Page 45 of The Crown of Nyx

I grunted, hands forming fists at my side. “I am more Fae than demon,” I replied coldly. “I would prefer if you addressed me as such.”

Cyra snorted and turned back to the darkness ahead of us. “You are still as much demon as you are Fae. You just choose to repress that side out of shame. For a male born of the Pride bloodline, you sure are ashamed of your parentage.”

I shook my head, jaw clenched, but I didn’t respond to that. Cyra sighed when I said nothing and stopped inthe middle of the corridor. “We’re here, ashamed one. Mistress will see you now.”

As soon as the words left her lips, the shadows around us disappeared. I didn’t move, searching the space carefully. But there was only one way out, and that was the hallway behind me. Doors leading to it closed, and a lock clicked into place, trapping me in what I assumed was a receiving room.

There were doors directly in front of me, and the rest of the room was bare save for two additional demons either side of me wearing armour. From one look, I couldn’t tell what they were, either, though based on the size of them—six foot seven, maybe even taller, with broad shoulders and bat-like wings—I had to guess they were from the House Wrath.

Cyra pushed her way through the double doors, opening them with a flourish.

“Mistress Ravenna,” Cyra announced, moving to the side so I could enter.

There was no point in trying to fight my way out of here. There were six more Wrath demons scattered around the room, all wearing armour and all handling different weapons. There were also a dozen males and females enjoying one another, confirming my thought that we’d somehow landed in House Lust.

The moans and cries of pleasure ceased as a demon rose from a throne in the corner of the room. Unlike the others surrounding her, she was dressed, though the silk robe barely covered her breasts and thighs.

“You may leave us, Cyra,” Ravenna said, waving a dismissive hand at the demon beside me. From the corner of my eye, I watched as the small thing bowed and retreated the way we’d arrived. The doors clicked shutagain, forcing me to return my attention to the powerful demon in front of me.

Some might have called her Queen of Lust, ruler of its House. I recognised her heart-shaped face, and the dark colour of her eyes. She’d been at the Nyx Ball, surrounded by her fellow Sins.

Ravenna moved through the other demons, eyes narrowed, and stopped a few feet from me. I kept my gaze locked on hers. “I am sorry for the intrusion,” I started. “But I think you already know why we have entered these lands.”

She cocked her head, obsidian hair falling over her shoulder. “I thought I remembered your handsome face,” she purred. “You stood with the new Queen of Nyx while my dear friend died.”

I stiffened, lifting my chin. “Are you loyal to the Queen of Nyx?”

“What kind of question is that?” Ravenna barked, laughing. The other lust demons joined her, like the question was obscene. “Loyalty is a paradigm in my kingdom. Loyalty and consent. I do not play with either. And I am loyal to my Queens.” She dragged her glare over me, lips pulling in a sneer. “And what about you, Son of Pride? Where does your loyalty lie? With the traitor king or with the true Queen?”

“The Queen,” I replied. “Which is why I am here.”

Ravenna brought her hands to her lips. “My soldiers thought they caught a whiff of something powerful when they found you and your ship,” she murmured. “Is she here?”

My heart skipped a beat. “I thought…” I trailed off, glancing around the room.Fuck. Panic bloomed in my chest for just a moment before I could tamper it down.

She isn’t here. Ravenna of House Lust wouldn’t lie about having her hands on the Queen. Hell, Ivy would have been sitting on the throne if what Ravenna said was true.

“How do I knowshecan trust you?” I asked warily, hands forming fists at my side as she tapped her blood-red lips.

“The King of Elysian is being approached by your usurper,” Ravenna mused. “Rhadamanthus is going to be made an offer, my little birds tell me. An offer some would not refuse. You should hope I have your Queen protected, otherwise, the entire Underworld will be hunting her. Some Houses do not have the same standards as we do here.Yourscertainly doesn’t.”

I’d never felt pure panic before. But it rose within me, locking around my chest. “Then release me and my team so we can find her,” I said through gritted teeth. “We’re the only ones who can.”

Ravenna quirked a brow, a smile playing at her lips. “Then I want something in return, Son of Pride and Aither.”

In the back of my mind, a voice screamed at me not to accept her offer. But I bowed my head. “Anything, Mistress Ravenna.”

Anything for Ivy.

I might not have been prepared for a mate bond, but I would do anything to protect her.

A smile twisted her lips. “Amnesty,” she said. “For a wayward demon. She might, after this war is over, make herself known to you and your…people.”

I had no idea if she meant the Phoenix Compound or Ivy’s mate circle. Being the only unbonded mate in Ivy’s circle gave me less sway, which meant it had to be the former.

“You want her delivered to you, then?” I clarified, crossing my arms.

Ravenna nodded slowly. “Something like that. She’s out there in the human world doing her own little thing. I don’tthinkshe’s made it onto your radar yet, but if she does—that little lust demon ismine.”

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