62. Pallas
The morning sun broke gently through my window—my room, back home. I pushed back the silken sheets of my bed and observed everything. Nothing had been touched. My bookshelves were tidy, and my vanity was organized just as I liked it. I ran my finger over the deeply stained wood, and not a speck of dust was to be found.
Myplace here had been preserved and cared for. A soft knock came at the door. "Enter." One of the many slaves I had known for most of their human life entered. She gave me a soft smile before depositing a tray of food for me and turning to go.
Thetray was laden with my favorite things: scones soaked in thick cream and numerous ramekins of jam set out like little jewels all around. Freshly sliced preserved meats and cheese were accompanied by soft-boiled eggs already cut and salted. I dug in and immediately fell into the familiar flavors and textures.
Home. WasI really home?
Thecreature inside me hissed, but I drowned her in jam and tea served with lemon. I leaned back in my plush chair and let my hand gently rub over my very full stomach.
Anotherknock came at my door, but before I could respond, LordPlagis pushed inside. Immediately, my hackles raised, and I sat up straight in my chair.
"Ah, my lady, it's so wonderful to see you again."
Isaid absolutely nothing, but Plagis was used to that. My nails cut into the chair"s fabric, but he didn't notice.
Heapproached me boldly, smoothly setting himself down in the chair opposite me. He let his eyes roam over my nightgown, and I wanted to cross my arms and hide. No, I want to snatch his eyes right out of their sockets. My own thoughts surprised me so much that I missed his attempt to speak to me.
"Did you hear me, my lady?" I shook my head. "Oh my, your ordeal must have been truly gruesome for you to be so divorced from the present. No matter. I said the emperor expects you to join him for dinner tonight."
Ididn't move or respond. He didn't care.
"I must say, I look forward to hearing everything you have gleaned during your time in the DragonKingdom. Despite my many visits, KingAbraxas kept his affairs tightly locked away. Ha! Well, I think we all know why now. The last dragon? I can hardly believe it." He continued for quite some time, and I once again didn't hear a word he said.
Thisroutine was familiar to me as well, as was what came next. I was home, indeed.
"I am so grateful to have you returned to us, my lady. I have missed you dearly."
Ididn"t even notice him grabbing my hand. His eyes leered at me, and his other hand came up to trace over the curves of my side. He leaned in and placed a sloppy kiss against my knuckles.
When you are ready, I'll be the first in line.The image of Avlyn doing the same thing flashed through my mind. It had been the same action, the same kiss, but somehow, it was completely different.
Plagis' hand roamed under the curve of my breast, his fingers greedy, and my mind tried to flee to anywhere but this room. Do you want to be rescued, Pallas?Yes, but Avlyn wasn't here. No one was here for me. I was all alone again, surrounded by monsters. I had never known how to fight.
Not all heroics are grand battles and gestures.Jun was right. I snatched my hand away from Plagis and stood so rapidly that he nearly toppled over.
"MyLady?"
"LordPlagis, I have just returned from quite the ordeal, as you said. AndI have spent no time with our DivineEmperor yet. Wouldn't it be prudent to do so before engaging in any other social calls?"
Isaw Plagis' eyes wrinkle in anger, but before he could speak, I added, "Don't you think that is what the DivineEmperor would want?"
Plagiswas a vile man, but he wasn't a fool. He would not cross Hadeon, at least not yet. "Of course, my lady. How right you are. Well, I look forward to enjoying your company soon." He spun and exited my room without another word, and I slumped back into my chair. I was home, indeed.
No one stopped me as I wandered the halls of the palace. Few even spared me a greeting or glance. After a few courtiers approached me with casual greetings and idle gossip, I realized many probably didn't even know I had been gone.
Ithought about wandering to the gardens to see the flowers in all their late summer splendor, but my feet took me elsewhere. Slowly, the surrounding air grew colder and more humid, the stench of wet earth leaking from the stone walls as I descended into the bowels of the palace. It was broken briefly by that familiar floral scent, and I could feel the shadows watching me, but he did not approach.
"Lurking, as always, Luxos?" He didn't respond, and I didn't care.
Downin the darkness, it was easy to recall the taste of Avlyn's blood as it splattered over my face. I wasn't sure what I would do if Luxos approached me, but I was sure neither of us would leave unharmed.
Icontinued to walk until those great wooden double doors stood before me. The last time I had stood before them, I'd been only a youngling, watching my mother work. She had been lecturing me, but I had daydreamed about the kisses Hadeon and I shared the night before. A fool, even then.
Itouched the door, and it flared to life. The glyphs were a terrible deep violet. I scanned them, memorizing every inch.
Whatare you doing? You're not on their side anymore. Do you think they would really save you now, after everything that happened? Avlyn never cared for you; you didn't even give them what they wanted. Jun prefers his sister to you, and Tori only used you. You're still that same fool you always were.
Ipulled my hand away from the door, and tears rolled down my face. Alone. I had always been alone, but the defenses I built had eroded over the last few weeks. And now…
Myheart pulled, and I thought it just might give out. Then it pulled again, harder this time. The creature inside me purred, and my heart tugged again to the point of pain. It felt like someone was gripping and pulling against it crudely, trying to rip it out of my chest. It felt almost like…
"Tori?" I whispered. Of course, there was no response, and the tugging stopped. I wiped the tears on my face away and turned my back on the door. I had a dinner to get ready for.
WhenI returned to my room, two slaves waited with their grey hoods pulled up over their heads. They silently undressed me. They had gotten out my favorite dress made of gossamer lavender that shimmered silver in the light. The fabric was so thin it floated around me as I walked, with slit sleeves that trailed nearly to the floor. One slave gently brushed my hair and placed a classic silver circlet adorned with moonstones across my brow. They turned me to the mirror, and my reflection was the very vision of a fae princess. I was no such thing.
