A Throne of Ruin (Deliciously Dark Fairytales #2)(38)

Back to reality.





Nine





Nyfain had done a very convincing job of dragging me back to the castle, which had involved throwing me over his wide shoulder and a lot of growling and grunting on his part. Back in the tower, Leala had come to me as I was stripping off my disgusting pants, and she’d started a bath right away.

After I’d been scrubbed from head to toe, Hadriel waltzed into the room. “My darling.” He wore a purple robe open at the front, revealing a bare torso covered in sparkles and tiny pink briefs showing off the outline of his flaccid cock. Fuzzy blue slippers covered his feet, and the pungent aromas of smoke and alcohol drifted off him.

“Hadriel, she’s bathing,” Leala snapped, waving at him to get out.

“Yes, clearly she is bathing. That is what one does in the tub.” He sat on the edge of the large copper lip as I hurried to cover everything up. “Finley, my love, I would’ve been very angry at you if you hadn’t sent that fantastic potion along with the master.”

“Oh yes, milady,” Leala gushed as she shoved Hadriel to make him get up and out. “Blocking the demon’s magic, even partially, was fantastic for clearing the head. This place is—”

“It’s a nightmare. Cheers!” Hadriel put up his hand, scowled, and said to Leala, “Be a dove and get me a drink, would you? It’s needed for that toast.”

She gave him a disapproving look. “I was going to say that this place is less of a nightmare—”

“Cheers!” he said with a grin. “Still works. Where’s that drink— Would you quit shoving at me, you tramp? I might fall in!”

“Well, get out. She doesn’t want visitors right now. She’s naked!”

He rolled his eyes and looked at me. “Sweetie, don’t worry about that. I’ve seen it all. You ain’t got nothing the other ladies don’t have. Except you are much hairier.”

“She’s natural,” Leala said with a fist on her hip.

“And currently embarrassed,” I muttered, ducking my head to hide my red face.

“Nonsense.” Hadriel waved it away. “We’ll get that sorted. Now, I have a bone to pick with you. I got in an awful lot of trouble the other day when you locked me in the tower. The master was not pleased.”

“Are you still drunk?” Leala asked him.

“Yes. But I haven’t stuck my dick in anything unsavory since Finley gave us that potion. Things are looking up. Speaking about that, dear girl.” He smoothed his wisp of a mustache, which currently resembled patchy moss growing on his upper lip. “Do you have any more? We’ve run through it already.”

“Can I maybe get dressed before we have this conversation?” I asked.

Hadriel scoffed and stood. “I forgot about your modesty. That won’t stay long.”

He wandered out, and Leala set a towel down on the cold tiles so I could comfortably step out of the tub. She wrapped another around me, rubbing to dry, and retrieved my robe.

“I can do it, Leala, really. I’m not accustomed to being waited on.”

“Yes, milady, except I’ve gone so long without having anything to do. This is my job. You must let me do it.”

I pushed my hands through the sleeves of the robe and allowed her to lead me into the bedroom. Once there, she pulled out a seat near the window and sat me down so she could work a brush through my hair. It felt like being pampered. Like being looked after. I couldn’t say I didn’t like it.

“Now, all better?” Hadriel sat on my bed with an ankle over his knee, giving me an unwanted view of his crotch.

Leala hissed at him, pulled out another chair, and gave him a dirty look.

“Goddess spread her thighs and squirt, this is ridiculous.” Hadriel grumpily lowered into the chair. “Now, as I was saying, we need more of that potion. It is magnificent.” He leveled a finger at Leala. “Don’t tell anyone we are getting more. Make up an excuse why we can’t—Finley cracked her head and can’t remember it or something. We have some loose lips in this castle, and we need to start picking and choosing who gets the potion or the demons will surely be all over our asses for more information. I don’t know about you, but I’ve had just about enough demon ass-play to last me for a lifetime.”

“You aren’t supposed to speak to me while in front of the miss,” Leala said stuffily.

“Really?” Hadriel shot back. “We’re going to try to go back to the old customs? Because I’ll be honest, I don’t know them. I was not trained for this job.”

Leala sighed softly.

“I can make more of it,” I said. “Did you say it only partially worked, though? I made it stronger than normal, but it still wasn’t strong enough?”

“It mostly works—that’s what matters, milady,” Leala said. “It leaves the head much clearer when the incubi and succubi are around.”

“I mean…I can just make it stronger. It’s no big deal.” I closed my eyes as Leala ran the brush through my hair. “I can make enough for everyone—”

“No, no,” Hadriel said. “If we all suddenly didn’t respond to the demons, they’d know something was up. No… Wait, is that…”