Page 39 of Prince of Ruin

“Abaddon,” Clavicle says, looking at the bat king. “I’ll go with Tarsus and Aden to listen to their terms.”

“What?” Abaddon finally lands on the ground and tucks his wings in, his fangs flashing. “They willtortureyou.”

Clavicle looks at me in question. “Will you torture me?”

I cross my arms. “I sure as hell am not going to serve you hog meat soaked in broth and give you your own room.” I narrow my eyes at him. “There is a price for everything you’ve done,Sovereign.” I look pointedly at his missing finger. “Starting with the lie you told me last night.”

He tucks his hand behind his back, as if he could hide his deceit.

“You’re coming with us either way,” I snap. “Even if I have to have my warriors kill your little bat-toy.” I jerk my chin behind Clavicle, and he spins around to find my entire army standing at the ready, arrows prepared to fly into their target, which is Abaddon.

“I can fight them,” Abaddon promises. “I’m a fast flyer. Come with me, Clavicle.”

The way Abaddon is willing to risk his life for Clavicle is almost sentimental. Too bad I want them both dead.

Clavicle looks like he really wants to go with Abaddon. The way he’s looking at the bat king, as if they had something special, something Clavicle and I used to share, shreds my heart in two.

“Go back to the caves,” he tells Abaddon. “If you don’t hear from me in three days,” he looks at me, “Then you have my permission to attack.”

I smirk. “What a grand show of selflessness. I don’t buy it for a second.” Lifting my sword, I strike Clavicle in the side of the head with just enough force to knock him out.

“You bastard!” Abaddon shouts, but he doesn’t make a move for his precious sovereign. Not with my armies prepared to shoot him down. Not with his Spine Sovereign’s last orders to return home without him.

Aden winces beside me. “That’s going to hurt when Clavicle wakes up.”

I grin wickedly at my little human. “He deserves it after the way he treated you.” Crooking my finger under Aden’s chin, I tilt it up and kiss him full on the mouth.

Abaddon gives a disgusted snort. “You really have stooped that low, huh?” He sneers. “Kissing humans.”

I glare at him. “You better be on your way, flying rodent, before I order my armies to end you.”

“Three days, bone-head, and I’ll be back to check on the true sovereign.” He spits on the ground at my feet, then takes flight and soars back toward the mountains.A wave of relief washes over me at the sight of the armies retreating. There weren’t any fatalities on either of our parts, just injuries.

Even now, the bat warriors help those who had fallen from the arrows and carry them back to the skies as they fly off toward the mountains. I told mywarriors not to aim to kill, just to harm, to prevent them from flying. And now I’m wondering if Abaddon had the same orders for my armies, judging by the wounds. Our two clans used to be close back in the day. Maybe they just wanted to scare us into cooperation.

“So, what’s the plan with this guy?” Aden asks, nudging Clavicle with the toe of his boot.

“We attempted to approach him peacefully like you wanted, Aden,” I say, crossing my arms as I stare down at the unconscious sovereign. “Now we’re going todo things my way.”

Clav

I’m pulled from oblivion by an incredibly rude nudge in my ribs. My head is pounding, the side of my skull still sore from where the bastard struck me. I crack my eyes open to find myself on some cold black marble floor, surrounded by a circle of at least twenty soldiers, all with spears drawn and aimed at me. As if I were the worst threat possible.

My fucking glasses are gone, and beyond the guards, everything is blurry. I can make out that we’re in a giant, roomy dining hall with a shit ton of people sitting around rectangular tables, but I can’t tell whether they’re all fae, or creatures like the bat-folk, or what. It honestly looks like a mixture of both.

Pushing myself up, I try to ignore the tensing warriors as I scan my surroundings. The smell of beer and roasted meat permeates the air, making my stomach tighten. My armor has been removed, and I’m wearing my jeans and faded pink button down. Theymust have taken my vest. Hell,even my shoes are gone, my bare feet pressing into the cold marble floor.

Someone clears their throat, and I squint past the guards to find who I’m guessing is Tarsus based on the blur of long white hair and large antlers, reclining upon a throne. I wish I could see their expression. There’s no mistaking the golden haired boy sitting beside him like a fucking human pet is Aden.

The sight of Aden is like a knife to my back. I trusted him. I laughed with him. Ifuckedhim, and now he’s sitting at the base of the throne of the fae who wants me dead. But when Tarsus held the sword to my throat, Aden stepped in and stopped them. So I guess I have him to thank for my life right now. I reach up, feeling the scratch the blade left.

Taking a deep breath, I face Tarsus’ form on the throne. “C-can I have my glasses, please?” I hate how small I sound. How pathetically weak. But honestly, I don’t even care because I’m fucking terrified.

“You can stop with the act now,” Tarsus’ curt voice echoes through the silent room, making me flinch. “As you humans say: Fool me once, shame on me. Fool me twice…” They wave their hand lazily in the air, the rings on their fingers catching the light as their voice trails off, then they take a sip from their gold chalice.

“I never lied.”

They chuckle darkly. “Your missing finger would tell us otherwise.”

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