A Throne of Ruin (Deliciously Dark Fairytales #2)(117)

“Why do you smell like a demon, Finley?” he asked slowly.

Possessiveness rang through his tone. I grinned, closing my eyes within his embrace.

“I hugged one, that’s why. Well…I danced with him first, then I hugged him. Then we went for a walk in the woods. Oh, and I adjusted his neck. He had an awful kink in it. Or at least he did when I was finished.”

He pulled me away and searched my eyes. His snort of annoyance dusted my face before he pulled me in closely again.

“Don’t antagonize them, princess. They’ll kill you for it.”

“I didn’t antagonize him. I killed him. Well…yes, okay, I did antagonize him first, but you should’ve seen his whole setup.”

He blew out a breath and kissed my forehead. “I see you decided to stand out rather than fit in.”

“I decided to be me, and I’m weird. Ask anyone from my village. It’s one thing to play dress-up while roaming the castle and working in the villages, but it’s another when I need to think on my feet and stay alive. I can’t focus when I have you for protection. I need to remember what it’s like to stand on my own.”

He looked down at me as he ran his thumb along my jaw. “For some fucking reason, the dragon approves of that speech.”

“And you don’t.”

“No. It is my job to protect you. It’s my entire duty as your—”

He cut off.

I patted his chest. “Exactly. You’re not my mate, and you haven’t claimed me. I’ve given you plenty of opportunities, but you’ve held back because you were preparing for this moment. So let me have my moment.”

I turned back to the garden. In a moment, he followed me to the rosebushes.

“What are you doing?” I asked, startled.

“Helping you. We need to stay away from the everlass while the demon king is here. If he knows how we’re making the elixir, he’ll torch all the fields.”

“What does he get out of controlling our kingdom, anyway?”

“When I die, he’ll have access to our gold reserves, our gold mine, and the extensive crown jewels. He’ll be able to take what he wants. People, too, I guess. It’s been said that he makes prizes of the people who got the short end of the stick on one of his deals.”

“What did the mad king give him to lay the curse?”

“Coin, I think. He was a damned fool. He paid the demon king to essentially set us up. My father was proud, though. We were a wealthy kingdom with desirable commodities to trade. In my father’s heyday, he was heralded as a shrewd trader. He would always walk away with the better end of any deal. I’m sure he brought that arrogance into his negotiations with the demon king. He was clearly thinking like a man in his prime, when in fact he was a man teetering on the edge. He was already unhinged, but then I’d severely disappointed him, and his wife died. Given his health, he probably realized his ability to produce a new heir was fleeting. Without an heir, he feared losing control of his kingdom. Of his status and his legacy. It clearly made him desperate. He was not in his right mind, and not just because of the possible brain fever. The demon king obviously preyed upon that.”

“But he can’t kill you until the curse is lifted.”

“Correct. He can’t. Others can. His beasts could, if they were able. But he personally cannot.”

“And you realize the shifters’ animals won’t automatically be unsuppressed once the curse is lifted?”

“Give a smart woman a library and then stand back,” he said softly, and pride glowed through the bond. “I do know that, yes. And I knew you’d figure it out when I saw that book in your room. I can’t say more. I’m toeing the line as it is. With your help, I’ve been able to access more power, but it won’t be enough to save me from the full brunt of the magical gag.”

That was why the demon king would try to kill him immediately. If he managed it before Nyfain helped the other shifters, their animals would stay suppressed, and our people wouldn’t be able to fight back when he swooped in to steal our riches.

I let out a breath and refused to let my confidence wobble. I refused to let the prickle of tears in my eyes manifest. The future did look bleak, but it always had, hadn’t it? The sickness had been bleak, but I’d set out to cure my father, and ended up curing the kingdom. My will was strong. It was stronger than anything the demon king could throw at me. I would see this kingdom saved—I just had to figure out how.

“Well, fuck.” I stood back and looked at my handiwork. The last of the roses had been restored to loveliness. It was a mistake to call them docile, though. Or tamed. As pretty as they were, those barbs could still draw blood.

“So if we can’t work the everlass, or cure people, or fight…what do we do?” I asked.

“Take a day off, I guess. None of his creatures will be in the wood while he is here.”

“In that case, which would you rather do? Dance or read?”

“You shouldn’t be seen with me, Finley.”

“Nyfain, give me a break. He’s going to smell you on me. He’s going to hear about me from the demons in the castle. I’m sure the demons in the villages have heard about me, too. How long do you suspect I’ll remain a mystery? I’m wearing your clothes, for fuck’s sake.”