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She smiled. “Wings, remember?” she called, turning and running for the edge of the balcony before leaping into the sky.
“Nowthat’sa neat trick,” I said, watching her form disappear, and regretting not asking her to take me with her. Technically, Carnon and I hadn’t struck a new bargain yet. There was still time for me to run.
I sighed, picking out a blouse and the stretchy skirt that Cerridwen had left for me. I knew I wouldn’t run, not when there was nowhere for me to go. At least if I cut a deal with Carnon, I could count on his protection when I finally left.
The blouse wouldn’t really button over my breasts, so I swapped it for a slouchy sweater instead. I looked the complete opposite of regal, but at least I was covered. Maybe Carnon would take the hint that I was no longer accepting his advances if I dressed like a chaste priestess.
“That is a hint I will never take,” came his deep, soothing voice from the doorway. I whirled to find him leaning against the door, arms crossed as he studied me with a smirk.
“Can you read my mind or something?” I snapped, crossing my own arms defensively. It wasn’t the first time I had wondered, and I narrowed my eyes suspiciously. Maybe he was hiding more kingly powers than just those of the four courts.
“Or something,” Carnon answered, smiling as he pushed away from the door. He swept through the room, offering me his arm. I pursed my lips, my arms still crossed in annoyance. He sighed dramatically. “You were speaking out loud, Elara.”
“Oh,” I said, softening a little. I offered him a faint smile, a peace offering, and he raised a brow at me in return. A squawk on the balcony told me that Artemis had joined us, and a growling whine behind Carnon indicated that Akela had arrived too.
“The menagerie is all here, I see.” Akela nosed my hip in greeting, and I scratched his furry ears. The last time I had seen the wolf, he had led me to a secret witch mirror that had almost allowed my grandmother to enter the castle. He had been thoroughly reprimanded, and I guessed he was only just now back in his master’s good graces.
Carnon guided me out to the balcony, which was more of a veranda with sweeping views of the city below. Artemis was waiting and gave a hoot, hopping onto his shoulder. Her huge feathery body and bat-like wings folded in neatly as she pecked at one of his horns impatiently.
Carnon sighed in a beleaguered sort of way as he took a seat at a dainty metal table. “Glad to see you’re in a better mood,” he said to me, crossing an ankle over a knee and putting his hand on Akela’s neck. He looked more like the Lord of Beasts than Herne like this, the black horns gleaming from his temples and two impossible creatures answering his beck and call.
“What court are you?” I asked suddenly, realizing I didn’t actually know. Cerridwen was from the Court of Beasts, but I didn’t know if families usually shared a court, and I had seen many demons with horns like Carnon’s from all the courts.
“Beasts,” he confirmed. “Could you not tell?”
“I can’t be sure of anything with you,” I replied tartly, trying to prove that I was in factnotin a better mood. Truthfully, the tea with Cerridwenhadlifted my spirits, but I didn’t need Carnon to know that.
“Fair point,” he said. “Cerridwen and I were born into the Court of Beasts. It’s how we met Herne, who turned out to be Cerridwen’s mate.”
“And how did you become king?” I asked, intent on getting some answers out of the demon. He smiled placidly.
“Cerridwen has been talking, I see,” he said, tilting his head back so that he was looking at the sky. He closed his eyes, and I caught myself admiring the strong column of his throat. He took what looked to be a meditative breath before lowering his head and returning his gaze to mine. “First, terms,” he said, shrugging his shoulder to dislodge Artemis, who surely weighed a ton. The strix flapped onto the railing with a begrudging hoot. “Then I’ll start answering your thousands of questions.”
“Fine,” I said, pursing my lips as I tried to think through terms that would ultimately benefit me, and not the Demon King sitting before me. “You need me to pretend to be your betrothed. To lie—”
“Misdirect,” Carnon corrected.
“Tolie,” I continued, emphasizing the word with a narrowing of my eyes, “to the Daemon Lords about how we met, and to convince them that I am not in league with the Crone.” I tilted my head, waiting for confirmation. “Is that accurate?”
“And,” Carnon added, a wry grin curving his lips, “to pretend to be in love. Yes, my Lady, that is a succinct summary.”
I gritted my teeth. Hearing him call me “my Lady” grated on me for some reason, but I decided to let it go.
“Fine,” I said, taking a breath to calm the fire of irritation that was growing in me. “And pretend to like you.”
“Love,” Carnon corrected.
“Don’t push it,” I said.
“And what are your conditions, my Lady?” he asked, still smirking like a cat. He knew he was irritating me, and he was clearly enjoying it.
“First,” I began, “you help me find and free my mother.”
“Done,” Carnon said, as if this was totally expected. “What else?”
I pursed my lips. “Second, you break this curse or whatever it is so I can be free of the demon magic.”
Carnon frowned. “That’s a terrible idea, Elara, especially if you want to find your mother.”
