"And now you know your past crimes." His version of the story did make the princess sound treacherous.
Even so, Lila was sick of paying for others' sins.
Because of her parents, Lila had been exiled. Because of Karinna's actions, Lila had been captured by a Morior. Because of Magh, she'd been hunted all her life by Rune.
While Lila could understand the archer's vendetta, she didn't want to pay for it with her life. Her worst crimes had been snobbery and ignorance, and she'd shed those weaknesses in her teens.
I never did anything to the archer.
She would take responsibility for her own actions, but she was done shouldering undue blame. At least in this life, she was trying to hurt someone--yet only to strike back against an enemy. "What happened to you back then?"
"A trusted general smuggled me back here just before Gourlav sealed the portal."
"If what you say is true, then I'm surprised you've never retaliated against Sylvan in all this time."
"I made a vow to wait for this Accession. The Morior's attack is imminent."
Just as Nix had said. Lila had to warn Sylvan. Her escape just became that much more critical. "In this conversation, you've revealed weaknesses to me. Aren't you afraid history will repeat itself?"
He bared his fangs. "Don't you understand? I want a fey invasion. The weaknesses of old no longer exist, and my power is vast. If your kind step into hell, they'll be trapped in torment." At his words, the lands rumbled.
She swallowed. "Why would you confide in Karinna? Were you two lovers?"
"We were . . . not. Fey and demons don't belong together."
"Why?"
Her question seemed to take him off guard. "Because they beget dark fey."
Also known as banebloods, those poisonous creatures had demon fangs and fey ears. Their logical minds warred with their base instincts. "Dark fey like the Morior's archer? I wager he's glad his parents didn't feel the way you do."
"The way everyone does."
Not her. She hated Rune for what he threatened to do, not for what he was. And more, Lila believed in fate. If a theoretical demon was destined for a theoretical fey--and the fey accepted the bond--then fate intended for banebloods to be born.
Abyssian asked, "Would you mate with a demon?"
She said nothing, because she didn't want him to get any ideas. She would never accept a bond with Abyssian Infernas.
"I have no idea what you're thinking, and it vexes me to no end. You must've practiced constantly to hone your blocks. Why would you have?"
Because her cousins used their demon servants to mind-read at court. She shrugged, which just made Abyssian madder.
"If you're so blameless, open your blocks to me."
"Sure thing." She did for a split second, blasting out one thought.
He raised his brows. "I'd be happy to get fucked. Are you offering? If so, I'm accepting."
It was disturbingly easy to picture Abyssian in the sexual positions described on the tower walls. Pandemonia was getting to her. Or overstimulation!
She refused to be attracted to a Morior who'd tormented her and kept concubines. "I'd have to be dead first."
"To fuck me?"
"To open my blocks. Because I don't trust you."
"So fucking is still on the table." Eyes gleaming, he said, "Or perhaps fucking on the table is still on?"
Though his play on words turned her imagination to a sizzling scenario--him, naked over her on this table, pistoning between her thighs--she managed a bored look. "Pass."
"You doubtless want to stay faithful to your former intended." Abyssian steepled his large fingers. "Tell me about this male who inspires such devotion. Does he live in the mortal realm?"
"In Sylvan."
"How did you meet him?"
"My parents introduced us."
"And you were enthralled with his looks."
"Looks aren't everything."
"Sayeth the beauty." The demon's lips curled into a smirk that other females--not her--would consider sexy. "Had you planned to have offspring with your fey male?"
Abyssian's voice made her ears twitch. She didn't have a lot of experience with demon kings, but this one was jealous. "We've talked about it. I want a large family."
What kind of father would Saetth be? She still debated whether he had set her up. Why not just kill me . . . ?
With each moment she floundered in hell, her lifelong dream of being queen of Sylvan grew more distant.
No. She'd still fight for that future. She would be a good ruler, had absorbed so much knowledge growing up at court. She'd taken her first steps amid power scuffles; her teething ring had been tasty intrigues. She'd learned to dance at the same time she'd grasped political footwork.
Her first word: queen.
Then her experiences in the mortal realm had given her a broader mind-set.
She'd once read descriptions of the different types of ruling styles, everything from benevolent father to tyrannical dictator. She'd liked the protector of the realm/service to the people style.
"Now what are you thinking about? Your eyes went distant."
"This and that."
Her answer clearly irritated the demon. "You were thinking of him." Abyssian's eyes flickered. "Two perfect fey with their perfect feylings. Sounds like a match made in hell to me."
TWENTY-TWO
You've asked me a lot about my personal life, but what about yours?" Calliope leaned back in her chair, her breasts straining against her bodice.
The sight enthralled him. His arousal had been simmering since he'd first seen her in that gown. Even speaking of her betrayal hadn't dimmed his need.
Ten days ago, he'd been sleepwalking; now everything felt so visceral.
She followed his gaze and tugged up her bodice in a vain attempt to cover more flesh. Kari would've worn that dress like a second skin, using the garment to play up h
er beauty--her favored weapon.
If this fey ever recalled her wiles, Sian would be doomed. "What do you wish to know about my personal life?"
"Do you want a wife and kids?"
"I do want pups," he said honestly, "but a male like me needs his mate for such things. At least for the first time. Do you know about a demon male's seal?"
"Vaguely."
"I won't spill semen until I claim my destined female. But after my seal is gone, I can plant my seed in any field--except a fey's."
"Because of banebloods."
Sian nodded. For millennia Rune had cursed his nature. When members of the Morior had delved into the archer's mind to be brought up to speed with this time, Rune couldn't conceal the depth of his frustration and shame over his black blood.
Sian's looks might be repulsive, but Rune had been poisonous to everyone, always on his guard not to harm another by accident.
Now the archer's entire existence had changed. "My friend Rune believed he would never have a mate, but he has found his female at last."
"Another dark fey? I thought they were rare."
"They are." Banebloods were usually killed at birth. "But his mate is a halfling who is immune to him." Rune's vampiric female couldn't get enough of the black blood running through his veins.
"And you never found your mate in all this time?"
Sian waved to the seat at his right. "Do you see a queen by my side?"
"What if you never find her?"
"I could wed. I might make some lucky demoness my queen through a binding ceremony." Would Pandemonians recognize another female as queen while his mate still lived? Would his red-blooded heirs be recognized?
Not that Calliope herself would ever be. The Vrekeners might accept a sorceress for their queen, but the hostile hell demons would never--could never--show fealty to a monarch without horns.
In an impudent tone, Calliope said, "Or perhaps you prefer to stick to your harem?"
"I plan to wed and keep my harem of twelve."
Her lips thinned.
Nettling her amused him to a surprising degree. "Do you oppose the institution?"
"Of marriage?"
"Of harems."
Her eyes flashed. "In your case, I find it--how should I put this?--predictably antiquated."
"Antiquated?"
With a challenging arch to her brow, she said, "It seems that servicing twelve females would require a lot of time and devotion. If satisfying them was a priority." She leaned in and added in a confiding tone, "But then, older males don't often aspire to impossible goals."