“Get on with it, hag,” Paris said.
I didn’t care if she talked and talked. As long as the spell worked.
“This is done.” She swished the mix around in the bowl before throwing it into the flames. The voices of the damned rose from the fire to earsplitting levels as Desmerada recited an incantation. I braced myself for the spell. As the voices calmed, so did Desmerada’s, until there was only a whisper. Then silence.
“You’re all set. Now show me out.” Desmerada rose from the floor and straightened her crimson dress.
“Did it work?” Paris asked.
I looked at my hands. “I-I don’t know. I don’t feel any different.”
“Witch!” Paris cried and rammed his blade under Desmerada’s throat.
“It’s done, I swear,” she shrieked. “I swear, that’s the spell. I undid it.”
“Is there any way to test it?” Faren asked.
“Not unless you want to invite Menelaus over and give it a try. But I get the feeling you all will be seeing him soon enough.” She cackled. “Now, for my release.”
Shildreth knocked on the door, and the guard opened it. She motioned everyone out of the room until only she and Desmerada remained. Faren, Paris, and I waited on the landing near the door.
Shildreth lingered at the entry and regarded Desmerada’s smug face. “You are now free to leave the keep and make your way in the Darkwood.”
Desmerada spit. “Yeah, I got that, moron. Show me to the gate.”
“I’m afraid that wasn’t part of the deal,” Shildreth said, vengeance coating her words.
Paris looked down at me, surprise playing across his face before he raised his eyebrows in understanding.
“But I was not to be harmed. I was to be given safe passage from the keep.” Desmerada’s voice rose, fear sharpening the notes.
“No, the deal was that you would be allowed to leave the keep alive and enter the Darkwood where none here would harm you. Those were the parameters of the bargain.”
“But how am I—” Desmerada’s haughty voice choked to a halt. Several beats passed, each one heavier than the last. “Is this the tower?” she asked, her voice thin.
“It is. As I said, you are free to leave the keep at any time and go into the Darkwood beyond. None here will harm you, according to your wishes. Though, I can tell you from experience”—Shildreth lifted her skirt, showing Desmerada the withered bones—“you may wish for death before it comes.”
“You can’t do this. You bitch! You fucking bitch! I will kill you! I will kill you all for this!” Her screeching echoed on the cold stone of the tower.
Faren brandished his sword to keep Desmerada at bay as Shildreth left the room and closed the door. Desmerada hurled herself against it, her nails scratching down the wood. But there was only one way out of the tower for Desmerada, and this door wasn’t it.
Shildreth collapsed into Faren’s arms. She had been so strong for him and for the child they’d lost. My heart broke for her.
The bricks and mortar Shildreth had ordered were sitting on the steps while a brick mason waited. His face was grim, as he was already aware of his task. Walling in the vampire queen was no small matter. He bowed to Paris.
“Brick it up,” Faren said and scooped Shildreth off her feet. “Station guards on it at all times, two below and two here, even after the bricks are in place. Send word the moment she jumps.”
“Aye, Captain.”
Faren took off down the stairs at a brisk clip as Shildreth sobbed against his chest.
Paris picked me up and followed them.
“I can walk, you know.” I nestled my head against his chest.
“I know.” He shrugged and pulled me tighter.
Desmerada’s screams dimmed the farther down we went. I couldn’t drum up even a hint of sympathy for the evil queen. Arachne and Shildreth drove a hard bargain. Caveat emptor.
The spiders would maintain a lookout on the tower. If the former queen should survive the fall and make it free from the Spinis thorns below, Arachne would know about it.
“Is it really over?” I asked.
“For now. But we still have people to rule and a demon to slay.” The rumble of his chest comforted me.
“Right, other than those things.”
He laughed. “Other than those two things, yes, it really is over.”
He hit the bottom step of the tower and made easy work of the distance to our bedchambers.
He laid me on the bed, greedily taking in my form. Unbuttoning his shirt, he revealed the golden skin that begged to be kissed. He pulled me forward and drew the dress over my head. I lay back, letting him get an even better view.
“Mmm,” he said. “What happened to your panties?”
“I seem to be fresh out, my king.” I drew the crown from his head and dropped it on the nightstand. “Now take off the rest.”
He obliged, sliding his pants off and then his boxers. His shaft was already hard and gleaming in the candlelight. I rolled onto my side and licked his slick head. I relished the salty taste before taking him deeper into my mouth. He pulled my hair tight through his fingers as I reached up to remove my tiara.