Page 70 of Dance with the Dragon Duke

“You are aguestof my court, Darko Yaga,” Rain hissed, her lilting accent full of melodious venom. “When there are problems in the Lunar Province, there are constables and magistrates. And when there is trouble still, there isme. You brought me a problem, and I was fixing it. Or did you not see the bloody evidence of my hard work hanging from the door of this great house?”

“I saw it,” Dark choked. Melting snow dripped from her sole to dampen his neck. “And I am grateful to you, Your Majesty.”

“You thank me by burning a Lunar magistrate to ash with your lizard breath. You thank me by taking matters into your own hands when you have no right. When others learn of it, they will say that my king does not have control over his court.”

“No, Rain—”

“You do not get to call me that any longer,” she snapped, pressing more weight against his throat.

He resisted the urge to fight back. That would only make matters worse for himself. “I reacted as a bonding mate. I was impulsive and scared of losing my love. And you’re right. I should have come to you about the magistrate.”

The weight against his neck lessened.

“When others learn of what you’ve done, they will take matters into their own hands as you have. There will be chaos, and the most vulnerable will suffer first and foremost. I should make an example of you to prevent it.” Despite her words, she pulled back her boot.

Dark remained on the floor, uncertain if he should move. She motioned for him to rise. As soon as he stood, Rain kicked his feet out from under him. He landed hard enough to rattle the paintings that hung on the walls. In the hall, the demon cat meowed in a way that sounded suspiciously like laughter. Dropping to her knee, Rain grabbed Dark by the throat and turned him as though he were light as a sack of potatoes. She spun him on the hardwood to face the bleeding box.

“I fed what was left of the wicked one, Glen Freest, to my husband’s wolves.” Her hand was a vice around his neck. “When they were through, I shoved the remains of him inside that box. There is a letter tacked to the underside of the lid written in my hand for the Freest clan. A warning that, should they continuedown this path, their remains will join Glen’s in the box. It is signed and sealed by the House of Night.”

Dark gasped for a breath, and her grip loosened. “Thank you, my queen,” he choked.

“I’m not yet finished with you.” She released his neck and caught him around his chin instead, forcing his eyes to hers. “You will deliver this box to the Freest family yourself. They will believe that you acted on my orders against the wicked rat and the corrupt magistrate. Then no one will say my king does not have control of his court.” She released him.

Rubbing at his sore neck, Dark smiled up at her. “You are most wise, my queen.”

Her lips remained pursed, but the corners of her hell-fire eyes crinkled. “You will call me Rain now, and I have another letter for you.”

“Rain,” he repeated obediently.

She sheathed her dagger and extended her hand. Her fingers were small and rough inside his. Scars and calluses rubbed against his own hard flesh. She helped him back onto his feet and removed a letter from her cloak.

He took the envelope, opening it with an elongating clawed finger. Inside he found an engagement agreement between himself and Tomorrow, signed, stamped, and sealed by the King of Night.

Towering over the queen, Dark grinned from ear to ear. “I am grateful for you, Rain, and for our king. I vow never to act on my own again in such a fashion.”

The demon cat came and sat on the end of Rain’s boot. His bushy tail curled around her ankle.

“We’re still not finished,” she told him. “You’ve created an opening in the House of Judges—however necessary you felt that was, you must now make it right. Your mother was Lunar. You are an educated lord and no stranger to the laws of the Faelands.Queen Sora assures me that, despite your recent conduct, you are a fair man. You will fill the opening you created until a replacement is secured.”

As long as his punishment did not separate him from his mate, he was happy to comply. Thankfully, Tomorrow could always be one door away from him now.

Dark lowered his head in subjugation. “I will serve your court until you are satisfied, my queen—Rain.”

“Yes, you will,” she said, and her demon echoed the threat in her words with a yowl.

Rain turned, and the cat sprang ahead of her into the parlor. In one graceful leap, he alighted atop the bar, demanding attention from Susan by swiping at her with his paw. The madam gave him what he wanted, scratching behind his ears and under his chin.

Margot met the queen at the archway, throwing an affectionate arm over the smaller woman’s shoulder.

“I didn’t mean to scare away all your customers,” Rain said quietly.

“Bah,” Margot said dismissively. “It was a slow night anyway, love. But, uh, how would you feel about nailing the occasional drippy body part on the side door from now on instead of the front entrance . . . ?”

Epilogue

Tomorrow

Aweek later, Tomorrow returned from her lengthy outing to the Gilded Boot. A footman took her fine new frockcoat and gloves. She wore a bright blue day dress that had been tailored to fit her, and she carried a tulip-shaped reticule made of silk. It was perfect for carrying the sleeping fairy child, who’d found all the meetings that evening very, very dull. The bottom of the new handbag was apparently quite perfect for napping.

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