Lord of Embers(The Demon Queen Trials #2)(63)
Silence reigned. The hairs on the back of my neck stood up, a sixth sense that danger lurked behind me. Lifting my gaze, I saw Orion hurtling through the sky, wings outstretched, headed straight for me. I dropped the king and rose to meet him. We collided in midair, wings thrashing, and grappled with one another. He grabbed me by the waist and tossed me aside, and I veered clumsily toward the earth, arms wheeling.
I righted myself again, and horror unfurled beneath me. Orion was on top of the king. Landing on his back, I tried to pull him off, but it was over in an instant.
Orion ripped the king’s chest open, clawing out his heart in a single stroke. He lifted it into the air, brandishing it above his head. Seething with bitter disappointment, I saw the five-pointed star beaming from his head.
done that. I’d figured out how to kill the king. How to get past I’d
his army. How to kill him in public. And Orion had swept in at the last moment to steal my victory. I shook with anger.
I wanted to shout that it was mine, that Orion had stolen the king’s heart from me. This was
revenge. Cambriel had killed
mom, not
my
my
his. Orion had taken that from me, and the crown with it, but there was no way to say it without sounding petulant and insane. But it wasn’t just about me, was it? Orion was going to fucking murder everyone.
The flames were dying down around us, and the army of soldiers in midnight blue knelt for their new king. Red-hot jealousy burned through me.
Yes, I wanted power. Who didn’t? When you had power, you could stop the crazy people from burning the world down.
The placid smile on Orion’s beautiful face sent molten rage through my veins.
He lifted the king’s heart again, blood dripping down his arm. The rising sun washed him in gold—a beautiful god of wrath. “Cambriel was not your true king. It was I who slaughtered Nergal, and who will I
right the wrongs of your former kings. No longer will we live in a jail of mortal making. No longer will I allow them to control us. Together, we will find a way to break the bonds that trap us here and once again become gods!”
The crowd roared, and ice slid through my veins. They were eating this up.
Orion turned to look at me, his expression glacial, and I gritted my teeth.
“Escort this woman out of my realm,” he boomed. “She tried to burn down the Tower of Baal. She is not allowed within our city walls.”
“What are you doing?” I demanded.
“What I promised from the beginning. I told you that I would banish you from the city. I can’t be around you, Rowan.”
I glanced at the soldiers marching for me, then back to him. “The mortal police will arrest me. Immediately.”
His eyes danced with cold amusement. “You’re resourceful. I can see that now. I’m sure you’ll think of something.”
The crowd was shouting his name, ecstatic. Bare-chested, Orion glowed with amber light, looking every bit a king. I inhaled deeply, breathing in the scent of smoke and blood. Red sun rays beamed down on us through soot and cinders.
If th e Lord of Ch aos su cceed s, th e mortal realm w ill bu rn .
My gaze flicked to the oncoming soldiers, and I wanted to scream.
Why wait to be escorted out? Unfurling my wings, I rose into the ashen sky.
I would see myself out—but I’d be back.
Of that, I had no doubt.
C H A P T E R 3 4 — R O W A N
F rom Shai’s hotel room at the top of the Glover Inn, I had a perfect view of the historic district of Osborne. The climates were different in the underworld and the City of Thorns, and it was strange to see that it was still autumn here, the trees bursting with fiery colors under the glow of the streetlights.
This was the nice part of Wallcott Street, with colorfully painted shops, brick sidewalks, and gold signs. Warmth shone from the windows of brick buildings, and people walked around with steaming cups of coffee and hot chocolate. A narrow, cobbled road sloped down toward shadowy Witchcraft Point. Even that looked nice from here—orange dots in the darkness.
How was Mr. Esposito doing tonight? I would absolutely have checked on him if it didn’t involved returning to the scene of a crime.
And from here, I could see all the way up the opposite hill. In the distance, the City of Thorns glowed with pale light the color of butter. I pressed my palms against the glass, fogging the window a little.
How long before Orion arrived and started killing people?
The door opened, and I turned to see Shai wearing a black turtleneck and a short tweed skirt. She was carrying two wine glasses. “I got these from the bar downstairs. Cheaper than room service.”
I sighed, taking in the cozy hotel room. Walnut bookshelves lined the walls on either side of the fireplace. Shai slid the wine glasses onto a desk by the window. “They’re both for you.”
“You’re not having any?”
“I got permission to go back into the City of Thorns. I don’t think Orion trusts me because of my connection to you, but the oath he made to me included a promise to keep me safe. He can’t really keep me safe if I’m not in the kingdom, can he?”
I let out a long sigh. “Why wasn’t I clever enough to demand an oath like that?”
“I was raised by two parents who were constantly learning how to one-up each other. It’s an art form.” She crossed to the wardrobe and pulled it open. “You should stay here for a while, though. I can pay for it. Isn’t this room amazing?”