Garden of Serpents (The Demon Queen Trials #3)(76)

A large circle surrounded us, and the stones beneath us had been destroyed. On the edges of that circle, where the shield had been protecting us, a crowd stood gaping. The Tower of Baal loomed behind them, nearly obscured by the haze of dust.

I caught Legion’s eye, finding him standing by Shai and Sabazios.

It was at this point I thought about the fact that Orion and I were completely naked, because the blast had destroyed our clothes.

I stood tall anyway. We were Lilu, and we weren’t ashamed of our bodies.

“This is your king, Orion,” I shouted. “And I am your queen! We will protect you, but we will not start a war with the mortals to do it. And we will never sacrifice you like Nergal once did. We will not bend to unreasonable demands. Our city will be a beacon of light in the darkness.”

I heard them chanting my name and Orion’s as I supported his waist. I was taking him home.





*



I straddled Orion and brushed my thumb over his lower lip. He nipped at it, then tugged at his magical restraints.

I leaned down and kissed his throat, feeling the muscles in his shoulder jump.

“Rowan,” he growled, “it’s been a week. You can let me free now. I’m fully healed.”

I kissed his chest. “I can’t be sure.”

When I looked up, I caught an indulgent smile on his lips. “I already presided over your coronation. I’ve proven myself healed.”

I pressed a finger over his lips. “That’s too much talking from you. You’ll wear yourself out.”

I nibbled at his lower lip. As I did, the sound of voices rose up through the stone floor.

“I think Amon has company,” I said. My ears perked at the sound of a female voice. “Is that Shai?”

“Perhaps some clothes are in order, then,” said Orion.

I frowned and released the magical restraints. “What day is it?”

“I have absolutely no idea.”

We’d hardly left Orion’s room in the past week, and dates no longer had meaning.

I jumped off him and pulled open a drawer, yanking out underwear and a long black dress. “I think Shai’s birthday is this week.”

“Ah! I’ll get the sacrificial altar ready. Perhaps there’s a criminal we could slaughter in her honor…”

I turned to him as I slipped into my underwear. “You know, Orion, I still can’t quite tell when you’re joking, but I think drinks and music will be sufficient for Shai.”

I pulled a dress over my head, and it hung to my ankles.

When I went downstairs, I found a little crew sitting around the table, sipping wine with Amon.

Shai was sitting on Legion’s lap. Sabazios was extravagantly dressed in a maroon velvet suit with a black shirt underneath. “Rowan!” He beamed. “Your Majesty.”

“Let’s go with Rowan.”

“Come on,” said Shai, lifting her glass. “It’s my birthday. And it’s two-for-one cocktail night at Cirque de la Mer.”

My eyes widened. “Ooh, I need a flatbread. And mojitos. And now that I’m queen, I’m buying.”

Barefoot and shirtless, Orion entered the kitchen wearing only a dark pair of jeans. He ruffled his hair. “You’re going to spend the night among mortals?”

I blinked at him. “And you’re coming. I’ve never seen you dance to Daft Punk.”

“And you never will, my queen. But I’ll join you anyway.”

“Good,” said Shai. “Because I want to help plan the wedding. And I guess you might have some thoughts about it, but, like, what if the ceremony was in the old disused temple of Asmodeus? Ceremonies are usually so boring, so maybe there could also be a cocktail bar for that part. Then we could have the party in the wilderness, but we’d turn part of it into a garden. Total ‘whimsical enchanted forest’ vibe, with the food on wooden discs like tree trunks, and—”

“Shai?” Orion interrupted. He pulled on a shirt and started buttoning it. “I’m not sure about whimsy. There are the ancient Lilu wedding customs: the oils and perfumes, the consummation before the guests, the augury with the entrails of a slaughtered pigeon—”

I cleared my throat. “Let’s just go out for drinks, maybe?”

“Fine.” Orion slipped into his shoes. “If I’m going to hang out with mortals, I will be flying there.” He turned back to Shai. “What do you want for your birthday?”

“For you to have a whimsical themed wedding?” she said.

Orion turned away, heading out into the night. Sabazios followed after him—no doubt lured by the inexorable tug of an incubus to the skies.

I turned to Amon. “Come with us! When was the last time you went out in Osborne?”

He frowned, his scar deepening. “I’ve literally never gone out in Osborne. Mortals and demons don’t mix.”

I looped my arm through his as I walked to the door. “That changes tonight, Amon.”

The more time demons and mortals spent around each other, the more they’d realize that apart from lifespan, they had plenty in common.

Outside, I unhooked my arm from Amon’s. I glanced up at the starry sky, where Orion and Sabazios were already circling overhead, their outlines lit with silvery moonlight. Breathtaking.