A Throne of Ruin (Deliciously Dark Fairytales #2)(5)

“That would suit you perfectly,” Phyl said from behind the stand, shifting his girth with his thumbs tucked in his belt loops. He was the only guy in the village who’d retained his size after the curse. It was a staple of pride that he could keep his family well fed even when everything was falling down around us. “You’d get many a kill with that one, Miss Finley.”

“Nonsense—she doesn’t need a blade.” Jedrek stopped beside me again, reaching for the dagger.

I pulled up my animal, who was happy to lend power to my fighting words. Especially since I was sending away a man who was not Nyfain.

“Back off,” I said.

Jedrek jerked ramrod straight. He staggered backward as though someone had shoved him. Phyl’s eyes widened, and he reached for his chest. When his fingers touched down, he clutched and closed his eyes.

Taking my time, I touched the blade with my thumb, testing its edge. I held it a little higher, analyzing the dagger. “This is a work of art, Phyl. You’ve really outdone yourself.”

His eyes fluttered open, and he looked at me like he’d never seen me before. He put one of those big hands on the tabletop in his stall and braced himself.

I probably shouldn’t use my animal’s power around the other villagers. Hadriel had warned me about giving off too much sparkle. I didn’t need people talking, or word would get around to the demons.

With a grimace, I set the dagger back down. Jedrek stood a few paces away, staring at me with shock and unease written clearly on his face. My animal glowed with pride.

“I…uh…” Phyl shook himself and cleared his throat. “Yes, I…uhm…” He ran his fingers through his hair. “I made a sword like that once. Let me see…” He ducked down and started rummaging through the bowels of his stall.

A firm hand gripped my arm and swung me around. Jedrek leaned into me, his face a mask of rage.

“What do you think you’re playing at?” he seethed, spittle flying from his mouth. “You dare command me?”

I’d commanded him plenty of times in the past. He’d always ignored it or assumed I was joking.

It looked like I’d learned more than crassness at the castle.

My animal seeped fire into me.

“Get your hand off me,” I said in a low, calm voice.

His eyes flicked back and forth, looking at each of my eyes in turn. My mind jumped to something my sister, Sable, had told me this morning. She’d said my eyes were glowing. Nyfain’s glowed, too, when his animal was pumping power into him. His dragon’s eyes glowed all the time.

“You’ve been gone a few days, haven’t you?” Jedrek said softly, peeling his fingers from around my arm. “You’ve found him, then.”

I furrowed my brow, not daring to say anything. Could he know about Nyfain?

“What did you ask for?” he asked. “To get out? No, you’re a slave to your family—you wouldn’t have forsaken them. You asked to save your dad, I’ll bet, right?”

“What are you talking about?” I finally spat.

He smirked. “Just remember, anyone can barter with the demon king. Even me. But I won’t ask him to save a waste of a parent. I told you I would be marrying you. I’m a man of my word. You will strip off those ridiculous pants, and you’ll put away your silly little weapons, and you will serve your man with a smile and open legs, do I make myself clear?”

My animal thrashed, trying to take control and attack, but I held her back. I needed only words to handle this ape.

“You would enter into a bargain with the demon king, the slyest, most cunning bastard in all the world, in order to make me marry you? Of all the things you could ask for—freedom, riches, two coherent thoughts to rub together—you would choose instead to force someone to pretend to love you? How fucking sad are you, Jedrek? How small, insignificant, and…desperate are you?”

He gave me a smug grin. “You won’t be pretending anything. The demon king is all-powerful. He can make you love me. He can make you salivate for me.”

“What a change from your normal nightly routine, then, huh? Make sure you ask him—if you can find him, because last I checked, he was in charge of his own kingdom—to make me believe you satisfied me when we both know you never could. That would be a real shock for you. A happy woman after your terrible excuse for a lay.”

Jedrek gritted his teeth and pointed at my face. “I’ll make you pay for those comments.” He turned and strutted away.

I clenched my hands into fists before releasing them again. “I hate that guy.”

You should’ve let me at him, my animal said. I would’ve rocked his world.

Then he would’ve cried foul. He’s a small, little man with a fragility issue, and he can’t stand anyone to make him look the fool.

There’s that thesaurus again. Why not a small, little, tiny man?

Oh, shut up.

I turned back toward the weapons in a rush, wrestling with my animal’s desire to run after Jedrek and attack him. How did Nyfain deal with this all the time? Why did anyone miss it? When this beast didn’t get her way—which was always, lately—she was fucking exhausting.

Phyl was staring at me with wide eyes.

“Sorry,” I said automatically, shaking my head. “He’s the second dickface that has accosted me today, and my patience is wearing thin.”