Theyled me to the dining hall. I had 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 for Hadeon at his usual spot. AsI entered, he rose, waiting for me to approach him.
"YourEminence." I gave a small curtsy, looking down at his feet.
"Pallas, we discussed this." His hand moved towards me, and I immediately flinched. All he did was gently trace my jaw and raise my chin so I would look at his beautiful face. "No need to be so formal."
Hiseyes sparkled, and I waited for my punishment, but he planted his lips on mine—a soft, loving kiss. I fell into it immediately before he pulled away, sweeping my chair out for me. I quickly sat down, my dress fluttering around me. "You truly are a beauty beyond compare tonight, my love."
"Thank you, Y… Hadeon." I risked giving him a soft smile, 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. Had it been decades? I couldn't be sure. What was I supposed to say? Once, the words between us had flowed like water, ever bubbling up from an eternal spring. We couldn't have stopped them even if we wanted to. Now, there was only silence.
"I hope you have found everything to your liking. I made sure that all of your things were prepared for your return."
"LordPlagis came to my room this morning." I heard the soft clink of Hadeon's fork as he set it down on his plate. "He seemed to expect—"
Hischair slid back, and I finally dared to raise my gaze. He stood beside me and leaned down, gently cupping my face again. "My enchantress." My heart stilled at the nickname he had once lavished on me with abandon. "Your absence has made me realize how very… poorly you have been treated these last decades. I swear to you, this ends now. ShouldPlagis, no, should any other man ever dare to touch you again, I will make sure that he dies screaming." My eyes widened as he leaned in. "You are mine, Pallas. Mine alone. Let me soothe that long aching heart of yours."
Thekiss he gave me was not soft. He laced his fingers through the hair at the back of my neck, pulling me into him. His plush lips met mine, and he pressed his tongue into my mouth, claiming every surface. I opened up to him immediately and tilted my head to give him even more access. I was his in every way. I always had been. I was right back there, in that garden. That place where he loved and cherished me. The place I desired with all my heart.
Myinner creature clawed at me, spitting and yowling in a way I had never felt before. She scratched at my heart, trying to destroy the treacherous thing, but Hadeon's hand at my waist and the soft moans I emitted drowned her out.
Asquickly as it had started, he released me. He flashed that gorgeous smile that had won him the hearts of Adimos. "Now tell me, what did you learn in the DragonKingdom?"
Myhead was still spinning, so I didn't respond right away, and I saw the corner of his mouth twitch.
"I'm sorry. What do you mean?"
"WhatI mean..." Hadeon"s voice was smooth, but I heard the subtle edge to it now. "...is that you"ve spent considerable time with the DragonKing and his little princess. You're a smart woman and my greatest love. Surely you used that to your advantage?"
Ihad learned things. So many things. I'd learned about Tori's magic and how it would all disappear if Abraxas was killed. Their intentions to destroy his heart. The fact I had taught them how. Traitor.
"I know the princess is the king's mate." I dared a small glance at Hadeon and saw the fury crinkling the corners of his eyes. "That's no secret now, my love. But what does it mean?"
Itmeans that she shares his power. It means she can conduct mana, enough to destroy your enchantment. It means that if you kill Abraxas, she'll be too weak to fight you. It means if you hurt her, Abraxas would be destroyed.
"I don't know." My fingers tightened around the stem of my wineglass. "I am no spy. I was lucky to survive my time with them. I have no secrets to share." The lie came surprisingly easy.
Hissmile faltered, replaced by a flicker of irritation. "Come now, my enchantress, there"s no need for games. Luxos informed me you were kept in comfort at the prince's side. His sister is a greater fool than he was. I have no doubt she thought herself a savior to you."
Isaid nothing, but Hadeon read me like an open book. "Was she kind to you? Did she pull you to her side and tell you she valued you? Don't be a fool, Pallas. She cares only for herself. They all do. Would you betray me so?"
Voices, so many voices, swirled in my head.
You'reacting like a youngling, Pallas.
You'vejust been caged too long.
Allyou ever do is embarrass me.
You'renot his anymore.
Ican't believe how sensitive you've gotten.
Ilove you, Pallas.
Iswallowed hard, my gaze flickering to the ornate ceiling of the dining hall just for a moment. "I assure you, YourEminence, my loyalty lies with you. I wasn't privy to anything other than the prince's healing."
"It's that boy, isn't it? Do you care for him so much? Do you hope to protect him? Tell me what you know, and I assure you no harm will come to him."
Noharm. I caught myself before I laughed at the ridiculousness of that statement. Hadeon had nearly destroyed Jun, and I would not let that happen again. I might be a fool. I might be na?ve. I might have fallen right back into his arms, but I would die here before I ever let him touch Jun again.
"Just like before, right, Hadeon?"
Hiseyes glowed violet. There it was. His true self. The tension in the air between us crackled like lightning. "You forget yourself, Pallas. You belong to me. Now tell me what you know before I—"
"You what? There is nothing you can do to me you have not done a thousand times before." I stood so violently that my chair toppled over.
BeforeI could move even an inch more, he was on me, his hand gripping my head and arm as his power raced through my body. I screamed.
"I can't believe you have brought me to this, Pallas. I wanted to be kind, to be gentle with you. But look what you have done! You have given me no other choice."
Lightningdanced over my body, and I screamed. The pain was so familiar. Tears leaked from my eyes. I had always been too weak to fight him. I'd always been a fool. I sank into that pain and prayed that this time, it would sweep me away into nothing like I truly deserved.