Page 62 of Chained to the Devil's Daughter

Fara saw me first. Her eyes widened like she was more fearful of me than the sewed-up asshole holding her wrists against a tree. Fuegis had her hands looped around a low-hanging branch and held them tightly in one fist. His other hand pressed into her hip.

“We really must stop meeting this way, Fuegis.” I flicked my hand in the direction of a stone brazier to his right, filling it with black flames. Dropping her wrists, Fuegis dug his thumb into her pelvis, lingering with his back toward me. “Let the woman go.”

Turning around, Fuegis’ lip snarled like there was a hook lodged in his cheek. “Well, well. Shouldn’t you be in bed with the princess, stray?”

“Shouldn’t you be in the tower sucking Devil’s cock, seed rag?”

I brushed past the giant gaping asshole and gently took Fara’s hand, checking her wrist for marks. “Are you all right?”

She nodded, gaze downcast. I positioned myself between the two so she could make her swift exit, but she lingered.

“Let go of her,” the sentient pile of garbage snarled. He took hold of my shoulder and shoved—

A very,verywelcome opening. My body reacted faster than I could think, cheeks stretched around a wide grin.

My fist connected with the stinky lump of Firefolk feces incarnate, a satisfyingcrackresounding on impact. Farascreeched. Fuegis stumbled. I kicked him in the chest, sprawling him on the flagstones.

I chuckled and popped my knuckles.

“Fucking fuck, I have wanted this for so long! Thank you, Fuegis, truly.” I crowded him, snatching his collar. “Sneaking around a woman’s gardens, harassing her friends, these things won’t get you in my position. Oh wait…you’ll never be in my position, or should I sayanyof my positions, for the queen and I are adventurous.”

“Fara!” The waste of space barked. “Tell him, for fuck’s sake!”

A tentative hand trembled onto my shoulder. I tilted my head but did not take my sights off the glorious vision of Fuegis on his knees.

“W-we were h-having a tryst. Let him go. Please.”

“Nah. I don’t buy that.” I released the steaming trash pile with one final shove. “But Searra trusts you, Fara, so I’ll let him go.”

“Th-thank you.”

Fara offered a hand to help Fuegis up, but he swatted it away. As the happy couple scampered from the gardens, I noted that Fara didn’t try to touch her so-called lover again.

I wanted to smirk. Started to. But I didn’t like whatever I’d interrupted. Definitely not a tryst. Searra trusted Fara, vehemently so. Searra wanted to see the good in everybody, wanted everyone to have one, two, three chances at redemption. I had no such compunction. I would burn the fucking world if anyone harmed Searra, and by extension, her friends.

Too uneasy to enjoy the gardens, I decided to head inside. I’d agreed to meet Geysis in her workroom, but the palace was crawling with nobles this close to dinner. Might as well go through the window now that I had a right to be in Searra’srooms whenever I pleased. As I began to climb the dragoncherry tree, my thumb brushed something wet.

“The fuck?”

A blister on the bark oozed with rot. It smelled like oil left out in the sweltering sun.

34

Ash’ren

After leaving six jars of fire, three vials of blood, and a sample of the tree’s weird growth with Geysis, I stalked the halls in search of my woman.

I spotted her through a set of scarlet-tinted tracery windows overlooking the front gates. Haloed by pale ribbons of orange against a violet twilight backdrop, Searra was resplendent in all black. The lacy ruffle at the bottom of her skirt was tied to the side, her legs covered in red dirt. Elements, she was fucking perfect. For a moment, I held my breath, narrowly keeping my mind from spiraling through all the reasons I was not good enough for a queen such as her. She had chosen me, time and time again. And who was I but a lowly orphan to question the authority of Queen Tootsie?

My minxy firefly desperately needed a wash. A perfect opportunity to show off my new tricks. I hailed a servant and did my best to make a request without sounding too much like thisSir Ash’reneveryone kept calling me.

“I’ll have your bath drawn and dinner for two sent to your chambers,” Fara was saying when I reached them at ground level.

“Not necessary,” I interjected. Though she flinched at my arrival, I didn’t pause on Fara. She was probably embarrassed enough without any lingering glances from me.

“Ash, I’m filthy.” Searra gestured to her body. Someone growled, which I quickly realized was me based on her adorable glare. “Stop.”

“I have it handled from here Fara, thank you.”

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