“This is the public wing,” Kane explains as we pass a fresco of narrow bodies encased in flames. “My Court lives in this wing and this is where I conduct business publicly—visit with my subjects and the like.”
“What are we doing here?” I ask. My curiosity is piqued. I didn’t know Kane had a Court. My only experience with one was at my Father’s Court, and those nobles weren’t exactly friendly to me.
“I thought perhaps it was time to introduce you.” Kane flashes me a wicked grin.
I feel a sense of dread twisting in my gut. “Is that wise?”
"Why wouldn't it be? You're eager to fall into your duties as my Queen." He pauses, turning towards me. Kane bends low, smirking at me with his exquisite lips. My stomach flutters, doing little somersaults. His rose-scented breath wafts over me, intoxicating and sweet. "Aren't you, Briar?"
I run my tongue over my lips, wetting them. His dark eyes catch the movement, and I hear a low rumble in his chest. I know by the way my body reacts to just his closeness that there’s nothing in me capable of denying him in this moment. “I want to try,” I breathe.
Kane strokes my cheek, his fingers playing over my temple. I lean into his touch, letting his palm cool my skin. “It pleases me to hear that, Briar.” My heart pounds loudly when he says my name. “Will you do something for me?”
I feel instantly wary. “What is it?”
“Avoid the dragons. They’re brutes.” Kane grins and pushes my shoulders, shoving me away from him.
I stumble backward, arms outstretched to catch myself. They graze over the hinges of a door and then nothing but open air. My heels click against marble, louder and sharper than the echo of my heels on the wood floor of the halls. My wide eyes are locked on Kane but he merely chuckles. And then a door slams in my face, blocking him from sight. I inhale sharply, nerves tingling with fear. I can feel a presence behind me, perhaps more than one. It's as quiet as a graveyard.
I try the door handle, but it’s locked tightly. I suspected as much. My hands stray to my waist, where I could have hidden my dagger if Willem hadn’t stolen it from me. I turn slowly, palms slick with sweat. Kane has locked me in a grand chamber, more exquisite even than my father’s throne room. The ceilings are high, with grand chandeliers sparkling in diamonds and crystals. To the right, I see a dark throne made of obsidian and carved to resemble fangs. On the opposite end are enormous doors, carved with effigies of the tortured dead. The marble floors are as dark as night, streaked with red as if blood was spilled over it. Heavy columns of the same dark stone line the room, leading towards the throne. I swallow hard but my throat is dry with fear.
The room is filled with people. At least, they appear to be people like me. A few of the men and women have horns jutting from their temples. Some have wings, fleshy like a bat. The courtiers are dressed in finery, much more elegant than the simple dress I chose today. They’re glittering in jewels—sewn to their gowns and suits, glued to their necklaces and adorning their diadems. Each and every one of the courtiers in this room is beautiful, unnaturally lovely. My eyes are wide as I take them in.
No one moves, as if frozen in time. They stare at me, some with open curiosity and others with disdain. The silence is shattered when one of the women snaps her fingers and servants carrying silver trays of alcohol slip into the room. Chatter grows, swelling like a wave. I lick my lips nervously and start towards the crowd. I summon as much courage as I can, trapped in a room filled with creatures of the Underworld and all alone. But my heart is pounding like a rabbit in the sights of a diving hawk.
The cluster of creatures nearest me turn as I approach. I force a smile, remembering my lessons from court. "Good afternoon," I say, demurely.
“Ah, the young bride,” a man with black spiraling horns quips. His blonde hair is slicked back. He frowns at me over his goblet. “I see Death has unceremoniously dropped you in our midst.”
“Kane has other duties,” I say, even though I’m not entirely sure just what Kane is doing while I’m trapped here.
“I’m sure.” The man gives me a pinched, disbelieving smile.
I resist the urge to wring my hands together. “Please forgive me, Lord--”
“Lord?” He snorts. “Oh, the manners of the mortal realm. It’s Prince, actually. Prince Cassius.”
“A pleasure to meet you.” I dip my chin in a small bow.
“Never mind him,” a woman beside me says. Her full lips are pulled into a kind smile. She looks perfectly mortal, except for the glistening fangs in her mouth. “I’m Inez. Cassius is grumpy because he’s been trying to get an audience with Kane for weeks now.”
“And to think he was just outside that door,” Cassius drawls.
I lift my chin, feeling defensive of Kane. “As I said, he has other duties.”
Cassius rolls his eyes. “Mortal, we’ve been members of Kane’s Court before your mother and father were even thinking of your existence. Trust me when I say I know Kane.”
“You’re in love with him,” Inez says, brows raised.
“No,” I sputter. I snatch a drink from a nearby tray and lift it to my lips to hide the blush to my cheeks. “But Kane is to be my King.”
“Ah.” Inez nods. “Then it’s simply protecting his honor.”
“He doesn’t need you to do that,” another woman says bitingly. She too has perfectly mortal features. I glance at her mouth, checking for fangs but she has none.
My shoulders stiffen. “No, he doesn’t. But a wife has
