Tascius would make it out. I knew he would.
But right now, with a whole week stretching between us, the sight of my feather tied into his braid… I couldn’t stay away.
I rose in a sudden movement and strode down the stairs, taking Tascius’s face in my hands. The feeling of his skin against my fingertips after a week apart was like electricity, bolstering me against Belial’s most narrow-eyed glare.
“I miss you,” I breathed, leaning in close to press my forehead against his. “I will win you from him, no matter what.”
“Don’t trade yourself away.” His voice was a low growl, hands clenching at his sides. “Don’t do anything he might find a loophole for.”
Although Tascius was devoted to Belial after the prince had given him a home, his patience clearly had limits, too. Fury flashed in his eyes, washing away all traces of the sorrow the Nephilim carried on his shoulders.
“Just keep winning. I’ll find a way to free you.”
Tascius shook his head, closing his eyes briefly. His dark lashes stood out starkly against his skin. “I’m done throwing the fights.”
Relief coursed through me, but Belial interrupted with a shout to the arena. “Bring in Lady Savage!”
The crimson demon strolled onto the arena floor, twirling her knives with a big smile.
I bit back a growl of frustration, and kissed Tascius hard enough to hurt. “Do what you have to do.” I touched my feather. “I chose you.”
Belial leaned on the arms of his throne, looking bored to all outwards appearances, but his smile was brittle. “We’re ready whenever the touching reunion is over. These fine demons came for blood sport, not your relationship drama.”
Half the arena screamed in agreement.
I was going to wear my teeth into stubs as much as I was grinding them these days. I kissed Tascius once again, and he gasped against my lips, but not with pleasure.
It was with pain. Lady Savage had scored him across the back with her blade, striking out while he was distracted.
While I’d distracted him. Guilt bit with sharp teeth. I was going to slash that pretty smile right off her face the next time I caught her in a dark alley.
I released him and he whirled with brutal savagery, blood spraying across the hem of my gown. I’d barely sat down on my throne before Tascius was pushing Lady Savage back, the female demon’s confident smirk fading in the face of his fury.
I dared pull my eyes from Tascius long enough to cast a baleful glare at Belial. I hope you’re happy, I mouthed, clenching the arms of my throne with white-knuckled hands.
Belial’s look was just as dark. Never happy without you, angel.
It was an arrow straight to the chest, turning my lungs into lead-filled balloons.
I could say I was sorry. I could staunch the bleeding wound between us, fill the empty void that opened like a black hole in my heart every time I saw Belial.
It ate at me now, its consuming darkness creeping through me, wearing away the edges of everything that made me Melisande.
Whatever it was, I hated it.
And I hated being so close to both Tascius and Belial, and somehow still a world away from each of them.
My Nephilim was beating the piss out of her even now, but Lady Savage’s daggers opened deep wounds on his arms and chest. I set my jaw, accounting for every drop of blood she spilled from him.
One day, I would collect on that account. She wouldn’t enjoy it.
The fight ended when he struck her under the chin, knocking her out cold in a pool of her own blood. Several Overseers herded Tascius out of the arena through the far gate by Belial’s throne, driving him with spears. The Nephilim darkness had taken over his eyes.
And there was nothing I could do to help him the way I’d promised I would. I gripped the arms of my chair, poised at the edge of my seat, every muscle taut.
Belial raised his chin, gazing at me. Waiting for me to go after him and encroach on his territory, where I’d be the trespasser and once again subject to his law.
Where he could take me to his bedroom and do everything he wanted with lips and teeth and tongue until I was on my knees begging for forgiveness.
I could’ve apologized now, had both of them back in my arms.
Instead, I rose and strode down the steps of my dais. Belial tensed, and I forced myself to walk right past him without looking at him and through the arena doors.
The demons hadn’t named me their Lady of Wrath for nothing.
3
Melisande
“Well, at least you didn’t throw a knife at his head.”
I paced my chambers back and forth, stopping at one end, whirling around, and repeating my steps. If I kept this up, I was going to wear a path in the obsidian. “He holds Tascius over my head like bait on a stick. He knows what he’s doing.”
Vyra lounged on my bed, sorting through one of a thousand boxes of nail polish. Her collection was truly breathtaking. “Of course he does. He’s been around for millennia, he didn’t get to be where he is by taking it easy on people.”
“It’s bullshit.” I stopped by an open window and looked out in the garden, expelling a harsh breath.
I’d won so much, and yet my half of the kingdom felt empty.
But there was small comfort in what I had. My garden, tended by several silent Chainlings, was slowly being pruned back into some semblance of order. Several stands of tall flowers that hung like small glowing bells filled the air with a jasmine-like scent under my windows. The twisting willow lorded over all, twinkling lights glowing and dying in its branches.
It was beautiful. I pressed a hand to my chest, scowling at all that beauty.
The ache hadn’t stopped. It’d only gotten worse the further I’d ridden from Belial.
“You could
