtime, can you pick a book and read to us?” There’s something so sweet about him, it gives me a toothache. Po, too. The pure joy and innocence in both their eyes is something I’d trade almost anything to go back in time to experience.
“Of course, Nico.”
Entering their tent, Po gives me a smile, and I kneel down to the bookshelf that rests against the fabric wall, looking at all the children’s books.
Purple eggs and spam.That sounds disgusting.Where the Wild Demons Are.That’s kind of cute, though maybe not for Nico.Goodnight Moons. The Incredibly Full Butterfly.
My eyes keep scanning, looking for anything that sounds remotely educational, because Nico likely doesn’t know much. If he was packless for so long, he may have never even been to school.
What on Hel? Geography and History for Children.Perfect.
Grabbing the book off the shelf, I take a seat on the edge of Nico’s bed.
“Gemma and Draven say that one is propaganda,” Po asks, wiggling further under her sheets from the bed across from us, and I stifle a laugh. “Can we read The Prince Duet instead? It’s one of my favorites.”
I nod, and my eyes scan the shelf again until I find it. Flipping open to the first page, there is an illustration of two stunning castles, and the children ooh and ah as I show them the pictures.
“Once upon a time, in a valley divided by a crystal-blue river, stood two grand kingdoms that had been rivals for as long as anyone could remember,” I read aloud.
Nico looks up at me with excited eyes, and I continue. “In the west kingdom lived Prince Ryker—a dashing dreamer—whopreferred poetry to politics. In the east was Prince Julien, the bold and beguiling swordsman. Though their people quarrelled, the two princes had never met, until one day Prince Julien’s castle put on a masquerade ball.”
“What’s a masquerade ball?” Nico asks.
“It’s a big party where people dance and wear masks,” I explain.
“My mom and dad whisper about masquerades a lot,” he says, yawning. “Maybe they’re throwing a surprise party!”
The Devil’s Masquerade definitely surprises people.
