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Flicking her wrist, she extinguishes the flames. “Tell me what he said, word for word.” She grabs my arm and drags me to one of the oversized chairs.
It takes a minute for both of us to climb onto it. Prometheus easily zips up to the cushion and settles between us. The seat is big enough for all three of us to fit comfortably.
Sighing, I drop my head to rest on the cushion and tell her everything Orcus’ father had told me. Usually it’s the mother-in-law who you have to worry about, but those monster-in-laws have nothing on the Monster King. Orshana is so lovely. I have no idea why fate saw fit to make the two of them mates. She totally got screwed.
“I’ve tried to read his mind, but I only get bits and pieces,” Zyla murmurs with a frown. “The rest is fuzzy. That’s weird.”
“Should we be worried about that?”
She shakes her head. “No. But now we know he’s planning to scare me.”
“Apparently, they’re all planning something. Orcus didn’t tell me about the attack.”
“Does that bother you?”
I hesitate. There are a dozen reasons Orcus wouldn’t tell me about things like that. For starters, I’m not the queen yet. I also know nothing about ruling a kingdom. But I don’t see how the plan will help bring peace. That sounds like a good way to start a war.
“You should tell him.”
“It won’t stop anything.”
“He listens to you, Daisy. I imagine he didn’t tell you because he’s trying to protect you.” She pauses. “There’s something you should know.”
“What? You’re leaving me?”
She shakes her head. “Not until I see you happy and safely onto the throne.”
Growing up, I always dreamed about having a sister. It’s not like I never had friends. I did, but I was always disposable. The one who got invited because I was there when all the invitations had been delivered and the person hosting the party had forgotten about me until they saw my stricken face.
Zyla, the Grand High Witch, wanting to stay and make sure I’m safe is more than any other friend has ever done for me.
“When he asked, I didn’t feel like I needed to tell you because we had only just met, but now that we’re friends… I don’t feel right keeping it a secret.”
“This sounds like I’m about to cry.”
She grimaces. “Hecate, I hope not. I’m horrible with tears.”
I chuckle and breathe. “Just tell me. Nothing can be worse than my mate’s father threatening me.”
“Orcus asked me to make a spell to send you home.”
“Oh, is that all?” I shake my head. “He told me he asked you, and I’m way ahead of him there. Callum already made me one.”
Zyla is quiet for a moment. “It doesn’t bother you that he still wants the spell made?”
I shrug. “I mean, a little, but Orcus has made it clear he’s going to protect me regardless of what that looks like. I don’t want to leave. I think I love the big ogre. If it comes to him using that spell on me without my consent, that’ll tell me all I need to know.”
She pulls out a vial of luminescent pink liquid. “I can pour it out. Say the word and it’s gone.” Her brown eyes skate over my face, and instead of scouring my mind, she waits for my answer.
The spell she crafted is different from the one I received from Callum, but I have no doubt it’ll work.
“No. Give him the spell. I want him to decide what to do with it like I did with my charm.” I told Orcus to give me time to prove myself. I hope to Hecate—or whatever god—that he finally sees I belong here.
“I’m so annoyed Callum finished before I did,” she mumbles and slips the vial back into the pocket on the inside of her shirt. “He’s going to be insufferable.”
“Yeah, about that. When are you two hooking up because that tension ishot.”
She scoffs. “Never again.”
